Nimara: Children of the Gods Book 1

“But why do I have to shuck the peas??” “Because you are the fastest and they won’t be wasted in a food fight, before they are even cooked.” Mom said, smiling. She’s right, at least 80% of the peas would be thrown out because they became ammunition in a food fight if it were anyone else. “You have 4 hours to get them done sweetheart, or they won’t be cooked in time for dinner. Thank you, Sweets!!” Mom said as she walks out of the breakfast nook that is just off the left side of the kitchen. The pack house isn’t like many others, it is a single level above ground and 3 levels below ground. It’s more like a giant den with multiple rooms and halls. The Alpha and Luna’s, Beta’s, Gamma’s, and Warrior head’s offices are all on the main floor. Also on this level are the conference center, where all the official and unofficial meetings are held, and of course the library and kitchen. “Well, you better get at it!” Amara, my wolf laughs, sending me the image of her rolling on ground laughing. Stupid wolf, she is such a smart ass at times. Amara has been with me since I was born. I know it is not possible right? Not normally because normal werewolves don’t get their wolf until they shift at the age of 16. But my wolf came to me extremely early and since then she has been a constant voice of both reason and mischief in my life. “Gee, thanks!” note sarcasm and rolling my eyes. “Well, we could review all the high rank officials! To help past time, also because we need to know them for the meeting set in 2 months with the royal family.” Amara suggests now that she was done laughing her tail off. So, we start going through the very long list of 700 colonies worldwide. “Which do you want to start with?” I ask Amara. “Let's start with the Chimaera (ghost shark) group, they are the smallest worldwide.” She replies. “Okay, well there is the shiver off the coast of Peru, and of course there is the 3 shivers off the Australian coast. The Peruvian shiver is called the Silent Tides and their Patriarch male is Hugh, and his matriarch is Sasha.” I start off the long list that could take up the 4 hours of work, but it is helping to set a nice rhythm. “Ok and the other three are?” Amara asks. “There is the Northern Tsunami shiver, their leaders are Malcolm and Rhea. Then there is Rising Tide, which is Hugh’s brother, Kale and Samantha. And last there is Swaying Waters' shiver and their leader is Seth, and he hasn’t found his mate yet as he just took over from his father Matthew and Mother Kristen.” I reply. “Nicely done, that is right! Now on to the next one!”         Suddenly there is blood curdling screams erupting throughout the pack house. “Rogues!!” screams Cathy. I drop the pea pod I am working on and take off running through the house and out the front door to my parents. Leading me straight into a massive fight with bloodlust rogues. “Keep running Nimue!! We need to help your parents fight!” Amara urges as I bolt to my left towards my dad’s wolf Jake who is taking on a rogue the same size.      It is unusual for a rogue to be as big as an Alpha, but then again, the difference between a rogue and a bloodlust rogue is their state of mind. A rogue is usually a pack-less animal caused by either their pack being destroyed; the death of their mate; or they left for personal reasons (usually issues within the pack). They are able to join a pack if the pack is willing to accept them; if they find their mate or second chance mate and join their pack. A bloodlust rogue though is insane and kills for the pure joy of causing harm and destruction. They can never be saved and the only way to stop them is to kill them. The best way to tell them apart is a rogue smell of dirt, like they haven’t showered in years and a bloodlust rogues smells of death.      As I slam into the rogue, I smell it... Death! I shift into Amara immediately and give her complete control. Dad is struggling and not getting up. The smell of blood is overwhelming and no doubt the Vampire clan to the south of our pack, can probably smell it without the wind to carry the scent. There is a sudden stop in motion. “Amara!! What are you doing? Keep fighting!!” I yell frantically. “Nimue, your mom.” she whimpers. Then I see what she is looking at. My mom is struggling to crawl to my dad, away from a rogue stalking towards her. A howl filled with pain, hate and rage erupts from my chest as I take a defensive stance in front of my parents. We are now encircled by rogues and they all smell of death. “It’s impossible for this many bloodlust rogues to be in the same place. This isn’t normal.” I say to Amara. The rogues have stopped coming closer and the smug look they once had has been replaced by sheer horror. Amara and I have become of one mind and have shifted into our full Lycan form. We are now completely one being, who my mom named Nimara. Digging my claws into the ground to coat them with silver, I finally stand up right.      