《The Pack: The Cursed Ones》


 Chapter 1: Max

    Scarlett held her cloak up over her head, and faced the opposite direction as she vanished.


    ........................................................................


    Over in the distance, a dark mist swirled, casting shadows on the ground.


    "She''s coming!" Ben warned the villagers.


    Scarlett appeared through the black veil as everyone grew silent. She bared her fangs and a snarl escaped her throat.


    A boy in dusty rags took a few steps close to her. His hair was long and raggedy. "You''re not going to hurt these people...." He squeaked, swallowing the fear that was trying to climb out of his throat.


    She laughed.


    "Max! Get back here at once!" An older lady in the group shouted.


    No, he thought to himself. He needs to stay put. Max shook his head as he looked over his shoulder. "I won''t let her harm these people, mother."


    His mother retorted. "You don''t even know what you are getting yourself into, boy!"


    The witch laughed. "You better listen to your mother, child."


    He whipped his head and pointed a finger at her. "Stay out of this, witch!"


    Before he could move again, she put her hand around his neck, lifting him off the ground.


    "No!" His brother shouted. He launched himself at her. She dodged, her grip still squeezing Max''s neck. He tried desperately to pull her hand off of him.


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    "He''s not the one to blame! I am! I pushed you! I pissed you off! Spare my little brother, please!"


    "Ben...." Max gasped. "Don''t!"


    Scarlett gave this a thought. "Okay then." She dropped Max and left him on the ground, gasping for air.


    Once the witch had her back turned to him, Max pulled out a knife from his pocket and snuck up behind her. Before he could thrust the blade into her leg, Ben pulled out his own and charged, hoping she''ll stay distracted by him. As he swung the blade at her, she catches it before it could pierce her heart and studies it.


    "Ben, what have you done!" Max cries.


    "YOU LITTLE BEAST!" She screams. Scarlett runs a hand over the blade and strikes it in the boy''s heart. Max screamed.


    She chanted her spell, her eyes locked on the boy''s pained expression. She slipped her newfound weapon into her boot.


    Max screams as he thrust his weapon through her back, hoping it''ll reach her heart. Scarlett gasps in shock and pain. She quickly shouts in a different language, like a command. Who was she sending?


    When she was done talking, she collapsed.


    Suddenly, a giant timberwolf lunges at him. Max struggles to get his brother''s blade out of the fallen witch. He swung his arm over his face to keep it from the wolf''s reach. He finally pulled the blade from the corpse of the witch and shoved it in through the monster''s chest.


    The wolf howls in pain, slowly backing away from him.


    Max slowly got up, then stared at Scarlett''s body. Suddenly, he heard the wolf again. The boy prepares for another attack, but then, he looked into the eyes of the wolf, and there he saw it. The depth of the wolf''s eyes lies something very familiar. The beast then changed.


    In place of the wolf, standing before Max was Ben. Frozen to the spot, he drops the blade.


    There was blood all over Ben''s chest, where Max had thrust the weapon. Dirt and sweat covered his brother from head to toe. Ben looks at Max, before collapsing.


    "NO! BEN! NOOO!" the boy runs to his older brother, he holds him as he bleeds.


    "Quick! Put this on the wound, it should stop the bleeding." A village girl Max''s age, gives him a handful of .....something.


    "It''s yarrow...." She explained. "He''s not going to die, it hasn''t reached his heart. Your brother should be fine."


    He looks up at her. "Thank you."


    People then came by to examine the witch.


    "Hey kid, is this yours?" A blacksmith shows the weapon to Max. He still had his, that''s got to be Ben''s.


    "It''s my brother''s." He replied.


    The man gave it to him, then looks at Ben with a mean expression on his face.

 Chapter 1: Max (part 2)

    That night, Max sat by the window, listening to the town''s conversation.


    "What are we going to do with the boy?" The blacksmith asked.


    "There''s no way he could be here, he''s not one of us anymore." Another man said.


    Max''s mother wept as she tried to reason with them. "He''s my son!"


    "He''s dangerous! You saw him nearly tear your younger boy apart!"


    "That''s not Ben. He was under the influence of the witch''s spell!"


    "Who knows what spell she used on him, he could turn on us any day, you understand that?"


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    Max walked across the street to home. When he came inside, he saw Ben with his arms folded. Max sat next to him on the bench, then looked up at his older brother; but Ben wasn''t looking at him, he was staring straight at the stove. "They can''t do this to me..."


    "It''s not fair....." Max agreed.


    Ben shook his head.


    The boys looked up as their mother walked in. Her arms were folded, her expression sulken. "Benjamin, I''m sorry it has to be like this, but you need to say your goodbyes and leave.."


    "Mother no! They''re not going to cast me out!" Ben shouted.


    Max put a hand on his mother''s shoulder. "There''s got to be another way..."


    She shook her head. "No, I''m sorry, but it needs to be done. If he doesn''t leave, they''ll kill him. They''re giving him ''til sunrise."


    Angrily, Ben grabbed his mother''s wrist and pulled her closer to him. "You''re NOT going to let them do this to me!"


    The mother didn''t look at her son, instead she was looking down at the floor.

 Chapter 1: Max (part 3)

    Ben glared at his mother and stormed off without saying a final word. Max went after him. "Ben!" He screamed. "Please, if you have to go...take me with you."


    His brother stopped in his tracks and turned to face him. He smiled weakly, walking closer to him. "You don''t need me."


    Max shook his head as he panted. "That''s not.....what I wanted to say..what if you change and someone or something hunts you down?"


    His brother chuckled. "Don''t worry, I can take care of myself..."


    Max hesitated before saying, "Promise me you won''t forget about me? Please?"


    Ben gave him a hug. "If the curse affects me like that.....I can''t make any promises, but....I''ll do my best to keep my memories sharp."


    Max gave him a determined look. "One day, I''ll find you, brother."


    Ben clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Do me a favor and stay with her....I love you, Max. I''m proud of you. Take care of yourself, for me." He gave him one last embrace before turning around and heading for the woods, where he slowly changed into the wolf he was cursed as.


    ................................................


    Max couldn''t sleep the following nights, he just couldn''t get his brother out of his mind. They''ve been best friends for years, how could it end just like that?


    Angrily, he threw a chair into the wall, then he was alerted to the sound of something hitting metal. Curiously, Max knelt down to see what it was........it was his brother''s blade! The one that the witch cursed.


    The moment he picked it up, he felt something surge through his veins. A depth of agony struck him like lightning. His grip grew tighter to the point it cut his hand...he dropped it as he began to bleed. There was something wrong with his blood though...like it was mixing with an ink-like substance. He suddenly broke into a sweat, then the room began to swirl. Whatever was on the blade made him ill. What has she done? He wondered.


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    All of a sudden, he vomited before blacking out.


    .................................................


    When he woke up, he was in a different place. It appeared to be the house for the sick and wounded. He saw a familiar face stand over him: A golden haired village girl with a face dotted in freckles. She smiled at him.


    "You, I remember you....you gave me the yarrow, didn''t you?"


    She nodded.


    He looked at his surroundings. "How long have I been out?"


    "Three days." She responded simply.


    Oh.


    Suddenly, he felt a searing pain in his head. He could feel himself getting hotter and hotter as he began to sweat again. What was this magic?


    "Here...drink this.." the village girl handed him a cup of yellow liquid. He examined the cup, before looking up at her.


    She smiles. "Don''t worry, it''ll help. This is supposed to break your fever."


    He drank. It tasted like chamomile tea, lighter flavor in the fluid. He drank until there was nothing left but a drop.


    She took the cup away from him, then slowly brought her hand to a bucket of water, grabbed a rag from it and wrung it out. She then placed the damp cloth on his head, wiping up the last bit of heat and sweat.


    "Why are you doing this?"


    She stopped and stared at him. "My mother was a healer, she taught me the ways of life and health through plants. She used to make tinctures and concoctions for her medicines."


    "Was she - some sort of witch?"


    She shook her head. "You''d be surprised by how well certain plants heal you if you choose the right ones."


    "How do you choose the right ones?"


    She looked at him sternly. "It''s called research. Yarrow stops bleeding wounds, lavender improves better sleep, acorns, you can make breads out of....if you grind it into a flour. The more you research, the more you learn."


    "I see." Max then began to feel drowsy. The sleepiness he felt grew heavier and heavier within the second. Then everything turned golden.


    ........................................................................


    He woke up when he heard the noise. It was a loud crash.....like lightning. Then he realized a storm was here.


    He HAD to get back to his mother! Max tried to get up, but his body felt too weak to stand.


    What is this?


    Maybe I''m weak from the fever, he convinced himself. His whole body was sore and his muscles ached, but his fever was broke though. He forced himself to get up anyway, and outside he went into the dark, rainy night.


    ...................................................


    When he went inside of his house, he hollered, hoping to hear someone.


    He walked into his mother''s room and she wasn''t there. Where could she have gone? He finally saw her outside; when she saw him, her expression changed....like she''s seen a ghost.


    "MAX! Oh, my Maxwell!" She took a few steps closer to him, and put her hands on his face as if examining him. "My boy, I thought you were dead! Whatever sickness you fell under, I thought you wouldn''t make it, but somehow you survived! This is a miracle!" She embraced him tightly. "Come, let''s go inside!"

 Chapter 1: Max (part 4)

    The following week, Max didn''t show any signs of the curse. Perfectly fine.


    He had left his house to hang out with his friends, Zackary and Matthew. "Where''ve you been? We haven''t seen you in almost a month! We''ve heard about what happened to your brother......" Matthew rambled. A worried expression plastered his face.


    Zack elbowed his buddy hard in the ribs.


    "Ow, sorry...I''m just curious."


    Zack gave him a stern look. "I don''t care!" he then turned to Max. "Sorry, Max."


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    Max shrugged. "It''s fine. He has a right to know." He explained his situation to the boys.


    "Do you still have it?" Zack asked him in a serious tone.


    "It''s locked away.... I don''t know if I should clear of its magic or not...I wouldn''t know how if that was the right thing to do."


    Matthew''s worried expression grew more stern. "You can''t just leave a cursed object in your house...it''s not safe! Your blood is now tied to it, your brother''s also. You''re cursed!"


    Way to be positive, Matthew. Max thought to himself.


    He sighed. "I KNOW Matthew, but...who could we turn to? This whole village is scared of magic!" He growled.


    "Max..." Matthew pleaded. "We HAVE to do something!"


    "I''m sorry, but we can''t be involved in this...it''s dangerous." Max then stormed off and left his friends feeling puzzled.

 Chapter 2 : The Beast Within

    After waiting two weeks to make sure he wasn''t infected, he finally went to his mother for the good news. "I''m safe, mother. I''m not affected by the curse...trust me."


    "That''s good to hear, my boy."


    That night, he decided to go visit his friends again. He saw Matthew and Zack sit on tree stumps outside of their home. They looked up at him.


    "Jeez dude, don''t leave us hanging like that....especially for THAT long!" Matthew complained.


    Max smiled. "I''m sorry I lashed out.... I''m so far not affected, so that''s good." Matthew gave him a side eye glance. "For now, at least."


    Max''s smile faded away. Before he could say anything, Matthew began to speak again. "When you were sick, do you know who took care of you?"


    "I......saw this girl by my bed, as I was waking up."


    Matthew and Zack exchanged glances. "What did she do? What did she look like?"


    "She was giving me.....some sort of drink....she told me it will help me with my fever..."


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    "Her appearance?" Matthew asked.


    "She was just a blonde girl, wearing rags like us.....seems like she knows a lot about herbs...."


    Matthew groaned. "Max, you''ve got to be careful with people like that. Something about her seems too ......odd." Zack gave Matthew a warning look.


    Max sighed as he folded his arms, while Matthew continued. "You got to stay away from her, who knows if she herself is a witch. Did she know what made you sick?"


    "I don''t know, but she sure did know what will cure me."


    Matthew sighed. "Something''s wrong, Max. I wouldn''t trust her if I were you. Who knows if she made you worse? She could be THE witch in disguise. Who knows if she''s already turning you into a beast." Zack nods, then looks at Max. "He''s got a point."


    Max sighs again. "Okay."


    "One thing I''m worried about though, Max. What if you''re already a changeling? An outcast?" Matthew continued.


    A shot of panic hit him right in the stomach. "I don''t know. I need an expert to tell me, but-"


    "You can''t trust ANYONE! You know what almost happened to Ben! They. Will. Kill you, Max!" His friend retorted.


    Max threw his arms out. "So what, we''re just going to wait? You guys are just going to watch me change?" He shouted.


    Zack placed a hand on Max''s shoulder. "We''ll figure something out. Don''t worry just yet."


    "I can''t lose you guys!" Max then said.


    "We don''t want to lose you either." Zack said calmly.


    Max folded his arms again. "If this DOES happen to me, I''m going to find Ben!"


    Matthew and Zack looked at one another, then back at Max.

 Chapter 2: The Beast Within (part 2)

    That night, Max had the strangest dream.


    He could feel his illness grow worse every step he took. His fever caused him to overheat and sweat. He wiped the sweat from his brows as he climbed the hill with no grass, only dead looking plants. He had no choice but to keep climbing, he turned around and below him was his death:


    A huge cliff that holds very little water, thousands of feet down.


    He gulped nervously, facing this hill, forcing himself to keep going to reach the top of the very steep slope.


    He could see visions of the blade he cut himself with. When he looked down at his blood, there was nothing normal about it, it was as black as ink.


    He fell, grabbing a hideous plant. Looking back up at the sky, he continued his climb.


    He climbed, and he climbed.


    Suddenly, he was struck with another vision, the girl that took care of him. The girl that gave him the yellow liquid.


    "You''re not HER, are you?"


    She shook her head, putting her finger to her lips, she crouched down behind a tree quietly. She looked behind her, and there stood the Red Witch, the monstress known as Scarlett. Max turned back to the blonde girl.


    What''s your name? He asked her in his mind.


    Valerian. She answered.


    Valerian?


    She nodded slowly.


    He felt a pain that coursed through his veins, a fiery sensation that stung like ants.


    You''ll be fine, you''re safe from her curse from now. She replied


    You know about her? Max asked.


    She nods slowly.


    She''s coming, leave now. Warn your friends! Valerian warned.


    Where are you?


    Find me in the woods, by the base of the old tree.


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    .....................................................


    The next morning, Max rushed over to his friends'' place.


    Zack was the first to speak after Max explained his story to them. "So she''s on our side? Where do we find her?"


    "The woods." Max replied.


    Zack looked at Matthew.


    Matthew sighs. "Okay, lets go find her then. As long as it''s not a trap."


    They traveled through woods to the base of the old tree.


    Valerian looked at them.


    "I don''t have much time to explain, she''s arriving. We need to hurry. Max, give me your blade."


    Max does so.


    She took the blade and dipped it into the tea-like liquid she had him drink.


    "What is that?" Matthew asks her.


    She says nothing. Only focuses on her work. Finally she turns in the blade.


    "Max, cut your hand with it."


    He obeys her, cutting a deep wound into his hand, causing him to wince from the pain. Indeed his blood was no longer black. It was red.


    "Thank you."


    "Now go, get out of here. She''ll be here any minute." Max and Zack ran, while Matthew stopped and looked at the girl.


    "Thanks....for saving our friend."


    She didn''t reply.


    Matthew turns and they all run together.


    .........................................................


    "Okay, okay. She''s trustworthy." Matthew says.


    "Sounds like she knows the witch personally." Zack mentioned. "Are you sure she''s on our side?"


    "She could be against her, if she didn''t want to help, she wouldn''t have. If she was on her side, we would already be dead or worse." Max explains.


    "He''s got a point." Zack said out loud.


    Max then thought of something.


    "Ben''s still out there in his wolf form. His blade can reverse his spell, we can save him!" The boys looked at him.


    "We''ll have to talk to her first, it''s dangerous going out there alone." Zack said.


    ..........................................................


    Without hesitation, Max raced back to the woods, the boys followed after him. They hid behind the trees, listening for any sign of Scarlett. Matthew looked at Max and whispers. "You couldn''t just wait until it was a safer time to!"


    "Who knows if Ben''s in danger or not!" Max retorted.


    "Guys, shut up!" Zack said to them.


    Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard behind them. "What are you idiots doing? You''re not supposed to be here!" Valerian spoke.


    Max faced her. "My brother''s out there in wolf form; because of what you did, I can reverse the spell that was cast on him! Do you know where he''s gone?"


    Valerian tried to speak, but she was at a loss for words. "I don''t. He could be somewhere in these woods. I''m warning you though...if you get caught, that''ll be the end of you all!"


    Matthew interrupted. "How do you know her so well?"


    "Stupid, EVERYONE knows Scarlett!" She retorted.


    "Oh..." Matthew said.


    "Listen, you got no time left, run now. She''ll find you."


    "What about my brother?" Max reminded her.


    Valerian whipped her cloak around her and she vanished. This surprised all of them, but they didn''t have time to question...they HAD to leave.


    Matthew turned to his friends. "Go, now!"


    One second, Max stubbornly stood his ground. "I''m not staying until I find him." The next second, Zack took his arm and he left with them.


    Before they could reach the end of the forest, a figure in scarlet robes appeared out of thin air. The boys stopped in their tracks.


    Scarlett laughed. "Foolish boys shouldn''t be wandering in my hunting grounds. This is my territory and you''re trespassing. Hey....are you Max? Oh joy, isn''t this quite a treat!"


    Matthew stood in front of him. "Leave him alone, witch!" Zack and Max stood frozen to the spot.


    She laughs again.


    Max spoke sternly. "You''ll pay for what you did to Ben!"

 Chapter 2: The Beast Within (part 3)

    Scarlett ignored Max and smiled at the three of them. "I wouldn''t want you boys telling anyone, how could I trust that?" She giggles, raising her hand at them. Max and the boys immediately turned around and ran. Suddenly, Max saw Zack and Matthew collapse, he turned to see Scarlett. He locked his eyes with hers as she snapped her fingers.


    Then he blacked out.


    .............................................................


    When he awoke, he wasn''t the Max he knew. He was a different being. He looked down at himself to see what the witch has done to him. The anger in his bones reached out to touch his fur as he looked at his friends who were the same things he was. Beasts. Monsters.


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    When his friends awoke, they looked at each other in confusion and fear.


    "WHAT THE FUCK! WHAT DID SHE DO TO US?" One wolf spoke, he couldn''t tell if it was Matthew or Zack.


    The other wolf answered before Max could. "She turned us into wolves, isn''t it obvious?"


    "Who just spoke? I can''t recognize anyone!" Max said to them irritably.


    The first one to speak gave him a sharp look. "WHO DOES IT LOOK LIKE?"


    "Uhh-"


    "IT''S MATTHEW!"


    "Okay. Why the hell are we gray wolves and Zack looks blond?"


    "Who gives a shit!" The wolf named Matthew shouted.


    "Change of subject, how are we going to turn back? Where''s the blade?" The blond wolf asked them.


    "We need to find Valerian first, but - " Max said.

 Chapter 3 : Beyond the Woods

    "Are you crazy? You''re not seriously thinking about going to the Village, we''ll be killed on sight!" Matthew shook his head in disbelief. Max rolled his eyes.


    Zack then changed the subject. "Max.....where''s your blade?"


    Max froze at the thought of it. Desperately, he looked around, hoping he could find it.


    Shit! It''s gone!


    "It''s.........not here." He said, shaking at the fact that he just lost the cursed blade. Beneath his fur, he could feel the blood drain from him.


    He slowly looked at Zack.


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    Matthew paused, looking from Max to Zack. "Wait....you guys don''t possibly think that that witch took it?"


    "Where else could it be, Matthew? It''s obviously not under our feet!" Max retorted.


    The smaller wolf sighs. "We''re screwed! That blade would''ve cured us!"


    Max snapped at him. "THE BLADE WAS TO CURE MY BROTHER!"


    "Wha-? Max, forget your brother, we need that blade! Do you see what we are? We''re fucking monsters!"


    Zack let out a howl that was loud enough to wake the sleeping forest. "Stop! We''re not helping each other out, by acting like this! Come on, if she has it, where would she be?"


    Max and Matthew stare at him with wide eyes.


    "That was LOUD!" Matthew said.


    Suddenly, Max''s vision became a blur. Panicking, he looked at his surroundings, then felt a wave of sickness overcome him. He could feel himself sweating beneath his fur that is now soaking.


    "Max?" Matthew looked at him worriedly.


    He collapsed.


    ......................................................................

 Chapter 3: Beyond the Woods (part 2)

    "Hush, child........" a soft voice whispered in Max''s ear. He jolted awake.


    His friends gave him worried looks. "Oh my God! What happened to you?"


    "I-I don''t know....I don''t know what just happened." Max panted. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his bones; He cried in agony.


    Matthew approached his friend to comfort him, but was taken aback as Max tried to swap him.


    "HEY!" Matthew cried. "WHAT WAS THAT?"


