2.

One thing I never missed was training, to be fair no one above the age of fourteen was allowed to miss it but still. Even if I could, I wouldn't. I wasn't the absolute strongest individual but I was obviously quick and extremely agile. Besides that I was great at working with a knife.

Knives and bow-an-arrows were my choice weapons, I loved the bow for further off targets and obviously the knife for closer ones.

I always and I truly do mean always keep at least five knives on me at all times, the minimum number being two — I even have two on me throughout the night.

Training with wolves was great because they wouldn't bleed for long. Increased regenerating was in our blood, meaning I could train with my knives. Slashes wouldn't be there for long but the torn shirt would reveal just how many hits I got.

And trust me, shirts always got thrown away after sparring with me.

When gyming with humans I don't have that luxury, I can't use my knives or even present them. A dark skinned black girl waving around a pocket knife would definitely get a few Karen's going mad. Nevermind the bow.

Today I decided that I'd practice with my bow, seeing as I've been writing exams I haven't had much time to throw an arrow or two. Just as my second arrow has eaten up the first and landed right on the bullseye Sakhile walks up from behind me.

"Goddess, I hate when you do that. How do you get it right?"

I shrug, "They are wooden, it really isn't that hard for it to split because of the force."

He lays on the other haystack and I sit quietly, watching him as he takes in a deep breath and pulls the arrow back. He lets it go only breathing out once it has taken flight, the arrow landing in the area right before the bullseye.

"Dammit!" He mutters angrily, "You're a cheater."

A loud laugh escapes me as he continues to grumble whilst pulling out another arrow. We had metal arrows and silver arrows too, mechanical ones that can poison or burn you — all sorts of arrows. However, for training we strictly kept to wooden arrows.

"Hey, you have the night shift don't you?"

He shook his head as soon as the arrow was airborne, "I'm not doing it, Aya. Just let it go, what's the great fascination with it anyway? It's legitimately the worst shift, why on earth do you want it so bad?"

I roll my eyes, "I've never worked it so I wouldn't know that it's the worst. I think midday is the worst because the sun really messes with my fur and I get way too hot —"

He rolls his eyes before interrupting me, "Yeah, until you say a pretty little spell and viola you're no longer a sweaty heap of fur. So, hush up."

That is true, I knew a spell for just about everything, it was fascinating how everything had a spell. Everything, nothing would beat my love for magic. My mother had said that she suppressed her urge to shift once my father marked her. She worked endlessly with her coven to find the perfect potion for it and they did.

It stopped her first shift therefore stopping her from ever needing to shift entirely. So, she was still completely witch. I don't know the nitty gritties or being a hybrid but I doubt I'd be able to suppress my wolf like that and live painlessly.

Besides, I wouldn't really want to. I love my wolf.

"Dammit!" My body flinches at Sakhile's outburst, "Goddess, what is the issue?" I yell my eyes zeroing in on him.

"How do you do it?" I glance over at his target and as expected they're all brilliant shots, he's just clearly upset about not getting two arrows into the same spot.

I grab another arrow before loading it on and pulling it back, "Like this," I shoot it into the final ring and then pull another before shooting it into the same spot.

A smug smile envelopes my face as my eyes twinkle with happiness, any sort of boasting I can do over my brothers has me ecstatic. Speaking of, S'the walks in right in that moment.

"Oh hai Sakhile, you still can't do that?" He rolls his eyes, funny coming from him because he can't even aim an arrow nevermind stack one on top of the other.

Sakhile chucks the bow at him, "Fuck off, you can't even get an arrow in the air!"

S'the let's out a booming laugh, "I have no desire to, so that's not hurtful. You try every time you get the bow in your hand but you fail, that's terribly sad."

The bickering between the two of them is the funniest thing in the world. I glance up at the two of them as the words keep going back and forth and every now and then I let out a laugh. The jabs and sarcasm really is the funniest thing ever.

I'm about to throw in my own little comment but the two of them instantly turn their heads towards the woods and I'm about to ask what it is when it slowly creeps up on me.

Someone is here.

"What do they want?" S'the mutters lowly as he starts to approach the figures that were slowly making their way towards the treeline. A few of our men walking beside them, escorting them further into the pack land.

The three of us approach them and they immediately stop, they had no business being so deep into the pack. I know S'the was reprimanding the guards for being foolish enough to walk them into the lands instead of calling us.

"State your business," I'm the first to speak seeing as the eldest is too busy reprimanding and the other seems to be linking someone too. Probably our parents who should definitely already be alerted.

There were two wolves, a male and female. They had the scent of the neighbouring pack and it was only the two of them so I assumed they needed something.

The female speaks up, "We are here to warn the Alpha and Luna, the vampires are snooping around again. We don't know what they want but our Alpha wishes to have a meeting with your parents."

Just as the word parents is uttered they appear and I know they've heard everything, "Thank you, tell him we'll be there shortly."

The two nod and head off and as their shadows get smaller my father's face seems to be getting more and more infuriated. My mother has already begun walking away, their reactions raise some concern and not just with me.

Sakhile asks the question we're all wondering, "What do vampires want here? They haven't been around here in years."

He's right, I haven't heard anyone complain about vampires since I've been gone. I've never returned from university and heard of any appearances or anything.

There was harmony between our two races but we surely did not like one another therefore there was absolutely no reason for them to be lingering around.

Unless they wanted something.

"What do you think they want from their pack?"

My father's frown just deepens and he doesn't answer neither of our questions, simply just turning and following my mother's steps.

"What the hell?" I mutter as I watch him walk away, S'the quickly deciding he should probably follow after him.

I look to my other two siblings, Akhona having had joined in when our parents had, "What do you think the fuss is? They've never attacked anyway."

She nods, "Yeah but what do they want?" She questions and the three of us fall silent, not knowing the answer.

—

100% assure you there's no war here or kidnapping or whatever. those plots are completely overplayed to me and most times they really aren't needed, tbh. so, yeah. just thought i should let you know.

thoughts? :)