"This won't change anything Tefarrah."
The pack matriarch's voice rang crisply into the air, drawing my attention from where I crouched at the ledge of the hill, watching over the training hollow where the new shifters who had come of age began the first round of their sparring lessons for the day. Flicking my dark gaze towards her from beneath long dark lashes, I rose to my feet,brushing off the dust and straw clinging to my pants.
Celia's sharp aquamarine gaze followed my movements, precise and ever-watching. "You cannot keep watching them like they are pups," she chided, making her way to where I now stood, casting a quick glance to the hollow herself. "Every shifter knows the price of running with Mother Moon, what fate we must abide by. They aren't scared of death. Why are you so scared for them?" Sighing, I rubbed my hand down my arm, feeling the deep scars lacerating what was otherwise once pristine light toned skin. She knew why...
Four seasons ago a small scale war had begun during a famine that plagued the six packs of Drequi Isle. I had taken the brunt of one of the alphas' highest ranked members while trying to save some of the newer shifters that had only been half trained before being thrown into the hands of the war. As partially trained werewolves they hadn't yet mastered shifting into their wolf form at will yet, and were basically trapped in their human forms, wielding the silver forged weapons against werewolves that had centuries on them. It was like leading lambs to slaughter. I'd tried, fought tooth and claw, ripped out whatever I could sink my teeth and claws into trying to help them... to save them, and it was for nothing.. Those three boys, despite my best efforts and their swordsmanship, were torn limb from limb. While I, came as near to meeting Lord Death as I ever wished to until it truly was my time to go.
"I can't watch anymore shiftlings get slaughtered like that, Celia," I rasped, clutching my ravaged arm. In my wolf form, it was a muscular battle scarred limb that was no weaker than any of my others, but in my natural human state; it appeared as if it should've been amputated from the bicep down with the severity of the lacerations dancing across my skin. Meeting her understanding yet guarded blue gaze, I returned to watching over the trainees, not bothering to await her response. I knew what she would say. You did all you could, even my Benedetto with his strength couldn't have saved them... Valis was just too powerful.. as a Sire, he was simply a force even the strongest alpha couldn't take down. What chance did a eighteen year old alpha's daughter have against one of the Founders' heirs..
A soft sigh escaped Celia as she finally joined me in watching the trainees, two almost in tears trying to force themselves to shif tinto their wolf form while one of them, who'd managed to shift, stood off to the side. Even from our outlook we could see the wiry sandy brown form shaking with the effort and pain of holding the shift for so long, even if it was just a few minutes. "It is such a shame." she finally whispered, almost looking sorrowful as a manicured hand ran along a curled blonde strand of hair, twirling it so tightly around her finger until the skintone started to turn purple; her own anxious tick. "They are getting weaker with each Breeding. I fear time is running out for our pack if we can't form an allegiance with one of the other packs and strengthen our line.."
My gaze narrowed as a soft growl rumbled in my throat, watching as the one who'd managed to shift finally returned to his human form, down on his hands and knees in tears. She was right; we were dying out, and someone had to do something... and deep down I knew, it had to be me..