Authors: Samantha McGivern
As they strolled to the beach, the sun started to go down and hide behind the calm ocean. The sea gently brushed against the sand and quietly rustled in the background. The chirping sound of crickets floated in the air. There was a gentle breeze and the leaves rustled quietly. Slowly the moon rose into the sky and the sky darkened. Little shinning lights slowly started to appear in the sky, making it look like glitter. There was the odd shooting star in the sky that left a streak of light in the night sky. Warclaw and Winter walked side by side under the moonlight. The sand was cool underneath the pads of their paws and the breeze was gentle against their fur, only slightly lifting it up. It was peaceful. Unfortunately for Warclaw this was going to be the last night that they got to spend with each other...
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The sun had arisen and was nearly high in the sky. There were clouds in the sky that would hide the sun every now and then. The wind was gentle, only getting rough now and then. The leaves swayed from side to side and the sea rustled quietly in the background. There were birds flying high in the sky and some sang their merry songs in the trees. There were a few wolves moving around on the ground and Warclaw was one of them.
‘It’s some-wolf who is close to me. It’s some-wolf who is close to me.’ Warclaw thought. He kept repeating the same line over and over and over again, trying to work out who it could be. Warclaw hadn’t slept very well that night. The same lines kept running through his head, ‘It’s some-wolf close to you. Get over it.’ That’s all Warclaw could think. He had had enough and decided to go for a walk. Needing to walk it off, Warclaw went around the perimeter of the den, checking for anything that would take his mind off of it. “I was too blind to see the obvious and now it’s going to happen whether I like it or not. What did he mean by that? Which wolf is close enough to me but would risk his or her life to do this? Curse you Waya!” Warclaw said growling. “Great. I’m even talking to myself. It gets better and better.” Warclaw sighed.
As Warclaw was walking around, he noticed the sky becoming a bit darker. Thinking it was just going to be light patter of rain, Warclaw kept walking. Soon he bumped into Wendy again. “Morning Wendy,” Warclaw said “How’s you and Wilbert this morning? Has he said sorry to you yet?”
“Morning Warclaw and we’re okay. He seems to have finally come around and he’s agreeing with me. So his sorry was accepted and we’re all good now. How about you? How was last ni...?” Wendy was interrupted by the heavens opening. Clashes of thunder and bolts of lightning livened up the sky. Wendy and Warclaw ran for cover. Slowly the patter of rain turned into fierce bullets that hit the ground at force. The storm had begun.
As Warclaw ran for cover with Wendy, he suddenly realised who Waya had meant. “Warclaw are you alright?” Wendy asked running alongside him.
“I think I know whose going to do it...” Warclaw paused. “I need to find Winter fa...” Before Warclaw could finish his sentence, he heard Winter howl.
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Evan after the darkest of days, there was always a day of light. But sometimes that light was not the sun, but it was something completely different. The sun was high in the sky, showing that it was midday. Suddenly clouds started to appear and these clouds were dark. The birds flew up out of the trees and flew off into the distance. A storm was brewing and it was imminent. The sky was getting darker and darker. There was no sign of the sun anymore. It had disappeared behind the blackening clouds. There were loud crashing sounds in the sky and the sparks in the sky lightened up the ground. The wind started to get up. At first it slowly moved the wolf’s fur but then it got stronger and it blew the fur all over the place. It became so strong that it started to push the wolves around, shoving them from side to side. The trees creaked and moaned as they were blown harshly by the wind. The sky was black and rain soon followed the darkness. The clouds above crashed together with so much force that it made the ground shake. Lightning bolts would form in the sky. Some would strike the ground, enlightening the ground with light. Smoke started to rise into the sky as the ground took alight. Wolves ran in different directions.
A wolf came running up to Winter in desperate need of help. “Winter, some wolves are trapped on the west side of the forest. I can’t find Warclaw, please help me!” Waya said. Winter nodded. Waya had appealed to her good nature and this would be the cause of her downfall. Running in the direction of the west side of the forest, Winter hoped that it was something easy that she could handle on her own. She ran and ran until she had reached that side of the forest. Looking around Winter could see no wolves trapped. Winter’s heart started to race when she realised that Waya had tricked her into coming to this part of the forest.