    Max looked up at him weakly. "I don''t know...I''m sorry....."


    "Max, you need help! What can we do?" Zack said with a serious tone.


    Fighting back nausea, Max answered his friend. "We''ve GOT to find Valerian."


    Matthew groaned. "We can''t go back to the Village looking like this, though."


    "You don''t think I already know that?" Max retorted.


    Zack and Matthew then jumped at Max''s gagging. He threw up, pouring out an inky black substance, then collapsed again.


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    "Shit!" Zack panicked.


    "Now what do we do?" Matthew cried.


    "Find what was stolen from you." Valerian came from behind Zack.


    Matthew turned to face her. "What about Max? We can''t just leave him like this."


    She shook her head. "He''s falling under the influence of her sorcery...there''s no shaping him now....not until you retrieve the cursed blade."


    Zack looks from his friend to Valerian. "Where can we find her?"


    "You can''t face her alone, even I can''t. She''s too powerful for my magic."


    "Who could help us then?"


    Valerian sighs. "I can''t speak the name....."


    "Who? Just say it!" Matthew demands.


    "I can''t speak the name." She repeated. ".....but what I can tell you is to go beyond the woods. There.....you''ll find him."


    Calmly this time, Matthew spoke. "Can you take us there?"


    "No!" Valerian retorted, then took a second to calm down. "...but I''ll show you which direction to take." She held her finger up to point in the northwest direction.


    "Go beyond the edge of the forest and you''ll find him. Goodbye, and good luck."


    Zack looks at her and nods. Matthew took one look at Max''s unconscious body, Valerian followed his gaze.


    "He will be fine, as long as you hurry.....if you don''t, the three of you will be fully put under her spell, never to return to the surface. Your conscious minds will forever be buried under the beasts your bodies took form as." She then vanished, leaving them speechless in their circle.


    Max finally wakes up, groaning. "What happened?"


    Matthew nudged him with his snout. "No time to explain, we need to go to the edge of the woods." Max gets up and looks at his friends with confusion.


    Zack points them to the right direction. "Come on, lets go!"

 Chapter 3: Beyond the Woods (part 3)

    Matthew explained to Max about what Valerian had warned them of.


    "Why....can''t she just TAKE us to whoever this guy is?" Max wondered.


    Matthew shrugged. "I don''t know, I think she''s scared of him."


    Max scoffed. "Okay, so why would she send us over if he''s dangerous?"


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    Matthew wheezed. "I know, right?"


    The boys finished talking to him about what else the witch has told them.


    "It''s starting with you, Max. That''s why we have to move, quickly before time runs out."


    Max''s shock caused him to be speechless.


    Zack ushered them to keep moving.


    The darkness in the sky was slowly making its presense known. The three friends found a spot under a thick tree to nestle down for the night.


    Max''s head filled with worry as he tried to fall asleep.


    He forced the voices in his mind to stop talking, until he finally was able to lull himself to sleep.

 Chapter 4: Whispers in the Trees

    Max woke up to a strange group of beasts waiting to devour them.


    He yapped as one of them bit down into his neck, thrashing him around and tearing his fur. He howled in agony as the wolf attacked him.


    "Help!" His friends were still sound asleep, their breathing was peaceful and slow, as he was struggling to keep himself alive as more wolves came up to him with their teeth bared, snarling at him.


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    "HEY!" They still slept.


    One wolf scratched Max, tearing his flesh, while another bit deep down into his fur, pulling it apart as Max screamed.


    The pain was unbearable.


    Max suddenly blacked out, then woke up again to a snout touching his face. He gasped.


    "Hey, hey, you''re alright. It''s just me." Zack said.


    "Max, you had a nightmare!" Matthew mentioned.


    No shit, he thought.

 Chapter 4: Whispers in the Trees (part 2)

    ...................................................


    ......................................


    "We wouldn''t do that to you, you know that right?" Zack said to Max.


    "Yeah, it was just a dream." Matthew mentioned. Max gave him a stern look.


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    "Seems like you''ve been getting like this since the curse was put on us, that''s weird that it sets right on you." Matthew then said.


    Zack looked at him. "Yes, but you remember why that is? Valerian explained it to us."


    "It seems like Scarlett mostly has her eyes set on YOU, Max. Any idea why?" Matthew said, ignoring Zack.


    Max replied. "Weren''t you guys there the day she came back?"


    Both his friends shook their heads. "We must''ve been hunting squirrels..." Matthew responded, now sounding worried. "Why did she come back?"


    Max began to explain.

 Chapter 4: Whispers in the Trees (part 3)

    Max and Ben had gone into the woods in search of food. There was a certain part of the woods they weren''t allowed to go to, but their stubborn selves decided to venture through anyway.


    The boys got themselves sidetracked by taking sticks and treating them like they were swords. They played for a while until the sun began to set, the sticks were dropped and they continued their mission.


    .......................................


    After having caught four squirrels and two rabbits, they turned around and went back the way they came.


    Before they could reach the safer section of the woods, they were stopped by the Lady in Red, Scarlett.


    "Naughty boys, you know better." She snickered.


    Ben scoffed. "What''s in it to you, witch?"


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    She laughed as she held up her hand to examine her black painted fingernails. "This is my territory, my land, no one ever crosses it."


    Ben retorts. "This ''land'' wasn''t yours to claim, now step aside."


    "Ben...?" Max warns.


    "And yours wasn''t either." She replies calmly. "Now run fast, before I keep you in these woods, never to leave!"


    Ben smirks. "Yeah, right."


    Her expression grew more tense. She waves a hand and the magic automatically throws him to the side.


    "BEN!" Max screams.


    "Let''s go! Let''s go!" Ben shouts as he jumps up, clapping Max on the back.


    They could hear the angered witch in the background.


    "Your town will BURN!"


    ...............................................


    After a while, the boys had enough time to warn everyone of the incoming presense.


    "You stupid boys! You KNEW better than to wander that part of the forest!" The blacksmith shouted.


    There was the sound of cries and panic in the background.


    The blacksmith sighs. "If we shall fight.....we shall fight together."


    The village gathered, waiting for Scarlett''s presense. Ben and Max waited too.


    A few minutes have passed, and suddenly there was a chill in the air and dark mist swirling on the ground.


    She''s coming.

 Chapter 4: Whispers in the Trees (part 4)

    "So that''s what happened? All of this because of you?" Matthew growled.


    "Yes. I am part of the reason, but, it doesn''t matter now." Max said.


    "No!" Matthew stops in his tracks and turns to face him. "It does, don''t you get it? We are screwed because of you! We shouldn''t be here with you! DAMN IT!"


    Zack gave Matthew a look as if he were telling him to not push it.


    Max snarled at him. "I DID NOT WANT ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? I''M SORRY I FUCKED UP, BUT NOW WHAT''S DONE IS DONE! I CAN''T GO BACK AND FIX IT NOW! IT''S TOO LATE!"


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    Completely ignoring what his friend is saying, Matthew bared his teeth and shouted.


    "SO WHAT ELSE DID YOU DO, HUH? I WANT TO KNOW!"


    Zack tells Matthew to stop and looks at Max. The larger gray wolf just shouts back. "NOTHING!"


    Matthew laughs and shakes his head in disbelief.


    "I''m serious!" Max retorts.


    "You nearly killed everyone in the Village! I should''ve known. Why am I even here? With you? And you are the reason we are a hunter''s prey now! You took our freedom away!"


    Zack then steps in between them. "THAT''S ENOUGH!"


    "WHY ARE YOU DEFENDING HIM?" Matthew shouted at Zack.


    Zack looks from him to Max. "If we want to change back.........we have to continue."


    "I''d rather if he suffers in the pit of misery in this shithole." Matthew mutters.


    Zack then turned to Max, but he was no longer there.


    "Max?"


    He then caught a shadowy glimpse of his tail brush a tree.


    "Let him go, Zack!"


    No, we''re brothers, and we stick together!

 Chapter 4: Whispers in the Trees (part 5)

    Max charged through the woods, he could feel his tail whipping hard on every branch he touched.


    THAT FUCKING RUNT!


    He ran further and further, his anger was making his vision grow blurry, he couldn''t see the trunk he was about to hit. Before he could make contact with it, Max abruptly stopped.


    His breathing was heavy from running endlessly through the branches.


    Suddenly, his attention was pointed to the tops of the trees. There was something off about them.


    The sound of the wind blowing the leaves didn''t seem right. It was almost like a humming.


    He tilted his head in confusion. It was almost like a melody.....


    He walked closer to one tree, wishing he had his human legs to climb.


    Max looked back up, and there he saw hundreds of crows looking down at him.


    They appeared to be waiting.


    Waiting for what though?


    Suddenly, he could feel himself sweating while standing there looking straight up unable to move, as if he was paralyzed.


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    He whimpered.


    He could hear footsteps running up to him.


    "Oh my God." Max could tell Zack was looking up too.


    He could then hear Matthew not running but walking up to them.


    Max could hear Matthew gasping. Yeah, he was also looking up.


    "What kind of sorcery is this?" Matthew wondered.


    Completely forgetting his issue with Matthew earlier, Max replied. "I don''t know......"


    Suddenly, from high above, one of the crows began to speak: "Death will come to thee..."


    "Uh, what did it say? Did anyone catch that?" Matthew asked them.


    I have no clue, thought Max.


    One by one, all the crows spoke the same line, loud enough for them to hear.


    "Death will come to thee, Death will come to thee, Death will come to thee!"


    "We need to get out of here." Matthew spoke softly.


    Max then said "No."


    "What? Do you hear what they''re SAYING? Death will come to us!"


    "I don''t think we should even move." Zack whispered.


    "What CAN we do!" Matthew retorted.


    The humming grew louder, to the point it hit the ear drums.


    Max didn''t want to risk moving, but he had to cover his pointed ears. So he did.


    Then all hell broke loose......


    The birds cawed loudly and rose into the sky, hundreds of them emerging from the trees.


    They all flew in one direction, forming a circle.


    The humming wasn''t helping them either.


    Matthew was right.


    THEY HAD TO MOVE. NOW!


    "RUN!" Max cried over the humming.


    They all ran, not worrying about what was behind them or above them.


    The birds swooped down. Two or three of them would grab and peck hard at their flesh, their talons sharp enough to tear them apart. Something about these birds weren''t normal.


    These strange beings were the size of bald eagles.


    Through the pain, they kept running.


    All of a sudden, a large black wolf came in behind them, Matthew looked back at him and yapped.


    "Uh, guys?"


    The other two looked over their shoulders and saw him.


    Who the hell was HE?


    The black wolf spoke, "Follow me!"

 Chapter 4: Whispers in the Trees (part 6)

    The black wolf led them to some shelter underneath the roots of a large tree.


    "There, you''ll be safer here!" He exclaimed. "You shouldn''t be out in this part of the forest, what the hell were you three doing?"


    Max gulped as he explained their story.


    The black wolf lay down as he continuously stared at them. "You guys are cursed ones." He concluded. "You''re not the only one that''s been cursed though, she''s done hundreds."


    Zack tilted his head. "How do you know so much?"


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    "Hey, you must be the one we''re meant to talk to!" Matthew said.


    "That''s right, you must be the one Valerian referred us to!" Max said.


    The black wolf then looked at Max. "Valerian?"


    "You know her, right?" Matthew said.


    The black wolf nodded his head. "She sent you to me....for help?"


    Matthew shrugged. "Apparently! Seemed like she was scared to mention it too!"


    The black wolf glared at them. "SCARED? Of WHAT?"


    Matthew shrugged. "You apparently..."


    The black wolf took a long pause before saying, "I''m going to kill that bitch."


    Max rolls his eyes. "Anyway, is there something you can do?"


    The black wolf muttered to himself, then looks back at them. "I believe there is something...."


    "Please...we don''t belong here." Max begged.


    The black wolf sighed. "Very well then."

 Chapter 5: Shadow

    "One thing you''ve got to know while being out here....is the dangers. These woods aren''t normal."


    Matthew tilted his head, while Max and Zack exchanged glances.


    "What does that even MEAN?" Matthew exclaimed.


    "There are dangers, like those crows?" The black wolf looked at him.


    "Those birds?" Matthew asked. "Yeah, theyre CREEPY! They keep saying we''re going to die!"


    The black wolf continued. "Those birds, you need to stay away from. They warn you of their master, The Necromancer. He''s a sorcerer that wanders these woods, he''s dangerous...casting forbidden magic as dark as Scarlett''s. You must avoid him too."


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    Max tilted his head. "What''s a necromancer?"


    The black wolf snarled at him. "Don''t you pay any attention?"


    Zack and Max looked at one another once more.


    "A necromancer is a type of witch that weilds dark magic, he''s the only one that roams these woods.


    "What does he do?" Matthew asked.


    "He''ll make you wish you''ve never been born!" He said, before walking out of their hiding place. He turns back to them, overlooking them with his obsidian black eyes. "I''m going to hunt! Who''s coming with me?"


    "Uh, we don''t know how to hunt. I mean we DID, but not as wolves." Zack said.


    The black wolf growled, as he muttered under his breath. "Why do I waste my time with people like THESE?"


    Matthew slowly turned to his friends with uncertainty. "What the FUCK?" He whispered.


    ......................................................


    When the strange wolf was completely gone, Matthew was first to speak after a good long while.


    "Wh- why him?" Matthew looked at Max with confusion.


    "Beats ME." Max shrugged.

 Chapter 5: Shadow (part 2)

    After a while, the black wolf came back to their base. Max, Zack and Matthew were huddled together, sleeping in the crammed space.


    Max was jolted awake by the black wolf coming really close to his face.


    "Whoa, what the fuck do you want?" Max said, taken aback.


    The black wolf growled. "You need to be awake, we''re almost ready to leave. Now that it''s night, the crows won''t notice us."


    "Okay, whatever." Matthew said while rolling his eyes.


    "Hey, we never got your name?" Zack said to the black wolf.


    The black wolf sighed and looked at the three of them. "Shadow. Now, get ready, eat what i brought you, and let''s go!" He said, his tail whipping the root as he went next to their tree and waited.


    Matthew scoffed and looked at his friends again. "What is UP with that guy?" He winced.


    Max was confused.


    ..........................................................


    After their meal on a plump rabbit, the three wolves walked out of their territory, when suddenly, Shadow shot forth at them.


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    "WHOAH!" Matthew yapped while jumping back a little ways. The wolf stepped closer and closer. Max and Zack looked at him in shock.


    The black wolf lowered his head as he began to circle with his obsidian eyes locked on them. What was he DOING? Max thought to himself. "Shadow! WHAT THE FUCK!" he exclaimed.


    The black wolf slowly turned his head to meet Max''s gaze. "What does it look like I''m doing? I''m checking to make sure you aren''t a threat and Valerian really did send you!"


    "She DID!"


    Matthew laughed nervously as Shadow sniffed his face. Max didn''t feel comfortable with his presense; it gave him a chill down his spine, even Zack looked at him nervously.


    Once the black wolf felt comfortable around them again, he then said. "Alright, you''re good."


    He walked on, ordering the others to follow him. The others obeyed as they walked with their heads down and their tails between their legs.


    .............................................................


    They followed the strange wolf.


    "So, what''s your story?" Matthew asked.


    The wolf said nothing.


    "Shadow?"


    Still nothing.


    Max''s focus on the black wolf broke as he heard the voice again. His eyes darted around, desperate to find the source of the noise. Right away, Max could tell, that all eyes were on him now.


    Indeed, Matthew, Zack, even Shadow looked back at him. His friends turned to the black wolf. Shadow stepped toward him.


    Max couldn''t tell if his cold sweat came from nervousness as Shadow moved closer to him, or it was another fever coming to the surface.


    He closed his eyes as Shadow began to sniff him. Max then realized that the shaking he was bringing out was his own nervousness from the unknown friend or foe of this being.


    "A-any-th-thing?" Matthew stuttered.


    Shadow still had no words, he only turned away from Max.

 Chapter 5: Shadow (part 3)

    That night, Max couldn''t sleep. There was just something about that guy that didn''t feel right.


    He studied the sleeping silhouette.


    Why did Valerian refer us to HIM? He''s a creep!


    Slowly he got up and crept over to the wolf. The moment he placed his nose on Shadow, the black beast snapped at him.


    Max yapped.


    "BACK OFF!" Shadow snarled.


    "Okay! Okay!" Max could feel his tail tuck between his legs.


    Zack stirred. "What''s going on?"


    "Whoah, did he just talk?" Matthew teased.


    Shadow whipped his head at Matthew. "SHUT UP!" He whips his head back at Max. "What... the FUCK ...were you doing?"


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    Max could swear that the deep voice sliced through his skin forming a chill to the bone. He fought the courage to defend himself. "I was examining you. Making sure YOU weren''t a threat!"


    Shadow tilted his head. "Why would you think that? I''m not fucked up enough to hurt kids like you!" He snarled.


    Matthew scoffed. "You''re like.......literally the same age as us!" Shadow growled, slowly turning his gaze to Matthew''s. The small wolf whined.


    Shadow''s attention turned back to Max.


    "You''ve been acting strange with us since we''ve met, so of course Max is going to check you." Zack chimed in.


    Shadow sighed.


    "We need your help....we''re not supposed to be these creatures if the dark.....uh, no offense." Max said.


    ..........................................................


    After a while, the four wolves calmed down and talked.


    "My brother''s still out there..." Max mentioned. Shadow looked at him. "You said your brother was the first one cursed?" Max nodded.


    "It wouldn''t be a surprise if Scarlett has him as part of her army..."


    "Wait, what army?" Matthew asked.


    "Scarlett keeps the ones she''s cursed and imprisons them. Some cursed ones escape from her grasp, some fall further into her control, causing them to lose their memories of the human lives they had. If she tells a cursed to kill a loved one, they will do so without hesitation."


    Matthew gulped.


    Max felt like his stomach flopped at the thought of Ben''s fate. No....not Ben. Please not Ben!

 Chapter 5: Shadow (part 4)

    After their talk, they went to sleep, except for Max. He lay on his back and watched the stars above him.


    The stars always reminded him of good times, every year, his family will go walk outside of their home and watch the glistening of the stars.


    How he cherished those memories. How he wished he could relive those times again, he looked down at the thing he had become...he missed his body! He wished that a snap of fingers would change him back.


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    Ugh. I''m so sick of being a wolf! He thought to himself.


    "Hush, I can hear you!" Shadow growled.


    How?


    "You''re not the only one that can hear voices."


    "You can?"


    Shadow nodded.


    "Do you know how to stop them?"


    "Just don''t listen." He said simply. "By the way, you should honor what you are."


    Easy for you to say.....


    .........................................


    The next morning, Max woke up to the sound of Matthew screaming.

 Chapter 6: Nameless

    "Matthew?"


    Max''s instincts told him to run, Zack was right behind him.


    Where the hell was Shadow? Max takes a look to his left where all the trees covered the sun. In the distance, he could see a familiar black wolf running up to them.


    There he is, he thought.


    Shadow was first to reach Matthew before Max and Zack did.


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    "Matthew, what''s wrong?" Zack asked him. Matthew shot a confused look at him. "Who the hell is Matthew? Who are you people?"


    Oh no! Max thought.


    "What did I say about controlling those thoughts? I don''t want to hear it!" Shadow responds to Max, then turns his head to Matthew.


    "That''s you!" Zack said to Matthew. The small wolf didn''t believe him though.


    Shadow whispered something to him and it settled him down.


    "Matthew?" Max began.


    "You can''t call him by that name anymore." Shadow declared. Irritation grew inside of Max. "Why? Another part of the curse? We can''t just remind him?


    Shadow didn''t reply.


    "So what do we call him now?" Zack too was annoyed by Shadow. The black wolf then simply responded. "Whatever you want." Then he turned heel and walked away.

 Chapter 6: Nameless (part 2)

    Max and Zack had no words for their friend, they only stared.


    "I can''t believe this, we have to give him a new name!" Max whispered to Zack.


    "I know." He replied.


    Max decided to walk up to the confused Matthew. The small wolf gave Max a blank stare. "Who are you?"


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    "It''s me, Max! D- don''t you remember?"


    Matthew only shook his head.


    Shadow came back to them. "I know it''s hard to adjust, but you got to trust me on this...there''s no turning back now."


    Max looked at Shadow. "What DO we call him now? We don''t have a name for him."


    "You''ll figure it out."


    "Why can''t YOU do it?" Max retorted.


    "It''s not that simple for me."

 Chapter 6: Nameless (part 3)

    Max thought about saying something to him, but decided to drop it. He still wanted to know what to do for his friend.


    Shadow then began to speak. "Just base it off a good ability he has, something that makes him .....HIM."


    ...........................................................


    Sometime later, Max discussed with Zack about Shadow''s suggestion. Surprisingly, the small nameless wolf went up to them. The boys looked at him.


    The small wolf then spoke for the first time in several hours. "So, you guys are my friends?"


