~Burdon~

When we were covered by the trees-and saw no one was around-we shifted into wolves.
This is so much fun, I said with my mind, to Malhaw since we can't talk when we're wolves.
Of course it is, said Malhaw.
We heard a deer, and we started to hunt the deer. We were about to take leap at the deer, when we heard something else. Sniffing the air, I smelled something that was not good: Razlks!
Razlks! warned Malhaw.
I know. What are they doing here?
How should I know? I saw Malhaw put his nose to the air and he sniffed the air.
What is it?
Father?! asked Malhaw, surprised, through it wasn't really directly at me. Then, suddenly, Malhaw started running. I ran after him.
Malhaw, what's wrong?! I demanded.
Father... Razlks... Danger! yelled Malhaw. Then, came into view, was Father and the Razlks. From our hiding place, we heard one of the Razlks laugh. Another Razlks slapped our Father. Father must of seen Malhaw and sent him a message because Malhaw snarled, but made no noise. Malhaw looked real angry; he crouched like he was going to attack, but he didn't. I did the same thing.
Don't attack, warned Malhaw, grumpily.
Why? I asked.
Because Father ordered us not to, said Malhaw, angrily. The Razlks kept on beating up our, so it was 'kinda hard' not to charge in, and attack. Father was on his knees now.
Now?! I asked, impatiently.
I wish, said Malhaw, who was also waiting impatiently.
Some minutes later-or what felt like it-I asked, impatiently, Now?! Malhaw shook his head. What did Father tell you?
Stay put and wait for the moment they least expect us to attack.
Why would he say that?
Why don't you asked him?! snapped Malhaw.
Don't snap at me! I snarled.
Fine, said Malhaw, moodily.
Just then we saw the Razlks moving Father's limp body. A noise came from behind us. We turned and saw a Razlk behind us. The Razlk's arms were outstretched.
"Hi, wolfies. Want to go for a ride?" asked the Razlk, mischievous. Malhaw and I snarled and growled at him. Another snap from behind. I swirled around to see there was another Razlk.
While I was distracted, the Razlk from behind covered me with a net. I, honestly, tried to get out that tangled mess, but it was totally useless. Every time I pulled on the net, it just grew tighter. Nothing worked. It would totally help if I turn back into a human, but for some strange, unknown reason, I couldn't. I couldn't do one of the simplest thing known to werewolves: shifting back into a human. After they captured Malhaw-it took them a while, since he had experience with this kind of situation, and I didn't-the Razlk picked us up, carried us to some sort a wagon.

∞

After a hour-or so-of being crammed in a net, the Razlk finally came to a stop. The Razlks, opened the door, hauling us off the vehicle, and into a cabin. The Razlks did something rather surprising, and stupid: they were going to let Malhaw and I out of our nets.
"Okay. We'll let you out if you don't hurt us. Remember: you don't hurt us, and we won't hurt you."
Once we were able to untangled ourselves from the nets-the Razlks were hardly any help with that-we heard our father say, above us, "Aeri, Malo, shift back now."
We looked up to see our father standing above us. Our Father waited a few minutes before ordering us again, "Shift back now." Malhaw shifted back first, and then so did I. Father crouched beside down besides us. "The Razlks agreed to help us if we help them overthrow King Jazer, and if Aeri becomes a dragonrider-they will help Aeri train." Malhaw and I were so surprised that a library of books couldn't be begin to explain how surprised we were.
"And you agreed to that?" I asked.
"Agreed? It was my idea."
"Your idea?!" I asked, not sure if I heard right.
"Yes, it was my idea." At my shocked look he said, "It was that, or we die."
"Still you should've said something like, oh, I don't know, let us go!" snapped Malhaw.
"If I had said that, then they would've killed us anyway," snapped Father.
"Enemies don't work together very well," I mumbled.
Father must of heard me because he said, strangely calm, "Let me tell you something, Aeri, about the time when werewolves of Anjustlia and Razlks were actually friends." Malhaw moaned, as if he heard this story before-probably has. "When I was a pup, before I got my werewolf powers, we were actually friends with the Razlks. But when the war started between King Jazer and the Dragonriders, the Razlks went to King Jazer for protection. He agreed to protect them if they kill off the ones helping the Dragonriders, they agreed.
"One of my best friends was a Razlk. He came to asked me if I wanted to help them destroy the Dragonriders; I, of course, said no. Later on he and the others Razlks found out we sided with the Dragonriders. Then there was a battle: us against the Razlks. I end up fighting my best friend. I couldn't see him die. So when we were fighting, when I saw the opportunity, and I bit him. Then I took him back home with me. He was angry at first, but then he realized I didn't want him to die, so he forgave me. Then we back to being best friends, but werewolves of Anjustlia and the Razlks were not friends in the end after the battle-enemies in fact-as you already know."
