Arthur awoke with a startled gasp. It was the same dream. Each night it came and each morning he was left shaking with fear, but void of any details. All that he could remember were three things that burned vividly in his mind; the world burning around him, a moonless night sky, and a tall shadow with piercing sky blue eyes staring at him, calling for him.
As he stirred, his dog began to wake. He yawned, displaying a set of pointed teeth, and he slowly got up to stretch his powerful limbs. Arthur moved over to his waking companion and pet his dark fur, earning an affectionate nuzzle. He was a massive beast, with paws as big as his hands and his head coming up to Arthur's chest. His soft fur was auburn in color with streaks of silver and his face and underbelly held white markings that contrasted with the rest to give him an almost regal appearance. When he was born, his three elder brothers threw the shivering pup at Arthur as a joke, saying that it was fitting the runt of the family get the runt of the litter. But now Katun is strong in body, sharp in mind, and fiercely loyal to Arthur. The bond they share runs deep and he couldn't have asked for a better companion.
He dressed himself and called for Katun as he exited the den. As he moved past the leather folds covering the short entrance, the crisp morning air brushed past his face and he looked out towards the rest of the village. Below him was a clearing peppered with small patches of highland grass. Structures lined the rim with sturdy walls and thatch roofs, each serving a different purpose or housing a different craft. Scattered throughout were stone pillars, each shaped and painted to represent the many spirits that roamed the land and sky. As he looked up, he watched the sun rise above the trees that dotted the hills beyond. The village was not that far up, but it was still safely away from the tricksters of the lowlands. And at its center marked the very soul of the clan; a stone circle surrounding a large wooden pile. It was the least permanent piece in the clearing, but it was the most important. It marked the place where the people gathered each night to share food, stories, and company. It was here that each person came together as one clan under the same name, Chenitza.
On either side of him lay more dens, each hidden behind folds with differing colors and patterns. His fold was decorated with black lines which curved to represent the head of the ram and shades of blue colored across to show the icy wind of the mountain.
"Ah, the little black sheep emerges from his beauty sleep."
Arthur scowled and turned to face the source of the voice that walked over towards him. "Shut it, bird brain"
The alpha just smiled back, brushing a hand through his long blonde hair in as elegant a fashion as he could muster. He was covered head to toe in furs like Arthur, but his were all matching in color and looked far more flattering than they needed to be. "Better a beautiful bird than a mindless goat. You are as ugly and simple as your symbol suggests."
Katun growled at the man and Arthur did the same. "Sod off, Francis. Why is your face the first thing I have to see in the morning?"
Francis laughed as a sand colored dog, Kiche, came up and stood beside him. Kiche looked into Katun's eyes, but merely raised her head as if mocking the violent display with blatant disregard. "Ah, my dear Arthur. We live only to discover beauty, and given the rags you seem to adorn yourself with, I thought maybe you forgot what the word even means."
"Enough! Another word and I'll throw you from the cliff myself!" Arthur barked the words at Francis and Katun curled his lips tighter at the aggression in his companion's voice, his snarl revealing barred teeth ready for the attack.
Francis feigned a cry and turned away in an overly dramatic performance. "How cruel! Here I am to help you and you wish to slay me? It is no wonder the omegas avoid you."
He had enough. Arthur lunged at him, but Francis dodged the blow and laughed to the air he struck. Katun barked and jumped to Arthur's aid, but Kiche cut him off and snapped her jaws at him. And as quickly as it started, Francis backed off with a superior smile and hands held up in arrogant surrender.
Arthur's green eyes glared into the mocking blues. "Just get out of my way. I have work to do."
Francis looked back with a mischievous smile. "Oh? Crafting another gift to impress the others? It seems everyone is putting their best on display. You cannot go two steps without bumping into someone looking for attention or a fight."
The two walked down the path together toward the clearing. The dogs were still glaring at each other, but they finally relaxed as the tension between their humans began to ease.
Arthur smirked knowingly. "Let them dance like fools. I have something much larger planned that will put them to shame."
Francis cocked a brow as he walked beside the smaller alpha. "Oh hon hon. This I must see. What exactly are you planning to do? Another hunt? If you cover yourself in any more furs, they will mistake you for a dog."
