The Estriatus Clan

The trip to the camp was eerily quiet, the silence making it worse than it should have been; with only the sound of light footsteps could distract him. Harry clung to Elysia, fear starting to set in now. He didn't like the idea about coming to this place anymore. These people didn't seem to like him, though he wasn't sure why. He hadn't done anything to them.

But still, Elysia had risked something bringing Harry with her, and she promised to protect him. He trusted that she'd take care of him.

Two figures came into view, standing guard at what looked like the entrance to a gathering of trees, hiding whatever was beyond it from view. They both showed their necks to Gavin, like Elysia had, but then they saw Harry, and one started to growl lowly. "Beta, why do you have a human with you?" asked the growling man. "Their kind are not allowed here!"

"Stand down," rumbled Gavin. "He is being brought to the Alphas. Now, one of you inform them that we have returned with Elysia."

The one who had spoken hesitated a moment before nodding, and with another angry look at Harry, slipped through the entrance and disappeared.

"Elysia," Gavin said as he looked to her over his shoulder, "I expect you to watch over the human until the Alphas decide what to do with him. That means if one of the pack tries to attack him, you have to protect him. You understand the penalty for attack one of our own, though, so do it at your own risk."

"Yes, Gavin," said Elysia, "I understand."

With a nod, Gavin moved to the entrance and the others followed like a flock of ducklings followed their mother.

As they passed into the large ring of trees, again Harry was in awe. It was like small town, with a large number of small houses on the far side that all looked like they were built by hand, at least fifteen or more, and that was only the ones he could see. There was also a large area of land that was being use for a garden near a separate house, with lots of different vegetables, flowers, and herbs growing well in the warm sunlight.

There was also a large fire pit that was currently lit, lighting up the entire camp, and a house near it that was larger than the others - at least twice the size - with a smaller fire pit in front of it, a pot hanging over a burning fire. And even with all that, there was also a surprising amount of room in the center.

And then there were the people. They were all basically dressed in the same style, though some of the women were in skirts and dresses, all made in browns, greens, or black. They all looked happy as they did their various things - a crowd of the men and women chatting with each other, some men practicing something that looked like fighting moves with teenagers of both genders, a group of women cooking or sewing with young children at their laps or sides, and the other children of all ages all sitting around much older woman, their eyes wide as she spoke in low tones.

But not even a moment later, everyone froze, and together, they looked to entrance, all eyes landing on Harry. It was silent, deadly quiet, and Harry didn't dare gulp, in case they heard it. It was unnerving, having everyone stare just at him.

Then everyone started moving. The grandmother telling stories spoke a few hushed words, and the children scrambled up, some going to the adults, some racing to the homes. The men teaching the teenagers barked something out, and with nods, they grabbed the children that rushed to their parents and even the babies and hustled to their huts. All that was left was the grown men and women, and they were all on edge.

"Gavin!" An old man broke from the crowd. "Why do you have a human with you?" He spit on the ground, the glob of saliva landing close to Elysia feet. "They aren't allowed here!"

Growling, Gavin towards over the older man, who shrunk slightly. "Don't you think I know that, Stephen? It is a matter for the Alphas."

Nodding, Stephen turned his gaze, not onto Harry, but Elysia, who crouched in defense, and growled. "What have you done now, you stupid little -"

"If I were you, Stephen, I would not finish that insult to my daughter."

Suddenly frightened by the woman's voice, Stephen whimpered and backed away as the owner of that voice marched to them. She was older than even Gavin, with dark brown hair pulled into a bun and light grey eyes. Her black dress seemed to float around her, her bare feet padding on the dirt ground.

"Cub, you should probably get down now," Elysia said softly as she knelt down, all while keeping an eye on Stephen, who continued to glare at her. Harry slid to the dirt ground, wincing when he landed on his ankle wrong, but glancing around constantly.

"Elysia," said the woman with a small smile, ignoring the glares Stephen sent her daughter. "Welcome home, child. You're father and I were so worried about you -" She sniffed suddenly, like she was trying not to cry, but then her expression darkened. "What have you done, child?" she said with a growl.

"Alpha." Elysia bared her throat, and her mother didn't hesitate. She lunged forward, her hand wrapping around her daughter's neck. Harry gasped, but he was the only one to. Everyone just watched, even as the Alphas nail started to dig into Elysia's skin and she lifted her up, high enough that her toes barely touched the ground.

"This is why you didn't return?" the woman snapped out. "For some lowly human!" Her grip just got tighter and tighter.

