35 Dark Forest

The forest was dark. The moon hidden beyond clouds. The only guide were firefly lights that twinkled in the stillness. The blades of grass swung back and worth while the wind whispered secrets. The trees rustled while an owl cooed in the distance. The cold had most of the creatures hiding away curled up in their nest. However, it was also because they knew better. A black figure moved along the tall grass, barely visible in the green. A long snout poked out and parted large jaws. White fangs flashed as the creature breathed in the scent before pushing out a white mist from its throat. Its breath was carried away by the cold wind. Black ears curled back to pin against its skull. Green eyes peeked open, hard, cruel, and yet determined. The color swirling around in thought. It was short lived. A sound had the wolf perking his ear up and tilting his skull. His eyes searching. His lip pulling back with a low growl. His tail flickering, even as he tried to keep his body still, silent, blending in with the world around him. He was the shadow in the darkness. A shadow that crept along looking to sink its teeth into something.

A pink tongue licked its way along his lips before snapping his jaw shut. He shook himself out. His fur sent one way or another before he begun his walk again. He moved faster this time in a trot. His tail flickering with energy. His ears pressed forward, eyes locked on movement ahead. A turkey pecked around in the grass unknowing of the danger. Its quiet croaks seeming to be screams in the silence. It was young, probably inexperienced. It made for the perfect target. Because, as anyone would imagine, lessons were not learned without bloodshed. A screech ripped through the night as cherry colored creature pounced from the shadows. The bird dodging just in time while razor sharp claws landed onto the dirt. The dhole whipped his body around to snap at the creature, however it was already running off. Its feathers leaving a trail in its haste. It did not get far as a golden retriever burst from the shadows once more turning it away. The largest of the canines, the black wolf, leaned himself down again. The shadows covering him like a second skin. Sea green eyes narrowed and watched as the naive creature ran straight for him. In a blink of an eye, it was over.

The black wolf emerged from his hiding place. Blood coated his jaws and the bird hung from his jaws. Its beck parted in a silent scream. Its eyes opened with the last of its lingering fear. Pride filled the canine as he straightened his back, perked his ears, and begun to wag his tail. His pack mates bolting to him, but keeping a distance from the food. They would not dare take it from their beta. It would earn them a lashing. Alec, however, planned to share it anyway. Jerking his head, he commanded them to follow. He could smell the fire from the camp. He was starving. His pack was starving, and he knew they would need to soon rest before setting out again.

It had been a month since the small team had set out to find the Behemoth clan. The Hoofed clan had abandoned them. Even worse, the Valkyrie flock, one of the three strongest clans, had joined with the felines. The Bellaroos pack, the Cathilon clan, and the Valkyrie flock had been at war for thousands of years. It is rumored it started back in the ages of the Gods, but now boiled down to simple conquest. For most, it was deeper than that. It was to avenge the fallen or maybe because that was all they knew. The hatred was inherited, so deeply craved into their bones.. their DNA. It was instinct. A turning point came in the Kenya Massacre, then again when Freya appeared. Freya... Alec could not understand his interest in her. She appeared from nowhere. She had no origin, and she seemed to know nothing. She had a gift of befriending those around her, yet Alec could smell the fear in her. The loneliness, the sadness. The Gods themselves had seemed to bring her to him. From her beautiful eyes, to her sexy curves, and her determined nature he had become memorized, protective, and dedicated to figure out her secrets. Because, Cathilon wanted her too. They thought she would bring disaster. They truly believed she would bring the end of the world. Thus, a new wave of brutality started. If only, he could understand why.

A hiss had the male jerking from his thoughts as they came to the camp. A lone fire sat in the middle with furs laid down here and there for beds. Three longmas stood grazing on the grass while another male lounged by the fire. He laid on his side with raven black eyes staring at the three canines. A dark tongue flickered from black lips as he tasted the air. It was him who made the sound, Klepto. Grey bluish hair fell in the way of his eyes since he had not cut it during their travels. Black scales covered his chest and arms, but the turtle shell he normally wore sat on the ground behind him. White fur cuffs reminded on his arms, even as those black scales traveled down to his ankles. His skin was pale, almost a greyish blue. A flicker of scales along along his eye and cheek made it clear of what he was. A black mamba. One of the deadliest snakes known. Klepto knew this too.

The male gave no greeting as canine skin was replaced by those of humaniod forms. The bird was dropped to the ground while Alec turned his head away. He spit the blood from his mouth, before rubbing his lips with the back of his hand. Clenching his jaws, he glanced around while Hope got busy butchering their dinner. Shy and kind, Hope was still a hunter. That did not stop her from whimpering at the sight of blood or the lifeless eyes. Drole, however, found a place by the fire. The canine flopping down on his side. He never changed from his canine form. He had forgotten long ago after the massacre in Kenya. His alpha did not blame him. Rage and agony ate at Alec everyday.

