The Alpha's Sacrifice.

Marigold's POV “Again!” Swiping off the beads of sweat that had gathered on my nose, I adjusted my helmet, lifted my sword and charged towards my opponent. The training yard rang with the sound of steel. Crack! Wood struck wood. The sound echoed across the room. The morning air smelled of damp earth, sweat, and the faint smoke drifting from the castle kitchens. Beneath it all lingered the sharp scent of oiled leather. I delivered another strike. Crack! General Rami swung for my shoulder, I twisted aside, my boots scraping against the stoned floors as I narrowly avoided the blow. “Too slow!” Rami barked. Releasing sharp breaths from my nostrils, I snarled and attacked again. This time, he met me head-on. Our wooden blades collided repeatedly, left, right, high, low. Thud. c***k. Thud. The rhythm became almost like the beating of drums. Raising his sword, he feinted toward my ribs. I raised my sword to block. Too late. A wooden blade struck my side. Thump! Though aged, General Rami fought impeccably. I stumbled backwards, placing a palm over my aching side, while rough uneven breaths exited my mouth. “Yield?” Rami asked. I straightened, dropping my hand from my side. “Never.” I dared not fail. “Then stop fighting like a warrior who wishes to lose.” I charged again. Every step had purpose. Every swing demanded an answer. The smallest mistake could leave an opening. The smell of sweat grew stronger as the match continued, mingling with the earthy scent of wood dust sprayed into the air. Then, c***k! General Rami’s sword flew from his hands. It landed several feet away. Silence fell. I lowered my blade. General Rami removed his helmet, revealing his dark brown hair with grey streaks in it, and his bright blue eyes, although sunken into his face. “Your strength means nothing if your opponent can predict you,” he corrects. I could only exhale deeply as I took off all my protective clothing, folded it neatly on the rack and began walking out of the training room, praying to the moon Goddess that the sour stench of the room wouldn't accompany me. “I thank you for the class, General,” I said by the time I almost reached the sliding doors. He only nods in response, while I slide over the training room doors. ~~~ As I made my way out, I was greeted by people in every direction. “Hello Marigold.” “Princess Mari, over here.” I had already become accustomed to it. After all, it had been a major part of my life ever since I could speak. “Marigold.” An all too familiar loud voice yells out. “How many times do I have to say, I feel not in the mood for a discussion.” I seethe, while smirking at a furious, red-headed Astrella. “In your dreams.” She snaps, slightly nudging my shoulder, her yellow eyes reflecting in the sunlight. “Mother finally permitted me to bring Ravecats out today, do you…” “Then why do you delay?” I squeal excitedly, already running to the gates, after a few laps I hear her running closely behind me. ….. “Mika hated me. The oversized beast woke up with a bad taste in its mouth.” I scoffed, dusting off hay from my hair and garments. Ravecats are the best sport animals in the realm. They are extensively loyal, maybe even too loyal, supportive and used in transporting goods and materials across the Kingdoms. A single one living up to four hundred years. “Absolutely not, it is only, you are not as good as I am at riding,” She teased, while rubbing in some more hay into my hair. I started riding when I was just over three years, and could properly saddle myself without assistance when I was five. The big purple animal, clad in black tiger stripes, was merely not fond of me. Its claws scratched against the dirty ground in impatience, and he brought out his purple tongue to lick over his black nose. “I think Mika desires to be led back to the fields.” I commented. We made our way back to the Palace, its gold stone pillars already coming into view. Then we saw children running around with Wolf masks made out of parchment paper. “Adorable.” Astrella remarked, slightly increasing the pitch of her voice. She found any sort of artwork fascinating, she bends slightly, keeping her palm on her thighs as she took the drawing from the child. “Princess Marigold.” I turned over to see a child holding up a drawing of me. “Why, it's magnificent.” I praised, tapping her shoulder lightly. As we made our way further through the market area, we became surrounded by decorations, lights and an abundance of parchment. Gold-coloured items covered almost every inch of the marketplace, indicating that gold was our Kingdom's color. I also spotted our Kingdoms’ crest, which was a wolf's claw holding a golden orb, on almost all the decorations. “All of this in preparation for the big night.” I chirped, letting my eyes wander to a scary-looking tall fabric-made artifact, made to scare children away from where the torches were being made. “Ashmoor Central market IS the prettiest place I've ever been to.” “False, the Mining festivals held in Lunareth’s magnificent caves are the most wonderful sight to ever behold.” “It appears that my stomach has started an argument of its own.” We walked through the Palace entrance, our boots tapping on the stoned floors, and towards the Dining area, the table stretching over 10 feet, as chairs circled either side. “Mother, you didn't inform me of your arrival.” “Ah, Marigold, I had an aching throat and was just about to depart for the healers.” My mother gleams while planting a warm kiss on my forehead. “Good evening Mrs. Ashmoor.” “Astrella, do sit, here are some biscuits.” She offered, and Astrella gobbled the biscuits down by the handful. So uncultured. “How are you faring, Marigold, your big night is only a few days away now?” My mother says as she turns to me. Before I got the chance to reply, my brother Leon barged in. “Has the Awakening become the only matter this household speaks of?” “Yes, Marigold's Wolf Awakening.” Astrella replied snarkily. “Do not burden her with needless fears, she might be all jittery now.” My mother consoled, already rubbing my head into an embrace. Removing myself gently I quickly chip in. “I do not fear, Mother.” “Lies, I recall my Awakening very clearly, every inch of my body was raked with fear.” Leaon scoffed, somehow convinced I'm telling lies. “Well that's because you lose with little dignity and can't handle a challenge of any sort.” Astrella snapped back, ready for a fight. “Peace. I will hear no more bickerings.” Mother said as she tapped my back and walked out the door. Leon makes a face to Astrella, to which she responds with a face of her own as he steps out. “Do not leave the hall open.” She screamed after him, but that only made him leave the doors wide open. “You both act more sibling-like, than we do.” I said, taking my seat next to her and stuffing my face with biscuits of my own. She nodded and muttered something, but I didn't hear it due to her mouth being full of biscuits. “But umm, what if the moon Goddess abandons me?” Then I’m deemed an outcast. She took a deep swallow and faced me resting both hands on my shoulder, “There should be no reason for fear Marigold, she would not. It wasn't fair that Astrella got her Wolf Awakening a year before mine. What if everyone was wrong? What if my Wolf doesn't come? ~~~ (Later than Night) I shifted underneath my covers, then I switched sides a moment later. A few seconds later I switched the sides of my pillow. My eyes still remained shut, but somehow, my mind was not at peace. Undecodable whispers filled my ear, I shuddered in the blanket, holding it impossibly tighter to my body. The whispers increase in pitch, although I can not decode a single word, then I found myself in the midst of a thick forest, surrounded by whispers. Then they got louder, more like a chant, distant screeching fills the air, so far, but so close at the same time. Not too far away a stream of water splashed on rocks heightening the amount of sounds. Tall dry trees, absent of leaves, circled the perimeter, as the moon presented itself as the only source of light. Cold air washed past my skin, and I sighted a shadow between twig stems. A thick black fog surrounded the wolfs’ shadow, then its eyes opened and golden eyes met my own. The wolf was covered with gray hair, and black sharp claws from its paws. The hairs on the back of my neck rise, as shivers rake through my body, perhaps from the cold, or the sheer absurdity of what befell my eyes. I turned around, and I'm met with another wolf, then another creeped out, each with similar Golden eyes. They formed a circle surrounding me closely, fixating their golden eyes on me in a scrutinizing manner, then one of them started crawling closer.