I heard another howl, and I ran to the window to see a pitch black hole of darkness, only dimly illuminated by glow of the stars. I pushed away a branch that hung before my window, its spiky leaves poking the burnt skin on my left hand.

I ignored the pain, squinting, trying to get used to the dark to be able to see what was going on. The ice cold wind blew in my face like small needles piercing my skin. I automatically raised my shoulders, regretting having taken off my leather jacket; my thin cotton shirt was barely bode any protection against the wind. The cold immediately seeped into my skin, sending a shiver throughout my body. My back was being warmed by the fire in the room, the bare skin of my neck and arms feverishly hot.

Suddenly, I saw two small red shimmers in the woods outside the camp borders. Soon, another pair joined the first, which confirmed my theory. The wolves were back. I knew this moment was going to come one way or another–but I didn't expect it to happen so soon.

Winter was yet to come, but it was already freezing. The water basins were covered with a thin layer of ice every morning. Frost coated the leaves of the trees, where water droplets were frozen in place on their way sliding down the dark purple nerves of the leaves. This winter would be harsher than anything we'd ever known. I was frightened of when it would hit, and many others were, too. We were right to be afraid–the forebodes of winter were strong this year.

"Tenna, I'm going to look for your father," Kael said, striding across the room, yanking open the door. "Stay here." He exhaled and stepped through the opening, closing it behind him.

I scoffed. Like he's going to give me orders. I followed him and found Kael leaning against the wall in the hallway.

"Are you ever going to do what you're told?" he asked.

I smiled broadly and stepped past him, crossing half of the hallway before calling out behind me. "You coming?"

"I was waiting for you, you know," he replied, laughing softly before pushing himself off the wall and joining me walking down the dim corridor.

Little did we know that those were the one of the last peaceful moments we had left before all hell broke loose.

* * *

Downstairs, people were frantically rushing around , carrying guns, ammo, swords, daggers and unlit torches. "We have limited ammo! We won't last long!" I heard a voice yell from the living room. As we entered, I saw my dad, Otanec, and Maiya Severink standing face to face, arguing. It looked pretty heated. Maiya's lightly tanned skin was reddened, either from the blazing fire in the fireplace, or the heated words that were being flung between her and my father.

Maiya was about twenty five years old, a fourth generation, and an incredible strategist. She had thick, wavy black hair, tied back with a red bandana, and she was wearing jeans and a sleeveless white linen shirt. Her thick eyebrows were creased, her lips which were pressed together into a thin line which accompanied her frown, and her arms were crossed. Everything about her said 'I'm against this'.

Otanec, on the other hand, looked like he was about to run out and fight the wolves all by himself.

"We have to stand down, Otanec. We cannot win this fight," Maiya said. "These aren't the normal Rifecsa wolves we have in our woods," she said, rolling the 'r' as a sort of growl, "These are Mekayka," she hissed. I saw my father visibly grow paler.

I swallowed. You can't get much worse than those. Mekayka wolves were once Rifecsa wolves, like the one we had encountered in the forest, but were caught, trained and tortured by the Authorities until they were turned into lethal killing machines, heeding nothing and no commands. They kill without reason and without being noticed, slaughtering everything and everyone in their path.

The first Mekayka wolves were 'created' in the last bad winter, over two decades ago. The wolves had butchered nearly all the men, women and children in the Tribe, but the wolves are cunning, so they left a few so they could breed, and provide food for later times. It's twisted and repulsive, but it's the sole reason this Tribe had survived. Sometimes the wolves were so smart, it's horrifying.

That winter had been harsh for the wolves, too; the snow had reached over three metres and water froze the second it touched the open air. The wolves had little food, and, after not being able to take from the Tribe anymore, they started turning on each other. The wolves that had eaten other wolves' flesh and tasted their species' own blood became vicious, and changed into creatures you couldn't call wolves anymore. The first Mekayka roamed the earth. They were ten times worse than a Rifecsa wolf, and those are already cruel and deadly. The Authorities had found out how deadly they could be after they attacked a Authority convey from the Globe, and caught a handful, bringing them inside the Globes. They had studied and trained them, and now they were part of their weaponry.

