Awakened

A bone curdling scream is heard throughout the forest. The sound of bones cracking and breaking bounced off the trees, piercing my heart and sending shivers down my spine. A howl escaped my sisters lips into the midnight air, followed by many more, signaling the end of the first shift for an alfa.

My sister’s wolf was beautiful, A bright white that had a blue tint in the moonlight. Her beautiful blue eyes seemed to look into the soul of anyone who dared to stare too long. She was a sight to see. The pack beamed with pride, the sound of their howls cheering for her. A smile shined on everyone’s face, hers the brightest of them all.

Everyone was overjoyed at the sight of her wolf. After all, no one thought she had one. Mila was known in many of the packs as the girl without a wolf. A disgrace to our family and the wolf community. How could an alfa be born with no wolf? Was a remark everyone would make. They thought she was cursed. Other packs shunned her and didn’t accept her, but not ours. This was her pack, and everyone loved her from the second she was born. That love never changed, never wavered, it shined like the sun. It was that love that also killed our parents and many of our higher ranks. It was that love that put us under attack so many times and wouldn’t stop until she was dead.

She was ready for a run, she had waited years to run in her wolf with the pack. She had waited years wanting to be normal and know it was her time. The death of our parents triggering it. Most of the pack transformed into their wolf’s longing to run with her. They’ve waited for this moment for years.

Mila darted into the forest daring the rest of us to chase her, still new to her wolf form and the speed and strength that came with it. We followed as she explored her home all over again, loving every smell and sound that came with it. She had always wanted to run as her wolf. To see where her legs would carry her and where her mind would take her.

It took her to a lake, meadowlark lake, a beautiful place where our family shared so many memories. It’s where we played as children and celebrated birthdays. The same place our parents said “I do” so many years ago. Mom used to say this place was magical. Mila and many others played in silky smooth water. The full moon shining down on the water and reflecting back into the sky. The night seemed perfect.

Ozeff our oldest brother and the Alfa of the pack eyes glazed over. Fear crawled down my spine as I watched and waited. Memories of my parents death flooded my mind. A day I could never forget, the latest attack on our pack. The memory was alive no more than a month ago. We sacrificed so much for Mila, she was the glue that held us together. She’s the baby, the princess, we would never let anything happen to her. But if Our parents just listened they would still be here.

Ozeff started barking orders yelling at everyone, breaking me from my thoughts and memories of that day.

“Mila, twins! Home now, we’re under attack.”

Those are our orders, protect Mila at all cost, or die trying like our parents. This attack had to end differently. The last one killed many and put Mila in a comma for a month. We had to stop things, Mila was normal now!

Zeb and I kept Mila between us, Ozeff trusted us with her life. We bared our teeth at them, warning them to back off but they kept coming toward us. It was apparent we were not getting out without a fight. We growled, not just zeb and I, but Mila too. She was gaining a back bone. Her wolf is still just hours old, but ready to fight for it’s life.

The wolves separated from each other sprawling out. Two of them attacked Zeb and I, trying to tear us away from Mila's side. Making her vulnerable, a sitting duck. A huge black wolf that blended into the shadows of the night crept up from behind us, attacking Mila. It bit her paw and dragged her down. She was frozen in fear. I tried to get to her, but it seemed more and more wolves just kept coming. Like we ran into an ambush. What were just five small wolves now appeared to be 20.

I heard a how of pain escape my brother’s lips as he was going down. I howled for Ozeff to help, we needed him. We were not gonna make it.

I heard Ozeff howling in the distance, he was coming with more of the pack behind him. There was hope, we just needed to hold out a little longer. I could see the fear in my siblings eyes. I’m sure mine were filled with fear, hatred and anger. Anger that things were finally normal but we were still targeted. Anger at those hurting my family, hatred for all those that attacked us, hatred for the ones who killed my parents.

I looked over at Mila, trying her hardest to keep fighting back. I prayed to the moon goddess she would stay strong, but she was growing tired. I could tell she was almost ready to give up. That black wolf toying with her like a cat playing with its prey before it delivers the final blow. Throwing her to the ground and then letting her get get up only to thrown once again. But she wasn't giving up yet. not while she was still concise. She was holding out pretty well for a wolf with no fighting or training. Relying on pure instinct and determination to stay alive.

I howled to my sister. Stay strong Mila! Stay strong just a little longer.