Warclaw (7 page)

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There was no sound in the world. It was peacefully quiet. The sky was dark and the stars were out in full, shinning down into the den. It had turned late night when Wibeke had finally told the pack about the war that was going to happen between Warclaw and them. There was a cool breeze in the air. The tree’s slowly moved in the wind, making them drowsy. The breeze ruffled calmly through Wibeke’s fur. It was calm, and it relaxed her after everything that had happened. It also took her mind off of the war that was coming soon.

All the pack members were fast asleep, except for Wibeke. Wibeke was sitting on the shiny grey rock that was near the entrance of the cave. Looking over the members of the pack, she thought back to what had happened that day. How she had created the problem with her and Warclaw and now the pack had got involved. This was not what she had planned at all. Getting the pack involved in this mess was the last thing she wanted. Wibeke knew that this was going to be the end of the pack but she had to do it, she just had too. Looking away from the pack, she looked up to the night sky and the bright yellow stars belted their colours out towards her. Wibeke sat thinking about what would happen if the pack didn’t get more wolves to help, but she knew that the inevitable was going to happen sooner or later. It was a chest of who was going to make the first move. And she had made that move first and it was not for the better.

As she was staring up into the sky, Wibeke heard some-wolf walk up behind her. Turning her head, she saw that it was Wren. He looked kindly at her. Wren wondered what she was doing up at this hour. Smiling briefly at Wren, her eyes gave away much more than she could’ve hoped. Moving to sit beside her, Wren spoke softly “Wibeke, I know you are worried with what and that you think that it was all down to you. But it’s not. So please don’t feel like you have to make it right. We are only few but we are strong when united together. I know you don’t think that we will beat Warclaw and that our lives will not get better, but you have to believe in us. No matter what Warclaw decides to do!” Wren felt much pride after he had finished his speech. He sat beside her and looked into her eyes. Looking back into Wren’s silver grey eyes, Wibeke could tell how proud he was of her and of his speech. “Wibeke.”Wren paused, as they looked intently into each other’s eyes. “Yes Wren?” She simply replied.

“You know that I love you and that I will always support you. But I cannot do that when you are keeping things from me.” Wren had worked out that she was planning something. “You know what happened the last time you didn’t tell me what you were doing.” He continued. Wibeke looked at him with curiosity but knew deep down what he was on about. “You went alone to see Warclaw and then look what happened! You and I fell out and I went crazy!” Wren had now voiced his concern but it was unlikely that she would listen. He was about to get up and leave, when Wibeke spoke up. “Wren. It had nothing to do with you. It has nothing to do with the pack. I feel that this is what my destiny is. I can feel it. I know and understand the concern that you have for me but this is something I need to do for me.” He stopped walking and turned round. Wren’s voice was soft but still with some force. “Fine. If it is what you want then, know that I will always support you all the way. But I cannot always be there to help you in times of need. But I will try to be there.” Before walking away, he sighed and pressed his nose against her nose. Their love was strong. But was it strong enough to with stand Warclaw?

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Warclaw was livid. His treasure was missing and he couldn’t do anything. He knew it was down to one wolf and one wolf only. Wibeke. Making his way out of the lighthouse, he had decided to make a grand entrance to the pack. Warclaw started to walk back down the beach towards the forest. “Wibeke! I’m going to get you for doing this to me!” He spat, saliva going everywhere. Angry did not cover how he felt. Warclaw’s stance was intimidating, and the look on his face was frightening. Being enraged was Warclaw’s natural ways of dealing with things. Once he was enraged, look out! Soon Wibeke was going to feel the full force of it.

The sky was black and it seemed as black as Warclaw’s heart right now. There were a few clouds in the sky that would often block out the moon. This was a dark night, and it was going to get darker by the hour. Warclaw was starting to run towards the forest now. With his heart racing, Warclaw’s running speed quickened. All he could think about was getting her to give his treasure back. The forest was getting nearer and nearer.

