The Normal Life
By Didi
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters that are recognizable and I certainly don't own the show. Don't sue me cause all you're going to get is lent, and not much of that either.
Summery: Life is hard enough as a teen without in the problems of being wolf. Sequel to "Eyes of Brown... or is it Green," kind of.
Timeline: Hum...this is a toughie. Okay, Eyes was written after the cancellation of Wolf Lake from CBS. I had assumed that it was never coming back again so I can do whatever I wanted with the story without interfering with the show's canon.
Rating: R for restricted under 17.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Donner's POV-
It was beginning. Kanin, if nothing else, had the worse timing in the world. On a night like this one, the last thing you want to be is vulnerable. And then night wasn't done with yet. At least, not for him or I.
"Matt?" V called softly from just inside the door of the cabin.
I turned, ignoring the cries of agony from within that told me of Kanin's struggles. "How is he doing?"
"Sherman wants us to leave." She came to stand by my side, offering herself and her position in the pack, without a word. "I think the old dog is playing with us again."
"He knows what he's doing," or at least I hope he did. There was no telling what went on behind the eyes of our Keeper. There was so much I still don't know, don't understand and it was only the first night of my leadership. God, I could either thank or curse Vivian and Ruby for this. "I still have other things to take care of before the night is through."
"Shall I keep watch here?" she asked quietly. "Or would you prefer me closer?"
My blood heated at the offer. "No," I couldn't, not now. "Keep watch here. Creed's followers aren't down for the count. Ruby is strong but Kanin will need her tonight. Sophia has Luke to watch over her as well as the others."
"And you?" V asked, her eyes aglow in the darkness. The full moon was out once more and it seemed to signal something terrific or horrific tonight. "Who will watch your back?"
"I have others," and surprising enough I did. Even after all this time, there were still others loyal to me. The thought both invigorate and humble me. "I have deal with Creed."
"He is but a pup."
"He is a strong pup with no morals. If the pack is survive the changing of the guards without the kind of blood shed that it had to go through the last time, I have to bring him down hard and fast." I knew it was true in my head and heart. I've fought so hard against this kind of thing for so long, it was bitter to have to admit to myself that some of the old ways was still so needed today. "There will no rest until the pack is as one."
V understood, as I knew she always did. Always practical, Vivian was. "Then let me stand by you. Let me fight by your side."
"I need you safe guard the rest of the pack tonight. Josh and Sam will be my companions tonight," even as I said it, I watched the two gray wolves disengage themselves from the shadow. "The rest of the pack will divide among themselves the duties of watching over Ruby and my daughter. I need them safe guarded until Sherman and I have a chance to talk."
Vivian nodded her head, turning her ears to the interior of the cabin where the half growls of pain could be heard. "It will be a long night."
"And I will find peace after it," I replied, shucking the clothes off my back. I paused for a moment as my hand reach the snap to my jeans, conscious of V's eyes burning holes in my skin. I couldn't let her effect me this way. Stripping down, I stepped off the porch, bare as the day I was born, and prepared to become one with nature once more.
She stopped me just as I was about to go into the change. "Be careful, Matt." And her eyes told me revealed to me the sincerity of the wish. Loyalty was not something Vivian ever lacked, especially when it came to me.
Nodding, I turned and let the human world recede. Mother Earth opened up to receive me into her warm and wondrous embrace. The darkness of the night vanished as the woods became alive to my heightened senses. *Where is he?*
Josh's big head swung north. Apparently, the boys have been tracking Creed and some of his posses since the little incident with Kanin. I knew I could count on Josh to keep the others behind him ready for anything. *He's hurt, but not badly enough that he can't still make a mess of things tonight.*
I wanted to sigh. *I didn't expect this to be easy.*
*You should have just finished him back in the clearing,* Sam said as he came from behind. Sam, like Josh, had been a good friend and loyal follower before I threw my vote behind Willard Cates in the last changing of the guards. I could always count on Sam to be the voice of reality. *It would make this unnecessary.*
"Not with Sophia missing and Kanin watching like that,* but that was an excuse and I knew it. I didn't want to rip Creed's throat out, as I should have for such a blatant challenge, because it's been too long since I've walked on fours and I wasn't ready to go all out native. *But it's time he knew who the Alpha is.* And it was true. I couldn't allow Creed to continue to challenge me, it would spell doom for the pack. *We finish it tonight.*
~~~~~~~~~~
-Sherman's POV-
I stood by the window, ignoring the stench of pain in the air as I watched the new Alpha flip for the second time in almost too long. Matthew Donner was strong, stronger than he believe himself to be. Sixteen years ago, he should have become Alpha but he gladly walked away from the position to marry the woman he loved. A decision I think endeared him more to his followers than contrary to his own beliefs. Now the fates have thrust him back into the thick of it. And what a time to be jumping back into fray?
