Okami burst up from her bed her ears twitching.
The same dream.
This dream had been haunting her since when she was just a tiny little pup. Now, she was just a few months older and it was time she began training as a real Warrior.
Okami shook away the dreadful thought and walked out of her tiny cave. Her paws ached as she stood up. Many nights sleeping alone in the cave had made her cold. After all, who would want to sleep with someone like her? A wolf who claims to have visions? A wolf who is cursed? Okami sighed as she stood out of her cave and flinched at the glares from her packmates. She ruffled her wings against the cold breeze and walked towards where every wolf was gathering. As she said down, the wolves nearest to her scooted away and started whispering to each other. Okami sat shamefully alone in her little space below the Alpha Ledge. The wolves waited for their Alpha to appear from his den. Their ears flicked and their tail twitched. What's taking the Alpha so long? As soon as Okami wondered, the Alpha slid out from his den, along with the Beta. The Alpha jumped up the Alpha Ledge as the Beta sat down a ledge below him. This was the tradition of the Thunder Caller Pack, every morning they would sit and wait from the Alpha to order then and give them the stuff to do. The giant ledge that seemed to be coming out from the stone hollow seemed to shake under the Alpha's howl. The other wolves started howling too, one after another. But Okami just looked at her paws, embarrassed. She wasn't allowed to join in the howlings, because her packmates thought that if she did, she would call on the evil spirits instead of their ancestors. Okami clawed the gravel underneath her and wrapped her lavender wings tightly around her body.
"Silence!"
The Alpha's roar pounded in Okami's ears. The wolves quickly stopped and looked at the Alpha again. The Alpha looked at two young wolves sitting next to a small raspberry bush.
"Step up you two."
The two wolves stood up eagerly and walked upright beneath the Alpha.
"From today on, you wolves will begin your training. Blood will be spilled, and feathers might be lost but I trust you to work hard to earn your place."
The young wolves yelped in excitement and bowed their head.
Okami flinched as the Alpha's cold blue gaze landed on her.
"You. Come up."
Okami walked up nervously, feeling the glares from the wolves behind her. She looked at the Alpha but trying now to meeting his gaze. After all, that meant a challenge. The Alpha's eyes narrowed.
"From today on, you will begin your training. Blood will be spilled, and feathers might be burnt, but work hard to earn your place."
Okami's ears flattened against the difference in words. The Alpha didn't have the 'I trust you' and replaced lost to burn, which meant that if she did something wrong, her feathers will be burnt so she would become wingless.