"P-Please!" Harry cried out, and only then did a few people gasp. "Don't hurt her!"

Turning her gaze to Harry, the female Alpha narrowed her eyes. "You stupid girl! How could you be so foolish?" she said with a hiss. "You've endangered the entire village by bringing this human here!" She finally released Elysia, who fell to the ground, coughing as her hand immediately went to her throat. "Do you realize what you've done?"

Coughing once, Elysia stood with a wobble before steadily returned her mother gaze. "Yes," she said, a little hoarse. She stood in front of Harry again, protecting him. "And I don't regret it. I was not going to leave a cub all alone in the forest!"

"He is not a cub!" snapped her mother. "He is a human, a child of man! He doesn't belong here!" Her hand came up, and Harry was afraid that she would attack Elysia again.

"Agatha." A man came to the female Alphas side, laying a hand on her shoulder. He had black hair streaked with grey, and his eyes brown like Elysia's, but much darker, almost black. "Calm down, love. Lets go to our hut, and I'm sure Elysia will explain everything." He stepped forward, and obediently, Elysia bared her neck, which he brushed lightly with his nose before rubbing her cheek with his. "We will call you when we are ready, my daughter," he said as he lead Agatha to a nearby hut.

"Yes, Alpha." Elysia looked down to Harry. "I told you not to speak, cub." she said gently, placing it on his wild hair and trying in vain to smooth it down.

"But she was hurting you," Harry whispered. And she had just let her do it! Already, Harry could see some faint bruises appear on her neck, in the shape of fingers.

"It was her right to punish me," explained Elysia, "as my mother and as my Alpha. I broke some very important rules to bring you here, after all." She knelt down and picked Harry up, holding him close as she nuzzled her cheek against his head. "Don't worry to much about it, little one. Just do as I said before, but if one of the others ask you a direct question, answer it. Alright?"

Nodding, Harry glanced around. Everyone was still on edge, even Stephen, who had gone back to the others. They all watched him like he was a horrible creature that out to be tossed out as soon as possible. "Elysia?" asked Harry softly. "Why does no one like me?" He looked up to her, and was surprised to see sadness in her eyes. "And why does do say human like that?"

"...I can't tell you everything, cub," Elysia finally said softly. "Not without permission. But... we are not human, Harry, even if we look like it." Fear settled in with the sadness, and her grip on him tightened just slightly. "What we are... it's the reason we live in these woods, so far away from civilization. Please, please don't hate me for not being like you."

Elysia wasn't... human? She didn't tell him what she was, but explained a little why these people acted like they did. It wasn't because they didn't like him, it was because they didn't like what he was. Wrapping his arms around her neck, Harry did what she had done before, nuzzling his nose against her cheek. "I could never hate you, Elysia. You saved me."

Relaxing a little, Elysia smiled softly. "I'm glad."

"Elysia."

Both Harry and Elysia looked to the voice. It was the grandmother-like woman that he had seen earlier. She was old, with pure silver hair that waved around her shoulders and pale grey eyes that were almost nonexistent, but it didn't mean she was weak. The only one dressed in white, she stood tall and proud, and even though he couldn't see any scars, Harry was sure that she must have been a fighter before.

"Elder Arianna." Elysia said with a polite nod.

The old woman didn't say anything right away. Instead, she looked over Harry carefully, her pale eyes looking over every bruise, cut. "Mm." Lifting a hand, she brushed Harry's closest hand, and something raced up his arm, like a static shock. While Harry jumped in Elysia's arms, Arianna simply blinked. Her hand then traveled to his face, and with a sweep of her hand, pushed back his bangs, revealing his lightning scar. She touched it for a long moment, and looked deep in thought, before finally taking back her hand.

"What an interesting child," Arianna finally said in a low mummer, her eyes still looking over him. After another long moment, she turned back to Elysia. "When this is all over, regardless of your parent's decisions, bring him over to my hut and I'll take care of his wounds."

"Thank you," said Elysia with a bow of her head. "I truly appreciate it."

"Its time," called out Gavin from the the door of hut the Alphas went into, which was basically a curtain. "Bring the human."

The inside of the Alpha hut was simple as the rest of the camp. There was only a pile of furs in one corner, and a truck in another. There wasn't a bed, a table - nothing. Only half the floor was wood, and that was elevated half a foot off the ground, so that its occupants could look down on others. The Alphas sat there, on small fur mats. Agatha seemed to have calmed down now, though she still glared at Harry when he entered with her daughter.

