Mates in Disguise

SKY “Attention!” The warrant officer screams in our direction. “Each of you are given the opportunity to serve the nation! As you know we must prepare for upcoming battles. The enemy is strong. We need you stronger. As cadets you will face extreme trials in order to make you the winners of this war!” I heard that speech so many times that I barely pay attention anymore. Unlike the others in my formation. Shouts of agreement can be heard all around. I was raised with soldiers. As Colonel’s daughter, I was used to military ways. I could probably lead this formation instead of the officer. “You will be tested...” I mumble under my nose with slight banter. “You will be tested! Only the strongest will become soldiers!” The officer continues. “Ahead of you is the first trial! This one will test your speed and strength! You have to run through the obstacles as fast as possible. Those with best times will qualify to the next trial. Finish all and become Cadets of the Mundane Forces Academy!” Collective scream stuns me a little. I’m surprised the man around me have the guts to say anything without asking. For now, we all are just normal humans, but as soon as we become Cadets, those shouts will be severely punished. That’s the way with the MFA – Mundane Forces Academy. It transforms normal people into battle meat. And I’m about to become one. I’m confident to pass all tests. I saw the trials countless of times and prepared well. Me and dad trained since I was a child. I’m 24 now. And that was a lot of training. I always felt a push towards military. Not killing. No. But in the strength the army provides. It’s almost like you can do anything. Fight anything. Be anything. And in my world. Being something means surviving. I grew up as an only child. My father stepping into the army to provide basics for our family in a place slowly surrendering to famine. Our nation in no longer as big as it was hundred years ago, when humans were the strongest predators in the world. Or so we thought. No one knows how it happened. Or when exactly. But suddenly our grandfathers were banished from half of the continent. They had to run for life. The whole North was flooded with wolfs. Not just normal ones. They were huge. I never saw one. But stories say that the smallest of them could look eye to eye with grown men. Those wolfs appeared out of nowhere. They took our ground as theirs and banished all man. To prevent them moving further South, we created a huge wall in the middle of our lands. For years we lived in peace. But now, with famine and water deficiency spreading we have to get our lands back. Or thousands will die. “Participants! Form three lines! Each of three will start at the same time. Your time is measured. It’s not a race. But keep your eyes on your companions. Their progress will suggest if you’re good enough.” The officer follows each of us with his scrutinizing eyes. He sees me and his gaze gets filled with disgust. “Some of you don’t strike me as soldier material! We will take no weaklings!” An echo of chuckles beams around me. It’s not like I didn’t expect that. Even my uniform could not hide my frail – in comparison – figure. No wonders. I am a girl. Among full grown, muscular men. Most towering over me by the size of head. In my world women are considered maids, cooks and babysitters. It’s not allowed for a woman to dream of something so ridiculous as joining the army. For regular men, woman is almost equal to a speck of dirt. “As for showing you why that is... You!” The officer points at me. “And you two!” Finger directed to two men on my right. “You go first!” It took all my strength not to roll my eyes. Of course, not a single one of those men thought I could beat them. We will see about that. It’s going to be so rewarding. Nothing beat the feeling of proving men wrong. I walk up to the start line. In my peripheral vision I notice two other cadets-to-be taking their own stands in front of the obstacles. “Better run, boy!” I hear someone speak behind my back. “There’s no place for you here!” “Let him stay!” Another interferes. “We need someone to build latrines!”. Laughter follows. I squeeze my eyes shut and mute all the comments. I have to focus. Slow my breath and let my experience take the lead. I knew those kinds of trails. Countless times have I watched others run through those obstacles. They changed some parts of it throughout the years. But most of them looked very similar. I took a few tries myself as a teenager. It was hard to finish, but even then – years earlier I still managed. I’m pretty confident I will be very good. Considering a few good years of training added to my account. “Quiet!” The officer shouts. “We don’t want our little friend here to hate us!” I can hear his smirk from here. Dickhead. I think. Focus, Sky. I look ahead and see three soldiers stationed at the far end of the course. They hold boards in one hand and what appears to be clocks in the other. They will write down who gets the best timing. Sure bet – it will be me. I smirk. Let the party begin. NOAH “Be careful, son. You can’t let our secret out.” I hear my father say on the day of my enrollment. “Don’t worry, father. I will protect our people with my life.” I bow my head and reach for the bag at my feet. I put it on my arm and feel yet another embrace from my mother. She keeps hugging me since I woke up today. “Mom.” I speak. “I will be all right.” “I know, son. I trust you. But I don’t trust them.” She muffles her cries on my shoulder. I am at least head taller than her. I bend down a bit and say my goodbyes to her. Then hold my father's arm in a silent promise and head out to get to the Southern Border. Not wanting to waste my energy I took off my clothes, packed them in the bag and changed into my wolf – Nyx. It’s going to be long before I can turn into him for the next year or so. Here I am the Alpha Prince of the Sharp Fang pack. The only one existing in this world. On our arrival we divided the last space of green land and took half for ourselves. It’s not like humans could do anything about it. As soon as I cross the border, I will become a gray human. With... some hidden talents. I smirk. For the last 20 years we keep getting the same hints from outside. The humans are planning on invading our lands. Although the continent extends for almost 4 000 kms in every direction only a thousand is survivable. Further south is a deadly desert. With wolves' hatred towards heat we took the north and thrived into a well prospering society. My father, being the strongest, is leading the pack of thousands of wolves as Alpha King Benjamin. His mate – my mother Kathrine – is the Luna. They still remember the old times. As a child, I heard many stories about the world we lost. Not understanding the sadness in their voices. But now. I know what that meant. Wolves hate being caged. And as beautiful as our home is - it is still a huge cage. News spread about the academy that is supposed to train soldiers to take our land from us. I scoff, although the sound Nyx makes is more like an animal sneeze. Humans can’t defeat us. We are strong, fast and unstoppable. But as my father says – it's always better to know the enemy’s tricks. Meaning I am to become the Cadet of Mundane Academy, spying in order to save my kingdom, my heritage.