Aura's eyes opened, glaring as the autumn sun hit them. Crawling slowly from her warm bed, she swiped her finger across her mobile's screen silencing her alarm clock. Stretching her arms, massive yawn escaped her mouth.
Finally out of her bed, she made her way to her wardrobe, sorting through different pieces of cloth, she finally set on black short-sleeved shirt, cream top, dark blue ripped jeans, black fingerless gloves and flower chocker. She looked at herself in mirror purring with delight, the werecat walked to her kitchen, grabbing last slice of toast she quickly fed herself. Checking time on clock, she prepared things for school, grabbed her newest book and flopped herself on couch and dove into the pages.
After a while, she shut the book, threw it back into her bag and zipped it. Aura quickly grabbed her long coat that hid her long slender tail, and placed her black top hat as a cover for her ears, finally picking up her bag she made her way toward train station.
Her fur bushed up as the cold autumn wind touched her. Checking the time again, she started sprinting, panting hoarsely. Her feet stomped against the frozen dirt, claws unsheathed as she slid down the hill. Aura was breathles when she finally reached the station, she placed her hand on a wall to steady herself, pulling out her phone her eyes flicked to the screen, „Five minutes." She breathed out while sliding down against the cold wall.
She sat there, enjoying the cold feeling of the wall against her thick heat fur until the train arrived. Getting up, she swiftly got into the train and looked around for a seat. After few moments of unsuccessful searching, Aura gave up and just spread her legs to gain balance.
The ride went smoothy as always, her eyes relaxed at the foggy lakes they went pass. She jerked back to reality as the train slowed down, pulling her coat closer, she braced herself for the breeze and waited for the door to open. Weak hiss escaped her lips as the cold wind touched her face, moving quickly to warm up, she climbed down the stairs and then through corridor she made her way toward the exit.
Her hand played with keys as she neared her school. Finally as she turned left last time, her hand started to pull out her keys slowly, when suddenly she stopped, looking up from the ground, she spotted very familiar red jacket heading towards her. Eyes wide, Aura stopped and started to tremble, ‚She's glaring at me again! This can't be good.' Her panicked mind thought.
Footsteps behind her made her turned around, „You saw ghost again?" came question with slightly teasing touch, „Nice to see you too, Barbra." Aura replied with head shake, „No, it's not a ghost." She added, „it's something worse," she added mumbling hoping her classmate didn't hear her, Barbra smirked to herself as she saw their teacher walking toward the building, „C'mon, I need to finish my homework." Barbra said and started pulling Aura toward the school despite her protests.
„Good morning, miss Hammer!" The blonde girl called causing Aura to slightly yelp: „Moring." Said red headed teacher turned her head to look at them, „Good morning Barbra." She replied with smile, ignoring Aura's presence, before entering the building.
„She's nice, you know. There's nothing to be afraid about her." Barbra said with teasing tone, Aura just rolled her eyes, ‚Of course she's nice to you. You fucking didn't tell her you have crush on her!' she thought angrily following her inside.
Once she locked her locker, Aura checked her timetable and slowly walked to her class. She sat down behind her usual front desk and pulled out her book, „Why do you keep doing this?" Aura supressed sigh, turning her head, „Sorry, keep doing what?" she said trying to sound nice, „Sitting there." Clara answered and keep scanning her phone, „Why can't I?" Aura asked tilting her head, „It's weird." Came the answer. Aura rolled her eyes and returned to her book.
Sly lead her companions back to their hideout. „Welcome back, did you find something?" Dewey asked scratching his reddish fur, Mikey and Matthew looked at each other then at Sly, „You were right, Dewey. The others had a meeting." Sly said changing back to her humanoid form, „And?" Dewey asked, „There's some prophecy going on. It includes Andara and humans." Sly explained padding further into the hideout, the boys followed her, „Humans?" Dewey asked confused, Mikey nodded, „They were meeting to discuss what to do about it." Matthew added.
„What's going on?" creamed female stepped out of the shadows looking sleepily, „Hey, Lucille." Sly said giving her weak smile, „Did we wake you?"Lucille shook her head, „I couldn't sleep." She explained, crossing the distance between them, she padded to Mikey and touched nose to his cheeck, „What did you find?" Mikey opened his mouth to speak, but Sly cut him off, „We'll discuss it in the morning. Right now, get some sleep, everyone." The rest of them nodded before splitting out and walking to their respective rooms.
Sly watched them go, sitting down with a sigh she looked back to the entrance, „You're not going?" sudden question jerked her back to reality, „Matthew! You scared me!" she faked a growl, „Sorry, beauty." Matthew apologized with a chuckle before sitting down beside her, „What's in your mind?" he asked, Sly sighed leaning onto his shoulder, „Nothing, I'm just worried." She replied, „About Wolfi?" Sly nodded, „Me too." „I miss her." „Me too, Sweetie. Me too." Matthew murmured pulling her into hug to keep both of them warm.
