Kingdom Wolves: The Flames of Struggle

Chapter 1

    "Attention!" A sharp, but deep howl rang out, immediately causing the mix of excited and nervous chattering to die down. All eyes now focused on the Lieutenant General, a muscular, reddish brown he-wolf, as he cleared his throat to speak. "Very good, Cadets. It's great to see that all you young ones can respond to orders with diligence." He scanned the crowd, nodding his head in approval.

     "Oh great." Muttered a tough looking, black and white she-wolf. "He sounds like my mother."

    "Oh Kira, give him a break. He can't be that bad." The smallish grey and white she-wolf standing next to Kira whispered in response. "And neither is your mother."

     Kira bristled. "You didn't have to deal with her every day for your whole life up until now, Livy. I'm pretty sure you'd think she was the dirtbag she is if you had."

     "Shhh! Shut up, you two! I don't want to get in trouble!" Kira rolled her eyes at the small, tawny she-wolf standing on the other side of Livy. "You won't Trace, you weren't the one talking up until now. Plus, old he-bag up there is too full of himself to even notice."

     Livy opened her mouth to say something, then snapped it shut when she noticed an annoyed looking he-wolf a few wolves away shooting them a dirty look.

       "Anyways, as I'm sure you all know, I am Groven, Third Lieutenant General for General Lusa herself. But, I will spare you all from the silly formalities. Please, call me Grove." A few chuckles could be heard around the circle, and Livy shot Kira an 'I Told You So' look. Kira huffed and looked away.

     "I would like to welcome you all to this cycle's Initiation! The number of new Cadets this year is outstanding! I am so excited to see you all make your way into the kingdom, to serve our great Alpha. I shall be with you all throughout the event, possibly making a speech now and then. But don't worry, I like to keep them short. I know what it's like to listen to the elders drone on and on..." Grove gave a joking smile, and more chuckles could be heard as some of the nervous looking wolves relaxed and the tense pressure dissolved with Grove's joking charisma.

    "And since I don't want to be seen as one of those droning elders... You are all dismissed. I'm sure you are all tired from your last few days' journey, so I won't keep you any longer. After all, we want you all to get a good night's rest, so you can perform well tomorrow, for the first events. You are free to mingle and get acquainted, and then head back to your assigned dens for the evening. Good day, to all." Grove nodded and the wolves began to disperse.

     "See, Kira?" Livy said, as soon as the three were out of the jostling current of wolves. "He's not so bad. I think he's pretty nice!"

    Kira shrugged. "I guess." She looked off into the distance, not really paying attention. Livy sighed and shook her head. Sometimes, there was just no getting through to her. As Livy watched Kira wander off into the crowd, Trace nudged Livy's ruff with her nose.

     "Something bothering you?" Trace asked, seemingly quite concerned. Livy shrugged. "I don't know... Does Kira seem... Off? To you?"

     "She has been awfully quiet... except for when she's bashing someone." Trace stared at the ground, her nose pinched in the funny way that it did whenever she was deep in thought.

    "I don't know what could have happened... She just never talks to us about these things, you know?" Trace nodded, but now seemed distant. "Trace? Trace." Trace looked up suddenly. "Oh, sorry. Was just... Thinking."

     Livy gave her a skeptical look, and opened her mouth to speak, but Trace interrupted. "Never mind, it was nothing. Hey, you know what will cheer you up? Some of those sugary snacks that they had out. I'll go get some!" Trace bounded away, seemingly her old, happy-go-lucky self again.