The sun had set. The darkness was deepening by the second and the full
moon had risen white over the horizon.
The home of Polaris and Ara was a hive of activity. Many seasons had graced the Fourth Kingdom since the murder of Altair and the couples' cubs had grown up well. A cautious nose showed through a crack in the door and inhaled deeply. It snarled as something pushed against it, 'Damn you, Sirius!'
The male wolf emerged, his gait powerful and predatory and his hair stuck up in spikes as it always did on the night of the full moon. He stretched luxuriantly from the tip of his bushy grey tail to the end of his quivering nose. He yawned widely to reveal four sparklingly white canines.
Polaris scanned the clearing with his ears, nose and glowing amber eyes. Satisfied with the safety for now, he called out to his family, 'Come on out, it's all clear.'
Ara was the first to appear, her beauty and grace enhanced by the light of the Lady's single eye. Together they watched as their brood took their predacious steps into the light of the hunter's moon. Their obvious love and respect for their lupine heritage filled their parents with pride as they inspected their quartet of cubs.
Sirius was like the younger version of his father, the only wolf-like aspects of his configuration were his tail, moon-fangs and fiery yellow eyes. The only way in which he differed was his fur colour which was a sandy brown like his mother.
Draco was less affected by the moon than his siblings, being almost a pure blooded wolf. Almost white underneath, his fur darkened to near black at his spine, taking on a grizzled hue at his flanks. His naturally cheerful face broke into an even wider grin at the prospect of a hunt.
Mira, on the other hand, was as much human as Draco was wolf. A short, stubby tail and slightly discoloured eyes from their natural deep brown were all that marked her out as one with wolf blood. Even her fangs were smaller, but it didn't stop her joining in with family activities. However, her pure white hair made her remarkably striking in the darkness of the woods, caught as it was in the light of the moon.
The final cub, if she could so be called, was Luna. Dark hair ran from the top of her head to the point of her tail, interspersed with silvery streaks. Her golden eyes shone with anticipation.
The small pack was assembled. Polaris addressed his offspring in preparation for the hunt, 'Tonight we hunt as a pack, as a family. That family is everything, to fail it is to fail yourself. Use your instincts wisely and be ever watchful for humans. Although you are all human in part, the other part is despised and feared by full-bloods,' he particularly looked at Draco when he said this. 'You must not allow yourselves to be captured. You already know the penalties that would incur for both you and your pack.' The youngsters did know. Often they had been told of their grandfather's death and no detail had been spared.
They nodded sombrely. Polaris beamed at them, they had learned well. 'Come. Let us partake of the chase which is life.'
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The hut was cloaked in silence. The remains of a deer hind carcass were left far out in the forest for the foxes and crows to pick over. The family was well fed and sleeping off the night's exertions. Well, almost.
Mira shook Luna, trying to rouse her sister without waking her brothers and parents. Luna finally stirred and opened her mouth to complain, but Mira's pale hand covered it and she hissed at her sister, 'Ssh! Come outside.'
Luna, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, followed Mira to the fringe of trees beyond the clearing where they couldn't be heard by even the sharpest ear from the hut. 'What is it, Mira?'
'I've got some really great news.'
'So have I - I'm going back to sleep.'
Luna turned back towards the hut but Mira caught her arm and drew out a piece of paper. 'Look at this.'
Luna took the paper and read it quickly before handing it back with a shrug, 'It's just a poster for a village dance. What's so special?'
'Wake up, Luna! Why don't we go?' Mira's eyes gleamed with excitement, yet her sisters' were full of concern.
'Are you completely mad? We'd get caught!'
This was the response Mira had been waiting for. She fished underneath a thorny bush and drew out a rough sack. Filled with curiosity, Luna watched as her sister brought out two beautiful velvet cloaks and hoods. Luna fingered the heavy material, tracing with wonder the embroidered patterns along the edges. 'You really have thought of everything, haven't you. Where did you get them?'
'I stole them when we were out last night.'
