Sabina traveled deeper and deeper into the cave that she had to slightly hunch to go through it easily, but as the tunnel began to angle upwards again the darkness began to consume her.
She came to the end of the tunnel to see in the gloom two grey wolves both laying comfortably on the stone floor. She noted that their eyes seemed to glow in the darkness making her feel as though if she walked into the wrong den.
"Alpha Fumus" Sabina lowered her head below the largest of the two and he nodded.
She could see the white whiskers that had begun to grow on the old gray wolf's chin, had spread over his muzzle to just below his glowing yellow eyes that were highlighted by the black outline that shaped them. Sabina was fortunate enough to have been born white otherwise she would assume she would look the same.
"Beta Cinis" she lowered her head to the smaller wolf as well and he nodded.
Tittles in packs were important and once given the position of a higher status, their names would be forgotten and replaced with the rank and a name of their fur. Alpha Fumus's and Beta Cinis's fur coats looked exactly the same, as such Alpha Fumus settled on Cinis to be the young wolf's name. Since smoke was the meaning of Fumus's name and Cinis meant ash it fit the simplicity of the Petra Clan.
"Beta Nix" was the only reply from them both as she laid upon the ground.
"I heard you were calling for me." Sabina said as she shifted uncomfortably on the cold floor.
"Yes, I was" The largest wolf was large compared to the others in the pack yet he was still smaller than Sabina, however just his presence was enough to command respect and to be honest she was more than willing to give it.
"The pack did terribly last hunt. How are we to survive if they are only able to bring back rabbits and foxes?" Asked Alpha Fumus who looked at Beta Cinis next to him, who shook his head.
"I am sorry, grandfather. But it is not Beta Nix's fault for the failure of the younger wolves." Said Beta Cinis
Alpha Fumus didn't seem to agree "Why do you say that?"
Sabina shook her head, this was not the time for Beta Cinis to try to prove himself to his grandfather but she watched the discussion in silence.
"The younger wolves refuse to be even trained in their other form to kill. What makes you think they would try to in wolf?" Asked Beta Cinis.
He was right, even Alpha Fumus couldn't argue with that. The younger wolves refused to change into their other form as they saw themselves changing into the enemy, and while she could understand their resolve she also knew inevitably they would have to change for the ceremony.
"Well then try teaching them!" growled Alpha Fumus
Beta Cinis shook his head "Now? When the ceremony is in two days?"
Alpha Fumus sighed before turning his yellow eyes to Sabina " What are your thoughts Beta Nix?"
She sighed "They do need to be taught to hunt and fight in both forms as you said Alpha Fumus" Beta Cinis seemed to be offended that she took his father's side when she said "but as Beta Cinis said the ceremony is too close to start training."
Beta Cinis's face relaxed, she hadn't taken his father's side of the matter. Sabina shook her head at the young wolfs ignorance, she never took sides.
"So what are you proposing?" asked Alpha Fumus.
"What if we started training after the ceremonies?" Sabina said thoughtfully.
Beta Cinis nodded "That's a good idea. After all we have a rather larger batch of wolves this ceremony."
"We can have it as part of training after coming of age." Alpha Fumus said thoughtfully as he flicked his ear, it was a nervous tick of the old wolf that he had acquired after both Betas died in battle with rogues.
Beta Cinis had acquired the grey fur and size from his father who got it from Alpha Fumus, but his mother was the one to claim his aqua blue eyes. Sabina could never look away from those eyes willingly as they always reminded her of that white and gray wolf that saved her soul.
"The great ceremony will take place five days after the ceremony right?" asked Beta Ciris as he tried to hide the excitement in his eyes.
Both Sabina and Alpha Fumus chuckled but it was Alpha Fumus who replied "Yes."
The great gathering was the gathering of all the clans where the young members of each clan will meet other young wolves of other clans. It was more like a large gathering to instill stronger allegiances between clans and for young wolves to find their true mates if they could not find them in their own clans.
Alpha Fumus looked at Beta Cinis "However you will be attending as the stand in Alpha"
Beta Ciris stared at his grandfather in surprise before looking quickly at Sabina as he shouted "Really?!"
