Priest: Taking the Hood

Woken

A sound of twigs and dead leaves cracking around the camp as Alexander opened his eyes to see Raven already on her feet and crouched - staring into the brush. She was motioning with one hand for him to stay down. He was digging for his mother's knife as he could make out at least four different trespassers spread out around them. 

Alexander noticed that the others were nowhere to be found. 

Alexander's hair was standing on end. 

He heard a branch snap shortly followed by a yelp just behind him. A wolf launched out of the brush to be met by one of Raven's knives sunk through its windpipe.  Another one lept out as she was trying to retract her knife - only to be met by a blade thrown by Alexander - he, himself, was shocked it landed so accurately. 

More yelping and groaning came from the dark shadows around them.  Another wolf came running forcing Raven to roll back and to toss it in a Judo type of role - she spun around tossing two blades from her boots - both hit the wolf in his shoulder blades. Alexander put in the killing blow to the spinal column behind the head with Raven's short sword. 

Alexander heard bones snapping and popping right behind his head; Aden had snapped the neck of a wolf that had almost crept up on Alexander. Alexander had never seen Aden with such an expression on his face. As if he was a person possessed by a greater spirit. 

Aden spun around back to back with Alexander as if he was waiting for an onslaught of wolves.  But only the echo of paws in retreat could be heard. Max and Griffen both appeared out of the shadows. Raven, Max, and Griffen all gave each other a concerned look. Could it be this was the sign they all dreaded - the younger werewolf passing - or was it just the scouts finally catching their scent?

Alexander sank down onto where he had just been sleeping. Raven took notice and tried to excuse herself to go tend on him until Griffen stopped her. He motioned for Aden, Raven, and Max to make sure the threat was gone.

Griffen strode over to the sulking boy, "Wanna tell me whats going on in that head of yours."

"I can't be a hunter."

"Why not?"

"I was the last to realize we were being stalked. Enough time had passed that you three were already hunting them and Raven was protecting me."

"You still heard them, did you not?"

"Yeah."

"This is your first hunt and not much training. I have had hunters that had been much older and better trained than you that would not have woke. Max, Raven, and I are not the norm. I have a lot of faith in you and Aden. Both of you are going to be at the top of the class."

***
The three returned from different points and joined Griffen and Alexander with drinks in hand. 

Max spoke first, "You think that was the tracking party getting closer than they were supposed to?"

Raven responded, "Does it really matter?"

"Yeah, a missed off mother bear coming at us with vengeance would not be good."

Griffen broke his silence, "It doesn't really matter. We are going to rather face two werewolves or a very pissed off one. I am more concerned about how large of a pack of wolves she controls."

"Or packs," Raven added. 

Max shook his head," It just keeps getting better, doesn't it?"

"The boys both held their own," Griffen added.

The sun began to peak over the horizon. Another day of training was about to precede the boys. 
Raven leaned forward, "I will take both boys today; you two need to see if you can find anyone sneaking around anything else out of place."

Both of the men nodded in agreeance.  Maybe they could thin the heard a bit before the final standoff. Two solid weeks were all they had before the werewolves or werewolf could take form and attack again. The more wolves they took out of the equation by that time the better. 

Max waited until they were clear of the campground to ask, "Are you sure about us taking our stand here?"

Griffen stopped dead in his tracks, "The last time we fought this thing it took out most of those who were with us; this time around it is armed with an army of wolves and what seems to be kin, so I think we need to stand our ground where we have some sort of advantage. Raven grew up here and knows every nook and the wolves have no idea."

"That is all good but we also have two cadets with us."

"Did you notice Aden last night? That is no cadet. That is a heartbeat away from realizing that himself completely and at that point, there will be no hunter on his level."

"Are you sure about that?" He had sarcasm in his voice.

"That boy was already outperforming you last night. So, yes, yes I am very sure. Did you see how he saved Alexander and did not blink an eye?"

Max got quiet. He knew it was true. He actually had chills thinking about some of the things that he saw Aden pull off and how he seemed to ghost everyone - including his team - and at times seemed to move like the former Priest.

Both men were attentive to anything that could be a den for animals to crawl into. 

Raven was working with both boys, showing them how to bound off of a wall and lay a multitude of attacks. She knew it could be useful if the boys got cornered in a small place and need to create some room to get momentum or to throw off whatever they were fighting.

She smiled as the boys seemed more and more like brothers. Aden the older and Alexander the younger watching and learning from. Raven was actually astounded at how quickly Alexander was catching up. He was almost on par with cadets his age, of course, Aden was an exception and she couldn't judge Aden by him but she was sure he could almost hold his own with the other cadets his age. She had never seen a cadet learn so quickly - it has to be the Priest bloodline.