    The boys nodded.


    "How come I don''t remember my own name? Or yours?"


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    Zack sighed. "It''s part of the curse..."


    The small wolf tilted his head. "Curse? What curse?" It appeared that Zack was struggling to fight back tears. "We''re not suppose to be like this. Don''t you remember?"


    The small wolf responded. "I - I remember that we were supposed to take back.....something that was stolen from us. What do you mean we''re not supposed to be like this?"


    "We were once human, but there''s this witch that stole our freedom from us. We''re humans, not beasts." Max explained, yet every word he spoke crushed his soul.


    The small wolf looked from one friend to the next. "Wh - why am I losing my memory?"


    Shadow then chimed in. "The curse is slowly affecting your minds, if we don''t hurry and get you guys more prepared for what''s yet to come, you guys will lose.....and you''ll be stuck here forever!"


    The small wolf looked back at Shadow. "Aren''t you like us too? Don''t you think YOU need to be freed?"


    Shadow looked at the ground, then back up at the three of them. "I''m already what I am. There''s no going back for me..."


    "Why?"


    "B- because -" Shadow stuttered, then shook his head, changing the subject. "Let''s work on your names."

 Chapter 6: Nameless (part 4)

    Max shot a look at Zack. "NAMES?" He whispered.


    "Let''s start with you, Zack." Shadow began.


    The blond wolf stepped forward.


    "Your friends told me about your howl......I want to hear it." Max could tell that Zack was nervous.


    Zack braced himself for his howl, it was loud enough to pierce your eardrums.


    Shadow nodded. "Okay, Max is next."


    Uh, okay, he thought as he stepped forward. "Your friend over there told me you''re good with strikes. Try me." Shadow said.


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    Is he INSANE? Max had no choice but to listen to his order.


    So he did what his father had taught him long ago: Pretend they''re the enemy.


    Shadow got in his stance to fight Max, and Max did the same.


    When Shadow lunged at him, Max quickly went right under him and scratched hard on his shoulder, leaving deep claw marks under his skin. Just as he did this, Shadow howled in agony, but that didn''t stop him from trying to get Max.


    Max defended himself from the attack, leaving another scratch a little ways under his neck. Shadow cried again, then looked at him with a surprise on his face. "You did well, better than I thought."


    Max tilted his head. "You doubted me this whole time?"


    "I had to check." Shadow replied, then looks over at what was once Matthew. "You, come here."


    The wolf shyly makes his way to the front. "I don''t know what I can do.."


    "We''ll find out, okay?"

 Chapter 6: Nameless (part 5)

    Shadow attempted to strike, but Matthew immediately dodged him. He was incredibly fast! Shadow kept trying to hit him, but he missed again, and again, and again. Matthew was so fast that Max struggled to follow his movements, his eyes were technically moving about until he got dizzy.


    Shadow stopped and so did Matthew. "Impressive! That gives you your new name for sure!"


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    Max and Zack listened closely, even though they knew Shadow was a loud speaker. "How about Thunderbolt?" It seemed like Matthew was pretty excited for his new name. "In honor of your talent for swiftness, your name will be Thunderbolt!" Matthew bowed down.


    Zack was called forth to be named; his new name is Howl.


    Max was the last one called forth, and he was given the name, Scratch.

 Chapter 7: Scratch, Howl, and Thunderbolt

    When Zack and Matthew wandered off exitedly, Max was left alone with Shadow.


    "Me and Zack haven''t lost our memories yet, but you give us names anyway?" Max said, turning to Shadow.


    "There''s a lot of power in names, you can use it with your ability to defeat Scarlett."


    "Look, what''s the deal with this ''defeating Scarlett'' thing? We''re only after my brother''s blade!"


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    "She has it though, right? You wouldn''t be able to magically bring it over to you just like that; Scarlett''s smarter than that. You have to plan her every move! Get inside her head!"


    "How am I going to do that?"


    "Allow me to demonstrate." Shadow said.


    Wait, what?


    Before Shadow can strike him, Max dodged. "That''s what I''m talking about, Scratch!"


    "I''m not Scratch!" Max argued.


    "Deep inside, you are." Shadow gave him a side eye glance.


    Max sighed.

 Chapter 7: Scratch, Howl, and Thunderbolt (part 2)

    "Okay, how do you know so much?" Max then asked.


    Shadow sighed. "I only know what I know.....from experience. I''ve been cursed by the same person as you."


    "How do you mean?"


    "My curse wasn''t connected to a blade....." Shadow paused before saying, "It -- it was just her." Max could tell that Shadow was in distress.


    Why? What did he lose?


    "My family. My sister. My life." Shadow responded.


    "How long have you been like this?"


    Years, Max heard.


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    "I''m sorry, Shadow."


    "I had a name before, but, it''s been so long, I''ve forgotten what it actually was. So, I stuck with this name.....still do."


    "How old is your sister? Is she younger than you?"


    Shadow replied. "Older."


    "I think she wouldn''t give up on you. Does she know what happened to you?"


    He shook his head. "Once I knew what was happening to me, I ran." Max could feel his shame.


    "What about your parents?"


    "What parents? I don''t have any, it''s just been me and my sister since I turned five. Can we stop talking about this now?"


    Max lowered his head, then slowly looked up and saw that Shadow was glaring at him. Though, of course, Shadow was always glaring at them for one reason or another...Valerian was a fool to send them his way, but if she had a reason, what was it?


    "Why didn''t you get us a chance from the beginning?" He found himself asking.


    Shadow tilted his head. "What do you mean?"


    "You''ve just been strange with us since we first met....like...you couldn''t TRUST us or something."


    Shadow growled, then walked off.


    Max sighed, he was afraid that THAT was going to happen....

 Chapter 7: Scratch, Howl , and Thunderbolt (part 3)

    When Shadow was walking away, Zack went up to him.


    "Is this all that we need to face her?"


    Shadow kept on walking. Zack turned to Max. "What''s wrong with him?" Max only looked to the side, shaking his head.


    Zack walked over to him. "Why would he give us names when we are already conscious enough to remember our own?"


    "He told me names are useful, if we have names that match our abilities, it makes us stronger."


    "Okay, I''ll honor that.....as long as I remember my REAL name. Are you going to keep yours?"


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    "No, I''ll stick with my ACTUAL name." Max grumbled before turning away from his friend and walking off.


    .................................................................


    When Shadow came back, he told them to practice their abilities, but he left Max aside.


    "What is it now?" Max muttered.


    "We''re going to work on your thoughts."


    Max scoffed.


    "You need to learn to get her out of your head. Now let''s start with you reading my thoughts."


    This is ridiculous.


    Max focused only on Shadow, then the training began.


    Green.


    "Green?"


    Shadow nods.


    Backstab.


    "Backstab."


    He nods again, then looks at Thunderbolt.


    Kill.


    "What?"


    Shadow looks at him. "Very good."


    Max was taken aback.


    "Now, we both know we can hear each other, so let''s practice on your friends. Howl! Thunderbolt!"


    Both wolves raced over to where Shadow and Max stood.

 Chapter 7: Scratch, Howl, and Thunderbolt (part 4)

    "Scratch, what I want you to do next is talk to them without saying anything. You get in THEIR head, now."


    "For the last time - !" Max retorted.


    Shadow gives him a stern look.


    Fine.


    Max looks at Zack........or......Howl and Thunderbolt. He looked into the eyes of Howl first.


    What should I even SAY?


    Anything, Shadow said.


    Max looks at the forest around them, he spots a rabbit hopping over a log.


    Get that rabbit!


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    On it, Howl said.


    Whoa! Max looks over at Shadow. The black wolf nods.


    Max then looks at Thunderbolt, and the small wolf looks back. Get that rabbit over there.


    Thunderbolt looks about. Where?


    Max used his snout to point.


    Thunderbolt follows his direction.


    Oh.


    Shadow did what he did best, hid in the darkness of the forest, while Max, Howl and Thunderbolt split apart as they went up to the rabbit.


    Thunderbolt, use your speed if he escapes.


    The small wolf nods.


    Howl, if the rabbit is in a position where we can''t get to him, you make noise loud enough to scare him out.


    Max noticed that Shadow was watching them in the distance. Aren''t you going to help?


    Shadow didn''t reply.


    The rabbit was grazing. Okay, good.


    Once the rabbit noticed Howl, it fled.


    Thunderbolt ran after the rabbit, Howl and Max followed him.


    "It''s stuck!" Thunderbolt shouted.


    Max noticed that the rabbit ran underneath some tree roots. There was enough room for it to move about, but it was cornered.


    Max and Howl tried to reach the rabbit, but it was too far under.


    Let''s hide until it thinks it''s safe enough.


    So Howl and Max hid behind the tree, while Thunderbolt hid himself in the distance.

 Chapter 7: Scratch, Howl, and Thunderbolt (part 5)

    Some minutes have passed and the rabbit is still in his hole.


    Scare him out! Max demands.


    A howl came from his friend and the rabbit squeaked, hopping out of his hiding place and running through the trees.


    That was when Thunderbolt made his move, dodging every branch. Until finally, he went in for the kill.


    Howl and Max laughed with relief.


    Thunderbolt came back to them with the limp rabbit in his mouth.


    "Well done." Shadow said.


    ..............................................................


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    After their small meal, Max wandered off a little ways. He wanted to see the stars tonight. Hearing footsteps behind him, Max turned around and saw Shadow. The black wolf sat right next to him and looked up.


    "They''re beautiful tonight, aren''t they?" Shadow said, Max nodded.


    The black wolf sighs peacefully. "I''m sorry about earlier.....you were right." Max looked at him. "For what?"


    "It''s not easy for me to trust people."


    Max didn''t know what to say, he only turned his gaze back to the stars, while Shadow continued.


    "Ever since I left my sister, I''ve been on my own. Back then, I would hang out with EVERYBODY, things have changed for me ever since I became cursed. I couldn''t trust anyone......but, you proved me wrong."


    When Shadow got up, Max noticed the deep claw marks he left on him earlier that day. Damn, I really DO scratch hard.


    Shadow stopped, he looked back at Max and showed a crooked grin. "You''ll be known for it, honor what you are."


    When Shadow left, Max thought hard about his newly given name.


    Maybe it''s not stupid after all. Shadow''s right, it WILL come in handy!


    Scratch, huh?

 Chapter 8: The Valley

    Max broke in a sweat. "Again?" He cried.


    This panic alerted the other wolves.


    What''s happening to me? I thought I was fine!


    Shadow immediately came to his aid. Max then vomited and collapsed.


    ......................................


    He found himself in a dark room with no light whatsoever. When he breathed, it echoed off the walls. The chill in the emptiness didn''t settle right with him. He noticed he was in his human form again.


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    Suddenly, a figure wearing a dark cloak brushed past him. The top half of her face was covered by a hood, her long sleeves were connected together as she walked. A wolf then came out after her, following her lead.


    Then another, and then another.


    He stood in place, in the center of the room.


    They chanted something to him, and cackled.


    What was going on? What IS this?


    The girl stood before him, smiling at his confused expression. Slowly she walked closer and closer to him, her hand reached out to grab his neck and held him up. She tossed him to the floor, and with that, all of them came onto him at once.


    The last thing he saw was the girl that just threw him, but there was something off about her now. She wasn''t there anymore, in her place stood a gray wolf just like him, but she was covered in a cloudlike mass, the color of a very, very dark gray....


    Kind of like...Scarlett.


    The wolf laughed as she lunged at him.

 Chapter 8: The Valley (part 2)

    Scratch was then woken up from Shadow''s nudging. "Hey, what''s wrong?"


    Shaken, Scratch began to explain his story.


    ................................................


    "Their forms looked like they were....decaying?" Scratch said to Shadow and his friends. Shadow then looked at him with eyes widened.


    "What? What is it?" Thunderbolt asked.


    "The longer a cursed one is under Scarlett''s control, the deader they become. Soon, they''ll be turned to nothing." Shadow explained.


    "Why is that? Why do they decay?" Howl wondered.


    Shadow took a breath as he said to them. "It''s because of The Necromancer. They''re not supposed to be alive...SCARLETT''S not supposed to be alive, but one day, The Necromancer, raised her from death. She''s in control of the wolves, but anyone who is cursed by her becomes cursed; living half lives..."


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    Howl shivered.


    "What about you? How come YOU''RE not like that?" Thunderbolt asked him. "Seems like you don''t decay."


    Shadow looks at the ground and sighs. "It''s a long story..." The boys looked at each other in silence.


    "Is....there a way to free them?" Thunderbolt asked him. Both Scratch and Howl tilted their heads.


    "I......believe so..." Shadow responded.


    ...............................................


    The next few nights, Scratch experienced the same dream. He would wake up sweating and screaming, causing his friends to come to his aid. One night, when the three friends have a discussion about future plans with Shadow, Scratch collapsed. This alerted the wolves, Howl went rushing to him.


    He tried to nudge him awake, but nothing happened.


    Thunderbolt looks at Scratch with worry, then turns his gaze to Shadow. "We need to get going NOW! He''s getting worse!"


    "Where would she be?" Howl asked Shadow.


    "I believe there''s a tower not far from here.


    "A tower?"


    He nods.


    Howl looks at the ground then at him. "We need to hurry, time is running out for Scratch."


    "I know."


    Thunderbolt laid down next to his friend''s unconscious body.

 Chapter 8: The Valley (part 3)

    Shadow looks at Thunderbolt and Howl. "Okay, once he wakes up, we''ll get moving."


    "Okay." Howl said.


    They decided to get some rest while their friend slept.


    Dawn approached and one by one, everyone but Scratch woke up.


    "I''m going to hunt." Shadow declared. "Would anyone like to join me?" Howl and Thunderbolt shook their heads; they''d rather wait for their friend. The black wolf nodded his head, as he turned the opposite direction and left them.


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    "I''m beginning to like Shadow, but HONESTLY, I think he''s still strange." Thunderbolt mentioned.


    Howl laughs. "Can''t argue with that."


    Suddenly, the boys heard Scratch coughing. He groaned as he slowly got to his feet. "I''m sorry guys." He said weakly. Howl could tell his body was shaking. He seemed sick.


    Shadow returns with a fox hanging limp in his mouth. He drops it at their feet, then notices Scratch. "Can you be able to walk?" Shadow asked him.


    Scratch slowly looks up at him. "I believe so?" he coughed again. "Why?"


    Shadow looked at him dead in the eye and said, "We need to get moving."

 Chapter 8: The Valley (part 4)

    They traveled for what felt like an eternity, but once they got to their next place to settle, it was a surprise to them.


    The valley ahead of them was dead looking, but it seemed....in a way....strangely beautiful. There was nothing but tall, yellowed grass that stretched for miles. It was way taller than them, which was worrying to Scratch. They decided to walk through without hesitation.


    As they wandered in, the energy began to feel odd. Scratch''s hackles raised as he looked nervously in every direction.


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    "Can you guys feel this?" He asked.


    Thunderbolt had a worried expression on his face, while Howl stood frozen.


    Scratch could smell it in the air; something was wrong. He turned to Shadow. "What IS this?" The black wolf looked in his direction, but didn''t speak.


    "I can feel it too, what the hell is this?" Thunderbolt replied.


    Howl whimpered as he stared into the distance.


    "Hey, are you alright?" Scratch asked him.


    Howl began to shake, he backed away slowly as his tail tucked between his legs.


    What was he staring at?


    His friend then barked, which made both Scratch and Thunderbolt jump.


    "Howl, snap out of it!" Scratch shouted.

 Chapter 8: The Valley (part 5)

    "We need to move!" Shadow demanded.


    "Why? What''s wrong with him?" Scratch asked him.


    "No time to talk, get moving....anything you see - " Shadow then began to stare at absolutely nothing, for a second his tail was tucked between his legs, the next second, his posture showed fearlessness..


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    "MOVE!" The black wolf shouted.


    Scratch didn''t hesitate, he bolted through the grass. His friends and Shadow were behind.


    What are they seeing that HE''S not?


    Suddenly, a familiar figure stopped him in his tracks.....

 Chapter 8: The Valley (part 6)

    In front of him stood Scarlett, a smirk flickering from her soulless face.


    What do you want from me?


    "Hush child." She whispered. Her smile growing wider, exposing her fangs.


    I''m not afraid of you!


    "You will be!"


    Suddenly a howl broke his trance, he looked back and saw that Shadow was trying to snap him out of it.


    "Don''t let it take control!" He shouted.


    Scratch listened as he ran with his pack, desperate to get out quickly.


    As he ran through the tall grass, he heard something brush past to his left. He looked at what appeared to be another wolf, covered in streaks of black. It''s eyes looked soulless. It bared its teeth at him, waiting to devour him.


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    Scratch was again deep in trance, his fear getting the best of him as he cowered. It appeared to be a gray wolf like him, only larger. Scratch backed away slowly as he stared into the eyes of the beast. As he studied it, it almost looked like.........


    "SCRATCH! THAT ISN''T YOUR BROTHER! SNAP OUT OF IT!" He could hear Shadow say.


    He couldn''t help it though.


    The beast nearly swapped Scratch as he dodged; he then began to strike. Before he could land his claws on him, Shadow intervened, scratching him instead.


    "Shadow? WHAT THE HELL!" Scratch exclaimed, taken aback. Shadow panted. "I''m sorry....I had to stop you......" Scratch then realized what he was about to do.


    Howl stood in the place of his brother, or what he thought was. He appeared to be shaken. "I tried to wake you up, but you didn''t listen."


    Scratch stammered. "I - I didn''t even know that was you!"


    "When I tell you to ignore them, you ignore them!" Shadow exclaimed.


    "What ARE they?" Scratch said, turning to the black wolf.


    "Your own thoughts." Shadow said simply.


    "Is this what she created?"


    "No, it''s a natural phenomenon. Let''s go, before we lose ourselves again."


    They wasted no time getting out of the valley.

 Chapter 9: Aftermath

    After spending minutes running through the endless valley, the four wolves stopped to rest.


    Scratch panted and looked at everyone. "Are we all good?"


    Everyone but Thunderbolt said yes. He wasn''t even with the group!


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    "Uh, has anyone seen Thunder?" Scratch asked. Howl and Shadow looked around.


    "Thunder!" Scratch shouted.


    Oh no, he thought to himself. He''s gone! Suddenly Max heard a rustle come from behind him.


    It was Thunderbolt!


    "There you are, we thought we lost you!" Scratch said. Thunderbolt had his head hung low, eyes to the ground.


    "Hey, are you okay?" Howl asked him.


    Thunderbolt ignored him, he turned to where Shadow sat and began to lay down.

 Chapter 9: Aftermath (part 2)

    Scratch felt sympathy for him, that valley was a nightmare!


    How come we never knew this?


    He looks from Thunderbolt to Shadow and growled.


    "What the hell was that? Why didn''t you tell us?" Of course no words came out of Shadow, and that made Scratch furious.


    "WHY DIDN''T YOU TELL US?" He repeated. Shadow still had no answer for him.


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    Scratch lunged, but before he could land on him, Howl intervened by pulling Scratch by the scruff, dragging him away from Shadow. "Enough Scratch! We''ve just escaped our worst nightmares! I want answers too, but, come on......let''s give him a break."


    Scratch sighed. "Fine..." he whispered. He walked away from them and found a spot away from the pack.


    When Scratch looked at Shadow again, his expression changed from anger to gut wrenching sympathy.


    Shadow looked.......ashamed, but at the same time afraid.


    What did he see in that valley?


    Shadow lowered his head and turned it away from Scratch.


    He never saw this side of the black wolf before....

 Chapter 9 Aftermath (part 3)

    "Shadow, I''m sorry." Scratch said.


    The black wolf rested his head on his paws. "Forget it!"


    ................................................................


    In Scratch''s dream, there stood a town with a familiar setting on it. He.......felt like he LIVED there!


    Looking down at his feet, he was a boy again! He wrapped his arms around himself, missing the body he once had.


    He wandered through the village with curiosity. The structures were beautiful, comforting, nostalgic. With every house he passed there was a wrench in his gut that felt like sadness to him.....


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    Like he was......homesick?


    How could have he belonged here? He was different from everyone!


    Suddenly, two silhouettes formed in front of him.


    There was a girl that appeared to be his age. She had freckles, and blonde hair under her bonnet.


    He recognized her, but he didn''t remember her name.


    Then he looked at the woman standing next to her. She appeared to be much older than both he and the girl.


    She had a look of longing on her wrinkled face, he felt something, like a sense of unconditional love towards this woman.


    But who was she to him?


    The girl broke the silence as she suddenly gripped both his shoulders while giving him a very serious glare.


    "You NEED to get moving!"


    Before he realized it, she pushed him down and he was falling into a dark abyss.


    ...........................................................

 Chapter 10: Valerian

    After she pushed Max back into his waking reality, Valerian pulled herself out of his dream and woke up to the sound of her sleeping orange and white striped cat.


    Angrily, she pounded her fist on the table.