"Sherman!" Ruby's voice holds that bitter tinge of pain and irony. Light help the child who has given up so much for a chance at something greater. Now when things just appears to be at their best, she's faced with something that hasn't been seen in over... oh six hundred years?
"Keep him calm," the advise was futile, I know that but she needed instructions to keep herself focused. If anyone asked me what the hell I was doing, I'd probably have to be honest and answer that I have no idea. Contrary to what Ruby believes and what I said, this wasn't what I had in mind when I gave him the soup. He was just supposed to know, not to flip out on us. I didn't think it would happen. Yes there was a slim chance that it might but that was like .0001% chance of that.
Who knew that Kanin would be that special?
"He's hurting!" Ruby growled, her voice taking on the tone of a protective female.
"Yeah, I think the rest of the clan can hear him now," and they probably could. His mental howls of agony were powerful enough that the pack in the next county could probably hear.
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Ruby asked her hand gasping Kanin's as the man's body jerked uncontrollably in the bed.
I stared at her. She wasn't going to like hearing this. "I can call the Alpha back."
The meaning hit her hard. "NEVER!" and her body crouched over his protectively. The white wolf has her hackles up now, let the fireworks begin.
"Then get him through it," I advised quietly, watching as Kanin's eyes stared into nothing, bright and filled with some unseeing vision. He was in the thick of it now. The next few hours will be critical, especially given his age.
The last recorded adult transformation was back in the Dark Ages, when Louis of Angulie flipped at the age of twenty-six. It was well documented; the Keeper had sat through the whole process, including the final administration of last rites. Louis too had been a half-breed, mother being of full blood and father being a nobleman. It was the first cross breeding into nobility, and no one knew what that results would be especially given the weakness that tend to be indicative of bluebloods.
But since then, there had been many half-breeds, our newest white wolf included. Most of them are kept in community, raised with the pack so that when their time came, they would be watched by the pack. Sophia, Matt, Vivian, Ruby... the rest of the pack in fact don't know it nor do I intend to tell them, but the percentile of half-breeds making it through the first change has never been good, just below 15%. For every five, only one would make it; just as in full bloods, for every two that makes a successful change, four of their brethrens would never see the sun again.
"Get out!" Ruby breathed, her eyes glowing with checked passion and rage.
I smiled as I bowed and turned around to walk out. She was ready to do the necessary to save her man, which is nothing less than what I expect. So many of the young one do this, seek each other out to pull through the transformation. And I think the older members forget. Passion feeds and nurtures the beast within. And love... it is the most powerful of passions that can push a man or woman into the impossibility.
"How is it going in there?" Vivian asked as she stood on the porch, eyes watching the trees sway gently with the fertile breeze. So much is happening tonight.
"Oh just perfect." Vivian was ready for some real changes. And as much as I want to be a good friend to Willard Cates, I knew that he wasn't the one that could control Vivian. "You? How's the campaign going?"
She didn't even pretend to be ignorant of my question. Good for her. "He'll come around." Her eyes glowed in much the same way Ruby's just did. "I know he will."
"I always said, there was nothing like a determined woman to make a man quiver with fear."
"Didn't work out too great for me that last time."
"You were up against a much fiercer opponent the last time."
She looked at me with disbelief. "You don't think I could have eliminated Marie had I truly wanted to?"
"Oh killing her would have been so easy for one as you; killing Donner's love for her would have been impossible. But then, you already knew that." I watched her out of the corner of my eyes, waiting for her to admit the truth.
Vivian nodded her head, regret pour out of her essence thickly. "If I had only waited."
"Would you have?"
"Knowing what was going to happen? Knowing what could have happened?" she stared off into the distance, listening to the call of the beasts. "Yes. Three years isn't that long to wait when it's the right thing."
"Luke is a very special child," I reminded her.
She smiled. "Yes, I know. One thing I will never regret is him."
"Prepare yourself then," I advised with caution. "He will not take to your choice of mate well. Not when it may come at the price of Sophia's love."
"He will nothing to worry about."
"He's a teenager," exasperated by her thick headedness. "Of course he's going to object, no matter who you choice."
"Then he'll simply have to deal with it."
"And Sophia?"
"Her too."
"Hum..." wondering just how much of her nicely sharpened claw did she get back into Matthew Donner. "Let the games begin."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is this story getting too long?
