Ember

Chapter 1

Where Is Everyone?

I could smell it already, even though I still had a mile to go. The smell of smoke and smoldering logs filled my nostrils. My home away from home. I stepped from the trees to survey my surroundings from the cliff top. From there I could see the reds and oranges and yellows dancing far beyond the cliff and alongside the river, beneath the dense canopy of the woods.

I began to feel the prickling sensation of rain drops on my skin. I flung myself in the opposite direction of the dancing colors and ran. I flew threw the forest with the greatest of ease. I scanned my surroundings as I easily dodged trees and hurdled over roots and fallen logs. At the base of the knoll, I made a swift about-face and loped toward my place of peace.

By the time that I reached the campsite the rain had already passed. As I approached I noticed an alarming site. Where is everyone? I scanned the campsite, but I couldn't find anyone. I sniffed the air but the only trace I found was that of a small rabbit stumbling away into the shrubbery.

I began to panic. "Mother? Cedric? Carson? Theo?" My voice was beginning to falter. "Everett? Come on, Ethan, stop screwing around! Anybody?"

I looked about myself but found nothing. I searched the vacant tents and found nothing. As I stepped toward the fire pit I heard branches being disturbed in the distance. Without another thought I crouched on all fours. I was prepared to spring when I saw a flash of copper-tinted fur.

I flew to my feet in fury. "Theo Allister Croft! Get out here now! Wade Broderick Croft! I know you're not very far behind! Both of you get out here now!" I knew they would come out, because I used their full names. They knew that I meant business when I used their full names.

Sure enough, not a minute later, Theo and Wade came strolling out of the shadows that shrouded them. I could tell that they had just shifted back because they were both shirtless and keyed up.

Wade pretended to pout, "Ah, come on Ember! We were just having a little fun. You weren't scared, were you, Cousin?"

Theo snickered. I growled in his direction. He jumped back in over-exaggerated terror. "Oh, no! Not the growl! Anything but the growl!" They flew into a fit of laughter and giggling. Their favorite past time was making fun of me.

I glared at the brothers, fighting the sweet tension of the change in my muscles. My skin longed to feel the tickling sensation of thick black fur. My eyesight began to shift enough to become capable of seeing the thinnest of hairs that stood erect on the boys' arms. My teeth sharpened and my jaw tightened, but I fought back the temptation.

I clenched my teeth in my struggles. Seeing my face, Wade stopped laughing. He stared at my face and I at his. I saw for the first time in more than a year an expression that I'd been longing to see. My Wade. I penetrated his elegant bronze eyes. They were filled with apologies and guilt. Memories flashed through my mind of a much more pleasant time when we were younger.

Wade and I always ran down by the river on Friday nights, just Wade and me. We took pleasure in chasing alley cats and hunting rabbits. We would play games to see who could catch a rabbit first. He always won, but would always give his catch to me. I'd make fun of him for being so sweet and I'd ruffle his onyx-black hair. He was my best friend, but then him and Theo started hanging around with a mischievous crowd. I lost my friend, but once in a while I would catch a glimpse of my friend again, just as I have seen right now.

I turned from them and found Cedric and Carson across the clearing. I couldn't help but smile in their presence. They ran to me and playfully shoved each other out of the way so that they may be the first to embrace me. Cedric won in the end and all but thrust the air from my lungs. Carson pouted in defeat until I turned to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

I stepped away from the twins and examined them closely. They were considered identical twins, but I could never find anything identical about them. I glanced from Cedric's chocolate shaded brown eyes to Carson's baby blues. Carson was a striking six foot one, while Cedric was only slightly taller than me at five foot ten, even though Cedric was two minutes older than Carson. Carson's lively personality and Cedric's stern manner completely showed them to be true individuals.

Carson chuckled and I quickly looked away. I had been so lost in thought that I hadn't realized that I had been staring. I tried to find something to say. "Where's my mother?" I inquired. As I asked, I noticed that Wade and Theo had come to stand beside Carson and Cedric. They all seemed to be gawking at me.

Cedric ended the silence. "Scarlet will be back. She went for a run."

I felt a bit more at ease, but something didn't feel right. Just then, a sound came from behind me. I turned and found my mother collapsed in a mound of earth. I raced to her and flopped down by her side. I flipped her face up so that I may see her face. I stared blankly at the blood that was strewn over her face and clothes. The scent told me that it was not of my mother's veins. I breathed in the rust-salt aroma and was cut short by shock. I could feel my face drain of color and heat. The boys kept their distance, not wanting to get a claw to the face if they came to close.

I struggled to my feet. I turned to face my audience with a fear-stricken expression. I could only whisper with great effort. "Human."

Chapter 2

PS. I Know Who She Is!

After making my mother comfortable in her tent, the boys and I bolted into the woods. As I ran I let the change have its way with me. Spasms ripped through my body. My muscles bulged and my bones popped. I absorbed the pleasure of the change. My black hair shortened and fur stood on end on my arms. I listened to the sounds of the woods as I heard the changing sounds of human to wolf. My eyes adjusted and my jaw set. I followed the scent from which my mother had come. I led the pack over miles of woodlands. Their thoughts echoed in my mind and mine in theirs.

What has happened? Theo's thoughts were full of unease, most definitely not the normal Theo from only moments before.

Your guess is as good as mine. My unspoken words echoed in my head.

Don't worry, Ember. Wade whispered encouragingly, listening to my worrying. Everything will be fine.

But everything couldn't be fine. If a human was dead in our territory there will be chaos. I knew my mother couldn't have killed a human, but its blood was all over her. Wouldn't that seem a little suspicious? My heart sank as I thought too quickly before I could catch myself. What if she did?

