The Hidden City

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Rem ran down the forest trail, chasing the scent he had caught. It was a fox, and a big one. He jumped over rocks that looked like they could split him in two and fairymoss, a plant dangerous to him based on the fact he was deathly allergic. He was almost caught up to the fox. He knew it would barely be enough to feed him and his parents but it was a start. In his pack, they all fended for themselves. There were times when they all hunted together and all ate together, but that was on occasion. Rem, being the youngest, fittest, and fastest of the wolves in his family meant he was the one to do the hunting, fishing, and gathering. His poor parents were far too old and frail to do the work he did.

He ran faster and faster until he saw the fox hiding behind a rock. Sneaky fox, if only it knew was Rem was. He crouched down and stalked the fox, it was completely unaware of his arrival. It thought it was safe. Poor creature.

Rem lunged at the small animal, snapping its neck and killing it instantly. He grinned to himself at his accomplishment, that was at least one person less to worry about now, he already knew his mother will take this fox. He stared around at the vast landscape of the forest. He sniffed, this time he caught the scent of a deer. A deer would be enough to feed him and his father!

He threw the fox over his back, it's lifeless body hanging over the side. He took off, chasing the scent of the deer.

Rem was no ordinary werewolf. He was an Alpha, meaning he would be next to lead his pack. He already knew what changes he would make, such as having meals as a whole, becoming a tighter knit community and to let the young boys decide their future, not to force them to all be warriors to defend the pack. He shook his head as he thought of this.

He caught sight of the deer, it was drinking in the stream. Rem almost lost focus as he stared at the rushing water. It shimmered elegantly in the sunlight, it's waves captivating him. He remembered when he was a child and he would play in the forest, not at this exact river but one close by. He remembered when his parents weren't so sick and they would all hunt together and play. He longed for that time again.

He shook his head. He needed to focus. If he wanted to kill this deer and be home before sunset, he needed to move. He dropped the fox to his side and lunged at the deer. The deer however, put up a fight. It kicked Rem in the stomach and tried to run, but couldn't as it realized Rem broke it's leg. Rem sank his teeth into the deer's neck, killing it. After a minute or so it stopped kicking, and laid dead and still.

Rem shifted back into his human form. There wasn't a possible way he could carry that big of a deer and a fox home without them falling off his back. He picked up the deer with ease, and grabbed the fox by its tail. He sniffed around for the scent of home, catching it in the wind. Surprisingly for being in his human form he was incredibly fast.

He paid little to no attention to his surroundings as he ran. All he wanted to do was get home so he could skin the animals and cook dinner. He was growing tired from being in the dark forest all day. Usually, he would have enjoyed being out in his home away from home all day, but with his fathers worsening condition it made any activity stressful and exhausting.

As he got closer to his house, he could smell the sickness in the air. Too many of his pack were dying due to pneumonia and influenza. Rem's community used to be a happy, vibrant place brimming with joy. Now, it was dreary and sick. The flowers wilted and it seemed the sky was always grey. How did this even happen?

Rem sighed as he walked to his house's front door. One thing he was proud of; despite the community looking like it was a ghost town, his house stayed perfectly vibrant and warm. His parents and him never let the fact their friends and family were dying never bring down their spirits.

Rem opened the door to see his mother starting a fire. His home looked even happier on the inside, with bright reds and yellows swirling around in the atmosphere.

"Hello Ma," Rem greeted, setting the dead animals down on the kitchen table.

"Rem! Oh dear you returned. Why, it's so late I thought you wouldn't come back until tomorrow. How was hunting?" Rem's mother exclaimed, brushing the dirt of her son's clothes.

"Just swell Ma. I got a whole deer and a fox. I figured pa and me could share the deer and you get the fox?" He suggested, grabbing his set of knives to start skinning the animals.

"That sounds just fine dear. You're pa is in his room as usual. I'll take care of dinner, you go talk to him,"

"Alright Ma,"

Rem stood up from his seat at the kitchen table and went up his stairs. His house wasn't small, but it wasn't big. They only needed 10 stairs to reach the second floor, but most of their house was in the basement. Rem was especially proud of the basement, he had fixed the carpet and put up the walls and doors that made the rooms with his dad. He took is time on the painting and the trim, making the basement looked like it belonged in a castle. Even though that was 6 years ago, it was still magnificent.

Rem knocked on his father's door, awaiting a reply to be let in. When he heard his father grunt from inside, he stepped in. His father was hunched over in bed, reading a book. He looked so much like a decaying corpse in that position Rem got chills down his spine.

"Hey Pa, I got dinner while I was out. Me and you are gonna share a deer while Ma get's a fox," He announced, sitting next to his father on the chair beside his bed.

His father only stared off into space. He almost never paid attention to anything anymore. It didn't even seem like he was reading, only staring at the words. It was as if his sickness not only took over his body, but his mind. He wasn't the way he used to be, his laugh wasn't contagious anymore but rather sad and empty. His smile was no longer spread across his face, and now sat in a straight, never moving line. His bones ached and groaned under his weight and he was so deathly skinny he looked as if he was on the edge of life and death. What had happened?

Finally, his father replied, "I won't be eating tonight, I don't need it,"

"Pa, no. You need the food if you want to get better again," Rem scolded, offended his father would even say such a thing. Did he not want to get better?

"Rem Kashgar Aethelwulf. I will not be eating, end of discussion." His father snapped, staring at Rem only to turn away as if something broke.

Rem was taken aback. His father had never yelled or snapped at him like that. Rem knew it was because his dad was sick and definitely not in the right mental state, but it still hurt him.

"Okay Pa," Rem whispered, turning around and leaving the room. He felt embarrassed he told his father what to do.

He came back down the stairs to smell the wondrous scent of the dinner his mother was making. He instantly knew what it was, venison and fox meat stew. Rem loved that recipe of his mothers, it had to be his favorite of all time. The only other time was when it was jour des comètes, his favorite holiday honoring the werewolf god, Phidmir. It occurred the day right after the summer solstice, which meant his pack had huge celebrations and festivals to honor nature and their god. Rem had a feeling that would not be happening this year however.

"Eat up Rem, Gods know you need it," His mother instructed, handing him a big bowl of stew.

Despite his angry and sick father upstairs that was going hungry at his own wish, Rem ate like he'd never ate before. He never realized how hungry he was all day. As Rem sat there with his mother talking and laughing, reminiscing about the olden times when Rem was just a child, or when they were talking about how their King about to step down from the throne, Rem felt at peace. He loved moments like this with his mother, when nothing else existed and no problems seemed to be going on in the world, just their chatter and stories.

All that was interrupted when a knock rang through their house, interrupting the conversation.