By Didi
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters that are recognizable and I certainly don't own the show. Don't sue me cause all you're going to get is lent, and not much of that either.
Summery: Life is hard enough as a teen without in the problems of being wolf. Sequel to "Eyes of Brown... or is it Green," kind of.
Timeline: Hum...this is a toughie. Okay, Eyes was written after the cancellation of Wolf Lake from CBS. I had assumed that it was never coming back again so I can do whatever I wanted with the story without interfering with the show's canon.
Rating: R for restricted under 17.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Donner's POV-
It was beginning. Kanin, if nothing else, had the worse timing in the world. On a night like this one, the last thing you want to be is vulnerable. And then night wasn't done with yet. At least, not for him or I.
"Matt?" V called softly from just inside the door of the cabin.
I turned, ignoring the cries of agony from within that told me of Kanin's struggles. "How is he doing?"
"Sherman wants us to leave." She came to stand by my side, offering herself and her position in the pack, without a word. "I think the old dog is playing with us again."
"He knows what he's doing," or at least I hope he did. There was no telling what went on behind the eyes of our Keeper. There was so much I still don't know, don't understand and it was only the first night of my leadership. God, I could either thank or curse Vivian and Ruby for this. "I still have other things to take care of before the night is through."
"Shall I keep watch here?" she asked quietly. "Or would you prefer me closer?"
My blood heated at the offer. "No," I couldn't, not now. "Keep watch here. Creed's followers aren't down for the count. Ruby is strong but Kanin will need her tonight. Sophia has Luke to watch over her as well as the others."
"And you?" V asked, her eyes aglow in the darkness. The full moon was out once more and it seemed to signal something terrific or horrific tonight. "Who will watch your back?"
"I have others," and surprising enough I did. Even after all this time, there were still others loyal to me. The thought both invigorate and humble me. "I have deal with Creed."
"He is but a pup."
"He is a strong pup with no morals. If the pack is survive the changing of the guards without the kind of blood shed that it had to go through the last time, I have to bring him down hard and fast." I knew it was true in my head and heart. I've fought so hard against this kind of thing for so long, it was bitter to have to admit to myself that some of the old ways was still so needed today. "There will no rest until the pack is as one."
V understood, as I knew she always did. Always practical, Vivian was. "Then let me stand by you. Let me fight by your side."
"I need you safe guard the rest of the pack tonight. Josh and Sam will be my companions tonight," even as I said it, I watched the two gray wolves disengage themselves from the shadow. "The rest of the pack will divide among themselves the duties of watching over Ruby and my daughter. I need them safe guarded until Sherman and I have a chance to talk."
Vivian nodded her head, turning her ears to the interior of the cabin where the half growls of pain could be heard. "It will be a long night."
"And I will find peace after it," I replied, shucking the clothes off my back. I paused for a moment as my hand reach the snap to my jeans, conscious of V's eyes burning holes in my skin. I couldn't let her effect me this way. Stripping down, I stepped off the porch, bare as the day I was born, and prepared to become one with nature once more.
She stopped me just as I was about to go into the change. "Be careful, Matt." And her eyes told me revealed to me the sincerity of the wish. Loyalty was not something Vivian ever lacked, especially when it came to me.
Nodding, I turned and let the human world recede. Mother Earth opened up to receive me into her warm and wondrous embrace. The darkness of the night vanished as the woods became alive to my heightened senses. *Where is he?*
Josh's big head swung north. Apparently, the boys have been tracking Creed and some of his posses since the little incident with Kanin. I knew I could count on Josh to keep the others behind him ready for anything. *He's hurt, but not badly enough that he can't still make a mess of things tonight.*
I wanted to sigh. *I didn't expect this to be easy.*
*You should have just finished him back in the clearing,* Sam said as he came from behind. Sam, like Josh, had been a good friend and loyal follower before I threw my vote behind Willard Cates in the last changing of the guards. I could always count on Sam to be the voice of reality. *It would make this unnecessary.*
"Not with Sophia missing and Kanin watching like that,* but that was an excuse and I knew it. I didn't want to rip Creed's throat out, as I should have for such a blatant challenge, because it's been too long since I've walked on fours and I wasn't ready to go all out native. *But it's time he knew who the Alpha is.* And it was true. I couldn't allow Creed to continue to challenge me, it would spell doom for the pack. *We finish it tonight.*
~~~~~~~~~~
-Sherman's POV-
I stood by the window, ignoring the stench of pain in the air as I watched the new Alpha flip for the second time in almost too long. Matthew Donner was strong, stronger than he believe himself to be. Sixteen years ago, he should have become Alpha but he gladly walked away from the position to marry the woman he loved. A decision I think endeared him more to his followers than contrary to his own beliefs. Now the fates have thrust him back into the thick of it. And what a time to be jumping back into fray?