    "Damn it!" She screamed.


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    When she realized she wasn''t alone, besides her cat, Valerian sat up on her stool and looked directly at her childhood friend, who had her back turned to her.


    To ease her frustration, she took a deep breath.


    "Don''t worry, we''ll find him."


    The girl in the dark cloak walked away from her into another part of their house.


    Valerian sighs defeatedly.

 Chapter 10: Valerian (part 2)

    After a few hours of thinking, Valerian wanders outside of her hut to collect herbs from her garden.


    She took them inside and prepared to make her tea. Valerian could hear her friend enter the kitchen, she looked over her shoulder.


    "Hey, you''re looking much better, how was the soup?"


    "It''s keeping me ALIVE." Her friend replied.


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    Valerian sighed softly.


    "Well, I''m glad."


    "Is there anything better than you entering that kid''s mind all the time? I mean, does he even know where Gabriel is?"


    "It''s what I''ve got for now..." Valerian said. "Believe me, I''m doing my best." She could feel her friend''s impatience wash over her.


    The girl looks up at her. "What''s that you''re making?"


    Valerian rolled her eyes, then replied. "Nothing for you to worry about."


    "That''s not a proper answer, come on...what is it?" Her friend pressed.


    "It''s my medicine..... for my burns..." She lied.


    Like SHE''S going to mention it, it''s none of her business.


    Ugh, I hate how annoying she and her nosiness can get!

 Chapter 10: Valerian (part 3)

    Her friend scoffed at her. "Whatever." She stood up from her seat and walked back to her room, leaving Valerian in silence.


    Once her tea was finished, she set a place for it to cool while she waited.


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    Valerian wandered back outside to harvest the mushrooms. When she came back in, she sat at the table and consumed the warm liquid.


    As disgusting as it tasted, she had to drink it.


    I''d rather it was the tincture I gave Max, she thought.


    As she drained the last bit of her drink, she stayed in her chair.

 Chapter 10: Valerian (part 4)

    She sighed softly as she reminisced the good years, the times when her and her friend would gather in a circle in the center of the forest and play. During a time when there was no interaction with the Creatures of the Dark.


    She smiled as she remembered her and her friend as witch children just discovering their powers.


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    Both her and her friend were attracted to plants and herbs. Her brother on the other hand........


    Valerian jumped out of her nostalgic trance and looked over to see her friend step out. She sighed in relief.


    Her friend looked back at her. "I''m going to search again."


    "Alright, only go to the place where it''s not her territory."


    "Why not? He could be there!" Her friend retorted.


    "I just dont want anything bad happening to you."


    Her friend rolled her eyes. "You worry too much!"

 Chapter 10: Valerian (part 5)

    When her friend left her once again, Valerian had fallen back into her trance.


    She remembered when she grew up in the village that was once ruled by the castle, that is now abandoned and rotting.


    Oh how she loved that castle, she entered it once a long time ago.


    The kingdom was ruled by a very loving and caring king and queen, but sadly, everything fell apart in one night.


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    She remembered the story that was told to her.....that one fateful night, a band of assassins killed the king and queen and their only beloved child and they took all of the gold and silver from the dungeons below the castle floors.


    Oh how she wished the kingdom was alive and thriving again, but she learned that neither the king nor queen had any living blood relatives that could claim the throne, so the castle fell in ruins.


    It''s been decades since the Village once had a beloved king to be ruled by. Now the Village stands alone.....governless.

 Chapter 10: Valerian (part 6)

    Someday though, she thought to herself, there will be a kingdom again....not by Scarlett, whom wants to rule it, but someone with a pure enough heart to do so. The only piece of it Scarlett ruled over was the abandoned tower.


    Suddenly, another thought came to her mind, but this time it alerted her.


    Where ARE they going, by the way?


    ...............................................................


    Valerian ran inside the house and lit an incense candle and immediately fell into a dream-like state.


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    In her dream, she was again the only one that could see Max, she waited until he was looking at her.


    "Where are you going?" She demanded.


    "Um..." She could hear him reply. "There''s this tower that Shadow keeps talking about."


    A tower?


    "Why?" He asked her.


    "Whatever you do, do not go there!"


    "We don''t have a choice! The dagger''s there."


    "You don''t know what you''re getting yourself into!"


    "We HAVE to!" He argued.


    Angrily, she left him there in his dream and came back to the waking reality.


    She HAD to do something! Anything!


    What if she had to leave? No, it''s too dangerous, she thought. How will she accomplish this?


    There was no time to waste....


    But would that...that.....THING sense her?


    I don''t have any other choice, they must not go to the tower!


    She packed her belongings in a small bag and left the house for the first time in days and began her dangerous quest.


    Trudging on through the woods and beyond.

 Chapter 11: The Tower

    Scratch and his friends continued on their journey to the tower. An eerie silence grew from the pack as none of them spoke, especially Thunderbolt.


    Scratch still carried his concern for him, he looked over his shoulder to see Thunderbolt falling behind the group, his head still hung low....he appeared to be lost in thought with those eyes staring blankly at the ground.


    Scratch told Howl to stay with Shadow, before falling behind to meet Thunderbolt''s level. "Thunder...is everything alright?"


    Of course his friend didn''t respond.


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    Scratch sighed, he made another attempt to get him to speak. "Look, whatever it was you saw....we can talk about it, you know?"


    After a long pause, his friend finally spoke. "I don''t think so....."


    Scratch was taken aback. "Wh- what do you mean?"


    "Talking about it won''t help, the damage is already done! Now if you will, I wish to be left alone." Thunderbolt said sternly.


    Scratch didn''t say another word, he didn''t want to leave his friend feeling helpless but, he had to respect his wishes.


    Scratch caught back up to Shadow and Howl. His blond coated friend looked at him with concern in his eyes. "How''s he holding up?"


    Scratch shook his head. "Not good." Changing the subject, he looked at Shadow. "How much farther?"


    "We''ll be there when the sun begins to set."

 Chapter 11: The Tower (part 2)

    The sun had set and they had finally arrived to their destination.


    Scratch looked up at the tower in awe, how long has it been since anyone had used it?


    Moss and vines covered the edge of the tower that seemed to be falling apart. Some parts of the walls looked chipped and he noticed that some of the wall''s pieces were on the ground at their feet. There was something haunting, yet beautiful about the structure.


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    "Do you know how long it''s been abandoned?" Scratch asked Shadow.


    "More than a hundred years..." he replied.


    "What was it for?" Thunderbolt asked.


    "To watch over the kingdom for miles. This was used to guard the palace from distant predators." The pack stared at the long forgotten tower in silence.


    The eeriness that crept up to Scratch was insane; as was the feelings of an unknown grief.


    "Let''s go." Shadow ushered and the boys followed.


    The room inside was even more ruined than its outer shell. Grass and flowers covered the floor, and more vines crept up the walls. The stairs were so filled with moss that you had to be careful where you stepped.

 Chapter 11: The Tower (part 3)

    Scratch felt the need to wander and explore this beautiful abandoned structure; He began by walking up the mossy stairs.


    His friends followed him, silently.


    The trio had found a room that seemed to be locked, but next to them was a small crawl space where they can squeeze through.


    Inside the empty room stood a chair and a workbench. On the table, there appeared to be two pieces of parchment. Mounted to the wall shown a huge parchment with squiggles and lines written all over it. The parchment shown what appears to be a village surrounded by forest, on the side of the parchment appeared to be where they had just crossed, a huge valley. Some ways away from the valley going north was the tower, some long distance, buried in the trees, shown a huge black castle.


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    In all of his life, Scratch never knew there was a castle. He''d never been told how they work or what they were for.


    Apparently, Shadow had an answer for him. "It used to belong to a king and queen......together, they ruled five kingdoms....each other them now lay buried among ruins. The Village was once ruled by them more than a hundred years back."


    "What happened to them?" Thunderbolt turned his head.


    "They were assassinated........even their child. They didn''t have any family to rule next in line. The mother was an only child, her parents died of a strange illness that swept the lands, the father''s parents died of old age, and he too was an only child. With no queen or king, the kingdoms fell and the villages among them became self governed."


    "That''s awful." Thunderbolt said.


    Scratch felt pity for the once king and queen. They sounded like good people.


    "They were loved by all; they were fair leaders." Shadow replied to Scratch''s silent thoughts.


    The boys looked up at the map in silence.


    "Hey, " Thunderbolt wondered. "Where IS everybody?"

 Chapter 12: The Girl in the Black Cloak

    When she went outside, the girl hid behind a bush as she waited for Valerian to leave the house. When she couldn''t see her silhouette anymore, the girl moved the opposite direction.


    She had gone to the place she was forbidden to go to.......into the woods.


    The girl HAD to make this mission, though......she had to find him if Valerian wasn''t!


    A couple of hours of walking past trees and foliage, and she finally found something in the dirt.


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    She knelt down to examine the animal print, and just as she thought, it was a paw print made from a wolf.


    Sure there are dogs around too, but dogs aren''t allowed to go anywhere outside of the village. Hunters had to leave their dogs home to protect their loved ones. They were known as "the Village guardians".


    The only dog-related animals in these woods are the ones the villagers fear most, and those are wolves.


    She remembered many years ago, Scarlett cursed a man she had once loved, by forever changing him into a wolf.


    Out of fear, the beast ran through the Village in search of help, but they were too afraid...they locked their doors and pulled back the shutters.


    They wouldn''t help anyone that had been cursed by Scarlett.

 Chapter 12: The Girl in the Black Cloak (part 2)

    Thinking about that brought more feelings of resentment towards those damned villagers!


    Scarlett though wasn''t the only one with magic, the girl and Valerian did too. Sadly, they can''t stay too close to the town, she and her friend have to be almost hunkered down the whole time.


    Waking up from her trance, the girl carried on, constantly looking at the ground in hopes of finding more paw prints.


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    How she wished she could just wrap her arms around her brother again. She will never forget the day she lost him to Scarlett.


    When he turned, he looked at her, standing next to a tree. She remembered the shame in his eyes; instead of approaching her, he ran.


    She wept softly, then forcefully wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I''ll never give up on you." She whispered to the new paw print she found.


    Suddenly, she heard a rustle, she looked up as a black wolf spotted her, immediately he ran.


    "Gabriel?" The girl gasped as she ran after him.

 Chapter 12: The Girl in the Black Cloak (part 3)

    The black wolf dodged the trees and slipped under a boulder to get into his den; she was right behind.


    The black wolf looked up at her with confusion. "Why are you here? You need to leave!" The wolf panted.


    She tilted her head. "Gabriel?"


    The wolf cocked his head. "Who the hell is ''Gabriel''?"


    She sighed. "You''re not him." She said disappointedly. "He would remember his name...."


    "Not who?"


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    "My brother.....he lost his soul to Scarlett many years ago."


    "Ah." The wolf said. "So you''re looking for Shadow?"


    The girl tilted her head. "Shadow?"


    "That''s the name he goes by now. You said his name''s Gabriel?"


    She nodded.


    "Interesting.." The wolf sighed softly and scooted himself. "Please, come sit down, I don''t bite.......the only thing I do bite around here are the ground squirrels."


    She shrugged before placing herself on the ground next to the mysterious black wolf.


    "So, you got a name?"


    "I don''t remember..." The wolf answered while shaking his head.


    "Family? Friends?"


    "No memories of any either. It''s part of the curse......soon, it will swallow me whole, I won''t even have a consciousness." The wolf looks at her, then turns his head back.


    "You''re lucky I haven''t reached that point yet, you would''ve been dead meat if I was fully gone."

 Chapter 12: The Girl in the Black Cloak (part 4)

    The girl sighed as she placed her clenched fists under her chin. "Don''t I know it."


    The black wolf tilted his head at her. "Don''t YOU have a name?"


    She looks at him, no one''s asked her her name......well, actually she never mentions it.


    "Rose." She said.


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    The black wolf smiled. "Beautiful name."


    The girl didn''t take in the compliment, but she did reply. "Names don''t really apply to me......they''re just names."


    "There''s a meaning behind everything." The black wolf said as he watched a blue butterfly float around his head; the girl giggled.


    "So, if names DO matter to you, why don''t you give YOURSELF a name?"


    The black wolf stared blankly at the wall.


    "I have to earn it, names are a symbol of honor.....I have no one to name me, and what will I even be named for?"


    The girl followed his gaze to the wall.


    "Good question."

 Chapter 13: Shadow

    Where IS everybody?" Thunderbolt wondered.


    "Good question." Howl said, while scanning the perimeter.


    Shadow looked around too.


    "Something''s not right." Thunderbolt whispered.


    Suddenly, Shadow lowered his head shamefully, then said, "I''m sorry...."


    Scratch looks at the black wolf, and before he could say a word, he was suddenly knocked unconscious.


    "Hey!" Thunderbolt screamed.


    A strange hooded figure came around him and hit him in the head, knocking him out along with Howl, who was trying to come to his rescue.


    Shadow stood by himself in the room, surrounded by a group of decaying wolves. The hooded figure dropped the large stone and transformed into her decaying self. She walked towards Shadow and smiled.


    "Well done, Shadow. VERY well done." She cackled.


    "That was PERFECT!" A wolf standing next to her howled. "Oooooh, you should''ve seen the look on their faces!"


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    "Did you, DID YOU?" Screamed another wolf.


    "Just leave me be..." Shadow pleaded.


    "Aww, come on! That was quite the show! You really didn''t like it, Alpha?" The first wolf in front of him teased.


    Everyone but Shadow laughed.


    "Oh, the Mistress will be pleased!"


    The second wolf then began to ask the first wolf, "Where do we need to drag them?"


    "Wait until she arrives." The first wolf replied, then turned her gaze back to Shadow.


    "Shadow, are you hungry? The hunters found a good sized buck! I''m sure with how long your journey took you, you must be famished!"


    "I''m okay, thanks." Shadow mumbled.


    The decaying wolf laughed. "Oh, I understand...your stomach must''ve shrunk so much from eating nothing but scrawny animals, you barely have an appetite anymore! I''ll save you the heart!"


    The wolf turned around and saw Shadow''s unconscious friends, and howled.


    The large pack came closer to her, one wolf went up to her and tilted his head. She didn''t pay any attention to him though, her gaze fell upon one of the wolves further away from the crowd. "Oi!" She shouted.


    The lone wolf heard her and she trotted.


    "You! Send the messengers out! Lady Scarlett needs to get the good news."


    "But, you''re not the Alpha." The small wolf complained, then turned to Shadow.


    "But I''m the Beta! Go send the messengers on their way! Now!" The young wolf looked at Shadow again, as if waiting for his approval.


    Shadow nodded.


    The Beta wolf turned once again to Shadow. "I''m sorry Shadow, I''ll leave you alone....you must need plenty of rest. Don''t worry, once we get word from her Mistress, we''ll take care of the boys."


    Shadow didn''t say a word, he only let her do as she promised.


    Hopefully this won''t last very long for his friends.

 Chapter 13: Shadow (part 2)

    After several hours of rest, Shadow had gone to Beta for any new information.


    "The messengers came back, she told us to lock them up in the single room upstairs."


    Shadow nodded. "....and are they on it?"


    The Beta nodded.


    Shadow sighed as he said. "Just to be clear, if theyre not tied, they''ll squeeze out of that hole in the wall." Beta bowed her head. "Yes, Alpha."


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    Shadow can still feel a pang of guilt for sacrificing his friends, but he couldn''t do anything about it.....even if he wanted to.


    The Beta rolled her eyes.


    "Shadow, I appreciate what you do and have done for us, but you''ve GOT to stop attaching yourself to these souls!"


    He sighed. " I know."


    But to him, these guys felt more like family than any other soul has!


    Beta laughed. "It''s always the live ones." She said jokingly.


    As much as he regretted it, Shadow forced a chuckle.


    "The dead are better a Necromancer''s company." She added.


    "Yeah..." Shadow said.


    "You still hungry?" Beta asked.


    Shadow thought of the offer. "Yeah, you still have that heart?"


    She smiled at him. "Special for you!"


    He nods. "Alright, I''ll take a bite!"


    "Come then."

 Chapter 14: Scratch

    When he awoke, it HURT. Scratch can hear the moaning of his friends as they woke up to a horrible headache.


    "What happened, and where''s Shadow?" Thunderbolt wondered.


    Howl groaned as he looked around. Scratch looked too, and sure enough Shadow wasn''t there. He noticed that they were in the same room where the map was. Something caught his eye, the hole in the wall was bolted in, as if someone hammered it shut!


    Shit, they were locked in!


    Scratch groaned from his pounding head as he managed to get up and walk over to the covered up hole. Thunderbolt looked over to where Scratch stood and noticed the issue.


    "Are we seriously trapped? Shit!" Thunderbolt exclaimed.


    "Shh! Someone might hear us!" Scratch whispered.


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    "Sorry..."


    How could anyone have accomplished this? Was Scarlett around? What about the wolves, I thought they wouldn''t be able to do this! Suddenly, his mind flashed back to the previous dream of a hooded figure transforming herself into a beast right in front of him. Could''ve that been her? Makes sense as to how they went unconscious in the first place!


    "Guys, help me look around for a gap or anything. We''ve GOT to get out of here!" Scratch declared.


    Howl climbed on top of the desk to reach the window, which wasn''t very big for them to squeeze through. "This would''ve been easier if we were human."


    "I know right?" Thunderbolt said.


    "Shit!" Scratch whispered loudly this time. "There''s no way out!"


    "Oh my God, we''re doomed!" Thunderbolt panicked.


    "No we are not doomed, shut the fuck up!" Scratch exclaimed.


    "Sorry..." Thunderbolt said once again.


    Howl sighed. "NOW what are we going to do?"


    Suddenly, the boys heard the sound of the window opening. They turned around and saw a familiar freckled face.


    "Valerian!" Thunderbolt shouted with glee.


    Immediately she put her finger to her lips.


    "Aren''t we glad to see you!" Scratch continued to whisper. "I thought you weren''t allowed anywhere beyond the woods!"


    "Well, because of you guys, I don''t have any choice now, do I?"

 Chapter 14: Scratch (part 2)

    Valerian finally was able to get herself inside without a problem and walked over to where they all stood. She knelt down and examined the problem, she turned to the desk and looked around for anything to unbolt the hole. Then she found a steel hammer, and took it to the board. She turned the object in her hand to pry it open. They''re now free; but a thought crossed Scratch''s mind.


    "Wait, where is everyone?"


    "They''re downstairs with your ''friend''."


    "What, Shadow? What''s he doing down there?" Thunderbolt wondered. Both Scratch and Howl knew the answer.


    "That fucking traitor!" Scratch snarled.


    He had never felt so hurt and betrayed since his father left his family and never returned. He didn''t really want to know what Shadow was up to or why they were locked up.


    "Honestly, you don''t want to know, Max." Valerian sighed. The three boys exchanged glances.


    "Who''s Max?"


    Valerian groaned. "You''re seriously losing your memories?"


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    The boys and Valerian looked around the corner and snuck down the stairs, keeping watch of any sign of the army of dead wolves.


    "Why is Shadow with them anyway, what''s up with him?"


    Valerian sighed again.


    "Because they respect him....almost worshipping him like a god. He may be bound to Scarlett, but he''s also the one that brought them back from the dead in the first place."


    "What?" Scratch said.


    Thunderbolt then said. "Shadow told us the Necromancer did that! I don''t understand!"


    Valerian silenced them as she peeked around the corner. "He IS the Necromancer!" She whispered, peeking around the corner once more to make sure they''re in the clear. "Let''s go, they must be down in the tunnels. We''re fine, we just need to hurry."


    The three wolves obeyed as she led them out of the tower and back into the forest.


    Scratch was in shock of the newly given information....first, Shadow set them up.........second, he''s The Necromancer he warned them of! What else is new?


    .........................................


    It didn''t take them very long to find a den in the thick of the trees. They all went inside as Valerian moved a few boulders to close the entrance.


    "We SHOULD be safe in here."


    Scratch took a sigh of relief. "Thank you. By the way, you were saying something about Shadow being the Necromancer? I- I don''t understand...that''s IMPOSSIBLE!"


    "Oh, that''s right." Valerian said. She looked at the boys, before she found a spot in their circle. She sat cross legged on the cold, hard floor.


    "Let me tell you a story....."


    .........................................................

 Chapter 15: The Young Necromancer

    A young boy named Gabriel played by himself with the bugs, while his sister, Rose, was talking to Valerian in the distance."So where should we meet for the Harvest Moon?"


    Before Valerian could answer her, Gabriel came running up to the girls. "Look what I can do, guys!" He shouted happily. Rose smiled, then folded her arms as she looked down at her little brother.


    "I got a power! I can do magic, I swear to you!" His smile grew wider with every word. Rose looked at Valerian and chuckled. Valerian smiled and rolled her eyes. "Okay, Gabe, what is it this time?"


    The boy began his performance, more excited than ever.


