Nox Invictus: GreyWolf

(Xander stepping out of his truck)

Five years of running, Five years of hide away after hide away. Years of solace. It didn't take much to find himself back in past memories. Ones that ment way more now then he thought they ever could. His family, their friends, all the people that he left behind.

Sunlight just started to peak its way across the fairly cloud covered sky. The fluffy white clouds ment no rain would be in the forecast. Yet it made life alot harder. Sunlight ment more people out and about. More chance that someone somewhere could notice me, or maybe someone from one of the many packs might be close. All these lands were split with great precision, each pack getting large portions.

Around here should be a neutral area, away from the boundaries of the three pack closest to the small mountain side town. Yet it still wasn't hard for any one person to be out and about.

None of that changed the fact that I was running low on supplies. Food, gas for the generators, other supplies. It had taken nearly a month to collect all the supplies but I'd built almost a small apartment.

Sadly a working toilet wasn't quite in the cards. It answered a age old question though. A wolf does poo in the woods.

The small town still seemed to be bustling for a weekend. Families with small children pushed down the street. Kids playing football across the way. Cars lined most of the parking spots on the main strip.

A few people waved as he passed or let out a simple hello. Still these people were so nice, even though they knew nothing about me. Who I was, who I fled not to be. All the things I did that weren't me.

(Xander / Inside General Store/)

"Good Morning!" The young girl behind the counter bounced with a smile. I'd seen her in here once before, for her age I was sure she was the daughter of the store owner. I gave her a quick smile and continued on my way.

The store smelled of fresh ensense, lavender and vanilla I believe. Of course a normal oldies radio station played so song I didn't know.

Sliding through the Iles a particular familiar smell caught my nose. "Wolf" I growled to myself. Sadly I couldn't control the angst that had grown on me for my own kind. It had been a long time coming.

Fights with packs as I traveled across the lands, fights with the council goons, even a few rogues had tried to best me. Thankfully I'd made it through, yet I know I'd lost favor of our moon goddess many moons ago.

My cover was going to be blown. Slowly I inched my way down the next Ile, following the smell of my own kind. It was a much different scent then normal. Pack wolves always smelled of many wolf scents. This one was simply just by itself. No lingering smell, a rogue, maybe a new young wolf.

"Come on dad. I don't want to spend my whole day stuck in this store" A younger female voice called out from the next Ile over. I grabbed a few items that I needed quickly and started moving toward this wolf girl.

"Your not gonna hang out with your friends all summer. Sorry Spring. Not how life works" A sigh eched through the store, but as I turned the corner. I wasn't the only one fully aware of the fact she wasn't the only wolf in the room.

"Wait." She squeaked as I quickly looked away from her green eyes only to be met by her bubbly younger sister.

Of course they both shared the same reddish hair, and pretty green eyes. If they weren't so far apart age wise, many would believe them twins.

"So does this mean you don't want to spend all summer with me sis??" Her sister tilted her head to the side, still blocking me. Yet at the same time also blocking the girl from questions.

"Don't take this personal sis. But that's a hard no. I have other things to do with my dad"

"That was pretty mean" I added in, watching the poor girl who was probably about ten or eleven years olds face drop. Lips starting to tremble, eyes watering a bit.

"Well I don't wanna spend time with you either" She shot back. "Maybe I should tell Dad how you're going out every night"

"Please don't Summer. I'm sorry"

"Well this weekend we are doing girl stuff" The preteen bounced away without a care in the world.

"You smell weird, what are you?"

"It's a new fragrance, does it smell good. Couldn't really decide if I liked it or not" I lied through my teeth. Hoping to God she'd never actually met anyone else of our kind.

"There's a group of boys at school, who must use the same stuff" She kinda shrugged it off, but I wasn't completely convinced she wasn't still curious. "You must be new to town?"

"Correct you are" I laughed a bit. "My grandfather used to live here way back when. After he passed it was in a journal of his."

"Well that's cool. If you need help finding anything. Just give us a holler" With that the young red head was out of my sight, escaping somewhere into the back.

Finally I could just let out the breath I'd been holding in. At least she'd also answered another question I had. There we're in fact other wolves around. Young newly turned ones.

Which could only mean two things, rogues of the same family line. Or a rogue was building a pack of its own.

For now it wasn't my priority, I stumbled into this town for a completely different reason. The journals had sent me on a chase of our families lineage. Somehow my grandfather owned a property out here. Way before the council and the vampire war.

My ownly clues were coordinates to a stash of items he'd left and a few small context clues from what he saw as he wrote it.

