The Storm:PROLUGE AND CH.1

PROLOGUE

So this is how it'll end,she thought bitterly,rain pouring down her muzzle.This is how he ended up dividing us.

It was a storming night,lightning and thunder working together to make this night the worst night ever for her.The wind howled like a lost soul,looking for it's body.An owl hooted somewhere in the forest.She shivered.Right now,the forest seemed to be her enemy,just like it was before,when she was a lost and confused little teenager,still learning the ways of the forest.If it had not been for HIM,though,she would be dead already.She never did get to tell him how she really felt about him,which she regretted much so.But it was too late now.He never told her the truth,which was exactly what Flame or Burn or whatever he called himself intended.What will he do now?she wondered.Run off with Kimi and get married?She shook her head.No,she wasn't going to be mad with him,no matter what he did.They were best friends.She just wished she had realized that before she ran off.She knew the forest was angry with her:letting her friends die on her watch,not realizing what her love was doing all along,trying to kill one of his best friends,and then just running away from it all.Maybe now was the time.The time to go home.Her REAL home.Here,the place she'd recently called home,she just brought hell.Hell to the forest.She'd accomplished nothing.Maybe learn a few magic spells and moves,but nothing more.Maybe she had made him happy,and they had had good times together.

He didn't need her anymore.

CLOUD didn't need her anymore.

She couldn't even remember the promise she'd made to him.Maybe that's what had set him off.

A cut on her shoulder started to ooze more blood and burn.She licked it quickly,only to have more blood come out.The necklace around her neck glowed brightly,she had to get rid of it so no one could find her.

"Adara,"she murmured,fur turning into skin.Her long,black hair was still soaked,but at least now she could properly treat her wound.Maybe she could find some herbal plants,like Alva had taught her.No,some wolf might see her.If she covered her face with her hood or got a disguise,she could go to a hospital or liquor store to get some medicine.But that wouldn't be good either.What hospital was open at this hour?Maybe if she just went home and explained everything to her family...

"LIGHTNING!"

She pricked her ears.He was calling her.Calling her by her REAL name.

"LAUREN!"

...And,there it goes.Lauren.Did he still to want to lie?What use was it?Telling by his voice,he was getting closer.She was happy in her human form,but going back to wolf mode was neccassary if she didn't want to be found.The night and shadows were her pelt.If she put the diamond in her pocket,it wouldn't give away any light,and nobody could see her.Or maybe she had a better idea.She put it on the ground and bent her muzzle.

"Adara,"she said louder,running in the pouring rain.Adara.Yet again,another reason for the forest to be angry.She didn't believe in the wolf gods like everyone else wanted her to.She had been suckled by God the moment she'd been born.How could she change religion?That's a hard thing to do.

"LAUREN!WHERE ARE YOU?!"

If you want to know where I am,then find me,she challenged him silently.She increased her speed,despite the cuts and scratches on her body.She stopped suddenly,mud splattering a nearby tree.With pain and regret and sorrow,she howled.Howled to the moon,the stars,God,and her love.Then she stopped,listening.Another howl follwed her,happy and releived.

"Heh,"she started to run again.Run.Run.Run.That was her only thought for a while.Then it stopped abruptly.Two amber eyes were blocking her path,with no body to put itself on.For a moment they disappeared,only to be replaced by a mysterious black fog,which revealed a wolf come out of the ground in thin air.It stood standing in front of her,rising from the forest's gloom.

A pelt that shinned like the moon itself.

Eyes that burned like a forest fire.

Claws that raked the ground,eager for blood.

"Burn,"she hissed.

"LIGHTNING,"he hissed back."Are you happy now?You can be called your real name again."

"You...you did this,"she said,ignoring his insult."You did this to us."

"Not at all.The stupid gray wolf was meerly following his ambition.I just brought it out of the shadows."

"I am the shadows,"she growled,circling the white wolf,she said,"Why are you here?I didn't summon you."

"I have an oppurtunity to give you."

"Oppurtunity?"

"I have a way for you to be reunited with your mate."

