I Claim Your LOVE

A Trip To The Mountains

Lothar and his men were low on forbearance. Just as he thought that his job was done, he was left disappointed for Einar still lived. He waited for a long time and stood guard near Einar to make sure he breathed his last but that was not happening soon enough. He was puzzled for Einar's resilience as the poison he used was enough to kill ten wolves at a time. He used all that heavy dose on this powerful Alpha and he still managed to hang by a thread.

Lothar huffed in frustration and ran his hands through his hair "I cant take the risk. Arrange another knife for me and make sure you double the dose this time." One of his men bowed and ran to the opposite direction to do the said job.

A vicious grin colored Lothar's face when he saw the man returning with a glimmering metal. The man carefully handed over the knife to his Alpha and backed off. Lothar raised the knife in air and laughed hysterically "My fellow soldiers, from this day on the blue moon pack will be ours. No one can stop us now.." He lifted his foot and crushed it above Einar's chin "I have done what no one could dare think of. The blue moon pack will bow to me because their mighty Alpha has fallen.." The people around him jeered and hailed their Alpha. Lothar gripped the metal firmly and aimed at Einar's head this time, making sure that blue moon Alpha is done once and for all.

As he was about to lower his hands a glint of light caught his attention and what followed was a sickly caw. A bird with grievous eyes and ink stained wings, seemed to float over him with a swift movements of its feathers. It flapped its wings and circled the men from above, booming its caw to the extreme. The jarring caws were sickening as it pierced through the men and brought little shivers to their body. After circling the men a few times, it landed on a tree branch which was directly opposite of Lothar and bobbed its head up and down. Lothar found this behaviour unusual and rather tried to ignore the black bird. He was wary of the raven as its eyes bored continuously into the eyes of Lothar.

The Alpha just gave a fit of petty annoyance at the bird and lifted his hands once more. As soon he did the motion a loud noise of fluttering wings could be heard from a distance. What followed left the entire pack stand in disbelief. A swarm of dark feathers covered the skies and painted the space above them in black. They cawed and hovered above the men before settling; occupying the branches of every nearby tree.

Lothar and his men looked in dismay at the scene unfold. Some were even trembling in their feet as the black birds were considered the bringer of bad omen while some believed they opened the door to hell. Lothar was wary of the intently gazing eyes which surrounded him completely but he was over confident of himself and undermined the signs in his arrogance. He ordered his frightened men to brace themselves as he lifted the metal one final time.

Lothar could do no more as the birds took off leaving the branches naked. They cawed and bellowed and aimed their beaks to the faces of the lowly people. Soon the men were dressed in black from head to tow as the birds scratched every part of their bodies with their beaks and their claws. The men cried in pain as they tried to free themselves from the painful stings of the determined birds. The Alpha was astonished by the sudden unprovoked attack and made an effort to save himself from the onslaught. On one such instance he caught hold of a bird and strangulated its neck to thrash it down to the ground. What followed left him bewildered in veneration.

The fallen crow had turned to ashes.

Lothar understood that these were out of the world creatures and should not be messed with. He instructed his bleeding men to retreat and return to the pack. The men heeded the order and struggled their way back home amidst the attacks of the birds.

****

With haggard breaths and an insecure mind, Callan, Garrick, Fayette and Archer followed the raven blindly putting their trust on the bird. Though Fayette and Archer did not have any fondness for the Alpha they were still worried because deep in their conscience they knew it was a matter of life and death. Callan on the other hand was apprehensive for a disturbed Garrick. He could clearly see the distraught and worried face of Garrick. He wanted to dispel his fears and put his mind to rest but decided against it.