"Sherman!" Ruby's voice holds that bitter tinge of pain and irony. Light help the child who has given up so much for a chance at something greater. Now when things just appears to be at their best, she's faced with something that hasn't been seen in over... oh six hundred years?
"Keep him calm," the advise was futile, I know that but she needed instructions to keep herself focused. If anyone asked me what the hell I was doing, I'd probably have to be honest and answer that I have no idea. Contrary to what Ruby believes and what I said, this wasn't what I had in mind when I gave him the soup. He was just supposed to know, not to flip out on us. I didn't think it would happen. Yes there was a slim chance that it might but that was like .0001% chance of that.
Who knew that Kanin would be that special?
"He's hurting!" Ruby growled, her voice taking on the tone of a protective female.
"Yeah, I think the rest of the clan can hear him now," and they probably could. His mental howls of agony were powerful enough that the pack in the next county could probably hear.
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Ruby asked her hand gasping Kanin's as the man's body jerked uncontrollably in the bed.
I stared at her. She wasn't going to like hearing this. "I can call the Alpha back."
The meaning hit her hard. "NEVER!" and her body crouched over his protectively. The white wolf has her hackles up now, let the fireworks begin.
"Then get him through it," I advised quietly, watching as Kanin's eyes stared into nothing, bright and filled with some unseeing vision. He was in the thick of it now. The next few hours will be critical, especially given his age.
The last recorded adult transformation was back in the Dark Ages, when Louis of Angulie flipped at the age of twenty-six. It was well documented; the Keeper had sat through the whole process, including the final administration of last rites. Louis too had been a half-breed, mother being of full blood and father being a nobleman. It was the first cross breeding into nobility, and no one knew what that results would be especially given the weakness that tend to be indicative of bluebloods.
But since then, there had been many half-breeds, our newest white wolf included. Most of them are kept in community, raised with the pack so that when their time came, they would be watched by the pack. Sophia, Matt, Vivian, Ruby... the rest of the pack in fact don't know it nor do I intend to tell them, but the percentile of half-breeds making it through the first change has never been good, just below 15%. For every five, only one would make it; just as in full bloods, for every two that makes a successful change, four of their brethrens would never see the sun again.
"Get out!" Ruby breathed, her eyes glowing with checked passion and rage.
I smiled as I bowed and turned around to walk out. She was ready to do the necessary to save her man, which is nothing less than what I expect. So many of the young one do this, seek each other out to pull through the transformation. And I think the older members forget. Passion feeds and nurtures the beast within. And love... it is the most powerful of passions that can push a man or woman into the impossibility.
"How is it going in there?" Vivian asked as she stood on the porch, eyes watching the trees sway gently with the fertile breeze. So much is happening tonight.
"Oh just perfect." Vivian was ready for some real changes. And as much as I want to be a good friend to Willard Cates, I knew that he wasn't the one that could control Vivian. "You? How's the campaign going?"
She didn't even pretend to be ignorant of my question. Good for her. "He'll come around." Her eyes glowed in much the same way Ruby's just did. "I know he will."
"I always said, there was nothing like a determined woman to make a man quiver with fear."
"Didn't work out too great for me that last time."
"You were up against a much fiercer opponent the last time."
She looked at me with disbelief. "You don't think I could have eliminated Marie had I truly wanted to?"
"Oh killing her would have been so easy for one as you; killing Donner's love for her would have been impossible. But then, you already knew that." I watched her out of the corner of my eyes, waiting for her to admit the truth.
Vivian nodded her head, regret pour out of her essence thickly. "If I had only waited."
"Would you have?"
"Knowing what was going to happen? Knowing what could have happened?" she stared off into the distance, listening to the call of the beasts. "Yes. Three years isn't that long to wait when it's the right thing."
"Luke is a very special child," I reminded her.
She smiled. "Yes, I know. One thing I will never regret is him."
"Prepare yourself then," I advised with caution. "He will not take to your choice of mate well. Not when it may come at the price of Sophia's love."
"He will nothing to worry about."
"He's a teenager," exasperated by her thick headedness. "Of course he's going to object, no matter who you choice."
"Then he'll simply have to deal with it."
"And Sophia?"
"Her too."
"Hum..." wondering just how much of her nicely sharpened claw did she get back into Matthew Donner. "Let the games begin."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is this story getting too long?