Gavin sat near the male Alpha, and a woman Harry didn't recognize sat near Agatha. She was about the same age as the other Beta, with long dark blonde hair pulled into a braid and amber colored eyes. She didn't even look to Harry, and he wasn't sure if that was good thing or not.

"Sit," ordered Agatha.

Without hesitation, Elysia knelt on the dirt floor, keeping Harry in her lap, who cradled his hurt arm against his chest. She bowed her head. "I am sorry for all the trouble I've caused you, mother, father. It truly wasn't my intention."

"And what did you think would happen, Elysia?" said Agatha slowly. "That we would welcome this - this human with open arms?"

"No, of course not," said Elysia. "But I did hope you would let him stay with me."

The higher ranked people of pack looked to each other, muttering lowly so Harry couldn't hear it. "Why would you even think we would let him stay?" asked Gavin finally. "He isn't one of us."

Sighing, Elysia started her story. "During the run, I heard the sound of a human gun shot. I was... curious, so I went towards the sound. It wasn't too long after that I caught the scent of blood, of this cub. I found him curled up in a hallowed out log."

"You showed yourself to a human during the run?" said the female Beta with a gasp. "Does he -"

"No, Emily, he does not," said Elysia quickly. "He was fearful that I would hurt him, so I waited until the moon was gone till I truly spoke to him. Until then, I merely watched over him."

"And what was this human doing out in our woods during the full moon?" asked Elysia's father. Harry wondered why they didn't just ask him, but then again, it was probably for the best, since he felt a little sick at the thought of being questioned. "Have humans become that stupid, to enter the woods during our time?"

"He told me that his uncle abandoned him in this forest to die," Elysia said coldly. "He's also the one who gave him these injuries."

At this news, all the leaders' eyes went wide before then all started speaking loudly, overlapping each other so Harry couldn't understand them. "Humans," spat Agatha as the talk finally began to die, "such disgusting creatures, they don't even care about hurting their own."

"I just couldn't leave him out there to die," Elysia went on, "so I brought him with me." She shook her head. "He has no one, mother. His parents are dead, his relatives don't want him. If you told me to take him back, what would he have to go back to?"

Shaking his head, the male Alpha sighed. "I understand what you're saying, Elysia. But we can not have a human in the pack. It's against the rules we have had for years. It's also another mouth to feed. And even if we are against to take him in, sooner or later, he'd have to be changed, and I'm sure he will not want it, and I doubt he would survive it."

"Please, father," begged Elysia. "I will do everything for him until he can learn to do it himself, and take care of him like he is my own! I've already promised him that I would be there for him, and I can not break a promise. It also our rules."

"You have already made an oath to him," Gavin said coldly. "Elysia, you have made the situation worse than it is."

"It simply means that Harry is forced to leave the village, then so am I," said Elysia without even a pause. Gaping, Harry looked up to the woman who had taken care of him. Would she really do that for him? Leave her family for him?

"I don't want that!" Harry said quickly, ignoring the fact that he wasn't suppose to speak.

The silence in the room was almost deafening as the Alphas and the Beta's looked to Harry, who ignored them and looked to Elysia. "I don't wanna take you from your family, Elysia! It's not right!"

"I promised to take care of you," said Elysia calmly. "And I can't go back on it, even if that means leaving my family behind. I can't break an oath."

"You've already taken care of me!" protested Harry. "Please, don't leave your family cause of me."

"Obviously, you don't know about our lifestyle, human," said Emily. "Once an oath is made, it can not be broken. That means there are only two options, kick you both out, or keep you both." She sneered. "And obviously, the later can not happen is our only option. Neither Jason and Agatha can let you stay here."

Harry felt his stomach drop. Elysia would be kicked out of her pack, and it would be all his fault.

"No," said Jason firmly. "That will not happen. I will not lose my only daughter." Lifting his hand, he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "We'll just have to think of a compromise."

"A compromise? Jason, you can't be serious," said Emily in shock. "You aren't seriously think of letting this human stay here."

Ignoring the female Beta, Jason turned to his daughter. "Elysia. You are determined to keep this human child?"

"Yes," she said with hesitation.

"Are you willing to take care of him until he is of age? No matter what obstacle comes your way?"

"Absolutely."

"And you will have to teach him our ways," finished Jason.

"I will do it all, father," Elysia answered.

Falling silent again, Jason turned to his wife. "Agatha?"

