A/N: I hope it's ok that I'm uploading several chapters at once… I worked on this a lot last night, and was able to expand 6 pages, double spaced to about 10 pages single spaced! Woo-hoo! Hope things are starting to make more sense now! Sorry for the short chapter, but what can I say? It's a flash back... Enjoy (reviews always welcome!)
"We'll be back, Genna, promise." Aaryn and several of the other men stood in the center square with blades and bows and arrows. "There's only been one sighted. We just need to make sure that it's not a pack." He kissed his wife and daughter's quickly before ushering the other men out the door. Genna stood in fear, holding onto her daughters, hoping they were not as scared as she was.
"Oh Ma, let me go! You're hurting me!" Brendisha squirmed away from her mother and rushed to the door. "When I grow up, I'm going to be like Papa and fight the Bull Wolves!"
"Oh no you're not!" a young male voice taunted. "Do you even know what a Bull Wolf is?" Kiri, the son of Aaryn's best friend, rushed into the room pushing past Brendisha. "Aunt Genna? Tiroe sent me over here so he could go out and help with the Watchkeeping. I hope that's alright?" Kiri smiled sweetly, causing Brendisha to make fake gagging noises.
Her mother ignored her. "Of course that's alright, dear." Genna said smiling. "You know you're welcome anytime." Kiri threw a smirk over his shoulder at Brendisha, who pouted by the door.
" So Brenni, DO you know what a Bull Wolf is?" Kiri sauntered over to the door. At 13, he was only two year's Brendisha's senior, but he still treated her like a child. She hated him for that.
"Of course I know!" Brendisha responded, glaring. "and don't call me Brenni. That's a baby's name" Kiri shrugged and looked at her to continue. "A Bull Wolf is kind of like a werewolf" she began "except they can change between Human and Wolf form at will. But no matter what shape it's in, it always has bull shaped horns." Brendisha smiled smugly, proud of herself.
"Oh yes" Kiri said "such a school book answer. Let me guess, Danner taught you that, didn't he?" Brendisha blushed at the name of her tutor, and current object of her affections. Smiling at the response he elicited from her, Kiri continued "But I bet he didn't tell you about the sharp teeth that the Bull Wolf has. Or the big claws. Or the fur… There's magic in their fur. Did you know that if you even touch the fur of a Bull Wolf you'll die?" Kiri cackled and lowered his voice "But no, the best thing is when they bite you. Then," he grinned cruely and nearly shouted the next line, jumping at Brendisha "YOU become a Bull Wolf!"
Brendisha screamed and ran to her mother, sobbing. "Kiri" Genna chided gently "she's still younger than you." Kiri smiled sweetly at her.
"I know… and I'm sorry, I was just having a little fun…" He smiled smugly. "But if she's going to be such a baby about it, then I guess I still get to call her Brenni." He shot her another smug look. "Guess I'm gonna be the one to go fight those Bull Wolves. Tiroe already said he was going to get me a silver sword!" Genna chuckled softly and shot a warning look at Kiri. One of these days she thought, Bren is going to get the best of him… and I hope I'm there to see it. Sighing, Genna shooed the children off to bed, and sat by the fireplace waiting for her husband to come home.