A/N: Heyo! Just a few things before you begin reading. First off, I apologize for any typos in this chapter, or any future chapters. I try to reread the stories as much as possible to find mistakes, but I miss things, so yeah. Second off, I'll be attempting to give little facts about the characters or the process it took for me to create the character at the end of each chapter. Thirdly, the version of Victor Creed I will be using is the one where he is portrayed by Liev Schreiber. And finally, thank you for reading. Hope you enjoy. (:

5 Years Ago

The vast boreal forests of Alaska were silent as the sun slipped down the horizon. The sky that overlooked the mighty pines was lit up by the hundreds as more and more stars illuminated the darkness above. The animals of the forest disappeared into their homes, now sound asleep, while the predators lurked in the stillness. The peace of the woodlands was interrupted by the faintest snapping of twigs.

A young woman with medium, auburn hair walked through the forest, towards an opening that seemed to be producing light. Her hands touched every thick oak trunk, and she stopped just at the edge of the clearing. Her golden hues flickered to the trunk beside her when she felt an indent on it. She slowly ran her hand along it. The tree's base was scarred. It had two sets of markings on it. Claw marks. The top marking was thicker, while the bottom one was slimmer, but both were very deep. She had felt ill suddenly when she looked at her surroundings. Each tree that she had passed on the way towards the clearing, held the same marks on it.

The redhead looked back to the meadow, and took in the view. Across from herself, a great distance away, she saw two people sitting in front of a bonfire, which was the source of the light. As she began walking closer, the better her view became, enough so that she could identify the two people. The first individual was an older man, middle aged, with dark gray hair and blue eyes. He held a mangled rabbit in his claws, his long, blood glistening claws. Beside him was a girl, perhaps a young adult, with long, light brown hair and the same vivid blue eyes as the man she was seated next to. Like him, there was a rabbit hanging loosely in her claws as she tore through it with her fangs.

The brown-haired girl looked at the redhead as she sat down across from them. There was an arch in her brow, when the girl cleared her throat and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her blue hues narrowed sharply as she observed the older woman.

"What?" she growled in annoyance.

Startled by the hostility in the younger female's tone, the golden-eyed girl jumped. She rubbed her palms on her knees, and she cleared her throat again. The effect the younger one had was obvious. She intimidated the redhead.

"Ca-Can't we eat something other than raw meat?" she asked nervously.

"You're a fucking feral, Roxanne, be grateful we have such a limitless supply of meat," the blue-eyed girl snapped.

"Lea, language," the older man beside her warned as he licked some blood from the corner of his mouth. He shifted in his seat, tossing the carcass of the rabbit into the fire then faced Roxanne. "I understand you are still adjusting, dear. It is difficult, I know, but please try to see it from our side. Lea and I have been living like this for almost a decade, we simply don't question it. In time, and once you become more intune with your own instincts, you won't either."

"What if I don't want to live like this?" Roxanne asked quietly. She summed up what little courage she had, and spoke further. "Just because we have animal-like mutations doesn't mean we should live like them, Granddad! We shouldn't have to live like cavepeople! Why not live in society like norma-"

A roar ripped through Lea's chest, and tore from her lips. It was powerful. Authoritative. And fear-inducing. Roxanne could feel a weight falling over her entire being the moment the roar left Lea. It was the influence an alpha had on a lesser member of the pride. Roxanne's inner beast couldn't help but obey Lea's command. She fell silent and looked to the fire to avoid Lea's icy eyes.

"Lea! I have told you many times not to force your influence on Roxanne!" her grandfather reminded sternly. "Now Roxanne, I have lived in society for centuries. It is not worth it. You are forced to hide your claws, and fangs. You need to suppress your instincts and urges, it is exhausting. Here we do not need to hide. We can run freely."

The two sisters were silent as they took in what their grandfather had said. Roxanne was curious about whether or not he was right. He was an expert on ferals, but did he ever actually have an encounter with another mutant? And the instincts thing, she wasn't very intune with them, but she was also only in her first cycle.

She looked across the fire to Lea, who was about to enter her third and final cycle. Lea was one with her mutation, and had complete control. She wondered if Lea ever struggled with her humanity while she went through the cycles. That was a question for a different time though as Lea got to her feet and disappeared into the cave that she had called home since she was ten years old.

Fact For The Chapter: Lea's name comes from Leo, the Zodiac sign. She picked the name when she was ten years old, because of her love for lions, and she associated Leo with lions. It is pronounced as Lee-Ah.

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