Lark: Book 1 of The WaterBird Series

Chapter 10: Alpha

Lark woke up the next day to find a tray by her bed. A blueberry cake and ice water was laid carefully. Lark raised her eyebrow and snatched up the cake, eating it greedily. Suddenly, a maid burst in the door. "Oh!-" she exclaimed as she stares at Lark's blueberry covered face. Lark wiped her mouth off and answered the surprised maid. The maid was in her early fifties and had long, white hair, in a bun, with pure white clothes and grey lacing. "Princess Lark, I am here to help you get ready. You will meet the king today and we will introduce you to everyone." The maid told her as she hurriedly got a handmade, ivory brush. "Where do you get all of these materials?" She asked. "Oh, well, we have them imported the maid said as she lifted Lark's light brown and Gold hair in the air. The maid stared at the hair with disgust. Lark rolled her eyes. The white wolves had such luxurious white hair, and, she, was a Falcon. The maid brushed the tangled out of Lark's hair, she had winced a couple of times, but, in the end, the maid put Lark's hair in a giant, beautiful braid with Amber colored jewels interlaced through the braid. She then gave Lark a bath and powdered her face. She handed her a long, slim waisted brown dress with gold lace. "Thanks for the help." She told the maid when she was done. "Of course, and, oh, the Prince requested that I give you this." The maid said dropping something in Lark's hands. "Come out in a couple of minutes." The maid said quickly as she turned the corner. She nodded and opened her hands. A beautiful, silver and gold Falcon necklace with a dainty chain was laying in her hands. The Falcon was diving and had a focused expression. She smiled. How thoughtful. Lark made her way outside into the main corridor and saw a glimpse of a Black fox, as black as midnight. 'Fox?' She thought. As she approached the main room, the people stared at her. A girl, her age got up and started towards her. She had Bright red hair and golden eyes, and a dagger at her side. "Hey! My name's WildFire of The RedWind tribe, I'm not heir to a throne, but, I am a skilled military female general and, part of the Red wolf shifters. 'There are so many shifters.' Lark thought as she shook the girl's hand. "I'm Lark of the WaterBird tribe and Heir to the Throne. Maybe, me and the FoxValley Prince, Fox, are journeying to find the kingdom cave." She said. "Very nice. Well, stay as long as you want, and, people here aren't so bad, I will have the others meet you." She said smiling. After they had all met Lark, she and WildFire turned a corner and talked with each other. "So, do you like Princess Arianell?" WildFire asked flipping her dagger in her hand. "Actually, she seems very arrogant, and she stole Fox, I haven't seen him in a day!" Lark exclaimed. WildFire raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, when I came here when I was little, she was such a snot. Thinks she's better because she's a white wolf. Honestly, she really shouldn't be next in line." WildFire said. "Yeah! It's awful!" Lark told her agreeing. "I forgot to meet the king!" Lark said. "It's fine, you'll see him." She replied.The two talked and talked and soon, it was dinner time, well, hunting time.