It Comes From the Shadows

I swear,I feel like I'm with a teenager obsessing over their first crush."

Vartan took a bite out of the dead elk.He chewed hungrily,then pawed off some blood around his muzzle.His blind eyes met with Clouds'.Cloud shivered.Sometimes he felt his half-blind friend could see more than he told.

"There is something about her that we don't know.Why would that wolf be ordered to kill her,anyway?"

"I don't know,"Cloud sighed."A lot of wolves kill humans when they're desperate and foolish."

"Perhaps,but they're not ORDERED to kill a specific one."

"She was farther away from the others.She was an easy target."

"Are you hearing a word I'm saying?That wolf was ORDERED to kill her.Ordered."

"But why?"

"That's what I wanna know,"Vartan stared off and growled."Who ever that wolf was,he knew she knew something.Something she shouldn't know.Or maybe she's gonna DO something."

"Well, it's too late to ask him now,"Cloud growled.With his teeth,he picked some gray fur out of his claws."He's long gone."

"You should've given him a chance to speak."

"A chance?For HIM?I wouldn't give that murdurous wolf a chance to talk if my life depended on it.He shouldn't be trying to kill innocent people."

"He didn't get away with it."

"So what are we gonna do with her?"Cloud scratched his ear.

"What do you mean by'do with her?'"

"I mean,what is she?WHO is she that would make some wolf be ordered to kill her?"

"That's what I'm saying.That's why you shouldn't have left the hospital.You could've picked up some valuable information."

"It was just too strange,"he admitted,giving his chest fur a few embarrassed licks."She called me Cloud again."

"So?"

"Well,did she call you Vartan the first time you met?"

"No,"Vartan took another bite."I TOLD her my name."

"Which you shouldn't of."

"It's too late to go back.That girl is in somesort of trouble,so we must protect her from it."

"People die everyday,"Cloud growled cold-heartedly."We don't save them all."

"Of course,Cloud,but this concerns us Darkened Ones.There are wolves out there killing humans and wolves for information."

"Wolves?"Cloud pricked his ears.

"Kara told me.When I told her you couldn't be there,she warned me about some organization that she'd heard about from-"Vartan stopped adruptly.It was another name they hadn't mentioned in a long time."Your sister," was all he managed to say.

"What did you say?"Cloud stopped chewing on his meal.

"It's Alva,"he sighed.Looking away,he added,"She's been worrying about you.I-I've seen her in my dreams lately.It's probably the reason she confined in Kara.She wants to be with you again to help you."

"No,"Cloud's fur bristled with rage and his eyes blazed wildly."She must stay in the pack.Where it's safe.Being a loner is not for her."

Vartan fliched.His friend had become very protective of his lovely wolf sister,if not had always been.It was two years back,when Cloud had been hunting by himself.

Cloud stalked the rabbit,careful not to scare it.The brown-furred creature was chewing on a seed busily.Vartan would be pleased to have something to eat.It was a rather crueler and colder winter than usual,so it was important he caught SOMETHING for Vartan.They had tried to catch an elk the other day,but one of it's antlers had struck Vartan in the side.They were planning on visiting Galina to ask her to heal it,but they feared harsh storms in the mountains.

Cloud stepped forward,a dead leaf crackling underneath his paws.The rabbit stopped chewing and pricked it's ears

Mouse-dung,he thought.

The rabbit bounded away behind a bush.Cloud followed in pursuit.He wouldn't give up just yet.But the fuzzy little creature hopped into it's burrow.Rule number one:NEVER follow your prey into it's home.

Cloud cursued himself.They would go hungry AGAIN.He was embarrased to give Vartan the bad news;even he knew his three-legged friend wouldn't give up so easily.

A high-pitched squeal sounded inside the burrow,followed by a loud snap.Cloud tensed.Maybe it wasn't the rabbit's burrow.Maybe it was a FOX burrow.But he couldn't scent any fox.What he could scent was a female wolf.And the scent was fresh.

"Hello,Cloud."

Cloud gasped in astonisment.A petite brown wolf had walked silently out of the burrow,the rabbit dangling from her jaws.It's green eyes glittered brigthly,and it smiled.

