The witch and the wolf

Stepping carefully through the leaves on the ground deep within the forest I try as hard as possible not to make a sound. For what seems like the 10th time I check the amulet around my neck, its still glowing faintly letting me know that I am still invisible but the spell used for this type of amulet doesn't make me inaudible so I must remember to be silent. Letting my necklace fall back down to my chest I continue forward until I reach the edge of the trees looking out I can see it the compound for the shadow wolf pack. It is large and imposing, it has to be. Not only does the compound house many of the members of the pack it also serves as a fortress. In the event of attack from a rival pack or other dangers, it serves as a stronghold. Looking at it from this close is almost overwhelming for me. I know why I'm here, I have been sent by my coven to look for weak spots in the packs security. To see if there is a way in so that we can finally take down this pack and be one step closer to ending this war with the wolves. Since I was very young I have been trained for this, to be a part of this war between wolves and witches. I have been told of the attacks on my coven by these brutal animals. They show no remorse and so neither can I. Reaching into my bag that is slung across my one shoulder hanging down on my hip I grab out a bottle that has a spray nozzle on it. Upon taking a closer look I almost break my silence to swear at what is in my hand. A generic store bought version of scent away used by hunters when they hunt deer. "ugggg" I think to myself. " These are not just ordinary wolves these are werewolves they are going to smell right through this crap" stuffing it back into my bag I look around the area wondering who let a rookie load my pack for this trip, then sighing inside my mind I remind myself that I should have known better and checked it before I left, I am supposed to be training to be a priestess. now I have to find another way of masking my scent, looking around the forest floor I turn slowly in place finally I find some pine needles on the ground close by breaking them up I rub them all over my body and clothes before stuffing some into my pants pockets and my bag. That done I move beyond the trees remembering to move quietly. Moving closer to the compound I hear some of the wolves laughing and joking it makes me angry, makes me want to hurt them. How could these animals walk around like they have not a care in the world after what they have done to my people, the carn*ge they have brought to my door. Digging my fingernails into the palms of my hands I force myself to take deep quiet breaths I would never make it out alive if I tried attacking anyone here by myself. After I have calmed down I follow my unusually keen nose to the kitchen door of the compound waiting for someone to come out the door I grab it and quickly move inside and up against the nearest wall so I will not be in anyone's path in the kitchen. the kitchen was bustling right now probably getting ready for lunch. The compound houses the Alpha, and his family along with all of the unmated wolves in the pack, so it made sense that the kitchen was crawling with the wolves in their human form. I force myself to take more calming breaths I can't afford to start sweating right now the pine needles would have no hope of covering my scent if I start sweating. Moving as carefully as possible I make my way around the kitchen counters and to a door on the far side of the room. Moving my gaze around the room I try to see if anyone is watching the door, seeing everyone is busy I bolt out the door catching it and making sure it closes back silently behind me. making my way to the stairs I freeze at the bottom of the large wooden stairs moving to the side I bite my lower lip I look up seeing several housekeepers lingering on the stairs talking to each other. I just need to make it up the stairs to the 3rd floor . Pressing myself against the banister opposite of the women standing there dressed in their uniforms. I look down at my boots and wonder if I will be able to do this without making noise. realizing I just won't make it I bend down and quickly remove my shoes carring them in my hand as I make my way up the stairs. About halfway up the tip of one of my shoes nearly brushes against one of the housekeepers apron edge, so I turn myself sideways pulling my shoes closer to myself as I inch up the steps sideways. When I reach the 3rd floor I can see two hallways one to the left and the other to the right, but which way to go. Making a split second decision I go left oh sh*t wrong choice several of what seems like pack warriors start making their way quickly down the hall. I start stepping backwards looking down at my necklace, still glowing so I'm still hidden, then where are they going in such a hurry I wonder. distracted as I was I did not see the two other men coming from behind me. Suddenly I bump right into the tallest of the two males standing at least 6 ft 3in being 5ft 7in not many people are very much taller than me but this man, this wolf towers over me. without missing a beat he grabs me by my arms, a look of immense confusion on his face as his mind trys to figure out why he can feel me but not see me. Struggling to free myself I try to kick out at him but he lifts me into the air off my feet. Crying out I can see the other males pulling out their weapons trying to ascertain the threat. "why can I not see you woman!" his voice booms