Wolfblood: The Cub's Calling

Synopsis: This is set mere weeks after Wolfblood series 4. In between interrogations by the secret services, Jana is concentrating on being Alpha of her pack still. And when her pack need her, she will be there, no matter what the danger…

Jana: 'So Matei, you keep can you keep your wolf under control?'

Matei: 'Me? Of course I can Jana- who do you take me for, one of your little learners?'

Jana: 'No, we just need to prove that we can be trusted to keep our wolf in check. When they test us like this, it'll be sudden, and we need to prove that we can stay calm under that kind of pressure.' TJ then sneaks up from behind Matei, and grabbed him from behind. Matei responds by baring his fangs at TJ.

'Failed again.'

Matei: 'Well he would sneak up on me.'

TJ: 'Thought that was the whole point.'

Matei: 'Why doesn't he have to do this test?'

Jana: 'He already has. You need to do this, for all of us. Come on- something's not right.'

Matei: 'Don't know what you mean.'

Jana: 'Normally you'd bite my hand off for mentioning you failed. I know something isn't right, and I'm not moving until you tell me.'

Matei: 'Fine- I'm worried about Emilia. I've not heard from her in weeks. Normally we're in contact pretty much daily.'

Jana: 'Well if you're that worried, we'll go and find her. Have you asked any of the wild pack?'

Matei: 'No, didn't think I'd be welcome there.'

Jana: 'Right- we're going there.'

TJ: 'What- all of us?'

Jana: 'Either come with us or stay and face the world's media on your own TJ. I know which one I'd choose.'

TJ: 'When you put it that way….' TJ then ran after Jana and Matei, and they journey into the wilds, where the rest of the pack are. When they got there, they were immediately greeted by Aran, who greeted Jana in the traditional way.

Aran: 'My Alpha, what brings you here?'

Jana: 'Aran, have you seen Emilia?'

Aran: 'I have, I saw her just earlier. I wished to talk to you about her behaviour though.'

Matei: 'Not like Emilia to cause problems.'

Aran: 'It's not like that.'

Jana: 'Aran, what do you know?'

Aran: 'I don't know what's going on, but… she's been acting strangely. She moves around in strange ways, almost shifty. And she holds her head like she has it in the clouds up above.'

Matei: 'Where did you last see her?'

Aran: 'It was down by the river- I go down there every morning to bathe. She was acting as different as usual- I tried reaching out, but she barely seems to recognise me.'

Jana: 'I don't know enough about this. I need you to gather all the information anybody in the pack has about this. We all look out for each other here.'

Aran: 'Shall I call them in?'

Jana: 'I'll do that myself.' A couple of minutes later, the whole pack were standing around. 'Everyone, in this pack, we all look out for each other. Emilia has not spoken to us in weeks. According to Aran, she has been acting strangely recently. Does anybody know anything about this or have any kind of information?' Several members of the pack then stepped up.

Member 1: 'She's been walking around like she's not a care in the world.'

Member 2: 'Emilia's been talking about the doctor to herself.'

Member 3: 'She's been hanging around a hidden cave a lot.'

Member 4: 'She talks about the doctor "curing" her.'

Member 5: 'The last time I saw her was weeks ago. She noticed something to the east and ran after it.'

Matei: 'Hold on, did one of you say something about a cave?'

Member 3: 'Yes- she's been hanging around a cave hidden near a waterfall a lot. It's well outside our territory.'

Matei: 'Why would she be there?'

Jana: 'It's common for wolfbloods to venture outside their territory, but not that much, and normally it's an Alpha scouting out potential threats. We need to find out why she's around there rather than here.'

Matei: 'We go out there and find her then.' Jana then backed Matei up.

Jana: 'No- what we do is we go and speak to Imara. If there's a dangerous force out there, we need to be prepared. For all we know there could be a whole other pack out there, waiting to attack us. Everybody, stay here, you included Matei. I will speak to Imara. If you notice anything, tell me.' Jana then ran off to find Imara.

Back in the city

Imara: 'Hmmm- you say she's been talking about the doctor?'

Jana: 'Yeah- something about the doctor "curing" her?'

Imara: 'I'm afraid this one has me stumped. I'll just have a look through my contacts… I've found someone who might be able to help you.' Imara then gave Jana a piece of paper with a phone number on it, and a name… Ceri. Jana rung her straight away.

Ceri: 'Imara, what do you need?'

Jana: 'It's me, not Imara.'

Ceri: 'Jana? It's'

Jana: 'I need to talk to you. Emilia, a friend of mine who's a wolfblood, she's in trouble I think. She's been wandering around for weeks aimlessly, talking about the doctor "curing" her. She's been hanging around a cave well to the east of our territory as well. Imara mentioned you could help.'

Ceri: 'I'm familiar with a doctor talked about, but you won't like it.'

Jana: 'Shoot.'

Ceri: 'I've heard Madoc referred to as the doctor.'

Jana: 'Well yeah, he was supposed to be a healer'

Ceri: 'Not just that. It's been said in the past that he has a mystical quality which attracts stray young cubs towards him, following his lead unquestionably.'

Jana: 'What- like entrancing them?'

Ceri: 'So the old rumors go. I've never seen any evidence to confirm nor deny it. Incidentally, have you seen Maddy?'

Jana: 'No, why?'

Ceri: 'We've not seen her since yesterday. Rhydian is frantic.'

Jana: 'Why would she be here?'

Ceri: 'Because she's been talking about us coming back for a visit at sometime.'

Jana: 'I know Maddy, she wouldn't just run off.'