'It could be fun, I suppose.'
'Come on, then, before Mother and Father wake up and stop us.'
Two cloaked figures, one in green and one in purple, stole away through the forest as the sun began to sink.
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Under the light of the waning moon, the two wolves found their way to Little Lamb Village. It was no hard task to locate where the dance was, for cheerful music flooded out of the Village Hall and it seemed to be the only direction in which the villagers were heading.
The nervous pair poked their heads round the double-doors, staring with amazement at the well-lit room filled with men, women and children dancing and clapping along to the music of the band in the corner. Fast-paced flute players and fiddlers kept up a lively reel.
Luna broke their stupefied silence, 'Shall we?'
'After you.'
'But what if we...'
'Get caught. How would they know?' It was a common occurrence for the two sisters to finish each other's sentences.
Their moment of indecision was interrupted as a boy came up and grabbed their hands. 'Don't stand there gawping. Join the fun!'
Forcefully dragged out of their reverie, the young wolves found the pleasure of dancing with the villagers. Luna blessed her sister for making her come. All their parent's stories seemed just like that, stories filled with exaggeration and morals.
The night wore on and Mira's beauty won her many admirers, her dark eyes contrasting stunningly with her white hair which glowed in the candlelight. Luna never removed her purple hood for fear that people would notice her amber eyes. People were beginning to leave when a young man burst in, his hair and skin damp with sweat. The music ceased and everyone turned to look at him.
'Wolf!' he gasped, 'A wolf killed my lambs! A wolf has called!'
Luna and Mira's eyes locked across the dancefloor along with their thoughts. They should have taken more notice of the strong reek of fox as they passed through the outer farms. The mood of the villagers had swung dangerously and it was imperative that they left immediately before they were discovered. Sidling towards the doorway, Luna jumped as she felt her shoulder grabbed. She spun around to face the boy who had earlier encouraged them onto the dancefloor. His face was flushed with excitement. 'Where are you going? We're going to hunt the wolf!'
The boy pulled on the cloak, intending to pull Luna back into the hall but only found himself holding the heavy purple cloak with a loose catch. He stared in horror at the revealed figure that he thought was a normal girl.
Clad in a short leather tunic, the wolf stood apart, her salt-and-pepper tail sprouting from the bottom of it and a pair of dark ears twitching on top of her head with panic-stricken gold eyes beneath.
This image only lasted a split second before the boy yelled, 'Wolf! The wolf is in here! Wolf! Wolf!' drawing the attention of the entire village.
But the wolves had already gone, sprinting off towards the safety of the forest.
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Far from the village the wolves were still running. In the distance they could still hear the sounds of the hunt. Mira, exhausted, was beginning to lag behind. Luna turned to her fatigued sister, the fear in her voice ill concealed, 'Come on, Mira! They're gaining on us!'
'But I'm so tired!'
'You can't stop, or...'
Luna stepped backwards. A sharp snap and a sickening fleshy thud were followed by a scream born of pure pain. Luna fell to the grassy earth, her claws scoring deep furrows as the definite sound of metal clanking on metal cut through the night air. Mira knelt down beside her sister and examined her foot. The trap's biting metal jaws had cut deep into Luna's ankle. Blood poured from the deep wound and Luna writhed in agony. Between whines Luna managed to gasp out a few words, 'Fetch Father, he'll know what to do.'
Mira nodded tearfully and set off for home as fast as she could. Luna took several deep breaths to control the pain and took hold of the maw of the cruel snare. She pulled with all her strength, trying to relieve the horrendous torture being inflicted upon her ankle. She could feel the pressure ease slightly before her hands slipped and the trap sprang back into place, crushing down on flesh and bone and slashing open her hands, Luna let out another cry of anguish, defeat and torment. She stared up accusingly at the heavens, but the night had become cloudy and no one watched the lone torment of Luna.
The barking of dogs and yelling of the villagers was louder now and increasing by the second. Luna's eyes grew wide with terror as she heard the rustle of a bush near her. The familiar head of Polaris emerged, his faced lined heavily with concern.