"Brother..."

"Alva?"Cloud gaped.His sister,his own littermate that he hadn't seen since he was a child,was standing right in front of him!"Alva!It's really you!"

Cloud ran forward and nuzzled his nose into her fur,licking her ear."I-I haven't seen you in moons!What are you doing out here?On your own?You should be-"

"Brother,I'm fine,"Alva gave his ear a quick lick."It's you I'm worried about.Living out here on your own."

"It's not JUST me,"he reminded."Vartan's with me,too."

"So,he DID find you,"Alva closed her eyes and nodded to herself."I knew he would."

"He found me a few years back,and we've hunted and helped each other ever since,"Cloud was proud of his friend,although he was lame,and happy to tell his sister about him."He's great."

"Good,"she opened her eyes;Cloud was suprised to find sadness in her eyes."I wish you wouldn't of left,"she murmured.

"I never fit in the pack."

"But it was only because you were depressed,"he could tell she didn't want to say her name."You know you weren't even there when I fought my first battle?When Father DIED?"

"He's dead?"Cloud's voice cracked."When did he die?!How did it-"

"Please,Cloud,don't tell me you didn't see it coming?"Alva blinked."He wasn't like us,Cloud.He couldn't live as long.None of them could.I leave the pack every some years and join a new one,so no one gets suspicous of my age.But it's too hard to lie to them.I got killed by a fox.Next I'm killed by a human.You know I hate lying."

"What do you want me to do?"Cloud was still in shock.How many years ago did his father die?Was he mad at Cloud when he died?"You can't stop being..."

"I want to stop lying."

"Okay."

"I want to live out here with you."

"WHAT?!"Cloud almost gave his sister a nip on the shoulder,as parents sometimes did when they're children disbehaved."Live out HERE?!"

"Why is that so crazy?"When his sister got mad,she got MAD."You've been doing that for the-gods-know-how-long!I can help you.I can teach you what I've learned about my powers-"

"Just ignore it like us,"Cloud growled."Anyway,it's not safe out here.It's hard for us to live out here.You shouldn't have to suffer."

"Suffer?I'll do fine!Do you WANT me to be unhappy?"

"No,I just want you to be safe and protected.Be with wolves that can make sure of it."

"I can take care of myself,"she growled.She sat down."Anyway,I've had some strange dreams lately."

"What does that have to do with you staying with us?"Cloud now thought it unsafe for her to even be talking to him.

"Would you let me speak,please?"When Cloud nodded,she continued."I've had some dreams lately.You're walking at night time.Alone.Then I see you.I always try to call to you,but...you just walk away into the shadows for a few moments,and then I look for you.And when I finally find you,you're covered in scars and you're bleeding.At least,I think it's you.The wolf looks somehow different."She shivered."It's just strange."

"I'm sure it's nothing,"Cloud assured in gritted teeth.

Alva looked doubtful."You'll tell me if somethings wrong,won't you?Are these dreams trying to tell me something?"

"I don't know.Maybe they're telling you NOT to come with me as a loner.How dangerous and painful it can be."

"Maybe,"Alva looked sad."I want to be with you again,Cloud,but I'll do what you want me to."

"Thank you-"

"Oh,don't think this is over,"she started to walk away."We'll be side-by-side again,like a family.And the rabbit's for you."

And that was the last he saw of her.Truth be told,when Cloud told Vartan,he tried to hide his anger.He cared for Alva,and wouldn't mind seeing her again.She was quiet and smart,not to mention beautiful.He was fond of her.

"You'll see her again soon,Cloud,"Vartan swipped his paw over his mouth."Whether you want to or not.Something bad is going to happen-I can feel it in my gut-and destiny will bring you together again."

Cloud made a low growl.But he,too,could sense evil in the air,closer than he wanted it to be.

"Look at him,"A male wolf growled angrily as he looked through the mist."We've been looking for him for years,yet he's been HERE all along."

His pelt bristled angrily,the wolf besides him,a black she-wolf,hoped she hadn't made her master angry.He had never given her clear instrunctions on who this wolf was or what he looked like(not even his name)so it had been hard to look for him."My apologies.But now we've found him,and we plan on-"

"No,"he rounded on the she-wolf."No one touch him.I want to summon him myself."