"... A test, then," Agatha said slowly. "Humans are weaker then our kind. We will see if he has the strength to become one of us." She looked down on her daughter. "It is now the beginning of fall. You have till the end of of the year, four months, to prove that he can survive in this pack by having him run with us at the winter run. If he comes close to death during that time or before then, you must take him back to the humans. If he manages to survive... he may stay. But," she said quickly, before Elysia could say anything, "if he does stay here, then sooner or later, he must take the change."

"But we have not changed anyone in years!" Elysia cried out. "No one here could do it successfully."

"Is that a chance you are willing to take?"

"Pardon me."

Everyone turned to the door as Arianna glided in, stopping at Elysia's side. She smiled brightly, as if she hadn't just interrupted the meeting. "I couldn't help but over hear the problem, and I might have a solution for this."

"And what is that, Arianna?" asked Jason.

"If the young one survives, I suggest that he not be changed," Arianna explained carefully, "at least not until he wishes it, and only after he becomes of the first age. It is, after all, not a decision to be made lightly, and he might decided to return his human world. You know how unforgiving they are of our kind."

"You expect him to be here that long?" said Agatha with a hint of confusion. "The first coming of age ceremony is at thirteen."

"Only if you approve, Alpha," said Arianna with a nod to her. "And when the time comes for the change," she turned to Elysia, "your daughter will be the one to change him."

"I-I couldn't!" Elysia said with a shake of her head. "I could kill him!"

"No you wouldn't," spoke Harry. "You wouldn't kill me, Elysia."

"You don't understand, cub, the change is dangerous for anyone not born... born like us." Elysia bit her lip briefly. "If you're not strong enough, there's a high chance it will kill you."

Whatever this change was, whatever Elysia was afraid of, it could kill him. And she didn't want to be the one who did it. "I..." Harry struggled with the words. "Maybe I won't mind being changed."

Jason blinked. "You don't even know what the change is, little human. And yet you are willing to go through with it?"

"Well, I don't know, sir," said Harry with a shrug. After all, he didn't know what it was. "But maybe I will, someday," he added firmly.

"Mm." Jason stared at Harry, like if he looked at him enough, he could discover something that he hadn't noticed before. He looked to his wife, who paused for a moment before nodding. Seemingly satisfied with this, he turned to his daughter. "Alright then. If you truly wish to keep him, then you can." As Elysia smiled brightly, he went on. "But there things you must agree to. He will prove himself by surviving through the winter and running with us at the winter run. You will teach him about our ways and inform him about what we are." He leaned forward. "And don't think that you won't go unpunished, Elysia. Besides the fact that you will change him if that's what he truly wants in the future, you will not be allowed on the run next month, and you will be treated as an Omega until that time. Is that clear?"

Bowing her head, Elysia answered, "I understand, father."

"Good. You may go to your hut now, and take..." Jason turned to Harry. "What is your name, boy?"

"Harry, sir. Harry Potter."

"And take Harry with you," Jason finished. "I will have someone send more furs to your hut." He gave Harry a short nod. "Welcome to the Estriatus Clan, little cub."

"Thank you, sir," said Harry shyly.

Standing, with Harry still in her arms, Elysia bowed slight. "Thank you, father, mother. You don't know how much I appreciate this."

"Remember, come by my hut later," said Arianna, still smiling. Harry smiled back at her, giving her a small wave as Elysia took him away from her leaders. It seemed they were both safe - for now.

As Elysia and the human boy named Harry left, Arianna turned to her Alphas, who looked at her with questions in her eyes. "Arianna. I hope you have an explanation for what just happened," said Agatha. "As our oldest pack member and healer, we appreciate your opinion, but we certain weren't expecting you to suggest that."

Smiling still, Arianna knelt down. "Truly, I wasn't expecting what I found either."

Raising an eyebrow, Jason leaned forward a little. "And what was that?"

"I smelled it on him," Arianna said, finally serious, "as soon as he entered the camp. I touched him to be sure, and it's there. But from the way he was acting, I doubt he knows yet. And it is much stronger than mine, even at his age."

"You mean he's -" Emily gaped in shock. "Jason and Agatha, we can't keep him here! It was bad enough before, but now -"

"Like I said, Emily, he doesn't know," interrupted Arianna. "Elysia did say that his parents died when he was young. And from the way his uncle treated him, I doubt he told him."

"This isn't good," Gavin muttered. "Should we still keep him here?"

