— •⚡️ Isabella ⚡️• —

Sunlight shines down, filtering through the trees above my head, casting down onto the gravelly soil that rests beneath my paws.

It warms the ground with kisses of light. Opening my eyes, I am revealed to the true beauty these woods hold. I've never been out this early before, so never got to appreciate the natural glow it contains.

Standing up from my comfortable position, I stretch out, swinging forwards then back. Yawning as I do so.

Athena?
What's the plan for today?

Hmm, we could go for a run? Maybe chase some deer?

I can practically feel her lick her lips at the excitement of an opportunity to hunt. Her first hunt. My first hunt.

Yeah, you smell anything close?

Taking a deep breath of air. My ears prick up and my legs tense. My body is ready for the hunt before my mind has even woken up properly.

The wind is blowing in my direction, meaning the stag won't smell me, perfect. Always stay downwind of your prey, no matter what animal you are. It's the first rule of hunting; to stay undetected for as long as possible.

Eyes trained on the prey in front of me. A stag, lazily munching on the grass.

Normally you see stag surrounded by his females, alert and ready to protect against any rival males. But not this stag. It's either injured, old or was unlucky in finding females to mate with.

I creep forwards, trying to get as close as I can, for wolves are better with running long distance due to high stamina, we can't outrun our prey but we can tire them. Getting as close as possible ensures I have a higher chance of making the kill.

When I get closer, about twenty yards away, the stag raises its magnificent head and looks about warily. I drop to my hackles, belly scraping the ground. I can't let it see me now.

When it leans back down and begins grazing on the grass that glows in the morning light, I stalk forwards, slower than before, I can't mess this up.

But the wind changes, whipping around my head, blowing my scent towards the unknowing stag.

It lets out a snort and twists around, galloping off towards the trees.

I might not be as fast as the stag; it slowly getting further away, becoming a distant shadow in the distance, but I can chase it, so I do.

I'm hungry and I'm not about to let my food get away.

I growl, letting out a howl that signals to other wolves the hunt is starting and that they are not invited, this is my kill.

Ready Athena?

Girl, I was born ready. Let's catch us some lunch.

I lick my lips happily as we run.

My paws beating at the soil, as my claws extend then retract, scratching the dirt beneath me. The constant thump creating a beat my body moves to.

The shadow of the stag as it tries to weave its way between the trees gets larger. I'm getting closer.

The beating of its own hooves creating a drum-like noise. I push on forwards until the sounds of the chase become one, harmonizing into a beautiful melody.

The thumping of the paws, the clatter of hooves, growls of the wolf and the tiring pants of the stag, mixed into a cocktail of excitement.

My first hunt.

Our first hunt.

I'm about to jump onto the stags rear end when I'm distracted by the call of wolves.

No! This is my kill. I growl at the thought of them taking my hard work. Speeding up my gait, I leap onto the stag and it desperately works, wriggling, twisting and turning to get me off it.

I dig in my claws, sink in my teeth and don't let go.

This is my kill!

It slows down and eventually tires, falling to the floor in my jaws. I move round to its neck and sink my teeth in. Blood oozing into my mouth, the metallic taste a foreign thing to my mouth.

It lets out a strangled cry and goes limp.

I did it! I had my first kill!!

Yeah, I thought we'd lost it for a second then. But you managed to get it back, well done.

You helped too, it was great wasn't it?

Girl, that was all you, your instinct took over and you made sure you got your kill.

Well, what are we waiting for? Tuck in.

She just giggles and we begin to eat.

The meat is warm and tender in my mouth, the metallic taste mixing with the full flavoursome taste of the meat in a mixture that has my tastebuds dancing.

This is so good!

I can hear the calls of the wolves getting closer by the second.

My kill!

Athena, it's my kill! They better not try and take it.

Girl chill out, it will all be fine.

Okay.

I turn my attention back to delicious meat and begin eating again.

But someone decided to interrupt me.

I hate it when people interrupt me.

I growl out a warning.

And I hear one back.

A challenge? For the kill. I'm down.

Get ready Athena.

I look up the hedgerow in front of me. It's right behind the hedge. I growl again, giving it a chance to decline and run away.

But it doesn't. Instead, I hear the same challenging growl as before. A white wolf with red paws jumps out from behind the hedge.

