Sabina led Beta Cinis through the camp where they both could hear the excited chattering of the young wolves as they prepared for the ceremony. They passed the few dens before coming to a clearing far from the dens of the pack where the heavy smell of herbs and burnt wood permeated the air, to which regardless of Beta Cinis's attempts to not sneeze. He sneezed.
Sabina smiled before standing in front of the den as she called "Quinn!"
Immediately following her call, the clattering of objects within the den could be heard before suddenly, a gaunt grey wolf with misty brown eyes came face to face with Beta Cinis.
"Sabina!" Cried the male wolf as he shoved his nose into Beta Cinis's neck.
Beta Cinis jumped back in surprise while the wolf sneezed before he squinted at Beta Cinis "Sabina? When did you start reeking the scent of rotten meat?"
Beta Cinis scoffed but Sabina quickly stood between the two wolves as she said "That would be Beta Cinis."
Quinn smiled as he stuffed his nose into Sabina's fur to which she sighed as she heard him take a deep breath. She shook her head as she moved away from Quinn and said "Quinn, just because you are blind doesn't mean I won't hit you."
The wolf smiled warily as he took a step into his cave as he slyly looked back and said "Humor an old wolf would you?"
Sabina scoffed "You are only a few years older than Renmar."
The wolf scoffed "Huh. That pup is only twenty-eight years old! I am almost forty years old!"
Sabina smiled as she said "In nine years!"
The wolf and Sabina stood there a long moment looking at one another when Beta Cinis said aloud "Doesn't that mean Quinn is only three years older than Renmar? I thought he was as old as my grandfather honestly"
Sabina smiled as Quinn said proudly "Four years. Thank you very much."
Quinn stuck his nose in air as he turned and sat facing his cave, Sabina sighed as she looked at Beta Cinis and whispered "Apologize."
Beta Cinis shook his head as he said in confusion "For what?!"
Sabina shook her head and whispered "Apologize for mentioning the fact he looks like your grandfather!"
Beta Cinis scoffed but Sabina just looked at him for a long time before he sighed and said "I'm sorry for mentioning your age."
Quinn immediately got to his feet as he whipped around and said "Apology accepted!"
Beta Cinis's eyes went wide but Quinn quickly went back to Sabina as he chuckled "To be honest for a moment there I thought you had lost your wonderful scent."
Sabina smiled and shook her head as she looked at Beta Cinis "No, I have not. However I don't think Beta Cinis enjoyed being told he smelt like rotten meat."
Quinn shrugged as he grumbled "Its not my fault he does."
Beta Cinis felt jilted but it wasn't the fact he had to apologize for mentioning the old geezer's age or the fact the old wolf didn't appear to be sorry for being rude to him. It was the fact Sabina allowed that old wolf to stuff his nose into her fur. He wanted to do that.
Beta Cinis came back to the conversation as he heard Sabina say in a motherly voice "I see you haven't been eating Quinn."
Quinn smiled as he quickly glanced from Sabina to Beta Cinis "I see you have grown, young Fenar."
Sabina sighed at Quinn's very obvious dive from the subject as she stepped to the side, allowing Quinn to move closer to Beta Cinis.
Quinn smiled as he touched Beta Cinis's head with his paw as he mumbled "Just as tall as your father"
Beta Cinis also gave a grin of pride only to shrink back when suddenly Quinn's nose was inches from his own. Beta Cinis glanced at Sabina as he tucked his nose into his chest only to focus back upon Quinn who said "Young Fenar, I have heard you have the eyes of your mother. Is this true?"
Beta Cinis glanced at Sabina nervously as the gaunt wolf walked around him inspecting his physique, but she offered no aid as she began smiling watching the wolf walk around him. Beta Cinis sighed as relaxed and said "Yes, it's true."
Quinn nodded as he looked at Sabina "Now I see why you call young Fenar, Young Alpha."
Beta Cinis cocked his head but before he could ask Quinn about his comment the wolf shouted "Now! Why are you here young Fenar? I don't suppose you came to appease my blind eyes with your presence, did you?"
"Sadly not, Quinn. I am going to perform the ceremony tonight." Beta Cinis said proudly.
