Grey and Red

Chapter 1 ~ The Alpha

Howler's POV:

I awoke as soon as the sun hit my face. I growled as a servant entered my quarters. "I thought you'd know better than to disrupt your alpha". "I'm sorry sir but there's a canis downstairs who wishes to speak to you he's very angry" the servant stuttered. I nodded and got up nonetheless. I clutched a pendant around my neck and leapt into my creature form. I looked in the mirror at the black furred canis with orange eyes in front of me. I grinned to myself before heading downstairs. The servants all shivered in my presence. I held my head up higher as thunder roared above me in the clouds. I sat down in the throne room waiting for my sister. Echo finally came downstairs in her creature form; a grey canis. "Finally, what took you so long?" I grumbled. "I was getting ready" she growled under her breath, her blue eyes flashing a hint of annoyance. "Let the canis in" I snapped to a servant who sat beside my throne. He nodded and ran to the doors, switching a lever. The doors slowly opened and a canis in his bipedal form walked in. I nodded as an ok for him to speak. "My house was broken into last night by two vulpes one of fennec fur the other of red fur" he growled. "I see what did they steal if anything?" Echo asked him. "They stole five chickens!" he practically yelled. I held my paw up for silence before transforming into my bipedal form. I put my hands in my lap and looked at him then looked at a servant. "Get this canis six chickens from outside and take him back to his house. If you don't know who the vulpes' were then I can't help you" I growled. The canis gave a slight nod before following a servant outside. "It seems all everyone complains about is the vulpes I'm fucking tired of these theives stealing from my people" I groaned. "Relax Howler you don't have to get so angry about such a small thing" Echo remarked. "I'm gonna find Cobalt" I shook off her comment. I transformed into my creature form before leaping across the hallway. I stopped at a door and hit it with my tail "Cobalt you in there?" I howled. "Coming" a thin voice whispered from inside. Cobalt is my best friend. He's a bit different from me. He's of arctic fur which means his weather powers can only control snow and hail. The door finally opened and a white haired boy with pale blue eyes stood in front of me. I quickly transformed into my bipedal form to talk to him on that level. "What's up Howler?" Cobalt asked me. Only my family and trusted friends ever called me anything other than Alpha. "Not much another complaint about the vulpes' is all" I growled. "Calm down it's only a matter of time before they're caught anyway" Cobalt nudged my shoulder. One more fact about Cobalt is that he's blind he relies solely on his sense of smell and hearing to get around. "Well we should go have something to eat its morning after all," I suggested. "Sure thing" Cobalt nodded before clutching a white pendant around his neck. He transformed into a white canis that looked similar to my black canis except fluffier hence the arctic fur. Cobalt gracefully leapt down the staircase you couldn't even tell he was blind. I smirked and followed landing next to him, causing him to smile at me. "Life's not a competition Howler you should know that" Cobalt tried to say it in a serious manner but couldn't help laughing. I began to walk into the dining room with Cobalt following close behind me. I gave a small smile when I saw a grey canis sitting at the table. "Hey Echo" I said before hopping onto my throne at the head of the table. "Hey I was wondering when you two would get here I was waiting forever" Echo rolled her eyes. Cobalt sat next to me but I couldn't help notice his face looked a lot more flushed than it did before. "Cobalt, how many times have I told you to stop hitting on my sister?" I grumbled. Cobalt's face turned bright red and he almost fell off his chair. "I wasn't I was just y'know hot I have more fur than you do" Cobalt replied sheepishly. I rolled my eyes and turned to a servant "Venison is fine for me". "Yes sir absolutely and for you ma'am?" He said, turning to Echo. "Venison for me as well" Echo replied with a flick of her ear. I could tell she was getting annoyed. She always had such a short temper that anything could annoy her. "And you Cobalt?" the servant asked him. "Oh um venison is fine" Cobalt replied, still quite embarrassed. The servant nodded and ran back to get our food. Servants were neither canis nor vulpes they were human, the disgusting creatures that were responsible for causing so much environmental damage which is why they were enslaved by the royal family mostly but any other wealthy families had servants as well. Our world has the materials for technology but preferred to keep our medieval age to keep our forests clean along with the air we breath. Finally the servant returned with three platters of venison drenched in a delectable sauce with fresh greens on the side. The servant delivered our food and asked if we needed anything else. "That will be all for me other than that I would like to announce something to the kingdom. A gala will be held in the palace hopefully we'll find out who the thieving vulpes are soon enough" I chuckled. "You're not doing this for a mate?" The servant asked. My eyes turned to slits and I couldn't help but growl "I don't have to do anything I don't want to do I don't care for women none of the canis women are even attractive". "Sorry sir I didn't mean to-" The servant quickly apologized. I flicked my hand in an away motion. The servant nodded and left. "Y'know a mate doesn't sound too bad" Cobalt shrugged. "Cobalt I swear if you're talking about Echo again" I groaned. Cobalt's face returned to its bright red color. "Speaking of which you actually do need to find someone if you want to be queen one day" I turned to her. "What if I don't want to be queen, what if I want to be alpha like you?" Echo turned away. "Well that's never been possible before hence why I ask you to set your goals to something more realistic" I rolled my eyes. "Ugh! I can do it, I'm not a little girl anymore Howler!" Echo complained. I turned away from her. I hated upsetting her but sometimes I needed to tell her the truth. Cobalt frowned upon hearing the conversation. One thing about Cobalt is he has a huge crush on my sister who's five years younger than me and four years younger than him. It's not something I want to force her into especially since she doesn't want a mate anyway. Echo slammed her plate down on the table before transforming into her creature form and running out of the room. I rang a bell and a servant came to collect our plates. I waved goodbye to Cobalt before heading back to my room. I threw open the curtains and looked out of the balcony. I breathed a deep sigh and stared down at the town of Forest Hollow below me. I got out just in time to hear the sounds of the megaphones of the palace blasting my new announcement. 'Hello one and all there will be a gala at the palace this upcoming full moon! All vulpes' and canis' alike will attend and all are required by the alpha to attend this gala; those who do not show will be punished!'. I smiled upon hearing the announcement and headed back inside.