CHAPTER 1-Beginnings

I trudged through the thick forest. The heavy rain abusing me every second. Pelting down onto my moving body and announcing it's presence by soaking me to the bone. My clothes felt heavy from the amount of water that saturated them and the cold wind whipped at my form. I pulled my jacket closer to my body, wrapping around my arms around my waist in a futile attempt to conserve some form of warmth. My wolf remained curled up in the corner mind, also agitated by the cold.

My boots squished with every step, my feet emerged in the small puddles that had formed inside them. The freezing temperatures of the water caused my toes to curl.

In an attempt to shield my eyes from the pelting rain I raised my hand in front of my face. My eyes darted across my dark blurry surroundings, trying to find any form of shelter; a caveor even a hollowed tree trunk would work. It was nearly impossible to see through the heavy rain. Which also seemed to be blocking out any scents. At least that was a positive about the heavy storm, nothing could smell or see me.

I grumbled in annoyance as the rain seemed to get heavier yet again. Still scanning my surroundings I nearly yelped in which when the shape of what appeared to be a building appeared. My heart rate increased from my rising anxiety.

Shelter meant civilization. And civilization meant wolves. But there was also the small chance it could be empty, as it was overgrown in shrubs, with no visible light source coming from it. Hence why I nearly missed it entirely.

With my wolf pushing me in 6he direction of the shelter I decided to take my chances and investigate the building. Trudging closer I could see it seemed to be an old cottage. The front windows were smashed while the rest of the building was heavily covered in vegetation, even vines grew up the sides. The abandoned look gave me a boost of confidence, I doubt anyone would stay here voluntarily. But there was still the chance someone was inside.

I quickly sniffed the air, trying to catch any scents. But the smell of rain was too strong, making me unable to focus on any other scents. I would need to physically investigate to make sure it was truly clear. Silently crawling in through a smashed window I landed in what appeared to be the main living room, however it was hard to distinguish which room it was as the house appeared to be stripped of all furniture and decoration.

I paused in my landing, straining my ears for any form of noise; breathing, moving, talking or a heartbeat. Hearing none of the above I began to move to the closer door.

The floor was dry, with no appearance of recent tracjs, and the only footsteps were the ones I was leaving behind. I continued through the door frame, which lead into what I assumed what a kitchen, as there was a sink and an old looking fridge.

 I continued through the next few rooms, ending in what appeared to be was the bedroom. All rooms were clear. The thought causing my body to release the tension it had been holding.

I had gotten lucky tonight. Being able to find a house, an abandoned one at that. It almost seemed too good to he true.

Removing the hood that concealed my face I patted down my frizzy and now soaked hair as I took off my back pack and dumped it on the floor. I would stay here for the night. It was safe and dry 

It seemed I had made the right choice when the rain again became heavier, the storm starting to seem like more of a hurricane.

I sighed before moving to shut the door. Grabbing two metal drink bottles and a shoelace I tied both drink bottles to the door handle. That way if someone entered the drink bottles would make noise and I would awakes easily.

However, it seemed it would be hard to hear it over the loud thunder claps and sound of lightening outside.

Returning to my bag I pulled out my spare of t shirt and a small blanket. I stripped of my soaked jacket and under shot, laying them on the floor with false hope that perhaps they would dry a little.

I dressed in the shirt before propping my bag up in the corner. I place my small blanket on the cold floor to use as a mattress. Using my arm as a pillow I felt my cold aching body be pulled the darkness.

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The sun rays penetrated through the windows, assaulting my pupils and turning the inside of my eyelids red. Telling me the sun had risen. Groggily I sat up and looked around the small room I was last night now we're a light wood colour.

With the scent of rain no longer blocking my smell my nose hairs were singed but the stench of blood and urine. But it had provided cover from the storm last night, and in my situation I was glad to have slept in such a room.

I picked the sleeping crust out from the inside of my eyeball while yawning quietly. My body ached the begged for more rest, but I had to keep moving. I had been here longer than I should.

The storm gas ended last night. I wasn't sure when, it could've been hours since it stopped. Hours of opportunity for someone to pick up my scent. 

I slowly rose upwards, thoroughly stretching my limbs which were sore after sleeping on such a hard surface for the night. I leant backwards, smiling to myself as my back made a satisfying crack. Immediately making me feel better.

I pulled my wavy brunette hair into a pony tail using one of the few elastics I had found in my travels.

I reached down to fold my blankets before placing them in my backpack. Scooping up the now semi dry short and jacket from last night I tucked them into the front pocket of my pack. Grabbing the shoelace and two drink bottles on my way out I tucked them into the sides.

This old backpack held everything I owned. Some underwear (and bras of course) two sets of long pants, shirts, my leather jacket, a knife, a blanket and bottles of water which I refilled at every chance I got.

Food I caught or picked up when moving. Mostly in my wolf form. It was too hard to carry and would give a scent to pack warriors and routes alike. It was risky to take food. And I couldn't afford the luxury of risks. 

With the thought of food fresh in my mind my stomach grumbled loudly, letting me know of it's demand for food. I would need to hunt today.

I jumped through the same broken window I had entered through last night. The sun rays caressing my face making me feel relaxed.

I walked away from the house for an hour. Trying to find an area with enough cover that I could shift into my wolf without being too exposed.

After finding an area that offered such cover I quickly stripped out off my clothing, shoving it all into my backpack ang hiding it beneath a nearby shrub.

I inhaled deeply before letting the feeling of the shift overrun my senses. Feeling my back cracking and reshaping. My tail sprouting from my butt. My shins breaking only to reform stronger. My nose elongating into a snout. The shift was completed in seconds. My coat shining in the morning sun.

I was a strange wolf really. Only high ranking wolves had dark coats. With Alpha's having the darkest; black. They were also very large wolves. Normally around 5" 8 to the largest I've seen being 6" 0 when in wolf form. While their muscle mass ranges from bulk to terrifying bulk.

Beta's normally have a dark grey, but they were highlighted lighter, also very large. Then the Warrior's, a grey pelt, who weren't large in size, but we're always incredibly bulky. Every other wolf gas lighter coloured pelts, with a smaller size.

The same patter followed in females. However female wolves were smaller and leaner then they're male counter parts.

I was neither Beta nor Alpha. Not did I come from ancestors who held power, yet my coat maintained a grey colour, and to make things more confusing I was a Beta female sized wolf. No one could figure what was wrong with me.

Shaking my head from the thoughts, I focused back onto the task.

My wolf was glad to be out, shaking out her coat in relaxation. I hadn't shuafted in just under a week. Being in wolf form gave off my scent more, but my travel had been slow recently, the storm had slowed me down even further. I needed to make a quick kill so that I could keep moving.

Refocusing on the task of hunting I lowered my snout to the ground. Constantly scenting the area for possible prey. I latched onto a small scent that faintly crossed my nose. A few more deep sniffs of the trail and I knew what lay ahead.

A rabbit.