{26} Hush, Howl

Darren

I bolted through the forest in haste, tracking down the scent that I picked up a while ago. I felt bad for leaving Sapphire on her birthday, but if it weren’t for those dumb birds we should’ve been celebrating up until now. But look on the bright side, I got to kiss her before I left.

My paws stroke the snow-filled ground with a powerful force as I exerted to my full speed. The scent was coming closer, I know that he’s near. And he’s just around the corner. I slowed down to the spot where I can smell his scent in the strongest. I sniffed the trees, the ground, but it ends here.

Silence echoed from the forest, the gentle blow of the wind dominated my senses. The fall of white snow continued still without any interruption.

A thump came behind me and I spun around instinctively, baring my teeth. And there he was, my old enemy. Jet black hair grown long but cut shortly before it reached his shoulders, ice-cold blue eyes, slightly tanned skin and the identical abs as mine. No matter what, I’m still better.

“Nice to see you again.” He said, a lopsided grin tugging on the right corner of his lips. “What took you so long?” he began circling me like a predator, so I decided to shift back in my human form. “I’ve been waiting for you a long time. Seriously,” He had a hint of amusement in his voice. “You still got to kiss that girl?” He huffed. “Who is she anyway?”

“That’s none of your business.” I snapped, glaring at him with a blazing intensity.

“Oh, snappy.” He snapped his fingers at me, his facial expression darkening to an unfathomable appearance. “Didn’t you ever learn to not ever get involved with girls? Huh?” He leaned towards me, striding long steps. “You’ll only put her life into danger.”

I growled. “Dumb bird. You’ll never hurt her. Not when I’m around.” I retaliated. “Where is the rest of your kind?”

“Yeah, right.” He backed away. “Don’t you remember what I did to your sister?” He grinned as anger boiled in my veins. My fists clenched and unclenched, my knuckles itching to make a hard contact against his face.

“Don’t you even dare . . .” I did not get to finish my sentence because he began speaking again.

“Yeah, yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “Took advantage of her, broke her heart . . . took her virginity and killed her. Simple as that.” He taunted.

I growled and leaped at him, shifting in my wolf form in the process. I tackled him to the ground and swiped my paws across his face, leaving long, open wounds in his face. He eventually decided to strike back by using his fists to punch me on the snout. The blow nearly knocked me over. The strength he exerted had caused me to stumble backwards away from him, giving him a chance to stand back up on his feet and shift into his bird form.

His fingers webbed like those of a frog, but his nails extended and turned into talons. Some extra skin grew down his arm, feathers popping out of him suddenly. His face grew longer, a beak growing in place. His eyes turned into slits, glowing yellow. His feet shrank, turned into those of an eagle’s.

I growled at him as we began circling each other. He snapped his beak at me as a sign that he won’t back down. I bared my teeth at him in return, my chest reverberating with another growl that escaped my throat.

I used my mind waves to be able to talk to him. Knowing that the alpha blood flows in me, allowing me to communicate with other beings as such—like him. “You! You and your filthy flock! Dare to destroy the peace and harmony that now exists between my pack! You dare hurt them, or her, you’ll have to get to me first. It has happened once, never shall I allow it to repeat again!”

“I’m so scared. Yeah, I am.” His eagle eyes rolled as he snapped back a mocking statement.

“Don’t play around!” I growled. Even though he has the average size of a human—gigantic, I’m of no different. It seems to me that we’re just on the same size. “I won’t tolerate it anymore! What did my pack do that angered you so much it led to violence?!”

This time, I can’t see the emotion on his eagle-face. “You don’t understand it, do you? Darren? Have you forgotten what happened that night? You were there! You saw everything happen before you!”

He shifted back to his human form, the look of anger blazing in his amber eyes. When Aves are angry, their eyes transforms to the color of amber or golden yellow mostly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I told him, after shifting back to my human form.

“See? That’s what you Michaels are. Darren Victor Michaels, you were there that night your father killed my father. You witnessed the whole thing, watched as he plunged that knife straight to my father’s heart then pull it out again! You were there! Yet, you did not do anything!”

Memories came back to me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Adrian. My father was only—“

“LIES! A pile of big, horrible LIES!” A loud squawk escaped his throat as he lunged for me and tackled me to the ground. His body transformed on those of a bird’s and he swiped his talons across my chest, wounding me. I growled and pushed him off me with all the strength I have in store, hastily transforming back to my wolf.

I opened my jaws wide, attacking him as he hit a trunk of a nearby tree. I sank my teeth into his neck, causing him to squawk once more and push me off him with his gigantic talons, sending me rolling continuously in the ground. I shook my wolf head briefly and stood back up on my feet, regaining my position. However, I did not stand long because he attacked me, wings spread wide while his beaks snapped.

