Through the Emerald Forest

Chapter 4 A New Day

    **Many years later**

    The Alarm clock started beeping the the most annoying way possible. After a couple heartbeats, an arm pops out of a pile of blankets and blindly smacks at the alarm till it stops beeping. The small figure, buried under the blanket, groans and stretches out. After a few minutes of stalling in bed, there is a loud knock on the door, the figure buried in the blankets growled ever so softly, the person knocking can be heard chuckling.

    "Amethyst, are you up? If you don't hurry you'll run late." The voice of Alpha Max drifts through the door, causing Amethyst to groan slightly.

    "Yeah, Uncle Max. I'm up."  Amethyst giggled slightly and slid out of bed. She headed to the attached bathroom and hoped into a quick shower to rinse off. After her quick shower, Amethyst got dressed. She had picked her favorite outfit for the day last night, a pair of dark washed skinny jeans with a light blue button up and a pair of high top boots. She pulled her white-blonde hair into a high ponytail and grabbed some chap-stick. She then quickly heads downstairs to grab some breakfast, She could smell the pancakes and bacon from her room.

    As Amethyst walks into the dining room to find everyone already eating. She grabs a plate and a couple of pancakes and bacon and fruit and digs in. When she was about half done she hears a chuckle from Max. She looks over at her uncle and raised an eyebrow.

    "What?" She asks after swallowing a mouthful of pancake goodness.

    "I am just always amazed on how much you can eat, being so tiny." Max chuckles again, as Amethyst stuffs the last of her bacon in her mouth. While her mouth was full she crossed her eyes and made a silly face at Max, who laughed. Collin sitting across from Am rolled his eyes in annoyance.

    "If your all done making a fool of yourself, we need to go if we are going to be on time for the first day." Collin said annoyed, glaring at Am as she finished her bacon. Am rolled her eyes at Collin and glanced at Max.

    "Uncle, are you going to be taking us to our first day?" Amethyst asked Max, he had a tradition of taking them to the first day of school. It didn't matter to him if it was the first grade or college. He wanted to be there for his pups, blood or not.

    "Absolutely! I wouldn't miss it for the world. Your first day of High School, and Collin's last first day. If you both have everything you need, we can head out in five minutes." Max said finishing his coffee and standing to finish getting ready himself. He kissed Amethyst on the head as he walked by, she smiled at Max and finished her orange juice. She then hurried upstairs to grab her bag and make sure she had the supplies for the first day. As she headed back down stairs she heard voices, well one voice that of Collin.

    "Come on, Dad. I don't know why you insist this every year. I can go myself. I'm not some little kid!" Collin sounded angry. Amethyst was slightly confused at his anger. She didn't know that's how he felt about the yearly tradition of Max taking them to school. She heard a growl, it was low but she knew it to be a warning from Max.

    "I take you to school because I want to and because it marks another milestone in your lives that we are lucky to have." Max sound frustrated, the past year Collin's been pushing his father. "Its just one day. You can get yourself there the rest of the year. I am headed in that direction for a meeting anyways." Collin sighs exasperated.

    "Fine. I'll be in the car." Collin huffed and slammed the front door on his way out. Amethyst finished going down the stairs and rounded the corner into the front hall. She finds her Uncle Max there rubbing his temples in frustration. Amethyst walks up and wraps her arms around Max's middle in a hug. Max jumps slightly; he hadn't sensed her walk up. He turned and hugged her back.

    "Are you OK, Uncle?" Amethyst asks cautiously, spats between Collin and Max can leave him in a bad mood. Max sighs heavily.

    "Yes, my dear. I am OK. We should get going. I will be headed to a meeting after I drop you off today." Max turned and headed out the door but not before taking Am's bag from her. She follows him out the door to the car to find him holding the rear door open for her. Amethyst smiles and gets in the car; a slightly sullen Collin is in the passenger seat.

    The six mile ride to the High School was silent and slightly uncomfortable, Amethyst gazed out the window. She watched trees and fields pass by, admiring the view, as they approached the school. It was still on pack land in the south-eastern corner. As the School came into view, Amethyst couldn't help but marvel at it, even tho she's seen it before. It was a large brickwork building, three stories high with a large out building that served as the Gym and a large sports field in the back. Amethyst knew that the school served the two neighboring packs as well. The elementary and middle schools did not, each pack had their own for the younger kids.

    They pull up to the school, as soon as the car stopped Collin got out and, without even saying goodbye, walked into the building. Before Amethyst was able to open the door of the car, Max darted around and opened her door. Am giggled as Max ruffled her hair slightly. She slipped her backpack on and hugged Max.

    "Have a great first day, Princess. I should be done with my meeting in time to be here to get you after." Max said gently. He then kissed the top of Amethyst's head, making her giggle again.

    "OK, Uncle Max. I'll do my best to have a good day. I hope you meeting goes well." Amethyst broke from the hug and started up the front steps turning to wave goodbye to Max, she got this sinking feeling that it might be the last time she will see him. As he waves back, she turns and shakes her head trying to get the feeling out of her head. She headed to her locker to put her bag away and grabbed one of her notebooks with a couple of pens then heads off to class.

    Its Lunchtime, Amethyst's stomach was growling loudly. She went into the Cafeteria and joined the line. After grabbing a tray of tasty looking lunch, Am walked out into the seating area. She saw Collin surrounded by other Seniors. They made eye contact briefly, his eyes narrowed and he shook his head slightly as if to say 'don't even think about it'. Amethyst looked around the room and noticed and empty table. She headed that way and sat down. She started to daydream a bit, just staring off into space, when, suddenly, her lunch tray got pushed onto the floor. Amethyst jumped, startled, and looked at the culprit. She found herself looking at one of the senior she-wolves that was hanging off Collin. The she-wolf was a bleach-blonde, tall and had fake looking curves.