Cedric snarled. How could you think such a thing? Your mother is the most kindhearted woman we know. She would never hunt a human.

I apologized for allowing my thoughts to get away from me. Carson nudged my neck in understanding and Cedric sighed remorsefully. I'm sorry, Em. I didn't intent to sound so cruel.

I couldn't help but forgive him. I couldn't resist when he called me Em. It was his and Carson's name for me. I couldn't help but smile inside, despite the circumstances.

When I looked ahead I skidded to a halt. I gazed grimly at the lifeless mass of flesh before me. I strained to gradually move forward. I saw that the lifeless human had been a girl just about my age. Her body was slumped on her side facing away from us where we had entered the cavity between the trees. We circled her until we could see her face. Theo slowly stepped forward and gently moved her so that she may lie on her back.

I shuddered in strong distaste. Her abdomen had been slashed by something. Upon closer inspection, we realized that the marks resembled that of one of our kind. Her face had been torn to such an extent that it was nearly impossible to see what she had once looked like.

It must have been an outsider. Carson thought hopefully. No one in our pack would do this sort of thing.

I moved closed to better observe the girl. I bent down to where I could see her face clearer and jumped. I howled in agony and bewilderment.

It's Susie Beckett from school! I shouted silently.

Carson and Wade loped anxiously hoping that I was wrong. I stepped aside to let them through. I looked at Wade and found his eyes glazed over from tears. He looked at her fretfully and found my thoughts factual. He began to whine and whimper like a puppy asking for attention from its owner. He nudged her arm with his nose despite his knowledge that she was surely dead. He paced by her side with his tail between his legs. Wade's affection for Susie had been apparent. They had been together for several months. He thought that he might have imprinted on Susie. Basically, he considered her more than his soul mate. They were created for each other.

Salty water droplets fell at his feet. He whimpered and sobbed uncontrollably. What have they done! Why her? What did she ever do to anyone!

A twig snapped in the shadows. Wade hunched defensively, positioning himself between the intruder and the body. He bared his teeth and snarled. The goldenrod yellow fur on his back stood on end. His extended like tiny pocked knives getting flipped open. He dug them into the dirt at his feet.

It's just us, Wade. A thought sounded. Its deep demanding voice was easily recognizable.

From the shadows emerged three wolves. Two were rather lean and small, while the third was muscular and tall. Everett towered over Ethan and Dahlia. Everett's silver pelt reflected the moonlight on his back as he approached. Dahlia's slender body strolled on his left; her ivory coat seemed even paler against the shade of ebony that was shadow. Ethan's calico patched coat appeared drab in comparison to Everett and Dahlia's beauty, but he trotted next to them as if he was the most gorgeous wolf of them all.

Wade whined more. I'm so sorry, Everett. I thought maybe–

Never mind that. We have bigger problems. He glanced at Susie with soot hued eyes full of repentance. He looked the corpse over to see if maybe there was some trace of something left behind from the mystery wolf.

I watched him as he slowly allowed his body to pop and crack back into human form. His silver pelt melted away, leaving behind his olive skin. He threw his head back and tousled his short sandy hair with a sigh of resentment. He tenderly carried Susie to a small area of grass so that we may inspect the scene more efficiently.

Slowly the rest of us followed Everett's example and reluctantly allowed ourselves to convert back to walking on two legs. I sighed as my spine popped and shifted to allow me to stand upright. When I found that I had hands again instead of paws, I glanced around me and found everyone human again.

"What can we do now, Everett?" Ethan inquired.

"We search the clearing. Look for any sign of a trespasser. Whoever it was, we'll find him." Everett growled. Then his tone became more soothing as he looked at me. "Ember, little sis, you have more power than any of us. Do what only you can do. We can take care of the rest."

I nodded. I began to drift lifelessly through the clearing along with the rest. We all came to Everett for answers and advice. He was our leader when there was no Uncle Samuel to answer to or guide us. Everett was a born leader and sometimes appeared better fit as alpha male than Uncle Samuel. And being twenty-one, Everett is the oldest of all of us. For that reason, we come to Everett.

I was searching the trees when a petite hand grasped mine. I didn't have to turn around to know that it was Dahlia. She was my very best friend after all. How could I not know? I turned to see her expression was one of pity and sorrow. I hugged her tightly to let her know that I would be alright. She touched my cheek and smiled half-heartedly. I tried to smile too, but I knew that it didn't touch my eyes. Before she left me she gave me a quick peck on the cheek. Then she returned to Ethan's side to assist him, because we all knew that he would need more help than I ever would.

I continued to search, grateful that my thoughts could not be heard. My thoughts flew from Susie, to Wade, to my brothers, to my mother, and back again. I almost didn't hear Dahlia when she yelled that she had found something. I turned to where she stood. She was kneeling next to Susie's body with a paper in her hand. I immediately made my way over to her. The boys were all already shifting that way.

Dahlia took the crumpled scrap of notebook paper and set it in Everett's expecting hand. "It was balled up in her fist, Everett." Dahlia explained.

Everett nodded. "Thank you, Dahlia." He slowly uncrumpled the paper with ease. He held it out to read to himself. Within seconds his expression changed from calm to terrified. He looked around at his circle of spectators one by one. I was already scared, but then he stopped when he looked at me. I was terrified because it took a lot to make my tough-guy brother that horror struck. He grudgingly looked back at the paper and read aloud:

Don't you worry, Everett. You won't be missing me for long. That silly little girl was only the beginning.

I will lead a long path of blood and destruction. Death after death, I will become closer and closer.

Until I finally get what I want. I'll fulfill the prophecy.

Mystical little Ember is mine.

PS. I know who she is!