Gone

"I had dreams about you 16 years ago and one day, I found you floating in the river Nechtan in a makeshift boat made of tree branches and leaves and this necklace is with you."

Chieftain Alara pushed the necklace towards Chika and waited for her to say something. They didn't tell her that she was not Alara's real child but Chika started to realize it when she was 10 years old. Her appearance is different from everybody else and they didn't acknowledge her much in the pack.

"Is this from my real parents?" Chika asks with a sad smile while taking the necklace and feeling the coldness of the gem in her hand.

"You knew--"

Chieftain Alara wasn't able to continue her words when Chika nodded her head with a smile.

"I didn't know at first but I did notice after a couple of years. Thank you for taking care of me mother, I appreciate it."

Chika grasp the necklace tightly as she went and hug Alara, feeling her body warmth as they share intimate moments together as mother and daughter.

Days turn to a week, Chika still wasn't able to shift and the news of her failure spread like fire among the pack even though they tried to hush what happened.

Chika didn't mind the gossip surrounding her and goes back to her daily routine while planning her future goals as well. She didn't want to be stuck inside the Clan forever as she wanted to find her parents.

"Hey look, that's the broken wolf that couldn't shift!"

"Why did the chieftain even adopt her, she's useless if she can't shift!"

Multiple insults and sneers are thrown into Chika's back, even though she wanted to snap their necks she can't do it since she didn't want to stain the name of her adopted mother, Chieftain Alara.

"Hey!"

A boy grabbed Chika's shoulder and yanked her backward causing Chika to stumble and fall on the ground as the rest of the werewolves laughed. She calmed herself and stood up while wiping the dirt from her dress.

It wasn't new to Chika that she's been bullied by her fellow young wolves even if her adopted mother is the Chieftain of the Clan. After all, her appearance differs from the rest of the Water Clan wolves, they have different shades of blue eyes and icy colored hair. Making Chika the only one different from the rest of them.

"What do you want?" Chika spoke softly without meeting their eyes.

"Is it true that you're a broken wolf?" A she-wolf taunts Chika as the rest of her group burst laughing. Then that she-wolf went inside Chika's comfort zone and pull her hair downwards so Chika's face will be seen.

"No wonder your real parents throw you away because they didn't want a broken pup as their offspring HAHAHA!"

The she-wolf's saliva splatter over Chika's face which added to the fuel-burning inside her soul especially since she's still sensitive to the news from Chieftain about her history and her failed shifting. No matter how she control herself to prevent any harm to the girl, that was her last straw.

Chika raised her arm with her fist tightly closed together and punch the girl's face in rapid motion causing the she-wolf to fly a couple of meters away and land on a tree and destroy half of the trunk.

What happened shocked everyone that no words came out of their mouths, even Chika is surprised that she can do something like that. She took a step back while watching the other werewolves run towards the she-wolf and check her status.

Chika's breath hitched as her heartbeat gets louder and louder. Fear eats her core as she started running away and went towards her house and grabbed some of her stuff and extra money as the only thing that her brain keeps screaming is that she needs to get away as far as she could or else there will be punishment and most of all, she doesn't want to see the disappointment in her mother's face.

"I'm sorry mother."

***

News about what happened reached Chieftain Alara's ears and the mother of the she-wolf that Chika punched is asking for justice. They all went to the Chieftain's house where Chika was last seen but her scent is fading and there's no sight of her.

"She's gone… my daughter is gone!"