Black Mountain Mates

Etana

        I stood in front of ten Elders of the Sterling Crescent Pack, my pack. They were supposed to guide us, give us our rules, and be our judges in law and order. Now they were here to tell me about my fate. I told my father I would be okay, but deep down I knew this moment was about to change our lives. Being here was nerve wracking, it was taking everything in me to keep from screaming.

        “Etana Snowcap! You have been chosen in the raffle and won the chance to make themselves a title. Become the first ever to become Alpha and immune to the Lottery for everyone after you in your family line! You can be the first! May the Moon Goddess have your favor for the next three nights. On that fourth day, if you are alive, return to the village. You will be rewarded for surviving even if you are unsuccessful of bring home a rouge tail.”

        The rest chanted the phrase ‘Moon Goddess favor you’ as soon as they stopped talking. I guess I wasn’t allowed to ask questions. Figures. I just rolled my eyes and grabbed the machete on the table in front of the Elders. I took a deep breath, and headed out into The Miskas.

        It was a lot darker than I thought it was going to be, but I could see fine. My eyes just adjusted in the dim light. Something else was stunning me, there was no sound. No birds, no squirrels, no leaves rustling, nothing. I wish I could go back, I didn’t want to be here doing this. I couldn’t kill a rouge wolf, they are way stronger than me. We were taught at a young age to avoid the Miskas because the rouge wolves will get you and rip you to shreds. So, I was going to have to hide. Hide for three nights and four days. Easy, right?

        Nightfall was coming and I still haven’t found any shelter. And after another few minutes I decided to sleep in the one thing that was all around me, the tree’s. After looking a little more, I found a branch I liked and was thick enough to hold my weight. After jabbing my machete into the wood, I laid out on it like a jaguar, arms and legs dangling as I closed my eyes. It was starting to get cold, but there was no way I was going to get down unless I start to freeze to death.

In the distance I could hear howling, and I was sure of one thing. They were coming for me.

        Sometime after I fell asleep I shifted to get comfortable and slipped. After falling out of tree, I sat at the base of it with a sigh. I could feel it was only a minute or two away from midnight, and with each passing second, I could feel something inside changing, twisting. With a deep breath in my lungs I pushed to my feet and let out a groan. I stretched my body before looking up to the machete stuck in the tree.

        I should get that. I reached up, jumping a little to be able to grab onto it. After it was back in my possession I took the moment to figure out what I should do and where I should go.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Something snapped in my mind, and I felt myself getting dizzy. What was wrong with me? Suddenly my bracelet felt like it was on fire, and without hesitation I fought to get it off. The metal seemingly searing into my delicate flesh. With one last slam of my wrist from a rock, it finally broke off.

        A wave of relief washed through me, and I felt like I was able to breathe again. I closed my eyes and could feel my body swaying like a tree. I have no idea how long I was there for just, standing, but it seemed like forever.

        When I finally felt somewhat normal again I opened my eyes and began walking. I clutched the machete close to my chest as if it was a safety blanket. I glanced around and realized I could see a thousand times better. Not only that, but I could hear better too. If not, I wouldn’t have been able to hear the footsteps coming in my direction.

        I swallowed hard and hid behind a tree. Putting my nose to the air I sniffed out who was there. I took a few deep breaths before getting the courage to glance behind the tree. There in the clearing I could see three wolves, but they weren’t like what I imagined.

        When we are told the origins of the rouge wolves in Miskas, we are told they look just like any other Wulfkin only they have blood red eyes and unkept fur. These wolves in the clearing were not that. They were massive. I could probably ride one like a horse if I had a saddle. These wolves were monstrous looking with large toned muscles, sleek shiny fur, massive paws, and dignified heads. They were unlike anything I ever seen, or imagined. These creatures had to of been blessed by the Goddess herself, because they were the most beautiful yet frightening things I have ever seen. My wolf was tiny compared to them. They could probably pick me up by the scruff of my fur and carry me like a pup.

        Then I came back to reality. They were looking for me, and I had to get away. I had a few options at this point. One, attack head on with the machete. Two, try and sneak attack with machete. Three, Turn and try to attack them head on. Or four, Turn and run as fast as I could away from them.

        Which crappy option did I pick?

        The fourth.

        I stripped as quietly as I could and placed my shoes up against the tree. I tied my shirt and cotton shorts to  my wrists, so I had them later, and then shifted. Somehow, my shift was effortless and in nearly a single second. It felt like all my bones contorted, snapped, reattached, and popped back into each other with one single wave of pain. It was amazing!

        Still, I couldn’t sit back and be happy about the easy transformation. There were three wolves, and I was one. Horrifying odds, but it was now or never. I sprinted off in the opposite direction of where they were looking, hoping I bought a few extra seconds before they noticed me. My white wolf was a good runner, with an agile body, so at least I was fast. The wolves barked at me, and I was positive that they were after me now. I could hear them coming from behind me. I ducked around trees and bolted around bushes. I was sure that I was faster than them, but their legs were far longer than mine. For some reason though, they never attacked. Barked, howled, and a slight growl when I was close to the cliff. Yet, they never touched me.