The Wolves of the Gems

Chapter 22

30 miles from territory border: No Territory: Top of the North West Canyons: Mid Autumn

The four wolves and wolf-dog were frozen at the sight of the winged wolf, their eyes wide with fear. Though the winged wolf had a neutral look on his face as he scanned over the canines, searching. Then his electric blue eyes landed on the midnight teen.

Faita stepped back subconsciously as the winged wolf looked to her. The moment he flew down, Faita tucked her tail between her back legs and lowered herself to the ground.

The white, winged wolf towered over her, his head raised high and proud as he folded his wings by his sides. He stood over twice the height of Stormcloud, but as he circled around Faita, his gait was smooth and steady, almost as if he was gliding over the ground. His white tail flicked ever so slightly as he seemed to study the midnight teen.

Faita lowered herself closer to the ground under the wolf's gaze. He was almost utterly terrifying. Faita paused in her breathing as the winged wolf stood in front of her, looking down at the much smaller wolf. Her whole body was shaking with fear.

"You have my gem."

Faita widened her eyes and looked up at the white, winged wolf. It was he who had said it, but the voice didn't seem to belong to him. It was of a young wolf, a wolf about two years, not however old he was. But what seemed more unusual was the gentle, comforting smile on his muzzle.

Faita slowly stood to her full height as she looked up at the winged wolf, the others walking up beside her.

The winged wolf widened his eyes a little, before softening them. "How rude of me. My name is Matla, Guardian of the Energy Gem," he introduced, bowing his head to the smaller canines.

The silver she-wolf stepped closer to Matla. "My name is Silver and these are some of my companions," she said, looking to the four others, "Faita." The midnight teen shifted her paws as the Guardian looked at her. "Chinook." The young male flicked his tail slightly as he looked to the winged wolf. "Ghost." The gun-metal grey wolf straightened up under his gaze. "And Nightsong, the wolf-dog." Nightsong bowed her head to the Guardian.

"A wolf-dog," Matla hummed, raising his head a little more, "never thought a dog cross wolf would last, considering I met the first wolf-dog nearly ten thousand years ago."

Nightsong lifted her head, her hazel eyes narrowed at the winged wolf. Already she was making Matla her least favourite Guardian.

"So how did three of you come to process gems of two of my brothers and my sister?" Matla asked, sitting on his haunches, his tail wrapping around him, his wings folded behind his back.

"My father, the once Alpha of the Storm Pack, gave it to me," Faita said, lowering her head, flattening her ears.

Matla looked to the midnight teen, his head tilted a little as he flattened his ears slightly in sympathy.

"I discovered the Death Gem at the bottom of the Mountains that belong to the Mountain Pack," Ghost said, standing up straighter, looking as if she was proud of the gem she wore.

Matla turned his head to Nightsong, "and what of you? How did you process the gem belonging to my brother Guvan, Guardian of the Air gem?"

Nightsong remained silent.

Matla shook his wings at the silence before he looked to the others, "so which of the other gems have you found and why are you collecting them? They should have stayed with the Guardians."

Silver stepped forward, "we are 'collecting' these gems as you put it because of the Mountain Pack, also known as the Rogue Pack. They seek power and therefore seek these gems."