Moon Behind the Setting Sun

 

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Introduction

    I can't breathe. When have I ever been able to? My chest is heavy. I'm scared; I just want to go home. I want things to go back to the way they were.
    "My my, you are very selfish."

 

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Chapter 1

    December........cold and snowing. A red moon hangs low in the sky, beginning the long night. Leaves rustle in the sighing wind. Wolves howl a fair victory while the others mourn a fallen comrade. The river is alive even with the lowered temperature. Hawks hunt for their last prey before retiring to a warm nest. Things are what they should be. A twig crunched under a swift foot. Peace is far from my mind. The fog below the trees is causing less trouble than those of the men hunting me. I may be an outcast, but I mean no harm; just defense.

    I jumped over a small creek trying to make as little noise as possible. My common sense told me to get out of the area, my feet told me to keep moving, my heart just asked questions. I needed to stop and catch my breath. I heard heavy thuds of boots, I saw the shine of chains in the moon light, their guns seemed to have become silent. Fear gripped me as I hear light landings and faint whispers, almost inaudible.

    “Well now, seems we have a lost pup.” I froze. The hunter’s dogs can be heard barking, pulling on their chains, the hunters laughing at the dog’s desperate attempt to make their owner proud. But those were the least of my worries.

    “Rocco take your group and get rid of the distraction.” I watched a shadow move quietly away. I stayed on guard not trusting these voices. Yelps, gunshots, screams, the smell of blood lay heavy in the air. Things became oddly silent after that. I searched for an escape route, the fog blocking my view of nearby brush. Panic hit me and my heart beat wildly. Eyes suddenly appeared looking hungry. I took a step back, tripping and falling on the cold ground. Shadows surrounded me, white teeth shining, and a hard hit to the back of my head. Darkness has its chance to choose my fate.

 

    I awoke to the smell of fire and sweat. I stood and walked out of the protection of the cave I awoke in. A man I had never seen before sat in front of a fire. The many wolves around him perked their ears up when I took a step out. Sun blinded me for a few seconds even with my hand shielding my eyes. I noticed that the man was motioning me to sit by him. His wolves calmed down and let their ears settle.

    I cautiously walked over to him stopping inches from where the pack lies. He must be the leader; yet he’s human. He whispered something into one of the wolf’s ears and soon they had made a path for me to sit by their leader. I carefully walked down the path and took my seat next to the man.

    I couldn’t look at him, because I was being watched by those hungry gazes again. But he cleared his throat still staring at the fire with a sort of longing. He faced me and I couldn’t help but stare back. He had red eyes, blood red, he had a charming face. It was as if he only wanted to talk, but fear made me stay on guard; those eyes have a history that I’m probably not fond of. He touched my cheek and I yelped; he flinched away. He turned back to the fire.

    “You’d think that since we have much in common we would be comfortable together.” He let out a sigh. “Then again we’ve just met each other and our history is still vague. So tell me little pup, why were those men hunting you like some wild animal?” I held my tongue. “Well?” he waited patiently for my answer.

    “I did something bad.” I murmured, I wasn’t sure if he heard me in fact I didn’t want him to.

    “Go on. I’m sure it can’t be all that bad.” That was the one answer I didn’t want.

    “I never wanted to hurt anyone. Everything was under control.” Do I really have to tell him? “But one day there was a storm, average lighting storm. I don’t like lighting very much though.” Why am I still talking to him? “My mother came home from her average work day, with yet another man. I’ve gotten use to her many affairs.” Numb to the noises. “This man though didn’t look like the kind she usually brought home. He had a sort of air about him that told me he had gotten my mother, permanently.” Stop talking your saying too much. “They were married for almost a year. The storm came back, this time just black clouds.” Stop while you still can. “He caught my mother with another man. Angry, he just pulled the man outside and left him there. Mother was furious about it though saying how it was her job to entertain, he didn't think so and advanced on her. She took the burglar gun and shot him.” Stop now. “She had a sort of mad hatter laugh about her. He survived the shot and stabbed my mother in the stomach with his pocket knife, gutting her like some fresh pig.” Stop! “He turned to me smiling. He asked if I was going to take my beloved father’s side or my hated mother’s. I took up the kitchen knife and pointed it towards him. He was not please, just shook his head. We ran at each other filled with rage and....” STOP! “He fell before I reached him...”

    I buried my face in my hands. I finally listened to the choking screams. They seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. I clamped my hands over my ears. Louder screams joined in, all from one person in many places. My throat gave way to a small yelp. My whole body began to shake with fear. I almost screamed when a hand landed on my back. I had keeled over without realizing it. The hand was comforting, moving in slow circles. Another one joined in with light pats. Then, as if on a cue, I felt my back grow heavy with light hands.

    I sat up and saw that a group had formed around me. Men and women even children, all smiling. The odd thing was…..I felt happy. With everyone around me it felt like the only emotion they knew about was love. My hands lay dead in my lap. Exhaustion hit me. The man next to me still had his hand on my back. I turned to him and saw he was the only one with concern on his face. With his other hand he reached up and wiped the stream falling from my eyes.

    My heart felt heavy with relief. I watched one of the children slowly shiver, revealing fur it began elongating its nose into a muzzle and soon I found a wolf pup sitting in the place of the child. Everyone followed the pup’s lead and soon the crowd became a pack of loving dogs.

    “We want you to join us. You are a special breed. We wish to have you be the new guardian of our pack.”

    “But I can’t change into a wolf.”

    “Who said you had to change?” He gave a smile sharp teeth protruding from his gums. Something was wrong and I ignored it.

 

 

    “ We need to get rid of them as quickly as possible!”

    “They've already killed most of your livestock!”

    “Burn down the forest! They will have no where to hide!”

    “Impossible! We'll just give them more reasons to attack us!”

    “But if we don't do something the animals will be gone and they'll come after us!”

    “Silence!” A man stood at the front of the chattering crowd. They sat in an old church, one of the oldest in the area and largest. “In the recent weeks we have had an increase in these attacks and so far we only know that they are wolves.”

    “But wolves aren't smart enough to know........”

    “Yes. I can bet that someone is helping them. Someone who knows this town better than anyone. Someone like......her.”

    “No! She couldn't have done something like that! Isn't she the one who killed.....”

    “Yeah! You'd think the wolves would know better than to get help from her! She could kill them all with ease.” The man raised his hand and the crowd fell silent again.

    “But they know her weakness and could use that weakness easily against her. I doubt things will get better from here. But we need to get rid of her before we get rid of them. Soon the wolves will have no where to go but six feet under.”

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