    That boy had always wanted to do magic ever since he figured out that him and his sister came from a long bloodline of witches. Both Rose and Valerian planned a celebratory circle for him to discover his inner calling. It''s a tradition for new witches to discover what their magic in the craft was. Though, Gabriel had no patience to wait two more days for the event to happen. He would try his hardest to bend new magic. He said he wanted to be the greatest sorcerer.


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    Gabriel finally said what he thought his new ability was. "I --- can freeze time! Watch this!" He picked up the stick bug that was crawling on his boot and perched it on his arm as if it was a hawk.


    Gabriel looked down at the bug, fully concentrated. For a second, the bug stopped, then it kept moving. He sighed disappointedly, then looked up at the girls. "He did it for me earlier..."


    Rose giggled as she bent a little bit to get down to his level and put a hand on his shoulder. "You''ll know once you get in the circle, we''ll even invite all your friends to support you. You only got two more days left........uh....... right Valerian?" Rose looked up at her friend and Valerian nodded.


    Gabriel folded his arms and looked away from his sister. "You don''t understand, I DID it, I have an ability!" He said stubbornly. "I just.....need more practice. That''s all!"


    Rose sighed defeatedly, then looked back at her brother and said, "Go practice then." When she winked, his confidence came back almost instantly, and he raced into the woods.


    "Don''t go too far!" She hollered.


    But Gabriel was too far away to listen. He ran as far as he could. Maybe that''s what it was, he just needed more privacy. He ran on through the woods, searching the ground for bugs.

 Chapter 15: The Young Necromancer (part 2)

    While he was doing so, he had the strangest feeling that he wasn''t alone. He looked around, but no one was there. Suddenly, he could hear a voice in his head, it sounded like a scream! He looked into the shadows, maybe someone was hiding from him? He heard the noise again, this time it was outside his head, and it grew louder.


    Then he saw a figure, a woman in a blue gown, standing right in front of him. She appeared to have a big, red blotch over her heart. She looked at him desperately.


    What was this? He wondered. "Am I seeing a ghost?" He whispered. He''s been told that some witches happen to hear, see and speak to ghosts. What were they called? Med - I- ums.....mediums?


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    Could I be a medium? That would be cool. Maybe THAT''S his power! Wait until Rose hears about this! The thought of that made him smile.


    The woman reached out to him, as if she needed help. When he looked up, she disappeared. He wasn''t scared of any ghosts, like most kids.... none of this was new to him.....he didn''t mean the ghost, but death itself. It was death he was familiar with.


    His and Rose''s parents died in a fire when he was five. Rose took him to her friend''s house to live with her.


    They''ve lived with her for a few years....still are. He didn''t like Valerian much.....she was too bossy. Thinking about his parents again brought him sadness.


    The ghost appeared to him again, only a little closer this time. She reached out for him once more, saying "Help me!"


    I guess helping a ghost is no different than helping a living person, he thought to himself.


    He took her hand and she led the way.

 Chapter 15: The Young Necromancer (part 3)

    It took quite a while to reach the destination. There they saw her body, mangled and ripped to shreds by vultures and other creatures. She needed a proper burial.


    "No!" She responded. "Please, just burn it all. I don''t want any more animals to find it!"


    How did she hear me? I was thinking it, not speaking it.


    He did as she asked and built a fire for her corpse, and with a strong enough stomach to tolerate the smell of rotting flesh and decay.


    He turned to the ghost. "What happened to you?"


    "My husband shot me and dumped my body here to get eaten away by those DISGUSTING creatures!"


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    I don''t think she quite understands how Mother Nature works, he thought.


    She smiled after looking at the burning body. "Thank you!" He smiled at her back, as a bright light surrounded her and slowly, she vanished. He felt proud of himself, he dealt with death, but he never in his life helped a ghost.


    Gabriel bounced in excitement, scanning the area in hopes of finding more corpses to burn. He walked further deep into the woods and saw an unmarked grave.


    He dug out the dirt and moss, and found the corpse of a woman with strands of dark hair and wearing a faded scarlet red dress.


    "I''m going to burn this one too." He said.


    Gabriel began his search to find twigs and leaves for the fire, until suddenly, a wolf appeared. It made him jump, he scrambled desperately to find a good tree to climb up. But the wolf wanted nothing to do with him, Gabriel realized. The wolf lay down next to the grave, with sadness in its eyes.


    The boy decided, either stupidly or bravely, to sit next to the wolf.

 Chapter 15: The Young Necromancer (part 4)

    "I know what it''s like to lose someone..." the wolf looked up at Gabriel as if it was really listening to him; he continued. "My parents died a few years ago, just talking about them makes me sad." The wolf looked back down at what was once, and probably was, his owner.


    Gabriel looked at him. "Everyone in my town don''t keep wolves as pets, but she must''ve been brave, she must''ve had the true heart to take you under her wing." The wolf put its head on its paws.


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    "I''m sorry, but I need to continue my work, she wouldn''t want vultures eating her too." Gabriel then told it.


    The wolf looked back up at him, it watched him place the twigs and branches in the center of the open grave.


    Before he lit a fire, he jumped down next to her corpse and held her bony hand.


    "You must''ve been a really good person to this wolf. You seemed to have been a LOVELY person." He sighed. "I wish I would''ve met you when you were alive." He whispered.


    Suddenly, he felt a surge of energy come from within him, it spread down his arm to the tips of his fingers, where it touched the dead woman''s hand.


    What was THAT?

 Chapter 15: The Young Necromancer (part 5)

    Startled, he pulled his hand away from hers, but didn''t get very far....it was as if her hand was holding on to his. When he looked down at his hand and tugged, her hand closed tighter around his smaller hand, making him cry in agony.


    The hand then let go of him, and Gabriel felt relief. Still shaken from the experience, he turned to run, but he felt a strong gust of wind; he turned back around and noticed she was floating in the air.


    Gabriel was so terrified that he wanted to scream, but no sound came out.


    The woman had flecks of a dark mass, that looked like ashes floating around her; he noticed that her body was becoming fuller and fuller. No bones were showing, her face was no longer gaunt. Within the second, she appeared healthier, and more...........alive!


    He gasped. What has he done?


    When she finished her regeneration, she landed soflty on the ground, and looked at him with a wide smile of gratitude.


    How did I do this? Gabriel wondered. No, he HAD to have been dreaming! He looked over at the wolf, and it too was in shock.


    No,no,no, this can''t be happening!


    He''s heard of bringing people back from the dead, but it''s forbidden magic. EVIL MAGIC!


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    And he just did it!


    What will his sister say?


    No one can EVER raise someone from the dead unless if they were born with the forbidden gift!


    Realization struck him hard in the gut.


    That''s what his gift is, it''s necromancy!


    He''s a Necromancer!


    "I''m a MONSTER!" He whispered.


    "No, my child, you are a hero!" The dead woman spoke.


    "No, how could I be? I''m evil! I need to stay away from everyone.......including you! You need to leave now! GO!" Gabriel pointed to the direction opposite of him.


    "No, my sweet, ARE a hero! You brought me back! You reunited me with my wolf!"


    "How could I be?" Gabriel repeated. "I don''t belong to anyone anymore, I can''t. I need to keep people safe!"


    The dead woman crouched down and held his hands. "How would you like to team up with me to bring my family back?"


    "I''m sorry, but I refuse!" He cried. "I need to be alone!"


    "Believe me," the woman was saying in a gentle, sweet tone. "We accept people no matter what. It''s not your fault you were born this way. I can help you with that."


    Gabriel took a second to think about this, then slowly he accepted the risk. He nodded at her. Suddenly, she laughed, and it wasn''t very sweet.....it was evil and maniacal. It was a sound that shook him to his core. A sound that was saying, bad things are about to happen.


    Oh no! He thought. What have I done?


    Gabriel tried to run, but his body changed. His skin was getting covered in black fur, he fell down on all fours, his face formed a muzzle, the rest of him appeared to be more like the woman''s wolf friend. He looked down at himself in fear.


    "What did you do to me?" He shouted, which shook him too. He no longer had the voice of a child, his new voice was deep, almost sounding demonic. He saw that dark flecks were now floating around him, just like the woman''s.


    He then noticed that the wolf was staring at him not in shock, but in awe. The young wolf looked up at the woman. "Master....?"

 Chapter 15: The Young Necromancer (part 6)

    The woman looked down at the little wolf and said. "Looks like you got a new brother! Now, let''s go find your family!" She then looked down at what was once Gabriel. "You will bring the rest of us back! One! By! One! I can sense where their bodies will be found. You will do as I say, or I''ll leave you abandoned and afraid like the little BITCH you are!" She threatened. "Do you understand?"


    Shakily, Gabriel nodded in agreement.


    "Good, the first one will be found near our tower, I suggest you get going. NOW!"


    Then she and her wolf left him alone. He knew where the tower was, Valerian always told them about the abandoned castle.


    He turned around and noticed his sister from a distance, standing alone by a tree.


    I''m sorry, he thought shamefully. He was dangerous, not only to her, but all of mankind!


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    "Gabriel!" Rose cried.


    The boy that now changed to a black wolf, backed up and shook his head. "I''m sorry! I''m sorry! I didn''t mean to!"


    Before Rose could do anything, Gabriel turned around and ran. He ran away from his sister, ran away from his family and friends, ran away from his life.


    ......................................................


    After running for a while, Gabriel gathered his thoughts about the witch''s request. He knew he had to do it, there was no way out of it.


    Before he began his quest, he stopped by the nearby stream. Before he could place his tongue in it, he looked a his reflection in the water. He was indeed no longer a boy, he was a black coated beast! He noticed his eyes were a different color. They were no longer blue, they''re now black, like...an obsidian crystal. He continued to look at what he''s become.


    He was indeed what he thought he was, a monster.


    He was no longer Gabriel.


    Gabriel was an innocent name given to an innocent. He wasn''t innocent.


    He no longer deserved the name, he had to change it.


    He looked down at the water again and saw the dark flecks floating around him, casting a shadowy appearance on his already black coated body.


    That''s what he decided to call himself.


    He will now and forever be known as Shadow.

 Chapter 16: What Was Lost, Will Be Found

    When Gabriel had been gone long enough to make them worry, Rose asked Valerian for a vision....she was given bad news.


    Valerian and Rose raced over to the place he was. "You take that half of the area, I''ll take this half!"


    "Got it!" Rose said. She began her search.


    Shortly after searching high and low and losing hope, she was able to find him, but it was too late. Scarlett had him, and she was alive!


    Oh my brother, what have you done?


    What made her heart wrench was the fact that Gabriel wasn''t human anymore, in his place stood a large black wolf. When Scarlett was gone, he turned around and with obsidian eyes looking right back at her. It may be from a distance, but she knows that she could see the fear glint in what was once his sky blue eyes.


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    When he saw her, she cried out his name.


    When he saw her, she expected him to run to her for comfort, but instead, he turned the opposite direction and ran off.


    "Gabriel!" She shouted. "Gabriel, come back!" Rose tried to run in his direction, but apparently he was faster than her. "Brother!" She ran and ran, and looked in every direction, but there was no sign of him. Out of breath, she stopped, her heart pounded hard and loud in her chest.


    She felt Valerian place a hand on her shoulder. "What is done is done. He''s gone." She said calmly.


    Rose wept as she said. "Did you see what she DID to him? DID YOU SEE WHAT SHE TURNED HIM INTO?"


    Valerian nodded.


    "SHE''LL PAY FOR THIS!" Rose shrieked.


    "Rose, it''s almost dusk, lets get back home. We''ll search for him in the morning, I promise."


    Together, the two friends held each other as they walked away from the site.


    .........................................

 Chapter 16: What Was Lost, Will Be Found (part 2)

    "That was the last time we''d seen him, we haven''t found him since." Rose told the wolf.


    "I never knew...I''m so sorry; and the fact he was a necromancer- "


    "Everyone is scared of necromancers, so am I, but if it''s my brother, he''s still my brother! It''s not going to stop me from loving him! Everyone else will DITCH anyone that''s a necromancer! I don''t care if he is!" Rose shouted.


    The wolf nodded. "I understand."


    A thought crossed Rose''s mind.


    "Why is he known as ''Shadow''?" She asked him.


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    "Some say he''s named himself out of shame, others have said someone else had named him.....out of honor. I don''t know what the truth is..."


    Rose nodded. "I see."


    She stood up and made her way to the exit.


    "Hey, where you going?" The wolf jumped up. Rose placed a hand on the cave wall.


    "I''m going to find him."


    "Look, you''re not going out there alone, it''s too dangerous.....I''m going with you."


    Rose looked at him. "What? I thought you''d rather remain here, isolated."


    The wolf nodded. "I do, but I also need to face my fears."


    Rose smiled. "I could use some company."


    Both Rose and the wolf walked out of the den and journeyed through the forest.


    "Do you know where he would be?" Rose asked the wolf.


    "I''ve heard rumors that he dwells underneath the tower''s walls. I think there''s some sort of tunnel system running through there." The wolf answered. "You have to be careful though, he''s not going to be alone."


    "Okay, " Rose said. "We''ll search there."

 Chapter 17: Scratch

    "Damn." Thunderbolt said after Valerian told them Shadow''s origin story. "I never knew an asshole could have such a sad backstory..."


    "Yeah." Howl said with sympathy in his voice.


    Scratch didn''t care about his story, he was STILL a traitor.....he has a reason to be an unloved piece of shit! "He was my friend...." Scratch mumbled. "And he betrayed us......he''s still untrustworthy. I still wouldn''t support him, even if he did have a troubling start.


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    Scratch walked away from the group, the best he could do in this fucking little den they were currently staying in.


    Valerian sighed.


    "So, how come he was hated for being a necromancer? " Thunderbolt asked.


    "It''s dangerous, that''s all I can say about it. The prime example is everyone he brought back to life."


    "How long has he been doing this?" Howl wondered.


    "Ever since he was cursed." Valerian replied.


    "Damn..." Thunderbolt said again.

 Chapter 17: Scratch (part 2)

    "Shadow, wake up! They''ve escaped!" Beta said the next night. Shadow shot up from his sleep. "What? How?"


    "I don''t know, they can''t have done it alone."


    "And you need me to go after them, when they''re now YOU''RE responsibility." he concluded.


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    "Please, Shadow. If Scarlett finds out, we''ll be screwed! Just find them!"


    Shadow snarled. "Fine, this will be the last time I do it though, you hear? If this happens again, one of you fuckers need to do it!"


    "Okay, fine then. Just promise me you''ll bring them back!"


    He bolted out of the tower and began his search. They can''t have gone far.


    ................................................

 Chapter 17 : Scratch (part 3)

    Scratch woke up startled. "Guys, Shadow''s on his way, and he''s pissed!"


    "We need to get moving!" Valerian said. "I''ll take you guys back to my place. You''ll be safe there." Just as Valerian opened the gap, a black wolf stood there, looking at all of them.


    "Oh shit!" Scratch yelled.


    "SHIT!" Thunderbolt screamed.


    That was then a red headed girl peeked over the rocks. "What? Is everyone good?"


    Valerian looked at the girl in shock. "Rose, what the FUCK!"


    "Shadow?" Thunderbolt winced.


    The black wolf chuckled. "In your dreams, kid."


    "Not....quite....in my....dreams..." Thunderbolt said.


    "Rose, who is this?" Valerian asked.


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    "He''s my friend; he''s got information about Gabriel''s whereabouts!"


    "W- we just came back from there....I rescued these guys." Valerian explained.


    "Rescued?"


    "Shadow and his buddies tried to kill us, thankfully we''ve escaped!" said Thunderbolt.


    "They''re not his buddies, he''s a prisoner there." Rose corrected him.


    "Rose, I told you going to him is dangerous!" Valerian said sternly.


    "That''s what you''ve been telling me for the PAST FIVE YEARS!" Rose shouted. "I''m going after him."


    "Rose - "


    "No, I''m done listening to you! I''m going after my brother!"


    Scratch did remember the truth in Shadow''s words about how much he loved his sister, as much as it pained him, he could understand her situation. "Valerian''s right, it''s too dangerous to go alone." Scratch agreed.


    The red head glared at him.


    "That''s why I''m coming with you!" Scratch said. As much as he hated it, it would''ve been the same if it was him and his brother.


    "What?" Valerian said.


    "What?" Thunderbolt said.


    Scratch ignored the both of them. "I know what it''s like to lose someone you care for to the curse. I''ll go with you to find him."


    "Max....." Valerian pleaded.


    Scratch gave her a stern look. "I may have been Max before.......but it''s Scratch now."


    Howl gave him a prideful look. "I''m coming too."


    "You guys can''t be se - "


    Howl then gave Thunderbolt a stern look.


    "I - I guess I''ll come along and keep you guys company...."


    Valerian sighed. "Okay, but if we''re going to get Shadow, we need to come up with a plan."

 Chapter 17: Scratch (part 4)

    Shadow thundered his way through the forest, his anger making his paws pound the dirt with every step he took.


    "Can''t trust you with ANY fucking thing, Beta!" He shouted out loud.


    ..............................................


    Scratch and his crew walked along the forest floor, talking about the plan while making their way back to the tower. Something caught his attention though. He noticed Thunderbolt was falling behind. He decided to go and talk to him.


    "Hey, what''s wrong?" Scratch asked him.


    "Do you want to know what I saw that day?" Thunderbolt asked him.


    "What?"


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    Thunderbolt stopped and looked up at him.


    "It was ME, but I wasn''t myself....I was one of those ........THINGS. Falling apart, rotting, becoming someone I''m not. I don''t want to end up like them, but I don''t have a choice, do I? I''m never going to be free! I''m going to be like THEM! Forever! I''m not going to be me anymore!" Thunderbolt panicked.


    Scratch nudged his friend. "I''m scared too. You''re not alone."


    "I''d rather DIE than become one of them!"


    "I understand, but right now, we need to keep going. We don''t know for sure if we got a chance, but we got to be more hopeful. You get what I''m saying?"


    Thunderbolt nodded.


    "Are you going to be fine?"


    "Yeah, I just need some distance right now."


    "Alright....just stay with the group."


    Thunderbolt smiled a little bit. "Will do."


    Scratch walked back up to the front.


    It wasn''t until two seconds later, a sudden yap and panic came from Thunderbolt. Scratch whipped his head to see what was going on. Immediately he noticed that there was a big black wolf pinning down his friend.


    Scratch howled before jumping into action. He jammed himself into the beast, the beast yapped, then turned his head to Scratch.

 Chapter 17: Scratch (part 5)

    "Shadow!"


    "Yes, it''s me! You fucking left!" He shouted.


    "W - we HAD to." Thunderbolt whimpered. Shadow shot a look at him, making the small wolf yap out of fear.


    "YOU ALL NEED TO GO BACK! NOW!" Shadow growled.


    "Did you REALLY think we would just turn around and go back, just like that? We''re not going, after what you did to us! You tricked us! You fucking traitor!" Scratch snapped.


    Shadow snapped back. "That wasn''t my choice! I''m BOUND to her! I''m supposed to do as she says!"


    "Gabriel?" Rose said softly.


    All of a sudden, his expression changed from furious to shameful. Shadow froze as he looked up at her, then instantly down at the ground.


    "We know what you went through, Shadow." Howl said.


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    "We know you''re the Necromancer." Scratch said calmly.


    Shadow didn''t meet anyone''s gaze, he continued to look at the ground. "I didn''t mean for it to happen." He said.


    "Gabriel, it''s okay." His sister did her best to comfort him. She tried to place her hand on his head, but he backed away.


    "I''m! Not! Gabriel!" His voice cracked when he said his former name. He looked at her, shamefully. "That name is for the innocent....it''s Shadow now!"


    Rose attempted to comfort him again.


    "It''s okay. You can''t take in what the world thinks of you. That''s not what I taught you."


    Shadow looked up at her again, then away once more. "Just leave me be!"


    Before Rose could catch him, Shadow took off. "Fuck! Not again!"


    "What do we do now?" Thunderbolt said.


    Rose attempted to run, but Valerian caught her by the arm. "Rose, give him space!"


    "And never see him again?" She cried.


    "I''m sorry, Rose, but she''s right. Give him time to cool down." Scratch said.


    "Yeah." Thunderbolt said. "He wants to catch us anyway, he''ll be back."


    "I''ll go find him." The mysterious black wolf said.


    Everyone looked at him like he''s gone mad.


    "Are you crazy?" Howl said.


    The black wolf nodded. "Crazy as I''ll ever be."


    "Go." Rose said. "I trust you."


    The black wolf nodded again before heading in the direction Shadow had gone.


    "What are we going to do now?" Thunderbolt repeated.

 Chapter 17: Scratch (part 6)

    "We can''t let Shadow get into trouble because of our choices, we need to find a way not only to free him from her grasp, but also us."


    "The dagger is always going to be in her pocket." Valerian mentioned.


    "What? Why didn''t you tell us that before?" Thunderbolt shrieked.