I haven’t paid much attention to my surroundings, I was busy battling the bird. We crashed into several trees, knocking them down from the force we exerted. Sometimes we rolled on the ground, scratch or bite each other when we can. Mostly, it was an odd battle between a gigantic bird, and a big wolf.

A few minutes later on, he managed to throw me against a trunk of a tree, trapping me between his talons and the wood behind me. A Small growl escaped his throat as he raised his talon, pointing it directly at my wolf-face.

I thought I was going to die, but to my shock, he was tackled to the ground coming from his right—knocking him to the other side. I was surprised to see the wolf of Daniel on top of Adrian, in his wolf-form.

“Sorry we’re late. I did have to track you, you know?” He sent the message through our mind link. We? I hope he brought the rest of the pack with him. Because we surely need backup.

However, speaking did not last long because Daniel was thrown feet away.

I looked ahead of me, heavily flapping wings echoing in my ears—not only one, but hundreds of them as well. The sound was followed by heavy panting, thumping footsteps against the solid ground. Seconds later, my pack emerged behind the trees the same time some of the Aves landed on top of trees, looking down at us with their threatening eyes.

Let the battle begin.

“Enough!” My father’s voice boomed as he emerged into the scene. “We still can fix this.”

I suddenly heard the response of Adrian from his mind waves. “It’s too late. Eighteen years too late.”

We wolves growled as the Aves hissed at us in return. “So be it.” My father said. “We’re sick and tired of all those atrocious acts you and your flock committed. I assure you that this will be the last battle that’ll ever occur between your flock, and my pack.” With that, he shifted into his wolf form and we all attacked the Aves.

I focused on attacking Adrian. He flapped in the air and I jumped in the air, catching his foot between my jaws. He screamed as I pulled him down, back into the ground where he attempted to dig his talons into my flesh, but I managed to dodge it. He ended up hitting a tree instead. The scratch marks wounded the tree’s bark.

I lunged forward, sinking my teeth into his neck. He screamed again and threw me off him, causing me to roll incessantly on the ground as he unfurled his wings and took off into the air. As he was way up in the air, I heard him shriek a call and another Ave immediately responded. I watched with my head tilted in the air as the Ave shrieked its answer and soared through the wind in full speed.

It was headed for where Sapphire is! I howled loud to warn them—mostly Zoe—to leave if they are still there. They’ll need to leave now!

I pumped my legs towards the house of Sapphire, trying to catch up with its speed, but it clearly outmatched me because there were plants and other things blocking my way. I even ran into a tree because of my hustle. It was a falcon. Falcons are blessed with super-speed, no wonder. Falcons are ideal for hunting, but no way in hell would he hunt my girls down.

=Sapphire=

A loud squawk sounded in the middle of the forest, reverberating through the woods which sent some birds flying away. I bolted from my seat in alert, knowing that danger was near.

“Sapphire, sit back down. Everything’s gonna be alright.” Zoe—Darren’s mother, said. She reached for my hand for comfort and pulled me back down on the couch. I was filled with worry. What is something bad happens?

“Yeah, everything will be, trust me.” Zoe—Daniel’s cousin added.

“This is nonsense! I don’t know what is going on!” Aunt Farris exclaimed, her hands raking through her tousled hair.

“It’s alright, mom. Darren and his family will protect us. They’re the good guys.” Rosy reassured her, but the expression on her face tells me that it is not alright.

“Will someone please care to enlighten me?”

Actually, calling Zoe between Zoe is so confusing. So, let’s say I’m going to name Darren’s mother, Z1, and Daniel’s cousin, Z2. I know all of them are trying to remain calm, but it really is impossible to stay calm at situations like this. You can never hide the troubled expression on the faces.

Z1 and Z2 helped us with the explaining. Everything was made clear, but the reason behind the feud remained a mystery. I can’t help but wonder how Darren is feeling right now. There were some howls, squawks, and other sounds which I am not glad to hear. Aunt Farris remained glue on her seat, trying to let everything sink in. But she thinks the same way as Rosy, so it is normally hard for her to accept the (irrational) fact. 

Although I can see an unidentified expression plastered across Zoe's face. 

“The Aves as maybe the boys have explained to you—beings with the ability to shape-shift into forms of gigantic birds. They have been terrorizing our pack, way back from our last territory. The Aves obtained much power over the years and managed to defeat us, forcing us to leave. Basically, we escaped. You see, this pack we’re in used to be the biggest pack in the whole America. The Tranquil Lake Pack.” Z1 paused and sighed, shaking her head.

“Hopefully, my husband managed to acquire a land for us to take refuge in, away from the Aves. He then changed the pack’s name to Wild Fire—but that isn’t anything that the pack members gotten used to, their hearts are still fully devoted to the last name. Still, it was done to keep us safe.

