Sitting astride a red Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, a seventeen year old with flowing midnight blue hair stared contemplatively over the moonlit cliff. The crashing of the waves created an almost soothing lull in which the young woman found herself. It was on a road similar to this one that she had lost her mother in a horrible car crash, one that she had been in at the age of three. The memories of that night so long ago were not the ones she now found her self lost in, but of the events of only a few nights ago where she had lost her her father, and the only home she had ever known.
A few nights ago....
The flames shot high, the smoke created a black blanket blocking out the stars. Sparks took the place of stars. The century-old building that had been the hub of her Packs business was a raging inferno. Natsuki watched in frozen horror as everything she had ever know was consumed in fire.
Two figures stumbled through the smashed front door and ran toward the safety of the surrounding forest, their faces white with terror and smeared with soot. The person who had pushed them out disappeared once again into the burning building, just as a window exploded flames licking at the sides of the building.
Several of the surrounding homes were on fire as well as the garage where vehicles were stored. Fortunately, most of the vehicles were already driven a safe distance from the flames that were consuming everything in its path. Several miles from the nearest town, no one expected a fire engine to arrive.
Behind Natsuki she heard a woman wail in fear and agony. "They did it on purpose. They burned us out."
"Get her into one of the trucks," a male voice yelled. "I'll bring another car around."
"Watch out for snipers." another female voice called out. "They may be waiting to pick us off as we leave."
"Everyone head to Fuuka," Natsuki heard Midori yell above the cacophony of noise created by the fire and panic in the air. "We will meet at the Sanctuary."
Natsuki felt a tug on her arm. She turned her head to side and saw the soot and sweat-streaked face of Midori, her father's second. Panting Midori asked, "I have Yohko in the car. Where is your father?"
"He went back in with Gal and Dyne," her normally husky voice was further roughened by the smoke and tears she wasn't even aware she was shedding. Her frozen body suddenly started to propel itself toward the burning building, as if it had been waiting for someone to come and speak to her before it could move.
"Dad!" Natsuki's charge toward the building was halted as Midori barely managed to grab her before she made it into the building.
"No! Natsuki you both cant be in there! Think of the pack!" The midnight haired teen struggled within Midori's grasp, but being older and a little stronger she was able keep her hold on Natsuki, barely. "You cant stop him! He swore to protect the pack!"
"But I need to be with him," begged Natsuki. "They are my people, too. My responsibility to protect as well. Now release me!" Her begging, ending in a growl as she started to use more of her werewolf strength against Midori. With that last little bit Natsuki was to break the hold on her. As she was running once again into the inferno she heard Midori try to reach again.
"I know I am thinking about the Pack. We need you alive as well, you are the next in line." Her words gave Natsuki pause. " The Pack needs you here now let them work!" Natsuki's shoulders slumped in defeat, she knew Midori was right.
Figures came running around the side of the building, Dyne was carrying a shell shocked young woman not much older than Natsuki, Gal was carrying a boy in her arms.
Just as Natsuki and Midori were approaching them to get a report on what was happening, there was a deafening crack, as the fire roared with victory. A central beam in the building gave way as the roof collapsed in a explosion of sparks and flame shot high in the night sky.
"Daddy!!" Natsuki screamed. But it was too late, nothing else could be done to save Ivan Kruger, leader of the Silver Wolf Pack.
Natsuki shook her head trying to shake the memory, but she couldn't she still heard the screams from that night. Another scream shot through clear night sky, her head shot up in high alert.
'That is not my memory. Someone is in danger!', she thought to herself as she threw her leg over the motorcycle she took off at sprint into the once quiet woods on the other side of the road.