Lunging at the biggest rogue, I bury our claws into his skull, and I can feel his brain swishing into small chunks, as my claws slice through it. He never knew what hit him and had no time to react. Pulling out of his head quickly, I have moved onto another two rogues at once. As I jump on the two rogues, I dig my front claws into the furthest one’s chest and my hind claws have sunk into the first one's spine, severing it at the base of his skull. As I do this another one is coming at me from my right and is about to sink his teeth into my ribs when a silver spike shots up from the earth and directly into his chest. I look further to my right and see a boy, about 12 years old and his eyes are silver. I nod my thanks to him and continue on with killing these assholes in front of me. As I continue fighting, I am joined by my pack members, and they are digging into rogues as fast as I am. Our pack members are all super protective of each other, so with seeing my parents laying in a pool of blood, it has sent them over the edge, and they are out for death.                  The fight is over quickly, and bodies litter the territory. All of theirs and some of ours. The medics and doctors are attending to our wounded, as I release a deafening roar that shakes the territory. I run to my parents shifting back into my human body and Clara moves aside for me. I start helping to bandage my parents to stop their bleeding when my dad stops me. “Baby girl, stop. It’s too late for us.” He says through shallow, ragged breaths. “Nimue, we will always love you.” mom is coughing up blood causing her to choke before she continues. “Remember to follow your heart and your instincts will guide you safely.” “I can’t lose you!! I need you!! The pack needs you!!” I cry as my dad struggles to breath and is turning blue. I continue to work to stop the bleeding when Amara says something.  “Nimue, use our blood!! It may help them heal and live!” She panicked at the thought of losing my parents. I slice my palm open with a claw and start applying my blood to their wounds. A cool hand comes to rest on my shoulder. I hear gasps from my pack and freeze instantly, instead of trying to slice my now healed palm again. “Nimue, please stop. You’ll hurt yourself. They have lost so much blood; they cannot be saved. It is time for them to come join me.” A tall, beautiful woman, with snow white hair, wearing a white dress says. It is draped over her left shoulder and comes down; it is held around her by a crystal chain belt. “Who are you? Why aren’t you healing them?” I scream as tears stream down my cheeks. “Nimue!!” Draven scolds me. “You will be told everything soon my child, for now though you must let me take them home.” She has a sad smile, as she embraces me. I feel a warmth coming from her, but at the same time I feel nothing but anger and hate towards her. I push away from her, and as if I just put a gun to her head, she looks truly heartbroken at my reaction. Going to my parents one last time, taking their hands in mine to say goodbye as they stop fighting and take their last breath. I release a mournful howl and soon the whole pack joins me, as our Alpha and Luna leave us forever. Falling to my knees crying, the tall woman comes to embrace me again and I don’t react to her. “May I have the honor of laying your parents to rest Nimue?” It’s the boy from earlier in the fight, his eyes are no longer silver but a deep forest green. “Yes please.” I say, “who are you?” “My name is Onyx, I’m an Earth Nymph and that girl wrapped around you is Tilly. She is a Forest Nymph.” That is when I realize I am no longer being held by the woman, but instead by a girl around my age. I return her hug, as the ground starts to shake, the spot that my parents lay raises, and starts to floats off following Onyx. We walk for a while; everyone is following until we make it to a large clearing outside of our territory. It is unclaimed land, just south of the Tiger Lily Pride territory, but it is here that Onyx lays my parents to rest. He creates a cavern and places them inside, then seals it. Only our pack and family will be able to access this place, it’s for us to be remembered when we have left this earth.