Remnant

"Once upon a time, in a deep, deep and dark forest lived a king. His land filled with sorrow and fear, his heart – black as his eyes. It is said, that everyone, who enters his domain, vanishes from existence, disappears from this world, from hearts of kin, from memories of people they lived with, to never be remembered again nor grieved for. He spends his days in a thick, fog filled woods and waits for his next encounter with his prey or something else.

He waits patiently, as death stands by his side, for someone to come, to wake him up from a long slumber, that he have spent half of his life. He knows, that he will rise again, for those who need him."

"For those who need him." All the kids chanted in a whisper simultaneously.

"RRaaRRRR!" a young teacher, called Silver, growled through the whole room, scaring children and making them scream in fright. ?Scared you all?" she laughed.

"Stop, Silver. They won't sleep at night, because of you. They are too small for such scary stories." I said.

"It is not a scary story, but an old tale." Megan – our oldest nanny stepped in.

"Why do we bother to tell them these 'tales'? What can our little pups learn from them? It is just a bunch of lies elders tell us, while we grow up." Silver could not help, but voice her opinion.

Megan sat in her rocking chair, with a book in her lap, but a tale she told came from her memory. When I was young I heard it too. Everybody knows, since they are little, but it is not written anywhere. It is embedded in our memory like a rule to obey. But none of us know a meaning behind it.

"Every tale has a bit of truth in it, Silver.... Miakoda." Megan's pale blue eyes were set on both of us. ?So do this."

"What is it?" I eagerly watched her and waited for Megan's answer.

?I wish you young wolfs to never know it. To never see that day to come." she eyed all of us in a room – me, Silver, and other 20 children.

"Megan... now you are scaring US." Silver said sarcastically.

"You are right, it is just a tale. You don't need to worry about anything, as we are a part of Clawed Moon pack and our Alpha Kodiak always protect us." Megan changed her mood in seconds and we all got our attention back to kids.

I am working in a kindergarten and look out for young pups of our pack. Just some of them. There are a lot more, as our 'family' is a biggest on this side of the country.

Alpha Kodiak's parents and his grandparents have worked hard to make a Clawed Mood pack the strongest and fiercest over many years. Now days, nobody dares to even look in our way, that is to cause trouble. Everyone is afraid to even come close.

I for myself have never experienced any collision with another aggressive werewolf group. Our generation is so lucky to live in piece. Our territory is very big and I live right in it's center. No one gets near us.

My thoughts are interrupted by Silver: ?Are you excited about a mating ball happening this summer?"

Her name fits her perfectly, as her wolf form is pure silvery gray. She is able to shift from a very early age, unlike me. In 21 year time, I have not shifted even once. I start to question myself, if I am able to do it at all? Am I even a werewolf?

I am.

I experience everything else, of what a wolf would feel or sense, but only just that small thing, which is so important to a young wolf, is denied of me. What need to happen in order for me to shift? A world needs to go upside down? I thought sarcastically.

You would think that Silver is my friend, but it is not. We are only working colleagues, nothing else connects us. She is in a group of popular youngsters, and I am not. I do not have talents to show people and I am unable to join them in our werewolf activities – running through the woods, enjoying freedom, play- fighting. All of their activities involves a shifted werewolf. As I am not, they even hardly notice me.

Sometimes I feel like a failure. And her question about a mating ball makes me depressed even more. Do I even have a point to go? I have been attending it for couple of years now, but I still haven't found my mate. It feels the same, like my problem with shifting. Is he even out there? I would expect to meet him, as everybody from our territory is attending a ball every year. Neighboring packs come too and I have not met anyone, who would spark my interest in a way everyone with a mate is describing it.

"Not really." I feel my mood go down.

"Why? You might finally meet him, your true love, your soulmate, your other half." She made a pose of imagination it, her eyes closed as she dreamed about a mate.

"I don't know. Honestly, I think he does not exist."

"Why so pessimistic? Off course he does. Moon goddess have taken care of it. Everybody has his other half somewhere. Have some faith in her."

"I will try."

"You do!" Silver ordered.

I wish we could be closer. She is a nice girl, but outside of work all her attention is on her mates – packmates. I feel kind of lonely.

I look at Silver and feel little bit jealous, but happy for her at the same time. She have found her mate two years ago, even before attending a mating ball. This year will be her first, but.... she don't have to look for her soulmate, as she is already with him.

He is the same age as me and his name is Derek. Same cheerful guy as Silver. She looks so happy, when I see her with him and when she thinks of Derek.

Such a lucky girl.