"We can't go back on our word," said Jason with a shake of his head. "If all goes well, Elysia will be the next female Alpha when we step down, and will be bonded with an un-bonded male who proves their worth as an Alpha. I can't have her leaving because a promise she made foolishly to a human cub. Besides, if Arianna is right, then he might actually survive the change."

"One of them, becoming a werewolf?" Emily growled. "What will the other tribes say? And what will happen if his kind finds out? He'll tell them about us!"

"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Gavin rumbled. "For now, Jason is right. We'll have to keep him. If he manages to survive the winter, of course."

"I think he might actually manage to make it through the last winter run and the change," said Agatha thoughtfully. "But I guess we'll just have to see."

And at that, Arianna gave a small smile.

"Who was that?" asked Harry as Elysia carried him to a next hut, which was smaller then the last. "You're mum and dad re-resp- listened to her."

"That was Arianna, the village healer and the eldest members of our pack," Elysia explained. "Father and Mother always listen to her advice." She glanced back. "I'm actually surprised that she decided to help you, though."

"Why's that?"

Sighing, Elysia shifted him in her arms as she nudge the curtain to her hut open. "Usually, Arianna's the one who is adamant about us not going near humans. She must see something special in you to let that go."

"Oh," said Harry simply. What was he suppose to say to that?

The hut was plain as the last one, though there was no raised floor. Elysia placed Harry on the pile of furs in the corner and smiled at him. "You must be hungry, you haven't eaten all day. Do you want me to get you some food?"

Harry tried to say 'no thank you', but his stomach betrayed him, growling at him loudly as it demanded food. While Harry flushed, Elysia shook her head, amused. "I'll go get you something to eat," she proclaimed, standing. "Just don't try and leave the hut, alright? And if anyone besides me or Arianna comes in, yell for me."

Nodding, Harry watched as Elysia left the hut. He waited for a few long moments before he finally decided to feel the furs underneath him. They were soft, and he could only imagine how warm they could keep someone. Giggling, Harry lifted one up and wrapped it around himself with his good arm. He sighed almost immediately in comfort - it was warmer than any blanket given to him, and so soft! He wondered if he get to sleep with this.

The moment was interrupted as the curtain to the hut was pushed aside, and Harry froze, ready to scream.

"Getting comfortable already, huh?" Elysia said with a chuckle as she stepped inside, a tray of food in hand. "That's good, since this will be your home from now on." She placed the tray down. "Here - dinner."

Unwrapping the fur blanket from himself, Harry glanced down at the tray. It only had enough food for one person. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked. "Where's your food?"

The smile on Elysia's face started to slip away, but she recovered quickly. "I'm not very hungry," she said in answer. "Besides, you need to eat more than me. Now come on and eat before it gets cold."

Even though he knew that Elysia was lying, Harry did as he was told and sat in front of the tray. It was more food then he'd had in awhile, a bowl of chunky strew, a chunk of bread that looked homemade, and a small plate full of berries along side a mug full of water. He picked up the bowl, grabbed a spoon that was laying next to it, and started to dig in.

"Don't eat too fast," Elysia warned him. "You'll get a stomach ache."

Slowing down, Harry gulped down a spoonful of food. "So Miss Elysia -"

"Its just Elysia, remember Harry?" The young woman reminded him gently.

"Uh, Elysia... what do I have to do?"

Elysia frowned, "Do? What do you mean?"

"You know... for my keep," said Harry with confusion. "That's what Uncle Vernon said I gotta do - work for my food and stuff. So what kinda chores do I gotta do?"

"No, no, no," said Elysia with shakes of her head. "Harry, you don't have to do chores for food - you're a child! Children don't need to work for their supper!" She seemed to get really angry at that thought, and for a moment, Harry thought her eyes turned to gold - like that wolf he saw in the woods. But if they did change, they were back to normal the moment she blinked.

"I... I don't have to work?" said Harry with shock. He'd always worked, done chores, so that Uncle Vernon wouldn't kick him out the house. Now Elysia was saying that he could live with her for free?

"No, Harry," Elysia promised. "You don't, at least not for food. Now why don't you finish up your supper and I'll take you somewhere to get a bath, alright?"

Answering with an excited nod, Harry had to force himself not to eat very fast, just in case he might get sick. He smiled to himself. All in one day, he got someone who cared for him, who would never make him work for his food or bed, and was eating a great meal with the promise of a bath afterward. This just might be the best day of his life!

Translations:

Estriatus - Beautiful Green Color