As Warclaw got into the forest, all the birds flew up into the sky, as if terrified of Warclaw. With each paw stepping in front of one another, more birds took to the air. If Wibeke didn’t see this then she would never escape Warclaw and his wrath.

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Wibeke sensed that something was wrong. She looked towards where the birds were flying away and into the sky. More and more flew up and out of the trees into the sky. But whatever was making those birds fly into the air, was heading straight towards her. Instantly she knew what was heading her way at such a fast pace. ‘Warclaw!’ she thought. Warclaw’s element of surprise had been wiped clear. However Wibeke chose not to run, but to face him. He was outnumbered. She would have to call every-wolf together immediately. Starting to howl, she could hear the pack members rush to where she was.

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Warclaw could hear the howl that was coming from Wibeke. He knew that she was calling every-wolf together but Warclaw kept running towards the den. Knowing that he was out numbered, he had dismissed any idea of getting Wibeke on her own, away from the pack. The ambush idea hadn’t exactly worked out nor would it ever now that Wibeke knew he was coming. His adrenaline was pumping through his body. Not wanting to stop now, he kept running towards Wibeke. With his heart racing in his chest, he couldn’t think straight. Anger was his only feeling and his only thought. Now the distance was closing between them. His heart rate was more enraged. Warclaw was going to settle this once and for all.

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All the pack members were together, wondering why they had all been summoned. There was quiet talk between them. Wibeke walked out onto the rock and spoke with a clear voice. “Warclaw is heading our way now with haste. We must protect ourselves. Put the young somewhere safe. We must fight!” There was gasping in the crowd. This was no shock that Warclaw was coming, but for him to come this quickly was a shock. The wolves ran in different directions finding their young and hiding them.

Wibeke had turned round to talk to Wren when she saw Warclaw come running up behind him. “Wren MOVE!” She shouted. Wren looked behind him and saw Warclaw. Diving out of the way, he just missed the jaws of Warclaw. Wibeke started walking backwards, trying to get some distance between them. With Warclaw not stopping, his adrenaline and rage had reached its peak. “YOU!” Warclaw howled at Wibeke whilst still running at her. Wibeke stopped walking backwards and decided it was best to find out why he was so enraged at her; she started to walk forward, towards him.

Warclaw slowed down as he had noticed that Wibeke had started to walk towards him. “Yes me.” Wibeke finally answered sarcastically.

“Where is it?” Warclaw shouted as he came to a halt.

“Where is what?” Wibeke asked confused.

“You know
EXACTLY
what! Where is the Atlas Crystal? Tell me where it is!” Warclaw growled again. Unable to believe what she was being accused of, she started stuttering. “I…I…I don’t know where that damn crystal is! Why…why…why would I… why the hell would I have it? I was there the whole time remember!” Her eyes had darted around, looking for help.

“Well you must know who must’ve taken it!” Warclaw had started to realise his mistake but he was sure that she at least knew who had taken the Atlas Crystal.

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The Atlas Crystal. The crystal of mystery. Warclaw’s crystal. This was what he possessed in that old lighthouse and what he protected with his life. Like Warclaw had said, it didn’t corrode in water; it was small, yet powerful beyond comprehension. The crystal would fit inside the palm of your hand. The crystal would change shape and colour; it would never stay the same shape and colour for more than a few minutes if it was in danger. The crystal was very mystical, yet it held no secrets. Warclaw on the other hand, was a different story.

Warclaw had always believed that he had the magical powers but the crystal had been using him as a life source to do its evil. The crystal had given him the power when he was a young wolf. Warclaw had always thought that he had inherited it from his father but the Atlas Crystal had in fact given it to him. His father had brought the crystal back to his old pack. It was if the crystal had chosen Warclaw. Power had started to flow through his veins. It was like a life dependant drug to him. He wouldn’t and couldn’t live long without it. All the wolves from the pack Warclaw was born in, had all been killed by him; including his parents. He couldn’t control his power. Not at the age he was given it.

