Chapter 1: The Great white wolf
One labored breath after another dragged from her lungs as she pushed herself on, the howling wind fought her slim frame trying hard to deny her what she knew was ahead. She could feel it pulsing through her veins like adrenalin or a sweet tormenting drug that numbed the chill of the frigid snow. As faint as it was the sweetest of scents circled her nose tempting her to keep going, keep pushing. She was so close, just a little bit more, let nothing stop you or deter you. She crouched low for a moment when the ground suddenly shuddered slightly but as soon as it ended she took off in a forced sprint shooting across the land in a battle against the wind, bounding hard on the once untouched snow towards the city ahead. She skidded to a stop as she drew close enough to see beaming lights and a dyeing city that circled a large building. Her heart was pounding loudly in her ears thundering her whole being-no her very soul, she was drawing closer to her. A striking sound hit her ears forcing her to look up to the sky, a Nobles ship fly above flashing lights down upon the night covered land. '...I detest that noise' she growled to herself before taking off to her destination.
"Well that's about the whole Lab area you'll be working in, any questions?" The question made brilliantly bright crimson eyes shift to the man who asked standing in a pure white lab uniform. When eyes made contact the man flinched under the intensity of the crimson stare. Those eyes, they seemed to just tare right through him sending a tremble to his spine.
"No, I understand everything perfectly. Thank you for being so kind as to give me a tour" a voice so soft replied sending the man into slight ease as the countered those intense orbs and created a balance to the person as a whole.
"Hey, what's your name anyway?" this lab dweller asked the crimson eyed, soft spoken creature. He allowed himself a moment to gather this slender beings appearance, surely she could not be human this young woman of whom he had been showing around the lab, it was to be her new working area for she had just taken up a job here. Her smooth hair stop just below her shoulder blades, its pure black color made her fair, soft skin look so pure and forbidden. Her perfect lips formed a smile as she raise an elegant right hand to the space between her chest and her collar bones in an innocent motion to herself.
"My name?" she asked in that soft voice of hers, her smile grew larger "My name is Mahina" she cooed summoning a blush to the man's face. Her lovely features seemed to appeal to him greatly as he nervously searched for words while under those intense red eyes.
"Miss Mahina-" The soft bubble of a giggle interrupted him and his already forming blush grew a noticeably great deal.
"Please, I you will. Just call me Mahi, Mahina seems too formal." Mahina spoke sweetly "I hope to become as close to my new co-workers as I was with my old ones and the way of which I am addressed and the way I address others is the first step" she explained while letting her hand softly, gracefully drop from its place on her chest to the side of her.
"Uh- well -um -uh" the man now stammered, his reaction rewarded him another soft giggle and this in turn changed his skin to a red that almost matched Mahina's eyes. He took a moment to compose himself "Well I was wondering a-are those colored contacts?" he asked. Mahina blinked but if only to make up for her lack of reaction to the question. Of course her eye color was to be questioned; this would not be the first time the subject was brought up. Any curious human would ask such questions and countless of them have, she would give them all the same response but today...today Mahina held no patience for the conversation that would follow. She smiled at the male and nodded.
"You got me" she chuckled in a soft melody of a sound "My eyes are a boring brown not to mention my eye sight-It's terrible. I thought that the color would be more...interesting for me" for a fleeting moment her heart pulse hard within her causing the pause in her words and betraying her inner state for a fraction of a second. From outside Mahina calm face held warmth and charm but within...within this calm aura her insides screamed from every muscle, every nerve, every fiber, cell and tissue that made Mahina. Everything cried out for it, the cause of her anguish. It had started earlier when she had finally arrived and entered the dome city in the light of day, Mahina didn't know where it had come from but someone's blood had been spilt somewhere deep within the tall ruins of this dying city. As soon as the scent of the fresh crimson liquid touched her nose Mahina's sense grew intense, her pulse pounded quicker, she became...excited. She didn't know why but even at this very moment, even as she spoke to this kind man, all she wanted to do was find the source of her new found feelings. She couldn't fight them once that took to her with such a shuddering force, it would not be cast aside by needs for food nor would it be swayed by her priorities. It was a priority and it would be met. All Mahina could do was follow the pull of this great desire, this great need to find the source and with that she ended up here the center of the city. Mahina, without much effort, was able to fool the people of this building into believing that she was transferring to this lab from another dome city and within the hour she was being given a tour. These halls, Mahina hated being in them. They went on and on for miles and smelled far too clean, it was hard for someone such as Mahina to get her bearings of the place when one of her keen senses was so stubbornly fought off by such...cleanliness. It mattered not after a while, the lack of other scents later worked in her favor as she was touring the areas she would be "working" in it returned. She could smell from behind one of the many doors they past the blood, the crimson that caught her nose before, and now it took everything in her power to keep from trembling with anticipation while she walked along side a very kind man who she was having small conversation with. After passing so many doors and so many halls with that scent caressing her nose Mahina eventually faded from the conversation she had been having. It was all she could do to keep her excited soul within herself. It was so overwhelming like the rush of the first light of a full moon or the thrill of a good hunt, this feeling, this overbearing feeling, it felt like freedom. Yes...freedom from this human illusion and this crumbling city, it was freedom that Mahina's every being howled for until she could no longer stand it.
