Chapter 8

Cornell had taken up Matthew's place in mourning. The outcome of the battle was as grim as it was shocking to the man-wolves. Cornell had indeed predicted correctly. Only three of the forty eight returned and Matthew wasn't one of them. Though Cornell and Ada were slightly pleased to know the Marcell's father was one of the survivors. Marius' wife, Beckrice, ran over to embrace his wounded body and came to tears.

"Thank the fates, you're alive...you're alive!"

"Of course I am!" Marius said incredulous and chipperly, as his personality usually was. "I have the blood of a Crescent! The true warriors of the tribe!"

Cornell scoffed coldly at the idea. His father was a great warrior too. Why hadn't he survived? Why did Cornell always have to have the bad luck?

He sat alone at his father's writing desk. During the time the battle took place, Cornell still did his studies and writing as though his father still made him. Cornell hadn't always like the work, but he saw its benefit. He also missed Matthew terribly, and the studies reminded Cornell of him. Ever since the news of the war's outcome, Cornell rarely budged from his writing desk. He was too distressed to read or write. He would only sit there and stare at the work in front of him. His mind wandered through the events of his life and he was then lost to the world. Ada didn't bother Cornell too much that day, except to prepare him a plate of food to eat. As she sat the plate in front of him, Cornell hadn't seemed to notice. His facial features were still morbid and distant as they were.

"Thank you, Ada." He finally said quietly.

Ada grieved silently for him. She pulled up a chair and leaned in close to him.

"You'll be okay..."

They sat together in silence for awhile before Cornell at last got up. He stretched and went outside. All the tribe had gathered in the night to hold a meeting not too far from where he was now...

There was a thud sound and Cornell quickly turned around. Ada had fainted. He went inside to pick her up. Ada had been prone to fainting spells all her life with the Crescents. Matthew had told Cornell that humans needed more nutrition than a man-beast. Cornell could live all his life on meat alone, but Ada would definitely get sick the first week. Another one of a human's flaws, Cornell thought, at this rate what could a human be good for?

He sat Ada in a comfy chair and prepared her a bowl of chopped fruit. As Ada started to come to, Cornell wandered outside again to join the rest of the tribe. Ortega, Maiko's son, had hosted a meeting. His father had been killed in the war, Cornell heard, which meant Ortega was now the leader. Ortega was muscular and well-built like his father. Thirty five percent of the man-beasts in the tribe came from a Spanish heritage, and Ortega was one of them. His maize-colored hair grew wildly down to his neck and tribe markings stretched across his semi-bare chest and brawny arms. He strode to and fro with dignity like a lion. He was ready to take his father's place as tribe-leader.

"Humans have left their mark. They have slain well over half of the warriors of our tribe and are forcing us into exile. This may well be so, but they have not seen the last of this tribe! We'll avenge our fallen kin and reclaim our territory and pride!"

Shouts of agreement rose from the gathering and echoed into the night. When they quieted down, Ortega spoke again.

"We'll kill the slaves and leave only enough to manage. Humans will not have easily forgotten the wrath of a man-beast. Any mortal trespassing in our camp shall be dealt with severely."

"Lets burn them!" A tribe member suggested.

"No! Hang them in their own villages! Then we'll cut off their heads!"

"Then gut them!"

The bloodthirsty laughter of the man-wolves rang throughout the crowd. Cornell had heard enough. How could they think to be so ruthless? He thought of Ada sitting at home sleeping peacefully. Her life had just been threatened further. Marcell would have to be extra careful when he guided her through the forest. Ada wouldn't be able to go outside after sunset and she would have to cover her human scent with Cornell's old clothes. Cornell would also have to find a new way to sneak her on the traveling wagons, now that Matthew wasn't there to help. The man-beasts were itching to find a human to torture. One false move and Ada would be hung and beheaded like his human mother was. If only...

Another young tribe member read his mind.

"We Crescents beg to differ, you know! That's no way to run a tribe! My cousin Cornell could do a better job of it, I'm sure."

The crowd of tribe members watched with dumbfound awe as the fourteen-year-old named Marcell Crescent came to center of the circle near Ortega, and then walked over to Cornell.

"Tell them what you believe." Marcell whispered. "You're better than Ortega..."

The tribe, including Ortega, fixed their eyes upon Cornell. Cornell opened his mouth, but was lost for words. Anything he thought of for a starter seemed to get muddled in the transition from thought to statement.

Ortega finally walked over to Cornell and stood in front of them. There was a slight hint of spite from the look on Ortega's burly face, but the rest was surely respect.

"Do you have any objections with my methods?"

"Yes..." Cornell said. "I believe you are sentencing these humans too harshly. They are only doing to us what we did to them. If they have the intellect and power to kill over half the tribe, there must be more to this. If we send another attack on them, we all will most certainly die."

The tribe remained silent and awaited Ortega's answer. He nodded.

"I see where you are leading. What would you have us do? Wait for them to come and slaughter the rest of us?"

"I would set forth a treaty."

This statement set off an intense upset from the tribe.