    Scratch silenced him.


    "Never mind the dagger, Valerian....our souls are attached to that, but it''s not linked to Shadow. It''s her, herself.....that''s it!"


    "What''s it?" Thunderbolt said.


    "It''s HER! We know Shadow accidentally raised her......she not only controls the wolves, but she controls the cursed ones too!"


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    "What are you saying Scratch? You''re not making any sense." Howl said.


    "You guys know that she was alive before, right?" Scratch looked up at the girls. "What happened after she was dead....what happened to the wolves?"


    "Some of them wandered off, the cursed ones became human again, some that were really bad like her died like she did. Everyone had free will!" Valerian explained.


    "Oh my God, how are we going to kill her?" Howl wondered.


    "The Necromancer!" Valerian answered. "If Shadow knows more about his ability, he could reverse the spell."


    Thunderbolt tilted his head. "How can a dead-raiser reverse his own spell?"


    "That''s one of the rules of being a witch, doesn''t matter what you are. ''With Every Curse, There''s A Reverse!''" Valerian said. "We have to be careful though, why necromancers are given a hard time is because the magic they hold is black magic."


    "That''s it, fight fire with fire!" Thunderbolt said excitedly. "But, what if Shadow doesn''t know how it works?"


    Scratch looked at him with determination.


    "He''s all that we got!"


    "Hopefully my friend will be back with him soon." Rose said.


    ............................................

 Chapter 18: The Hunted

    The wolf used his snout to follow Shadow''s trail. He became an expert over the years. With his expertise, it didn''t take very long for him to find Shadow.


    Shadow lay in the same den his friends did when the nameless wolf and Shadow''s sister found them. Of course he lay in the shadows of the cave.


    Must make him feel safe, he thought to himself. If he''s camouflaged to it, he won''t be seen.


    When Shadow sensed him, he backed up.


    "It''s alright, I''m not going to hurt you." The nameless wolf said calmly.


    "It''s not me I''m worried about." Shadow''s voice was shaky. "I could hurt YOU."


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    The black wolf chuckled.


    Shadow didn''t say another word.


    "Sounds like your friends need you as much as you need them. Sounds like you care a lot about each other.....like brothers."


    Shadow bowed his head. "Now they know the truth about me. They probably hate me!"


    "There''s no need to isolate yourself. You know, if something happens to you one day, you''re going to wish you''d get help. Don''t let this fear of hurting others hurt YOU."


    Shadow wheezed. "You know something? I was fine before all of this went down. I never should have been a kid so obsessed to discover what he had for a power!"


    The black wolf shook his head. "Let me tell you something, why you were so desperate to know what you can do is because deep down, you were so desperate to know who you are in this world, and what purpose you hold. The path to your inner self is a long journey of self discovery. Have you heard that it''s not the destination, but the journey itself that matters?"


    Shadow hesitated to speak. "But.....I''m a nobody."

 Chapter 18: The Hunted (part 2)

    "You''re a nobody because you pushed everyone away, thinking that they''re going to hate you once they see you for who you are." The black wolf explained.


    "I didn''t ask for this curse...and my magic!" Shadow retorted.


    "Look, being a Necromancer may be bad, but it''s also good."


    "How do you mean?"


    "It''s you that has to find out what those qualities are."


    Shadow sighed as he stared at the floor. "I still hate myself for the cursed I''ve raised. She would send me to lure live people into her trap....only so that she can kill them. It''s easier for Scarlett to fully control someone if they''re DEAD. I didn''t want it to happen, but she would''ve done worse to me..... I''m not a good person." He whined.


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    The black wolf nodded. "Sometimes people hurt others to keep the bad people from hurting THEM."


    Shadow looked at him and spoke softly. "I''m sorry."


    "It''s not me you need to apologize to, it''s your friends."


    "Not you?"


    "I''ve been around since the very beginning, when she first started all of this chaos."


    "You?" Shadow looked at him curiously. "What happened to you?"


    The black wolf sighed. "I was the first one cursed, she was a good witch back then. When I upset her, she changed me as well as herself. I''ve tried to run for help, but....everyone was too scared of not only me, but what she did to me."


    "Oh. What did you do to upset her?"


    The black wolf shook his head. "I don''t remember."

 Chapter 18: The Hunted (part 3)

    Scratch and his companions waited patiently for the nameless wolf and Shadow to return, so far, no one came.


    "Do you think they''re fine?" Thunderbolt wondered.


    Scratch nodded. "I believe so."


    Rose and Valerian talked to each other a ways apart from the others.


    "Rose, I told you not to go anywhere!"


    "Well, if you told me Gabriel was going to be with them, I WOULDN''T have run off!"


    Valerian retorted. "I''m sorry it''s only Max''s dream state I can enter!" Scratch looked at Valerian, and underneath his fur coat, he could feel his skin flush pink.


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    Howl shot his head up. "Everyone be quiet!" They all became silent.


    "Something''s coming toward us!" Howl explained.


    "Is it them?" Scratch asked.


    Howl shook his head. "Sounds like multiple."


    "Wait, are you thinking - ?"


    "Exactly, everybody RUN!"


    They all shot up from their resting place and ran as quickly as they could.


    "Wait, what about my brother?" Rose shouted. Valerian shoved her forward. "He''ll be fine, just go!"


    They all bolted through the trees .To protect the girls, Scratch got in front of them.


    Howl! Thunder! Cover the sides!


    They obeyed as they raced for either side of the girls. The sound behind them grew louder, and it was indeed the other cursed wolves chasing after them!


    "You guys know where to go!" Valerian shouted. Scratch remembered.


    "WHERE are we going? Rose asked her.


    Valerian spoke in Old Latin, and right away, Rose understood.


    .....................................

 Chapter 18: The Hunted (part 4)

    Shadow and the wolf went back to where the group once stayed. "What happened, where are they?" The black wolf wondered.


    Shadow felt a horrible, sinking feeling in his gut. "I think the Beta really DID take in what I said, and sent an army with her to find and retrieve them!"


    The black wolf sighed. "Shit!"


    "Seems to me though, that Scratch would know before something happens.....they could''ve run off."


    "Do you know where they would go?"


    Shadow shook his head. "I don''t, but it seems like you found me pretty easily......" Shadow then looked at the ground, getting lost in his thoughts. He shook the bad feelings away. "Let''s go find them."


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    .........................................


    It didn''t take them very long to find them.


    Shadow looked up from the ground and saw a familiar hut with vines and moss growing all over it. THIS is where they went!


    Shadow backed away and ran to hide behind one of the larger trees. The black wolf followed him. "Hey kid, are you alright?"


    Shadow panted before saying, "This was....my home, before I changed. I - I can''t go inside."


    "Hey, you''re okay."


    "No I''m not! I can''t do this!"


    "God damn it, your pack needs you!"


    "No, they don''t!" Shadow snapped.


    "If you really care for them, you make amends with them!" The black wolf retorted.


    Shadow calmed down a bit, then he looked up at his former home.


    ......................................

 Chapter 18: The Hunted (part 5)

    Scratch, Howl, and Thunderbolt explored the small hut that belonged to Valerian and Rose.


    "They''re not going to find us in here?" Scratch wondered.


    Valerian shook her head. "I''ve contained this place years ago, we should be safe." Suddenly, they all heard scratching at the door. The boys braced themselves. Valerian opened the door and there stood Shadow and the nameless wolf.


    Shadow didn''t look up from the floor; he didn''t even say anything. He walked over to the farthest room, away from everyone.


    Rose looked at her brother with concern, Valerian put a hand on her shoulder. "Give him some space." She whispered.


    Rose nodded and looked down at the wolf.


    "Thank you."


    The wolf bowed his head.


    Valerian decided to feed the wolves that night, she went to the room Shadow lay and put a piece of venison right next to him. Scratch decided to follow her in. When she left, he attempted to wake him, and succeeded. Shadow looked at him.


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    "What do you want?" He mumbled.


    "To apologize for the way I treated you earlier."


    Shadow looked away, then back at Scratch. "I deserved it."


    Scratch shook his head. "No, I understand what you were going through and I decided to be an ass about it."


    Shadow shook his head. "Scratch, it''s not your fault. I should be the one apologizing. Look, it''s not easy to just get betrayed by someone, then forgive them minutes later. I understand your resentment for me that time. I didn''t want to do it, but she would''ve done worse things to me if I didn''t obey."


    "She''s not in full control of you! You''re the Necromancer after all!"


    Shadow cracked a smile, then got serious. "I know she''s not in full control of me, but I had to do what I must in order to survive."


    Scratch looked down at the floor, then glanced at Shadow. "That''s how I feel about her sometimes..."


    Shadow scoffed. "I KNOW! I can hear your thoughts!"


    Both of them laughed.


    Then Shadow fell silent. "I''m sorry, Scratch. For everything."


    Scratch smiled at him. "Thanks. I''m sorry too."


    "You don''t have much time until they arrive." Shadow warned.


    Scratch nodded. "I know, that''s why we need your help."


    "Doing what?"


    Scratch explained the plan to him.


    "I - I don''t know how to do it!"


    Scratch smirked. "That''s why Valerian''s going to teach you!" Shadow nodded.


    "Come." Scratch said. "Let''s go talk to the others."

 Chapter 18: The Hunted (part 6)

    When Shadow began his training, Scratch wandered off into what was once his friend''s room. He explored curiously at the room, wondering what kind of person Shadow was in his younger years.


    On the walls, there was a parchment with different symbols on it. His eyes then went to the windowsill where it had shown a potted plant with shiny looking rocks at the base.


    Who knew that he and Shadow lived different lives. Scratch didn''t remember much of his old life...but he did remember growing up in fear of magic, in fear of witches, while Shadow himself was a witch. Who knew he would become friends with the very thing he feared most. He thought all he knew about witches was that they were bad.


    I guess I was only looking into the eyes of evil itself, Scarlett. He thought to himself.


    "Are you okay?" The nameless black wolf asked, which made Scratch jump out of his skin.


    "What? Oh, yeah. I was just....thinking..."


    The black wolf chuckled. "Mind I ask about what?"


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    "No, not at all!" Scratch said, his eyes looking back up at Shadow''s chart. "I was just remembering what my old life was like."


    "I never asked you what your story was...who you were before the curse was set upon you?"


    "I barely remember my past....the only memories I have left was when my father left me and my brother...he promised to come back, he had to take care of some things...but he never came back...." Scratch can feel himself start to get angry. "After i was cursed, I had a plan to bring my brother back once I found him, but...that day never came."


    "You were abandoned?"


    "I know my brother never would...but my father for sure did. He was gone for YEARS, but he never came back. I thought he was sick of us, then decided he wanted to leave us but didn''t say anything. Why do you care about my past anyway? Do YOU have one?


    "No, I just want to get to know you guys. I''ve got no one else left."


    Scratch sighed. "I''m sorry, I never liked to speak about my father...I''ve been told I have many similar traits, but I want nothing to do with him."


    "It''s not easy talking about someone you despise. I''ll drop the subject."


    "Thanks...I don''t think I''ve properly introduced myself, but the name''s Scratch. I don''t remember my actual name, but Valerian keeps calling me Max....so I guess that''s my name."


    "Max...." the wolf mumbled to himself. Scratch tilted his head. "What? Something wrong?"


    "I''ve heard that name before...I may have known about you before...or met you...one of the two."


    "I was a popular child among the villagers. Everyone knew me."


    "I see."

 Chapter 19: Shadow

    A few hours have passed and Shadow has finally managed to reverse the dead. Valerian made him practice on a beetle. Practicing on bugs brought back memories of when he was Gabriel, practicing eagerly on bugs to make them freeze or set them on fire.


    "Remember Shadow, it''s all about the intention." Valerian said.


    Shadow nodded as he focused on the beetle he was sadly going to kill after bringing to life again. He felt the magic move inside him as he transported death from him to the bug. It slowly decayed until it was nothing but a wing.


    Curious, he thought, he''s never seen work like this before! Behind him, Valerian spoke. "She''ll be nothing but ashes once you reverse your spell. Good work, Necromancer."


    Shadow looked up from her and down to the bug, feeling a familiar sensation inside him that he hadn''t felt in five years: Pride.


    ....................................


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    When Shadow was done with his lesson, he stepped outside of the hut and looked at the stars. When he looked back to the hut, he noticed his sister sitting in her usual spot on a rocking chair, fast asleep.


    He then did what he never thought he would dare do again, he went up to his sister with a light approach by nudging her arm, causing her to wake up and look at him with a grin. Shadow perked his ears.


    "It''s been a long time, Gabriel." She spoke softly.


    He bowed his head. "I know...I''m sorry I left. I thought you''d see me as a threat once you knew what I was."


    Rose shook her head. "I don''t care what you are, you''re my brother...and always will be. Even if you turn bad, doing great evil to the world...I will still love you. No matter what."


    "I''ll be human again..." he promised. He remembered he would do the same thing when he was younger; every time he would get in trouble with her, he promised her better times, better changes.


    She got up from her seat and knelt down to his level. "That doesn''t matter to me, what DOES matter, is that you''re home!" She then hugged him around his neck. Honestly, Shadow never felt so much love in a long time. He closed his eyes and nuzzled Rose. "I''ve missed you!" He said to her, fighting back tears.


    "I''ve missed YOU!" She said back.


    After their embrace, they looked up at the stars once more before heading back inside.

 Chapter 19: Shadow (part 2)

    When the siblings went back inside, Shadow looked up from the doorstep to see his friends sit on a bench that was right underneath the window. They looked from the window to him.


    "I''m sorry, do you need something?" Shadow looked up at the three with them with great irritability.


    "Oh, we''re just looking at the stars..." Scratch pointed out.


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    "Totally not listening in to your conversation!" Thunderbolt added.


    "Just minding our business." Howl smirked.


    "You have five seconds to run, before I kill you all!" Shadow growled. Rose then called him over to her and Valerian''s circle.


    "Coming!" He said before turning back to his friends. "I''m warning you, and I swear to God that if you peep in my business, I will kill you with no remorse!"


    Hearing him, Rose chimed in. "Oh, come on Shadow. Give them a break, Valerian and I didn''t give you a hard time every time you harassed US! We didn''t care!" She pleaded.


    "Actually..I DID care......a lot." Valerian said.

 Chapter 19: Shadow (part 3)

    Shadow walked over to the girls, while hearing the boys snicker behind him.


    When he made his way to the girls, Scratch announced that they were going to wander outside. Valerian looked at Rose, then sighed loudly. She walked to the door and opened it for them. "Okay, but the perimeter only stretches as far as that big tree over there, if you go past that and get caught, I''m not going back to save your asses again! You hear?" The boys shook their heads and she let them out. Shadow smirked, shaking his head. Irritably, Valerian walked back to the circle.


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    The girls discussed with him the stuff he wished he had learned growing up.....when it''s appropriate to use magic and how to best use it during different situations......like this one they''re facing.


    Shadow in all of his five years of misery, never thought he''d be back home again. He thought of the cursed who worshipped him, back in the tunnels where he had stayed.


    A sudden thought came to him....did Beta really decide to step up...or did she know something fishy was going on with him and the others?

 Chapter 19: Shadow (part 4)

    The Beta looked up at Scarlett with an angry expression.....it''s always a great mask to wear to hide how scared as hell she is of this witch. Scarlett was infuriated at the news that things went south for them.


    "OF COURSE SHADOW WAS RIGHT! It''s YOUR responsibility to watch them, while it''s HIS responsibility to bring them! He''s probably out there, not finding them, but bringing new members I CAN CURSE, you moronic BITCH!"


    "So, what do I need to do to fix this..... so you can add more to your clan?" Beta retorted.


    "I want YOU to go find them, and bring them BACK!" Scarlett said, baring her fangs at her. "And don''t worry...you won''t be alone...because after all, for you being the Beta, you STILL need supervision."


    Beta looked at the wall of the tunnel, then back to her with a stern expression. "Who then?"


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    Scarlett whistled. "HELLHOUND! MICA!"


    Hellhound was a big timberwolf, and he is strong! If you pissed him off, one swap from him and you''ll be dead!


    Mica was an average size wolf with a bad temper. His anger is, of course, useful for attacks. His rank is a fighter. He seemed like he used to be a timberwolf, but over the years his fur blackened by the curse...she personally thinks it''s because of his heart. His eyes were as dark and red as the finest ruby, she likes to tease that because of his anger issues, his emotions tucked into his irises, causing them to turn that unbelievable color.


    Both the wolves walked alongside each other once their names were called forth.


    They didn''t look at their Master or even said a word. They simply looked straight ahead, they weren''t even looking at Beta.


    Scarlett then announced to them. "You guys are going to retrieve those boys..and bring them here. If you are having trouble getting them all at once, it doesn''t matter. Who I need most is the one that''s known as Max, or from what I''ve heard...SCRATCH! Bring him here!"


    The male wolves said nothing, they continued staring straight ahead, while Beta looked up at Scarlett before saying, "Yes, Master..." She bowed her head low.

 Chapter 20: Captured

    Back at the witches'' hut, the three boys were let out for fresh forest air by Valerian.


    Scratch and the others wandered around, their limit was the big tree several feet away from them. Valerian told them she contained it with some sort of invisibility spell. While Howl and Thunderbolt explored the yard, Scratch looked up at the stars, daydreaming about the life he''ll have once he''s free......once they''re all free.


    Howl took a spot next to Scratch and too looked up at the stars. "They''re beautiful tonight." He said. Scratch nodded.


    "I''m just wondering, Scratch....do you still have any memory?"


    "Just a bit, why?" He replied, looking at his friend.


    Howl looked at the ground sadly. "I don''t have any memories left, unless, if our friendship is anything human, I guess I have all but one memory in tact."


    Scratch looked at the ground. "Me too, well, our friendship and my resentment towards my father is another part. Have you asked Thunder?" Howl nodded.


    "What did he say?"


    He shrugged. "Same as us. You know, I''ve noticed that Shadow isn''t affected by this...have you noticed?"


    "No, not really."


    "Hmm." Howl said, looking back up.


    Before his friend could...Scratch suddenly caught something in the distance. Shit!


    "What?" Howl whispered.


    "Don''t make a sound..." Scratch warned.


    Once Thunderbolt noticed the silhouette, he slowly made his way to his friends. What do we do now?


    I don''t know, Scratch thought. Just watch I guess, wait until he leaves.


    The boys stared at the beastly creature ten feet away from them.


    The wolf seemed to be much larger than them. Scratch stared at him, but then he noticed something familiar about him....it was the same wolf in his vision back in the Valley...the same one with the familiar blue eyes that reminded him of......


    Scratch gasped, he slowly made his way to the edge of the barrier, just glimpsing at who seems to be Ben.


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    The wolf looked around and sniffed the air, hoping to get a sign of the wolf he''d been referred to. There appeared to be no trace of him so far.


    Scratch, get back here! Are you STUPID? Thunderbolt exclaimed mentally.


    Scratch immediately looked at his friends, then back at the wolf. He accidentally let out a breath and the wolf heard him. Then everything happened all at once. When the wolf spotted him, he howled loud, and so did Scratch''s friends as they raced over to him. In the best way he knew how to protect his friends, Scratch ran out of the barrier and pounced himself on the wolf''s back, clawing him as hard as he could.


    I''m sorry, Ben...


    "No!" He could hear Thunderbolt scream as he ran to him to attack. Suddenly, Thunderbolt was thrown down by a red- eyed wolf. Quickly, the small wolf got up and lunged at his target, missing him by an inch. Howl did what he could to pull Scratch off of the big wolf, but suddenly, he was knocked down by another wolf, that seemed to be female.


    Hearing the commotion, the three witches ran outside to help them. Shadow could immediately recognize the wolves that were tormenting his friends. His stomach dropped. It was Beta!


    Before they could reach them, one of the wolves managed to knock Scratch unconscious, and surprisingly left Thunderbolt and Howl behind.


    "What''s going on?" Thunderbolt groaned. "Why didn''t they take US?"


    The nameless wolf, who was beside Rose the whole time, answered for them. "Because he''s Scarlett''s child. Rumors in the forest spread that for a long time, Scarlett wanted to not only take back her son, but make him her heir."


    Thunderbolt and Howl looked at him with surprised looks on their faces. "What did you say?"


    "How do you know?" Howl shouted. "How do you know all of this? Our friend is a child of this bitch?"


    "Just one word..." the black wolf began to explain. "Reminded me of the rumors that was said through the years...she always talked about her son, using his name, Max.


    "Yeah, but they''re just stories...like the first one cursed by Scarlett!" Thunderbolt explained.


    "I''M THE FIRST ONE CURSED!" The black wolf retorted.


    Valerian gasped, and all the wolves and Rose looked at her. "What?"


    "That must make you Max''s father!"


