Wake Up

Lauren opened her large brown eyes,which were now red upon waking up so soon.She turned her alarm clock towards her,which read 5:31 A.M.Usually she didn't wake up that early,with having to go to school and serve food at McDonalds,she usually slept in.

But it just so happened that that day was the first day of Christmas vacation,so she was pretty used to it.Slowly,she got up,rubbed her tired eyes,and yawned loudly.Just as soon as she did,she smelled an aroma coming from the kitchen.Pancakes,she recognized easily.She got out of bed and walked across the hallway until the scent hit her in the face.Her mother was just finishing making breakfast when she spotted Lauren.

"Hi Sweetheart,I just finished making breakfast.I didn't know you were awake,"her mother added.

"I just woke up,"Lauren yawned again.Then she shivered"It's cold."

"It was snowing this morning,"her mother imformed.Handing her a plate of pancakes,she asked,"Are you going over to one of you're little friends' house?It's a good day to drive over to the lodge."

"Yeah,probably,"Lauren said,coating the pancakes in syrup."Why?Do you have plans today?"

Lauren's mom did not answer quickly,but took a bite of her share of breakfast.Her eyes quickly flashed to a box full of clothes and back,but she just responded,"No.Not much."

Lauren wanted to roll her eyes and yell,"OH MY GOD JUST TELL ME!!"but stuffed her mouth with pancakes and fresh-squeezed orange juice.She knew what was going on.Her mom just didn't wanna tell her.

"So,are you excited about vacation?"Mom tried to distract her.

"Ya,I'm excited..."Lauren tried to sound happy.How could she when she knew what was happening?And just about a week before Christmas AND her birthday?"Can I call up Jacqueline and ask if I can go to the lodge with her?"

"Sure,that's a good idea,"Mom said."I'll have some free time to get stuff done before work."

"You said you weren't busy,"Lauren noticed.SAY IT!she screamed in her head.

"I just have to do one little thing,"she said."But I want you to go have fun with you're friends.A day wih me won't be too fun."

"Thanks,Mom,"Lauren mumbled.She ate the rest of her pancakes,then started to wash the dishes.She insisted that she do it to her mother.

"Thanks,hun,"she sighed."One less thing to worry about."

She started to walk away,but Lauren called,"Mom..."

"Yes,Lauren?"her mother turned back to her.

"I..."Lauren gulped,then spoke quietly."I know you and Dad are getting divorced."

Her mother did not say anything,just stared at her with a deep sadness in her eyes.She looked like she was holding back tears.Then she spoke"Yes,"she said quietly,then louder,more firm,"We'll talk about this later."

After washing the dishes and holding back tears herself,Lauren went her room and reached for her hamburger-shaped phone.She dialed Jacqueline's number.A few moments passed,then she picked up.

"Lauren!Oh my god,HI!It's the first day of Christmas vay-k,hon!We are gonna have soooo much fun in the snow and stuff,right?Do you wanna,like,hang out today or something?Ya'know,if you don't have any plans-"Lauren could hear Jacqueline bouncing around in her room.

"Ya,that'd be pretty cool,"Lauren agreed,petting her little black cat,Smokey,who'd jumped onto her bed."Anything to get outside.Wanna go to the lodge?"

"Oh,ya,that's cool.I'll call Alice and Maya and see if they can come.Talk to ya later.Bye!"

"Bye,"Lauren said,then hung up.Smokey meowed and jumped on her belly as she layed down.She wondered if she should start packing for the trip,or read a book,or watch t.v.But,accidently,she fell asleep.

"The Dark?"A young gray wolf whispered fearfully."You think she was one of the Darkened?"

"Not think,"Another wolf,who's brown coat was bristling in fear,growled."KNOW.That's why they took her.Why else would they?It looked to them as if she was one of them."

"Is she?"the wolf asked.He shivered at the thought."I thought it was just an old elder's tale."

"Not anymore it is,"the second wolf said.She breathed slowly."So it's real.We can't do anything.Who will believe us?They'll think we have bees in our brains.And we can't save her,anyway."

"What are you saying,Alva?"The gray wolf growled."Just leave her to be raised by humans?"

"Yes,that's exactly what I'm saying,Cloud,"Alva growled.Then her voice softened,and she sighed sadly."I'd do anything to have her back,but she's gone.It'd be impossible to track her down in this snow."

There were a few moments of silence,where Cloud raised his head and stared up at the sky,wondering why his ancestors chose to save him and not his feisty little friend.

"So what do we do now?"he asked,looking back at his sister.

"I heard wolves howling while you were knocked out,"she said quietly."Wolves from our pack.They sounded mournful.One of them was Leon."

"Leon?"Cloud stiffened."Have the gods already told them?"

"I've no idea,"Alva admitted."We have to go back and find out,before the snow gets worse."

"Go back?"her brother asked,his ears flattening against his head and stepping back.

"We can't just become Kerls,Cloud,"she growled."We'll never survive out there by ourselves.We need a pack.We must go back and face the consequences."

Cloud gulped.He wished he could be swallowed by a black hole or eaten by a bear,all the while pleading to his ancestors for forgiveness.Alva tried not to show her own fear,but couldn't stop her fur from bristling in terror.

When they finally got to the entrance of the camp,two thin trails of blood welcomed them.They looked at eachother in horror,and soon found out whose blood it was.

"No,"Alva whispered."Not Luna."