If Rook had been right all this time, much more would be hidden here. Maybe even the object that he'd been hiding.

(Xander Inside his truck)

Stashing all the goods back into of the truck I started back through town. Last time I'd needed supplies I'd traveled farther out. I didn't want anyone being suspicious of the ugly old red truck. Still at least I know a few details about this town. The council has yet to get it's grasps around it. Yet there are somehow a group of young wolves.

Over the years I'd had many a battle with the council. Thankfully now it seemed I'd finally broken away from them. As I continued down the road a loud thump rocked the truck.

Turning around as I came to a stop light I was graced with the pretty young smiling red head. Of course Spring wasn't going to just quit.

"Heading out of town already?" She questioned, leaping through the open passenger side window.

"That was cool" I chuckled to myself, starting to drive once again. "Probably not going to go well if people see you riding with an older guy through town".

"Wow. Because your so much older"

"What do you want little girl?"

"Well the boys all have each other, of course they won't let me join their little gang"

"Pack" I corrected.

"Well their stupid lost boys pack. Your the only other wolf I've ever met"

"Well I've been a wolf my entire life, I'm curious how a bunch of you entered the change at around the same time but without any parents being wolves"

"None of our parents know anything"

"Well I'd say keep it that way, but I don't have time to teach you how to be a wolf"

"Please. I need a teacher"

"There isn't much you need to know. Don't shift around humans and don't tell anyone about it"

"I'm hungry all the time" She whinnied.

"You can hunt in wolf form but the hunger never faulters"

"That's great, I'm gonna be fat" I laughed at her shallow words, pulling to the side of the road at the edge of town.

"Your immune system is also faster, so you won't be getting fat anytime soon" As I turned the truck off I looked at the young red headed teen. "Spring I'm gonna let you off here, have a good day"

"Teach me how to be a wolf"

"No"

""I'll follow you wherever, until you accept me as your student"

"There's a large pack two towns over. Blackwater, is what they call themselves. Go ask them to help." I motioned to her to leave. "I was never here"

"How do you know all this?"

"I've studied the pack grounds"

"So who are you?"

"Xander, but we never met. The pack will help you"

Without another word, she hopped out the cab and started to walk away. Of course I had to help, I couldn't imagine going through the change without having my family. It was so long ago, but I couldn't just leave without giving them guidance. How lost they all must feel.

(Xander at hideout)

The more I thought about it. Sending that poor girl to go join a pack could be suicide. Packs were hardly trusting of anyone who just randomly shows up at their doorstep. My grandfather had let in how many outsiders but even he was weary until he got to know them. Hopefully she didn't just rush their after our conversation.

"Ughhh" I growled to myself.

I shouldn't have gone into town, shouldn't have tried to find out who the other wolf smell was coming from. Shit it was the first time I'd actually had a normal conversation, and I'm pretty sure it's gonna be the death of me.

"So this is your place?" I knew that voice, it was day one and I could already pinpoint her scent and voice. Not a good sign.

"Would you stop following me around?"

"Sorry, but I kinda have a huge problem."

"Well with stalking, yes I'm starting to see that"

"Well at least I know I can track you. But I'm here because a black SUV rolled into town at bit after you left and took two of the lost boys"

"Of course, a council death squad."

"The council?"

"It's a really long story. One for another time maybe" As I started to pace the floor I continued to think.

How had they found me so quickly. Nobody from the town had smelled like wolf. Or were they just reaching out. Happened to come across two newly changed wolves and wanted Intel on how.

"So what does this council do?" She spun her finger around in her hair, green eyes locked to me.

I was freaking out, the call if made would bring an army of wolves down on us. Something that neither I or this little town wouldn't be ready for.

"They are the ruling class for us wolves. A not so democratic group of old wolves. Many of them have been alpha's others just joined" Still I couldn't help but think it wasn't possible for them to know I was here already.

"What's the plan on getting them back?"

"Well I'm gonna leave you here to be safe and I'm gonna go figure out where they are holding them"

"I know this town better then you, I could help"

"Your to young. I'm not going to be responsible for your death and or capture" Of course having her help would be greatly appreciated but was it worth the possibility of a bad outcome.

"Yet I tracked you here and you've been a wolf for how long. You didn't even notice me sneaking up into your cave"

Without a doubt she was right, I'd been so preoccupied with the day that I didn't even realize her sneaking in.

"How many times have you shifted?"

"Three times before today"

"Can you find the lost boys?"

"Maybe"

"Well I think that's gonna be our best bet. Strength in numbers"