Heeeeyyyy guys, I'm back : )Sorry for the unexplained hiatus, I really wasn't trying to ignore you, but this is my senior year, and I am trying to finish it with a bang. So, without further ado, chaptie the nextie. Also, I don't think I did a good job explaining this, so I apologize. All wolves have ears, tails, slitted eyes, and sharper than normal teeth and claws. They are wolves, and someday, I will explain why they are so animalistic.

So, anyone catch the Nomy lyrics from the last chapter? Kufufufu, there is a reason to the last line….Someone(s) will be lost *Evil Face *

(Written to the female version of Never be the Same by Red)

Chapter 14: Meet the Werewolves

Axel's p.o.v

Axel treaded lightly through the green grass, the taller stems brushing against his bare ankles as he stepped through them. The hidden valley echoed with the sounds of small birds singing in the warm air, but as the group continued inward the cheerful songs came to a sudden halt. Dead silence rippled throughout the clearing, the once bright greenery seemed to dull in color. Axel felt the group edge closer to one another, and with a similar want for sense of protection he followed as well.

Roxas looked back at them then snorted an almost exasperated tone; however her eyes also shared a glint of anxiety. Axel's still heart filled with dread as he realized what their guide had not told them, though it had been understood by the entire group. Even if they had been saved, even if they had been guided through the forest, the Vampyres and Hunters did not belong here. The group's uneasy atmosphere skyrocketed as a low growl sounded in the clearing, followed by the echoes of others.

Each was pitched differently than the others, yet each united in a chilling melody that vibrated through each of their bones. The sounds source soon became known as seven figures took shape from out of the shadows. With his eyesight, Axel was able to pick out the forms of four females and three males each with the marks of the Wolves. One of the women, whose short spikey hair was a peculiar shade of silver, bared her sharper than normal teeth at them. Her wolf ears, which were a tone darker than her hair, were pressed against her scalp. Beside her stood two other she-wolves, one with light brown hair and another with long dirty blonde locks that were partly pulled up with braids.

The brunette tilted her head at the group, her eyes searching each of their own. When they met Axel's, he felt like a youngling underneath her stare. The two orbs, one green and the other blue, seemed to reflect a sort of age he could only see in Xemnas's gaze.

"No, even older…"

That thought sent an even colder chill through his spine, the thought that one of the oldest vampires was younger than a Wolf. As her gaze left him, he quickly turned his eyes to three familiar figures but the distaste in their eyes set a fire rolling in Axel's stomach that he knew had to be quelled. It was because of this that his vision veered towards the oldest one amongst the Wolves. Messy hair was pulled back from his face, showing a gagged scar spreading across his face. His eyes expressed a deeper wisdom than could even be fathomed by himself or anyone else in his coven. It spoke of war and bloodshed, betrayal and sadness. They also shone with the readiness to protect his clan, at the cost of his life if need be.

As the other Wolves stood still, the alpha continued to walk towards them. He stopped only a few steps away from the group, right in front of Roxas who stood as the mediator between the three Clans. The two Wolves stared at one another, before Axel saw the back of Roxas's head bow in the respect given to a leader. With a sigh, the man sighed before speaking.

"What have you done, Roxas."

His eyes narrowed as her shoulders seemed to hunch, the silence deafening the ears of all who gathered in the grassy clearing. It seemed as if no answer would come, that no protection would be given, no words of agreeing to help fight being spoken when the once bent shoulder of their guide suddenly straightened. Her head turned, as if to look upon the Vampyres and Hunters before she turned to face the alpha.

"Eraqus, the awakening has begun. I smelled the two Rouge Lords at their castle, and I know the others smelt it too."

If it was even possible, the Eraqus's eyes narrowed even further. The other Wolves tensed, their eyes widening, however the three that had led the rescue did not show signs of surprise. Within a blink of an eye, the once strong alpha seemed to withdraw into himself. Sadness filled stern eyes. With a sigh, he looked past Roxas and to Axel and the others.

"Then we have much to talk about. Please, accept our welcome to our home."

The other wolves slowly began to move towards them, though the brunette from earlier seemed slightly more eager to approach them. She made a straight line towards Xaldin, who still carried the sick Huntress in his arms. As she neared them, the group tensed, not knowing what she would do. She briefly met Xaldin's eyes, before lightly smiling.

"We have healing remedies, if you'd follow me?"

With a nod from Xemnas, Xaldin followed after the She-Wolf. As the three disappeared into a rocky outcrop, Eraqus began to move towards the cave. Axel followed, making sure to keep a good distance from the Wolves that obvious held no love for them. He soon found himself passing through the rocky entrance of the Wolves' den. The passage was narrow to prevent elements from creeping inside, but it made Axel feel a sense of claustrophobia. Others like Vexen or Sora also seemed to be affected by this.

