Chapter Nine

I wake up halfway out of bed. I vaguely remember getting up in the middle of the night to change, but how I woke up as I was tossing back the covers is all but lost to me. I glance around the room, but nothing is amiss. Then I realize that I'm not the only one up. 

Brother Wolf is up and staring at me like I finally became interesting. He stares at me as I just suddenly know what he needs. I glance at the sleeping wild girl, and just know that she would be okay with it. I glance at Luna once more, then slip on my shoes and lead Brother Wolf out of the building to make use of the fresh grass.

As he does his business, I shiver and am glad that I don't have to come outside to an out house to do my business. Brother Wolf shakes himself and seems to grin at me. Then two words, in a deep and forlorn voice, slither into my head. Me either. I jump at the sound. I study Brother Wolf. I've seen crazier things than a telepathic wolf, but it did shock me, if only for a minute.

"You can talk?" I whisper, thinking people will see me talking to and having a rational conversation with a wolf. More words slither into my head, like sly and quiet snakes.

Yes, I can talk to few humans this way. It takes lots of time for Luna Wolfe to answer my call, but you answered within seconds, before you were even awake. You have a strong aura and power. I'm cold and hungry. Open the doors for me so I can be fed and warm…Please. He seems to add please for more amusement than courtesy. I raise an eyebrow at him, but say nothing more.

I open the lobby door and he trots in, still highly amused with himself. We walk down the hall, our footsteps light and easy against the carpeted floor. We reach the door and I'm about to open it, when it swings inward, Luna bathed in the light from the hallway.

"Hey, I took Brother Wolf out for a little bit. I hope that's okay." I say as I close the door behind me.

"It's okay. It usually takes a while for him to wake me up, so I'm glad that you heard him and took him faster," Luna whispers, glancing at the sleeping lump that is Maddie. She doesn't stir at our voices.

She is out, do not worry. She can't hear me anyways. Not many people actually believe in our greater race of wolves. We are the ancestors of the normal wolves you know. We are few in numbers and far between. Our numbers have dwindled down over the centuries, so we learned and sought human companionship. They gave us equality, but people don't believe, which makes them the no-hearers. That is our story. Brother Wolf explains. He settles down on his cot and watches us.

Luna smiles at him. "I met him when I was just thirteen. I was a wanderer, still am, and I like the quiet, peacefulness of the forest. So I was wandering, and I came across this giant wolf, just as I realized that I'm lost. He was like an angel, beautiful, with sleek fur that looked really soft. He had a little white stripe on his nose, and the end of his tail was gray, the rest of him was the colors of the forest, the light color of bark, the dark color of wet Earth. I was frozen by the beauty of such a creature.

"I had seen wolves in the forest, and he resembled them, but he was more raw and wonderful to look at than any normal wolf. I was also frozen in fear, wondering if this would be my last day on earth. I suddenly felt compelled to face him, to look him in the eyes, even knowing that it was a sign of challenge to normal wolves. I looked into his russet brown eyes, and he spoke, his voice deep and mysterious and in my head, sliding in silently.

"'I mean no harm, Moon Wolfe. He said. I am Brother Wolf, and I will guide you home, in exchange for one thing.'" Luna closes her eyes, remembering the moment. She laughs softly. "He just wanted a friend he could talk to. Now he comes with me everywhere, to protect a friend, he says. I think he just wants someone to open doors for him."

Brother wolf glares at her. Do not; I've been alone for a long time, and I do want a friend. Opening doors is just a plus. He smiles a wolfish-like smile. Luna just shakes her head, smiling back.

"Let's get to bed, we have a big day coming tomorrow. Our first mission, So good night." I whisper, climbing under my now cold covers. I shiver in the dark, my mind spinning as I wait for sleep like an old friend come to visit. It comes softly, drifting in and settling inside me. I close my eyes and let it take me away, happy for an actual night of sleep.