As the first rays of dawn came up, the wolf pack started to wake up. „Morning." Grumbled Martine as he passed by Lucille, Annie and Simon nodded their greeting before parting. Sly's red hair appeared from one corner, Matthew padded after her.
Everyone went quiet as they spotted them, Sly cleared her throat, „May I get your attention please?" She asked, almost at once everyone sat down, „As you all know yesterday's night we followed Rain Frost pack and Acre pack." She started, „They were coming to gathering. To be honest, every single pack was there, except us." She paused, taking deep breath, „They talked about new prophecy. It included species we've met more times than them, humans. It turned out Andara will attach all the universes and re-create its original form." Sly finished and gestured Matthew to continue, „As you can guess, noone of them liked it. After silent outrage, Ace suggested to have the well-known Wolf Games, and everyone agreed. I think you can get the rest." Matthew went silent, eyes scanning the crowd, Matthy stood up, his light orange fur was bushed up, „Disgusting!" he snarled, „Going behind our backs like that, who the hell think they are!" His eyes were narrowed, Maki placed her hand on his side, „It's okay, we'll do something about it, right?" she looked at the trio with worried expression, „Of course. We're already working on it." Mikey informed her, „First we need to contact and get back our leader, Tami?" Purple headed female stood up, „Dewey and I fixed the portal with Martine's help, we can contact her." She blushed a little as cheerful applause echoed all around her.
Sly waited until the cheering died before stepping forward again, „Of course we can't all go. We need someone to guard it here." She said causing others to sat down again, „Who wants to go?" she asked eyes glancing around. Moments passed by until finally one of them stood up again, „I want to go." Martine said, „Me too." Simon added, Sly nodded, „Alright. Anyone else?" Kiki and Emi stood up, „We." They said in unison, Matthew stepped ahead before Sly could say something else, „It's agreed then, me, Ali, Mikey, Simon, Kiki, Emi and Martine will go. Tami, you'll watch over the portal, and if it breaks again, just create your own portal, we need some way back," „Aye, aye Matthew." Tamika said saluting, Matthew rolled his eyes with a chuckle before continuing, „Johny, Dewey, you'll be responsible for keeping the portal in check, fix anything as fast as possible, if it'll be impossible, just tell Tami to open another portal." Both scientist nodded, „The rest of you, be careful, work as always and keep away from sneaky eyes, don't let others see you, not yet." He finished, signaling the chosen us to follow him, Tamika and her two companions trotted after them.
„If everything will go as smoothly as predicted, you'll appear right in the garden, near the second portal gate, good luck." „See ya again after few days." Matthew and others said with a smile, last hug was shared before they climbed into the portal. „Tell Aura I said hi!" Johny called to them before turning the machine on, blinding bright light lit up the room, as it faded away, Tamika and boys were alone,
„Do you think they'll be okay?" Dewey asked, ��Of course. Don't worry, Dews, they'll be alright, what't the worst thing that can happen?" Johny asked, „Mayers finding out about this and sending his hanchmens after them?" Lucille asked joining the conversation. All of them laughed, „Where did you get this idea?" Dewey asked, Lucille's face remained serious, „Because Daniels and Samuels walked right past the main entrance." She answered.
As the bell rang, Aura closed the book, pushing it to the other side of the desk, she wrapped herself thighter in the coat as her biology teacher entered the class, „Good morning, sit down." Mona said placing her studying materials on her desk. Aura slid down into her chair, she grabbed her exercise book and opened it, grabbing her pen she started sketching leaves on edges.
„Anyone wanna go answer some questions?" Mrs. Shortwhile asked, her light blue-green eyes looking into the class, „Noone?" she asked again after moments of utter silence passed, „Alright…Barbra! Come!" She called Aura's blonde classmate, „Why me?" Barbra groaned, „You played on your phone." Mona replied gesturing the young student to come forward, Barbra sighed and got up, „Please choose five papers, read them out loud and answer them." She instructed her, leaning back she took her red pen and waited for Barbra to start.
„Alright you get…3 points, B minus. You can go now." Barbra narrowed her eyes, „Stupid old witch, I had four points, I had the last question right." She grumbled before sitting behind her desk. Mona opened her mouth to say something when suddenly the bell rang,
looking at her watch, her brow furrowed together, „We really wasted the whole lesson just for the questions?" she asked looking at the students, they shrugged, „This is the last time." Mona said gathering her things, „Have a nice day, see you tomorrow." She said before walking out.
