My Carpathian Wolf

Chapter 8

*****

"Niana? You sleep?" Anthony looked over to his left at me laying in the bed next to him.

"No."  I rolled and faced him.

I know this is a dream I can feel it but this is something I don't want to wake-up from. My companion, my brother, my twin, Anthony.

"I can't sleep. Do you think we can sneak for a run?" he asked.

If we're sneaking out this must mean we are no older then 5 or 6 this is before we lost our parents.

"Sure, can we bring Johnnie poo?" I asked while watching my brother tie his shoes.

"Duh! Hurry up and go get him already" Anthony rolling his eyes looking back down as his shoes.

Looking down I can see the cold wood floors underneath my bare feet as I run to the door of our bedroom. Opening the door slowing and sliding in between the crack I begin running down the long hall. Both sides of the wall lined with family photos of our ancestors and the temple members. Making a left turn down the hall I slow to a quiet top toe as I miss past my parents bed room with their door behind me I continue to run into I hit the door at the end.

Slowly cracking the door I can see John sleep next to his father. Moving around all the sleeping bodies of the guards who are off duty for the night, i tap on John's arm.

"Johnnie? Johnnie! Wake up!" I whisper. "Come on, wake up"

John rolls and faces me opening an eye looking at me. His hair is tussled and his face with sleep lines on it. John had to be at least 9 or 10 by how short his hair is. Still those eyes of his even in a dream they effect me. It was probably then at that age I realized that I could love no one aside from him.

"What's wrong kitten?"

"Come with us on a run" I say while pulling his up to a sitting position. John let's me pull him into standing and walks out with me quietly.

"But Malady its so late in the night, we would get in trouble if we're seen." John says once the door was closed.

I was about to reply when Anthony congress front around the corner smiling abd waving for us to hurry up. John and i begun running down the hall towards my brother as we make our escape to the hiding wall openings the maids us to get to the outside.

On the empty hall there is a old bookshelf. Pulling one of the fake books the shelf moves opening a stairway that leads to the back of the temple into the woods. Anthony leads the way with us behind him holding onto the wall as the shelf moves back in place. To a normal human it would bee pitch black but to the Carpathian the night is our favorite. John is in front of me laying while holding my hand, at this age all of my abilities haven't fully come in like my brothers have.

"Sss.... ow!!!" I whine, I had stepped on something sharp. I can feel my foot thumping and the pain tells me I must be bleeding a little.

"Stop girl you should have put shoes on you know you can't watch out for things in the night yet" as Anthony says that he is pulling something from off my foot and wiping at it. Even in the dark I can feel John's eyes on me.

"John carry my sister until we made it out." Anthony says as he continues to lead forward.

I can soon feel a hand grabbing mine pulling me to lean forward as I'm then picked up and am leaning against a warm back my arms around John's neck we walk.

"Is the pain unbearable kitten?"

John speaks in my mind. We only use mind link around my brother as to keep the conversation private.

"No I'm okay, really you don't have to carry me Johnnie"

I reply back to him burying my nose into his back. I can feel my face heating up as he continues to walk.

"But I want to.. I mean I don't want you to hurt yourself anymore. I don't mind carrying you, it feels good.... To help you i mean"

He is stuttering, he stutters when he is nervous I remember that.

"Thank you Johnnie"

"Always kitten"

******

"We need to circulate more patrols at night. Different packs and families will be coming in soon for the Fall Festival and we need to make sure that everyone arrives and leaves safely. I don't want any issues with the hunters running around to close to our land" I states.

It was early morning and I was holding a meeting with all my patrols and guards. Fall festival is when all Carpathians come back together from all over and we celebrate the old and the new life, kind of like a large family reunion. The only issue is when the wolves start to come in Hunters get antsy and attack any wolf passing through, we won't have a repeat of issues. Looking around the meeting hall I can see the excitement in the men's face, their sons and daughters will be visiting with their mates and children. Every few years I make an effort to allow packs to visit us in our land or vise versa. Its my way of giving to my people, I may have been chosen to lead but the people  are what keep my powerful. Looking to my left I can see John, I know his father and younger sister will be coming in. HIs father is a retired warrior and his younger sister is one of the youngers but strongest female warriors for a neighbor packs.

"Other than that," I started again allowing everyone's attention back to me. " We will continue as normal, most of the women are out decorating so make sure you watch for them. Your dismissed."

And with that everyone goes on as normal. John and I walk outside to the front yard and every is out setting up tables and sections for the children to be safe, everyone seems to be in full motion and busy. I can see people hugging and showing off newborns as soon of the early arriving families are here. Packs from all over the world gather in one place after a long time of distant phone calls and sending letters. This was what the people needed a chance to be with those they miss and remember how strong we are in numbers.

"Ma'lady it seems my family was arrived off the eastern land, should I send men to guide them in?" John states behind me.

"Yes send the men that are patrolling close to them and have them guide them in"