6 The Mission

"Okay everyone, listen up!," Ausu announced as the tribe gathered around him in the clearing for a meeting. My first meeting. "I have called you all here today to discuss some pressing matters at hand that might endanger our kind."

I stood watchfully, wondering what in the world this pressing matter could be, and if I could help. Ausu hadn't mentioned anything about it to her before, so it probably wasn't important... but still. I can't shake off the feeling that something terrible was going to happen.

"Their have been rumors that there was an untamed werewolf living somewhere to the north. According to the townspeople, the werewolf always arrives from the north, has killed four people, and only comes on full moon nights. Which gives us only one lead. He must be living in the Haundrake's mansion." Ausu continued.

"But how do we know it's not any other place towards the north?" Echo asked, pushy his glasses up the brink of his nose.

" Because I've explored the north. There isn't another house here for miles around. Anyway, a werewolf only attacks its nearest pray. It wouldn't go more than two miles to find food." Ausu informed him.

"Who where the people that were killed?" I asked, not trying to hide the interest in my voice.

"Let's see... Hahlu Cinah,-." Ausu began, but was cut short by Maki.

"Hahlu's my cousin! She was the best, I can't believe... that this would happen... to her... now." Macki's eyes filled with tears, and she sniffed sorrowfully, and I knew she was recalling all the fun times she and her cousin had had together. At least that's what I did when I 'lost' my sister...

" I'm sorry." I told her, patting her on the back reassuringly.

"There was also Guah Filoh and-." Ausu continued, but was cut off again, except by- Nicolu. This surprised me, because he was kind of the lone wolf, I didn't speak much especially not at a meeting, (at least that's what I would have guessed), right?

"Guah's my uncle," Nicolu explained. "He took me in after my parents were killed by werewolves," Nicolu paused, then continued. "He wasn't necessarily kind to me though. He was a blacksmith so he hired me as his apprentice; not that I had much of a choice."

Ausu looked strangely interested. "I knew you used to live with your uncle, but I never knew-."

"I just didn't think it was important," Nicolu replied hastily. "I didn't think anyone would care."

"Of coarse we'd care. Our tribe is like our family isn't it? You can tell us anything." Ausu told him reassuringly; and the rest of the tribe agreed, not in their heads vigorously but I nodded in understanding.

"Who were the other two?" I asked when it had quieted down.

"Ekloi Bukatsun and Tina—."Ausu began.

" Ekloi?," Echo asked in shocked surprised. "He's m-my brother!" And with that, Echo Ray stuff into the trees.

"Wait! Echo! We're not done with the meeting yet!" Ausu called after him, but Echo shouted:

" I want to be alone!" And kept running until he was out of sight between the trees.

"Wait. is it Tina Kisumi?" Unah asked with a shaky voice.

My eyes opened wide in shock. It couldn't be her. It just couldn't. Tina Kisumi was our mother. We couldn't lose her too!

My throat tighten does I waited for Ausu to answer.

"Yes," Ausu replied. "How did you know?"

" She is our... mother!" I announced, and before I could stop myself, I burst into tears, but quickly wiped them away, angry at myself for being so emotional. "Why does everything have to be taken away from us?" I asked Unah, who was standing by my side, her eyes open wide in shock and heartbreak.

"And through it all we still have each other." Unah told me, giving a me hug as I quickly dried my tears as they started to flow at a remarkable pace.

* * * * * * * *

Five minutes later, I ask : "So what are we going to do about it?"

"We're going to go there ourselves. We can pretend to be tourists coming to visit to learn about their family history. I know Lord Haundrake used to accept tourists in his house. They would stay for two days, and then move on to the next attraction. hopefully he still allows them... because there's also been a rumor that he has been letting less and less tourists in. I suspect it's because of the werewolf..." Ausu informed us.

"Who's going to go?" Nicolu asked.

"What do you mean? I thought the whole tribe was coming." I announced in confusion.

"Think about it," Echo I just arrived. "If the whole lot of us came bursting in saying we were tourists, what did he get suspicious?"

Ausu ignored Echo, and proceeded to answering Nicolu's question. "I think I'll take four people, I mean werewolves," he quickly corrected himself and then continued. "Including myself. Maybe..."

Pick me! Pick me! I thought over and over again. But then I thought: she might not pick me because I'm 'new'. But that doesn't matter. I'll just have to sit here listening to Haruna's teasing all day instead of solving a mystery... unless Ausu picks HARUNA as one of the four...

"Maybe... Nicolu, Unah, and..." Ausu started.

Wait. My sister is going? And without me? This is a nightmare!

"... and Merribelle." Ausu desired.

"Wait. Me?" I asked, turning to my sister.

"Yes, you! We get to do this mission together, huh?" Unah asked with a big smile on her face.

"I guess so..." I replied.

"Come on! Be more enthusiastic! I knew you were hoping to come!" Unah encouraged me.

" Okay. Whoooooooooo! Hoooooooooooo!" I announced, jumping up and down.

"Just because Ausu picked you instead of me to go on the mission doesn't mean you have to celebrate." Haruna commented rudely in my ear.

I jumped, then she laughed mockingly at me.

* * * * * * * *

When the meeting had finished, Unah told me: "Now I understand why you were so fed up with Haruna. She really is a jerk. What did you ever do to her?"

"W-well I think...," I hesitated for a moment, embarrassed. "She likes Ausu, and... and I like Ausu so-."

"I see. She's jealous. That's what you're saying isn't it?" Unah asked.

"Yeah. That's what I think at least..."

"I I think you're right," Unah declared. "because there isn't really another explanation, is there?"

"Yeah I guess not..." I admitted.

It felt strange to be talking to my sister like a sister again after so many years, but I like it. It's nice to always always have someone you can talk to. Someone who always has your back. I can consider myself lucky to have her if I do say so myself!