but though it sends fright through me im not nearly as scared as I probably should be. Must be all my training, yes, I am a warrior in my own right. So stuck in my head I forget to answer and the man holding me shakes me roughly. "ANSWER ME DAMN IT, I KNOW YOU ARE HERE I CAN STILL FEEL YOU!" yelping I drop my boots and as they clatter to the floor they become visible several of the wolves jump back and one kicks my boots across the room with a growl, before looking embarrassed that it was only a pair of shoes. realizing this the other men laugh quietly at him. I reach up and pull off the amulet stuffing it quickly into my bag before I fade into their view. "WITCH!" several of the wolves shout and immediately go for my throat i curl up into myself preparing for the assault and quickly try to make myself cry so that I can weave my lie. "Wait please im not a witch i-i well I m-mean I am but I just I got lost in the woods gathering herbs im im just a healer I swear." The giant who has hold of me spins around to face his men fully keeping one hand on my arm. " STOP! you will stand down immediately she will be taken to the alpha, he can decide what to do with her." He must have at least some authority, as the remaining wolves stand down although not happily judging by the grumbling. I feel a moment of relief at not being pummeled by full grown werewolves. My relief is short lived as his words sink in. They are taking me to the Alpha, the man known for having killed entire covens single handed. He is said to be strong and violent with no care for the lives of witches. I begin my struggles again more forcefully this time needing to get away, grabbing his arm with my other hand now that it's free. I shake myself out of my thoughts I jump using both my feet to kick the man holding me. Catching him by surprise he cannot keep hold of me and I manage to break free only to fall gracelessly to the floor landing on my a**. Using my now free arms I try to scramble up off the floor but before I can even really catch my breath from my sudden drop to the floor, I am grabbed again from behind this time and picked up once more. the man who had me before has me again in his grasp. I try to start crying again. "p-please I mean no harm i-i just got turned around in the woods I'm just a h-healer please" The man holding me rolls his eyes though the others look uncomfortable at my tears, suckers. As we get closer to the Alphas office I see that I should have taken that right turn instead. I make sure to look around at everything while struggling further. All woman, men, and children in our coven get combat training just in case our magic fails. I have had more training and anyone because I always want to do more and be better. Call it a character flaw, but I'm super competitive, but also because, well I don't exactly have any magic of my own yet. If you ask my coven leaders they will say I will never get any, that I'm not gifted like everyone else. I on the other hand still hold out hope. so what if I'm already ten years past when it should have come in. A girl can dream. At the sound of Mr authority kicking the door to what I can only assume is the Alphas office, I pull myself once more form my thoughts, internally berating myself for getting lost in thought while being carted around by the enemy. Once more I try to struggle and try to kick my captor. "Let me go you giant a**hole, don't you know how to treat a lady?" He simply laughs "you're no lady. you're a witch-" " healer! I told you this. I got lost looking for herbs in the woods." The door to the Alphas office swings open and a very angry man is standing there. that's when I realize that guy had been kicking the door the whole time. We stumble slightly before he rights himself. " don't you dare drop me! as a matter of fact put me down will you!" I kick my feet trying to drop down but cannot. suddenly I can feel the power rolling off the Alpha standing in front of us. he looks downright pi**ed. " Is there a reason you are standing here kicking my door like a moron?" now it's Mr authority's time to look ticked he drops me from his arms onto the floor in front of the alpha. "owww" "hush you. We found this witch sneaking around up here." glaring at both of them I stand up " Not a witch. Healer. Which I already told those other men. I simply got lost while gathering herbs in the woods" Another snort from my captor. I continue as if I haven't heard him. " so no need to worry yourself Mr Alpha Sir. I will just be leaving now I don't want to trouble you any further with this mixup." I turn and try to walk away as if everything is settled but I am grabbed by the back of my shirt. I make a loud frustrated sound throwing my arms in the air as the Alpha steps back to let us into the office, my captor practicly dragging me backwards. Finally I have enough of being pushed around by this guy, I turn, my fist balled up and swing. much to my satisfaction it hits. I catch him right across the jaw due to our hight difference. I laugh he must have bitten his lip on contact as It looks split and is bleeding just slightly. Knowing a wound that small won't take long to heal on a wolf sucks but I laugh anyway. "That will teach you to manhandled me!" "ENOUGH!" We both turn to see a seething alpha glaring at us from across the room. his silver eyes flashing in anger. The alpha stands just slightly taller than Mr authority next to me so maybe 6ft 4. uggg what is with these giants. " Why are you here?" He is looking at me. "I told