Breaking Free

Captured

My head is pounding, and my eyes feel heavy. I try to peel my eyes open, but it feels like they are glued shut. I try again and they open just a crack then close again. It’s dark, and it smells musty. My body is stiff, and I realize I’m lying on a hard surface. I try to open my eyes again, and the room slowly comes into focus. It’s very dark. Even in my wolf form I can hardly make out the room. I appear to be on a dirt floor. The walls and ceiling appear to be dirt too, which would explain the musty smell. I’m underground, although I can’t make out the door. I attempt to stretch out, but I’m stopped by metal cuffs. One quick tug tells me they are silver. I try to recall how I got here, but my brain is still foggy. I think I nod off again, because when I come too I hear footsteps heading towards me. My eyes snap open and my head jerks toward the sound. A heavy wooden door creaks open, and sunlight fills the room. Two werewolves in wolf form walk in upon realizing I was awake. One undoes the cuffs at my feet, while the other picks me up. A blindfold is put over my eyes. They both loop around one of my arms and begin hauling me out of the room. My aching in my head begins to recede, and I suddenly remember what happened. They must have injected me with wolfsbane, which would explain the headache. Fear spikes through me, as I realize I don’t know where I am, or who I am with. I’m completely at their mercy.

“Where are we going?” I tentatively ask.

I don’t know if they’ll answer, I’m just hoping I can gather some information.

“You’re going before the counsel. They’ll be deciding what to do with you.” The one on my right gruffs out.

The counsel? Counsel of what? I don’t know what to expect. I’m only hoping I can talk my way out of this situation.

We aren’t walking long before I hear talking amongst a group of people. A door creaks open and the talking stops. I smell what I assume to be more wolves in the room I’m guided into. I pick up on the scent of ceader-wood and amber, and I picture the wolf in the woods. I’m sat down into a chair and my cuffs are connected to it. My blindfold gets taken off, and my eyes struggle to adjust to the sudden change in lighting. As my eyes adjust I look around the room. I see 5 werewolves staring me down, all in wolf form. My eyes zero in on the dark grey wolf from the woods and narrow. He scoffs at my expression. I take in the rest of the room and see the female that I kicked in the chest. She’s a russet wolf with deep green eyes. She bares her teeth at me and I move my eyes on quickly. There’s a male next to her, large and sandy in color. He has golden eyes that peer right at me. I see another female with steel blue eyes, and a silver coat. The last male in the room is a black wolf with dark brown eyes. The tension in the room is hostile and my fur at my neck stands at attention. I’m not the smallest in the room, but I’m the only one in silver cuffs. My situation looks bleak, so I try to approach them politely.

“Look, I don’t want any trouble. I honestly didn’t know I was encroaching on claimed land!” I exclaimed with desperation.

“Likely story” the Russet female pips up. “Only thieves creep around through that part of the territory.” She states.

How was I supposed to know any part of the territory, if I’ve never been there? I decide to disclose a little honesty.

“I was living as a human in Ankaren Ridge. They discovered what I was and I fled! I had never been out of the town before, let alone come across other wolves!” I say with a pleading tone to my voice. “I truly didn’t know there was anyone living out here, I was just trying to get away!”

The Russet female snorts. “Sure, that’s why you’re so well trained in combat. Citizens in Ankaren are always fighting.”

She says with venom. She’s likely recalling the kick which landed her on her ass.

“Vivian, let her speak!” Snaps the dark grey wolf from the woods.

So Vivian is her name I gather, and she looks very unhappily in his direction.

“Fine Conan, but you know as well as I do, she knows how to fight.” Vivan says curtly. “That’s unusual, considering where she claims to be from.”

Conan must be his name, the one who found me. He appears to be running the show. I look directly at him and he nods at me to proceed. I don’t know what all I should tell them. Vivian is right, residents of Ankaren Ridge don’t need to fight. The numerous guards brought forth by my father’s presence saw too that. Petty fights over food were punishable for “disturbing the peace” as my father put it. I decide to tell another half truth.

“My mother was from the village of Benwick, back before the war. She trained me to protect myself.” I tell them.

They don’t need to know more than that. Benwick is well known, they produced some of the best warriors in the land.

“Benwick is a human village” the Sandy one pipes in. It was a statement, not a question, but he looks at me for an answer.

“Yes, my mother was a human. The wolf gene was on my father’s side.” I tell them.

Not a lie, but getting dangerously close to the truth.

“What of your parents then? Where are they?” Conan asks me.

“My mother is dead. Casualty of the war.” I state. Mostly true, given the circumstances.

“My father continues to live on somewhere, hidden from society.” A half truth, if they know where he lives, I might as well spell out who I am for them.

“I got caught trying to rebel against Alarick” I throw out, trying to distract them. Plus, it really did happen. This seems to please them, so I am in company that dislikes my father.

“So if what you’re saying is true, you disagree with Alarick’s rule?” The silver female asks me.

“Doesn’t every supernatural?” I ask in return, again to their pleasure. “I did what I had to to survive, but as soon as I was capable I tried to make a difference.” I tell them.

They seem less distrustful of me, my story had no holes and didn’t change in questioning. Conan seems to mull this information over before he speaks.

“So you don’t know just where you stumbled into?” He asks. I shake my head no and he continues.

“Well miss…” he trails off, clearly looking for my name.

“Ava” I tell him. Avaline would be too recognizable given the circumstances.

“Well then Ava, you’ve found our resistance camp. We too disagree with Alarick’s leadership. What started off as a few werewolves banding together to survive turned into this pack.” He tells me.

Conan looks around at the rest of the group. The others seem okay with him giving me this information so he speaks on.

“We train here and live as one family. The goal is to be ready in the event of a full sprung rebellion.” He says.

I smile, it seems I found just where I need to be. My goals could quite possibly be accomplished here.

“I didn’t know that many werewolves were out there.” I tell them honestly.

I knew wolves were once pack creatures, but living in fear of the humans split many supernatural creatures up. I should’ve guessed they would rebuild outside of human society. Humans just believed they were all so scattered, it never occurred to me that it was possible. Conan looks around before speaking again. He appears to be communicating with his friends.

“My name is Conan, if you hadn’t gathered. And I think you picked up on Vivian.” He says and I nod. Conan points to the Sandy wolf.

“That there is Hunter.” He says.

He waves to the silver female, and the black male.

“And this is Leah, and Zane.” He finishes.

Zane looks over at me and says

“I must apologize for the hostility. But we’ve had many thieves try and steal our supplies lately. Small rogue packs, or even single rogue creatures like yourself. You happened to stumble across our camp in one of the hot spots for these attacks. We can’t be too careful right now, what with how limited food is and all. We’ve been patrolling that area carefully.”

I nod along, I was hostile as well, coming across unknown people will do that too you out here.

“Understood completely. I didn’t exactly respond in a calm manner myself. I didn’t know what to expect, although I am glad to have come across other werewolves.” I tell them.

Conan speaks up “We could always use more helping hands around here, especially with a skill set like yours. I can tell you know the basics of defending yourself, seeing how you gave us a run for our money. You’d be a great addition to the pack, if you’re interested.” He says.

My eyes get a little wide, I didn’t expect them to invite me in. As a stranger to them this is quite a gamble. They clearly believe that I am telling the truth. I wasn’t planning on joining a resistance, though I truthfully didn’t know there was one out there. This pack sounds like more than I could’ve dreamed of, and like the perfect place to set my plans in motion.

“If you’ll have me, I’ll gladly accept your offer” I say with a smile.