The wolf with fur like the ocean's currents slid silently through the foliage, paws stepping lightly and delicately, giving the illusion that only a shadow moved in the forest tonight. In fact, that was close enough to the truth to be factual. The living shadow's cloak caught on a grasping branch, but with a pause and a practiced shake, the cloth was freed and the wolf moved on unhindered. With enough time, one learned such tricks that became almost instinctual and necessary for wearing cloth in the wild. However, the cloak was more than just a simple garment. It was a symbol of the Brotherhood...a physical connection to something that was so much more...it was a part of him. There was no separating him from the cloak. They were one.
Ironic, considering at the moment he was rushing to put as much distance between himself and his bretheren. He didn't feel like one of them at the moment and it wasn't often he ever did. For now, he just needed some time away from everyone. Some time to be by himself and enjoy the silence that pierced the land just after darkness fell. By now, all knew to fear the shadows of this land that haunted the night. While silence was no guarantee of survival, noise would certainly ensure your swift death at the fangs and claws of the living shadows that the wolf called "Brothers."
It was a name in tradition only, or at least so the young male felt. Part of the reason he had set out while the others were just beginning to stir from slumber was so that he could avoid the inevitable suspicious and disapproving stares that he felt following his every move, every moment of the da---err, night. Whenever he was awake, he could feel their eyes on him. And why? It wasn't as if he'd asked for this!
Movements growing more purposeful in the past few moments, the young Gamma called 'Fallyn' swiftly and almost automatically steered towards one of his favorite spots to be alone. The high hill offered a favorable viewpoint in all directions to watch for others' arrivals while still supporting enough small brush for him to use as shelter. That, and the clearing in the canopy would allow him to view the beautiful moon tonight. Despite the peaceful surroundings and ethereal moonlit beauty, Fallyn's thoughts remained a chaotic, tumbling mass in his poor, beleagered mind.
Why him? Of all the pups taken at the time, why had he been chosen for such a role? What had set him apart from the others, he'd never know. In fact, only the Alpha God would ever know the answer to that particular mystery.
And it wasn't that Fallyn didn't want to be Alpha one day...everyone was supposed to want that, right? It was just...there were times when he thought it might be easier to just be a normal Gamma for the remainder of his days rather than shouldering such responsibility. Could his dubious shoulders even support such a burden? He doubted it...often. Though, the thoughts sounded traitorous, so he kept them shoved roughly to the back of his mind as best he could.
Same as how he'd never question the Alpha God...at least not aloud. But still, how could such an important decision be made so early? With only mere pups? Shouldn't there have been some sort of test or waiting period to see how the little ones would turn out? Their personalities and capabilities weighed and classsified before deciding which one would be the most suitable future heir?
Fallyn sighed softly, feeling an imaginary weight settle once more around his shoulders as he shifted his cloak and looked up at the moon. Such tretcherous thoughts...they made him feel as if he were greatly in the wrong...as if he'd be leapt upon and punished by his bretheren at a moment's notice just for thinking this way. His hood slid back, exposing his eyes and muzzle completely to the bright light of the moon. Without warning or even conscious thought, his jaws opened and with a deep breath, he let out a long, low, mournful howl. He knew the others would hear...even if they wouldn't be able to figure out what it meant. Hell, he didn't know what it meant either. It was a strange mixture of frustration, confusion, longing, and dispair. He just had to let it out, whatever it was...somehow.
The Heir let his head drop as the sound faded away on the winds, eyes closed. The Alpha God...well, who really knew what he thought? Beyond the fact that he himself had chosen Fallyn for his heir so long ago, at least. The Betas' feelings were obvious enough to anyone. The Shield only had eyes for his God and no other...and the Weapon would rather eat Fallyn than ever follow him. The Heir shuddered momentarily. The Weapon honestly scared him like no other wolf ever could, not even the Alpha God. Not in the same way at least. The Alpha was powerful, commanding...frightening in his own right. However, the Weapon was chilling in his brutal efficiency and the obvious pleasure he drew from his violent position. Not to mention the increasing feral nature of the Weapon and how he seemed less and less controllable with each passing day. Who knew how long until he completely went feral and turned on the rest of the pack, to the point where even the Alpha God couldn't control him anymore? The thought was disturbing.
His fellow Gammas thought little enough of him, Fallyn knew that much. Even if they kept quiet for now, the looks in their eyes gave them all away. And the Omegas and pups...well, it didn't really matter what they thought, did it? Either way, the Heir was pretty sure that even if they had opinions, they wouldn't be favorable either.
It'd been hard enough growing up with the title of future Heir to the Alpha God. Fallyn wondered sometimes what it would have been like to grow up like a normal pup in the pack, without the expectations and requirements that had been heaped upon his shoulders before he could even walk. The other pups his age had picked up quickly on how the adults had treated him differently than the rest. Of course, their thoughts had not turned to deference...but to jealousy and distain. He couldn't count the number of scraps he'd gotten in during his younger years, but there had been some rough ones. A few in which he'd been ganged up on and the old Omega nursemaid had been required to come to his rescue.
The bullying...or 'challenges' as they could have been viewed, didn't stop as the pups grew. As adolescents, the fights only became more bloody and more frequent. One particularly cocky youngster, Fallyn thought he remembered the other being black and red with a touch of silver in his fur, had been looking for more than just a scuffle. He'd been out for the Heir's blood and was willing to do anything to get it. Fallyn had found himself in the first real fight for his life that day. The other male had been skilled and what he lacked in weight, he'd more than made up for in speed. The Heir only remembered bits and pieces of that day after the fight began, but he thought he'd been holding his own before his memory blanked out on him. He lost half of his tail that day. He shuddered to remember what had been left of the other young male. Apparently the Weapon had been rather hungry that day and rather than endanger his chosen Heir, the Alpha God had turned him loose on the aggressive youngster who had dared attack the Heir. To be honest, Fallyn was only guessing at what had happened exactly.