"As you wish,"she dipped her head."When will you speak to him?"

"Soon."

"Soon?"

"When lightning strikes,"he growled,lifting his head to the moon."The clouds will be open for storms."

The she-wolf tipped her head.Was it a prophecy?Usually she interpreted omens and prophecys for him.

"What does that mean,Bu-"

"My name is Flame,"he hissed."Even you must call me it.You should know that by now,Valisa,"

"Yes,Master,"she said through gritted teeth."Should I tell the pack?"

"Yes,"Silently,he said,"Eneas"and his white coat of fur turned to flesh.He walked slowly to his throan,which he had made himself with the bones of his victims.His eyes flickered to the moon.Valisa noticed with a shiver that his eyes were not goldish brown,but a bloody red.He was angry.

"What is upsetting you,Master?"Valisa asked.

"The lightning."

"In the prophecy?"

"No,you idiot,in the sky,"he spat."Of course in the prophecy.When it comes,it can be an interference with the clouds.Distract it and bring it away from us.But that won't happen.I'll make sure of it."

"How,Flame?"

"All of my plans will unfold when it's time.Go,Valisa.Tell the patrols we've found our prize."

"As you wish,"she bowed,then hurried out of his chambers.Just down the hall,(make a left, then a right,then two more lefts)the hunting patrol had just finished their meal,a large male dear,and were talking quietly to one another.Making conversation was considered bad in this mansion,especially with Flame,who always knew what happened in his home.

"Have you seen Flame?"one of them asked,a teenage girl with lovely blonde hair,which she always kept in a pony-tail on her right shoulder.She wore a black overall,with metal shoulder pads,black shoes,black gloves,and a cloak with their pack symbol on it:a mighty wolf standing on two legs,howling.In fact,you were required to wear the uniform to prove you were on of them.

"What about him?"a boy with dark skin and short black hair asked.

"He's been acting strange lately,"she informed,glancing around to see if anybody else was there.

"How so?"the girl's best friend asked.She picked some meat out of her teeth and flicked it on the ground.One would think the teen,with groomed blonde hair and pretty nails,would have more manners.

"I saw him out in that storm last night,"she hissed."He was looking at the lightning and clouds all mystical-like."

"Why would he be doing that?"the oldest of them,a dark-skinned boy with a white mohawk,spoke with amusement dancing in his eyes."I think you just pay close attention to the boss 'cause you like him."

"I DO NOT!"she yelled,almost slapping him across the face."If you had let me finished,I would've told you that I was hunting by myself when I saw him,just coming back to the mansion."

"Good Eneas,Letha,"he raised his hands innocently."I'm sorry."

"You better be."her eyes were filled with wickedness.The pack usually didn't mess with her.

Another boy appeared,with brown hair that touched his shoulders.He was strong and handsome,and Letha knew that her best friend,Rina,liked him.So it was her job to take him away from her."He probably just wanted some alone time from Valisa."

"Pfft,"Rina glared impatiently."Please,Koja.You're just saying that because you like her."

"I do not-"

"I have an idea,"Letha didn't want them talking to each other for too long."Let's go ask Kimi if she knows something."

"KIMI?!"Koja looked doubtful.

"No point,"the boy with the mohawk yawned.

"Why not,Randall?"Letha gave him a nudge."It's worth a try.She knows a lot about...stuff."

"CRAZY stuff,you mean?Come on,Letha.You know just as well as I do it's a waste of time.She talks nonsense."

"I hope you don't talk about everybody like that."

The group jumped at the sound of Valisa.She glared."You should know not to talk about your pack mates like that,Randall."

"Yes,Valisa."he muttered.

"Flame brings good news."

Valisa told them almost everything,leaving out the prophecy,and sent them to bed.They weren't too relieved,though,for it didn't change much.Another addition to the pack wasn't all too great,which they'd learned a LONG time ago.They were only excited about one thing,the reason they'd joined the pack:The Dark.A mystical power that only Flame,Ash,and Valisa held.They had promised to give them the power,too,but they hadn't said when.Was it coming soon?is what they thought as they headed to bed.Letha sat on her bed,thinking.She couldn't go to sleep,which she usually never had to deal with on a hard day of working.Across the room,Rina was sleeping,rolled in a tight little ball under her blankets.