'Luna, oh my Luna. What have you done?'
'Help me, Father. Don't let them take me.'
Polaris examined the trap and its anchor deep in the hard packed earth. His ears pricked at the sounds of the pursuit terrifyingly close now. He closed his eyes and ignored his heart, making the hardest decision of his life. 'Oh, Luna, I hope you forgive me.'
Polaris could not bear to look into his daughter's eyes for he knew what he would see there - pain, shock and betrayal - as he disappeared back into the bushes. He covered his ears but it did not stop Luna's desperate scream reaching him and ripping his heart in half. 'Father! Don't let them take me! Don't let them take me!'
Bellowing with triumph the villagers spotted the wolf desperately thrashing like a wild salmon on a line. The bravest men stepped forward, avoiding the flashing, slashing fangs and bludgeoned Luna into unconsciousness with wooden clubs.
Polaris watched with growing despair as his errant daughter was lifted jubilantly aloft and carried like a trophy back to the village.
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As consciousness returned all Luna wanted was to slip back into empty darkness. Her whole body throbbed with pain and her pounding head felt twice its regular size. Light penetrated her eyes like barbs making her quickly shut them again. Only now did sound begin to filter in, and with it came the memories, terrifying and horrifically real.
Luna was in two minds, on the one hand she wanted to shut out the world and the suffering it had inflicted on her mind and body and on the other she was intensely curious as to why she wasn't dead - it was only the agony that ran up and down her bruised and aching hide that let her know she wasn't.
Despondency gave way to natural inquisitiveness about the odd geometric light patterns that played on her closed lids. She opened her eyes as much as she dared, only a mere slit, and took stock of the strange place that Luna now found herself in.
The banded pattern of light had obvious origins now - she was in a prison. The glare of the sun passed between the bars, creating a shaft of brilliance that stung her eyes. She was almost grateful when the face of an ogler blocked it out.
The two adversaries studied each other through the barrier. The man's face was not one that Luna liked the look of - it was hard and cruel. His lips were thin and surmounted by a greasy black moustache. The expression of greed and gratification in his dark eyes made all the hair stand up along Luna's back and a growl spring unbidden from her throat. However, this display just made the man's smirk grow wider. When his silhouette removed itself from her view, Luna shuddered. Lady spare her if he ever got to pronounce a judgement on her.
It was evening when someone poking a stick into her already bruised ribs rudely awakened the wolf. She snarled with pain and anger, standing to face her tormentor. Resting her weight on her good foot, Luna looked out with surprise through the bars. The whole village seemed to be assembled in front of her prison staring in at her like some sort of peculiarity.
Her silver splashed tail dropped as all at once the warnings and horrific stories had told her as a cub came flooding back, mixing up and causing chaos in Luna's brain. What was going to happen to her? Was her family safe? Would they torture her? Would they kill her? Luna scanned the rows of hostile villagers, searching for a single friendly face.
One man stepped forward and spoke to her, but it wasn't the ally she had hoped for, 'Well, wolf. What have you to say for yourself?' Luna drew herself upright, trying to make herself look as dignified as possible in her weakened state, 'I killed nothing. I am innocent.'
One young woman seemed to sum up the opinion of the entire village, 'How can you be innocent, you are a wolf!'
'But I...' Luna's defence was cut short by a hail of vegetables and stones. She held up her arms to protect herself. As the barrage ceased the first man, evidently an important personality, calmed the throng, holding up his hands for quiet.
'It would be unfair to condemn this wolf without a trial. Therefore I...'
A tap on his shoulder stopped him in mid-sentence. It was the man who had stared at Luna during the day. His eyes roved occasionally to the wolf as he spoke, 'I would like to solve your problem without all this fuss. I will take this wolf off your hands to help serve mankind and keep it where you will never hear from it again. I am even willing to pay you a small sum...'
