Bewitching Waters

Chapter 8: The Alpha’s Little Scout

The evening was dragging into night, and Tommy had taken so long with his thoughts to mull everything over, not wanting to cause concern he went home shortly after Jake had tracked him.

Finally returning home, there was a dawning knowing for Tommy that it would be the last time for a while.

Dude to the pack meeting, his family had decided on a later dinner and had waited for Tommy to come home for after the meeting.

He wanted to see his mother, father and two sisters - even if his sisters could be a pair of nightmares - he didn't know how soon he might see them again and he knew it was a dangerous scouting mission.

"Look who's decided to finally join for dinner," April the youngest of Tommy's 13 year old twin sister announced in a chiding tone. Her dirty blonde hair was darker than his own and tied into bunches on either side of her, bouncing with each step she took over. She had her mums light brown eyes.

To most who didn't know her, she would appear the sweetest little girl. To her older brother, she was the biggest annoyance.

Walking over to the door, was Tommy's mother Marie Greyfang, "He's our the Alpha’s Little Scout! Getting such an important task from Bryce so young...!" His mother gushed with pride before turning on her daughter, "April, give Tommy some respect." Placing her hand on April's shoulder pleasantly while smiling kindly at Tommy. However, all the Greyfang children knew it was a warning.

Just then, Chloe, the oldest of the twins, walked called from the living room, "Is dinner ready or what?"

The twins were identical, apart from attitudes, and Chloe had a single pronounced freckle on her check.

Old Tom walked over to April. He had already long been home, placing his arm around her waist and hugging her from behind. It really looked like the perfect family moment between the 3 in front of Tommy.

"Yeah, uhu... sorry I'm late." He began, "The Alpha wanted to go over logistics, and then after, everyone wanted to ask things."

Old Tom nodded with reassurance at his son, "It's okay. You have an important task to do now."

Again, Chloe called getting impatient, "Mom's had a stake on... are we going to eat, or am I going to die of hunger?"

"Can we, please?" April looked up at her mom and then tilted her head to her dad, who caught her sweet girl act - and he fell for it.

"Honey, let's get dinner served." Old Tom squeezed Marie in a hug, and she agreed, embarrassed in front of the kids before letting her go.

Dinner was filled with family talk and antics, but most of the important talk was aimed at Tommy. His mother just wanted him to climb up the pack ladder and better the family, where his father Old Tom shared Jake's concern with Tommy not having turned yet, but didn't articulate it so starkly as his friend had.

His father too agreed to support and help, even join as a small scouting party for a while. It was up to Tommy how he organised this; if he scouted alone or with his friends and family and who he asked to come along. He didn't know this, and no one had explained this to him. More so, it felt like he was being babied and looked down on. It only served to make him more determined to succeed in this himself as a solo scouting task.

The next evening, he stood at the door of his house with everything he needed to set up scouting. Supplies of food, water, and more.

Alpha Bryce and his Beta stood at the door, giving last words of advice and encouragement.

April and Chloe peeped out their front window and listened to what the Alpha was saying. While Mr. & Mrs. Greyfang stood proudly by their son, listening.

It took him a moment to gather his thoughts, then set off toward the old farm, determination fueling his steps.

As he approached the boundary where the barrier began, a prickling sensation danced across his skin. It was as though the air itself was charged with magic, thick, and heavy. He paused, staring at the line of trees that marked the edge of the cursed land. The old stories flooded his mind—tales of witches and werewolves, of battles fought and lost.

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The next evening, he stood at the door of his house with everything he needed to set up scouting. Supplies of food, water and more. It took him moment to gather his thoughts, then set off toward the old farm, determination fueling his steps.

As he approached the boundary where the barrier began, a prickling sensation danced across his skin. It was as though the air itself was charged electricity... or was it with magic? He didn't know for sure. However, he knew it felt thick and heavy, condensing threateningly on the boarder. He paused, staring at the line of trees that marked the edge of the cursed land. The old stories flooded his mind—tales of witches, hunters and werewolves, of battles fought and lost.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer, testing the feeling. It was too uncomfortable so he decided to be careful and to maintain a safe distance from the barrier. He could see the silhouette of the old farmhouse in the distance, its outline shrouded in shadows against the backdrop of the evening sky.

He set up camp nearby and began to settle into his post. He had never done anything like this before, but he had heard stories about older scouts and how they conducted themselves.

Even without training, Tommy was talking himself into this and telling myself that he was capable.

The stillness of the field nearby added to the eerie atmosphere, the gentle tapping of a dropping tap into an empty bucket could be heard. This weighed into the tension building within him.

“Okay, Tommy,” he muttered to himself, “this is it.” He crouched low, trying to blend into the shadows. He needed to observe without being detected, and that is what he was going to do.

No campfires during the day and older wolves would come by and drop him supplies and ask for updates and information that needed past on. The Beta came most often that week, Bryce was pushing him and Tommy. He wanted to know more, and he had nothing.

A young girl who tended to the farm and dotted about doing her chores and work. While the old man... the Hunter seemed frail and barely left the house.

She didn't seem like a witch either, and she was similar ages to Tommy. The Beta has slapped him for this and reminded him that there is a reason the Bloodfangs couldn't set foot on that land and just kill them both - witches magic and strong magic at that.

The first few weeks passed, Tommy kept track of time, carving tally marks onto the smooth part of an old tree for each day he had been there. It counted at 19 this evening, and still there was nothing, just boring farm watching.

How long do I need to keep doing this? Tommy groaned in his head.