Arthur flashed a dark smile, dripping with confidence at his certain victory. "Oh no, it is so much better. I'll bring back a prize that will make even the lead alphas shiver with respect." He could see it now; their stunned stupid faces gaping in awe, his brothers on their knees begging him to let them share in his glory, the omegas fawning over him and cooing for his attention…
Francis rolled his eyes. "Oh, I look forward to it. It will be funny to watch your little body lug some monstrosity up the hill." The two slowed as they approached the weapons hut and he turned to fully face Arthur. "Try not to get eaten. You are disgusting enough without having your scrawny frame mangled in some monster's jaws."
Arthur returned the same evil grin, but with enough strength to freeze the mountainside. "Not a chance."
Francis dropped his eyes and looked away, which chased the smile off of Arthur's face. They both knew what plagued the taller alpha, but neither wanted to bring it up out of respect. Kiche whimpered a bit and nuzzled his hand. He looked down and smiled softly, petting her head and playing with her pointed ears.
Katun walked into the hut and settled inside, but Arthur stood at the entrance still facing Francis and eyeing him up and down. "So, what are you planning to do? There are only a few days left before the hunters' feast and you are no better off than I for favor."
Francis sighed in annoyance. "Ah, my brutish friend, I do not care to strut about like some pompous bird on display. I think I will go to the lowlands for a time and get away from all these tacky clothes."
Arthur furrowed his brows in irritation, but tried to hide his worry. "You can't keep doing this, you know. Soon you will wander down in the night and be taken body and all by the dread spirits."
Francis laughed and waved his hands in front of his face to emphasize the ridiculous notion. "Oh hon hon. The little alpha is scared of the dark?"
Arthur's eyes bore holes into the mocking stance. "I'm serious! You'll get yourself killed if you keep this up!"
Francis simply turned around and continued making fun of him. "Be careful of the fire, little black sheep. You may cast such a shadow that you soil your rags."
Arthur spat curses at his back while Francis and his dog left, laughing at him all the while. When he was out of earshot, Arthur angrily turned back toward to hut and set to work. "Fine! See if I care! Let the self-absorbed moron get himself killed. I've more important things to worry about!"
Arthur raged as he worked the weapons, but his heart fell for the man. The winter had taken so many that the entire clan was wrapped either in sadness or rage. Disease had run rampant through the clan. Rock slides had crushed some with little warning and intense blizzards killed those who were already weak from sickness. Many of his clan mates died, but most were young omegas, promised brides that were stolen by dark forces that live below in the mountain's shadow.
One among them had been particularly close to the two alphas.
Well, closer to Francis but Arthur knew her well enough to call her friend. Since that day, Francis had not been the same. The vigor he once had creating beautiful gifts with a refined touch was long gone, as was his unnaturally large ego. He was still irritating to no end, but it was unsettling just how weak the bite was in his words. Arthur wanted to help him move on, but Francis was not interested. The wounds were too fresh and he would rather spend the year alone then try to rediscover the happiness she had given him.
Arthur growled. It figured that as soon as he was of age, fate would rip apart his chances for finding a mate of his own. Now that there were so few, competition was high and he had to find a way to win favor. All the single alphas and some betas, even those still grieving except for Francis, were doing everything and anything to gain recognition. They fought each other in mock display, showed off the biggest kills and finest weapons to emphasize their prowess and skill, and some just outright threatened the smaller alphas to keep off their claims. Arthur, unfortunately, was one such alpha. He had a thin frame and short stature that made killing prey undetected easier, but he didn't exactly look all that impressive when standing among his fellows who were almost a full head taller than him. Even his own brothers, who either lost their chance the year before or lost a loved one to the tragedies, bully him and throw him down onto the ground for the omegas to see.
But that will change. While the fools outside dance like idiots and tout their small kills, he'll bring in a prize unlike any they had seen. He planned to bring back a dire bear from the lands below. They are massive in size and incredibly violent. They are considered twisted versions of their normal counterparts and the most ruthless in combat. It is the perfect challenge and success will set Arthur so high above the others, the omegas will have no choice but to recognize him as the best hunter of the clan.