"Welcome back." The snake smirked. His tongue flickering out again. His voice ground on Alec's nerves. The way the male smirked. His lifeless black eyes, and the scent of death on the male. His voice was acid. Although, many described it to be honey. The beta knew better.

A low growl vibrated in Alec's chest as he threw himself onto the ground. He curled his legs under himself as a shiver crept along him. The cold was starting to sweep into him, despite the thick furs he wore. He had been smart enough to pack for colder climate, even if it would not last long. Polar bear fur coat and pants with moose skin boots lined with bear fur. They had been a gift, although he could not remember from who. "Any luck?" Alec forced out.

"Not even a little." The snake chuckled. His voice breathy.

Alec tapped his fingers on his thigh. Klepto had seen the Behemoth tribe before. Knew their patterns, yet they had been unable to find them. They had ventured off course. Why?

Klepto closed his eyes, thus ending the conversation. The snake did not talk much, unless to piss off the wolf. Both of them constantly at each other's throat. Alec held his tongue to demand further answers, but was distracted by a soft hand on his shoulder.

"Here." Hope's gentle voice drew his eyes up. They locked on her delicate features. Blue eyes crystal clear as the ocean, sun kissed skin, a gentle smile, and golden strands of hair. He reminded her of sunflowers. Her scent, her warmth, and her soft smile. The way her eyes submissively looked away from his, even as she stood tall. She was a tiny thing with hardly meat on her bones, but strong... so strong. She believed in life. Believed in a better future. She was such a hard worker without a bone in her body. She was one of the rare few that did not inherited the hatred. The need for blood against her foes. She should have been born a healer, but instead she had been born a runt with a weak body. Her father rejected her, as most parents do with weak pups. Only the strongest survived, but her mother loved her all the same. While her other siblings grew strong, she had grown sicker and sicker until a miracle happened. She claims Fenrir spared her. Alec thinks her mother saved her. Now Hope looks after her sick mother, while her siblings played soldiers.

"Thank you." Alec's voice softened, unable to bare scaring Hope. She flashed a shy smile at him, unveiling freckles along her cheeks. Hope handed him a turkey leg that already skewed with a stick. He placed the other end in the ground and allowed for the fire to lick at the skin while it cooked. Hope pulled away and gave Drole his. The canine took it raw, not caring if it made him skin. As soon as he was settled, she joined her beta again. Sitting at his side, she got a wing ready and placed it in the fire to cook. Even as animals, things tasted better with a bit of crispy skin.

"Do you think we will find them soon?" Hope's voice shook. She too was afraid for the answer.

Alec sighed and placed a hand behind him. He leaned back as his eyes found the sky. The deep blue was endless with stars peppering the sky. The clouds were slowly allowing light through, but still the moon refused to show. "I don't know." He answered honestly. "But if we do not..." He trailed off. So many years they had been fighting... He just could not understand why this had happened. Why this was happening to them.

"Alec?" Hope's voice stuck in her throat as the scent of fear burned his nose.

"Everything will be okay." Alec promised. It was the only promise he could give. He had promised long ago to protect his people, his pack, his brothers. He could not allow them to be slaughtered. Not like his mother.

"I just... I want this war to end. I don't understand why it has to be this way. Why-"

Alec turned towards Hope. The movement cut her off as she turned to him, tears threatening to break. "It is not that simple Hope. You know that." The male forced back a snarl. "We will find them. They will help us, and then we will end this because Fenrir help us they will pay for their sins." Jerking away, the male ripped a hand through his black strands. The aggression building in his chest. The taste of blood fueling his hunger for more death. More killing. More... more chaos. Hope dreamed of so much. He envied her, but he knew soon her world had to come crashing down.

Hope's body tensed beside his. Her eyes driven away from him knowing she had said to much. "T-The meat seems to be done." She smiled nervously as she reached for her beta's leg. Picking it up, she held it out to him. "Eat up." A blond tail flickered anxiously behind her when Alec's eyes turned back. A deep frown on his lips, he stared at the food.

"Yeah." Taking it from her, juice dripped onto his fingers which he licked away before biting into the flesh. Beside him, Hope did the same. Both of them sat in silence as they ate. They watched the fire as it crackled. Both Drole and Klepto were asleep, leaving the two in quiet. Before long, Alec had finished his leg and tossed it aside. Normally, he would go back for more, but tonight the food sat in his stomach like a rock. His thoughts to close to the surface. His worries growing by the day.

"We will find them." Hope snapped her head at her beta that spoke. The male flopped over onto his side and laid an arm under his head. Alec closed his eyes unaware of Hope's bright smile. Her eyes glowing in the night at his declaration. As she abandoned her meal and curled up against him for the night, she knew she could believe him.