"Um Excuse me" she spoke stopping the man mid-sentence, judging by chuckle in his voice he must be telling her something he considered to be funny, making him flinch.
"y-yes?" he said
"This woman, Cher, who I am suppose to be assisting. When shall she return?" Mahina asked "I am very eager to start working" The man tilted his head questioningly at her and opened his mouth to speak when a woman's voice rang out making both heads turn back.
"You must be Miss Mahina", Mahina stared at a slender blonde woman who smiled at her. Mahina held her hands up and shook her head.
"Oh no Miss, please just call me Mahi-oh! You must be Professor Cher! It is an honor" she spoke playing her part well as she bowed politely. Cher smiled grew a certain amount and she hummed a sound of amusement.
"So, you would like to start working right away Mahi?" she asked, Mahina nodded eagerly.
"Oh yes Ma'am" she said
"Very good then follow me" she said turning away and walk back the way she came.
"Right away" Mahina said sprinting a bit until she walked beside the woman.
"I figure this sort of this might be under your work"
The scent was getting stronger, so very stronger and slowly Mahina could feel her control chipping away and her bodily instincts coming forth. Her hair prickled along the back of her neck and her spin quaked with shivers when she breathed in too much through her nose.
"So it's alive?"
It was so strong! The walls were thick with the smell only Mahina's nose could ever smell. For once she longed for the stench of the chemicals humans called clean if it would rid her of scent and free her from its hold over her. Oh, she could not stand it!
"Just barely but it's only a matter of time"
"Sounds like the two of us" Cher commented with a tone of amusement glancing back at Mahina. Mahina walked behind Cher and a man she knew at the moment as Hubb, Cher's Ex-husband, when the woman looked her way Mahina looked away at the halls they past not only to try and look as if she were more interested in her surrounding then the broken couples conversation, which was all the more true, but in fear that her growing excitement would show in her eyes and earn her questions she could not answer. Either way she would grant them their privacy.
"We're not over yet" Hubb replied to Cher, sadly having keen ears wasn't always the best thing in the world. "All we have to do is keep trying" he continued.
"I'm not so sure" Cher said calmly as the three slowed to a stop before a door. Mahina followed without question, this must be where she was to work. The broken couple entered but Mahina stopped at the door and sucked air in through her mouth nose sharply and loudly. Her control vanished and her body went utterly rigid a copper blood attacked her senses in such an over whelming amount she felt a sense of faintness come to her. This was it! The source was here in this very room! It had to be or the scent wouldn't be so very overbearingly thick. Both Hubb and Cher stopped at the loud sound and looked back at Mahina "Mahi are you alright?" Cher said eyeing her. With her body recovered from the initial shock Mahina blinked going wide eyed, she did not hide her actions at all too well
"Oh -u-uh yes I'm fine, just-ACHO!" she stopped in the middle of her sentence to sneeze "just had to sneeze is all..." she trailed off when she looked past the two into the room. She couldn't help but search the room for the source of her inner torment, her body screamed for her to, but to her surprise her crimson eyes found standing before a cage in the far end of the room a chubby amber wolf with a black leather collar around his neck gazing into the cage with much interest. Both Hubb and Cher followed her staring and stepped farther into the room.
"Hey! What are you doing? What department are you with?"Hubb called Mahina slowly took a couple of baby steps into the room as a Sandy haired, yellow sweat shirt, grey sweat pants wearing boy with a black leather dog collar around his neck turned around to face them reflecting surprise in his eyes.
"oh uh sorry I was looking for cleaning supplies I guess I must have got lost" the boy replied sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck and glancing around the room but stopped as he laid eyes on Mahina who, not really caring to an extreme for the make, looked away.