The wolf is fairly small, with golden glistening eyes. Eyes made from honey that hold the many stars of the sky in them. But I notice they void of anything warm. Cold honey that drips slowly into her soul. The only emotions visible are that of hurt and betrayal. I wonder if she's gone through something like me?

A look of loneliness flashes in her eyes but she notices the stag not far behind me. She licks her lips and darts forwards, in an attempt to reach the kill.

Oh no, you don't.

I bite the wolf's ankles dragging it down. She twists in my grip, clawing at my face, trying to get her leg out of my mouth.

I let a growl escape my lips.

The wolf stops moving, stops all movie time. I'm not letting my guard down yet. I growl again, biting a little harder. No movement.

I let go completely and the white wolf darts into the trees, towards the left of my kill.

Huh?

Technically the challenge isn't over as the wolf didn't submit fully, but I don't mind. There's something about the look in her eyes that had me wondering, the same look of hurt, betrayal and loneliness that I see in my own.

You did the right thing, there's something about her.

Yeah.

I look the left where she ran and I see a flash of white before it disappears.

The faint howl of wolves I heard before is getting louder, closer, the thundering boom of them tearing up the forest floor, all to get to me and my kill.

They barge through the undergrowth and stop at the edge of the small clearing I'm in.

There are three wolves. A large sandy brown wolf stands in the middle. With those chocolate honey eyes that seem so familiar. To the left of honey-eyes is a jet black wolf with the same golden eyes as the white one earlier, but without the stars and without the raw emotion. The last wolf, the one to the right of honey-eyes is a smaller wolf, dusty red in colour with emerald green eyes, that I can feel burning into my soul.

I let out a growl and stand tall.

I see them wince at the growl, and their wolves begin to shake, all but honey-eyes. No, he looks at me with realisation. Huh?

Turning my attention to the black wolf, let's call him blackie, the only emotion visible to me is a look of sheer determination, as if I'm a challenge to be won, a trophy to take home.

That's because we are.

Athena? How can they not sense the powerful aura?

They must be, look at them they're fighting their instincts, look at the way their wolves legs shake, they're eyes hold a hidden uncertainty, they're trying to resist the power we hold.
But maybe the stag masks it, it's quite a strong smell.

Maybe.

They step forward towards me. I let out a growl, a growl telling them to stop, daring them to step forth and meet their death, a challenge they won't want to accept.

But they do.

Honey-eyes does anyway.

I glare at him but then smirk. I know that I'm strong, but I don't know how strong.

Blackie and Red both send him a warning growl but don't accept the challenge.

If they came from the same pack they would have no choice but to help, packs rules.

So looks like it's just me and good old honey-eyes. I prick my ears forwards, tensing my muscles as I do so. He does the same. I take a step to the left and we begin to circle each other, sizing each other up and predicting the others first move. But he doesn't make a move.

Looks like I'm gonna have to make the first move.

I dart forwards pulling his ankles as I pass. He wasn't expecting it and falls to the ground. I bet he was expecting me to lunge for him. No, wolves have stamina, I want to wear him out, get him annoyed, then the real fight can begin.

He scrambles to his paws and whips around to where he expected me to be. But I'm not there I'm behind him, waiting. When he turns back around to face me, I swipe at his face then jump back. He snaps his teeth at me, attempting to grab my neck.

I smirk at his attempts, but he must have noticed because he lunges forwards tackling me to the ground.

You should never celebrate victory until the opponent submits.

I know. I growl at her in a low tone.

Don't growl at me.

You're not helping me.

I snarl and kick up with my legs, sending honey-eyes flying into a tree trunk. Wow guess I am pretty powerful.

Focus.

Honey-eyes lets out a strangled snarl and lunges for me. I try to move out of the way but for some reason my body doesn't respond.

My paws give way beneath me as the large wolf crashes into me, sending us into a tumbling, rolling, struggling mess on the floor, as we try writhe out off each other's grip.

I notice that Red and Blackie haven't let so much as a growl or yelp slip during this fight. Wussies.

But honey-eyes does. He shoves my back into the ground and I squirm under his intense glare. Those beautiful eyes are sharp and cunning now, as they pierce my soul, trying to piece me together.

The long eye contact breaks only for me to feel warm breath fan over my neck, his teeth scrape my skin in warning.

Submit!

A loud husky voice fills my mind.

Athena?

That was his wolf, he wants you to submit, if you don't he will kill you.

