It was Saturday, which meant no classes. Aileen made breakfast and told her mother she was going to meet Anya. "So early?" she replied, drinking milk. "It's for the thesis, we need to come up with ideas and stuff." Aileen said, packing her bag, rechecking everything the email said. ID card, check. Two photographs, check, a water bottle and a snack, check. She zipped up the bag and slung it over her shoulder. Aileen admired herself in the mirror. She was looking pretty in the green dress Anya had gifted her. "Bye." She said and went out the door, placing a hand on her chest. Her heart was hammering at twice the speed, her senses growing stronger. She was happy. She had a chance, and she won't miss it.
Aileen called Anya on the bus, "Hey, listen if my mother calls, tell her i'm with you."
"Why?" Anya said, Aileen could picture her raising her eyebrow.
"Because my application got accepted for the spirit bones audition and i'm on my way to Rayborn Valley." Aileen said excitedly.
"What!" Anya yelled into the phone, "When, why didn't you tell me sooner? This is so good." She sounded happy for her. That was all Aileen wanted, one person to root for her, one person to believe in her. Anya was her cousin, her mother and Aileen's mother were sisters, but they were not on the speaking terms. When Anya and Aileen met for the first time in high school, they immediately became friends. Now their bond was stronger than a sibling. "Text me when you reach and update me." Anya said. "Of course, I will." Aileen replied. She was proud of herself. She checked the time on her phone. It read 8:15 am. In just 45 minutes, I will achieve my dream, she told herself with a smile.
Soon the buildings and houses disappeared, and forest surrounded the path on both sides. The passengers took out their phones for pictures and others admired the beauty and peace of the place. Aileen pictured herself running with other wolves, hunting werebeast and getting accepted into a pack. The last picture was stuck in her mind. What would it be like to stay with a pack, people you trust and love. Aileen and her family were part of the pack when she was young. That was, until a fight broke out between her mother and the Alpha. Since then, they shunned away her family from the pack and no one ever invited them in their packs again.
Aileen was 4 so all she could remember was her mother's crying in the dark, while her brother told the rest of the story as she grew up. After 6 years, another tragedy occurred. The pack leader of the spirit bones knocked on their door late afternoon. Her mother was doing laundry, so she had asked the 10-year-old Aileen to open the door. When her mother sniffed them out, she came running with soap in her hands; they had given her his burned body and everything was never the same again.
"Don't worry, Aiden, I'll avenge you." Aileen mumbled, looking at her fist. "On your right side, you can see the village. Our destination." The conductor spoke into the microphone, getting everyone's attention. The passengers looked out the window to see a 16ft foot board, standing just a few kilometers away from them. Aileen spoke the name written on the board, "Raybron village." This is it, she thought. The bus stopped and all the passengers got off, taking their bags and luggage from the top of the bus. Aileen got off and stretched her hands in the air. The sun was high and the air cold. She took out her phone and read the address for the Raybron Valley.
She couldn't ask the human conductor for directions. The Raybron Valley was not on any maps. Aileen needed to find a local wolf, which meant she had to navigate the village. Checking the time and setting a target for 15 minutes, she walked into the village with the rest of the passengers. The houses were old and unmaintained; she saw stagnant water in alleys and roads and wondered why the passengers paid a tour guide for this place. Aileen went straight while the passengers took a left and walked away, leaving her stranded. "Let's do this." She said and closed her eyes. She let out a breath and sniffed in deeply, taking the slightest of scent and picking up what she thought would help her. she smelled almonds and burning tires, small fires, sweat, blood, pickles, lemon and then she smelled it. The scent which every wolf has. Aileen opened her eyes and walked in the direction where the smell came from.
She watched as men and women went about their days, vendors selling fruits and vegetables, meat places, flowers and clothes. Aileen walked another kilometer and stopped where the scent was stronger. She turned her head and saw a young boy, about 12 years old, eating an apple. She walked closer to him, sensing her presence. He looked up at her; she saw a bruise on his cheek. She sniffed again for confirmation and then changed the color of her eyes. They went from hazel to green and then hazel. The boy nodded and got up, wiping his hands. "Rayborn valley, lead the way. I'll pay you." Aileen said to him. The boy nodded again and started walking towards the clock tower. Aileen checked her watch and saw that she had wasted 10 minutes already.
The boy led her up hill; path surrounded by forest; the walk was hurting her thighs. Think of it as training, she thought and got more determined. "Let me take the bag, it looks hard for you." The boy said, pausing. "It's alright, I can handle it." Aileen said it would embarrass to hand her bag to a 12-year-old, even if he was a wolf. "I do this all the time. It's not a hassle for me," he said again. Aileen wondered how much time will they take to walk up? If she gives the bag to the boy, they may speed up a little. Nodding, Aileen handed him the bag, pocking her phone. They walked up again, this time at a higher speed. Good, Aileen thought. She could see the banner of the Spirit Bones. Aileen smiled, knowing her future was a few steps ahead.
"I can go from up here, kid. Thanks." Aileen turned around to take the bag and stood alone in the forest. "That little shit." She said out loud and sniffed for his scent. It was stronger. He was still in the forest. Her alarm went off. It was 9 am. Shit, Aileen stomped on the ground in frustration. She debated whether to go after the boy or attend her audition. "I'll see you later." She said and knew he could hear her. Angrily, Aileen covered the last few steps and stood at the large iron gates of Spirit bones.
She knocked on the gate with the handle and watched as two male wolfs, donning red leather jackets came. "Aileen Cross for the audition." She said, out of breath. They both exchanged glances and then, one of them spoke, "the auditions have begun, you are late. Please turn around and leave the premises." She noticed a scar on his neck. "Look, I am sorry, I didn't know the direction. It's not like you guys have a guide or something," Aileen said. She was frustrated. "Please leave the premises. No excuses allowed. Apply again next year." The neck scar wolf spoke in his monotone. Anger build up insider her, she got mugged for this, "NO!" she growled, showing her fangs and claws, the men didn't budge, they didn't even flinch. The neck scar guy showed his fangs and said in a threateningly low voice, "Leave the premises."