It's been almost two moons since Torak, Renn, the ravens and the wolves left the Raven Clan to be at peace in the forest. So far, everything is going all right, but things are soon about to change when the power of the loved and the lost overwhelm them. Are your friends your enemies? Or perhaps the other way around? Read on, and find out...
Chapter 1: Renn's Dream
Torak held his staff high above his head, looking into the sky. He showed no sign of stopping, or changing; this was it, this was who he had become. Renn called to him desperately, trying to break the spell. "Torak!" she shouted. "Torak, please! Don't listen to it!" Torak glanced down at the open wood-chest, at the streaming light repeating his name. "Torak... This it your destiny..." the light echoed. "Come, it is your time to rule..." Torak's eyes were glazed with red, as the light swirled around him and he felt the power grow inside of him. "I shall rule the living... I shall rule the dead... I shall rule the Sea, The Mountains, The North Wind and the Forest! I am the Death Waker..." he chanted.
Renn squealed and sat up, shaking. The fire was nothing but ashes, and Torak, Darkfur, Pebble and Wolf slept calmly around the shelter. "Just a dream," she whispered to herself. But she was no longer peaceful alone, so she wriggled out of her sleeping-sack and gave Torak a gentle nudge. Torak groaned, rolling over. "It's not light yet, Renn..." he muttered. Renn shook him again, blowing on his neck gently. That would wake him if nothing else did. Torak's mouth curved into a smile, and he snapped open his eyes. "What is it, Renn?" he asked, sitting up and looking around the shelter blearily. Renn hesitated. She wanted to tell Torak about the dream; she wanted to cry and shout all her fears to him, but she couldn't. Something in the way her mind repeated the ghastly images told her to wait. Until when, though? she asked herself.
Renn forced a small smile. "I was...um...cold." she said. That would probably cover up why she had woken him; it was nearing Midwinter. She knew this because she was anticipating it greatly. On Midwinter, she would be seventeen winters old, and finally a woman. Torak looked at her blankly. "Well, put your parka on." he said. Renn looked at her pile of gear, and on top of it laid her seal-hide parka that one of the Seal Clan women had made for her on a trip to the Islands a few weeks ago. She scratched her arm wearily and went to get it, picking it up and smoothly slipping it over her head. It warmed her instantly - but was too bulky to wear in her sleeping-sack. When she explained this to Torak, he sighed and got out of his sleeping-sack, going over to the pile of gear and getting his knife from his belt.
Renn glanced at Torak, startled, as he began to cut smoothly down the side of his sleeping-sack, before putting it down and doing the same for Renn's. "What are you doing?" she asked. He ignored her, went to his medicine-pouch, got out a roll of sinew thread and a small needle, and sewed the ends of the sacks together, creating one large sleeping-sack. Once finished, he put his tools away and stood triumphantly with his arms folded. "There," he said. "Now we have one sleeping-sack to share, so we can keep each other warm, and we can use the left over hide I cut off for clothes and shelter material." Renn blinked, but nodded in acceptance and took her parka off, laying it with the rest of the gear and getting into the sleeping-sack. Torak wriggled in beside her, awkwardly slipping his arms around her and pulling her closer. Renn jolted, and thanked the Spirit it was dark so Torak couldn't see her blushing fiercely. He sensed the tension between them and said with more relaxation than he felt, "Hugging keeps you warm. The Seals told me that their guardians are always huddling to keep from the cold. Penguins do it too." Renn relaxed into his arms, too tired to argue. Not that she actually wanted to. Soon, she found herself wrapping her arms around Torak, forgetting her dream, forgetting her worries, just losing herself as she huddled into his warm body.
Wolf woke shortly after Tall Tailless and the pack-sister. He was confused as the air hung with many scents - Darkfur and Pebble, the taillesses, the ravens - but he could sense something else. It was coming from the female. Sharp, wholesome fear, and Badness. Wolf twitched and longed to ask Tall Tailless what was wrong, but he hung back, closing his eyes slightly so that the taillesses didn't see that he was awake. He heard them give confused, awkward grunt-whines in tailless talk, before he saw Tall Tailless cutting the hide blankets they used to sleep in and tying them together. He watched as Tall Tailess huddled in the blanket with the female, and his ears pricked up. A wonderful scent swirled around the shelter, and Wolf forgot the Bad smell, recognising the new scent immediately. It was the same scent that he smelt three winters ago when he played with the cubs in the Mountain Pack. It was the same scent he smelt every time he nuzzle-licked Tall Tailless. It was the same scent he smelt around Pebble and Darkfur - but it wasn't coming from him. It was coming from Tall Tailless and the female; the joyful, dreamy scent of love.
Giving a wolfy grin, Wolf snuggled deeper beside Darkfur and his cub. He was very happy for his pack-brother. He had finally become a full grown tailless, and found a mate.
Fluffy enough for you, readers? XD
I hope you enjoyed reading the brief first chapter of this fanfic as much as I enjoyed writing it. I finally managed to finish reading this series, so I got straight on to writing this up, and I will have another chapter up soon. I'd really love some reviews, guys! *hint* ^_^