    Rose and Shadow looked at each other, then Rose began to speak. "I know the story, about the first one cursed." She then turned to the nameless wolf. "You were her lover, but something happened between you two....you cheated on her, and when she found out, she grew angry and hateful, casting a curse upon you that forever changed you into what you are now! That''s you!" Everyone then turned their eyes to the black wolf, who was speechless.


    "That makes sense." He says. "And from the stories I heard, Scarlett had a son, who after birth was taken away from her to protect him from her evil. Now that I see it, it was ME!" The black wolf chuckled. "I remember now, after he was born, I took him to my new lover and she helped me to raise him. After he was four, I felt like I needed to make amends with Scarlett....but, she had so much hatred for me. I lied to her, convincing her that only me and Max were to be alone, after a few years, when she figured out I was with someone else....she appeared and immediately, I told my new wife to hide the children. Scarlett cursed me in front of the villagers and I ran desperately for help, but everyone locked their doors."


    Shadow looked at his friends and sister. "What does she want with him?"


    Thunderbolt shot a look at him "You technically lived with her, I thought you''d know all the answers!"


    Shadow then retorted. "She''s never told me EVERYTHING!"

 Chapter 20: Captured (part 2)

    When Scratch awoke, he saw that he was in a new place. Surrounding him was cold and dark with just a little bit of dim light. He appeared to be in the tunnels, but deeper. There was a hallway, and on either side of the hallway were walls made of bars. Were these some sort of cages? He thought to himself.


    He suddenly noticed that two, or three wolves were staring at him, the red-eyed wolf, the female wolf and Scratch''s brother.


    The female stepped forward to take a better look at him. "Well, you didn''t go very far...you don''t hide, but you can sure run!" She cackled. The female wolf turned to the other wolves.


    "Mica, come with me! You, Hellhound, stay here with the prisoner! He shouldn''t escape through those bars, but just in case...you know what to do!"


    Hellhound didn''t answer, he continuously stared at his younger brother as the two other wolves walked away. While they were walking away, the red-eyed wolf known as Mica gave Scratch a side eye.


    They left Scratch face to face with Ben.


    "Why do they call you Hellhound? That doesn''t sound like you! Bloodhound maybe, or Scout, but you''re not a hellhound!" His brother didn''t respond in those cold dead eyes.


    Scratch glanced down at the floor then back up at him. "Don''t you remember me? Ben? You and I are brothers!"


    Of course he didn''t respond.


    "What did they do to you?" Scratch whispered as he slumped down, feeling helpless.


    .................................................


    The boys made their last trip back to the tower, along with Rose, Valerian, and Scratch''s father.


    Where would he BE? Thunderbolt wondered.


    "If they captured him, they would''ve thrown him in the prison cell inside the tunnels." Shadow explained.


    "How are we going to get in without them seeing us?" Thunderbolt turned Shadow.


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    "I have an idea!" Shadow said.


    ....................................................


    Scratch lifted his head up after hearing the sound of a metal door slamming.


    Who was that? Then it dawned on him, he slowly backed up to the walls of the cell. Scarlett entered and looked down at Ben. "Atta boy! You''re doing a much better job than Beta!" She turned to Scratch.


    "My boy, you''re home after all of these years." She said sweetly.


    Scratch was taken aback. "What the hell are you talking about?"


    This had to have been a trick!


    As if hearing his thoughts, she responded. "Oh my child, no one''s told you? Not even your adopted mother? Or your deceitful father?"


    Infuriated, he shouted. "Don''t you dare speak of my father in front of me!"


    She laughed. "Oh I know, I''m just as mad at him as you are! He betrayed me after all! We were one big family...I was deeply in love with him, until he left me for that wench!" Scratch had a hard time processing all of this...it was as if his brain froze.


    "I''m sorry, Lady. I''m not your child...you got me confused with someone else! Now, will you leave me be?"


    Scarlett tsked. "I''m afraid I can''t, my child."


    "STOP CALLING ME THAT! YOU''RE INSANE!"


    She placed a hand over his head, and immediately his head was getting full of memories that weren''t his.


    In the memory, he saw Scarlett was holding hands with what looked like his father, the next scene showed her pregnant and talking to his father about a future marriage. They seemed to have been so happy together, it was hard to recognize that happy, bubbly woman as an evil witch. "I want to call him, Maxwell!" His father said.


    "Maxwell?" The young Scarlett repeated.


    "Doesn''t that sound like a good name?" The father questioned, almost sounded like he was second guessing himself.


    "It''s a perfect name!" She replied.


    As time went by, a year after he was born, Scarlett and his father had an argument that caused him to take Max with him to raise him. Scarlett was devastated with the fact her son was getting taken away from her.


    A few years went by when Scarlett wanted to talk to him again, hoping to work something out between them and their son; but her heart shattered into a million pieces when she figured out, he wasn''t the only one raising Max. There was another woman in the picture. Her heart was so broken, that she wanted vengeance.


    So she tricked his father into meeting in the woods so they could talk, but he didn''t want to. He wanted to do it near the Village, for he grew to hate the forest. When he approached her, asking her what it was, she confronted him as she changed him into a black furred beast. She turned to face the forest, then vanished.


    Scarlett let go of her hand from Scratch''s head and backed up two steps. Scratch was in a state of complete shock. It answered so many questions!


    "See, you and I are not that different. We both hate your father!" She said.


    "When I was four, he told me and the family that he was going to be gone for a few hours, but he never came back. My mother knew this whole time that he was out there, running back inside? She shut the door on him. He was trying to come back, but you cursed him! Because of you, I don''t have a father!"


    Right behind Scarlett, he heard the black wolf. "That''s not quite true." He said calmly.

 Chapter 20: Captured (part 3)

    While Scarlett was sharing Scratch her memories, Shadow was beginning his big plan, outside of the tower.


    ...................................................


    Inside, Beta and Mica were conversating about quite possibly capturing Scratch''s two main friends...not thinking Shadow''s one of them now.


    Shadow was by himself at the entrance to the tunnels, where the Beta and Mica stood. They both looked up at him.


    Shadow faked an angry expression at her.


    "Now you had the balls to go do the deed yourself? Couldn''t wait for me much longer then?" Defeated, Beta bowed her head at him. Mica then chimed in to something that wasn''t his business. "What the hell were you doing out there? What took you so long?"


    Shadow rolled his eyes and barked, sending Rose''s new friend in with him. The nameless wolf pretended to be held hostage, by masking a sunken face to the expression. Shadow turned back to Mica. "What do you THINK I was doing?" Mica dropped the subject, with his head hung low in defeat.


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    "I WAS thinking of multitasking my duties and capturing one of these fucks, and finding your wolf at the same time; but .....seems like you decided to ball up and do the job for me, that was meant to be your responsibility."


    Beta was speechless and at the same time, she tried to defend herself, but it was no use, she knew she failed Shadow.


    "Scarlett sent me - "


    "OF FUCKING COURSE SHE SENT YOU!" Shadow retorted.


    Beta hung her head low. "I''m sorry, Alpha...it won''t happen again. I promise!"


    Shadow scoffed. "Yeah right." Then he caught her pained expression as she looked at him. He stepped closer to her and moved his muzzle inches away from her ear and whispered. "It better not!"


    The nameless wolf faked a whimper to give the attention that he was there. Shadow looked at him and Beta. "Now, where should I take him?"


    Beta sighed, nearly on the verge of tears. "It''s your call, Alpha. You know better than I do!"


    Shadow nodded. "Damn right!" Both her and Mica backed up to let Shadow and the other black wolf pass.

 Chapter 21: Family Reunion

    Beta transformed into a human, and slowly walked to the door. She opened it for the wolves. Shadow led the other black wolf through the and found the door to the cells. When Beta was gone, Shadow whispered. "He''ll be in the farthest right."


    The black wolf nodded and walked on in, while Shadow waited patiently on the other side of the door, keeping watch of intruders; he wasn''t the only one keeping watch though, outside, Howl and Thunderbolt were guarding the tower, while Valerian and Rose planned to recreate the potion that cured Max when he was still human.


    .............................................


    Back in the cell room, Scratch saw the black wolf talk to Scarlett. Once she recognized him, she was enraged.


    "You had the guts to come here? I thought you''d be warned to stay away!"


    The black wolf nodded. "I wouldn''t turn back on my own son!" Suddenly, he looked at Ben, then immediately recognized him. "Ben......"


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    Scarlett then screamed. "Enough stalling me! You''re not coming for him or him! You''ve already lost!"


    She turns to Scratch. "Max, if your father really cared about you, first of all, he would''ve stayed loyal to me, and SECOND, he would''ve fought and fought to come back to you, but no! He abandoned you and your so called brother! Benjamin''s not even mine, like he''s not even yours!" She turned to the black wolf.


    "It doesn''t matter." The black wolf replied. "We''re still family."


    She then turned to Scratch. "Max, when you and your brother would play outside near the woods, he was always there. If he cared about you, he would''ve approached you! Instead, he turned the other way! He didn''t even have the guts to tell you who your real mother was!" She then turns to the black wolf. "Pathetic!"


    "Max, I did what I could to protect you!" The black wolf shouted. Scratch looked down, then back at him.


    "Hey, I DO know you guys..." Ben said.


    Scarlett swapped him. "SHUT UP!"


    The black wolf lunged at her. "Back off!"


    Scarlett dodged and opened the door to Scratch''s cell. "You happy now? He''s free to go!" She ushered him out. "I''m done playing these fucking games anyway."


    Before Scratch can take a step, Ben shouted.


    "MAX, LOOK OUT!"

 Chapter 21: Family Reunion (part 2)

    After their Alpha took a new prisoner in, Mica left Beta and scampered on his own., eager to know what to do next.


    His mission was already complete, he looked around as if to see his next mission was hiding behind a wall somewhere. He sighed as he walked on through the halls of the tunnel. He could see all of his packmates saying hello to him, but he ignored every greeting. He wandered up to the outside of the tower and looked into the valley that stretched for miles. Suddenly, he could hear growling coming from one side of the tower entrance. He slowly looked to see a small wolf baring his teeth at him. Enemy! He lunged at the small wolf, who dodged faster than a fox could. Mica tried to swap him, but he was too fast. He then looked to see a blond wolf bite him hard on the neck. Mica howled in agony. Before the bigger wolf can swap him, he managed to escape and  ran down the halls of the tunnels below.


    Where was Beta?


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    .............................................................


    Scratch heard Ben shout, but it was too late, he couldn''t dodge the blade fast enough. Scarlett stuck it straight in his heart. Scratch was in so much shock and pain, he couldn''t function, only staring straight at his father.


    "Max!" His father screamed, as he hurried to come to his aid.


    Scarlett looked at Scratch''s brother. "Get back to the others, now! This isn''t your fight, Hellhound!"


    Ben nearly cried as he looked into the eyes of his brother.


    Do as she says, Scratch pleaded.


    Ben looked straight back up at her and lunged at her while saying, "You''ve killed my brother!" The large wolf was eventually stabbed by the weapon also.


    "No..." Scratch said weakly as he collapsed. His father immediately came in between him and Ben, unsure of what to do. All he could do was look into the eyes of evil itself.


    "What have you done!"


    Scarlett smirked. "They belong to me now." When Scratch and Ben were dead, they immediately came back. When they were fully consumed by the death, she snapped her fingers to get them to listen.


    She turned back to their father and said, "Get him."

 Chapter 21: Family Reunion (part 3)

    Mica then noticed out of the corner of his eye, two very familiar witches hid. He could see them clearly.


    He brought them here! This is a set up!


    After a while, Mica finally found the Beta.


    She looked at him with concern in her eyes as well as confusion.


    "We''ve got a problem!" He said.


    "No shit, we''ve ALWAYS got a problem!" She retorted.


    He rolled his red eyes. "Look, this is worse....Shadow''s betrayed us!"


    "Betrayed us how?" She asked.


    Mica explained what he went through outside the tower with the two wolves, and he witnessed the two witches hiding, planning for some sort of attack.


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    "He brought them here!" He said convincingly.


    Beta scoffed. "I KNEW there was something off about him, ever since he came back! Where is he now?"


    Mica shook his head. "I don''t know, last we knew, he brought the wolf in...which was also a set up."


    "You think?" Beta said.


    "Yeah! What do you want me to do with Shadow?" Mica asked her.


    "Kill him." She simply said.


    "Beta, if he''s dead, we''re all dead!"


    "Okay, send him Scarlett''s way then!"


    ...........................................................


    Shadow knew something was wrong when he heard Hellhound scream and the sound of a piece of metal slice through something.


    He attempted to run inside, but was halted by Mica. "You traitor!" The red eyed wolf exclaimed


    "Congratulations, you''ve figured it all out!" Shadow smirked.


    "We''re still under your curse too!"


    "It''s better to be dead than not, right?" Shadow said.


    The two wolves circled each other. Mica felt like he wanted to tear him apart, but he had to follow the Beta''s orders.


    "I''ll punish you!" Mica growled.


    Shadow laughed before he fought him. The two wolves then were on top of each other, in the air, clawing and scratching one another, while on the other side of the room, Scratch and his brother did too.


    "I have to get to them, and you''re not helping!" He suddenly found himself pounding Mica''s head against the wall, until he collapsed on the floor, motionless.


    Shadow then glanced at the door and ran inside.

 Chapter 21: Family Reunion (part 3)

    Inside a small secret room ,wedged between the walls of the tower, the witches worked. Rose was on guard while Valerian fixed up a flask, the same potion she used to cleanse the dagger. If they can cleanse the dagger, that should help in case if Shadow''s in trouble.


    Rose stood there watching carefully as the other wolves passed by. "How much longer?" She whispered.


    "I''m almost done." Valerian responded.


    Suddenly, they heard the attack happen outside the tower. Rose saw that the wolf Thunderbolt and Howl attacked, retreated. Shit, he''s going to warn the others!


    The red eyed wolf looked in the direction the two girls hid, and ran down to the tunnels.


    "Valerian, we''ve been spotted!"


    "Okay, okay, I''m hurrying!"


    Howl and Thunderbolt ran to the girls. "Did you see that? We just got busted!"


    Rose attempted to calm them down. "I know, I know, just get back to your spots. Valerian''s almost done!"


    Howl and Thunderbolt nodded as they went back to their original positions.


    "Okay, okay.. I''m done!" Valerian told her. "Let''s go!"


    The girls have been told by Shadow that in the area they were in, there was a door that was the entrance to a secret passage, leading to the tunnels.


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    .....................................................


    Once the wolves began to attack the traitor she lost long ago, Scarlett left them to kill the nameless wolf.


    The black wolf attempted to fight back, even if it meant hurting the ones he loved. He knew how ferocious he could get when threatened. For many years, he practiced. Taught himself.


    Max and Ben bared their teeth, as they slowly began to circle him.


    The black wolf sighed. I''m sorry I have to do this.............."


    He picked Ben and charged, slamming the timberwolf''s massive body into the cold hard wall made of stone. Ben got up though, and with how muscular he was, he attempted to pound the black wolf to the floor; but the black wolf dodged, knocking himself into Max, who bit him hard; but then he turned around and clawed the hell out of him, making the young wolf whine. Within two seconds, the black wolf was down. It''s no surprise, Ben was much stronger that he was. He looked up at Ben. "Remember who you really are.." he said. He bowed his head, ready to die...until he heard the sound of the dagger slicing through skin. He looked back up and noticed that Valerian was there, holding up the knife over Ben, who was now bleeding from his back.


    The black wolf smiled at her. "Watch out for the other one though!" Before he could finish, Valerian was knocked down by Max. The black wolf saw that the dagger slid to the other side of the room. He ran for the dagger, and Max noticed this, going back to his father to finish the job. The black wolf didn''t notice Max going after him. Suddenly, Shadow storms in and comes to his aid. Valerian tried to get up, but she was so shook that she was nearly petrified.


    "Scratch!" Shadow shouted. When Scratch turned around, Shadow noticed that he had changed.


    He was no longer a timberwolf color, as dark streaks of black plagued him as well as the familiar flecks of shadow surrounding him. Scratch looked like his body was decaying, and his blue eyes were covered by black colored veins.


    "Scratch....." he whispered. His former friend snarled at him as he slowly made his way to Shadow. A second later, and Howl and Thunderbolt were the along with Rose.


    Howl gasped, and Thunderbolt whimpered at Scratch''s gaunt looking body. Rose put her hands over her mouth in shock.

 Chapter 22: Falling Angel

    Beta ran up to the top of the tower where Scarlett stood.


    "We''ve got a problem! Shadow''s betrayed us, he''s been with them this whole time!"


    Scarlett gave her a very stern look.


    .................................................


    Once Scarlett appeared in the cell room, everyone stopped, even Scratch.


    She laughed. "Well, well isn''t this a surprise!"


    Shadow looked up at her, then back at the pack.


    "Shadow, how dare you betray your own kin!" Scarlett shrieked.


    "I don''t belong to you, I never have!" He retorted.


    Scarlett growled as she snapped her fingers and everyone was sent into their own cells, locked, while Shadow and Scratch stood, face to face.


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    "KILL HIM!" She ordered. Scratch made no hesitation to lunge at Shadow.


    She vanished again, leaving everyone frightened and trapped.


    "Scratch! Wake up, this isn''t you!" Thunderbolt screamed as he scratched desperately at the metal bars that trapped him.


    Howl shouted too. "Come on, wake up! He''s your friend!"


    Scratch ignored them, he felt a sudden feeling of pure hatred towards Shadow. The anger surged through his bones as he mindlessly attacked.


    Shadow used his thoughts on him. This isn''t you, Scratch!


    Scratch wasn''t affected by this. He wanted nothing more than to see him suffer. He lunged at Shadow again, this time, scratching the life out of him.


    The back wolf howled over the pain, as he did his best to dodge Scratch''s attacks; but for his friend being dead, he was much too strong for him. Shadow growled as he attempted to bite him, but Scratch slammed into him, sending Shadow sliding on the cold stone floor.


    This can''t be the end! Shadow thought to himself.


    Scratch then let out a maniacal laugh. "You''ve got nowhere else to go!" His voice was harsh and raspy from the death that consumed him.


    "Come on Scratch! This isn''t you, you''re an angel!" Thunderbolt cried.


    Shadow looked at him. "He''s right, you have a good heart and a pure soul, you ARE an angel!"


    Scratch only cackled. "An angel that has fallen!"


    Then the dead wolf lunged.

 Chapter 22: Falling Angel (part 2)

    Scratch suddenly stopped as he felt a sharp sting sink into his back; he slowly looked up to see Rose.


    She looked at her brother. "Go after Scarlett, I''ve got him."


    Shadow nodded, then ran to the direction Scarlett will usually go to....the top of the tower.


    Shadow started all of this before, it''s his job to put an end to it...once and for all!


    ..............................................


    Meanwhile in the cell room, Scratch collapsed as Rose pulled the blade out.


    "Quick, find the keys!" Howl shouted.


    "Okay!" Rose said. When she found the keys, which were hidden in a small drawer sitting right next to the exit, one by one, she freed everyone.


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    Thunderbolt raced over to Scratch, who was coughing out the familiar ink-like substance. He could tell he was seriously weak.


    "Scratch?" He whispered. He noticed his friend was still looking like a zombie, but at the same time, he was slowly changing back to his color and the flecks were slowly disappearing. The blackened eyes were becoming blue again.


    Scratch looked up at everyone that gathered around him. "Where''s.....Shadow?" He coughed.


    "He went after Scarlett, buddy." Thunderbolt said to him.


    Scratch''s father looked at both of his sons and noticed that Ben was completely gone. He felt the grief and remorse come out of him as he stepped toward his corpse. "Max is dying. She stabbed them both in the heart."


    Thunderbolt looked at the black wolf. "They''ve already been stabbed before, and they were still alive. What''s the difference now?"


    The black wolf shook his head as he looked at all of them. "No difference, they were still under the curse, now that the curse had washed away from him and Ben, they''re dead and dying."


    "Oh, no!" Rose said.


    "No...." Howl and Thunderbolt bowed their heads.


    Scratch could even feel himself crying as he lay there on his deathbed.


    ..................................................

 Chapter 22: Falling Angel (part 3)

    Shadow saw Scarlett overlooking the tower; he snuck up behind her.


    "Just do it." She suddenly said.


    This confused Shadow, this had to have been a trick!


    "I''ve got nothing left of me anyway, just finish the job and send me back to the pit of hell!"


    Shadow hesitated.


    "Do it!" She screamed.


    Before Shadow made his attempt, Beta made it to the top and saw what Shadow was about to do. "No!" She screamed.


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    Shadow looked at her, then to Scarlett and before he knew it, she thrust a blade in him. The black wolf cried, but instantly gained focus. Now''s the time, he thought to himself. Quick before she kills you!


    She sunk it in deeper, making Shadow have a hard time concentrating over the pain, but he had to try.


    Something made Beta gasp. "Scarlett, what have you done!"


    Without knowing what she did, Scarlett looked up at Beta, who appeared to have been decaying to nothing but ashes within the second. Immediately she pulled the blade out of him.


