The people went ballistic, believing A-nac's claims. The noise hurts my ears and I saw my parents rushed out of our home, checking what the people are gathering for.
"Adir, your daughter has lost it this time. She killed Victor's kid, Bulos in cold blood." The village leader told my father, the group adding more grotesque information to provoke the bereaved parents' more and to instigate the crowd. They are all riled up without observing due process.
My mother became horrified and shouted that there must be a reason for my action, but my father hushed her and looked at me, his eyes full of admonition. He must've thought that I lost control of my wolf and went mad, killing one of the kids who has been giving me a hard time. I gradually shook my head, struggling hard not to shed a tear.
My father's face crumpled in anger, ordering people to make way for them. The people split in two reluctantly but not without criticizing my parents for covering up for their child.
"Look at the weapon on her back. Isn't it a snow knife? Doesn't she usually use her spear? She's guilty!" The village leader made sure that the while community heard it. Merimma gently took the weapon lodged in my girdle. Her husband opened the door and held Shiavur to take him home inside the house. But he was grunting and twitching, his eyes settling on me before he disappeared behind the door.
"See? That my knife!" A-nac pointed at the mark on the handle. "She took us by surprise and killed Bulos." My mother and father let out sigh of relief, my mom smiled at me. Merimma also noticed the change in their demeanor but decided not to comment on it.
"So my daughter, took your snow knife? And killed one of you who are much more experienced and bigger than her?" My father repeated A-nac's words and placed more emphasis on words he found questionable.
The people's murmurs paused a bit and examined the height and weight difference between me and my accusers. Technically, it's only A-nac who has been loud and annoying, the rest are behind him, scared and silent.
"Don't let him fool you! Karah has been harboring grudge against us. There are times that Adir has been picking on us, too. That must've gave her courage to get back at us!" A-nac is trying to get support from the tribe. The tribe urges the village leader and guards to tie me up to a pole until they reach a verdict. And since someone has died, the judgement aims to level the crime and the punishment, in this case, death.
And I am unwilling to die for a crime I didn't commit. "You lie, A-nac. You and your gang always attack me first. You did the same today, you even shifted! But you went crazy because you lost!" Everyone went shock with my revelation, however the reaction was unexpected.
"You shifted!" The village leader and the elders congratulated him. The adults were pleased. A-nac will become the pride of the pack. Now, there's no way they would side me now. Even with his outrageous claims, they'll exterminate me so as to remove the stumbling block to A-nac's path.
My parents are distraught, but my father resisted the guards trying to get a hold of me.
The village leader raises his hand and spoke, "We haven't retrieved the boy's body and I'm sure Victor and his wife wanted justice to be swiftly served. Adir's daughter will be chained to the poll so she won't escape and disappear, again." The village leader with his guards left abruptly. Before the other elders take me, my father whispered to me.
"I'll go with them so they won't tamper with the body and the surroundings." He brushed my cheek, encouraging me that all will be well. "No matter what happens, don't shift. Sefer, you may not like this…"
My mother's eyes went wide in disbelief, "You're asking me to ask help from that woman? Are you crazy? Remember that I just decided to forgive you!" So my father is asking mom to contact the princess, perhaps to ask for their help. My mother disagreed, saying she'll be staying by my side to protect me.
The village leader's group is about to disappear from view and my father knew they have shifted to arrive at the scene quicker. Since my father can't persuade my mother anymore. He shifted and galloped to the forest.
I know my father is the strongest and fastest in the pack, but it would be difficult to face a number of shifters head on if the baron decides to take action.
My mother asked the guards to be considerate of me but all they did was to push and shove me here and there. Once we have reached the middle of the plaza, they cuffed me with a chain of silver and bound me hands and feet. I screamed in pain, my mother can only watch from a far and cry. I want to shift and break free, but I know that it will not fare well for me and my family if I do it. I remembered Suri and Alphos, but they are on the run, too. Alphos needs to be ready for the kingship awaiting him. I have to endure, for my parents, for myself and the only friend that I ever had.
---------------------------------------------
The day passes, but not without suffering. I'm hungry and the cuffs burn so badly. I waited for my father's return but he hasn't come back yet. I decided to sleep on hunger and pain, but Jezebel and the other kids keep on taunting me.
But A-nac's friends are watching me, hiding behind one of the houses near the plaza. They are discussing among themselves and their hands and arms making exaggerated motions. I can't hear what they are discussing about. They know what really happened to their friend and A-nac is preventing them from talking about it.
My mother prepared a meal for me and knelt beside me to feed me. But the neighbors reprimanded her and said she's not allowed to do that. She spat back saying that no one has determined the killer yet, so she has no reason not to take care of me. Moreover, being chained like this is extrajudicial and my mom is free to do whatever she sees fit.