Luna's body froze with fear as she caught the ruthless look in his eyes.
The home of Polaris and Ara was a hive of activity. Many seasons had graced the Fourth Kingdom since the murder of Altair and the couples' cubs had grown up well. A cautious nose showed through a crack in the door and inhaled deeply. It snarled as something pushed against it, 'Damn you, Sirius!'
The male wolf emerged, his gait powerful and predatory and his hair stuck up in spikes as it always did on the night of the full moon. He stretched luxuriantly from the tip of his bushy grey tail to the end of his quivering nose. He yawned widely to reveal four sparklingly white canines.
Polaris scanned the clearing with his ears, nose and glowing amber eyes. Satisfied with the safety for now, he called out to his family, 'Come on out, it's all clear.'
Ara was the first to appear, her beauty and grace enhanced by the light of the Lady's single eye. Together they watched as their brood took their predacious steps into the light of the hunter's moon. Their obvious love and respect for their lupine heritage filled their parents with pride as they inspected their quartet of cubs.
Sirius was like the younger version of his father, the only wolf-like aspects of his configuration were his tail, moon-fangs and fiery yellow eyes. The only way in which he differed was his fur colour which was a sandy brown like his mother.
Draco was less affected by the moon than his siblings, being almost a pure blooded wolf. Almost white underneath, his fur darkened to near black at his spine, taking on a grizzled hue at his flanks. His naturally cheerful face broke into an even wider grin at the prospect of a hunt.
Mira, on the other hand, was as much human as Draco was wolf. A short, stubby tail and slightly discoloured eyes from their natural deep brown were all that marked her out as one with wolf blood. Even her fangs were smaller, but it didn't stop her joining in with family activities. However, her pure white hair made her remarkably striking in the darkness of the woods, caught as it was in the light of the moon.
The final cub, if she could so be called, was Luna. Dark hair ran from the top of her head to the point of her tail, interspersed with silvery streaks. Her golden eyes shone with anticipation.
The small pack was assembled. Polaris addressed his offspring in preparation for the hunt, 'Tonight we hunt as a pack, as a family. That family is everything, to fail it is to fail yourself. Use your instincts wisely and be ever watchful for humans. Although you are all human in part, the other part is despised and feared by full-bloods,' he particularly looked at Draco when he said this. 'You must not allow yourselves to be captured. You already know the penalties that would incur for both you and your pack.' The youngsters did know. Often they had been told of their grandfather's death and no detail had been spared.
They nodded sombrely. Polaris beamed at them, they had learned well. 'Come. Let us partake of the chase which is life.'
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The hut was cloaked in silence. The remains of a deer hind carcass were left far out in the forest for the foxes and crows to pick over. The family was well fed and sleeping off the night's exertions. Well, almost.
Mira shook Luna, trying to rouse her sister without waking her brothers and parents. Luna finally stirred and opened her mouth to complain, but Mira's pale hand covered it and she hissed at her sister, 'Ssh! Come outside.'
Luna, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, followed Mira to the fringe of trees beyond the clearing where they couldn't be heard by even the sharpest ear from the hut. 'What is it, Mira?'
'I've got some really great news.'
'So have I - I'm going back to sleep.'
Luna turned back towards the hut but Mira caught her arm and drew out a piece of paper. 'Look at this.'
Luna took the paper and read it quickly before handing it back with a shrug, 'It's just a poster for a village dance. What's so special?'
'Wake up, Luna! Why don't we go?' Mira's eyes gleamed with excitement, yet her sisters' were full of concern.
'Are you completely mad? We'd get caught!'
This was the response Mira had been waiting for. She fished underneath a thorny bush and drew out a rough sack. Filled with curiosity, Luna watched as her sister brought out two beautiful velvet cloaks and hoods. Luna fingered the heavy material, tracing with wonder the embroidered patterns along the edges. 'You really have thought of everything, haven't you. Where did you get them?'
'I stole them when we were out last night.'
'It could be fun, I suppose.'