"He's NOT my mate."

"But you wish he was,"Burn growled,circling."I can see it in both of yours' eyes'.You fight now,but if you had more in common,you could reveal your feelings."

"You don't know anything about us!"

"Do you want to be with him or do you not?"

She thought for a moment,considering.But how could she deal with the wolf that split them apart?

"What is it?"

"Join me.You could live happily with Cloud by your side.He won't give up on me so easy.Did he do that with you?When he finds out one more reason to be with my warriors,he'll come."

"Why would I want to lie to him?"

"Because you'll do anything to be with him and you know it."

Then she really considered it.If she went back to her human life,she could never be with Cloud.None of her wolf friends either.Did she really want that?She knew that would put Cloud in more pain,too.Could it really be bad to work with Burn?If Cloud had trusted him,then she could too.That would bring them together,whether it was good or bad.

At the same moment,a group of wolves sped through the forest.One of them,a lame black wolf,stumbled.

"Ow,"he growled,picking himself up.

"Hurry,up!We have to find her-"a gray wolf turned back to his lame friend."Do you feel that?"

"Here!"the wolf who tripped dug up the purple diamond that tripped him.

The gray wolf took a step forward.He knew that diamond anywhere.It's glow was growing dimmer,and it had a fresh scent on it.

"No,"the gray wolf whimpered."She's gone.She's given up."

"Will you join us,Lightning?Be called by your REAL name?"Burn stepped closer to her.

She thought for a few moments,memories flooding in her mind.Everything she experienced made her make her choice.She looked up,her eyes burning with determination.

"Yes."

As a storm of tiny flakes drizzled in the air, a wolf hurried back to his pack.He'd hoped he would find prey for his mate before the weather got worst, but had had no luck, and was on his way back home.Maybe I'll have luck with the hunting party,he tried to make himself believe,but he knew the storm would get worst by the time they started.His mate needed food right away to make more milk for their one year-old pup,Lightning.For wolves,winter was harsh and cruel,and for a pup to survive was condsidered a blessing from the great god and goddess,Eneas and Adara.The gray wolf just hoped they would look kindly on her and let her survive to see spring.

The wolf was soon saying hello to his fellow clanmates,then headed over to a group of shivering wolves.A pure white wolf named Burn,who could only be seen by his amber eyes,stepped forward.

"Leon,when are we going to leave?If I stand here any longer,my paws will freeze into the ground,"Burn growled,shivering with the wind.

"Soon Burn,soon.Let me have a word with Luna, and we'll leave straightaway," the gray wolf assured.He padded to his den,where his mate,Luna,was curled around the body of their pup.Luna looked up sleepily,yawning.

"No luck?"Luna asked.

"No.I'll just have to catch something on the on the hunting patrol,"Leon growled."Will you be okay without me?Taking care of Lightning?"

Luna scowled at her mate,but her green eyes were soft and amused."A mother can take care of their pups better than anyone."

Leon sighed."I suppose you're right."He gave Luna's face a quick lick."I love you."He trotted away to the hunting patrol."I'll have her fed in no time!"

Luna sighed,thinking how lucky she was to have him as her mate."I love you,too."

A pair of yellow eyes blinked open.It was Lightning,who was just waking up beside her sleeping mother.She stared at her mother.

Mom is asleep?Lightning thought,disappointed at first.She wouldn't get to talk or learn or play with her until she woke up.The last time she'd woken her mother up,she'd swatted at her ear,telling her how tiring it was to go on a hunting patrol to be waken up.Lightning scanned the den,looking for a ball of moss to play with.Anything.Then her eyes brightened as she spotted a young gray wolf practicing a hunting technique.It was Lightning's best friend,Cloud,and she wanted to play with him more than anything.She quickly wiggled away from her mother's belly and ran out to meet him,jumping on to his back.

"Oof!Hey-get off of me!"Cloud protested.He shook Lightning off his back,who landed into the snow,giggling.

"Sorry,I just wanted to play with you,"Lightning apologized,shacking snow from her pelt.