"We cannot defeat them." Cornell continued to Ortega through the confusion. "There are no more than thirty of us left. The slaves could outnumber us easily! The humans will be back by day break to finish us off!"

"Not if we are prepared." Ortega replied. "And that is where my plan will come into effect!"

"You can't solve this through war!" Cornell had raised his voice a touch too loud, especially to be talking to the tribe leader. Cornell had gone too far, but he didn't back down and neither did Ortega. The tribe became silent once again.

"Are you challenging my authority...?" Ortega asked. He was a bit more annoyed than he had been before.

If Cornell didn't back down and agree with Ortega's plan, he would have to fight for the right to choose his own plan. Then a fight for leadership would occur. The winner would decide the plan and become or still be tribe leader. With his exceptional skill and muscular size, Ortega was not an easy challenger.

Cornell hesitated once. He looked over to his cousin who stood boldly by his side. Then he thought of Ada and the countless other innocent lives at stake.

"Yes," Cornell finally declared. "I am challenging your authority."

Ortega was slightly taken aback at Cornell's boldness.

And so was Cornell. He thought to himself angrily about his big mistake.

The crowd backed some feet away, giving the both of them room. Marcell put a hand of encouragement on Cornell's shoulder.

"Best of luck, buddy." Marcell said, then he joined the rest of the tribe.

"So be it," Ortega said. "Let the Crescents prove their worth."

Ortega turned around and walked away... Before Cornell knew it, he had already been tackled hard in the stomach.

Cornell landed on the ground a few feet backwards. Just seconds ago, Ortega had swiveled back around, transformed and charged him. Before risking to get back up, Cornell transformed also.

Both man-wolves stood tall and showed their strength.

Ortega's wolf form had much more muscle than Cornell's and of course boasted more power. His fur was golden, but a more faded color than his father's. The fur down his back was ruffled and his narrowed yellow eyes were piercing. Cornell's form had smooth and cool grey fur. He was more agile and didn't have near as much muscle, but no matter the odds, his face was fit with determination.

Ortega charged again. Cornell dodged just in time. He caught his balance just quick enough to dodge Ortega's second assault.

The two man-beasts circled each other. This gave Cornell a quick minute to think and match up the odds...

As he neared a tree, he leaped onto its second branch and climbed.

By the time Cornell had hopped to the forth branch, Ortega had leaped after him onto the second branch. Cornell led him farther up the tree, moving up quickly before Ortega could catch up to him and ruin the plan. Ortega was barely a branch below Cornell...

As soon as Cornell reached the next branch up, he jumped swiftly to the next one, barely letting his hind paws touch the bark. Just as he left the limb, his adversary had already reached a hold and was heading for the one Cornell was on. Luckily, Cornell had made it to the highest most branches unharmed. It didn't take long at all for him to turn around and find Ortega right next to him.

Thoroughly annoyed with the chase, he roared and lashed out at Cornell. Ortega's claws struck Cornell's face, making him stagger backwards. Cornell gained his balance and struck back, slashing Ortega's shoulder and across his chest. Ortega's wound was much larger and deeper, but he had barely flinched. His fangs were bared and a deep growl rose from his blooded chest. His menacing eyes were deadly, but Cornell stood his ground and glared back.

Ortega charged into him, but Cornell was ready. He didn't bother withstanding Ortega's impact, but instead latched his fangs into Ortega's neck and they both tumbled off the branch and fell below. It was an enormous height to fall from. Marcell would have estimated the fall to be fifty feet. Though, Marcell was terrible with math, therefore he was quite wrong. The fall was seventy feet. Most likely, instant death waited at the ground for a mere human. Even though Cornell and Ortega were man-wolves, the drop was still dangerous.

Upon impact, the both were stunned.

Cornell was first to recover. He got to his feet shakily and looked over in Ortega's direction. He was just starting to get up. Cornell noticed his plan had worked. By his mere size, Ortega had taken much more damage from the fall than Cornell had. With great effort, Ortega heaved himself up and stood at a lopsided angle. His left leg was wounded or broken. Still, Ortega did his best to gain his balance and fight. He wasn't giving up leadership to Cornell easily. Cornell had no other choice but to defeat Ortega himself. He charged full-speed into the large man-beast, claws extended.

To Cornell's surprise, Ortega endured the impact and was still quite strong. The two locked claws in a battle of strength. Cornell dug his hind paws into the dirt and strained forward.

Cornell was a warrior by blood. His family had been tribe leaders for many a generation, until his grandfather lost the tribe to Maiko's father. Matthew never bothered to become leader, especially after his wife's death, nor had his brother Marius. So it was Cornell's job to regain the legacy.

He summoned all of his strength and with an almighty roar, Cornell thrust Ortega backwards, where he staggered and slammed into a tree. Ortega collapsed at the base and laid there silently, shaking with pain.

The fight was over.

Cornell became more aware of his aching body, but he stood tall and proud with his victory. The pendant his father had given to him glistened with splendor in the moonlight around his furry chest. The dark blue jewel was a captivating sight hanging around the man-wolf's neck of handsome grey-silver fur. As the new tribe leader, beacause of the pendant he wore, he was then on named by the tribe: Blue Crescent Moon.