“Warclaw?! Where are you?” Winter howled. The howl carried across the winds and she hoped that it would reach Warclaw in time. Suddenly a lightning bolt smashed down into the ground. Sparks flew everywhere and soon a fire started to appear. The fire slowly started to surround her. Suddenly a wolf came towards her, through the thick smoke. “Wren? Thank the high Alpha that you are here. Let’s get out of here...” She trailed off. But Wren just kept walking towards her. “What are you doing? Wren?” Suddenly Wren pounced onto Winter, making her crash into the ground. “Why are you doing this Wren? I have been nothing but good to you!” Winter said trying to get out from under Wren’s grip. Winter knew what was coming and soon she could feel her legs go numb, her throat go cold and soon she could see no light. Death was upon her. Slowly she let out her final breath. Winter was gone.
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Warclaw followed the sounds of Winter’s screams. Running quicker and quicker until he got to the part of the forest where he had heard her screams. Looking over the flames, he saw Wren’s jaw go around Winter’s neck. He could see the fear and pain she was in. Blood dripped slowly out of her neck and Warclaw gasped. He knew Winter was gone and there was nothing he would do to save her. “No!!” Warclaw screamed as he watched Wren kill his beloved mate.
The flames got more and more intense. Warclaw couldn’t move. He had watched Winter die and he had watched
that
wolf do it. Warclaw shouted at the wolf in the distances, “I will find you! I will hunt you down and kill you!” Watching Wren run further off into the distance, he felt his heart lurch. He looked down to the lifeless corpse of Winter. Trying to walk towards her, Warclaw was stopped by the flames. Slowly, bit by bit, the flames cut his sight until Warclaw couldn’t see Winter. When the flames had finally blocked his vision, Warclaw looked down upon the ground below him. With no Luna, Warclaw wouldn’t have been able to run the pack. Waya had gotten what he wanted. Shaking his tears away, Warclaw swore that he would take revenge. Warclaw vowed that he would get Wren for what he and Waya had done and now 20 years later he finally had gotten that chance...
Chapter 18: Love, loss and loathe
Warclaw stared into the ground. His heart beat rapidly in his chest. Warclaw couldn’t move. His body had frozen. Warclaw could hear the roar of the flames burning everything that was around him but he still didn’t move. The death of Winter was the very thing he had tried to prevent from happening but now that it had, he didn’t know what to do. The fire edged closer and closer to Warclaw. He could start to feel the heat of the flames on his fur. He stood there for a few minutes staring down into the ground realising that although Wren had struck her down, it was him that had killed her. He had watched her take her final breath through the flames, and yet he had the crystal that could bring her back. But he just let the fire surround her and take her away from him. Warclaw had not only failed her but he had failed himself.
Slowly looking up, Warclaw could see the flames creeping closer and closer. He could feel the heat on his fur. Warclaw realised he should let the flames simmer and take the revenge he needed when the time was right. Running for the edge of the forest, towards the pack, Warclaw ran around falling trees and jumped over rising flames. Soon he reached the edge of the forest. When Warclaw reached the edge of the forest, he could hear two wolves talking. Slowing down, Warclaw stood for a minute, listening to what they were saying, before hiding behind a bush as the two wolves walked closer to Warclaw. Warclaw noticed that it was Waya and Willow that were talking to one another.
“I can’t believe this storm hit us at the right time. That’s what you call luck. It just makes it all perfect doesn’t it?” Waya asked Willow.
“It does Waya. Just a shame that we had to get rid of Winter to make this all work. She was one of my closest friends and now if any-wolf finds out that it was me that was involved in her death, I’ll be hated throughout the pack.”
“Well it’s a good job that only you and I know about it then isn’t it? No-wolf will find out believe me Willow. Anyway you wanted it to happen so don’t lie to yourself. You were jealous of her and Warclaw and now we can have what they had. Does that make you happy?” Waya asked.
“Yes it does I suppose so. Do you think Warclaw will come back after going in there with all those flames?” She asked looking into the flames forest that was behind Warclaw. “I don’t know Willow. There is chance that he won’t and he’ll perish in that fire but there is also a chance that he will come back. If he does come back it will make it a whole lot harder to get rid of him. Although there is a way and it will be quite spiteful and it will make him suffer.” He laughed.
