Violet

Laura called for a rain check and stayed at home with Indigo. The way they both appeared in front of me made me red as a tomato. They weren't in the right state as they came to say goodbye. The morning was a dirty mess for them.

But Indigo still didn't stop with his instructions as he helped pack my bag. "Don't leave Jane's sight for even a second and be careful with moving around. It isn't as easy as you think it is. Link me every hour. And eat whatever Jane gives you." Laura brought the water bottle from the kitchen and gave it to Indigo. He packed it too as he continued, "why are you taking your camera?" He asked.

"Please! I might get potential sights!" I pouted.

"Fine. Just be careful. You charged it fully?" He asked.

"Yup." I smiled, looking at Laura who stood with her hands on the couch as she leaned on it.

"Learn what Jane teaches you carefully and don't rush anywhere. I know you'll get all excited but just listen to Jane. Don't finish your water in the first go itself. Cap! You didn't take your cap!" He said, rummaging through the bag and then looking at me.

"I'll get it." I ran upstairs and dug through my wardrobe. I found a bucket hat to match my outfit. I was wearing a light green shirt and army pants with the new boots Indigo bought for me.

I went down and Indigo was checking the straps of the bag. "I packed the first aid kit just in case, so let Jane know. Put it on and see." Indigo said, picking up the bag and handing it over to me.

Man it was heavy. He helped me wear it and tightened the straps. Looking back at me he arranged my braid and put the hat on my head, letting the rubber clutch hit my chin.

"Ouch! It hurt." I cried as I hit him and he laughed. Laura laughed as well as she came to stand beside him.

"Link us if you need us, okay." She said, adjusting my shirt. Indigo kissed my forehead and I hugged him. "Jane's here." He said and hugged me tighter.

"I am going to love this trip."

"Jane's going to train you." He said, pulling back.

"Don't ruin it, you!" I made a face and hugged Laura. She kissed my cheek and Indigo went to open the door.

Jane was on the other side dressed 'hiking ready' with a small bag of her own. "Come on, we shouldn't delay." She said, looking at me. "And oh my goddess!" She said, looking at Indigo.

"What?" I asked as I walked to the door.

"Oh you don't want to know what they did this-"

"Okay, off you go!" Indigo pushed Jane away and kissed my cheek as I laughed and walked out. I waved them bye and Indigo only shut the door when I was out of his sight.

We reached the pack house talking and she had bicycles ready for us.

"Oh my god! This is going to be fun!" I jumped and attempted to hug Jane.

Attempted.

"You are not to stop until I say so. Am I clear!" She raised her voice and I nodded, immediately.

I didn't want to get on her wrong side today.

We began as I cycled following Jane. "Pay attention to the path we're taking." She shouted and I gave her a thumbs up. My bicycle had a compass attached to it and from that I could tell we were going north of the pack. I caught sight of a lot of cabins and buildings on my way. The sun had just started to rise. The dark and light hue of its rays were catching me through the gaps in between the trees. We now reached a clear concrete road and we kept going.

Soon I realized the road had turned into a slope and drawing the pedal was getting harder. All my clothes were soaked from my sweat and my hands were sore from clutching the handle tighter. "Jane.." I wheezed as I applied my entire strength to keep pedalling and keep up with her.

"We're close by." was all she said. The meter on my watch read we had covered more than four kilometers.

"How close?" I screamed.

"Tired already." She smirked.

And my ego was back. "Pft! Noooooo." I breathed heavily. "I just.. Wanted to know.." I pedalled moving left and right but did not stop. After about half an hour Jane stopped at a crossroad. I was heaving by now because bicycling on a slope wasn't a piece of cake.

"Good. A five-minute break." She said and sat on the road and began stretching. She looked up at me as I leaned on my cycle. My hands and legs felt like jelly. "By now you should know what a break means in my language."

I ignored her and took out my camera. Moving back to take a picture of her I adjusted myself to the sun rays falling down on her. I made sure the bicycles fit the portrait I was taking. Taking a slow video of her moving her hands above her head as her hair flew with the winds, I felt satisfied with my shot. Checking over I saw the trees glistening in the light and fallen leaves dancing around her.

I quickly took a few shots of her getting up and looking straight at the camera. She looked bold, like a woman in the army. When she started picking up her back pack I ran and put my camera in my bag. Zipping it up I put my backpack on, smiling at her.

