The Wolves of the Gems

Chapter 1

2 miles from den site: Former Storm Pack Territory: Hunting Grounds: Late Spring.

One year later.

The air was sweet and warm as the spring sun rose high in the sky. The river water was clear and cool, running smoothly to its designated route. The lush green grass flowed with the wind. A herd of elk grazed on the grass, their leader, a large bull elk with impressive antlers, kept an eye out for any dangers. Fawns jumped around, getting a second wind at the spring air. The lead female guided the herd through a mass of bushes, keeping an eye out for any dangers. A year old elk took a slightly different path than her herd. A path that would only end in death.

An fifteen moon old adolescent wolf had been stalking the herd the moment they stepped foot in the bushes. Her electric blue eyes were the only things visible, her midnight black and light grey fur kept her hidden in the dense foliage. Her necklace was hidden by her fur, not even the blue gem could be seen at the present time. She patiently waited for the right moment, but her chance came sooner than expected. The young elk crossed her path.

She launched out of the bushes, lunging at young elk. But she had underestimated the reaction timing of the elk. The young elk dodged and quickly bolted, but the wolf was right behind. No matter how much the elk swerved, hoping to get the wolf off her heels, the wolf stayed true, chasing her hunt no matter what. Forcing her legs to go faster and faster, the wolf kept up with her prey. She jumped at the last moment, grabbing the elk's neck and bringing her down in a cloud of dust. In a quick motion, the wolf crushed the windpipe of the elk, ending its life.

The wolf buried her muzzle into the flesh, relishing in the taste of the elk meat. Crows soon circled above, waiting for the chance to get some scraps. The sound of tearing meat came from the elk's belly as the wolf buried her muzzle in the abdomen section of the carcass. Once the wolf's belly was full, she walked off, licking her muzzle clean of the elk blood. But she didn't go very far. The wolf laid down in the bushes, curling her tail around her, falling asleep quickly.

The crows flew down quickly and carefully, landing on the carcass. Using their sharp beaks to pick at the fresh meat still on the bones. Two of the black birds began talking to each other once their bellies were semi-full.

"Can you believe Ebony and Jazz left us to live near the humans?" One squawked.

"Jazz, yes, but Ebony, he was so loyal and he hates the humans," another one cawed, picking some more meat off the bones.

"I guess anyone will live near the humans now, including wolves, did you hear about the pack living at the human farm?" The first one flapped his wings, but stayed on the ground.

"Yeah, but at least they're doing something. Without them, the Rogues would have taken over everything a long time ago." The birds started pecking at the carcass again.

SNAP!

All the birds quickly flew off, streaking loudly. The black wolf's head shot up, hearing the crows fly off. Her eyes landed on a dark, brick stone wolf and a silver wolf - both with yellow eyes - who were approaching her carcass. She quickly got to her paws and ran to her kill. The two wolves stopped in their tracks at the sight of the smaller - and younger - wolf.

"Hey! Back off, this is my kill!" She growled, baring her teeth. Her front paws on the bloody carcass.

"I think it belongs to the scavengers now," the dark grey male smirked. A glint in his eyes, almost wanting to challenge the young wolf.

"I killed it, its mine."

"Come on, Dark, just leave her, she needs the food more than we do," whispered the light grey wolf, knowing her companion would not be afraid to fight for the food.

He looked down at the younger wolf beside him, then to the wolf guarding her kill. "Fine," he said, almost disappointed. The male wolf turned around, limping off in the opposite direction, but the female waited a while, looking at the younger wolf. She too, turned around, following her companion. The black wolf looked down at the carcass, her eyes filled with regret.

"What am I doing?" She whispered to herself, stepping off the carcass. The wolf walked through the mass of bushes, past the small forest of trees on the hill. Her movements were slower than usual, her head and tail were down.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here."

The midnight black wolf stopped in her tracks and turned to a denser part of the forest. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted who was there. A four year old grey wolf with rustic brown markings stepped out from the trees, her eyes, a cloudy colour.

"Iowa," the midnight adolescent growled.

"Faita," Iowa smiled wickedly.

"What are you doing here?" Faita growled, positioning her body into a battle stance.

"Oh, just checking the former Storm Pack territory," she said, her cloudy eyes falsely looking at the trees around them, before her voice rose to a growl, staring directly at the young wolf, "and ending the line of the Storm Pack." Suddenly, the chain around Faita's neck began to tighten. It was becoming harder and harder to breathe for the young wolf. With a flick of her tail, Iowa raised Faita up. The adolescent tried to slip the necklace, but failed as her world started to become dark.

'No, I will not allow her to kill me, not now, not ever!' The electric blue gem around Faita's neck began to glow, as did her eyes. A blue, electric ball began to form around the gem, growing larger and larger, until it blew, knocking Iowa down, releasing Faita from her power. The midnight adolescent slumped to the ground, coughing in hope to catch her breath. The four year old quickly got to her paws and begun to walk closer to the coughing wolf.

"So you have one of the seven gems," Iowa said, sounding surprised, shocked even, "Things just got interesting." She stood behind the adolescent. "My Alpha will be pleased." Iowa reached down to grab Faita by the throat, in hope to both kill Faita and take her gem.

"HEY!"

Iowa looked up, only to be slammed away from Faita by what looked like a shadow. Faita looked up, seeing the silver wolf from before standing above her, protecting her. The dark brick-stone colour wolf was standing between them and Iowa.

"You!" Iowa growled.

"Leave this pup alone!" He warned, taking a threatening step forward. Behind him, the silver wolf bared her teeth and growled.

"This is not over," Iowa turned tail and ran, seeing she was outnumbered, "my Alpha will hear of this." She hurried into the trees up the hill, towards the territory borders.

Faita got to her paws, "Thank you," she coughed.

"What's your name?" The silver wolf asked gently.

"Faita," she answered, "wh... what's yours?"

"I'm Silver, and this is my brother, Darkness," she said, looking at the dark grey wolf.

"We have to go now, before that blind rat returns," Darkness growled, walking down through the trees, past the two females, who stayed where they were. "Come on!"

"You better come too," said Silver, looking at Faita. "It's safer in numbers, especially when Rogue wolves are around." Silver looked in the direction Iowa had disappeared to.

"I can handle myself," she said, walking in a different direction to Darkness.

"After what I saw, I'd like to see that," Darkness laughed over his shoulder. Faita stopped in her tracks, narrowing her eyes at the wolf.

"Just ignore him," Silver smiled, shaking her head. "But it is your choice." The silver wolf ran off, following her brother out towards the plains.

Faita shook her head and ran after them. "Hey wait up!" She called out. The two siblings stopped and waited at the treeline for the adolescent.