Ceri: 'It's been a different Maddy recently- she's been argumentative a lot more. Her and Rhydian have been arguing constantly. It's over the slightest things as well, and he's not changed. If anything, he's more mature now.'

Jana: 'Should we go and confront Madoc?'

Ceri: 'Approach with caution- It's said a cub brought up by the doctor becomes permanently embittered by the process, unable to see outside of the doctor's gaze. Please be careful Jana.'

Jana: 'I will be, thank you.'

Ceri: 'Anything I can do to help my pack.' Jana ended the call, and looked over to Imara.

Imara: 'Did you get the answers you needed?'

Jana: 'I got answers- and it's not sounding good. Do you remember me mentioning Madoc?'

Imara: 'I know Madoc- we've been acquaintances for several years. I mentioned the last time you talked about him.'

Jana: 'What do you know about the rumours of him being the doctor?'

Imara: 'Outside of him being a renowned healer, I know nothing of the sort.'

Jana: 'When did you last speak?'

Imara: 'Not since I got wind of him trying to kill Alric.'

Jana: 'I need to get back.'

Imara: 'Should you need help, you know how to find me.'

Jana: 'Why are you so keen to help me?'

Imara: 'It's simple- you've helped me. The amount of jobs you've done as a Segolia agent.'

Jana: 'Thanks Imara.'

Imara: 'I'm a wolfblood that can be trusted. I don't need your thanks. Just keep yourself safe.'

Jana: 'I will do.' Jana then left for the wild again.

Back in the wild

When Jana arrived back, Matei was nowhere to be seen.

Jana: 'Where's Matei?'

TJ: 'Him and Aran have gone to have a look near the river for any clues. You find my Mum?'

Jana: 'Yeah- she got me in contact with an old friend- Ceri.'

TJ: 'Who's Ceri?'

Jana: 'Right, I had this friend once, Rhydian Morris, you may have heard me talk about him.'

TJ: 'Nope.'

Jana: 'Shows how much you listen to me. Anyway, Ceri is his mother. She told me about someone who is commonly known as the doctor- Madoc.'

TJ: 'Nah, Madoc wouldn't do something like that.'

Jana: 'He tried killing my father. We need to go and find Emilia.' Meiner then came over.

Meiner: 'Let me come- I can help, wolfblood or not.'

Jana: 'Meiner, you are strong. I need you and Aran to stay here and protect our territory. There is nobody I would trust to do that more.'

Meiner: 'As the Alpha wishes.' We then rushed off to find Matei and Aran, who were by the river searching like Jana was told.

Matei: 'What did you find out?'

Jana: 'Imara put me in touch with Ceri.'

Aran: 'Ceri as in'

Jana: 'Yes, that Ceri. She said it may be Madoc, and Imara confirmed that she's heard him referred to as a doctor.'

Aran: 'We all go then.'

Jana: 'Aran, you are strong and brave. I need you and Meiner to go and protect our territory. You are strong enough on your own both of you.'

Aran: 'But'

Jana: 'Aran, please- I ask this of you. Is my father about?'

Aran: 'Yes- he's been out searching for food.'

Jana: 'When he gets back, explain where I am.'

Aran: 'Indeed.' We then left, as Aran returned to our territory. Journeying out of our grounds, we soon glimpsed the cave that was talked about. And fairly quickly, we noticed Madoc, alone, not far from the cave. So we went to confront him.

Jana: 'We want to speak to you.'

Madoc: 'What are you doing here? This is not your territory- you are out of bounds.'

Jana: 'We're looking for Emilia. We have reason to believe that she is here with you.'

Madoc: 'I have not a clue what you're talking about. That little runt of the litter hangs around here, but I haven't touched her. Why would I?'

Matei: 'You tried to kill her once.'

Madoc: 'Indeed, but I've changed my ways. I didn't think I'd be welcome on your territory, but I was welcomed in the tribe that inherit here.'

Jana: 'No tribe has inherited here for months. The previous ones vanished. You're hiding something, and we know it.' We then heard a quiet howl, and a pair of eyes glow in the cave.

Matei: 'I'm going to look there.'

Madoc: 'You will do nothing of the sort my young naïve cub.'

Jana: 'Why not?'

Madoc: 'Because this is not your territory.'

Jana: 'If you're just another member of a pack, you have no rights to stop us from looking in that cave- you can't stop us.'

Madoc: 'Fine- you forced my hand. This is my territory, I took it over when the previous inhabitants moved on. I still didn't touch your little friend though.' Another quiet howl, and this time four pairs of eyes glowing deep in the cave.

Jana: 'Who's in the cave?'

Madoc: 'Some friends of mine.'

TJ: 'You were known as the doctor wasn't you?'

Madoc; 'I was once.'

TJ: 'You weren't healing anyone though. So why were you a doctor? Was it you possibly curing something which doesn't need curing?'

Madoc: 'How rude.'

TJ: 'Hey, you didn't answer my question. You wanna know what I think?'

Madoc: 'Not'

TJ: 'What I think is that you have been trying to cure some poor young cub's brains. Some cub that doesn't know the danger they are in, doesn't know the reputation around these parts of Madoc, some cub who doesn't have the capability of protecting themselves. I think you're basically a big bully. And you know, I don't like bullies, I don't like bullies at all. I think you're disgusting.'

Madoc: 'Fine, the game's up. Come out now.' A wolfblood then came out in their wolf form, and sat down next to Madoc, before transforming back.

Matei: 'Emilia!'

To Be Continued…

To find out, read the second part of this story- Wolfblood: Rise of the Alpha