“That’s
if
he does come back.” Willow joined in with the laughter.
Warclaw could feel his blood slowly start to boil. ‘How dare she be part of this? How dare she be part of her death after everything Winter has ever done for her?!’ Warclaw thought. He could feel a burning sensation in his chest as he thought about the betrayal that Willow had done to Winter, all because they were jealous of what he and Winter had had. Warclaw wanted to get up there and rip their throats out but he knew he needed to wait until they had finished talking and make it look like he hadn’t been listening.
“Warclaw has no Luna now so it will make it a lot easier to take over the pack and run it the way it should’ve been. Although, if Warclaw does survive that fire and does come back, we will have to move the pack from here. If he does come back, and it’s looking less and less by the minute, then I shall banish him from the pack. That way he can live with his guilt for the rest of his life.” Waya laughed.
Warclaw had decided enough was enough. He was going to make Waya pay for what he had done to Winter. Walking back into the forest for a bit, Warclaw decided that it was now or never. Warclaw came charging out of the forest just as the flames came to the edge behind him. He ran up towards Waya and Willow and he could see the disappointment and alarm on their faces. Stopping just in front of them, Warclaw panted, making himself look out of breath. He hung his head low before speaking with a lump in his throat. “Winter is dead just like you wanted Waya. I saw him do it. I was not supposed to see that was I? That wasn’t supposed to happen was it Waya?” Warclaw said raising his head before looking straight into his eyes. “No it wasn’t. And I can’t believe that you betrayed your closest friend for
him
!” Warclaw growled. Both Waya and Willow’s faces expressed shock. They hadn’t realised that Warclaw had heard their conversation. “How much did you hear?” Waya asked calmly.
“Oh I heard the whole conversation. I knew you were going to do something evil but nothing like this, I didn’t think you had it in you.” Warclaw smiled. “Now it will be my great pleasure to take your life.” Warclaw growled.
“Warclaw you aren’t strong enough at the moment to take him on. You’re not thinking straight!” Willow barked. But Warclaw didn’t pay attention to her. “If you let Warclaw do this Willow, we will have everything that we have ever wanted. He is not going to listen to you anyway. Let the others know that Winter is dead and Warclaw has left the pack for me?” Waya said before rubbing his nose against hers. Willow nodded in agreement and ran off to find the other wolves. “Now Warclaw I’m only going to give you the one chance to back away and walk away from this without a scratch.”
“Go to hell Waya. I will not back down and walk away with my tail between my legs.” Warclaw growled. “Let’s just get this over and done with, shall we?!”
“Well it’s your choice.” Waya said smirking. Warclaw and Waya started to walk in a circle, growling at each another. Warclaw made a lunge for Waya but Waya simply dodged it. “You’re not going to win this Warclaw. You’re not strong enough.” Just as Waya finished his sentence, Warclaw lunged forward and bit down hard onto Waya’s shoulder. Waya howled in pain and growled back at Warclaw, wrapping his jaws around the back of Warclaws neck before sinking his teeth in. Warclaw winced at the slight pain, but he could hardly feel it because of the adrenaline pumping round his body. Warclaw swivelled in Waya’s jaws and bit onto his neck, making blood seep out of the wood and trickle like a stream down to the floor. Waya let go of Warclaw’s neck before gasping in pain. Waya bit down upon Warclaw’s shoulders, making him let go of his neck, before biting down into the middle of Warclaw’s back. When Waya bit down into his back, Warclaw howled in pain. Suddenly he felt his legs come off of the ground and the wind go around his body. Waya had thrown him to the side. Warclaw hit the ground with a loud thud. Shooting pains went all through his body and he howled in pain. Before Warclaw could get up, Waya had put his paw on his shoulder and he growled at Warclaw “You were not in the frame of mind Warclaw to fight. You have now lost everything you held dear. But instead of giving you the mercy of killing you, so you can be with Winter, I’m going to let you live. You will live with your guilt till the day you die and you will spend the rest of your life alone. And if you ever come back I will finish the job Warclaw. Now get out of my territory and save yourself the humiliation of being thrown out with a crowd. NOW GO!” Waya growled at Warclaw, before lifting his paw off of his shoulder.