"Well,play with me AFTER I'm done training.My father will bite my tail off if I don't get this technique right again,"Cloud growled,but amusement glittered in his soft,blue eyes as they watched Lightning sigh wistfully.

"You can't blame me!I don't get to train yet just because I'm three moons younger than you."

"I could teach you some stuff,"Cloud offered.Not only would it stop Lightning's complaints,but it would help him,too.

"You mean, things like battle training?I'd love to bite into one of those annoying humans the elders always tell me about,"Lightning pounced at a dead leaf,pretending it was a human.

But Cloud stiffened.None of the wolves liked humans.In fact,they hated them.For too long they'd killed their kind as trophies,for sport,or because of being threated.The human had killer weapons that could kill a wolf in less than an minute,not to mention that they were everywhere.Only a foolish wolf would get in their path,let alone fight one.His mother had learned that the hard way when one of her pups had strayed too far from the den and been killed.Cloud leaned down.

"Humans are really tough,Lightning.They're dangerous,so don't think you can kill one so easily.Just stay away from them,actually,"Cloud told her.

But Lightning just huffed in amusement."I'd like to see one mess with ME.They wouldn't stand a chance!"she boasted.

Cloud sighed.There was no use talking sense into this wolf."Look,do you wanna learn something,or not?I have better things to do than stand around and talk about humans."

"Show me around the territory!"she squeaked.

"Wha-?No way!You'll freeze to death out there!You're too young!"

"Like you're any older!I bet your sister would show me around if I asked."

"Alva doesn't say yes to everything either.Now go back to your mother,I have to practice."Cloud growled,walking away.

Lightning mumbled angrily.How could she learn anything if she was stuck in camp all day?She stopped mumbling suddenly and pricked her ears.Hardly anyone was watching her(everyone was either sheltering from the cold or on the hunting patrol)when she had an idea.Looking around,she slowly sneaked to the entrance of the camp,hiding in the looming trees' shadows.Turning her head,she saw Cloud sitting with his beautiful sister,Alva.Her brown coat lifted in terror as they spoke quietly to each other,and she said something quickly,getting up.Lightning then decided it was time to make her move,running out of camp and into the darkening forest.

"Cloud,you feather-head!Do you honestly think that naive wolf has gone back to her mother?The wolf that argues with just about everyone?"Alva scowled at her brother.

"So,you think she's left camp?"Cloud growled,getting up.

"Yes,I do.What will Luna say?Or-"Alva stopped herself and took a deep breath.Usually she never got so angry."Look,we'll just have to go look for her ourselves.She couldn't have gotten far."Running to the entrance,she growled,"Hurry up,Cloud.I think it will snow soon."

Cloud stumbled after her."Shouldn't we check if she is in the den?"

"Well,do you see a wolf in there?"his sister pointed her tail towards the den,where only Luna could be seen silhouetted in th e darkness of the den."Let's go."

Please,Adara,pleaseAlva silently prayed. Let Lightning be safe.

That stupid mouse!Cloud thought.I hate her!I hate her!I HATE her!

With no luck finding Lightning after about thirty minutes,Luna stirred in her sleep,suddenly waking up with a gasp.She looked frantically around the den.

Adara was right.My dream was right,Luna thought bitterly.She bounded out of the den in a single bound and yelled in terror,"Lightning!Lightning is missing!"

Lightning padded calmy to a long,black human-made road.As she neared,heat radiated from it like rays of sunlight.

I've seen way more stuff by myself than I would've seen with Cloud!she thought.This was the greatest journey ever!Curiously,Lightning slowly placed her paw on the road...

"What in Eneas' name are you doing?!"

-Only to have teeth bite roughly into the loose fur on her neck.Struggling to squirm free,she looked up to see who had stopped her.

CLOUD!Of course!Lightning thougt.

"You followed me!"she yowled in dismay.

"You think we wouldn't notice your absence?"Cloud growled through a mouthful of fur.

"Just let me go!You're delaying my journey!"

Cloud dropped Lightning from his grip,only to be scolded by Alva,who'd watched in amusement.