'Come on, then, before Mother and Father wake up and stop us.'
Two cloaked figures, one in green and one in purple, stole away through the forest as the sun began to sink.
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Under the light of the waning moon, the two wolves found their way to Little Lamb Village. It was no hard task to locate where the dance was, for cheerful music flooded out of the Village Hall and it seemed to be the only direction in which the villagers were heading.
The nervous pair poked their heads round the double-doors, staring with amazement at the well-lit room filled with men, women and children dancing and clapping along to the music of the band in the corner. Fast-paced flute players and fiddlers kept up a lively reel.
Luna broke their stupefied silence, 'Shall we?'
'After you.'
'But what if we...'
'Get caught. How would they know?' It was a common occurrence for the two sisters to finish each other's sentences.
Their moment of indecision was interrupted as a boy came up and grabbed their hands. 'Don't stand there gawping. Join the fun!'
Forcefully dragged out of their reverie, the young wolves found the pleasure of dancing with the villagers. Luna blessed her sister for making her come. All their parent's stories seemed just like that, stories filled with exaggeration and morals.
The night wore on and Mira's beauty won her many admirers, her dark eyes contrasting stunningly with her white hair which glowed in the candlelight. Luna never removed her purple hood for fear that people would notice her amber eyes. People were beginning to leave when a young man burst in, his hair and skin damp with sweat. The music ceased and everyone turned to look at him.
'Wolf!' he gasped, 'A wolf killed my lambs! A wolf has called!'
Luna and Mira's eyes locked across the dancefloor along with their thoughts. They should have taken more notice of the strong reek of fox as they passed through the outer farms. The mood of the villagers had swung dangerously and it was imperative that they left immediately before they were discovered. Sidling towards the doorway, Luna jumped as she felt her shoulder grabbed. She spun around to face the boy who had earlier encouraged them onto the dancefloor. His face was flushed with excitement. 'Where are you going? We're going to hunt the wolf!'
The boy pulled on the cloak, intending to pull Luna back into the hall but only found himself holding the heavy purple cloak with a loose catch. He stared in horror at the revealed figure that he thought was a normal girl.
Clad in a short leather tunic, the wolf stood apart, her salt-and-pepper tail sprouting from the bottom of it and a pair of dark ears twitching on top of her head with panic-stricken gold eyes beneath.
This image only lasted a split second before the boy yelled, 'Wolf! The wolf is in here! Wolf! Wolf!' drawing the attention of the entire village.
But the wolves had already gone, sprinting off towards the safety of the forest.
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Far from the village the wolves were still running. In the distance they could still hear the sounds of the hunt. Mira, exhausted, was beginning to lag behind. Luna turned to her fatigued sister, the fear in her voice ill concealed, 'Come on, Mira! They're gaining on us!'
'But I'm so tired!'
'You can't stop, or...'
Luna stepped backwards. A sharp snap and a sickening fleshy thud were followed by a scream born of pure pain. Luna fell to the grassy earth, her claws scoring deep furrows as the definite sound of metal clanking on metal cut through the night air. Mira knelt down beside her sister and examined her foot. The trap's biting metal jaws had cut deep into Luna's ankle. Blood poured from the deep wound and Luna writhed in agony. Between whines Luna managed to gasp out a few words, 'Fetch Father, he'll know what to do.'
Mira nodded tearfully and set off for home as fast as she could. Luna took several deep breaths to control the pain and took hold of the maw of the cruel snare. She pulled with all her strength, trying to relieve the horrendous torture being inflicted upon her ankle. She could feel the pressure ease slightly before her hands slipped and the trap sprang back into place, crushing down on flesh and bone and slashing open her hands, Luna let out another cry of anguish, defeat and torment. She stared up accusingly at the heavens, but the night had become cloudy and no one watched the lone torment of Luna.
The barking of dogs and yelling of the villagers was louder now and increasing by the second. Luna's eyes grew wide with terror as she heard the rustle of a bush near her. The familiar head of Polaris emerged, his faced lined heavily with concern.