"The cleaning crew huh? Just go out that door supplies are on the right" Hubb said
"Oh uh are they uh thanks!" the boy said waving and heading to the door Hubb pointed at he slowed down as he got to it and glanced back locking eyes with Mahina before disappearing behind the door. A small silence filled the room as Cher walked towards the cage and Mahina timidly followed with eyes wide like a child entering a candy store for the very first time. While Cher leaned forward Mahina went down on her knees staring at the wolf that lay on the blood stained bottom of the cage. His fur was as pure as snow; Mahina's eye's held such wonder as she stared at him.
Never had she seen such a wolf, his very presence thrilled her and as a draft of wind came from the door the boy from before left in the smell of blood raised into her nose. This was the scent she had been looking for, the source of her sudden rush, her sudden feeling of awakening.
"So what do you think? Is it really a wolf?" Hubb asked Cher tilted her head
"I don't know I haven't actually seen one before" Cher replied "what do you think Mahi?" she asked but Mahina didn't reply, her crimson eyes locked on the beautiful white creature before her being stained by his own blood turning his pure fur red "Mahina" Cher repeated herself with a sternness to her voice causing the girl to look up.
"Huh?" she said looking back at Cher
"I asked what you thought" Cher said. No one notice the wolf in the cage open his eye ever so slightly and look up at the woman nearest to the cage Cher, the man near the door Hubb, and a slim, lanky, almost cat like wolf. The obvious female, for any male so lanky would have to be a cub...a runt at that, had shinning black fur that stripped along her back mixing well with the snow white and dust of light brown. The woman, Cher, had addressed her as Mahina.
"Oh i-im sorry" Mahina spoke slowly turning to look at the wolf again who closed his eyes again "I am not certain, I-I have seen dogs like this before back home that had a hint of wolf in them but all of them were only part, not fully a purebred wolf. As many of them I've examined none of them came close to this big" she said softly glad that Cher could not see the admiration Mahina directed to this great male and his breath taking white fur. Cher slowly nodded not moving a bit from her leaning position.
"If it is a wolf it may be what's causing the sudden reactions in Cheza" Cher said Mahina heard Hubb huff.
"Oh not Cheza again" he mumbled Cher straitened herself and looked back at him
"What's that mean?" she questioned
"It's because of her you and I broke up" Hubb commented and immediately Mahina rolled her eyes. Not bothering to look back she could sense an irked Cher put her hands on her hips and glare at Hubb.
"Stop acting like an idiot Hubb and bring this up to the lab" she hissed, the rest of their conversation slowly faded from Mahina's ears until it was nothing but a mumble to her. She was focused on the wolf before her in the cage that remained so still, were they certain he wasn't dead? "Mahina are you coming?" Cher voice cut into Mahina's trail of thought. She looked back at Cher
"Huh? o-oh! pardon me" she said her cheeks flashing pink at the fact that she wasn't paying attention again "just go ahead I-if you do not mind I would like to stay here for a few more minutes to see if I can't figure anything out" she said softly Cher stared at her for a moment before nodding and leaving the room with Hubb.
Mahina stared at the door the two walked out of until it closed softly with a click. She turned back to the cage to see the white wolf's eye's open wide and staring at her as she softly laid her muzzle on the cold floor, her nose was close to touching the metal cage as it heaved in more of the males scent. Now that she was so close she caught more of his scent rather than his beckoning blood but it sent her trembling all the same. He smelled of snow and fresh pine, of a wilderness Mahina was certain she'd never seen before in her life. Her ears were perked and ready to listen to anything that the wolf would say to her but after three long minutes of silence she realized he wasn't going to speak. 'Your coat is breath taking' she spoke softly as if her voice would offend him if it was too high a volume. The wolf didn't say anything to her, he just stared 'I'm not sure what it is about you but I'm going crazy because of your blood I can't seem to stop my body from trembling since I smelt it' she said though she wasn't sure why she was telling him this or if he even really cared. Mahina shifted her eyes from the wolfs face to his wounds that still bled somewhat across the cage floor 'those looks bad, do you need help?' she asked and was surprised when the wolf replied quickly, and a bit snappy actually.
'I can get out of here whenever I feel like it' he said earning a tilt of Mahina's head.
'Then why are you still here?' she asked the wolf was silent for a long time before he replied.
'I just need rest, that's all' Mahina nodded and heaved in another nose full of the wolf's scent.