"Rina!"she hissed,throwing a pillow at her head.

Rina's eyes opened immediatly,only to slowly close again with tiredness."Stop that.I'm sleeping."

"Come with me."

"Where?"she lifted her head sleepily,rubbing her eyes.

"To go ask Kimi something.She's been here longer than all of us."

She groaned."Flame doesn't tell her anything anymore.Not after..."

"She must know something!"Letha picked her up out of the bed.She led the way out of their bedroom,reciting in her head the way to Kimi's room.This was a BIG mansion.She closed the door loudly.

"Be quiet!"Rina whispered loudly."Someone might hear us."

"No,"Letha led the way."Flame is too busy reciting dark spells in his chambers all the time.Valisa is probably studying books."

Rina decided not to argue.She thought it would make a good story to tell Koja in the morning.How brave,smart,funny-

"Watch it!"she'd bumped into Letha.

"Sorry!"

"Why did I even bring you?"she muttered,though Rina didn't catch the retort.

They finally reached her bedroom after going up three flights of stairs,one of the biggest rooms in the house.It was a huge door that said:"Enter On Your Own Risk."There had been rumors around the mansion that Kimi had special powers beyond those of Flame,their own leader.Also,that Flame was going to kill her because of it.

Letha opened the door slowly.

"Be careful!"Rina warned,trying not to shake.

Letha pushed the door open.No one ever dared to enter without her permission,for they had heared that a young and foolish boy named Chris had once entered a few years ago and disappeared,no where to be found,no evadence,though,that she had killed him.

The room was completely dark,beides a window that let in moonlight.Sitting ont the window bed,was Kimi,looking out into the night sky.

"K-Kimi?"Letha was,too,scared.

Kimi turnede her head towards them,her eyes those of a wolf and not human like the rest of her body.They gasped as they turned back to normal.

"What are you doing in here?"she asked dangerously quiet.

"We-"she swallowed."We wanted to know if something has been going on with Flame.You know,since-"

"I know why,"she snapped."Anyway,I do know why."She glared at them."But why should I tell you?What have you done for me?"

"We'll do whatever you want us to do,"Letha blurted.

"Letha!"Rina hissed.

"You struggle with your thoughts,Letha,"Kimi smiled coldly."But you have already commited to it."She hopped lightly off the window bed.

The two girls gulped.

"There is a crystal ball in Flame's room.Get it,and I'll give you what you need."

That's not even worth it!Rina wanted to refuse and run away.But it was too late."Why can't you do it?He's your-"

"No,he's NOT!"she yelled,making a shandaler above their heads shake violently,and something else brake in the shadows."Go now,or the consequences will be deadly."

"But what if he's in there?"Letha found this utterly stupid that she couldn't.

"He's not,"Kimi's eyes looked far away and distant."Go."

Letha backed away slowly,while Rina ran out,fast as lightning.When the door slammed shut and they were gone,Kimi blinked and shook her head.She frowned.Then she looked around.Strange,she thought.She noticed the pot that broke on the floor.

What just happened?

"Now look what you got us into!"Rina's teeth were chittering wildly."She'll kill us!"

"No,all we have to do is find that stupid crystal ball and be done with it,"Letha hid her fear."No biggy."

"No biggy?!"she hissed."Flame'll see us and we'll get punished!"

"You heard Kimi.She said Flame was out."

"How do we know she was lying?"

"We'll find out."

Flame's quarters were deep below the mansion,some wolves said guarded by giant wolves that killed anyone who entered without permission.Usually,everybody asked him questions when he was out and about,not in his room.Even Valisa didn't go down there too often,only for emergencys.They went down a flight of stairs,lanterns their only way of seeing in the dark.As they got closer,though,the lanters started to disappear,until they couldn't see at all.Rina yelped suddenly.

"What's the matter?!"Letha turned back to Rina.

"S-Something just scuttled across my foot!"

"Probably just a mouse."

