Wolf Moon

Transition

In a small town in Washington under near constant clouds resides a small tribe, the Quileute's. My family had been on these lands for centuries and as the world around us changed we adapted to protect ourselves. A gene was pasted down from the elders that allowed the men in our tribes to transition into wolves when the enemy was near. Our enemy, the pale faces, had plagued our lands before the treaty. These cold ones were different and the Chief, Alpha Black, signed this treaty with the Aldrich Clan. They swore to stay off our lands and to not harm any humans. In return they could live in the towns around us, most recently Forks. 
As the men in our tribe come to age if the enemy still lives, our tribe will continue to transition. I was the most recent member to join the pack. An outcast, as I am the first recorded female to transition in our tribes history. This meant imprinting and finding a mate where a definite for me. Unfortunately I was already betrothed to the Alphas son. Our parents created this pack as it is now and my father held the Beta title. Since my transition I have been doing everything in my power to train, to become strong enough to protect my pack and my family. My father put me up for the Gamma position, I was in my year of training before the old Gamma could retire. As long as we can transition we can remain strong, but as the years pass our pack has another transition from pack members to elders. Elders cannot hold a place in the pack hierarchy and must join the council. At this time the Alphas son would take over and the elders will claim their places and stop transitioning.
I attend school on the reservation and spend the rest of my time training to take the Gammas place. Kota and I have been best friends since birth, the betrothal was a normal occurrence in the tribe, a tradition amongst the pack hierarchy. Since we were a closed reservation betrothal to other tribes was obsolete now. Kota and I made sense, we knew we weren't mates but the chances of finding your mate was another practice that was becoming obsolete. My parents were lucky that they found each other, they were the last of our tribe to find their mate. It's been 17 years. Kota and I were the best for each other and the best for this pack. I could hold both the Luna and Gamma titles until we start our own families. We still had plenty of time to find the new Gamma.
I was going to be on patrol tonight so after class I went home to enjoy dinner with my parents. I transitioned and ran my way to our house by the river. We were right on the boarder, but far enough into the woods that the Aldrich clan was unaware of our residence. The log cabin house was still in perfect condition 17 years after it was built. My parent made this place with their own two hands and everything was perfectly to my mothers liking. Their love was laced into every log and nail. The vegetation had grown up the cabin into perfect webs of ivy. When I opened the sliding glass doors that lead to the kitchen my father was reading the paper and my mother was humming while spinning around the kitchen making dinner. They both looked up and gave me warm smiles and my mother opened her arms to engulf me into a hug.
"How was school Ella?" My mother asked warmly. "I have my first patrol tonight." I said while grabbing an apple from the fruit basket and taking a big bite. My mother turned her head at my answer. "No Ella, I don't think I asked how training was going." She said wryly. I sighed, "Schools fine but we both know that pursuing my education is not something I need. I need to be here for this pack." I took another bite of the apple and chewed slowly. She gave me another sideward glance and resumed her chopping of vegetables. I went and sat next to my father as I finished my apple. He didnt look up from the paper, probably lost in thought. I coughed a little hoping to get his attention.
Finally I waved my hand in his face, "Earth to Dad." He folded up the paper and sat it down to make eye contact with me. "Do you have anything to add to the conversation?" I asked. He smiled at me and stood up. He ruffled my black hair and sighed, "You know I never wanted this life for you. But you are doing your duties. What more could I ask for, huh?" I beamed at him. He understood what I was going through. My mother was never apart of the pack, she doesn't know our duties to protect this land and these people. I went up into my room and changed into shorts and a T-shirt. The questions where burning in my mind tonight. Why me? Why was I different? Things nobody could explain. As I finished changing I grabbed my go bag and put the necessities for an after patrol shower at the pack house. I would be spending the night there along with Kota and the other trainees. I was so happy to see him after a long school week.
I returned down stairs to a fresh fish fry with vegetables and rice. My parents where already sat with my plate sitting in front of an empty chair. I took my place and we began eating. My father and I scarfed down the food like usual and mother took her time. She knew we both needed our calories for the transition and never failed to fill us up. After dinner I kissed my parents goodbye as I headed to the pack house.
Kota was the first to greet me, his eye always beamed every time he saw me. He enveloped me into a bear hug. "Ella it's so nice for you to be joining us." He said mockingly while shoving me forward. I pushed back at him, "Ha ha, I know so funny a woman doing a mans job." He laughed as we joined the others. Matto and Honon where already ready sitting in the corner giving us the side eye. Not too many men where okay with me taking the Gamma place when I first transitioned a year ago. But my skills where unmatched, none of these boys could surpass me and they knew it. It made them bitter. Despite that, my future titles gave me some rank in rallying these boys for the patrol.
"Alrighty boys lets get together to go over this game plan. We are sticking to boarder patrol only tonight. Keep it in formation and don't let anything slip through the cracks. We are the first line of defense tonight. I'm expecting a slow night, eyes low, ears up. Alright lets go." We all headed toward the back of the house and broke into a sprint. We transitioned and headed to our quadrants. Through our mind link I called out to them. Kota's leading this so any reports need to be linked to him. I heard their howls of approval and headed south towards the boarder. We knew Aldrich's clan was back in town and we knew where they hunted. We just needed to keep them away from out lands. They have never broken the treaty since it was signed. But there were reports of other cold ones in Seattle. Those where the ones we were scared of. It was our duty to protect all of the life around us and especially involving our tribe.