Whisper of the Wood

chapter 15.1

Alistair and the strange girl hold eye contact for a brief moment before she turns the flee across the ice and beyond the royal packs boarded.

As he watches the her figure fade into the distance he hears Graysons steady voice enter his mind.

'Where is she heading?'

'North towards White Fang'

'Good hold your position I'm on my way, Alec will contact Alpha Julius'

'shes getting away' Alistair answered in frustration. The girl hadn't quite reached the otherside and he knew once she did they would have lost the opportunity to catch up. He growled under his breath frustrated by his hesitation to send the alert sooner.

Alistair stood to start the chase when his uncle repeated his words 'Alistair hold your position'. As quickly as graysons words entered his mind, four patrol wolves rushed past him in pursuit of the girl as a slightly smaller beige and tan wolf with blue eyes stopped beside him, his uncle.

'you were nearby weren't you?' Alistair barked in annoyance

'Near enough to ensure your safety, far enough to give you some freedom' he replied matter-of-factly. Alistair gave a low growl and he set off to join the hunt, but was quickly blocked by his uncle. 'you and I shall be returning to the palace, the royal warriors will deal with the creature and Alpha Julius has informed your brother that White Fang warriors will join the hunt. Our borders are currently being fortified, the creature is completely outnumbered and will be in our custody before nightfall, dead or alive.'

Alistairs jaw cletched shut after his uncles words reached him. He found her, he wanted the victory of tracking her down. But if the rumours were true despite her fagile appearance this creature was deadly. But swallowing gis pride he turned and walked towards home by his uncles side.

Alistair was thankful his uncle left him to his own thoughts as they strolled through the forest. It allowed his mind to replay the images of her, ticking like a clock through his thoughts when it struck the hour, realisation hit him and he stopped. His next thought seeping from his mind as he unconsciously sendt the words to his uncle 'She ran away'.

Before Grayson had an opportunity to respond the both received a clear message for Alec.

'The creature has been intercepted and a chase has ensued on White Fang territory. Ten other warriors are on the way, join them'

Alistair couldn't help but be elated even his uncle wouldn't be able to stop him now as he turned and flew full speed toward White Fang territory, communicating with the other warriors to pin point a more accurate location. it took an hour for him and his uncle to catch up to some of the trackers; 2 Royal warriors and 3 White Fang warriors.

Being a wolf of the Royal Pack Blue Moon, he had no way of communicating with the White Fang warriors in wolf form. But his own warriors swiftly gave a rundown of the situation.

It seems they had lost track of her 20 minutes before his arrival to they broke off into smaller teams. The mix of both packs in eaxh team meant an easier way to pass on messages should someone get a lead. Alistair watched as the Three White Fang wolves were momentarily lost in thought as thier eyes glazed over. and they turned to sprint Eastward. He and the others were quick to follow behind as thier change in behaviour suggested someone had intercepted her again.

Alistair felt a compulsion to speed past the other warriors, to reach the others first but he had no idea where they were going and to top it off he was unfamiliar with these lands.

He attempted to mindlink the other nearby Blue Moon warriors but of the ten who were supposed to be on the territory he could only sense 6 and his uncle. None of whom had any clue where the White Fang wolves were heading. So all he could do was stick close, when they came to a sudden halt by a small clearing. A large crowd of wolves some still in human form bearing weapons surrounded the clearing. Alistair couldn't see past the crowd but could hear the rage of voices in the crowd shouting.

'MONSTER!'

'DISGUSTING!'

'WITCH!'

'ABOMINATION!'

'KILL IT!'

Alistair pushed his way through the crowd reaching the front, he saw her threatening Alpha Julius with a broken branch. Julius seen her as nothing but a meer annoyance in his day, having opted to remain in his human form, an amusemed smile forming.

'Calm down little lion, why don't you drop your toy and accept death' his eyes darkened at the prospect. Alistair knew this alpha had no intention of letting anyone interfere in his kill. The girl was tensing up, Alistair could hear her erratic breathing. The fur cloak she was wearing now barely covered her body, she kept a firm grip of the branch in her left hand as her right arm hang lifeless, blood trickling from the wounds. The blue orb that seemed to follow her was nowhere to be seen. She was now truely alone and completely outnumbered.

He watched as she charged at Alpha Julius, no concern for her own life. Before making contact she threw the stick towarda his face, as she ducked to his left attempting to get behind him. She was fast but Julius was much faster, he dodged the flying projectile and grapped her by the throat lifting her small fragile from off the ground.

She struggled in his grasp, a wild glow in her eyes. Her lack of submission enraged Julius and her threw her body across the opening and drew a dagger from his back belt.

Julius stalked toward her as a mix of howls and a cheers form the crowd erupted in the air. The girl was now gasping struggling to get back to her feet, her eyes scanning the crowd as if trying to calculate a new plan when she saw Alistair stood tense at the front. As thier gaze met her eyes became unfocused as she managed to find her footing. Still hunching over clutching her throat attempting to steady her breath.

Julius was mere metres away when Alistair strang from the crowd positioning himself between Julius and the girl. Julius was stunned by the interruption when cries erupted once again from the crowd and in Alistair's mind 'WATCH OUT!!'. But it was too late the girl had jumped onto Alistair's back as she tried to pin him down. But she was weak and exhausted, her head slumped and her felt her rapsy breath escape her lips followed by a single word 'live'. She had collapsed on the floor off of the Alpha Princes back. Julius head the knife to her throat as Alistair let out a deep warning growl.

Julius' expression remained blank as he turned to the wolf who stopped his game 'Fine young prince, she can live for now'.