'Luna, oh my Luna. What have you done?'
'Help me, Father. Don't let them take me.'
Polaris examined the trap and its anchor deep in the hard packed earth. His ears pricked at the sounds of the pursuit terrifyingly close now. He closed his eyes and ignored his heart, making the hardest decision of his life. 'Oh, Luna, I hope you forgive me.'
Polaris could not bear to look into his daughter's eyes for he knew what he would see there - pain, shock and betrayal - as he disappeared back into the bushes. He covered his ears but it did not stop Luna's desperate scream reaching him and ripping his heart in half. 'Father! Don't let them take me! Don't let them take me!'
Bellowing with triumph the villagers spotted the wolf desperately thrashing like a wild salmon on a line. The bravest men stepped forward, avoiding the flashing, slashing fangs and bludgeoned Luna into unconsciousness with wooden clubs.
Polaris watched with growing despair as his errant daughter was lifted jubilantly aloft and carried like a trophy back to the village.
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As consciousness returned all Luna wanted was to slip back into empty darkness. Her whole body throbbed with pain and her pounding head felt twice its regular size. Light penetrated her eyes like barbs making her quickly shut them again. Only now did sound begin to filter in, and with it came the memories, terrifying and horrifically real.
Luna was in two minds, on the one hand she wanted to shut out the world and the suffering it had inflicted on her mind and body and on the other she was intensely curious as to why she wasn't dead - it was only the agony that ran up and down her bruised and aching hide that let her know she wasn't.
Despondency gave way to natural inquisitiveness about the odd geometric light patterns that played on her closed lids. She opened her eyes as much as she dared, only a mere slit, and took stock of the strange place that Luna now found herself in.
The banded pattern of light had obvious origins now - she was in a prison. The glare of the sun passed between the bars, creating a shaft of brilliance that stung her eyes. She was almost grateful when the face of an ogler blocked it out.
The two adversaries studied each other through the barrier. The man's face was not one that Luna liked the look of - it was hard and cruel. His lips were thin and surmounted by a greasy black moustache. The expression of greed and gratification in his dark eyes made all the hair stand up along Luna's back and a growl spring unbidden from her throat. However, this display just made the man's smirk grow wider. When his silhouette removed itself from her view, Luna shuddered. Lady spare her if he ever got to pronounce a judgement on her.
It was evening when someone poking a stick into her already bruised ribs rudely awakened the wolf. She snarled with pain and anger, standing to face her tormentor. Resting her weight on her good foot, Luna looked out with surprise through the bars. The whole village seemed to be assembled in front of her prison staring in at her like some sort of peculiarity.
Her silver splashed tail dropped as all at once the warnings and horrific stories had told her as a cub came flooding back, mixing up and causing chaos in Luna's brain. What was going to happen to her? Was her family safe? Would they torture her? Would they kill her? Luna scanned the rows of hostile villagers, searching for a single friendly face.
One man stepped forward and spoke to her, but it wasn't the ally she had hoped for, 'Well, wolf. What have you to say for yourself?' Luna drew herself upright, trying to make herself look as dignified as possible in her weakened state, 'I killed nothing. I am innocent.'
One young woman seemed to sum up the opinion of the entire village, 'How can you be innocent, you are a wolf!'
'But I...' Luna's defence was cut short by a hail of vegetables and stones. She held up her arms to protect herself. As the barrage ceased the first man, evidently an important personality, calmed the throng, holding up his hands for quiet.
'It would be unfair to condemn this wolf without a trial. Therefore I...'
A tap on his shoulder stopped him in mid-sentence. It was the man who had stared at Luna during the day. His eyes roved occasionally to the wolf as he spoke, 'I would like to solve your problem without all this fuss. I will take this wolf off your hands to help serve mankind and keep it where you will never hear from it again. I am even willing to pay you a small sum...'
Luna's body froze with fear as she caught the ruthless look in his eyes.
