White Fire

Chapter One: The Cliff Edge

A large fiery red female wolf huffs as she runs through the trees and the brush, darting with great speed through the forest. Her large but feminine paws hit the ground powerfully with loud rhythmic thuds. A low growl is heard just mere feet behind her as she races through the dense and dark gathering of large pines and oak trees. Suddenly, the female wolf stops at a cliff ledge. She turns to see a snowy white male wolf much larger in size than her, with glowing golden eyes and a deep masculine scar over his right eye, emerge from the thick heavy morning fog. “Now Kasai, You know your father doesn't like it when you wander this far from the pack lands!” The large male wolf scuffs as he speaks. Kasai laughs and jumps to nip at the male’s ear playfully. “Father has no control over where I go now that I am older...” she giggled. “I’m not a pup anymore, for pete’s sake, father tells me every day since I aged up that I’m now at a ripe adult age, but yet, he still tries to control where I go and who I am with!” She turns from the male angrily.

The Large male moves closer to the flustered and angered female, brushing against her and nuzzles the side of her face. The two wolves crouch at the edge of the cliff and look out over the vast lands where their pack resides. Kasai leans to the side, resting her head on his shoulder. As they look out over the lands, the large male scans his surroundings. Kasai lifts her head and glances up at the large muscular male wolf keeping her company and sighs. He steals a glance out the corner of his eye and laughs under his breath. “What’s on your mind this time, Hon?” speaking with sincerity and curiosity. “Nothing important really…..” She pauses for a few moments.

In the trees behind them, Golden-Headed Cisticolas can be heard chirping their early morning songs. The cool air before sunrise is heavy with fog. Fresh morning dew rests on the long, thick blades of grass making the pads on her paws damp and cold. Sighing once more, She opens her mouth to speak. “My father speaks of finding a life-long mate and breeding, taking over the pack when he passes to the next life as though he doesn’t have much longer left in this one. It’s tiring for me to think about all the reasons why he could possibly be trying to push me into these things.” When she pauses for a long time, the male begins to speak softly. “Kas, he loves you more than anything. Since your momma passed on to the next life at such a young age, I’m sure he just wants you to have what he may feel like he couldn't give her. Could that be a possibility?” She sighs and shrugs. “I guess that could be so. I just don't understand how he could wish for me to become the mate of that brute, Kane. He is as cruel as he is powerful.” The large male wolf leans his head down to her and licks the side of her muzzle then rests his forehead against hers and whispers “I know my princess, Believe me, I know.”

Roan ruled the pack with a titanium claw alongside his beautiful bride and mate Asena. Roan was an extremely large and powerful Alpha with long thick jet black fur, deep red eyes and a very volatile anger level. His temper was like an active volcano that could blow at the smallest thing like someone tossing a pebble into its mouth. Asena was a golden blonde female with bright green eyes and as calm natured as they come. She was soft spoken and gentle. She was the daughter of an Alpha from the Stony Pine pack, that rests in the heart of the subarctic boreal forest, that Roan was, at the time, at war with. She was offered to Roan as a peace offering. An alliance was built and Shortly after, they were married. Asena became pregnant and gave birth to three siblings. The eldest was a black male Roan named Steele. The second born was a golden-orange female they named Coran. The youngest to be born was a flame red female with Emerald eyes that Roan named Kasai, which in Japanese means Flame. Roan adored the youngest pup. He spent most of his time with her, Training her in warfare, teaching her the ways of a ruler. He spoiled her and doted on her. When Kasai became two years old, Asena was injured severely during a hunt and fell deathly ill from her wounds. She died shortly after and Kasai became the target of her father to become the next pack leader when he passed on too.

Shaking the memories from her head, she turns and shifts her body to face the large white male and spoke once more. “Haj, I am going to my father and pleading with him to let me choose who I take as a mate. I don’t think I could survive being with Kane. I wouldn't be his equal. I would be his property, his play thing…..” she sighs as her words trail off. A solitary tear forms in her eye and starts to stream down the side of her face leaving a trail of damp fur in its wake. Hajime looks down at her and lifts his paw to brush the tear from her cheek. “I know being the daughter of a great Alpha is hard for you, Love. I wish there was something I could do to lift this burden from your heart.” She tries to fake a smile as she fights back more tears. “If only Father could see that I don’t love him, that maybe I could be with someone else. Someone who will actually treat me right.” With that, she lifts herself up onto all fours and turns to leave. “Maybe I can speak with Roan.” She turned to Hajime and laughed at his words and replied sarcastically. “Oh Yeah, Anger the dormant volcano. What would you possibly say to him that would change his mind about Kane being my mate?” Hajime glared intensively at her as she realized he wasn't making a joke. “Oh No, you're not seriously thinking of that, are you?” The white male raises to his feet as well to accompany the female on her way back to the dens.

