Hello everybody! Sorry I haven't updated in a bit; things have been crazy for me! My mom just opened a clothing store (oh yeah!) so I've been hard at work helping her. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! It really made my day, and I'll keep going! Enjoy chappie 5!

Chapter 5: A murder and The Night

"Come on Riker, let's go out tonight." Kall coaxed his friend. Riker sighed and tossed a rock into the water. The sun was setting behind the clouds with the moon rising to their backs, as round as a seven-month belly, giving the young loups-garoux a wonderful sensation.
The trio was behind the house by the small pond, lazily reclining by the water's edge. They didn't know what to do; they had put beetles in the kitchen, gone into the city and hidden in the shadows of alleyways pelting humans with water balloons and anything else the mischief-makers could find. Kall had suggested chasing some helpless meat-people through the park in their wolf-skin, but at that, Riker had promptly refused. If Gabriel ever found out, his son would pay dearly.
"Riker, come on, don't be such a pansy." Den taunted as he popped his fingers. Riker noticed they were already sprouting fur and Den's nails seemed longer then usual. Riker growled in irritation and snapped at Den angrily.
"I'm not a pansy. I just don't think we should go out tonight, that's all. Anyways, Gabriel's holding a meeting," He added hurriedly. This seemed to settle Riker's friends somewhat, and they went back to throwing stones.
A sudden movement in the bushes made Den jump; he blushed furiously when Lark emerged from them.

A cocky smile was plastered on her face as Kall looked away in embarrassment at being startled so easily.

"Hullo guys," Riker's sister greeted, her voice sounding as sweet as honey.

Den's face colored even redder, and he muttered something under his breath.

Kall and Riker gave each other a knowing glance and snickered softly. All of the pack knew that Den had a crush on their leader's daughter; he was too shy to ask her out though.
"Hi Lark. What's going on?" Kall asked casually, placing his hands in his pockets. Lark's smile instantly vanished as she said, "Dad's calling the meeting earlier then usual," Lark looked away, and when she looked back at the boys, her eyes were filled with tears.
"Fern was found dead this afternoon. A silver bullet punctured her heart." A shocked silence settled over the four. No one knew what to say. Fern was a young girl, only twelve. How could she be dead?
"But who would carry silver bullets around?" Kall asked shattering the silence. Lark shrugged her shoulders then wiped her eyes with the back of her hands.
"That's why Dad's calling the gathering early. We need to know who's out there, and if they know about us."
"Let's go then." Den said as he straightened his jacket. The others nodded, and they started off to the lights of the house, now plainly visible in the darkness.

Minutes later, the pack had completely gathered in the living room, every face veiled in grief or anger. Word of Fern's death had spread like a forest fire, making everyone nervous. A pack-member hadn't been killed since Rafe had been shot seventeen years ago. The very idea of some human hurting the pack like this made Riker snarl.

The room quieted as Gabriel, accompanied by Vivian, stepped forward into the middle of the room. The pack leader gazed at each face around the circle, meeting every member's eyes. He's eyes stopped on the dead girl's weeping mother, a woman the pack had picked up a year ago named Alsma. Alsma turned away from Gabriel's eyes and buried her tear-streaked face into her neighbor's shoulder. Vivian cast a sympathetic glance at Alsma, then went to sit down by her daughter, leaving Gabriel in the spotlight so he could begin.
"By now you all know of the tragic death of young Fern," Gabriel began, "And that her death was by a silver bullet to her heart. This has not happened for seventeen years now, and I don't understand why it's starting up now. However," He said, his voice rising, "I think it wasn't a random act. I think someone is hunting us."
At this, pandemonium broke out. Everyone had his or her own opinions, and they each wanted to express them.

"Hunt us? Who would dare-"

"Some stupid homo-sapien-"

"This is ludicrous! Who would know about us? And if they did know, how'd they had the nerve to hunt us--"

"Well, I think-"

A single bellowing voice rose above all others; Riker and Lark were surprised to recognize it as their mother's.
"Stop it, all of you!" Vivian scolded, her eyes flashing. "Youare allacting like witless puppies, not like the adults you should be. Now, if anyone is coming after us, they probably don't understand what they're getting into. Or maybe Fern was shot by accident by some rogue hunter. We don't have the answers." She paused for a moment, then continued. "But what we do know is we must be careful."
"Vivian's right," Gabriel said, slicking back his hair. "Especially with the full moon in two week's time. Each one of you, keep an eye out."
Gabriel and Vivian turned and walked off, along with Bucky and Esme, to the kitchen, signaling that this meeting was adjured. One by one, the pack began to disperse each going their separate ways. Den and Kall waved goodbye to Riker as the two made their way upstairs to their rooms. Soon, only Lark and Riker were left. Lark yawned and stretched before getting up. "Well, bro, I'm going for a run. Do you want to come?" Riker got up from his position on the leather couch, and shook his head.

"I need some time alone," He said not noticing his sister's disappointment, "But I promise on full moon, okay?" Lark sighed, and hugged Riker, whispering in his ear, "Don't worry, everything will turn out alright." Riker was touched by Lark's tenderness; she rarely spoke or acted like this. But it worried him too; this meant that Lark thought Fern's death wasn't an accident.

Before Riker could answer though, Lark had vanished through the side door, out into the night.

Riker made his way up the stairs but as he caught sight of the ripening moon, he changed his mind about going to bed. He needed to relax. He needed to run.
Like a shadow, Riker slipped outside. He walked back to the pond he'd been at earlier, then stripped his clothes off, stashing them into a niche of a tree. The faint smells of wolf-kind lingered all around him, along with the intoxicating aroma of the night, making him feel giddy and powerful at his ability to change.
Riker laughed softly, then clutched his stomach at the first ripple of the change. His skin prickled as his pelt sprouted all over his body, making a shaggy mane down his back. Riker let out a tiny moan as his legs popped and changed into a different direction, and he fell down to all fours, his palms already rough pads. Riker blinked, and when he opened his eyes again, he could see each blade of grass clearly, and the moonlight made everything even brighter.
His face bulged outward and his teeth lengthened into razor sharp fangs. A tail poked out of his spine, and was quickly covered by flesh and fur.

Finally, the change was complete. For anyone not looking closely, Riker looked like a regular wolf. But his legs were too long, his ears too big, and his eyes held the light of Lady Moon. Wolf was only a term they'd adapted. They were much more though.
'The sweet, sweet night' Riker thought, letting his body quaver from excitement. A wispy smell of lilac wavered through the trees, and somehow it reminded Riker of that new girl, Khloe. His lips curled back, revealing his fangs in what was a wolf grin. 'I'll howl for you, human girl. I'll hunt you in my human skin, but rejoice as a wolf'
Then Riker tipped his head back and let out a joyful howl, one that filled the night with his tenor voice and echoed his song about the girl that he would soon make his own.