"Why do they want to overthrow King Jazer then?" I asked.
"He stopped protecting them."
"Who's your best friend?"
"His name is Hastings." At my shocked expression he said, "Yes, Allmas's father is my best friend."
"So, Allmas is half werewolf half Razlk?" I asked, just to make sure. My Father nodded. "Does Allmas know?"
"Yes. I said he could tell you if he wanted to, he probably almost did many times."
"And why didn't you tell me this before?" I demanded. I've been friends with a Razlk this entire time! How could someone not of told me before?! I could not have noticed?!
"I thought he told you already, I didn't see a point in telling you again when you already knew."
"So. When do we start the training with the Razlks?" asked Malhaw, changing the subject before my father and I are at each other's throats, again.
Father just shrugged, saying, "Maybe tomorrow. Oh. No snarling, growling, show any fangs, attacking, et cetera, et cetera." Looking at Malhaw he said, "That includes physical or mentally. Try to be friends with them."
"Try to be friends with the Razlks?!" asked Malhaw, making a face. Father and I, both, started laughing. "What?" asked Malhaw, confused and why we were laughing.
"You should see your face," said Father, still laughing. Malhaw shook his head, but he was smiling.
Then noticed Nlof walking over. Malhaw started growling. I almost growled myself. Father looked at Malhaw in a way that said, 'No growling.'
Nlof crouched next down to us, and he was smiling. "Hi, Karlag," said Nlof.
Father smiled back at him, saying, "Hi, Nolf."
Malhaw and I looked at them in surprised, and if the world had gone mad-well... it is indeed going mad.
Nlof and Father asked, "What?" When neither Malhaw or I respond they said, "Hello?" waving a hand in front of our faces.
You aren't supposed to tell anyone your real name unless someone finds out you're a werewolf-which people usually kill you, or tortured you when they find out you're a werewolf, I thought, bewildered.
My Father bumped Nlof with his elbow to get his attention, "I think they're wondering why you know my real name."
"Oh. Now that makes sense. Do you think they're wondering why you know my real name?"
"Your real name and fake name are very simpler."
"Um... so how do you know our Father's real name?" asked Malhaw-the first one who came out of the 'shock trance.'
"Uh...," said Father, thinking. "Nlof is half Razlk."
"Let me guess, he's half werewolf too," I said, being sarcastic.
"That's ridiculous, he's too pale to be a werewolf-even half werewolf."
"Malhaw's right. Nlof is half day-vampire."
"Half day-vampire?!" I exclaimed.
Nlof turned his head to look at my Father. "So I'm guessing he doesn't like vampires." "He was almost killed by a day-vampire when he was a baby," explained Father. Which it irked me that Father would tell him something like that, and Nlof made the 'Ah' expression.
"Are you going to tell us how he knows your real name?"
"Um... I was hunting one day, when I was around twenty years old, I wasn't paying attention and... a vampire bit me. I was laying there, in pain, aware that I was turning from a werewolf to a wolf.
"Then Nlof came along and asked me what was wrong; he saw me shifting and asked if I was a werewolf. I said I wouldn't be if I didn't get the venom out of me. Turned out he was half day-vampire. So he sucked the venom out of me and we told each other our real name. So Nlof and I are like you and Malhaw." Nlof was about to asked a question, but Father answered it before he could, "Malhaw was the vampire that sucked out the venom out of him."
"So you have a son that is half day-vampire and a son that was bitten by a vampire, but the venom was sucked out? Am I right?" asked Nlof.
"Yep. So did you just come over here to asked me that?" asked Father.
"No, actually I was going to tell and asked you something," said Nlof, pulling Father aside.
Malhaw crossed his arms and he snarled. I wanted to snarl, but didn't. I might've of accidentally growled. What is he saying to Father? I want to know what they are saying. They are talking for forever. Come on stop talking.
Then, after a while, they stopped talking, Nlof and Father parted ways. Nlof went over to his people. Father walked over to Malhaw and I. "Come with me Aeri and Malo," said Father, walking away. We started walking behind Father.
"What did he say to you, Father?" asked Malhaw.
Without turning around or stopping, Father said, "That is none of your business, Malo." "Where are we going?"
"We're going to our bedrooms."
"We're staying here?"
"Yes, I thought I made that clear."
"I have a question," said Malhaw. "Do you hate me, or something?"
"Why would you think that I hate you?"
"You have us staying here with the Razlks."