She almost tripped as she took another step forward.The stairs had stopped,and two lanterns sat flickering fire next to an old, wooden door.On it, said,"Flame's Room.Keep out."

"This is it,"Letha reached for the door handle.

"Wait!"Rina pulled her back,trembling."Do you hear anyone inside?"

Letha sighed and murmured,"Adara."Instantly,she could scent that Flame was definately was not inside.She changed back."It's clear."

"Is the door locked?"

Letha hadn't thought of that.Of course he would keep his most darkest secrets locked!But when she tried the door,it opened,making a loud creaking noise."Does it look locked?Stupid Flame."She walked inside.

"Don't say that!"Rina followed her in nervously.

The room was tight and crowded,filled with old papers and books;the girls guessed this must be his sort-of office,and that his bedroom was hidden away deeper in the shadows.A globe sat next to an old wax candle,with more books than you could count.There was a human skeleton by the desk;they wondered if it was real or fake.Next to it was the skeleton of a wolf,which was most likely real.

"Where's that stupid crystal ball?"Rina looked through drawers and under things,behind,and above.

"It must be pretty big,so don't bother the drawers,"Letha looked through a large wooden closet.All that was inside,though,was some dusty jackets and books.Also,one hat made of raccoon fur."Nothing in here."

"Well-"Rina had stopped searching and was circling in place.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you feel that?That...That energy."

Letha stepped besides her.She felt a strong energy almost at once."Yeah.What is that?"

"Under here!"Rina lifted up the gray old mat that was lying on the floor.They were suprised to see a little door underneath.But it was locked.

"Where's the key?"Letha started looking again."Check the drawers."

"Here,"Rina held up a chain that help about ten or so keys."I saw this earlier."

"Thank Adara,"Letha tried each one.None worked,however,until she grabbed an old, rusty black key.It opened the door smoothly,with no trouble.The two girls looked into the darkness.Something round the size of a basketball glowed softly.It looked like a large pearl.The girls were mesmerized by it's beauty.

"Wow..."Rina stared in wonder,thinking of all the secrets it could reveal.

"No time to admire it,"Letha snapped out of the trance."Put everything back in place.I'll carry the crystal.Oh-here's the keys."

Rina stood up and took the keys from Letha.She quickly threw them in the drawer she found them in and closed the others.Letha struggled to carry the crystal ball.She was suprised by how heavy it was.

"That's good enough,"Rina put back a book that had fallen.

"Then let's go."

"Ah,you got it,did you?"

Letha was less scared of facing Kimi than before.Kimi is just a nut-job who's lazy and likes shiny things,she thought to herself.She stood tall and handed the ball over to Kimi,who's eyes were those of a wolf again and was still sitting by the window.

"Thank you,"Kimi looked at it carefully."You may go."

"WHAT?!"Letha screamed.After all their hard work,she was just going to send them away?!

"What about Flame?"Rina made her voice calm,stepping forward."You said you'd tell us about his weird behavior."

"I did,didn't I?"Kimi scrathed her head,looking as if she'd made the promise moons ago."Then come forward;the answers are in here."

She motioned to the crystal ball,that was sitting on a little table next to the window.Cautiously,they stepped forward,peering intently at the ball with awe.

Kimi,however,was uninpressed on how long it had taken them to retrieve it and that the crystal ball was not showing anything.She blinked when a sort-of light flickered inside,which slowly revealed images.

"W-What's happening?"Rina's blone hair quivered with a mix of excitement and fear.

"The picture is becoming clearer,"Kimi peered closer.

Soon enough,a blob of yellow was moving inside,they recognized a human they'd never seen before.It had fair skin a two blue dots under it's yellow blob.Kimi thought quickly that it must be a human with blonde hair and blue eyes.

The boy was walking.Walking in a part of the forest she hadn't been to in a few years. Suddenly, a gray wolf took his place, still just as handsome.It said something,and a black wolf appeared from the bushes and nuzzled it's head into the gray wolf's fur.The gray wolf smiled and licked the other wolf's head.Soon two pups surrounded them;one black and the other gray.They were a family.

"No,"Kimi hissed furiously."You are alive."