Down at the base of the Athania Mountain, The Alpha Roan paces back and forth growling and snarling. He lets out a great howl as three Scouts trot up the rocky pathway towards him “Where is she? Where is my daughter?” A tall lean male steps away from the other two scouts as Roan turns towards them. “Luka, have you found her?” Luka responds nervously “We followed her scent to the edge of the Shadow Woods And then we lost her. We did catch the scent of another with her.” Roan moves closer to Luka. “Who is it?” Luka hesitates then replies. “She is with Hajime somewhere in the forest.” Roan’s shoulder tuff raises as he growls. He charges at Luka, tackling him, holding him down with his enormous paw. “Luka, Bring them to me the very moment they return!” He steps off of the slender male and stomps off in a huff, muttering under his breath. Luka stood and returned to his fellow scouts as they turned to run down the pathway. Inside the massive den, Roan lumbers over and plops down on a bed of deer and rabbit furs.

Kasai and Hajime barrel out of the tree line. The sun has come up and centered itself in the middle of the sky. The sky was bright blue with a few small fluffy clouds floating carelessly by. Kasai bounces around Hajime’s feet playfully, giggling and enjoying the freedom she feels around him. As they reach the clearing at the base of the Athania Mountains, Hajime suddenly hauls. Kasai slows to a stop and looks at him. “What’s wrong? Tired and giving up already?” Hajime shakes his head and nods towards something in the distance. Kasai turns to see three male scouting wolves approaching fast. Luka looks to the two in disapproval. “Princess, Your father wants to see both of you right away” Kasai glances at Hajime with worry in her eyes. Hajime begins to walk towards the great white of the Athania Mountain chain with Kasai and the scouts right behind him. As they reach the base of the rocky pathway that leads to the Alpha’s den, Hajime and Kasai look up to see Roan emerge from his den. Kasai swallows hard, contemplating the decision to turn and run back to the Shadow Woods. Luka whispers to Kasai before leaving Hajime and Kasai to face Roan, “Good Luck Princess…” With that he turns and runs off to the clearing to join the rest of the pack. Kasai and Hajime climb the pathway towards Roan cautiously. Hajime reaches the top with Kasai at his side. As he steps off the path to confront Roan, the massive black Alpha charges Hajime, tackling him to the ground biting at his neck and shoulders. Kasai howls in concern at the event unfolding in front of her. She darts towards the two males entangled in battle. Before she can reach them, another large figure steps in her way growling and baring teeth. “What do you think you are doing, Honey?”

Standing in front of Kasai, towering over her, blocking her path to the brawl, was a monsterous lusty male wolf with dark blue-grey fur. His face riddled with epic battle scars. “Kane! Get out of my way! I need to stop this before they kill each other!” Kane chuckles as if her screams were only jokes. “You should mind your own and let that mutt take what he deserves. You are mine! You have no reason to be hanging around him and running off alone into the Shadow Woods with him!” His words fall on deaf ears as Kasai watches in horror as her father and her closest male friend are locked in a deadly duel.

Hajime, now on his back snarling and growling, biting and kicking to get out from under Roan. Roan’s enormous claws slam repeatedly into Hajime’s face and throat, his nails catching on Hajime’s thick skin leaving behind deep scratches and patches of fur coated with fresh blood. Kasai makes a split decision and lunges forward, biting Kane hard on the leg as she maneuvers around him to race to her friend's aid. She reaches the two wolves and dives in between them, separating them from each other to stop the blood shed. Roan pauses in mid strike and stares down at his daughter for a moment. “Kasai, Move now!” She begins to cry heavily as she shakes her head in defiance of her father. “No! This has gone far enough!” Roan reacts without a second thought continuing his motion to strike, his heavy claw collides with Kasai’s cheek. Hajime swiftly gains back his strength and jumps to his feet. He steps between Kasai and her father growling with his tuff on his back standing on end. Kasai spits to the side as blood pools in her mouth from the hit. “Roan, She’s right. This has gone far enough. Look at what you have done to your own daughter!” Just then, Kane rushes over to Kasai and tries to lick her wounded mouth. She pulls away in protest and disgust in Kane’s false affections.

Later on in the den after the fight ended, Kane, Kasai and Hajime, all sat around the Alpha’s Throne. His throne was a boulder was large and shaped somewhat like a throne kings sit upon in the human world. Roan sits proudly on his throne & speaks to his daughter sternly “Kasai, You have no business being with Hajime. He is not your intended. Kane is. This type of behavior is atrocious and I will not stand for it! You are not….” Before he could finish, Hajime stepped forward, interrupting the Alpha. “Roan, I do not wish to disrespect you but this can't go on any longer. Kasai is grown and should be able to make her own choices. She should be with who she wants and go where she wants without worry of punishment or altercations with her own father. I know you're only looking out for her well being but…” Roan growls and snaps at him, warning him to be silent. “You are correct, she is MY daughter and I will handle her how I see fit!”