In one hour my work shift ends and I will be free to go home. I love to spend time in my little log house. It is near the thick woods, isolated from a hustle of this town. Rarely somebody goes there, so all nature is for me alone. I spend hours just walking through that forest, enjoying and feeling every little detail of this 'magical' world. Birds chirping in a tree tops, bees buzzing near colorful spring flowers, sound of twigs snapping under my feet, a dew and slightly chill air in early mornings. I feel it it all, like my senses are heightened just being there. I feel so different, compared to, what I experience in city. Among the traffic of crowds of people, my senses seem to be dulled. I don't know why is that. I have asked some other werewolfs, but none of them experience things that I do. I am so different, like a black sheep I feel here, totally out of place between these people – werewolfs.

Parents of children are slowly coming to pick them up and take them home. Silver is in a hurry to leave and Megan will surely stay behind, as she always takes her time to finish her job.

I walk in to a bathroom to fix my thick brown hair. For a whole day they have been tied up and I can't wait to let them loose. I look at myself and can't help but imagine how my wolf form would look like. Probably generic grey coat or maybe earthly brown, like my hair. I can't wait for that day to come. It will be special.

As I drag my fingers through my wavy locks, I notice few strands of hair on my left temple have changed color to pure white. What is happening? I am sure that I am not so old to get my first grey's. I examine them closer, feeling little bit disturbed. They are not grey, I see, but pure white through all it's length. Felling uneasiness set, I pull them out, one by one, all five of them, in hopes to never see this sight again.

I walked through the woods in a middle of the night. I could not sleep. A strange feeling was overwhelming me - loneliness. I have never felt this way before, so isolated, so forgotten. My life was not so bad to feel these painful emotions. It seemed someone's else's, but how would that be possible to feel a pain of others? The feeling troubled me a lot, so I have decided to take a walk, but venturing out in an opening did not ease this sensation. The full moon was shining bright in the sky. I could hear some other pack mates howling in a distance.

I knew, that a longing does not come from them.

I felt like going insane. I did not understand myself a bit.

Otherwise, night was quiet, no wind made it's way through tree branches, the air was still. At times like these, I get my weird senses heightened. And I have never been able find a reason for them.

Megan's tale intrigued me. The story was the same, but the fine details were different from what I heard, when I was a young pup. I knew, that what she said of every tale containing a bit of truth was correct. I just want to know, what it is in this case. The way she told it was very spooky and mysterious, it honestly scared me little bit, but I wonder which part of it is true and which is just a bluff.

My thoughts have eased a painful feeling of loneliness and I decided to head back home. Only sound that accompanied me was the shuffling of old autumn leaves, remnants of last year. Spring grass was slowly making it's way through them in hopes to reach rays of sun faster. Sometimes the air was still winter chilling, but not tonight. I could finally feel the warmth, that spring have brought. Soon the land will take a color of green and life will be thriving till the next autumn.

My log house sits between the trees, tonight illuminated by moonlight, making it more visible, than in hours of total darkness. It contains only one room, a small kitchen and bathroom. A small size of it, makes it's warmth stay inside for a long time.

I need to sleep, as tomorrow is a new working day for me and a day I will have a good session of questioning Megan. Silver is gone for couple of days, so I won't have to hear her silly comments for me believing the tales of old people.

****

I wake up with a bitter feeling in my heart. Might be an effect of a full moon last night and my emotional turmoil I experienced. I have to brush it off and get ready to take care of pups.

I can't help but feel little bit nervous of what I will hear from Megan. Maybe nothing much, but uneasiness eats me from inside out. I have to calm myself for once.

Megan is already at work, making breakfast for little ones, when they arrive. They get double, as pups have probably gotten their first share at home. Everybody says, it is for them to get stronger.

As I start to help her with cooking, she notices my relentlessness. Megan eyes me and I struggle to hold in my interest for later conversation.

"What's on your mind, Miakoda? I see that you can't hold your tongue in. Spit it out, whatever it is." comes Megan's soothing voice.

"Umm.. I don't want to sound silly, but..... a story you told days ago.... What it is about? I want to know the truth, there must be...."

"If I tell you the whole truth, then you will see my head rolling the next day." her eyes were seriously locked on my piercing blue ones.

"It can't be that serious."

Megan hold her lips tight as her face expression did not change.

"But... Please tell me. I really want to know. I even can't sleep at night thinking about, what you said. I won't tell anyone. I promise." I pleaded.

"Alright. But.... I won't tell all of it. I am not allowed."

"It's fine. Just little bit is enough." my eyes gleamed with excitement.

"I won't tell you who is a king and why he is the way he is. The truth is.... a forest does exist and it is filled with death. Anyone who enters it, never comes back. It is forbidden for us to venture to that part of our pack territory by our Alpha."