But, Mekayka wolves don't breed. They have to be made. Authorities take the new born Rifecsa pups and turn them into these hideous... creatures. They are deformed, and, instead of the Rifecsa's black and white eyes, their eyes are blood red. The Authorities sharpen their teeth and their claws, and give them special food to make them stronger. The wolves keep fighting 'till the moment they drop dead. They're even more deadly when they're injured.

If you can call it luck, the Mekayka don't live long, and the Authorities only have a handful because they're unmanageable. They only listen to the electric shocks of taser rods. Unfortunately, we don't have access to them. And, even if we did, they would be useless, because the rods only work if you have the matching ID of the Authority it belongs to. We were helpless against them. We would be slaughtered if we attempted to fight the Mekayka wolves, especially when we were short on ammo and guns. And even then, if there were Mekayka wolves, you could expect Authorities as well—we wouldn't be able to hold ourselves against them for long.

"I am the Leader of the Third Tribe. You listen to me," Otanec said after a moment of silence. "We are surrounded. We have little ammunition. There are–" he swallowed. "—Mekayka on our doorstep and we are outnumbered." He looked at me. "I don't want my family to get hurt. No more. But if we do nothing, everyone will get hurt. So, as commanding officer, I say we fight and protect the ones we love. Gather all you can. I don't care if you tear this house apart, Severink, we have to win this fight." He looked back at Maiya. "Have I made myself clear?"

Maiya nodded. "Yes sir." She saluted, turned around and stalked away, giving out orders and putting the ones which were wandering around at work. Otanec exhaled deeply and leaned against the table, suddenly weary. He dragged a hand over his face in an attempt to pull himself together, so it seemed.

"Tenna..." said Otanec Harver, my foster dad, leader of the Third Tribe, and one of the bravest men I knew, yet I had never seen him this distressed. His eyes were glistening, and it was almost like he was defeated, even before the fight had begun. He held out a hand and I took it, his callused fingers rubbing against mine. It was strange to see the strong man in such a state–but I could see he was trying to hold himself together for the sake of the people around him.

"Tenna–" he said again, folding his other hand over mine, "—I don't want you to fight. Stay here." He smiled faintly and squeezed my small hand, almost hidden in his enormous ones. "For me."

I took a breath to protest, but he held up a hand. "Don't start. I know you want to fight. I can't let you. Not with these monsters outside."

"Bu–"

"I don't want to hear it," he said resolutely. Then he stood up and said: "Don't go outside. Stay with Kael inside in your room or in the basement. The latter is safer, but you can choose for yourself." He hesitated for a moment. "I'll see you when it's all over." He nodded once, as if signalling the end of the conversation, and strode out of the living room, closing the door behind him.

I didn't know what to say. I stared at the closed door. "But... I..." I felt a hand grab mine. Kael. He gave it a little squeeze, almost in reassurance.

"You know, you should listen to your father," he said softly, intertwining our fingers. An unfamiliar warmth spread through my hand where we touched, all the way up to my elbow. That had never happened before. I swallowed, trying to wet my dry throat. Suddenly my head felt too full, like it was stuffed with cotton balls.

"He cannot decide about what I do," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "And by the way, even if..." My voice trailed off, a realisation striking me. "Jaedie!" I exclaimed, turning around to face Kael, my eyes wide. "She's out there!" I whisper-shouted.

I wanted to free myself from Kael's grip but he held my hand tighter. "Tenna, the place is swarmed with Authorities, Rifecsa and Mekayka!" he said hoarsely, "We can't get to her. I'm sorry."

I pressed my eyes shut. "No." This can't be happening.

I shot my eyes wide open when an idea struck me, and I gasped for air. "I have an idea," I breathed out, before bolting away.