    "Can i help you?"  Amethyst asked while looking her with a raised eyebrow. Am was glad she had at least was able to finish her sandwich before the rest of the lunch went flying; she hated wasting food.

    "Look here, you freshman runt. Stay away from Collin. He's mine." The she-wolf growled at Amethyst. Amethyst raised an eyebrow again.

    "I'm sorry. I don't know you. I have no interest in Collin. As for staying away from him...We live in the same house, so i don't see how well..." She got cut off as the she-wolf growled loudly and lashed out and slapped Amethyst hard, knocking her off her chair onto the floor. The cafeteria went quiet, all eyes watching what was to happen next, when a loud growl echoed slightly in the quiet.

    "Ashley! Stop it." The voice of Collin cut through the tension. The fuming She-wolf turned toward him, fake smile plastered on her face. "What seems to be the problem here?" Collin approached and looked at them both.

    "Col! She was making eyes at you" Ashley whined annoyingly and attempted to pout. "She had the nerve to say you lived in the same house!" Her last statement made Collin sigh annoyed. He pinched the bridge of his nose in a annoyed kinda way.

    "Ashley, we do live in the same house. My father is her adoptive uncle and would be very upset if she was hurt." Collin barely glanced at Amethyst, who was still sitting on the floor, one hand on her face. "You good? yeah? Then leave." Amethyst had nodded at his question before getting up off the ground and hurrying out of the Cafeteria. She glanced back to see Ashley and Collin making out, making her roll her eyes.

    The rest of the day was uneventful. Amethyst already found her history class was looking to be her favorite. She was standing near the stairs just outside the main doors waiting for Max to come to pick them up. Suddenly she felt a shove as Ashley and her squad push past her and snickered. Amethyst didn't react something told her it wasn't worth her time. After a few more minutes, Collin walked out of the front doors. He stopped next to Amethyst but didn't look at her.

    "I'm going home with Nathan. I'm only telling you so you can tell Father when he picks you up." Collin didn't wait for her reply as he headed down the steps joining Ashley and the rest of the group. Amethyst watched as they pilled into the cars and left. Slowly the parking lot emptied out of all the students and most of the staff. Amethyst had sat down on the top stair, and was doodling in her notebook, school had ended hours ago. She sighed and tucked her notebook in her bag and stood up. *Uncle Max's meeting must have gone on a long time*   She thought as she headed down the stairs. She shivered slightly as night began to fall and there was a chill in the air. She started walking toward home when a voice called out to her.

    "Miss Greene. Is everything alright?" Startled, Amethyst turned to see her history teacher walking down the stairs. His face a mask of concern. Amethyst had been daydreaming earlier of him, so seeing him there caused her to blush slightly. His hazel eyes glittered slightly in the dimming light.

    "Yes, Mr Obstran. My ride never showed up, and I don't have a way to call home. I figured it wasn't too far so i would just walk." Amethyst stumbled over her words at first before able to calm herself. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder as she readied herself to walk home.

    "Miss Greene, if i remember correctly you live in the Silverpine pack house which is about 6 miles from here. At this time of the evening that is quite a distance. Come. I'll take you home." He waved his hand toward his car. Amethyst shifted her weight back and forth debating what to do. After a minute she stepped toward him and he smiled. He walked to his car and opened the passenger door for her, she slid into the car and buckled up. He hopped into the car and started it up. The drive to her house was quiet, except for the radio. It was fully dark when they pulled up to the front of the pack house.

    "Thank you, Mr. Obstran. I'm not sure how long that would've taken me to walk." Amethyst said while unbuckling her seat-belt and grabbing her backpack.

    "You are welcome, Miss Greene. I hope you have a good evening and I look forward to having you in class." He said warmly as she climbed out of the car. Soon as the door closed he headed off. Amethyst watched him drive down the drive a bit before headed inside. Her stomach growling, but that uneasy feeling returning.

    She walked into the house to see Luna Jilliana sitting on the couch with puffy red eyes and Collin standing in the middle of the room looking extremely angry. His eyes snapped to hers as she walked into the room, she stopped walking as his eyes flickered between their usual blue and black then he stormed out of the room. She could hear his door slam and the sounds of breaking furniture. She looked back to the Luna, still sitting on the couch, staring into the room at nothing.

    "Aunt Jilliana? What's wrong?" Amethyst asked taking a step towards Jilliana, reaching out to touch her shoulder. Jilliana recoiled from her touch, snapping out of her state. She stood quickly, growling and backhanded Amethyst, causing her to fall onto the ground.

    "I am not your Aunt, you will address me as Luna. This is all your fault." She spat at a very confused Amethyst.

    "I-i-i'm sorry, Luna Jilliana. I don't understand. What is my fault?" Amethyst stuttered out, making sure to not make eye contact. She curled into a ball as Jillians's foot came her direction, making contact with her ribs.

    "Shut up!" Jilliana kicked her again. "It's your fault!" She shouted. After a few more kicks, she turned to walk out of the living room. Amethyst risked looking towards her as she left, that sense of dread becoming overwhelming. The last thing Jilliana says before she leaves echos in Amethysts mind over and over.

     "Max is dead"