“Darren was against the plan of his father to leave, but since most of the pack members have died because of the previous battle, he’s forced to comply. Darren was trying his best to perform his duty as a successor to his father’s position.”

“I heard Daniel say he was the Alpha’s son? Does that mean he’s the future pack leader or something?” Rosy asked, her brows furrowing on her forehead.

“Well, yes. But his efforts were useless after many years of the feud.”

“So how many years did this hate between your pack and the Aves lasted?” Rosy asked.

“It lasted for almost fourteen years.” Z1 answered. “This eventually led to violence and then to destruction. Many homes were destroyed and many lives were taken. It took my dear Xenia’s life.” Tears began streaming down her face.

“Who’s Xenia?” Rosy quipped.

“S-she’s my daughter. My younger daughter. She was killed by the flock leader, Adrian. Basically, this got everything worse between the two . . . I don’t know how this would end.”

“I’m sorry.” Rosy muttered.

“No, it’s okay. It’s not your fault. It’s the Adrian’s. It’s him who should say those words.” She told Rosy, brushing her palms on top of her hand for reassurance.

I sat on my seat, listening to their conversation. I know how hard it is to lose someone who you loved. It’s probably the hardest thing you’ll ever endure in your life. And now, now that I’ve fallen for Darren, I don’t know if I can even handle losing someone I love again. The pain that I’ll carry will cause me to unravel my sanity.

I don’t know how much I can handle this.

There was a sudden loud howl that came from the forest. Z2 stood from her seat. “We should leave now.” She said, running towards a window which has a good view of the forest and drew the curtains close.

“Why?”

“It isn’t safe. It’s clear that the Aves and the pack are battling. Can’t you hear? It isn’t safe here, so we need to leave. If Darren was here, he’ll ask us to do the same.”  She answered, snatching her bag from the side-table as we all stood up, our eyes following her moves.

“But—we don’t even know where to go.” Rosy told her.

“I know a place. Right now, we probably need to leave. The howls symbolize something. You heard that, right? It was Darren. He’s telling us to leave.” She stated. “We should’ve left a while ago. Staying here increases the risks of us being in danger.”

Not a second when she said that, the wall from behind her exploded into rubble. Z2 landed down on the floor with a huge impact, causing all of us to stand up from our seat and run away from the explosion with screams of alert. I looked in front of me in horror, a big falcon with glowing golden eyes squawked on the big hole made on the wall.

I looked at Z2 in alarm. She coughed and forced herself to stand up. “Run!” She screamed. She reached for her back pocket and pulled out a chain of keys. She threw the keys to Rosy, and Rosy caught it with ease.

I stayed glued on the floor as they all ran out of the front door, staring at the beast in front of me with fear. “Run, Sapphire!” Z2 said as she grabbed Aunt Farris’ favorite vase and threw it straight on the falcon’s face. The breakable artifact broke in shards, some burying themselves in its skin.

I felt a tug on my wrist and I was pulled out of the door. Having someone sacrifice their own safety for us to escape made me feel another ton of guilt. My parents already died saving me, never will I let it happen again.

I grabbed the nearest thing I have in me and threw it to the bird. The silver item plunged to the bird’s heart, making it scream in pain from the contact. That thing that I threw happens to be my flute. Blood gushed out of its chest and it slowly shrank, transforming to a human body. My flute was still there, but I refused to get it.

I breathed heavily, feeling my heart race inside my chest. I strode towards Z2 and grabbed her by the arm. She was still watching the body with a horrified expression as I tugged her outside.

I never realized Rosy was watching until she just grabbed our arms and pushed us out of the front door. We hastily made our way towards Z2’s car, embarking on the passenger’s seat as Rosy entered the driver’s side and revived the engine.

Despite the cold weather, we did not have time to put our sweaters on. The heater inside the car provided some warmth from the freezing temperature from outside.

As the car rumbled to life, Rosy stepped onto the gears and we all drove out in a dash. Rosy was practically exceeding the speed limit. We made a sharp turn to the right, feeling the car pull so hard the tires were squealing. I needed to cling tightly in order to keep myself from bumping the car walls.

“W-where are we going?” Rosy asked, stirring to a random direction.

“Head to . . . I don’t know. I don’t think I remember the exact location where that place is. But you should head to a drive way through the foot of the mountain. The one with the zigzag way and a cliff by the other side, a mountain on the other side.” Z2 said.

“Foot of the mountain? But I don’t think there’s any mountain in this town. If there will be, that’s way back in the trail leading to North Carolina.” Rosy told her.

“Yeah, that’s it.” Z2 confirmed.

“But we can’t go there.”  Rosy said, briefly glancing at Zoe who was sitting with me at the back. She has a cut over her left blow, bleeding profusely.

“Why not?”

“Because . . . because it’s something where the worst thing happened.”

My parent’s death.