Warclaw had had an argument with his parents and out of nowhere there had come a blast. Warclaw had looked around to find that every-wolf was dead. The blast had killed them all. Warclaw knew then that he had to hide the crystal from every-wolf. Knowing this, Warclaw used his powers to create wars between packs that had got wind of where the crystal was. When two packs would come at a time, he got them to fight each other, making sure that none of them would survive. The crystal was too dangerous for any-wolf to use. Warclaw now had complete control over it and only he knows how to use it safely (that was after many trials). Although to all the other wolves he seemed evil and just fought because he wanted too, but Warclaw was protecting not only the crystal but the lives of all the other wolves. But now the Atlas Crystal had disappeared. Warclaw had sensed that the end was nigh.

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Other pack members had started to arrive to where Warclaw and Wibeke were. They had started to surround them. Wren came running to Wibeke’s side. Looking around him, Warclaw saw that all the pack members had surrounded him. They had also started to head towards him. Warclaw realised that it was time to back off and go back into the forest. It was better to fight another day and come back with the Atlas Crystal. They could count on that. “You better watch your back!” Warclaw growled, before walking back off into the forest.

Looking to all the pack members around her, she was grateful that they had protected her how she could not protect them. She turned to look at Wren, she smiled at him and he smiled back at Wibeke. They knew that they had had a close shave with Warclaw and they knew that it wouldn’t be long before he came back. They had to prepare themselves and that was what they were going to do. However, unfortunately for them, Warclaw was thinking the exact same thing!

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Warclaw walked back into the forest, cursing as he went. How could he have been so idiotic as not to think out a plan? He still couldn’t believe how thick he had been to just straight up accuse Wibeke of something that he had no evidence for. Deep in his mind he knew that she had something to do with it and he was sure that he was going to prove it. Why would she have come alone when she knew what Warclaw was capable of? Why would she deny everything that he said if she didn’t know who had done it? That crystal was his only way out and his only way to solve this problem. Warclaw needed it now to wipe them off the face of the earth, but he could not. With Warclaw’s thoughts turning dark again, he saw something rush past his vision. Warclaw couldn’t make out what it was, but he knew that something, most likely a wolf, had run past but where and what was it running from? There was another black blur that had crossed his vision, but this time it was closer. Warclaw stopped walking and started to look around him. The black blur stopped in front of him.

Looking into its dark red eyes, Warclaw could sense that this was an evil wolf and that he had his Atlas Crystal. But he had never seen this wolf; this was a
new
wolf in
his
territory. Why would this wolf be in
his
territory? “Why are you here?! What do you want?” Warclaw voice was hard and he raised the fur up on his back, making him much bigger than he already was. With Warclaw already being a big wolf, he became much larger than the wolf that stood in front of him. The other wolfs eyes stayed red with anger. “Why do you think that I am here?” The wolf said mockingly.

“I don’t know hence why I asked!” Warclaw shouted at this wolf that had so mocked him.  “Tell me, what is your name?”

“Marko is my name; I am the son of Mathew, the Alpha of Manto. I can ask the same question back. Who are you?” The wolf still had red in his eyes. There was anger still in his voice. Warclaw looked into the wolf’s eyes. Seeing that he was telling the truth, Warclaw spoke with calmness. “I am Warclaw, the Alpha of Wayland. What are you doing here Marko?”

“I am here for the Atlas Crystal.” He plainly said.

“But you already have the crystal, I know that you do.” Warclaw said sharply. “So where is the crystal and what do you want with it?”

“I know I already have the crystal! What I want with the Atlas Crystal is a different matter altogether! We want you to come with us and side with us. Now that we have the crystal we can control every move that you make, so really you don’t have a choice. Now, you are coming with me!” Marko ordered.

“And why should I do that? What power do you have over me? Besides I could easily over power you right now!” Warclaw growled.