"Wow! Congratulations!" Said the wolf as he smiled when suddenly he mumbled "It is about time you performed your Alpha duties."
Beta Cinis scoffed but Sabina bumped him and he glanced at her as she mind linked "He thinks he thought that comment."
Beta Cinis made a face of oh as he watched Quinn was still talking to himself about the fact Beta Cinis was still not alpha when Sabina suddenly said "Well then I will leave you in Quinn's paws, young Alpha."
Quinn smiled but Beta Cinis shook his head quickly with his eyes wide as he said "What?! Where are you going?!"
Sabina smiled at Beta Cinis as she said "How else is Renmar to know he is performing it with you?"
Beta Cinis smiled quickly as he said "Mind Link!"
Sabina chuckled and Quinn suddenly came back to the conversation as he dived between the two wolves and winked at Sabina as he shouted "I have him Sabina! Don't worry I'll mark him with the colors of the clan beautifully!"
Suddenly Beta Cinis felt Quinn bumping him into the den and even though Beta Cinis tried to resist the gaunt wolf, he was stuck slowly going down the tunnel den as he heard Sabina call after him "I'll tell Renmar!"
But just as she disappeared from view he felt her enter his mind as she said "And best wishes young Alpha."
Renmar stood outside the cave of the young wolve's den to hear them bickering within. He sighed as he mind linked with all the young wolves within the cave as he said "Get out of that cave now."
Quickly all eight young wolves filed out of the cave before forming their own little groups to which Renmar noticed most of the wolves were around Sakara. That was except Xavier, Winvor and Denmar. Yet Renmar began to notice Denmar was looking at Sakara as though if he was looking at an odd object with a sudden interest and respect, making Renmar wonder what had inspired the young wolf to look at Sakara differently.
"Get your attire and ready yourselves for the ceremony." stated Renmar.
Xavier was the first to walk forward as he said sarcastically "So the ceremony is still happening?"
"Even after appointing that wolf leader of the ceremony?" Scoffed Winvor before he chuckled "What was Beta Cinis thinking appointing a wolf like that as Ceremonial leader." Winvor turned and sneered as he turned to face Sakara who was standing not too far away.
Renmar saw the hesitance behind Sakara's eyes and he let his presence enter into the young wolf's mind as he said "Well?"
Sakara's eyebrows came together in confusion as he kept his gaze upon Winvor and asked "Well what?"
"Well are you going to let them question not only your value but also the orders of their Alpha to be?" asked Renmar smiling to himself as he was technically causing a fight between the young wolves but he felt it would aid Sakara in the future if they fought it out today.
Renmar felt the rage suddenly fill the young wolf's mind as Sakara growled in his mind "You won't stop me right?"
Renmar raised an eyebrow but got to his feet as he said aloud "Prepare yourselves and cease your bickering."
Sakara watched after Renmar as Winvor went into his face and smirked but Sakara only glared at the wolf not sure what to do.
Winvor scoffed as he growled "What are you going to do about it, rogue pup?"
Xavier laughed as he said "Or are you going to call Sabina to come save you?"
Sakara felt as though Renmar had dangled a carrot on a stick in front of him by leaving his question to hang in the air. Sakara sighed when Renmar's voice filled his mind again"As long as you don't kill them, I won't."
Sakara pounced Winvor just as Renmar finished the sentence making Winvor bark in surprise, as he was knocked to the ground under the black wolf. Winvor snapped his teeth together as he tried to bite back when suddenly Sakara's jaws were enclosed around his shoulder piercing the flesh under the gray and white fur with Sakara's teeth.
All the young wolves jumped back in shock and even a few squeaked in fear, save Renmar who watched from behind a group of bushes not too far away. Renmar smiled as he saw Xavier standing like an idiot as Sakara ravaged his lackey. Renmar's smile disappeared however as Sakara ripped out a chunk of meat from Winvor's right shoulder.
Renmar's eyes went wide as he watched Winvor scream in pain and fear as he looked up at the demon-like wolf holding his flesh in its mouth. Renmar suddenly felt he might have not put up enough of a rule, as he watched the blood pool out of the slowly healing wound and the chunk of meat in Sakara's mouth fall on the snow.
