Chapter three – Heart of a Wolf
Three years later…
Wait up, guys, yelled a small voice, you know I'm not as fast as you yet.
Hurry, Torsten, it's the yearlings naming ceremony, we have to be on time, called a small brown wolf.
The group that was now making it's way to Wolf's Peak was very odd indeed. It consisted of three wolves – one brown with white tipped ears and a white underbelly, one grey with a black circle around her eye, and one black with a single white paw – and a young male human. They were laughing as they ran. The young male human, known as Torsten, or Blade, had come a long way in the three years he had been with his family. He had learned the wolf language, learned how to survive, and fought for his life and his right to stay in the pack. As the four reached their home he remembered back on the time he had gotten his largest scar.
It was a cold day in December, snow littered the ground, freezing paws and feet. The blanket coated the trees, making a picture perfect scene for the young boy walking through them. It had only been a year since young Torsten had joined the White Moon pack, but he already felt like he belonged. Well, almost. Irontail, the large, copper-coloured wolf who had spoken out against him joining the pack, was always watching him.
A branch cracked nearby and Torsten looked up in alarm. He surveyed his surroundings, but he couldn't see anyone.
Poor little human boy, came a voice from the darkness, All alone, mummy's not here to protect you now.
Irontail! You wretched mutt, I know it's you, come out.
Why should I, human spawn, who are you to command me? You're not even a yearling, you're lower than an omega, you have no power in our pack, outsider, he replied, sneering as he stepped into the light, his eyes burned with the deep hatred he felt for the weak human in front of him.
Get over yourself, Irontail, if you want to question my position in the pack, you can take it up with the council, otherwise, let me be.
Ah, little human child, the council doesn't care when it comes to you, they agree with me. You're nothing but the filth under our paws.
Torsten sneered at the large wolf. Fine, Irontail, if that's what you think, then what are you going to do about it?
Little human, the forest is so dangerous, don't you think? So many rival packs, just waiting to pick off one of our members, it won't be a surprise if you ran into a few of them near our borders, or say, if one of them came further into our territory and found you wandering alone. Torsten stated to get nervous, he could confront him with the issue of his scent, but there were ways to mask it, and he was right, Hunter was nowhere near. Try it if you wish, Irontail, but rest assured my mother will kill you for it, she will know it was you.
How little human? I have masked my scent, there are no animals around at this time of day, its too late for the day-wanderers, and too early for the night-stalkers. I have put up with your presence for long enough! He yelled and leapt at Torsten. Torsten dodged and raced for the trees. He couldn't fight Irontail, he was too young.
Irontail raced after him and blocked his escape. Poor little human, he taunted, all alone. He leapt at Torsten again but this time, when Torsten dodged, he wasn't quick enough. A line of white-hot pain raced down his back and a splash of red flung itself over the snow. Torsten cried out in pain as he fell heavily to the ground. He looked up as Irontail approached. Irontail stared down at him, malice in his eyes. He raised his paw, Goodbye little human. The paw swiftly descended on Torsten as his eyes slammed shut. Suddenly a howl of pain broke Torsten from his semi-conscious state. He opened his eyes to a furious Hunter standing over him. She growled at Irontail and ran at him, striking him and throwing him into a tree. She was on him again, ripping and tearing at him with claws and teeth. From the sidelines, the entire pack watched, shocked at her behaviour. Hunter had never acted this way, not even when her first litter had been slaughtered the year before. Eventually she stopped, Irontail was dead. She stood up straight, blood coated her snout and paws.
Hunter looked over to where Torsten lay and her eyes widened. He was unconscious. Ink! She called as she hurried over to him, help!
Coming! Ink raced over to Hunter and helped her get Torsten onto her back. Hunter had eventually got him back to the caves, and healed, but he would forever have the scar.
Irontail had been buried, as was their custom (they would not leave members of their pack to be feasted on by others), but few mourned him. Though many didn't like the thought of a human in their pack, he was still a part of it, and attacking one of your own because he was different was disgusting to them.
He sat patiently through the ceremony as names were given to the new cubs, no, yearlings depending on their personality or colour, then walked over to his mother. As an Alpha she was to help the parents decide on names. Come, my little one, she said as he reached her, It is time for the hunt. Torsten hated the hunt. He was slower and often would fall behind. Even the yearlings were faster than him. As he raced through the forest he wished so desperately to be able to keep up, he wished he were a wolf like his mother. A deep tingling flowed through his veins, he cried out and the pack stopped and turned, running back to him.
The pack watched in fascination as the young boy's body twisted, and his skin stretched. Fur grew and teeth lengthened, hands and feet turned to paws, and a tail grew. When the changed stopped a young wolf-voice called out, Mommy? What happened? Hunter was instantly by his side. She looked him over.
Torsten was now a young wolf, not much bigger than the new yearlings. Jet-black fur completely covered his body except for a small lightning bolt scar on his forehead. It was lighter than the fur, but not white, Hunter guessed a light grey (after all, wolves see in black and white). By the shade, his eyes were still the same, an emerald green he had told her. He stared at her and the other wolves, his vision now sharper, but black and white. His eyes took in the small differences in shade that his human eyes couldn't make out, making clear markings on their bodies. His nose took in each individual scent, so much clearer now.
Torsten, your- you're a wolf, stated Hunter.
But- but how mother, I'm human?
You must be a wizard, Tor, a magical human, I have heard they can do this, but come my dear, she said with a twinkle in her eye, we hold up the hunt. Torsten stared at her, then a wolf-grin broke out on his face and when she turned and ran into the trees, he followed. Hunter howled long and loud, Torsten joining his mother in a joyful pack-song.
Kk, another chapter done, finally. Next chapter – Torsten meets a few humans. Maybe Remus.
Ok, reviews. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and got it in one Evergreen, he will have more forms in the future.
AN - Ok, just so you know, the brown wolf is a male wolf called Duo, the grey one is female and named Mariko, and the black is also female and has the name Devaki.