Still Human

Chapter 7: Pack Mentality

                               Chapter seven

                                Pack Mentality

        The winds grow colder and the days shorter, the month of October is one that brings the changing of the seasons and with it an eeriness of times dead and gone.

        It has been three months since the former hunter joined the pack known as Genus, in that time many transformations have taken place and bonds have been formed but the passing of time has not erased the long memory of his enemies.

       Deep within the cave tunnels, Damon finds himself sitting in isolation, he tries to focus his mind while the beast within continuously snaps and snarls with its animalistic energies; his control of the beast has grown stronger but it does not come without its struggles.

      His stillness is overcome by a sudden twitch caused by a chill radiating down his spine, the once calm and empty mind is refocused to the sound of Claudia and her siblings helping themselves to the contents of his bag.

       Damon allows the beast within to bare teeth, he stalks his way to the trouble.

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       Arriving at his cot, he witnesses Remy rifling through his duffle bag, Mackenzie gliding her fingers across his gleaming silver sword and Claudia reading aloud the details of his state ID "Damon Jericho Acosta. Brown hair, brown eyes; born October 31, 1973... your 18th birthday is tomorrow."

      Mackenzie looks at him with a smile "I love birthdays."

      Mackenzie's smile is bright enough to bring a momentary lapse in Damon's anger until Remy dumps the entirety of the duffle bag onto the cave floor.

      Damon without a second thought tackles Remy to the ground but before any blows could be exchanged, Claudia separates the two by tossing Damon from the ledge and down a five foot drop; he crashes to the hard surface, knocking the wind out of his lungs.    

      Claudia leaps down, she hovers over Damon while she speaks "You're still learning the rules so you get this light warning, you do not fight in the den. You keep that attitude out there in the wild... we're not animals."

      She pulls away then extends her hand out to assist him to his feet, he grits his teeth before accepting the help.

       Damon catches his breath and searches for the right words before speaking "Are there no rules against going through another pack members possessions?"

       Claudia rolls her eyes before speaking "You have our protection but you have not been accepted as a member yet. As for your things... it was wrong of us but you left us no choice, it's been three months and you barely speak. We hardly know you at all."

       Damon struggles to explain himself  "I... I gave you the hunting borders, the tracking zones... is that not enough?"

       Claudia responds calmly "No... it's about trust Damon, a pack is a family; not a group of individuals... hopefully you'll learn that."

       Claudia begins to walk away before Damon continues speaking "And what if I don't learn?"

       Claudia continues walking away while she answers "Well... there's always the omega life."

      The words send the familiar chill down his spine until Mackenzie comes to stand beside him, with a bright smile on her face she asks "So what do you normally do for your birthday?"