Renmar went to step out of the bushes to calm Sakara down after he watched blood drip from the wolf's canines when Xavier suddenly jumped at Sakara. Renmar suddenly felt the situation was getting out of hand and stood to stop the situation before it became deadly, but he stopped himself as he watched Sakara suddenly move to the side and grab Xavier's scruff and threw him. Xavier went flying in the air before he collided into the trunk of a pine tree sending snow down upon Xavier.
Renmar stared flabbergasted at the young wolf's skill, but even as he was proud, he also wondered what he had released upon the young wolves. Sakara's drool colored by Winvor's blood dripped from his jaws onto Winvor's face as he snarled at Winvor, who whimpered and cowered beneath Sakara with his belly up in the hopes Sakara would have mercy,
Sakara's snarls became soft growls as he opened his jaw and lightly bit Winvor's belly. Winvor growled and went to bite at Sakara but Sakara quickly grabbed a hold of Winvor's top jaw and bit into it. Winvor writhed beneath Sakara trying to free his top jaw when Sakara began to close his jaw slowly.
Immediately Winvor began whimpering and became still, yet Sakara did not release Winvor. Sakara stared long and hard into Winvor's brown eyes when Winvor closed his eyes in defeat, but once the wolf closed his eyes Sakara released the wolf's jaw before he once again began biting Winvor's belly. Renmar knew the threat Sakara was implying and as did Winvor because this time Winvor did not retaliate but in fact kept his eyes closed with his ears against his head.
Sakara licked his lips as he slowly turned his gaze upon Xavier who was still coming too after colliding into the tree. Renmar suddenly felt fur brush his and he quickly looked to see Sabina sitting next to him with her gaze upon Sakara.
"When did you get here?" Renmar said through mindlinking as he sat down next to her.
Sabina looked away from Sakara to Renmar as she said "I came to tell you that you are to help with the ceremony."
"Why are you not performing it?" Renmar asked confused by the sudden responsibility.
Sabina smiled at Renmar as she said "The Young Alpha felt it would best to perform the ceremony without any distractions."
"At least he has thought that through." Renmar scoffed. Renmar was too knowledgeable of the alluring scent females gave off during the full moon, and it was not an exception to Sabina. However Renmar noticed Sabina's scent seemed to be far more powerful compared to the other two females of the clan.
Even though through age Renmar had begun to control his urges, it was a whole new experience to the young wolves coming to age which was why Sabina had the tendency to disappear during the full moon. Renmar turned his gaze back to the fight when the sudden movement of Xavier getting to his feet caught Renmar's attention.
Xavier raced across the distance between him and Sakara before once more leaping at Sakara. However instead of feeling Sakara's flesh in his teeth, Xavier once more felt his scruff in the wolf's jaws before colliding once more into the tree. Xavier coughed up a bit of blood as the pain in his lung pierced through his body as he realized he must have broken a rib.
Sakara's eyes only seemed to exhibit the signs of an animal as he slowly advanced towards Xavier who had blood slowly dripping from his temple. Xavier looked around the gathered wolves for help but the other wolves only stared in shock and fear.
"Well are you going to do something?" shouted Xavier as he leaned hard into the tree but no wolf moved forward and Xavier felt his heart plummet. He was alone to fight this demon. It was then that his eyes settled on Denmar.
"Denmar! Do something?!" screeched Xavier as Sakara was only a few feet away from the tree where he cowered.
Sakara halted and turned his glowing eyes to Denmar who shook his head as he said "Did you forget your place Xavier? You may have but I have not."
Xavier's jaw dropped as Sakara whipped around and tackled Xavier ripping out fur as Sakara began trying to get at the flesh beneath it. Xavier screeched in fear as he bit at Sakara's throat but even though Xavier was ripping out black tuffs of fur, Sakara did not stop biting even after blood began to fill his mouth.
Xavier bit at Sakara's head to which he finally grabbed ahold of Sakara'a ear and jerked his head back ripping a small chunk off. Sakara growled before he grabbed Xavier's scruff and tossed him away from the tree again. Xavier was gasping in pain before Sakara once more pounced on him in the middle of the clearing. Xavier however seeing Sakara was in the air rolled onto his back and kicked Sakara away who skidded across the white snow.