"You never listen, do you?" she shook her head with a small smile.

"I am an Alpha. I listen to me more." I winked and took the concrete road.

"Wrong way!" Jane shouted after some time.

Bitch!

I ran back as I glared at her. "You could've said that before."

"I listen to me more!" She mimicked me. I huffed and took the raw road but then I stopped. "Lead the way." She smiled and pulled me with her.

"The place we stopped right now is called Versatile cross." She informed me.

"Who named it?" I asked her, scrunching my eyebrows together.

"It was named by your forefathers. They named it for war strategy. Only the people in the pack know about these names." She pulled out a piece of paper from her bag and opened it. It was the short map of the pack. "The path we are taking will be this one," she pointed at it on the map, "it's called the wolf's den."

That picked up my curiosity.

"And the other one." I asked her, because the name wasn't mentioned on the map.

"It's called the Warrior's High."

"Woah! So if I am a layman, I'd say warriors get high on that road." I laughed nervously.

"No. It's a sacred place in the pack. The ones that are dead are taken there for all the rituals. Each of us may or may not die a warrior's death but each of us who helped make this pack is given utmost respect. Indigo might take you there sometime." she said, closing the map.

I was surprised to know these new things about my pack. "My parents are buried there?" I asked her.

"We don't bury Violet. We burn. When I say sacred place, up ahead that road we have a small stone tomb where their ashes are raised and people do get to visit their loved ones in that way."

"But why burn them?" I asked.

"It's what is believed from the beginning. Burning leaves every part of you into the earth eventually." She shrugged. "We also have a lake up there. Small one but of great importance. Every year the pack goes and prays there, paying respect to the dead. We feast there for a day and spend the time around the lake. We usually go there after all the sports and other activities are completed for the events."

"That is really nice." I said, stunned with the information.

"Isn't it?" She smiled down at me.

"Yeah, and why is this road called the wolf's den?" I asked, curious.

She smiled wider. "Because we will actually see wolf's dens on the way."

I gasped and stopped. "You're kidding right."

"Why would I? Keep walking." She prompted.

"You guys live in houses why do you need den's?"

"Because our wolves have needs. They are animals. Wild animals. Sometimes they need to hibernate, grieve, mate and so on. They want their freedom as much as we want ours."

"I want to live in a den now!" I laughed.

"No." Jane spoiled my happiness.

I gave her a sour face. "We'll see." I said and she laughed, hugging me sideways.

"Indigo's wolf might take you to his den." She said.

"Will he?" I gasped and asked.

"You're his pup." She shrugged.

"You got a den?" I asked her.

"No."

"Why?"

"My wish!" She said and let me go.

I gave her a look but didn't question her further. "It'll only get harder now." Jane said as we reached a bushy area.

She gestured to me with her eyes, "Come on. Use all the techniques I taught you to get through this."

What?!

I stared at her. " I don't know which way to go!" I stomped my feet.

"Make a way yourself then." She said, putting her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes at me.

I hesitated but kept looking around. The greens were a hit in every corner of the place. I closed my eyes and listened carefully. The first thing that came to my mind was a source of water. That was the first survival rule. Jane had taught me that.

I listened very closely but I wasn't able to tell. The ground below was wet and it hadn't rained since night. That meant there had to be a water source nearby, although I wasn't able to hear it. I doubted my assumptions of taking a path to the east. My options were vast yet limited.

So I just went with it.

"We'll go east." I told Jane and she nodded.

"Pick up a stick." She told and picked up one for herself. I looked around and found one too. "You're going to make a map with the help of your compass. Make sure you put details on it as well. Name it as you wish. All you have to do is impress Alistair with your mapping skills so he might teach you a thing or two." She said, now taking out a piece of paper from her bag and passing it to me.

"Pen?" I said, waving the paper in her face.

"That is all you get." She said and looked at her watch. "Time is precious. You'll be punished for every delay. One task, fifteen minutes. Follow your better instinct." She said. I nodded, giving her a tight lipped smile and looked around but I remembered having a pencil in my backpack. I searched and searched until I found one randomly lying at the base of the main chain.

"So we go east." I said walking ahead, while pushing away the bushes in my way. She followed me quietly as I walked without direction. I only knew I was going but where exactly was I going to end, I had no idea.

