chapter 2

Thirteen years later

The festival took place every 5 years, much of their histories had been lost so no one remembers why exactly but they did it anyway, here every child from the ages 9-17 where sort of presented to the soul weavers where they would be changed most would shift of course but those who didn't would become something else. They would all get to pick of course which discipline to commit to, everyone had to do something to give back somehow it was the way of nature in a way.

As a child she had wanted to be a metalist, they made all their weapons, they where strong, beautiful and deadly but in her tenth year she was presented and shifted, and killed.

No hands stained as hers where could make beautiful things like they did.

Rue crossed the bustling streets filled with tents that had different aromas and other attractions a tent with beautiful wood work caught her eye but she had a destination in mind already, at was was probably the center of the camp stood a tent a lot bigger than the rest as she drew closer she could already hear the raised voices even with the chaotic noise around her, she sighed and slipped inside

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard" Ethan practically screamed at his father

"The only thing more ridiculous than that is you guys thinking you can actually take the eagles in the finals" Lucas counter screaming almost as loudly as his son

Ethan turned to look at her

"Auntie Rue come listen to this"

"No way you're dragging me into that shit show kid" she said and sat down on the couch it was velvet and soft, the entire room was come how patterned to match

Ethan sat down beside her apparently giving up on the argument

"Where's your mom" she asked him

"I think i saw her down at the lake early, i don't know" he was bouncing his knee brimming with nervous energy

"You okay" She asked

"oh he's fine" Lucas answered "At least till he realizes his team is gonna lose, the he's gonna brawl"

she shot her brother a dirty look

Ethan was sixteen but he'd only just qualified for shifting, she understood his fears the older you get the less likely you are to shift and being the Alpha's son doesn't lessen that pressure people had already started to talk about defective genes and him not making a good Alpha a bit of a stretch in her opinion but the people where scared and when people are scared they do and say stupid things

"You'll be fine okay" she tried to reassure him

"Yeah" He said not looking convinced

"How'd everything go" Lucas asked her

"Good, all the exits are locked tight there are guards set 10 miles into the dead zone each, i did see movement north west from the others but it doesn't seem threatening besides no ones getting in or out tonight" she answered

"Good" he said nodding approvingly

When it had come time to pick an Alpha, Rue knew the position was hers she'd earned no questions, but she also knew the people would never accept her as their leader her history it was too bloody, with her father being one of their enemy packs they called her mother a traitor she should have been killed with her mother before she was even born but somehow the traitor had found her way into the Alpha's bed that's what people said, she didn't know how true it was, but she knew this, these people where many things they where strong, wise, loyal and brave but some prejudice dug in too deep,

in their eyes she would always be too young too woman too dark it want right and dint for a long shot make sense but she would do everything in her power to help them see. So she contended herself with second in command when she knew she'd earned more.

She looked at her watch

"okay lets go get you something to eat, its almost time" she said