But Bulos' mom appeared and doused us with cold water, calling us names and screaming how excruciating my death will be. Surprisingly, A-nac's friends surrounded us and stopped Bulos' mom from harassing us any further.
"I thought you are my son's friends, why are you siding with his murderer?!" They didn't reply and bowed their heads. One of them even faced me, pity and sadness showing on his face
"Yes, I'm disappointed in you guys. Why are you trying to help them?" A-nac smiled mischievously, his face showing apparent exhilaration on my misery. I stood up and glared at him. He's a such a brute and liar at his young age. The community will be in a dire situation if they let someone like him be. But how can I stand up against him, when the pack clearly shows their support to this guy? His friends left the plaza, terrified of A-nac.
A-nac leaned and said, "Once you're dead, I'll be coming after your parents next…" I tried to pounce at him, the chains straightened and clanked. I fell back, the chain is too short and A-nac laughed at my attempt.
My mom embraced me, the metal sizzling her skin. She paid no heed to that and asked A-nac to leave.
"Why should I? Just who are you to order me around?" He is now being snarky and conceited.
"Leave my mom alone!" I'm in chains, no one will protect mom if A-nac goes physical on her and I'm strongly reminded by dad not to shift. He tries to grab my hair like he always does, but he got distracted by the sound of someone yelling. Merimma brought Shiavur in a wheelchair, I wonder why they are here? Shiavur lets out a lot of noise, trying to get our attention.
Merimma poised the wheelchair securely and waved the keys to the cuffs for everyone to see. My mom covered her mouth in joy and hugged me. I know that my dad will see things through!
"She's not getting away!" A-nac roared, partially shifting. His rage has come back and it's evident he'll stay that way until he eliminates me.
"CALL THE GUARDS!" Merimma exclaimed. Shiavur shouted and A-nac became angrier.
"Quiet you freak!" A-nac's body fully transformed into a were and jumped on Merimma, biting her arms and flinging her away from her son. My mom sprung on her feet and landed on A-nac's back.
He wriggled vigorously, while my mom tried to put him on chokehold. The spectators flee the scene, some of A-nac's minions tried to held Merimma up. The guards finally arrived and shot some tranquilizers towards A-nac, but instead of stopping, he became more agitated and snapped towards the guards.
My mom successfully shackled her hands together, lessening the shifted werewolf's breathing and wanting to make him pass out. But A-nac slammed his back on a pillar, freeing himself from my mom's grip.
"Mom!" The bolt securing the chains cracked a bit, but still holding the end of the chain to the ground. The guards are useless, I don't think they are even trying!
But someone in a hooded cloak caught my mom, a smaller hooded figure appearing next to it. They caught my mom in time, lessening the possible injury she might incur. My mom appeared shaken but she still has her eyes on me. "Karah…" She mumbled before fainting. I don't need to guess who they are, it's Suri and Alphos. Suri nodded at me and took my mom and the others aside to safety. She blocked A-nac's attacks with ice and pushed him away with an iced wall.
The smaller figure danced around A-nac, taunting him, putting the latter's attention away from the injured ones. "Your breath is the only thing that's killing me, dog." My heart fluttered, hearing his voice once again. I thought we'll never be able to see each other. Alphos glanced at my direction and winked. Seriously, he needs to concentrate at the battle before him.
Alphos' speech resonated in the air, "The Creator thunders from His throne, causing all to tremble great and small. People from Ra'am, hiding and forgotten, heed His call!"
Something is burning within me, from the depths of my heart to the palms of my hands. Sparks of blue crackled and hissed, I let out a string of lightning to cut the chain from the ground. I swung my cuffs and coil the chains around A-nac's hind legs. His wolf whimpered and howled. His fur and legs burned, but he broke them easily.
His movements haven't abated a bit and he bared his fangs at me. The guards finally jumped on him, only for them to be hit and tossed. A-nac' eyes got redder and redder, he started biting and separating the guards' limbs bit by bit. The survivors left and screamed for help.
"I missed you, Karah." Alphos landing beside me, pulling the cuffs from my wrists. It also damaged his hands but he only winced a little. "I'm sorry once again." He kissed my hand and looked at my wrists dolefully.
I felt my heart squeeze. I wonder what's going on, Maybe I'm terrified with what's happening. "He's mine…" I said, telling Alphos that I'll be the one to handle the berserk A-nac. He looks disappointed. With most people gone, I freed my claws once again. I scuffed both of his eyes and his body. He snarled in anger, and flailed his paws pointlessly. But before I landed my finishing blow, Alphos placed his hand over the wolf's head, rendering him unconscious, finally.
"I definitely said I'll handle him." I pouted, but Alphos raised his hand and disappeared.
"They are coming…" He said and bid me goodbye.
My father, in his wolf form with the others, arrived at the bloody scene. The village leader peering behind him, nervous and afraid, "What happened here?"