Sabina nodded "It is a great idea Alpha Fumus."
Alpha Fumus smiled at the young wolf who turned his gaze to his grandfather "I am growing in age and my bones have begun to grow brittle, and Beta Nix and I have discussed this in length"
Beta Cinis looked at Sabina in surprise again "You have?!"
Sabina laughed "Don't sound so surprised"
Beta Cinis looked like he could have leapt into the air and raced around the cave a thousand times easily when Alpha Fumus said "Beta Nix would you be willing to go with this year's great ceremony?"
Beta Cinis looked quickly at Beta Nix with excitement, she smiled as she nodded "It shall be done, Alpha Fumus"
Alpha Fumus smiled at his grandson who looked ready to pounce on Beta Nix in thanks "Good"
There was a passing of pleasant silence when Sabina sighed, making Alpha Fumus glance at her "What's wrong? Are you not pleased with something we have discussed?"
Sabina shook her head "No. Everything is perfect, However… we may have to take notice of the Empire."
She hated to put a damper on the joyful occasion but she could see a scenario unfolding before her. However she wasn't sure if this time her fears came true the wolves of Somar or even any wolves that remained on Angmar could survive.
"Why? They haven't bothered us." Beta Cinis said sullenly but Alpha Fumus flicked his tail and Beta Cinis became silent.
"What have you seen Beta Nix?" asked Alpha Fumus.
"There was a massacre of vampires close to the base of the mountain." Though Sabina said this calmly she felt the air become heavy.
Alpha Fumus cocked an eyebrow "Was it a band of rogues?"
Sabina shook her head and Alpha Fumus mumbled "Could the clans be going against the Empire again?"
Sabina shook her head again "It wasn't us. I went to the scene before other vampires arrived and found all the wounds of the dead were that of a sword."
"They butchered their own?" asked Beta Cinis in surprise.
Alpha Fumus nodded "They would"
Beta Cinis shook his head in disappointment "We only kill when we have to. I mean even rogues, we spare most of the time"
Beta Cinis didn't glance at her but she could feel that she was the evidence to prove their honorable intents compared to the vampires, she nodded "Very true Beta Cinis however…"
She paused to make both wolves look at her before she said "I feel this will cause us problems later. As the wagon was rather plush and it almost seemed the massacre was staged to look as though we did it." She said this and the air became suffocating with the dread.
Beta Cinis cursed but Alpha Fumus remained silent with only his twitching tail expressed his anger, but Sabina interjected at this point "Regardless, I don't think we have to worry until after the great gathering"
Alpha Fumus nodded and Beta Cinis looked at them both in confusion "Why not?"
Sabina looked at the young wolf "Vampires are slightly weakened during the full moon but during a eclipsed moon, they have no power to defeat us when we are at our strongest"
Alpha Fumus nodded in agreement, and both Betas turned their gazes upon him as he whispered "We'll discuss this after the great gathering."
Sabina nodded and slowly began to stand feeling the end of the meeting had come, only to suddenly feel sore. She twitched her tail in irritation when a wolf's voice came from the entrance of the cave "Alpha Fumus. The hunting party has returned."
Alpha Fumus nodded to them both "You may go to eat"
Sabina lowered her head below Alpha Fumus's "I think I shall retire early"
Alpha Fumus nodded to Sabina as he too stiffly rose to his feet as he grunted "Rest easy Beta Nix."
Sabina smiled. Alpha Fumus understood the aches of a warrior during the cold months of the year, however the young wolves like Beta Cinis did not.
"Are you sure Beta Nix?" asked the young wolf as he went to follow her into the tunnel leading outside.
Alpha Fumus smiled as he said "Beta Cinis would you care to stay back a moment?"
"O-f course" said Beta Cinis as he tried to glance between Sabina and his grandfather.
She lowered her head to them both and began to exit the den ignoring their dull tones as Alpha Fumus brought up the great ceremony again. She knew it was a ploy so she could escape Beta Cinis's nagging, and she smiled.
"I owe you one" she thought as she went deeper into the tunnel leading to the opening.