The Warriors: Caith

Dreams

    It was dark and I was already feeling that my change was upon me. It was early for me, I am one of the few that will change before my tenth birthday. The snow on the mountain makes nights long and cold. I know what will happen, we all know what happens when we change for the first time but I'm scared. I hear the older kids out running around in the pack. They are a few years older than me and have already made their first change. I'm jealous of them, I wish I cold just get it over with. 

    As I lay quietly waiting for sleep to take me I feel something. It starts off as a burning in my chest. I sit up wondering if this is it, if this is the start of the change. For an instant I get excited, then the burn turns into a sharp pain. It's like a knife that is stabbing me over and over. I can't breath and I can't move. Is this the change?  What is happening, no one said it would feel like this! Then I hear it, cries. So many cries for help. I can't tell at first if it's in my head or if it's outside my tent, its so loud and all around me. The pain increases and I hear the cries of babies, cries of horror and pain. The other kids must be feeling it too, I hear the howls of the pack that was out running, The howls of pain, and confusion just like mine. What is happening? Why is there all this pain. Then it suddenly stops, the cries are silent and the pain is back to a burn. It hurts but I can move. I stand up and I run to the howling of the pack. They are all back to human form, they are crying. They are all curdled up and crying. Why is everyone crying, what just happened? I just want answers but can't seem to speak, my mind is confused. The world around me seemed to slow down. 

   Suddenly,  I feel arms come around me, I recognize the scent first. It's an elder. It's Durain, my favorite of the trainers. He hugs me from behind as he falls to his knees. He grabs me and shakes me to turn to him.

"Caith! Caith! Look at me!" he commands

I turn to him with confusion and sadness. I know now what has happened but yet it feels like a dream. Everything is clouded. I understand but can't comprehend. Why? How? Questions with no answers fumble through my head.

"Why? How?" I ask, seems to be the only words I can speak. Then I feel it. It started off as a small spark, then grew inside me. I feel the betrayal of who we thought were our friends I feel the anger, the hatred, bloodlust. I hear cracks and pops of bones and I don't realize they are coming from my body, there's no pain, just numbness. My eyesight changes and the fog lifts from my brain. Instantly I hear everything. I hear the pack crying in mourning. I hear the warriors so far away yells and scream with rage. I feel the lifelessness of my mother and baby sister. I feel the power, the anger, and the desperation of my father racing home. 

"Caith! Stay with me! Don't let the anger take over! Stay calm and listen to me." Durain says to me, but his mouth isn't moving. I look into his eyes, they are golden and pleading with me. He's in wolf form and I am level with him, as I look down I see a paw with grey fur. I've transitioned, I am a wolf, now fully part of the pack. I am only nine years old.

    Caith sits up straight out of bed, and runs a hand up and down his face. He looks around to remind himself where he is and that it was just a dream. Sweat has soaked his sheets again. It's the same dream. Always the same dream. As he looks around and the pain from that night settles he moves to get out of bed. No use trying to go back to sleep. Sleep will not come anytime soon for him. As he puts his feet on the floor he feel the sadness and the burning in his chest as he remembers his sister's and mother's screams. As he stands up he hears his brother awaken from their own nightmares. Something changed in them that night. They became linked. If one had the nightmare, they all had it. 

    Well I guess we might as well start our day. He heads down to the kitchen where he sees Connor already on his computer. 

"Anything new on the Hunters location?" Caith asks Connor

"I think I may have a lead on something, give me a little while to get the full details and I'll call a meeting" Connor replies.

"Okay, sounds good, I'll be in the gym" says Caith

As Caith head downstairs to the gym he is amazed at how Connor understands computers. He doesn't get it, he can't even work a phone most of the time. He's lived through the centuries and has watch technology become a part of everyday lives, yet he still doesn't understand it. Thankfully Connor understands it and can manipulate it. A necessary skill in this day and age. Everything is done online, even payment for their services. Running a security firm requires the use of technology and anonymity. Anyone needing protection and that doesn't want to involve law enforcement you call them. You would be amazed at how rich people like to keep their secrets, secret.  

    The packs home base is on a ranch out in the middle of no-where Alaska. Perfect for privacy and having room to run free whenever they feel the need. As he walks in the gym he sees Liam already sweating away on the treadmill. Working out helped, it helped with the restlessness they felt. Helped clear their minds and to release the anger that has been in them for so many years.

"Where is everyone?" Caith asks Liam

"They went out for a run, the nightmares are happening more often and the need to change is getting stronger everyday" replies Liam.

" I feel it too" Caith says

And he did, he tried to limit changing to only a few times a month, but the urge to do it was happening almost everyday. The pain and loneliness seemed to be easier to handle when running free. The pain eased, but the human in him seemed lessen. Durain warned them of this, they have no mates to anchor them. They gave up long ago trying to find what was left of the clan and those like them. They tried dating humans for awhile but it never worked out. It was like the humans sensed the predator in them and was scared away. Maybe it all would be easier if they just let the wolves take over. Then again who would kill the Hunters?