'I'm-' the wolf interrupted her
'Mahina right?' he said taking her by surprise
'Oh so I guess you were awake when we were talking' she replied, the wolf stared at her with his golden eyes that pierced just as strongly as Mahina's now platinum ones
'What are you doing here anyway?' he asked her. This time it was Mahina turn to go silent, should she share with this mysterious wolf why she was here? Her instincts told her she could trust him to know but after giving it another quick thought she decided not to relay her main objective.
'I...I'm looking for something, a life, I don't know, but then I caught your scent and I came looking for you' she replied
'Why weren't you in your true form before' the wolf questioned
'So I don't end up where you are' Mahina replied, this wolf, she eyed him carefully, was this the first city he's ever been to? Does he not know the almost natural talent of blending with the humans? 'It's easier to get around and in here when you look like a human. You're left alone to live' the male growled at her.
'You're living a lie just so you can die a miserable death in this city' he said snarling at her, if it were not for the cage he might have even snapped those lethal teeth at her. Just to safe Mahina sat up and stared down at the wolf not flinching at his anger
"it's what you have to do" she said "If you get out and keep walking around like that I'm positive we'll meet again" she chuckled the last part but the white wolf wasn't at all amused by her words for he raised up as well and snarled even louder at her.
'Where's your pride as a wolf! Have you given it up?' he growled taking Mahina by surprise. She stared at him for a moment before smiling she giggled tucking hair behind her left ear. Pride, she had never heard such a word uttered by one of her kind before. In her travels Mahina had come across the occasional pack but never did any of them speak of pride, all they cared about was the moment, of getting the next meal, of surviving.
"Pride huh? you're funny" Mahina spoke and sat back letting her hands rest behind her back though one trailed gently to her chest over her pulsing heart "I'd willingly give up all the pride in my heart if it means I can live long enough to do what I came to this city to do..." she whispered, the growling stopped and the male look at her curiously before laying back down and sighing.
"Mahina we have to get going!" Cher called opening the door and staring at the girl who sat on the floor and looked back at her.
"Yes. Alright" Mahina said rising to her feet and dusted her clothing off before turning to the door. Cher gave the girl an interested look when she saw Mahina hold a longing look directed at the sleeping dog in the bloodied cage before she hurried toward the door and next to Cher.
"I thought I heard growling, did it wake up?" Cher asked Mahina shook her head
"Oh uh that was my stomach" she said
"Oh well lets go get something to eat then shall we?" Cher said smiling at the young girl who eagerly nodded her head, and they would have been on well their way to getting something eat but suddenly an alarm went off and the walls trembled with a resonating 'boom' from somewhere far off but within the building "oh no, not again" Cher said picking up on her pace of walking, Mahina followed.
"What?" she asked
"Thieves, come on we have to go out" Cher said and they both headed out of the building which Mahina wasn't too happy about. She had found the source that has almost driven her mad but there was still something in this building; she was still in this building. Mahina stood outside with Cher and Hubb with her arms tightly crossed in agitation.
"How long is this going to take?" Mahina asked glancing at Cher who eyed her as she directed another glare at the building as if it were the reason she was out here and not the fault of the raiders.
"Why?" she asked
"Huh? Uh well-" Mahina didn't have to answer for her stomach growled loudly making her blush, Cher chuckled.
"that hungry eh?" she said with amusement and Mahina had admit that she was hungry, she hadn't eaten much of anything in the long days she had traveled to get to this dome city, she nodded to the woman but then blinked as something else caught her attention. Out of her side view she saw the boy who had claimed to be from the cleaning crew but who was with them made her turn her head to watch them approach. Another boy with wild brown hair, he wore a leather jacket over a white t-shirt and regular jeans. As they passed Hubb began to itch and soon sneezed. A breeze rolled by after then and with it their lingering scents; Mahina caught the scent of the unknown wild haired boy. Fresh pine and snow but most of all...blood. Mahina gasped but then quickly covered her mouth with her hands not directing attention to herself. She turned around quickly hoping to catch a glimpse of that boy among the crowd of soldiers and lab workers and there he was. The boy looked back at her revealing striking blue eyes, Mahina looked closer, past the illusion she knew was there and found that she was staring into the face of the white wolf she was once talking to. An officer ran out of the building and towards Hubb.
"Sir! That big dog! It's disappeared!" he said
"What?" Hubb yelled before he and Cher ran for the building leaving Mahina to stay as watch in silent wonder as both wolves turned back around and made the long, causal decent down the stairs leading away from the building.
"Mahina!" Cher yelled making the girl jump.