"Let's just go to bed," said Father, opening the door in front of him. He waved Malhaw and I in. Malhaw walked in first, then I walked in. Inside there were three beds in the room and three night stands next to the beds. Father moved to one of the beds and put his stuff down next to the bed. When he noticed that Malhaw and I haven't moved, he said, "Come on. Pick a bed, and put your stuff down, then do whatever you want to do." Malhaw and I still didn't move. "Pick out a bed, and put your stuff down now," ordered Father, with a bit of a growl.
Malhaw said something under his breath. Malhaw walked forward and choose a bed. I chose one of bed, and sat down on the bed. Taking my weapon off-not all of them, just the obvious ones-and my bags, I placed them the ground beside my bed. I laid down, exhausted.
"Tired?" asked my Father.
"Yes," I said. Tired of all the secrets you've been keeping from me.
"Well, I'm going for a-" started Malhaw.
"I'll go with you, I don't want you hunting alone."
"I'm going for a bite." Meaning: He's going to make tomato juice-or cranberry juice-and he's going to trick himself into thinking it's blood.
"Fine, but don't cause any trouble."
"'Kay, but since when am I the troublemaker? You should be talking to Aeri about that."
"Hey! I heard that!"
Ignoring my comment Father said, "Good."
Malhaw left the room soon after that. I started to fall asleep when someone-or something-made a noise. I opened my eyes. I looked around the room. Father was no longer in the room and Malhaw came in through the door-he had some red stuff dripping down his chin, probably the fake blood he made. "How was your nap?" asked Malhaw.
"Fine. I didn't get any before you came in. How was your bite?"
"Very delicious, I made very delicious 'blood.'"
"Good." Malhaw looked around, as if looking for something. "Malo?"
"What?"
"You got some 'blood' dripping down your chin," I said, motioning where the 'blood' was. "Oh, thanks," said Malhaw, wiping the 'blood' off. "Where is Father?"
"I don't know," I said, shrugging.
"He wasn't he when you woke up?"
"Yeah, he wasn't here."
"Oh, Razlks, if you were in involved in this, I will get you for this," mumbled Malhaw. I heard Malhaw sighed. "Let's go to bed," said Malhaw, all of the sudden.
"Now?" I asked.
"Yes, now." I moaned. "No moaning, now get to bed."
"Since when did you become Alpha?" I asked in a challenging way.
"Father made me substitute Alpha whenever he's absent," snapped Malhaw.
"Did he really?" I asked, suspicious.
"Yep, you can mind speak with him right now if you want."
"Where's Father?" I asked.
"I don't know; he refused to tell me."
"Really?!" I asked. "That's unusual."
"Tell me about it," said Malhaw. Malhaw then just stared at me.
"Yes. I know, 'go to bed.'"
Laying down I was about to fall asleep when I was yanked out of bed. "What?" I was on the floor surrounded by a bunch of Razlks. One of the Razlks decided to kick me. I growled at him. Someone laughed-it was Lolf.
"Yep he's awake," said Lolf with a smirk.
"What do you want?!" I growled. Beside me, Lolf nodded at someone. One of the Razlks flicked his wrist. A whip-like thing came down and whipped me on my side. When the whip came in contact with my skin it caused pain like I never felt before. Despite the injury I just got, I stood up, and was about to attack when Lolf said, "You can attack how many people you want when we go to the training center." I glared at him; Lolf only sighed. "Fine, don't come. It's not like your father will be there," said Lolf, tempting me. Before I could answer Lolf and the rest of the Razlks left the room.
I moaned, hesitantly, walking over to where the Razlks left the room and when I walked through the door, I saw it was a training center. I saw both Malhaw and my Father at the far end of the room. Neither of them look very happy. One of the Razlks stood in front of the rest of me. I sniffed his scent and I growled-he Razlk was half werewolf. I wanted to call him a traitor, because he's not helping them escape, but I held his tongue. In the Razlk's hand was a sword. I drew my own sword. We were about to fight when I heard my Father suddenly yelling, "Wait, stop!" I heard Lolf groan, as if disappointed. The person I was going to fight looked both annoyed and relieved.
"What?!" snapped Lolf.
"Do they have to fight today? It's nighttime and we're all so tired. Why don't we all go to bed?"
What is he doing? I can totally take this kid.
"Fine, but in the morning they fight," said Lolf. My Father nodded stiffly.
Father, Malhaw, and I walked back to our rooms. When the door was shut, I said, "What was that for? I could of fought him, and won easily."
"No, you should not fight him."
"Why not?"
"Because he's too young for you to be fighting him."
"I was younger than he was when I started fighting people three times my age!"
"We're not on Alaëa Island anymore! That's not how it works here."
"Why shouldn't I?" I demanded.
"Because he's my son!" yelled my Father.

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Question(s) of the chapter:
Anyone like camping? Well... tell all about it in the comment section by working out those arm muscles. I think camping pretty fun, as long as I have necessities.