"Lightning,if you want to be a true member of the pack,you'll have to learn to listen.What would've happened if we hadn't come?"

"Uh,I'd still be exploring?"

"No,"Cloud corrected,his fur rising angrily."You'd have been killed by a Smoker!"

Lightning's ears flattened against her head and her fur bristled in terror."A-a Smoker?You mean,the human-made creatures that live here?"

"That's right,"Cloud said,happy to see that he had finally scared the arrogant wolf.

"So...they can KILL ME?!"

"Yes.That is why you must stay away from them,"Alva sounded more calm then Cloud."The Smokers have unnatural eyes,bright as the sun itself.They also carry humans inside them,which they control as pets.The worst part is that if you get in their path-"

"-They'll crush you under they're cruel,hard black paws with no mercy,"Cloud wanted Lightning to be afraid.

"Yes,"Alva said quietly,giving Cloud a hard stare."But that won't happen as long as you listen to us.Then the Smokers will never hurt you."

Lightning nodded,putting her head down to hide her mischievious yellow eyes.

"Come now,"Alva called as she started to walk away."Let's get you back to camp.It's starting to snow."

"Right...,"Lightning said,starting to follow Cloud,who was padding in front of her.She walked very slowly,waiting for Cloud to move a ways ahead of her.But Cloud kept looking back at her,checking to make sure she was following.He didn't like the tiny gleam of something much different than shame or disappointment.He just couldn't figure out what it was.

Lightning also noticed Cloud's suspicous eyes."I'm sorry I ran off.I won't do it ever again.When we get back,I'll explain to my parents that it was my fault."

"Good,Lightning,"Alva sighed."We're proud of you."

The brown wolf cast a glance at Cloud,who just sighed and turned his gaze from Lightning to the snow that was fluttering in the dark blue sky.

"...AFTER I go on the human path!"Lightning made a mad dash to the road,spraying the older wolves with snow.

Cloud was too shocked to move for a moment.He thought he'd finally talked sense to her.His eyes immidiatlely blazed as he chased after her."Lightning,get back here,NOW!"

"Can't catch me!"Lightning snickered,her black paws meeting with the road.She stopped in the middle of the road for a few moments,shuffling her paws on the sizzling hot road,unaware of a car driving straight at her.

"It's not scary at all!I'm the bravest wolf of all time!"Lightning cried proudly,sticking her muzzle high in the air.

Cloud,who was hiding the flashing images in his mind of his mother,made an abrupt halt at the edge of the road."Lightning, get back here right NOW!"

"Fine,"she growled."Come over here and get me."

As she Lightning spoke,the car was coming into view,and was only moments away from hitting the small black wolf.She turned her head and gasped.

The blinding unnatural light.

The round,hard-looking paws.

In that moment she knew she was going to get killed,knew she should've listended to Alva and Cloud,and only hoped that they wouldn't get punished for her stupid mistakes.

"NO!"Alva cried,knowing she was too late as the car was only a few tail-lengths in front of Lightning.

But Cloud ran on to the middle of the road;he would not let his fear hold him back.Lightning was huddled in the middle,shaking in total shock,as Cloud jumped protectively in front of her,bracing himself for the sheering pain.

"Cloud,NO!"Alva cried.

Alva caught her breath in shock.No.It can't be.Im having a nightmare.I'll wake up,she tried to make herself believe.But this was no dream.The bodies lay there in clear sight,and Alva had to hide in bushes as three humans came out and brought Lightning's body into their car,covering it in something that looked soft and warm.They left Clouds' body there,making loud noises of fear.She couldn't do anything with humans who were carrying guns,and she watched in hatred as they drove away.Alva thougth of chasing the car,but suddenly a familiar howl went up in the sky a few miles away.It was filled with pain and sorrow and regret.Soon a few more howls followed,and Alva also joined in.

Three wolves died that night,two male and one female,one male a father and a lover,half his heart lay with his dead family.

But a new life was born that night,one of such dark power than it had ever had before.