Onyx Everclaw and Artemis

Chapter One

'As you have probably discovered, I have brought you here to announce we will be hosting a camp for unmated wolves. All unmated wolves of age from our pack will HAVE to participate in the activities of the camp to set an example, and possibly form well needed alliances with the other packs.'

Alpha Steele states to the full auditorium of pack members, with emphasis on have. A murmur of chit-chat, comes from the pack, and the somewhat hushed voices of the unmated wolves, groan. I catch on to the statement and my brain runs into overdrive.

Alpha Steele continued once the conversation quietened down.

And...'

He clears his throat, preparing for what he was about to say.

'The Alpha of Blood Oak will be coming also...'

The auditorium immediately turns into an uproarious mass of seething wolves. The pups at the back with the Omegas start to cry because of the shouting, creating a louder environment. The Alpha, his Luna and family, the Beta family and the Delta Family stay silent.

I have only heard stories about the 'Legend' that lives on our South-side territory border.

...Alpha Anton...

The name is scary in itself. Supposedly he caught a small collection of rogue pups playing on their side of his border, and he just collected them and took them. And turned them into warriors.

'QUIET PLEASE, I haven't finished!'

Alpha Steele shouts at the crowd, snapping me out of thought and it immediately falls silent. He scans the room.

'We are forming an alliance with the Blood Oak pack because we need hunters, and warriors that are properly trained.'

He glances at said wolves and they shrink into their seats. Then scans the auditorium again, speaking.

'Having said that, he does not want anything in return at this point, but we do need the training and his warriors are willing to provide. But that is all from me, go home, clean up, and look presentable. Today is Friday, they will be here on Monday. The other unmated wolves will be here in two days. Unmated wolves stay back please, everyone else is free to go.'

I got up from my seat along with my twin brother, Mason or Mace for short, and our mother and father. My father is the Beta, and second-in-command to Alpha Steele. Dad flashes a silly grin at me as he leaves with Mum. All the other families and children file out of the building. Mace looks like he is about to implode at the thought of whatever task we are about to be saddled with. I elbow him lightly, smile and walk to the edge of the stage, before sitting next to Alpha Steele's feet. Mace drops down beside me and the others all crowd around, Alpha Steele gives us two a smile and then begins speaking.

'Now I know you will all have enough tasks to do around the houses here, but I am going to override those commands and get you to clean the lake houses.'

A collective groan echoes around the group of about 40 teenagers. Mace's head drops into his hands. Alpha Steele lets out a joyful, but guttural laugh.

'It won't be a big job, it's just a little dusting and making beds. Only 20 of the cabins are to be used for the visitors so two or three of you per cabin will be plenty. Two other cabins will be used to house you guys, I know this is your pack land, but it would be unfair for you to stay in the "Oh-so-luxurious" packhouse while the others are in the lake houses. 20 per cabin, with two of you each, should only take a few hours. So get to it, you may start whenever, as long as all 22 are done by Monday. Remember, these 400 odd kids will be strangely scented and you may feel territorial, but you all need to keep your wolf in check, and be nice. Got it?'

Various teenagers nod and Alpha Steele takes that as unanimous, before leaving the auditorium. The wolves all collapse onto the floor groaning and complaining amongst one another. I mind-link with Mace and our two best friends.

'You guys up for a run?'

I see Octavia and Finn explode from the pile on the floor, and bound across the poor teenagers slowly getting up. Octavia leaps onto my lap, knocking the wind out of me, while Mason and Finn do some weird, secret handshake.

'How's it going Ava?'

I say to Octavia, smirking, while she glares daggers at me.

'Very well, Missy, and you?'

I reciprocate the glare, and we both laugh. I put Octavia down and I give Finn a hug while Octavia does the same to Mace. We've been friends since we were born pretty much, they're both twins like Mace and I, but our mothers have an inseparable bond, so it was predestined for us all to become friends. Their Mum is the Delta who will take over from our family if something were to go wrong.

'Been a while since we ran together, right Arti?'

Finn states to the group, and I smile at him. I knew him better than I knew little Octopus, who was sitting awfully close to Mace.

'Indeed it has been Shark Finn, better go, race you to the lake!'

I jumped off the stage before Finn, Octavia and Mason had a chance to react. I found the nearest suitable tree and stripped down, then shifted once everything was off. Picking up my clothes in my jaws, I started to bound and sprint through the bush, following the quickest trail.I run, paws kissing the land. Claws digging into the earth and propelling me forward. I relish the moment. Flying through the undergrowth. These paws were made to travel at speed and were as light as the paws of a lioness.

Breathing steady, heart strong, my wolf lets out a yip of happiness. I hear the others do the same, and that's when I register the thundering of three sets of paws behind me and I can smell the scent of them. Finn's unmistakable scent of charcoal flames and cinnamon. Octavia's signature scent of pine needles and honey. And Mace's distinct scent of fresh cut grass.

I needn't look back to know that Mace is trailing the pack, looking after Octavia and making sure we don't get ambushed by rogues. Speaking of rogues, I slam on my brakes and Finn does the same, crashing into me, clothes flying everywhere from the both of us. I carefully go around and pick up my clothing, my large, black wolf letting out a small growl of annoyance. Finn's smaller, ashen wolf barks in response to apologise. Sniffing along the side of the creek, Mace picks up the rogues scent that I caught slightly. Octavia sniffs near his feet for a scent. Mace lets out a howl to alert a squadron of warriors who shouldn't be too far away that there was a rogue on Dawnfall Depths Packs' territory.

Padding to a nearby tree, the cracking of my bones reshaping alerts the other to shift back also. I allow my body a few seconds rest before changing back into my slightly damp clothing, the only problem with having to carry your clothes in your jaw. Finn is standing by the creek still in wolf form dunking his muddy shirt in the clear stream, before whipping it around, ridding it of most of the water and walking to a tree to shift. Mace and Octavia come stand by me.

'Did you catch that scent Octopus? You definitely got that right Mace?' I question.

'I caught a vague whiff of it, they'd been in the creek to mask their scent, smelled injured. What would a rogue be doing so far into our territory?' She asks.

[Author's Note: Thank you for reading! Please tell me what you think in the comments! - G]

Word Count: 1309 Words