Sakara shook his head sending small droplets of blood from his ear into the snow as he cackled "Fighting back are we?"
Renmar shifted uncomfortably as Sabina cocked an eyebrow as she heard the joy in Sakara's voice, she looked at Renmar as she whispered "I assume you gave him permission to do this so I have to ask; what were the conditions?"
Renmar could not look Sabina in eyes as he mumbled "As long as he didn't kill them it was fine."
Sabina cocked her eyebrow as she sighed and looked away "Idiot."
Renmar closed his eyes as he said "I didn't think he would take it this far."
Sabina looked at him in disbelief before she shook her head and whispered "Hidden anger is an anger far more dangerous than one which is seen. That is why wars occur after a long period of distraught. However this is an anger that must be directed not let loose to do as one pleases"
Renmar looked at Sabina for a long moment as he suddenly felt he was looking in those eyes again. Those eyes he had seen in the elders years ago, the eyes of the knowing and of a guilty soul.
"You think you'll get away with this rouge pup?" shouted Xavier once more catching Renmar's attention.
Sakara was still drooling into the snow turning it pink as he growled "Even if I don't, I'll be worth it watching you bleed. Besides who says I won't get away with it?"
Xavier laughed "Huh! Well the Alpha will side with me over a rogue pup, even Beta Cinis will! Especially if he sees this sorry sight."
Sakara flinched and Xavier smiled "You will be abandoned out there and you truly will be a rogue for what you have done to me."
Renmar felt the change of air next to him when suddenly a voice in the direction of the caves came making even renmar suddenly feel like cowering.
"Who would side with a coward like you?"
Renmar knew the voice even before looking at the owner. It was Beta Cinis.
Sabina looked over her shoulder and smiled as she stood and walked past Renmar.
Renmar almost jumped out of his skin as Sabina said "Young Alpha you have returned."
Renmar quickly looked up to see a long gray haired man standing in the snow barefoot with just the bare minimum of clothing covering his pelvic region. He stood arrogantly with streaks of black paint from his chest to his bare feet, while his face had white and black streaks over the middle of his cheeks but did not color his pale white nose or diminish his shining blue eyes.
He was gazing upon the wolves before him as he cocked a gray eyebrow at Xavier "Well answer me."
Xavier just stared in shock for a moment when Sakara growled causing the young wolf to come back to as he lowered his head "Because he is a rogue pup."
Beta Cinis scoffed as he walked forward grabbed Xaviers throat and held him to the ground as he growled "Rogue pup? That's right he is a rogue pup. However let me tell you a secret."
Beta Cinis leaned over close to Xavier's ear for a moment and much to everyone's surprise Xavier's proud eyes began to water as his eyes went wide while he looked at Sakara. Sakara seemed confused like the others but taking the moment for what it was he smiled showing the meat and blood in his mouth, and Xavier whimpered.
Beta Cinis pulled away and smiled as he looked at Sakara and said "Well then… why are you not ready yet?"
Sakara nodded at Beta Cinis and said "All of you get changed the moon is going to be coming out soon."
All the young wolves picked up their attire from the bag and the girls went into the cave first, before exiting out of the cave wearing rather skimpy outfits. The boys whistled before entering the cave after they exited. Quinn however appeared randomly next to Renmar and quickly ushered him in the direction of his cave.
Winvor limped into the cave as he slowly began to heal followed by Xavier who had walked away from Beta Cinis with his tail between his legs.
Sabina smiled as she watched Beta Cinis's aura almost seemed to command authority as he walked up to them, yet even in his human form Sabina noticed he only barely came to her chin.
"Congratulations young Alpha." Sabina said as she lowered her head beneath his.
Beta Cinis smiled as he felt Sabina's praise within his soul when he noticed that the moon was beginning to turn a hue of pink. Sabina see his glaze above her and she looked up to see the moon.
Beta Cinis couldn't help but look at Sabina who after a long moment turned her gaze back to him "There is no need to worry."