I used to stop in between, check for creepy-crawly animals or hidden natural clues if any. We crossed fallen trees, small flowing waters and some pathways cleared by the people in the pack. Jane told me, people in the pack do business so they need these paths to travel front and back.

"So you don't work on the business." I asked Jane.

"No, my bills come from training the pack." She winked. "In our family, Villa has a job regarding the business. Otherwise, I and Vicky earn from training and investments."

"Cool!" I nodded, keeping check around. "So you two just wanted to train. You didn't want to do something of your own?" I asked.

"Nope!"

"Seriously, you don't like doing anything else?" I asked.

"Vicky does sometimes. He makes blogs about fitness." she said, softly.

"Man! That is amazing!" I looked at her but she looked elsewhere.

"Listen!" She whispered.

I stood still, diverting my eyes around and focusing on picking up a sound Jane had picked. I heard howls that sent my mind to eternal peace. I closed my eyes and listened as the spirit in me began shining white. I saw myself in front of wolves, howling and singing for me.

All just for me.

"They're going on a run." Jane said, snapping me out of trance. I frowned. That amazing feeling in my heart died just instantly. I wanted to hear them more. "Violet." Jane called again. She had walked ahead of me and was looking over her shoulder.

I pushed that odd feeling off me and continued with my journey. My map had like five words with around twenty small drawings. I had drawn an intersection first from where we had first started. Then I marked the path to warrior's high and Wolf's den. My main path was the one I was taking. I marked every small change on my compass and indicated a drawing at every turn, every unique pattern in the forest.

The five names I had put on the list were Violet in wonderland because at that point I saw way too many small rabbit holes and ofcourse I played Alice's role. Only in my case I was more of a geographer or map maker or whatever that was called.

The second place I mentioned was Jane's paradise. We had taken a five minute break and by that Jane meant I had to look around and find out the most unique looking thing. While I explored, Jane napped under a tree. I slowly without making noise clicked her pictures. Around her were flying pretty yellow butterflies. The foliage gave it a look making her look like a goddess of nature. Her sleeping form was kissed by the rays of sun peeking out from the trees above. Jane was in her own paradise to be honest. Hence the name.

The remaining time I looked around for that thing Jane asked me to look for. What I did find was a small cave. It was stuffed with a lot of clothes put inside a basket.

Did I need to pick out one? So I thought.

I did pick up a green t-shirt that read 'turtle' on it, expecting it to be a sale or a prize for my hard work from Jane. I trotted towards her and she was now sitting upright, leaning against the tree.

"What the hell- why do you have a t-shirt with you?" She said, getting up and making a face.

"Wasn't this the thing you wanted me to find? I thought you wanted to give me a prize. So I picked out one from there. And just so you know, I'm modest because I picked only one! I'm not greedy or anything." I smiled and showed her the t-shirt. "Turtle, how cute right!" I smiled, beaming.

"This is not what I expected you to find! Those clothes are for us to change into when we shift! They're kept there safe from the rain!" She shook her head and paced around.

Oh!

I stared at her and then the t-shirt. "I thought- "

"Why would I give you clothes!" She shouted. I blinked as she shouted at me. "You wasted your time, taking pictures here and there and then you find this!" She said, snatching the t-shirt from my hand.

"I'm sorry." I whispered and held the straps of my bag, running my hands up and down them.

"I wanted you to find this!" She said, pointing at a tree trunk that had a big red mark on it. It had a big A written inside a circle.

I swallowed hard and looked back at her. Fuck, I didn't pay attention to something that was in front of my eyes. I stood dumbstruck as Jane scowled at me. "Look for marks like these, they have sensors on them, hidden. We keep track of other animals in this forested part, plus of the ones that come here as wolves to hunt." She said and I nodded, my stomach coiling at my stupidity.

"I'll pay attention." I said and quickly marked the place on my map.

That was the second place I had marked as important. On our way, I noticed there were several such trees that were marked out, so I kept a count of those. The third place I noted down was a small clearing where there were only bamboo trees around. I named that place 'Bamboooz.' Jane then told me the business our pack does with these bamboos.

The fourth place was unlike other places. We were walking through a cliffside. I took every step with care so that I didn't slip and die. It wasn't a lot so we reached the other side quickly. I named that place, 'Magic on the other side'.