I wake up to Brother Wolf's voice sliding into my head. Wake up, or we'll be late for getting the stuff we need. I get up and wake Maddie and Luna before changing into different Fate Chosen linens. I'm eating toast and eggs by the time they get to the dining room. They sit down and Dakota comes rushing down with John. They both grab toast and sit.

"Well, it appears that everyone is getting a late start." A voice says from behind me. I glance behind and stare. The voice belongs to a young man in Fate Chosen white. He has blond hair swept back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck, bright blue eyes, wide shoulders, and a broad chest. I recognize his build as one from the northern orphanages.

"I'm Leif Dalton, Fate Chosen of the Northern tribe. Well, you would call it an orphanage, since you have the build of the west and east tribes. Very lean and compact muscles. Well, except for that big one. He would have done well up north." Leif says, nodding at Dakota, who is built like Leif.

I hold out my hand and he takes it. "I'm Genevieve Potter, Fate Chosen of the Western Orphanage." He nods and turns to John for a greeting.

"I'm John Winthrop, Fate Chosen of the Eastern Orphanage." John says, checking his watch.

"I'm Maddelynn Wolfe, Fate Chosen of the Northwestern tribe." She says, shocking Leif. We continue introductions on the way to the stables after collecting ourselves to go. Leif follows me to my stable with Dakota He stands in the doorway, and I can feel his eyes on me as I saddle the horse for me and Dakota. Dakota leaves to get a grain cake for Black Beauty.

"You are different and strange, for a westerner. They usually have brown hair and eyes, but you aren't as lean as your friend John, and your muscles are very compacted, too compact for the west. You have gray eyes and black hair like we have in the north, but the hair is longer than the westerners like it. And you have a weird accent. Your friend Dakota should have been sent to the North, with his heavy build. Well, that is all speculation. I do hope our groups do get together, as they sometimes do. My group is waiting for their leader, so I must take my leave." He waves and departs. 

Dakota comes in, the cake in hand. "So, we need a group leader, as blondy said. We all voted on you. Now lead the Reb Renegades." I mount Black Beauty and Dakota gets on behind me. I lead him out and we are joined by Luna and Maddie on a horse, and John by himself. Brother Wolf walks beside the brown mare that Luna is on. We trot off to the registration office after telling them about me accepting the role as leader.

When we walk in, I start spotting the differences between people. The tanner ones from the south, the blond and bulky from the north. We get in line behind a group with tan and bulky Fate Chosen, a mix. People glance nervously at Brother Wolf, who brushes my hip when he's standing. The bulky group behind us is standing away from us with about twenty feet between our two groups. They are looking at the wolf with curiosity rather than fear. Brother Wolf then speaks to Luna and me.

Why are those humans looking at me with jealousy? Am I a favorite toy that is to be passed around? He asks, his furry face expressing confusion. I look at Luna before leaning down to talk to him, since the giant room has become crowded with teenagers.

"Well, I bet they've heard of your kind, and want a relationship like what you have with Luna, with someone else like you. They are jealous because Luna has gotten close to you. And no, you are not a toy that can be passed around. We don't do that to friends." I glance up at Luna and offer her a smile. She smiles brightly at me, teeth showing. I stand back up as the line moves forwards.

I glance around the line of people, trying to see to the front. Only about six more groups until it's our turn; we were lucky to have made it here before the crowds started piling in. Dakota catches me looking around. He smirks and my heart thumps against my chest.

"I thought I was supposed to be the impatient one? You're the Miss Calm-in-all-situation one." He tosses an arm over my shoulders, something that is normal and he has always done, and raises an eyebrow. My face heats up and I glance at my shoes, the checkered floor, the big clock on the wall; anything but Dakota. I can feel his eyes studying me and my reaction with undisguised confusion.

I'm studying my nails at the moment when Dakota asks the big question that I can't figure out myself. "What's wrong, Gene?" Startled by the bluntness of it, I glance up at his face, which holds concern and a hint of blush on his cheeks. When my gaze drifts to his hazel eyes, my insides go warm and fuzzy, and I can feel butterflies in my stomach. My face heats up more, if that's even physically possible.