Beta Cinis felt she was lying but she smiled as she said "Do not worry. The moon means nothing."
Beta Cinis nodded but still stood next to Sabina when he suddenly had the urge to pet her head, he quickly shook his head trying to clear the thoughts away but as he stared at her fur began to reach out his hand. He bit his lip as he prepared himself for Sabina to bite his hand when he letting his hand land upon her head, which caught him by surprise that fur was soft like that of the blue grass in the fields.
He smiled to himself as he began petting her fur when suddenly Sabina said "I am not a pet."
Beta Cinis slowly removed his hand and they stood in silence for a long moment when Sabina said "How did it feel?"
Beta Cinis bit his lip as he said "Soft."
Sabina nodded as she stood upon seeing the young wolves gathering once again yet they all seemed to want to hide themselves as they blushed from the cold and embarrassment. However Sabina only saw the future with the young wolves gathered.
Sabina smiled at Beta Cinis nodded as she turned to leave when Beta Cinis said "Young wolves, when you see Beta Nix in the morning you will no longer be pups but full-fledged members of the pack. So let us hear some words from her."
The young wolves smiled as Sabina turned back to the humans to let her eyes see the colors of their fur in their hair but as her eyes settled on Abby, Omaris and Sakara she couldn't help but smile to herself. Abby's glowing long red hair stood out in the moonlight allowing Sabina to see the joy in Abby's brown eyes as she looked at Sabina.
Sabina smiled as she said "Alright then. Congratulations to you all on reaching this time in your life, and from this moment on you will have a place in this clan."
Omaris's baby blue eyes glowed as he looked at Sariah who stared straight ahead at Sabina, Sabina smirked but continued as she said "And for those of you who meet your other half this night I hope you have all the years ahead to spend with them."
Sabina's eyes finally settled on Sakara who looked at her with golden eyes making his long pitch black hair glow in the night, yet as she looked at him she couldn't help but feel he was willing her to stay. She smiled and shook her head as she said "Your future is in your hands young wolves after this moment, so live it the way you wish. Live it the way you want it to be remembered."
Sabina looked at the bruised and battered men not far away to see Xavier looking at her, she looked at him for a long time and said "Remember what I said today and your lives in the future will be ones without regret."
Xavier stared at her for a long moment as he tried to think whether she was simply applying it to the wolves as a whole or just to him. Sabina nodded to Beta Cinis as she turned and walked away with Quinn who appeared not long later with Renmar who smiled at her with his yellow eyes gleaming in the light.
She nodded to Renmar who reciprocated the nod which sent his shoulder length gray hair tied into a pony tail to swish, she smiled and departed without a word with Quinn in tow in the direction of his herbal cave.
Sabina looked at Quinn as she asked "Did you teach him how to do it?"
Quinn shrugged as he looked over his shoulder at Beta Cinis and said "I am sure he'll do fine."
Sabina smiled as she said "I have a favor to ask."
Quinn stopped just outside his den as he looked at her for a moment.
"What sort of favor?" He asked skeptically.
"I need Qiu." Sabina sighed as she realized that even mentioning the herb would be suspicious.
Quinn looked at her for a moment before he asked "For what?"
Sabina glared at Quinn "Does it matter?"
Quinn cocked his head "Kind of. After all that is a herb for fast healing…. Did you get hurt?"
Sabina shook her head as she said "Will you give it to me?"
Quinn sighed as he turned into his cave and said "Yes. But you will owe me an explanation."
Sabina nodded but as Quinn returned with a root like plant with purple stems that came to flower shaped leaves he said "I hope you know what you're doing. I don't think Alpha Fumus will allow another one in the clan."
Sabina smiled half-hazardally as she mumbled "I wouldn't allow it in the clan even if it was my last option."
Quinn cocked his head as he heard her last mumble "It?"
Sabina smiled as she turned away going into the forest as she mind linked "If the young Alpha comes for me tell him I went to bathe."
Quinn watched her disappear into the forest in the direction of the ravine leading out of the valley like a ghost, and he sighed.
"Sabina….please be careful." Quinn whispered as he disappeared into the herbal den.