The fifth place I named was, Runway to Heaven, the place we were standing on at the moment. It seemed to me as steps to heaven. On the mountain terrain were raised steps with wooden railings on both sides. The fog was thick, making it look like a movie scene. Trees adored both sides, its branches coming over the stairs like a dome. Birds chirped around happily, creating music that only nature could make.

Jane was calculating her time and deducting my points from her chart. I put down my paper and was writing my map when Indigo linked me.

"Block him." Jane said sternly and I did without a thought. "I don't want you distracted." She said and continued with her work. I pressed my lips together and made a small set of stairs on my paper and named the place. My inner self was screaming at me to take a picture of the place but I had already angered Jane and I didn't want to fuel it.

"Break time. Have your food and water and tend to your wounds." She said as she leaned on the first stair railing. I sat opposite her and took out my first aid box. I had hurt myself when I had fallen over at multiple places. My knees and my face were bruised. There was a huge cut on my hand from one of the huge thorns I didn't see. Jane didn't save me any of those although she saw them. She said, "these are marks to help you remember this place the next time you come here."

So yeah!

I washed my wounds and applied antiseptic cream on them. I drank water and began stuffing the lunch box I had brought with me. Jane kept writing down things until I was finished. When I asked her if she wanted to eat with me she refused. I was done eating and I so badly wanted to click a picture here.

"Jane." I called out, wishing luck was on my side. She looked at me and raised her brow. "Can I take a picture?" I asked, making a small face.

She looked at her watch and then back at me. I stared at her with my hands on my chest, hoping she'd agree. And she did. She nodded once and I quickly dug my camera from my bag.

Moving back I clicked pictures of her leaning against the railing and writing down in a book. She looked like a lost queen. I took several angles and some close ups of hers that were a sight for sore eyes.

But Jane was so damn engrossed in her work, she didn't even lift her head as I took her pictures and videos. I looked around and clicked some pictures for a portrait that would go in my personal art gallery.

No I didn't have a real art gallery but I did have my own work appreciated.

"What's upstairs?" I asked as I packed my camera and put it in my bag.

"Wolf's den." She replied, shutting her book and getting up.

"Oh." I looked up the foggy stairs, an odd feeling settling in my heart.

"Let's go." She said, gesturing her head. I nodded and pulled my bag over my shoulder. It began drizzling as we climbed the stairs. I pulled my hat up and Jane pulled her raincoat out too. Walking through the clouds encircling us, we reached the top.

"Don't make a noise. Be careful." Jane said, as this time she walked ahead of me.

I kept my eyes wide open as my heart picked its pace. My eyes roamed around the place, like I was trying to locate a ghost of some sort. We walked for a while, Jane walking way too close to me. She stopped at once, making me jump back and look for what made her stop. Through the fog I saw a pair of shining eyes staring right at us. It walked ahead and Jane braced herself. So did I. I was not going to get scared. I was an Alpha. I let my fear drown with the falling rain as my spirit rose.

I walked ahead, feeling a light rise in me. I smiled as it made me feel myself, like it was the real me. The wolf in front of me sat down on its own accord as I reached it. Raising my hand over its head, I felt the light seep out of me and travel to the wolf. It closed its eyes, whimpering and dropping its head to the floor, falling into a state of sleep.

I stood up feeling more eyes on me. As I looked around I saw the other wolves walk towards me. They stopped as I smiled and raised a hand, the light flowing in waves to each and every one of them. My heart felt lighter, I felt at ease. They too went into a state of quiet just as the first wolf, whimpering and whining as they did.

I turned around to Jane. Her eyes were wide with surprise, her body unable to move though. "You're going to forget this as we walk ahead." I said and she nodded once.

"Rest peacefully, my wolves. You have a happy life ahead." I said, walking past those wolves, sleeping on the forest floor. Jane was behind me, following like a lost puppy. I could see a lot of dens, small holes carved in trees, and dug up holes. Everything looked so filmy, like it was taken out right from a movie.

"We've crossed-" It was Jane's voice that made me drop to the ground on my knees as I clutched my head. She was beside me the next second. "What's wrong?" She asked.

I began taking small breaths as the pain dissipated. "Violet!" Jane was panicking.

"I'm fine. Just give me a minute." I said and she nodded, taking the water bottle out from her backpack. She helped me take a sip and blew hot breath over my face. "I'm good. It was this sudden shiver that hit right at the center of my head. Maybe it's the cold... maybe." I told her as she now rubbed my arms.