The room quickly expanded until a great chamber rested before their eyes. Furs and blankets decorated the floors, and in the middle of the room a great fire pit smoldered. The warm light radiated throughout the cavern, lighting the sitting area surprisingly well. Following the motions of their hosts, the two clans sat amongst each other, but still keeping away from the third Clan. With a motion of his hand, Eraqus motioned for them to begin their tale, which Xemnas immediately took before Leon or any other could answer.

What felt like hours passed as all was explained, and no reaction was missed from the Wolves as Xemnas told them of the Rouges and their words of Mother and the Door. As the description was finished, Axel could not help but feel amazed by what seemed like sudden aging on the faces of the six before them. Even Roxas, who sat next to the shadowy wall, had a face contorted with worry and pain. With a strong voice that opposed his face, Eraqus spoke after a brief moment of silence.

"For a long time, we have known of their want to find the Door. You see, long ago there had been there had been another who lead this clan along with me."

Sorrow passed across his face, the pain of lost family echoing in his voice- entirely unintentional.

"Xehanort was a Wolf full of light, one of the first to be given the ability to change. But his heart held a corruption that none could have foreseen.

A knife in the dark, children crying as a dark laugh echoed through the night. Vows of revenge echoed past dawn

It was not until a battle against the Dark Ones that I saw it firsthand. I saw his greed for power and blood. He soon left, and we began to hunt him knowing he was after something we could not place. It was only until he was at the brink of obtaining it were we able to stop him.

A bloody field, rocks scattered around- the air howling-

"Xehanort sought after the Door, wanting the power within. But… it is meant for no other creature besides the gods to hold. During this time, Wolves were being hunted. Our ranks were depleting as Xehanort's grew with the Rouges that he gathered.

Figures sprawled across the ground, Wolves that were only pups dead and bleeding- eyes open and unseeing

We barely won, but we suffered great betrayal as those close to us joined him and his quest. It was only after that we sealed the Door, and lost all knowledge of where Xehanort had gone-"

"And now he is back, with an army that we can't defeat."

Xemnas interrupted, his eyes narrowed. Anger filled the room, the same fury raging through Axel. He hated these Wolves for not completing what they had set out to do, and he hated himself. He hated how we had helped to slaughter the remaining Wolves after the war. As Eraqus declared that the Wolves would fight, Axel quickly got up and walked out of the cave. His shoulders tensed as he felt their gazes, and his eyes briefly met Roxas's as he went past her.

As he headed towards the trees, he could hear her behind him. Why she followed, he would never know- but even if he had previously held a liking for her, he now only felt rage and anger. Her voice echoed, light yet firm.

"I see that your kindness from before was a ruse, what with you being so rude."

Ignore it, his inner thought told him. Ignore the Wolf.

"After all that Eraqus did, you should apologize."

Leave me alone…

She continued, not caring for the obvious rise of his temper, not caring he could suddenly attack. His head pulsed as her words echoed throughout them, and without warning he finally snapped.

"Why do you care, Wolf? I am just another threat to you!"

He seethed as he towered over her, his eyes flickering with the darkness inside him.

"How could you help those that fought and killed your kind? I killed so many of you during that war, yet you still want to help? Do you not care to avenge them? Do you not care that it makes you weak and cowardly to allow your kins' murderers to live?"

He gulped in air, lightheaded at the sudden release of tension. He looked away from her, not wanting to see hatred and disgust like with the others. He heard a soft sigh from behind him, followed by a light murmur designed for only him to hear.

"Yes, I hate the murderers. Yes, I hate the ones that destroyed my clan. I also hate the ones that abandoned me, that left me. I hate the human family that pretended to want to help me, I hate the hunters that imprisoned me."

Axel winced at each word, his shoulders hunching farther and farther down. He wished to almost flee before Roxas's verbal path changed,

"But, everything changes with time. Nature, laws, and people… Who we were never stays the same. I hate what was done and those that caused it, but if I dwelt on that I would be worse than any Rouge."

Axel shook his head, not knowing that he would have seen a sense of doubt in Roxas's eyes at her own words if he had been facing her. With the missing knowledge, he began to walk towards the scent of the Hunters and Vampyres.

"Not everyone changes."

Even as he spoke those words, he knew that he was lying to himself. For some reason, when he was around these Wolves, he felt like he was different. Lighter than he had ever been before. He only wished that their trust was not broken, and that friendship existed between the third clan and the other two. Maybe someday, but Axel knew it would not be anytime soon.