you, I'm a healer I was looking for herbs in the woods and got lost. Geez yall got some serious short term memory problems around here." Both of them growl but it is the alpha that speaks. " you had to pass multiple members of staff to get to this floor, your pockets are stuffed with pine needles I assume to cover your scent which it did not do by the way" A look of confusion passes over my captors face "The witch-" "healer" I state again " Is what smelled like a walking car freshener?!? We thought the kids were playing pranks on cook again" "hey! I dont smell like air freshener it was a good idea!" hearing the alpha start to growl then simply sigh as he continues. " the fact that you do in fact smell like an air freshener is irrelevant, the fact you had the foresight to try means you know what we are. So again I ask, why are you here?" There is a growl in his voice as he asks. can't say I blame him considering the circumstances but how rude, what happened to benefit of the doubt, innocent untill proven guilty. Before I can answer for myself he turns to my captor. " Drex, where was she found?" hmmm Drex huh? Good to know. " She was found in the second hallway on this floor and she was invisible she obviously is a witch." It's his turn to growl in my direction. "Geez hostile much? What did I ever do to you?" I shake my finger at him "Not polite to growl at ladies" he takes a step forward crowding me. " You're no lady" " Ouch that would have hurt my feelings if I had any" as Drex moves to take another step towards me the alpha intervenes. " For the love of goddess you two are making my brain hurt. what do you mean she was invisible?" Not taking his eyes off me Drex responds. " A few of the guards for this floor were coming down the hallway I was moving towards them when I felt something I couldn't see bump into me. When I grabbed on to, it was her we couldn't see her at first. We should search her. She could have put hexes or curses around the compound!" Clutching my bag I back away from him. " You can't just rummage through people's stuff!" "fine search the bag" yelping as Drex grabs my bag from me dumping it into the middle of the floor I watch nervous. Nothing I brought was particularly dangerous to wolves but they don't know that. I watch as my fresh and dried herbs spill out everywhere, a few potions, my amulet, a dagger, and that stupid spray bottle uggg. Drex picks it up rolling his eyes "seriously you thought this sh*t was really gonna work on us?" "See I told you, herbs! I'm a healer who got lost. The spary was for-" a moments pause " predators in the forest, for while im gathering so i dont have to worry about getting attacked by w- bears." its the Alphas turn to snort. " Not likely when you are three stories up, you could have asked for help from anyone on the lower level. Your a thief at best and a witch at worst. bring her here." Drex grabs me again and I yell and kick as he drags me over to the Alpha. Once we are close enough the alpha sniffs me eew. But then looks confused and does it again looking up at Drex. "She is human. What the hell man, what is this about?" He looks at me then at the pile of stuff from my bag " She is either a crappy thief or she is a human groupie trying to sneak in and see if she can sleep with one of the other warriors. Unless she is after you beta Drex" I see the Alphas eyes light with amusement, no surely not. not the most vicious and feared Alpha. Drex huffy, "Not my groupie maybe it's one of Elisia's. But seriously come on she has to have some magic. She was invisible for heaven sake." This is my moment I cut in "Just another precaution against predators" I pick up the amulet " It was the necklace it's a temporary enchantment it only lasts a couple of hours then fades. I got it from a magic seller. Like I said, I'm just a healer!" picking up the amulet I slide it on and dissappear from view, It's all for show as they are both too close to me for me to run passed and escape despite being invisible. as soon as I fade out of view both men growl. "reveal yourself woman!" Drex again. Slowly I fade back into view despite still wearing the necklace. "See, temporary like I said, and stop shouting at me like a cave man, and stop calling me woman!" No mistaking it this time the alpha snickers, Drex throws a glare his way. "And just what am I supposed to call you then? hmmm witc-" "Healer!" " How about thief then!" We are facing each other now me on my toes to try and even out the hight difference "You can call me your highness and I will call you a big jerk" I can hear the alpha let out a groan. " Get a room, or don't. But get the fu*k out of my office. Drex escort your little human off pack land completely" Drex looks horrified at the your little human comment and looks ready to argue but doesn't get the chance. " As for you little girl. If you are found lost on my pack lands again you will be taken into custody and held until I am satisfied you are not a threat to my pack. Do I make myself clear? " he looked me directly in the eyes as he spoke and there was something there. something dangerous, I could understand his reputation now. Glaring at him as I gather my pack back together. Next time he won't see, smell, or hear me. I would be back. as I walk towards the door to the Alphas office I have already begun my next plan of attack. I leave the scentaway bottle in the floor and smirk at Drex. " I will leave that for you. to get rid of your wet dog smell" With that I step out of the office into the hallway.