"You sure you're okay? Does this happen everytime?" She asked and I nodded.

"Most of the time. It's the first time since I came here. I've told Laura about it. I think I need to take my meds. I kind of forgot to take them after lunch." I said, scratching my neck. Jane gave me the killer look.

"Sorry." I said as I dug in my bag. I quickly took the pills and the bluish green liquid that was the main ingredient.

"Don't scare me like that." Jane got up and gave me her hand helping me up.

"Aww. you worried for me, my mafia." I punched her hand.

"You have no idea." she muttered under her breath and walked ahead.

"My heart is about to explode!" I laughed, trotting behind her.

We walked for a while after which she gave me time to finish my map. I felt good coming to this part of the forest. The Wolf's den. How wonderful everything works in the pack. I loved being here. It was so different from staying in the city. And of course the wonderful people had grown so close to my heart, I'd die of their love for me.

"Your sense of direction was okayish. I gave you hints and points that actually led you here, Violet. Your head works differently and I appreciate it but it needs to work more practically. For a first timer, you did good. About your time management.." She made a face, "you need to work hard on that. And if you remember that counts for punishments." I nodded, glaring at her.

"About your alertness..." She went on and on until the end of time. Literally!

But I listened to her, learned from my mistakes. She didn't demotivate me or anything. Her words were rather encouraging. Ofcourse she did taunt me here and there because she was Jane but I loved her so I didn't take it to my heart.

We began moving with the sun moving to the opposite side from its rising point. Its five-o-clock shadow falling on the forest was site to be praised. Especially from the mountain side that looked over the entire pack. I marked those points as well. The fact that I wasn't tired gave away that my stamina was increasing greatly. My thick thighs were still rubbing against eachother but I didn't mind. I liked my thick thighs.

We began descending down a cleared path at around six in the evening and I knew we were close to reaching the residential area because I was able to see lights as we came down. I asked Jane if I could take a few pictures on the way and she allowed me to. I made her pose here and there although she kept fussing around. But man my model was a pro and such a natural.

We reached the side of the pack that was more lively than any other places in the pack. It was like a bustling small town with shopping marts, parlors, pubs and cafes and everything that was needed for a normal living. As we walked, people gave me curious glances and some smiled while some waved happily. I did the same, loving the way they acknowledged me. It was so heartwarming. Jane helped me with the introductions of some people that approached us. She then took me to a small snack shop for evening snacks. I ate a whole pizza by myself and wanted to eat more but Jane made me link Indigo and Laura.

They told me they had a whole dinner ready for me so I settled with that one pizza, otherwise I knew I could eat two. We took a car ride home from there. As soon as we reached home, Indigo hugged, his wolf purring. "How was your day?" He asked. Laura just stood staring at me with an unknown expression on her face. She was worried I thought.

"It was amazing! I wanna go again!" I jumped and glanced at Jane who stood leaning on the patio.

"Sure." She chuckled.

"I'm glad you enjoyed." Indigo said, an amusing smile on his face as he glanced at Jane. She shook her head, rolling her eyes.

I looked at Laura when she spoke. "Come on. Get freshened up and then we'll have dinner. Jane stay with us for dinner."

"Um, Luna. I have plans already. I'm sorry." Jane said, giving her a sorry smile.

"No worries. Thankyou for taking care of her." Laura said, her smile small.

"No! She loves me so much." I laughed and jumped to hug Jane. She groaned and said, "I have to report Indigo about your progress today, you know that right."

"Yeah." I looked back and pouted, glaring at her.

She laughed and left, saying she was late. I quickly took a bath and came down to have food. Indigo literally fed me asking me what I did the entire day. I showed him the map which Laura was looking at while Indigo was busy feeding me.

"Violet in Wonderland." She chuckled, taking our attention. "And What's this?" She pointed to my dirty handwriting.

"Jane's paradise." I told with a toothy grin. "I'll show you her pictures when I have them ready. You should have seen her, she looked bomb!" I told them and they exchanged glances, laughing at last.

"Nice names you got here." She said, "eyes? What's that?"

"Hm!" I swallowed hard, excited to tell her. "We got sensors in that part of the forest! It's a funny story actually!" I laughed and told them what stupid scene I had caused and how Jane got angry with me.

They just stared at me.