„Couldn't you give better hints?!" Aura gritted her teeth, feeling her fur standing up, „You have nice grade." She smiled innocently without looking at her classmate, „I could have an A if you didn't screw it up!" Barbra yelled at her. Aura felt blood bioling in her ears, „I tried okay. She was watching me most of the time." Aura tried to defend herself, „Sure, you should say you didn't know most of the things instead of getting her into trouble!" Verina joined them.
Aura felt her claws unsheathing, she yelped quietly as she slammed them onto her thights, „I'm sorry, alright?" she said through gritted teeth, fighting with her anger and pain. Barbra only huffed, „Better prepare next time." She said angrily before going back to her previous conversation with her friends, 'You should prepare yourself next time!' Aura hissed in her mind yet remained calm on the outside.
Subjects came and went, Aura trying her hardest in each one. Soon the last lesson of the day-English was ahead. Walking to the class, she followed others up the stairs, her blood suddenly ran cold as spiky dark red hair appeared, „Good afternoon miss." Layla said, Renni smiled and greeted them back. Aura gathered her strenght, „Good afternoon." She said praying her voice won't tremble, but Renni was looking other way already, completely ignoring her, she went pass, leaving crashed Aura behind, ‚My mind knew it was terrible idea, why didn't I listen?' she thought slipping into the class.
„Have a nice afternoon, sweethearts and see you again tomorrow." Nikki said as the lesson ended, „Goodbye Mrs. Light!" the students called before leaving the classroom. „Aura?" Aura stopped in her track, turning her head back, „Is something wrong, Mrs. Light?" she asked walking back to her teacher, „Do you have time?" Nikki asked, Aura nodded, „Of course." She replied with weak smile, „Could you please follow me to my cabinet?" Aura felt as if ice water splashed her all over, „Am I in trouble?" She asked trembling a little, mrs. Light chuckled, „No, I just want to talk." „Okay." Aura said following her head teacher into her cabinet.
Inside Nikki gestured for her to sit down, „How are you feeling lately?" Nikki asked with worried expression, „Normal." Aura shrugged, „Nothing special," she added with quick glance sideways. „You can tell me anything, you know." „Of course I know that, Mrs. Light." Aura replied, „What's wrong?" Nikki sighed, „I'm worried about you. A lot actually." „It's not needed, see I'm completely alright." Aura defended herself giving her soft smile, „Really?" Nikki asked pointing to her arm which was covered with scars, „I swear it's not what it seems, I didn't cause these, I didn't cut myself, I swear." Aura answered‚'I told them chasing these rats underground during school year was a terrible idea.' She thought to herself while trying to cover the scars,'I can't tell you the truth though, I swore to secrecy on this one' she thought sadly, „Self-harm is really serious problem, and I don't even want to know where it might lead or worse…end." Aura sighed, „I'm not cutting myself, not anymore." She admitted, „At least I'm trying not to." She added to herself.
She felt Nikki's warm hand on her shoulder, looking up, she met her teacher's eyes, „I just want to say, I'm here for you whenever you'll need me, alright?" „Alright." Aura said before being pulled into hug which she gladly returned.
„This was the weirdest day ever." Aura said as she left the school grounds. She walked quickly toward the station, breaking into run after few meters. She panted as she stopped on the bus stop, grabbing her bus card, she tried to catch her breath before getting into the bus. The road went on smoothly and she eventually started to relax, until her former-classmates got on. She turned her head back to the window, praying to whatever god who was listening to don't let them notice her.
She sighed in relief as they went right past her. Letting her nerves be calm again, she returned back to her previous thoughts.
Finally her stop came into view, taking her bag, she jumped out and quickly padded into the village. Dodging few cars here and there, she climbed the hill and finally entered her street. Walking fastly she soon opened the wooden gate and closed it behind her. She slid her bag off her shoulders and placed it into livingroom. She stopped in her tracks, ‚This is weird.' She thought seeing blankets falled onto the carpet, „I swear I lifted them up last evening." She mutted bending down and placing the blankets back onto the sofa.
She was on her way toward the stairs when there was sudden loud crash. Claws unsheathed she made her way up and ready to attack the invader she jumped from the last one screeching angrily. She shut her mouth as high pitched girly squeaks sounded from the kitchen, openming the doors, she found her former pack-mates and friends paniciking, running around and screaming. They eventually stopped as they spotted her, „Wolfi!" Kiki cried flunging herself onto her werecat friend, „Guys? What are you doing here?" She asked in disbelieve after falling down with Kiki still attach to her.
„Came to see you, missed you?" Matthew asked with teasing smile, „You don't even know how much." Aura said before giving each of them a hug. „But really, what happened?" her friends looked at one another, „You should sit down, we've got some disturbing news." Mikey said at last.