The Two Alphas' Fated Witch

Spirit Animals

I still remember my mother very well. I didn't lose her at that young of an age. I was just about to turn thirteen when the wolves came for her. So my memory of her is pretty spot on.

Mrs. Santiago was right when she said my mother was beautiful. She had long, straight, bleach-blonde hair that almost looked unnatural. Her skin was on the tanner side, which gave her an even more exotic look. I look nothing like her, having taken mostly after my Dad, but we did have one thing in common: our grey eyes. Still, where mine are pale and dull, hers were bright and sparkling, like two perfect diamonds.

I also remember her tattoo, though I now know it was actually a Witch's Mark. It was quite intricate. A unicorn, woven out of a Celtic circle, completely gold. The equine silhouette was rearing up, horn pointed towards the sky. When I was really little, my mother would let me trace it with my stubby finger, trying to follow the continuous thread. It was as beautiful as she was, and sometimes I imagined it glowed. Now that I know the truth, maybe it did.

I knew the moment Mrs. Santiago and Cassie told me about these Spirit Animals that my mother's had to be the Unicorn. It wasn't just because of her Mark. She just gave that aura of a protector. Of someone whimsical, mysterious. Free.

Nonetheless, I'm a little more confused. "But I thought Spirit Animals were based on actual animals?"

Mrs. Santiago nods slowly, considering her words carefully. "Most are, but there are a few of our kind born with unique Spirit Animals, like Susanne."

"How so?"

"As I stated yesterday, our magic is directly linked to our Spirit Animals. As such, the more powerful and unique the Animal, the stronger the witch."

That makes some sense. "So there's a hierarchy, or a ranking system? Like for werewolves?"

"Yes," she replies, "But again, it's much more complex. Think of it like the food chain itself. Cassandra, as a Rabbit Witch, is towards the bottom, but she is still stronger than me, a Frog Witch."

"You're a Frog Witch?"

Smiling brightly, Mrs. Santiago rolls up her sleeve, showing me her bare inner arm. And there, right above the inside of her elbow, resides a small, army green frog, sitting patiently, as if it were asleep. It's much smaller than my mother's, and much simpler. To be honest, it looks like one of those shotgun tattoos people get as starter tats, or when they're drunk. But it's still rather nice, and Mrs. Santiago seems to like it, based on the beaming grin she has while gazing upon it.

"So Frog Witches are better at making remedies?" I ask, becoming more curious about all this by the minute.

She nods excitedly. "Yes, you remembered I had mentioned my talent! Though, there is a bit more to it. My Breed is good at the old art of witchcraft. Brews, potions, elixirs, and yes, remedies. Before our kind was ostracized, I would have normally been called a witch doctor. Most ancient civilizations contained a few of my Breed in any major society, as our gifts still far surpassed the medicine of the age.

"Now, however, science has made quite a few leaps, so my talents are not as saught after. Nevertheless, a good witch always keeps in practice!" She exclaims, pushing her sleeve back down. "That's what my mother always said."

I smile at my enthusiastic mentor. "So, this food chain you were talking about?"

"Ah, right! As I was saying, Cassandra and I are towards the bottom, more common layer of Prey. Most witches fall within this category: Deer, Raccoon, Elephant, Kangaroo-"

"There are Kangaroo Witches?!" I can't help but laugh.

"Yes. Every living animal on the planet can be a Spirit Animal. They are the creatures of Mother Nature, as are we, so she naturally bound us together."

A thought comes to me as she says this. "Are there Wolf Witches then?"

Surprisingly, she nods. "Yes, but they are in the less common category of Predators. They are quite powerful, and easily mistaken for werewolves, due to their shared abilities. There are a few I know about that are-"

Suddenly, she stops herself, and looks towards the wall. I heard it too. Seems Joey just got back. A sense of relief trails through me, knowing I'll soon be able to have definitive alone time.

"Sorry Ali," Mrs. Santiago says, shaking her head a little. "What was I saying?"

"You were talking about Wolf Witches and Predators."

"Ah yes! They are more powerful, but they still fall under the food chain I spoke of.

"You see, when compared to Prey, a Predatory Witch will almost always be stronger. However, when compared to each other, that is not always the case. It depends on how strong of a Predator their Spirit Animal naturally is, as well as the circumstances they are being compared within.

"For instance, a Cat Witch will normally lose in a Duel against a Hawk Witch. But if that Cat Witch can ground her opponent, then the balance of power will normally shift in her favor."

"Wait, witches have duels?" I ask, rather astounded.

"Some do. They mainly occur between Predatory Witches. Cassandra and I, being Prey, have Spirit Animals that are used to hiding or fleeing, rather than confronting any aggressors. There are some Prey Witches, like Horse and Bull ones, that participate in Duels, but it really depends on the Spirit Animal."

"But what are the Duels for?"

"They are a test of strength, and sometimes a fight for territory and dominance. Witches can be territorial, at times. If two or more powerful witches reside in the same area, they will naturally feel each other's presence, and seek each other out. If necessary, they'll Duel to see who is the stronger. The victor will decide if the loser will be forced out of the area, or just become a subservient witch to them within the territory. It's rather complicated, and something I personally don't see the point of. But these are Predators we're talking about, and they have their own mindsets."

I nod. Things are definitely starting to make sense, especially with the comparison between witches and their Animals. But there's still one thing she hasn't mentioned. "What about my mother? From what you've said, her Animal was the Unicorn, which I guess would fall under Prey, but you also said she was really powerful."

"She was, because she was a part of a smaller, yet far greater category: the Exotics."

A shiver runs through my spine as she says this name. "The Exotics?"

She nods, completely serious now. "Any witch whose Spirit Animal belongs to this group is more powerful than any of her lower peers. As such, she is unique in her abilities."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember how I said there is a balance of power versus number? Like how there are more Frog Witches than Wolf Witches?"

I nod.

"As an Exotic, there is no other witch in their Breed. Throughout an Exotic's life, they are the only one of their kind."

"So my mother was the only Unicorn Witch at the time?" That's a sad thought to have. She must've been really lonely...

She nods. "It's how Mother Nature made sure the balance would never tip too much into one Breed's favor. I, as a Frog Witch, could never hope to face your mother head on, although I never would've wanted to, since we were so close. However, if every one of my Breed decide to unite against her, we would be evenly matched. Maybe we'd even be enough to overpower her."

I shake my head, utterly distraught at the idea of other witches trying to harm my mother. "But why would any witch do that? You said Mom's gifts dealt in healing and protection. She was kind, honest, and caring. Why would anyone want to hurt her? Just because she was an Exotic?!"

A grimace comes across my mentor's face as she replies. "There is one thing witches share with humanity: greed. Humans have always been driven to have more, or to be more than their peers. The same, unfortunately, goes for many witches. There are those that will stop at nothing to be more powerful than the others. And sometimes, such a witch is born into the Exotics..."

A light flickers on within my skull, and a spark of understanding ignites. "It's a failsafe. In case an Exotic tried to take over."

She nods. "Susanne was never that type, but even Mother Nature herself cannot predict which of her denizens will fall prone to such sinful ways."

Everything has fallen into place. My understanding of my new people has started becoming clearer. In my head, I imagine a pyramid of sorts, with Prey at the bottom, Predators at the middle, and Exotics at the pinnacle. There are threads and connections in between each layer, showing power comparisons based on their Spirit Animals. I have a vague understanding of how witches react towards each other.

Now, only one question remains...

"Where am I in all of this? What's my Spirit Animal?"

Reaching out for my other hand so that she has a hold of both, Mrs. Santiago grins excitedly. "That's what we're going to find out now."