    Shadow laughed. "Too late, I''ve already won!" To finish the job quicker, he focused on Scarlett''s energy and pulled it back into his life force, causing him to rise and her to fall.


    She screamed at the top of her lungs over the agony. The feelings of life being ripped away from her once more. Beta seemed to be suffering too, becoming the dust in the air. As he watched Scarlett fade to nothing, he looked down at himself and noticed he was changing!

 Chapter 22: Falling Angel (part 4)

    Back in the cell room, Valerian made Rose press onto Scratch''s wounds while she was treating him to yarrow. The rest of the pack watched, waiting for him to cross over peacefully.


    That was when Thunderbolt turned his head to Scratch''s already dead brother and noticed something about him. Curiously, he trotted over to the corpse and saw the fur from the gray wolf was disappearing, and his figure was getting skinnier.


    "Uh, guys?" He said.


    Howl and the black wolf went over to where he stood and looked at the dead body. "What''s going on with him?" Thunderbolt wondered.


    "He''s.......CHANGING! Guys, he''s turning back!" Howl cried.


    "And so are WE!" The black wolf said.


    Valerian and Rose looked at one another with excitement and looked down at Scratch, who''s fur was disappearing. He too was becoming a normal boy again! Scratch looked at himself and smiled softly, before letting out his final breath.


    "No, no this can''t be the end! SCRATCH!" Thunderbolt cried.


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    "Wait," She thought. "What about my brother? He could HELP!"


    Howl too wondered about Shadow.


    ...........................................................


    Shadow wasn''t the same as he was five years ago, he seemed to look much older. His once skinny perplexion of himself became more athletic built. His hair was a deeper color of yellow, and he noticed he was much taller than before. Another thing he noticed about himself was that he wasn''t wearing any clothes, but...he didn''t care! He wanted to take some time to feel human again!


    He lay there on his back, watching the clouds float by and the birds flap in the wind. At last he was free! He smiled at the realization. He never felt so good in....forever! He giggled. He never would''ve thought of this, had he known that the friends he made, would show him the way. Suddenly, the thought came to him, he wasn''t quite done with his mission yet. He still needed to help them, especially Scratch.


    Scratch!


    He struggled to stand up, knowing it was going to be no easy task since he hadn''t been human for a long time; he raced down the stairs, but as he was doing so, he stumbled until he was able to get inside the room. He raced into the closet and found some old clothes. He put some overalls on for himself, while at the same time grabbing all of the remaining clothes. He went downstairs, and raced to the doors to the cell room, where Mica was coming to.


    The red eyed wolf, who was now a timberwolf, looked up at him with confusion.


    Shadow formed a crooked grin. "Get fucked!" Then he entered the room where his friends were.

 Chapter 23: Revival

    When Shadow opened the door, he almost laughed at the nude chaos that awaited him on the other side.


    He held back his laugh as he heard Thunderbolt say to the girls, "Uh, yeah please just ......turn your heads the other way. You don''t need to see this. Please and Thank you!" They were already looking away, of course.


    When Shadow shut the door, everyone looked up at him. Rose and Valerian were in such shock they didn''t say a word.


    Thunderbolt was first to speak. "Uhh, who are you?"


    Shadow gave him a side eye. "It''s me."


    Thunderbolt looked around as if waiting for someone to give him an answer. "I don''t know - ?"


    "Shadow?"


    Thunderbolt had a surprised look on his face. "Whoa! I wouldn''t have recognized you with that epic voice change! You sound like an actual human now!"


    After hearing the girls giggle over that, Shadow''s face turned beet red.


    Thunderbolt then excitedly said. "Also, I thought for you transforming into a black wolf, you would have black hair.......but, you''re BLOND?"


    Shadow then folded his arms.


    Howl gave Thunderbolt a sarcastic answer. "For someone who should know why we look the way we look is what happens on the inside, not the outside...wouldn''t you agree?"


    Rose stared at Shadow with pure shock, so did Valerian, but when she looked up at him, she saw the same annoying little shit she too had to take care of back then.


    Shadow set the pairs of clothes down, and turned to his sister. He couldn''t hold back the wave of emotions that were hitting him all at once. He stood there, crying. Rose reached out to him, and immediately he stumbled into her arms as he sobbed his eyes out. She too cried as she held her little brother. "It''s alright, it''s over." She whispered in his ear.


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    "Uh guys? I hate to interrupt the moment you''re having over there....but.....Scratch?" Thunderbolt said.


    Shadow looked down at Scratch, who was a full human now. His eyes were shut, and his skin was pale from bleeding out. Rose and Howl helped him to get over to Scratch. Shadow knelt beside him, holding his hand and closing his eyes. "I''m sorry, buddy, but it''s not your time yet." He whispered gently.


    He could feel the life coming back into his friend again, and he could even hear him cough. Scratch looked up at him with wide eyes. "What the - ! Who are YOU?"


    Howl laughed.


    "That''s Shadow..." Thunderbolt explained.


    Shadow smiled at Thunderbolt, then turned back to Scratch. "What he said."


    Scratch scoffed. "Whoa, I didn''t think you would be BLOND!"


    "Why does everybody keep SAYING that?" Shadow wondered as he turned to everyone, as if expecting an answer to come from somewhere.


    When Scratch sat up, he looked at his brother and father. His father was knelt right beside his long haired brother, he looked at Scratch and smiled, with tears flooding his eyes.


    "Father!" Scratch shot up, but held back and winced once he felt pain. Shadow grabbed him by the arm. "Easy.." he said.


    Scratch smiled weakly at him, and Shadow smiled. "It''s good to have you back!"


    Scratch nodded. "It''s good to BE back! Uh....Shadow....." Shadow looked at him with a crooked grin.


    "Nice voice, by the way."


    Shadow''s grin fell away, then he left Scratch''s side to raise Ben back from the dead.


    Within a few seconds, Ben gasped as he took his first breath. When be saw his brother, he shifted to see Scratch. "You found me." He said.


    "I told you!" Scratch said smiling, then turned to his father, fully dressed from the clothes offered to him. He seemed to have grown gray hair, he was taller than him and more muscular built. He was in pretty good shape.


    Ben looked at his father too. "Where have you been all our lives?"


    Scratch explained to him the experience he had with his father as a wolf, and he retold the story of what happened between him and his ex partner, Scarlett. Scratch felt ashamed to talk about it.


    Howl and Thunderbolt were in the distance, trying on some good tunics and boots with them.


    Over in the distance, Shadow watched the pack in silence, and Rose stood next to him. When he looked at her again, he hugged her. "I''m sorry, sister." He whispered to her.


    Rose comforted him. "Shadow, you were only ten. Little boys like you do silly things all the time at that age."


    The fear that Shadow thought left him for good came back up. "Please love me." He begged.


    "Always." Was her response to him.


    Shadow smiled in her shoulder, he jumped when he heard the door swing again. He looked over to see who entered.


    It was Mica.


    Shadow rolled his eyes, then looked back at him. "What do YOU want?"


    Mica was speechless at this horrid sight of hugs and warm embraces. He looked back at Shadow.


    "You guys DISGUST me!"


    "Get lost!" Shadow said, shooing him away.


    He could hear Mica mutter "traitor" under his breath as he left them alone again.

 Chapter 23: Revival (part 2 )

    The group walked up the stairs and continued on until they reached the tower entrance. Shadow tripped a few times, but Rose and Scratch were on either side of him.


    "It''s been one hell of a journey, hasn''t it?" Valerian asked them, letting our a sigh of relief.


    The warm glow of the sunset shone right on their faces.


    "Yeah, but it''s something I''m not planning on doing again." Thunderbolt said.


    "So, Shadow, how does it feel to be human again?" His sister asked him.


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    "I haven''t felt this way in years. It feels great, and peaceful!" Shadow smiled at her. "By the way, it''s Gabriel." He winked.


    She noticed that he was now just as tall as she was. She hugged her brother and held him tightly.


    Shadow looked at his friends. "Welcome back into your bodies, guys."


    "You too." They all said in unison.


    ...............................................


    After they got back to the witches'' hut, Valerian piled up blankets and pillows for them to sleep on.


    I guess I don''t mind being the caretaker.....once in a while. She thought to herself.


    That night, everybody but Scratch had gone to sleep, in fact, he wandered outside to watch the stars. When he thought he was alone, Shadow did what he did best and appeared from the darkness.


    "What the hell are you doing?" Shadow asked him, with a smile.


    "Just watching the stars." Scratch said while looking up.


    Shadow sat next to him and too looked up.

 Chapter 24: A Heart That Was Once Filled With Gold

    "So, what are you thinking about?" Shadow asked him.


    "Did she really mean what she said?" Scratch wondered.


    "Who?"


    "Scarlett. She told me that I was her child....but how could that be? I''m nothing like her!"


    Shadow sighed. "Look, we aren''t always going to be like our parents, alright?"


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    "I just don''t want to carry the same darkness she did...I don''t want to be her!"


    "You''re not!"


    "How do you know?"


    "Because you already have good in you. Everyone can see it." Scratch rested his head on his hands. Ben then stepped out, and so did their father.


    Shadow smiled. "You''ve got your family."


    Scratch smirked as he looked up at his father and brother. His father smiled at him. "She wasn''t always a monster, you know? It seems hard to believe...but it''s true." Scratch looked up at him in disbelief.


    His father sighed. "Let me tell you a story..."

 Chapter 24: A Heart That Was Once Filled With Gold (part 2)

    Years ago..........


    A young girl with black hair, named Violet, played in the meadow with her sister. They were testing out their powers one day, for they were witches. Violet had the ability to talk to animals and empathize with them at their level. Her sister on the other hand, had control over plants and other foliage.


    One day, Violet lost her necklace and she looked desperately for it, her sister helped her. Suddenly, a fox came up to Violet, she asked if he knew where the necklace was, he knew exactly where it was...he set off to find it. Some time later, he came back with the necklace and dropped it in her hands. Violet didn''t have many friends, but she befriended the animals, while her sister had no companions or the ability to talk to them.


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    One day, her sister''s jealousy grew too strong, and she stabbed Violet with a sharp knife; and when Violet fell, her sister dragged her to the middle of the forest to die. Violet was then called a freak as she lay on her deathbed made of grass and twigs. She was almost at her final breath, when a group of wolves came to her aid. They saved her after her saving them from hunters. They will never forget her compassion.


    As time grew, she became their Queen.


    Violet''s feelings of hatred for her sister grew slowly overtime until she met a beautiful man....

 Chapter 25: Our Place To Call Home

    Valerian and Rose then stepped out to see the boys. "Come inside, we need to talk about something..." Valerian announced.


    Thunderbolt looked up at them with wide eyes. "Uh, are we in trouble?" He winced.


    Valerian giggled. "No, you''re not in trouble."


    "Phew!" He said. "That''s a huge relief!" Scratch gave him a side eye.


    They all went inside.


    ..................................................


    "So, I don''t know if you guys are going to want to go home or not, or if you want to stay here with us? If anyone wants to stay here, I''ll do my best to make more room." Valerian declared.


    The boys all looked at each other.


    Valerian smiled at them. "I''ll give you all time to think." She said as she got up off her stool.


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    Scratch''s father told the boys that he would rather go home and make amends with his wife.


    Both Ben and Scratch looked at each other.


    Scratch made his decision to go back home, but a sudden thought bothered him. He looked at his new friend, Shadow.


    "Are we ever going to see you again?"


    Shadow looked at Valerian for an answer.


    Valerian grinned. "You can come visit whenever you wish, just make sure you guys aren''t followed...and stay discreet. Shadow..." She said as she turned to him. "You are in more control of your powers, don''t expose them if you EVER go to the Village!" Shadow nodded in agreement, he then looks at Rose. She smiles.


    Scratch then nodded. "Alright, we''ve made our decision to go back home." He said as he looked at his father and brother.


    Thunderbolt nodded. "Look, I uh.." he began as he turned to Valerian. "I don''t have any family, I''ve stayed with Howl the past few years, so uh.." he then turns to Howl as if to grant permission.


    "I''m sure my father won''t mind a little extra space in the house." Howl chuckles.


    "Oh, uh, okay." He turns back to Valerian. "I''ll stay here." He said confidently.


    Valerian bows her head. "Very well then, you''ll stay with Shadow." Rose elbows her hard.


    "Ow, what?"


    Rose folded her arms. "Don''t call him that, he said it''s Gabriel!"


    Valerian sighs. "Fine! Anyway, you''ll stay with him in his room."


    Thunderbolt nods.


    Finally, Valerian looks at Howl. He bows his head. "I''m going back home."


    Valerian bows her head again.

 Chapter 25: Our Place To Call Home (part 2)

    After they said their goodbyes, Scratch and his family, and Howl, walked out the door and through the forest until they saw the Village in front of them.


    "It''s been years..." Scratch''s father said. Both Ben and Scratch clapped a hand on either shoulder of their father.


    They continued their walk. There was a sudden thought that popped in Scratch''s head, he turned to Ben. "I think we should rename you, I can''t stand to have heard them calling you ''Hellhound'' all this time!"


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    Ben shrugged, then looks down at his little brother. "It doesn''t matter now, we''re human."


    "Does it?" Scratch argued. "It could be a symbol of honor for you, like a scar...telling you a story of how you got the name, but...I want a better name for you."


    Ben smirked. "Go ahead then."


    "How about ''Bloodhound?'' You''ve always been a good tracker!"


    Ben nodded his head as he thought of the name. "That does have a good ring to it."


    Howl smiled.

 Chapter 25: Our Place To Call Home (part 3)

    "Alright, if you''re still going to keep your names, you have to keep them from the townsfolk...and your mother." Their father said.


    "Yes, sir." Scratch said.


    ...................................................


    Before they entered the town, the villagers that were outside looked at them.


    They stopped walking and looked at them.


    "What are YOU doing here?" One of the villagers said.


    The father put his hands up. "Me and my boys, and their friend are just passing through."


    One of the villagers had their pitchfork at the ready, aiming it right at them.


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    "Whoah, what are you doing?" Scratch said, holding his hands up.


    In a panic, Howl threw his hands up as well. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of his father in the crowd, with a spear in his hand.


    "Father?" Howl whispered. Scratch followed his gaze.


    The villagers answered. "Those who go through the forest are already goners! Outcasts! We don''t want to take any risks!"


    Suddenly, Scratch spoke without thinking. "Where''s our mother?" He exclaimed.


    The villagers held the pitchfork down, one of the house doors opened and there stood Scratch and Ben''s mother.


    "Mother? What''s going on?"


    "I''m sorry it has to be this way, but you can''t go back home!" She said with a disappointed look on her face. She folded her arms.


    "Ella, please." Said their father. "Come on, they''re our children!"


    Without saying another word, she went inside and left them with the villagers closing in on them with the weapons.


    "Mother!" Ben shouted.


    Their father grabbed their shoulders and turned them around, pushing them back into the forest. "We have to go back, it''s not safe here." He said calmly.


    Scratch refused. He turned back towards the village. "Mother, you can''t do this to us!"


    "Max, lets go!"

 Chapter 25: Our Place To Call Home (part 4)

    Ben and Max did what they were told, and headed their way back to the woods. Their father was right behind them. Suddenly, Max heard a gunshot and both him and his brother whipped around.


    Their father stood there frozen to the spot with blood slowly covering his white shirt. . He slowly looks up at them, before hitting the ground.


    "Father!" Max screamed.


    Ben stood in shock, then immediately pulling himself out as he saw more villagers with rifles aiming right at them.


    "Max, run!"


    The both of them ran as fast as they could, dodging the bullets as they went.


    Max couldn''t think...he couldn''t process what was happening...it all happened too fast!


    "Wait, where''s Zack?"


    "I''m here!" His friend cried as he ran from a tree and made their way towards them.


    Max and him embraced. "I''m glad you''re alright!"


    The gunshots continued. Ben pushed them. "We''ve got to keep going!"


    .....................................................


    Shadow had his head buried in his arms as he sat at the table, as Thunderbolt....or.....Matthew was retelling the story of their adventures for what reason? He didn''t know, but it was sure annoying.


    "And then....and then that was when Shadow taught me and my friends how to live as wolves! It was so cool! Oh and when we reached the edge of the valley - "


    Suddenly, Shadow heard hard, continuous knocks on the door, and he got up while the bored girls shot their heads up from the table, looking at the door too.


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    To protect himself, he pulled out a firewood poker and gripped it hard in his hand as he slowly reached for the handle and swung it open.


    There stood Max, Ben and Zack.


    "Wh- what are you guys doing here? What''s wrong?"


    Matthew stood up, shaking in a panic. "Wh- what''s going on? Are we busted?"


    "No!" Max exclaimed. "But WE are!" He pointed to him, Zack and Ben. The boys explained their story to them, all of them were in shock, as much shock as Shadow and his family were in.


    "Oh my god!" Shadow said. He turned his head to the girls. Valerian folded her arms and she stared at the floor. "You guys aren''t safe here."


    Everyone turned to look at her in disbelief.


    "Look, they''re going to figure this out eventually, I''m sorry, but I think it''s best if you find a place to live in the woods.


    "SERIOUSLY VALERIAN? You''re ditching us too?" Max hollered.


    "It''s not my choice!" She retorted. "It''s just what needs to be done.


    Shadow went over to his sister, then looks back at her. "I''m not leaving my sister again, I''ve already make that mistake once, that will be the last time I leave her!" He shouted. Valerian stopped him as she held her hand up to him. "Shadow, you''re more like us than them. You''re safer with us, but, we need to find a new place to go anyway, so I think it''s best we leave together."


    "What?" Rose exclaimed.


    "What are you talking about?" Shadow yelled.


    "We may be in a secluded area, but we are still in the Village. They don''t know who we really are, us witches. If they knew, we would''ve been staked a long time ago. That''s why I told you, Shadow, if you were to ever go to the Village, hide the magic, ESPECIALLY when it comes to your magic. They don''t allow witches inside their town."


    "So, they already know where you live, but you hide your powers and -" Zack concluded.


    "That''s why I have this place protected. For you guys, it was too keep you invisible. For us, it''s to keep people from seeing us as any different than them. Now we don''t have a choice, since you guys are here now. It''s not safe."


    "They haven''t seen us change!" Max retorted.


    "No, but they know that something supernatural happened to you because of how long you were in the woods. Max, how long are the men supposed to hunt?"


    Max sighed, she''s got a point. "An hour or two a day, no more than that." He told her straightforwardly.


    Valerian nodded. "That''s right."


    Zack interrupted her before she could say anything else. "So where are we supposed to go?"


    Valerian grinned at them as an idea popped in her head. "I know just the location."

 Chapter 26: A Place Where Were Free To Roam

    "How much farther?" Matthew whined.


    "Not much farther!" Valerian exclaimed.


    Max growled. "You didn''t whine THIS much when you were a wolf!"


    Shadow smiled amusingly at them. Reminds him of his own journey with them.


    When they reached the cave that Valerian found before, they looked inside. "It''s pretty crammed! How are we going to fit?" Matthew complained.


    Valerian looked at him very sternly. "You''ll manage!"


    They made their way inside, and surprisingly, for six people, it was pretty spacey.


    Max folded his arms and leaned against the cave wall, resting his head against it. He smiled. "I could get used to this." He then looked at Valerian, who was huddling herself in a corner of the cave. "So, we''re safe here?"


    Valerian laughed. "It hid you from THIS guy, didn''t it?" She said, pointing a finger at Shadow, who had his legs stretched out with arms folded over his chest. He rolled his eyes at her. "Valerian, I TOLD you guys why I was doing that!"


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    Rose, who sat cross-legged next to her brother, placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Calm down Gabriel, she was only kidding." She looked up at Valerian. "Right?"


    Valerian scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, I guess you could say that........"


    Matthew cracked his knuckles while looking at every inch of the cave, Zack placed a hand on the wall of the cave entrance, looking at the golden glow of the sunset.


    Max had never seen him in so much peace. "You know, " he began to say to group. "Other than Thunder''s talking, it''s pretty peaceful in here. Quiet."


    Shadow and Valerian both agreed. "Yeah."


    Rose then got up and walked towards the entrance, announcing that she was going to find some berries for dinner. Max stood up and walked with her. "I''ll help you with gathering meat."


    Rose tilted her head. "Are you sure? You didn''t bring any hunting gear."


    Max then proudly spoke. "What being a wolf taught me, especially Shadow, was how to be a better hunter. In fact, it''s better work when you''ve got a pack.


    He whistled at the boys, and they all came, even Shadow.


    "We may not got sharp teeth or claws anymore, but we''ve got brains! Let''s go!"


    Suddenly, Shadow put his hands together and made a loud noise, alerting all of them.


    "AWOOOOOOOO!"


    The other boys did the same thing, as they all ran out into their new territory, their new hunting grounds.


    A place where they are all free to be, with no one to judge them. Where they were free to be who they were, whether cursed wolves or not.