"That's some scary stuff. Have someone been punished for entering that forest?"

"No one, because no one ever returns."

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat, realizing that kind of place exist. And why is that our Alpha keeps it a secret from us?

"Where is it?"

"Far north. The swamps of cypress ...."

"It... I think it is not our land anymore, am I right?"

"It is. But it belongs to....." Megan suddenly shut herself off.

"Whom?" I dropped everything from my hands.

"It belongs to that 'king' who lives there...."

"Who is he?"

"Stop Miakoda. I have told you more than enough. If this gets out, I will have a hell to pay. Never mention this to anyone, understand?" Her strict hidden persona came out and I knew better to obey. After all, she was higher ranking than me.

"I am sorry, Megan. I did not mean to push you for this matter."

I decided to keep myself quiet and not bother her anymore. This 'story' seemed to be a serious matter. I should forget about it, erase it from my memory. I don't want to get in trouble and face our pack leader.

"Forget it. Better get back to work."

I did as she said and continued with preparing breakfast.

****

Silver have come back earlier, than she planned. I met her on a street and she seemed to be happier than ever and happy to even see me. It surprised me, but I made myself to not pay so much attention to such a small matter.

"Hey, Miakoda. I have news for you! Do you want to hear them?"

"Uhmm... sure. What is it?"

"I have decided that you need to spend some time with other wolfs, you seem to be very lonely. I think that is, what you need. So, in that matter, I want you to join us – me and my friends, for a hiking trip."

"That's sounds great, but I think I will just slow you all down on the way. You know I can't shift, right?"

"There is no need for that. We all will do the trip in our human form. It will be a chalenge for all of us." Silver smiled.

"And where do we go?"

"It is a secret. We will tell you after you will agree to come. Deal?"

"Uhmm... I don't know about that..."

"Come on. It will be fun! Trust me. You need it."

"Ok. And when we go?"

"In two weeks. It will be a long trip, so we need to get ready. You too."

"If you say so. ...."

"See you later, Miakoda!" Silver waved me goodby.

I could not believe, that from all people she chose me to accompany her on a trip. And there will be more, more young wolfs from our pack, but how many and who? I know that Derek, her mate will come and some of her other friends.

I could feel my mood getting brighter receiving this kind of news. It is been long time I engaged in fun activities with others. Finally I might find some friends.

Just one thought troubles my mind – where are we going? Why Silver is keeping it a secret?

I have packed my bag full with things needed for a trip. Some spare clothes, little bit of food – I am sure we will be able to get more on the way. In case, I have grabbed a pocketknife and a lighter, for extreme situations. Also I have stuffed my sleeping bag in the little space I had left. The night temperature is still quite chilling. I am sure, that others can avoid it by shifting in to their wolf form and getting a warmth from their thick coats, but for me, I have to camp in the old way, like normal humans.

Silver is waiting for me on the edge of the town, north side. I feel little excited about this event, I know it will be fun. With Silver it is never boring, she can lighten mood of everybody around her.

I can see her from afar next to some older buildings near the forest.Some other werewolfs have gathered already. I can spot around ten of them already and I feel like I am being late, but taking a look in my watch I see, that I am not.

"Hey Silver!" I wave at her.

"Miakoda! I am surprised you came at all! You will not regret by joining us." Silver was hanging on to Derek, as she spoke to me.

I looked at others who came and recognized only few faces, all others were new to me. Minutes later five more appeared, between them was Alpha's relative Rogue – a weird name I think. I have spotted him in a city before, but have never been so close to him. Like everybody from a family of our leader, he is gifted with strong confidence and leadership and I am sure he will lead us in this trip. I cannot see anybody else capable of doing this, from a looks of it.

His black hair are neatly styled, his jaw – shaved clean and smooth, his clothes black as well. Rogue does not look like he is going on a hiking trip, but rather to one of his home parties. He eyes all of us, who have come, taking his time to inspect each individual. His green eyes land on me and I feel his stare is burning holes in my skull. Being the lowest ranking in this group, I cannot take a pressure anymore and avert my gaze on the gravel beneath my feet. I have never been in a presence of so high ranking wolf before. He is not an alpha. But.... I don't want to know, how being near Kodiak feels, from now on. I would not be able to take a pressure and would run with my tail between my legs just by a glance given me.

I can see, he is not fully OK with me being here, his stares my way tells so.

"Alright.... everybody here?" Rougue shouted over us. "Then lets head out."

I still didn't have any idea where we are going. For past few weeks Silver kept it away from me as a big secret.

"Silver?" I whispered and run up to her with tiny steps. "Where are we going?"

"How the hell I know?" she looked at me quetionably. "I don't know myself."

"But I thought you....."