I glance away and shrug. "I don't know, but we have to move up." I walk forwards and his arm slides away from my shoulders. Just two more groups until we get our assignment and we can leave the room that is rapidly heating up. I feel a hand on my shoulder, holding me back while the others continue to move up. I'm pulled out of line, but I don't have to look behind me to know who it is.

"We need to talk this out," Dakota says, moving to stand in front of me. "Something is going on between us, and we need to sort it out. It'll hurt the group as a whole if the leader and someone in the group are having problems."

I glance at our group. They are one group away from being at the desk, and the team at the desk looks about finished up.

"Look, we can talk about this later. We have to fight one battle at a time, and we don't have the time to sort this out right now. So, let's go join our team to get our assignment." I head to our group, using all of my will power not to look back to see if he's following me or not.

I get there right as the group at the desk leaves. A lady in a white blouse and with brown hair sits behind the desk. Her name tag tells us that her name is 'Judy.' We state our names and our team name. She raises her eyebrows, but doesn't say we have to change the team name.

"Okay, let's see…Genevieve? You're the team leader right?" I nod, frowning. "Then I have the right group. Now, we have the whole group down for a town patrol, but then Genevieve is scheduled for an assassination while there. So, that must mean she will have to take someone out in that town. You will be going to Kingston, a tiny town to the south of the city.

"Genevieve, you will receive everything you need there. The whole team will be on patrol for a two week shift, then you will be relieved by another team. Come here when you are done to give a full report and get your next job assignment. Have a nice day, oh, and you should leave soon, like today soon."

She takes in a deep breath and smiles for the next team in line as we walk away. The butterflies from the talk with Dakota turn into bees at the thought of actually killing someone. Sure, I've been trained to do it. I know how to do it quickly and silently. I know how to fight them, I know everything that I should, but it still makes me sick to my stomach. I trip over my own feet as we walk back outside. Dakota catches me before I fall on my face. He keeps a hand at my waist until we get to our horse, making my face red and my heart beat loudly in my ears.

"So, do we leave now? We have all of our gear and stuff with us." I say, mounting Black Beauty. Dakota gets on behind me.

Maddie's the first to answer. "I'm all for it. The town is only a four hour ride South of here. We should get there before nightfall to relieve the current Patrol Team for the night."

"I like the idea, so I'm okay with it," Dakota says. John nods and mounts up. Luna just shrugs and mutters "Whatevers fine, as long as we get going." Brother Wolf huffs, but trots behind Luna.

Dakota wraps his arms around my waist as Maddie studies a map and figures out which way to go. Luna mounts behind her and they lead, Dakota and me trailing at the back as we make our way south and out of the noisy city.

"Are you okay? You seemed kinda dazed and not yourself in there, after we were given our missions." Dakota says, his arms tightening and loosening with each jolt and sway of the horse trotting down the road.

"I'm okay now. The news of my first kill mission kinda hit me hard. I wasn't expecting it." I say in a sudden bout of truthfulness. I wasn't planning on telling the truth about that at all.

"I guess it would, seeing it's your first. We should get used to it, since we might be doing a lot of that. Let's just take it one day at a time, Gene. That's all we can do." Dakota says, his voice slightly muffled from being jolted into my hair.

"I don't think that we should ever get used to taking another's life from the Earth, even if they deserve it. And I'll try to take it one day at a time, but I'm just so tired of everything. I'm tired of my life being completely controlled by other people. I'm just tired and weary of life, and I'm only sixteen." I sigh and lean my head forward, trying to stay awake. Dakota notices this too, because he takes the reins from my hands.

"Lean back and rest, Gene. You need it." He says, pushing me back against him. I don't even try to resist because of how heavy my eyes feel.

"You sure?" I ask, fighting a losing battle with sleep. He murmurs his assent, so my body drifts off to sleep, my soul however, flies outwards to the forest caves.