His thoughts now were not to regret what had happened to his challenger. Oh no, not at all. The only thing he regretted was that he couldn't have been the one to deal out that punishment personally. If he was going to be Alpha one day, Fallyn needed to start earning respect now if at all possible. Fear was a good way to start. He knew that well enough from experience. He felt like such a coward...fearing the others and never standing up for himself...never doing anything to show that he was a capable member of the pack and future leader. He was a failure and he knew it. The trick was to keep that feeling hidden and keep up a confident attitude to fool the others until he could figure out how to make them fear and respect him like they did the Alpha God.
It was no small feat.
Fallyn stiffened suddenly. There had been no noise...no movement to alert him to a problem, but something else. The pervading stench of death and decay mixed with old blood...and fear. Fear belonging to countless others and simply absorbed by the singular entity that approached. Fallyn himself began to tremble inside as the scent grew stronger. He knew that scent. He knew it quite well, but that did nothing to halt the fear and adrenaline that flooded his system as the scent grew stronger on the air.
A small rustle in the brush and a muted growl was enough to startle the Heir. He whirled around, dropping into a low crouch and growling back lowly. Whoops...aggressive movement and sound...big mistake. He knew it too, but it was too late now.
Within seconds, he found himself on his back, the still-twitching Weapon's weight atop him. As if that wasn't enough, one of the other male's forepaws was being roughly pressed into Fallyn's throat, cutting off his air supply. Fallyn's quick movement had been enough to set off the Weapon's madness. The bloodlust was strong in his eyes and if Fallyn wasn't so busy just trying to draw air into his lungs, he'd have probably been begging for mercy without restraint or second thought.
'
What is this? Withdraw, my Weapon! I asked you to find my Heir, not hunt him!'
The Weapon froze, his open jaw hovering just inches from the Heir. Yes, the bloodlust was strong...but his Alpha God still held sway over his Weapon, even in this state. As the Alpha God stalked towards the scene, the Weapon slowly began to withdraw, eyes still wild and blood-stained fangs exposed in the moonlight.
Maybe it was the oxygen deprivation. Maybe it was something else. Later, even Fallyn would not be able to say why he reacted as such...
See, there's a funny thing about fear. Everyone has a limit as to how much they can take before one of two things happens. Either they give in to the fear, letting it take over and turn them into sniveling, broken cowards for the remainder of their days, weak and submissive to whatever caused their fear...or the opposite happens. The individual decides that they have taken enough and that there is no more room in their lives for fear. This decision may or may not be conscious, but the reaction is usually quite dramatic. The individual snaps, and either violence, anger, or some other powerful emotion takes control as they decide to fight back.
Before he consciously realized what he was doing, Fallyn tensed and leapt from the ground as soon as the Weapon's weight left his throat. His own forepaws shot upward towards the Weapon's jaw, using their combined inertia to push the Weapon towards the ground, shoving his muzzle backwards and exposing his throat. If he hadn't been half out of his mind on pure adrenaline, Fallyn would have noted that while he'd taken the Weapon by surprise with his attack, it wouldn't last long. This was the Alpha God's Weapon afterall.
The Alpha God's sharp voice sent chills down the Heir's spine and he froze, regaining his senses before his fangs could sink into the Beta's throat. '
Stop this! Both of you, control yourselves! This Weapon is still mine; he is not yours yet, Heir, and you'd best remember that.' Fallyn struggled to hide his returning shivers as he backed down from the Weapon. Of course, the Alpha God's Weapon wouldn't let him get by without some sort of retribution, as he soon learned when the other male's teeth sank into his foreleg as the Heir withdrew. Fallyn barely felt the wound through his fear and adrenaline, but he'd be feeling it later.
Trembling visibly once more, the Weapon withdrew as well, only after a stern glare and snarl from the Alpha God. The Heir's gaze never left the Alpha's, as he knew the pack's traditions well...even if he wanted desperately to turn away right now. What had he just done? He'd attacked the Weapon! He should have died in the attempt, honestly, but what had ever prompted him to do it anyway? Insanity maybe...
'
My Heir.' The Alpha God's voice was strong, yet soft...stern, yet..was that...? '
I have something to discuss with you. Come and see me when the moon reaches the midpoint of the night sky. I will be waiting...so don't keep me waiting long.' With that, the imposing male, whirled and stalked away, the very picture of fierce, deadly confidence; the perfect leader that Fallyn could only hope to mimic one day.
Something was different though. Fallyn was pretty sure he hadn't imagined it either. He was so busy thinking, he barely registered the Weapon's departure, following after his Alpha God with a dark snarl aimed discretely at the Heir. The male Gamma was sure he'd heard something new in the Alpha's voice just now...something...like a subtle note of...pride? Surprised and a bit amused, perhaps...but pride, or something much like it, had hovered in his voice when he'd spoken to his Heir before leaving.
Pausing to glance back up at the moon, before straightening his cloak, Fallyn felt something new as well. A slight swelling in his chest. It was...a good feeling, even if it was completely foreign. Perhaps fear didn't have to be a constant companion in life.
Not anymore.