"Coming!" she called running into the building. With Hubb in the lead the three rushed down the long winding halls until they reached the only door that was left open in the otherwise neat hall. To the shock of the two humans the white Wolf was in fact gone. Cher drew in a sharp breath and Hubb cursed as they took in the sight of what was left of the wolf. The cage was covered in blood and two of the front bars were bend out of shape and wide enough for the wolf to fit through. Bloody track from his paws lead away from the cage but once they got to the doorway they disappeared. Mahina couldn't help but smile in relief from her place in the doorway.
"It's gone" Hubb remarked staring at the cage in disbelief "do you think someone might have stolen it?"
"Maybe it escaped on its own" Cher replied with a shrug. A growl of frustration echoed through the room as Hubb glared at the unfortunate officer who had reported the bad news.
"Well don't just stand there!" he yelled at the man "there's a rabid dog on the loose! Get your men and start looking!" the poor officer nearly jumped out of his skin at the command.
"Yes sir!" he said before nearly falling as he fled the room. Mahina stepped out of his way and watched Hubb turn back to the cage with another curse and a loud sneeze.
"Dammit!" he scratched at his skin "the damn dog is gone but I can't stop sneezing!" Mahina couldn't help but look away innocently at this comment, her bad... Pet allergies must suck but she could help it if she was of the canine gene.
"It doesn't matter" Cher spoke coolly, reacting in a calmer manner than her former lover "it's lost a lot of blood so it couldn't have gotten very far and it is a very big dog. Someone will find it and it'll be back here in no time" satisfied by her own conclusion Cher seemingly lost interest and turned away walking calmly to Mahina "come on Mahi"
"Yes Ma'am" Mahina nodded allowing the woman to leave the room before slowly following her down the hall.
"Wait! Cher!" Mahina and Cher glanced back at Hubb as he stepped into the hall after them "where are you going?"
"to the lab" the woman responded arms now nuzzled snug in the pockets of her lab coat "the dog is gone and I have other things to do Hubb" slight agitation hinted in her voice, she had obviously expected this visit to remain professional. Hubb looked from Mahina to Cher and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I was hoping we could go to dinner...you know, talk" the male offered but Cher simply scuffed turning back around and began walking away.
"Goodbye Hubb" she remark with ice in her veins. She walked away without another word and Mahina trailed after her. They walked silently down the many halls "I'll show you what you'll be helping me with here" Cher said to Mahina pushing a large door open.
This room was different from the others; it glowed with a green sort of hue. A smile came to Mahina's face as she caught the scent that danced through the ever so quiet room. She gazed up at the source of the scent. There was a large glass sphere filled with sparkling green water, the floating figure within drew an airy breath... Those slightly parted eyes...there she was.
"This is-"
"Cheza" Mahina interrupted the woman while walked farther into the room until she stood before the glass the hung over her head "I've heard that she existed but I always thought they were just rumors" her crimson eyes never left Cheza's while Cher worked away checking on her vitals. Cheza...Mahina could feel the lovely creature's excitement, it reached out through the glass and water and caressed Mahina's face making her skin prickle much like it had when she met that wolf.
"It's not a rumor" Cher replied not looking away from her work "she's a maiden said to be artificially created from lunar flowers" Mahina didn't doubt it, this room smelt of it that wonderful scent of lunar flower "she's been in suspended animation for many years now but today she sudden showed signs of life"
"Signs of life?" Mahina looked to Cher who nodded gazing up at Cheza.
"Her vitals spiked this morning suddenly with no explanation and she opened her eyes as you can see" the woman explained, this morning? That was when Mahina had arrived in the city, it was also when she smelt the blood of the white wolf...could it be? "You'll be helping me study her, that includes her current vitals and figuring out the reason for her sudden awakening" Mahina didn't answer, slowly she raised her hand and pressed it against the glass staring up at Cheza "she's beautiful isn't she?"
"...yea..." Mahina replied, though Cheza showed no reaction Mahina could feel her excitement. It seeped into her and it was now that she realized that this excitement she had been feeling all this time...it was Cheza. 'Are you excited too Cheza? Do you want to meet the white wolf?'
"The moon doesn't shine bright in here..." Mahina mumbled to herself. The wind didn't even come in this dome city even from where she sat atop the tallest building in the center of the city. She sighed inhaling through her nose, this city reeked and it was only her scent, right below Mahina, that made sitting here bearable. The smell of the white wolf wasn't far from the building either, so he hadn't left the city yet huh? "I'm getting closer... Good" Mahina grinned staring up at the moon dulled by the dome that covered the city, she took in another deep breath and sighed again leaning back so she lay across the roof "let's hope we meet again...Great white wolf" she said smiling