Ignoring the thick tension in the den, Kasai walks over to Hajime and leans into him, pressing her face into his chest, crying as she does so. Upon seeing this, Kane gets angry and takes a strong hold of Kasai’s front leg and drags her away from Hajime. As Hajime tries to reach for her to rescue her from Kane’s grip, Roan interrupts. “Kasai, You are forbidden from ever seeing Hajime from this point on. You are Kane’s intended and you will spend the rest of your life with him. You are no longer allowed to leave the clearing or the dens without him accompanying you.” His words stung deep down as she started crying harder. Roan howled “Hajime, leave my den immediately!” As Hajime turned to leave the den with his head hung low to the ground, Kasai tried to fight to get away from Kane to run after him. “Father! No! Please don’t do this! I do not wish to be with Kane. I want Hajime as my mate!” She fights out the words between the tears and the tightness in her throat. “Silence my Daughter, This is what needs to happen.” Roan turns away coldly and disappears into the dense shadows of his den. Kasai jerks her leg away from Kane and races quickly out hysterical due to the turn of events that transpired with her father.

Outside the Alpha’s den, Hajime makes his way down the path towards his own. Kasai exits the den searching for her friend. She spots him and takes off as fast as she can towards him. Hajime hears her coming from behind and turns to face her. She runs right into him, colliding with his chest and wrapping her front legs around him. Sobbing hard with her face buried in his chest. “Haj, I don’t want any of this” He tenderly embraces the upset female and tries to comfort her the best way he knows how. “Kasai, My Love, I don’t want any of this either. But if I do not abide by what your father says, He may send me to exile or kill me. I would rather be able to see you in passing from afar than never see you at all.” Kasai begins to cry harder at his words. They are harsh on her heart but she knew he was right. She pressed her face farther into his chest tuff. Gripping pawfuls in a final embrace before nodding in agreement. She nods then steps back to compose herself. “Ok, I guess I will return to the den.” She smiles as to say goodbye without the words passing from her lips.

Months have passed by and the season of Winter fast approaches. The pack prepares for the snow, hunting enough prey and gathering plenty of supplies. Kasai is also preparing to be joined for life with Kane. Inside her den, Kasai digs at the pile of animal skins trying to make them comfortable enough to sleep. She finishes fluffing her bedding and turns to get a drink of water from the tiny stream that trickled down the wall of her den into a pool. She winces in pain as she limps slightly towards the cool clear pool. Laying down at its edge, dipping her paw in to soothe its aching, rinsing off the dried blood that clung to her fur. She glances at her reflection in the ripples and realizes the swollen and bruised cut on the side of her muzzle. As she brushes her paw over her face to try to fluff her fur to cover the evidence, Kane stalks in angrily. “My bride, you didn't make an appearance at the pack meeting and your father scolded me about your blatant disrespect for him as of late.” Kasai jumps at the sound of Kane’s aggressive tone. She stands, trying to hide her pain and her fear but Kane has already sensed it. “Are you frightened Honey?” Kasai shakes her head trying to deny that truly deep down she was scared. Scared that one day soon, Kane would kill her. “You know why I didn't go to the meeting. Do you really think father would approve how you treat me, even before we are officially united?”

Kane is angered by her response and lifts his paw, with claws extended and striking Kasai hard across the face. She falls to the ground and grabs a hold of her face as blood starts to trickle from yet another scratch sustained by his rage. As Kasai lays on the den floor sobbing softly, Kane steps over her and leans down to her, grabbing her by the back of her neck and jerking her off the ground. She fights him trying to get away but his hold on her is too strong. Before she could shift to get away, Kane lets go and shoves her to the ground. Pressing his huge paw into her back to hold her down, He climbs on top of her. Forcing his way inside and begins to thrust violently. She starts to fight to get away. He presses his other paw against the back of her head, causing her to bury her face in her front legs, muffling her howls and screams of pain. When he finishes, he shoves her one last time before climbing off. He rises and laughs as he stumbles backwards then regains his footing, kicking dirt at her.

Kane turns to leave the den, spotting a slender female enter the den. It was Kasai’s best friend since they were pups, Naviira. A light grey colored female with a pitchy voice. She pauses at the opening of the den and stares at the appalling scene in front of her. Kane turns and storms out of the den, nearly shoulder checking Naviira as he passes her. Naviira waits for a moment and when the coast is clear and Kane is far enough away, She races to Kasai.

“Oh my goodness Kassy, what the hell just happened? Did he hit you? You're bleeding!” In shock, Kasai looks up to her friend and begins to cry. She collapses into her friends arms and lets her emotions flood out. “My dearest Naviira, please don't tell anyone of this. Not even my father” Naviira shakes her head in disagreement. “I can not do that Kassy, I have to tell him. If he knew how Kane treated you….” Kasai pulls back and wipes the tears from her eyes and dries the damp fur on her muzzle. “No, Father adores Kane. He’ll never believe it was Kane and Kane would argue that I did this to myself or that I fell and hurt myself.” Naviira nods and hugs Kasai tightly but carefully enough so not to encourage more pain. Kasai turns and slowly limps to her fur bedding and lays carefully down, cringing again in pain. As she closes her eyes and drifts off into sleep, Naviira gently licks Kasai’s cheek then turns to run out of the den, Leaving her best friend to get the much needed rest.