He turned the bow in his hands and delicately collected the tools he would use solely for this hunt. He'll show them. He'll hold the great skull high above his head, bend the tough pelt to his craft, and show them all the true power of his spirit. He'll have his pick of the omegas, claim the best one for himself, and make a family. It was the ultimate goal for every alpha and he'll do whatever it takes to get it.
As the two brothers woke to their first morning in the sanctuary, they began creating weapons and planning out how to make their home more permanent. Movement of any kind was difficult because they were both unbelievably sore from their escape over the past three days, but they set to work anyway, hidden within the stone walls and venturing out only briefly to gather up roots and water from the river for breakfast. As omegas, they were taught all the skills needed to create and maintain a proper home, so the work came naturally. It was as familiar as breathing and they took comfort in recreating some semblance of normalcy in this strange new life.
As Alfred worked the pointed tips for their spears, he looked up for a moment and watched his brother carry materials into the cave. Matthew's clothes were very light with only loose leggings, cloth shoes, and a thick top fur covering his left shoulder and part of his back to protect him from the cool spring wind. They were plain, but effective and made it easy to move around quickly while keeping out of sight.
The only pieces on the brothers that did contain color were a few adornments that lined their belts and two necklaces that hung loosely about their necks. One held small white figures of all shapes tied along the edges and evenly spaced. The charms told the story of their first hunt and each had been carved after his first kill. Alfred wore a necklace similar to Matthew's, but the figures were different, for his story was unique even if the kill was shared. The other necklace was made up of braided cloth and made a wide collar. Matthew's collar was made up of red and white, while Alfred's had a bit of blue mixed in.
And as Matthew turned away, Alfred's eyes scanned the long design etched into his skin on the left side of his back. It was blood red in color, scaled the full length from shoulder to hip, and consisted entirely of straight lines with varying thickness. At the base of the shoulder, the design was topped with the left half of an arrowhead. From there, a thick line traced down his back and up-side-down 'V' marks branched off the main line just left of his spine and extended outwards to his left side. From top to bottom, each consecutive mark became shorter in length and thinner in width and counted four in total. Finally, at the very base, two thick short lines marked the end as if supporting the pattern from the bottom up.
But this was only half of it. He would never see the mark himself, but Alfred knew that on his right was traced an exact mirror and only when they stood together would the pattern be complete. As his eyes took in the full image upon Matthew's back, his mind returned to the moment it was first created. It had been excruciating even with medicine to numb the pain and took the full day to complete. But with every stroke, it burned within them the realization that they were finally adults, able to stand proud as Haudenois and old enough to start a family.
The design spoke of their fate, foretold in dreams and interpreted by the elders. The same dream had plagued them both. It showed the trees moving swiftly past them as their spirits raced through the world. And just before waking, they took flight and gazed down below, seeing the entire breadth of the land illuminated by the glow of stars in a moonless night. It spoke of freedom and consequences that would shape the lives of everyone they met. Whether fortune or tragedy, peace or anguish, they were meant for great things and would never be tamed by anything this world or the next could throw at them.
They shared the same fate, just as they shared the same birth, the same nature, and the same look. It was even thought that they shared the same spirit between them. In truth, the two brothers had very different personalities and strengths, but they complimented each other and together they made for a particularly lethal pair. If they hoped to survive in the unknown lands, they would definitely need that now.
Alfred eyed the spears, satisfied with the work and put the final touches on each end. He grabbed a tiny bag from one of his pockets and dipped the tips inside, squeezing the sides to thoroughly coat the wood. They emerged shinning from the liquid and soaked through with the numbing poison. It was not potent enough to paralyze a man, but it was enough to slow him down while they either made their escape or moved in for the kill.
Alfred motioned towards his brother and handed him the spear, who in turn took a few swings and thrusts to get used to the weight. Violet met blue and they both cautiously left the sanctuary and started up along the river's edge to trace the source north. Whereas before they were running scared, now they were here to stay. They may not be alphas, but this was their nest now and an omega will die before letting their nest be taken by anything.
Alfred's gaze narrowed. The thought of a fight scared him, but his only brother's life on the line. He'll meet any foe and chase it through death and back to keep him safe.
Highlanders be damned.
