Chapter 2. Discoveries

Rhydian awoke early that morning from a sudden chill entering his room. His fondness of human comforts had weakened him he thought to himself, scornfully. A walk in the chill of the early morning would surely harden his heart to the cold of being wild. As quietly as he can he dresses in a thick jumper over the thin cotton of his pyjamas, laces up his boots and jumps nimbly out of the window landing of the dew of the cold October grass below.

He set of at a run the crispness of the air spurring him on. The wind pulling at his hair, a grin on his face he howled. He felt so alive. Connected with his inner wolf. The woods surrounded him like a comforting blanket. He continued to run immersed in the feeling of freedom he didn't realise he had missed. The tumble came as a shock to the usually steady boy. His chin hitting the ground hard, teeth sinking into his lower lip. He tumbled to the ground. Crying out in pain blood dripping from his lip. Rhydian turned to see what had tripped him up. A dark hollow around a tree with its treacherous snaking branches that he had snagged his foot on. He turned to take a closer look hobbling slightly. He could hear a soft rustle from the leaves that lay at the bottom of the hollow. Something was moving. He could smell it before he could even see it. It was definitely the smell of wolf. He didn't recognise where it could have come from. Surely he, Jana and Ceri were the only Wolfblood's around here? He inched closer trying not to wake it. It was a strange looking creature with grey blue flecks around its head and a cotton white tip on its tail. It whimpered while it slept and scratched the ground with delicate paws. But the most unusual things were the artefacts strewn across the floor, a tube of toothpaste, various feathers and a small brown notebook.

The eyes of the wolf opened. They revealed a pair of sharp menacing eyes. Rhydian growled warning the other wolf. But it wasn't scared of him. The wolf raised itself up onto all fours growling back. Rhydian edged slowly backwards from the wolf's territory keeping eye contact with it. Before the animal could stop him Rhydian fled. Running full pelt back towards his house the wolf still on his heels. As he neared the oncoming houses the wolf slowed and Rhydian raced ahead. By the time he reached the safety of his house he was out of breath and panting but the wolf was nowhere to be seen.

'You will never guess what happened to me this morning'.

'You did your homework?'

'Got up in time?'

'Remembered to bring your lab report?'

'No, guys-'

'Wore matching socks?' A low growl omitted from Rhydian. The group fell silent, each member staring at him intently.

'I saw a Wolfblood'. They continued to stare. 'An actual Wolfblood and not one I recognised, its fur was almost blue and it had a white bit on the end of its tail.'

Jana was the first to regain the power of speech. 'How old do you reckon it was? Like our age?'

'Maybe' said Rhydian 'Perhaps a bit younger.'

'So definitely school age.'

'Look I don't know!'

'Chill jeez.'

'Look we've got to go to class now.' Shannon chimed in, she dragged Jana away from the boys and Rhydian and Tom set of for English. They discussed what Rhydian had seen and agreed to go back and look after school without the girls. They reasoned with Shannon and Jana there, they would worry too much.

English was generally a boring affair, with old Mr. Vieux, droning on about how fascinatingly wonderful Shakespeare is. But today a surprise lay in store. Miss Posey greeted them at the door. 'Good morning boys.' They both grinned at the young pretty teacher, greeting her far more enthusiastically than they would Mr. Vieux.

She began 'Today class, we will be doing something slightly different, instead of just reading the books or plays, we will be acting out these scenes. For once the class did not sigh in boredom, but rather listened attentively to what she was about to explain.

'I will split you into pairs and assign you each a scene from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.'

As she was speaking the door opened and a scruffy girl walked in, it was the girl from history. 'Ah Miss McAlpin' Miss Posey recognised her 'thank you for joining us, please take a seat.' The girl mumbled her apologies and took the only empty seat in the classroom behind Tom. As she walked passed Rhydians' nostrils filled with the odour of sweat dirt and the unmistakable smell of mint.

'Eww! She smells rank Miss!'

'That's enough Kay'

'Who would want to go with her?'

'Kara! Both of you out! Now! I will not have anyone disrespecting a fellow student in this school.' The two girls hung their heads in shame and walked out scowling at the skinny girl who sat quietly with her head bowed.

Rhydian and Tom exchanged a look and turned round 'We'll go with you'

She looked up and then smiled, her teeth shone brightly and lit up her whole face.

'Rhydian' Miss Posey called over, 'you can go with Miss McAlpin. Tom you're with Katrina.'