Silver's face showed, that she said truth.

"Only Rogue knows. He suppose to tell us later."

"OK."

I did not want to go and bother Rogue with my questions, but I felt like we all are following him like blind sheep. No one knows where our hiking trip will lead, only he does.

***

We have been walking for half a day and my legs are starting to go numb. I don't feel strength in them. In a wolf form we would cover the distance much faster. Wouldn't it be easier to shift and leave me behind? I am sure they would be fine without my company. Only ones that cared about me in this group were Silver and Derek.

"Hey! Lets stop and have a break. I am sure some of us are tired." Rogue's eyes landed on me again.

I am sure this guy hates me, by the looks he gives me. I did not feel comfortable even being here with this group. I started to think maybe to go back home.

We set up a small camp and rested for a while. Some of us turned and made a run through the pine forest surrounding us. It smelled nice, so fresh. Rain have fallen recently, leaving the trees filled with droplets of water. Rogue was not here, so it made my rest more relaxing.

One of guys came up to me and handed freshly cooked scewered rabbit meat. I guess they have hunted them down themselves, while enjoying their freedom.

He had blond, loosely curled hair, his eyes blue and a smile to die for. As I was sitting on the ground, his tall form loomed over me, but not in threatening way.

"Do you mind if I sit beside you?" he spoke.

I shook my head and gestured him that it is OK with me.

"What's your name? I haven't seen you around...... I am Jeff....Jeffrey for short." and he flashed his kind smile.

"Miakoda." I replied shyly.

"Ohhh.... a special name have been given to you."

"Special?"

"Don't you know what it means?

"No..."

"In old language it means 'power of the moon'. Our Alpha has the same kind of name taken from our old language.... K.O.D.I.A.K." Jeff made a accent on each letter he spelled.

"Uhmm. Sorry! I am not familiar with the old language." I felt completely stupid in front of him.

"I know you are not. Only high ranking werewolfs have a priviledge of knowing it."

"So... you are....."

"I am comander Alexander's son."

"That's pretty high ranking...."

"It is, but I really don't care about the ranks in our pack. It is... annoying... that everything in your life is dictated by your rank."

"Does it?"

"Ahhh... You probably don't experience it so much, as you are an omega. We, who are on the top, have so many rules and customs to follow.... Sometimes I wish to be unnoticed, plain omega. Easy life."

"It is not easy....."

"Hey! Jeff! Be careful. Her mate might tear your head off, if you are thinking to spend whole night with her!" Rogue shouted at my companion, while returning to a camp site. Somehow I got a feeling he have discovered about my unlucky search for a mate and now is trying to mock me in front of everyone.

"Shut up, Rogue!" Jeff barked back. "Mate? Do you have one?"

"N..No... I don't. I haven't found him yet....."

"I am sure he is somewhere out there, just waiting for you."

"I am not so sure.... if he would...."

"Now, everybody, listen up!" Rogue 'barked' standing in a middle of our camp site. I could not finish the sentence, as Jeff's eyes and others were straight focused on him. "I have some things to tell you all - it is about our destination. It will be a long, long way and we will have to be tough enough to last."

There was a long pause and silence filled the air, no one talked. We all were waiting for a secret to be revealed.

"We are heading north to cypress swamps." Rogue finally said.

No one said a word. I could see some other mates sharing questioning glances, but Jeff's stare was set hard on our leader in front of us.

"Are you totally out of your mind, Rogue?" Jeff finally spoke." That place is off limits. It is an order from Kodiak.

"And do you know why?" Rogue gave back.

"No."

"Don't you want to know why?"

"What are you guys talking about? I doubt that a swamp can be so dangerous, that we can't even step in it. We are werewolfs!" some other guy spoke.

"Yeah...yeah!" other voices joined the conversation.

"Shut up you all. It is not a joke! That place is holds more danger, that anything we have seen in this life. No one ...... have ever returned from there." my new friend tried to convince others to change their minds.

"Jeff, it is just a rumor, a tale older wolfs tell us in order to keep us in boundaries of our territory. Nothing of it is real, believe me. We will go there and show everybody else in our pack, that nothing lives there. Might be some wild animals, maybe wild wolfs, but I hardly doubt anything bigger and scarier than that." Rogue spoke confidently and I saw others taking his side.

Jeff was visibly having a battle in his mind, to go or not.

I started to doubt the decisions Rogue have made. Remembering what Megan told me about this silly tale, made my skin crawl. She said, that things happening in that swamp were real. And I am sure that Alpha keeps it in secret for a good reason.

I don't know what to do now. Do I go or turn back home? Or is it really just an old useless tale, that holds nothing, just imaginary monsters?