Can you not do anything? I will not submit to him.

I can try.

And with that I feel myself slowly loose vision and all feeling of my body.

I'm guessing this is what Athena meant when she said that we can both take over both forms. I'm guessing I've been pushed back?

Yeah.

Does he know it's you yet?

He will soon.

Athena lets out a growl, the trees shake and the ground trembles, water falls into a stilled silence, everything seems to stop.

Honey-eyes freezes, draws away from us as if we just told him we have a world spread deadly disease.

He stands staring at me in shock, like I just turned his whole world upside down in a single second. He shakes, whilst growling lowly in frustration, trying to shake the thoughts he is having off, onto the floor beneath his feet.

We stand our ground. Staring him down, daring him to take even one step closer.

I can see the hesitation flash in his eyes. A moment of weakness. A flash of regret.

His eyes shine bright with determination, but beneath I can see the clouds of doubt swirl.

He steps forwards, hackles raised, shoulders straight, head straight, his eyes again trying to piece together the strength in which I am.

Athena lets out a growl, a loud and ferocious growl that even has me trembling.

He instantly lies down, rolling over and showing his neck in submission.

She steps forwards, crouching down beside him and licks his cheek?

Why'd you do that?

Just felt right.

Okay.

We get up and sprint away.

Behind I can hear him let out a slight whimper at the sight of seeing us flee.

We could have taken them all down, but I don't want to fight right now, I need to figure out where I'm heading. Because I have no clue where I am.

Athena?

I'm just as lost as you, girl.

Great.

We pelt through the forest, before slowing to a trot, and eventually a walk.

Stopping at a small stream, we crouch down to drink. Chills run along my spine when my tongue come into contact with the icy liquid. Then, a satisfactory refreshment begins to flood my entire body as we drink.

That was the nicest water I've had in a long time.

I know.

Wanna find somewhere to sleep for the night?

Sure.

As we settle down I feel myself regain full feeling and conscious of my body.

Tucking, my head round into my side, I drift off into one of the most peaceful sleeps I've had in a while.

— • 🔐 Lucas 🔐 • —

Restless.

That's what I would use to describe my wolf right now.

It wants Bella, wants to hold her, see her smile, but most of all just wants her to safe. She could be anywhere, and what if some rogue wolf has attacked her? What if she's been kidnapped? What if she couldn't hunt and is slowly starving to death?

My wolf whimpers at my thoughts.

Sorry Zafen.

It's okay. He manages to whine out. I just really want her back, we messed up big time Lucas.

I know, I know, it's gonna be okay. Hey why don't we go look for her, none of the patrols will help us but we can look ourselves?

He instantly perks up.

Yes! Yes! Let's do that!

I can feel him wagging his tail and jumping around in excitement.

Can you stop jumping about, I can feel it in my head and I already have a headache from worrying.

Sorry, sorry, I'm just excited.

Ik but can you use that excitement later on when we look for her, rather than now in my head?

Okayyyyy.

Zafen?

Yea.

If a wolf wags his tail too much, will it fall off?

Oh shut up.

Love you too Wolfie.

I'm just met with a shallow growl. It's just so easy to wind him up.

Another growl. I try not to laugh.

Nope, couldn't hold it in, I burst out laughing and soon Wolfie was too.

We rolled and tumbled on the ground, sprawled out laughing until we couldn't breathe.

Slowly my body jerked and shook, my skin carefully being pierced by razor sharp claws, daggers of black steal that could skin a rabbit alive. All the pores in my body trembled as skin dared to grow, pushing past the prison in which they are held.

I let out a yelp as my spine twisted, bones readjusted themselves into new positions. Finally we had shifted fully and lay panting on the floor.

Why did it hurt so much this time?

I don't know.

Anyways, you strong enough to stand yet?

In response Zafen jolts up and begins sprinting into the woods.

Well then... guess that answers my question.

Let's find Bella.

Agreed.

Wait... did you just agree with me? You never agree with me.

Shut up! You're wasting time.

You're such a grouchy ass.

I just growl.

Find her.

Word count [2781]

Who do you think those wolves are? The three wolves and the little white wolf? Are they important? Are they rogues? Are they camp members? Has Bella already met them before. Hehe you'll have to keep reading to find out 🙈

Do you think Lucas will find Bella?

- Bri xox