*Chapter One: Smoke on the Wind*
"Gotcha!" the exclamation was punctuated by a growling bark as the silver shadow landed with an overly exaggerated 'plop' on the red beetle's back. Growling playfully Amaltheia barked again her white tail waving like a flag in the air. Bending her head she snapped at the beetle, knocking it away from her paws and further into the tall grass.
Staring around she surveyed the pack, as it lay sprawled about, resting in the midday sun. Lord Aruna and Lady Ceiuci lay side by side on a raised section of ground, the other Arcanine stretched around them protectively. Even from a distance Amaltheia could recognize Ajok, the beta male, and Akusaa, his mate who usually watched herself and the other young Arcanine when the pack hunted.
Now though the pack was at rest, they had no need of food or shelter and leisure time was plenty. I just wish everyone wouldn't sleep so much! Amaltheia thought sitting down, chin to chest a pouting look on her face.
"Grrhhmmmm" she muttered her cerulean eyes narrowing as she dropped to her stomach, tongue poking out of her muzzle as she concentrated. Stalking forward slowly she kept her gaze trained on the twitching tail belonging to Ajok.
"And slowly, the mighty hunter prepares to deliver the killing blow" she whispered, wriggling dramatically before bouncing out of the grass and sinking her needle-sharp teeth into Ajok's tail.
"Arrrruff!" Ajok's surprised yelp echoed through the clearing jerking the others from their rest. Turning the amber eyed Beta glared down his muzzle at the grinning Amaltheia, his tail still clenched tightly between her teeth.
"Sweet Niao-Kamui! Let go of my tail 'Theia!" mumbling curses the Beta jerked his tail from her jaws running his paw across it protectively.
"Soory Ajok" looking at her paws Amaltheia tried to adopt her most pitiful expression. Noticing her apparent gloom Ajok rolled his eyes and then nuzzled her cheek.
"Just don't surprise me like that Little One, one day you might get hurt." He shook his body, fluffing out his fur before continuing. "Why don't you play with the other youngsters?" as soon as the words had escaped his muzzle he regretted them. The look of pure hatred that flashed across the silver Arcanine's face was enough to curdle his soul for a lifetime.
"They're fools, they don't believe the Truth." She growled, her blue eyes narrowing dangerously.
Ajok stared at the strangely colored pup repeating her cryptic remark in his mind. Even if her color had been the normal orange and black, Amaltheia would never have been a regular Growlithe and now that she had evolved she proved to be even stranger. The other youngsters sensed this and shunned her, ignoring her remarks and poking fun at her. Slowly the Beta shook his head.
"I'm sorry Ajok" Amaltheia repeated slipping away like smoke on the wind before Ajok could reassure her.
Sighing softly the Beta curled up tighter and squeezed his eyes shut, knowing that despite his exhaustion he would not be able to sleep any longer.
************
The fields were silent as Amaltheia crossed them, no breeze or living thing stirred and yet the silver Arcanine could hear something. A low, malicious sound like that of a Houndoom howling in triumph. Amaltheia flicked her ears, stopping and staring at the northern horizon, the source of the noise. She shivered, her silvery fur standing on end as she felt the cold feeling tingle the back of her mind. Something was horribly wrong.
"Yo Ilankaka!" the loud bark jerked her from her thoughts and Amaltheia slid to her haunches watching calmly as seven young Arcanine melted out of the grass, their amber eyes and lolling tongues laughing mockingly.
The lead wolf, the largest male Emaus, stopped leaving his muzzle a few inches from hers. "What're you doing out her Ilankaka still hearing voices?"
Behind them the others laughed diversely and began to form a circle around her.
"Yeah what're they telling you this time?" Pitana, Emaus' 'mate' put in.
"Talking about the truth?" Smyrna, Pitana's sister added causing the remaining four—Myrine, Iku, Esu, and Cappi—to burst into fits of laughter.
Amaltheia simply shrugged, staring deeply into Emaus' eyes.
"You're afraid aren't you?" she asked softly, her voice so quiet that he had to lean forward to hear her. "Afraid of what it might mean if I'm right. Afraid of yourself and those around you."
Emaus stared at her long and hard for a moment, her amber eyes flickering uncertainly. Finally he seemed to come to a decision and shook his head.
"You're one crazy bitch" he snarled then turned to the others. "Let's get out of here. We shouldn't even waste out time."
Amaltheia watched unemotionally as they disappeared once more into the meadow, heading toward the rest of the pack. She knew she had frightened Emaus, she could see the fear in his heart as clearly as she could see the sky.
Standing she cocked her head, listening once more for the unknown sound, and then she too disappeared into the grass. Smoke on the wind.