Warclaw (16 page)

Waiting for her answer to come to her, she heard a rustle behind her. She looked behind her and saw Waya. Getting up quickly, Winter turned around to Waya and walked towards him. "What do you want Waya? Warclaw's not far from here and when he sees you with me, he'll kill you!" Winter growled.

"Winter, I came for you. It's your time. Who cares about that old wolf? He's weak and wolves that are weak get stomped out quickly by those of us who are stronger than them!" Waya growled whilst making an aggressive stance towards Winter. "Why should you choose me for your wicked scheme? What have I ever done to you?" Winter looked at Waya, trying to understand what was going through his mind. "Winter can you not see what Warclaw is doing to this pack? He's tearing it apart. We cannot choose the paths that we have been put on but Warclaw's path is one of destruction and death. Do you want that to happen? Do you want that to happen to the pack that you have protected all these years?" Waya walked towards her.

"I know what you're doing Waya. I know you’re trying to play mind games. Don't you dare try to make this about me and the destruction of this pack! Why do you really want me dead?" Winter growled, demanding an answer from him. But he remained silent. Waya said nothing. “Waya say something! Tell me why!” Winter demanded. Waya just laughed at her and his laugh was cold and cruel. Waya just kept laughing and laughing and laughing. “Stop it. Stop it!!” Winter cried.

Suddenly, it went quiet and the laughter stopped. There was just an eerie silence. It was quiet for what seemed like forever, when Waya spoke. “Oh what a sweet little thing you are. I almost wish I didn’t have to kill you, but, I’m afraid,” Waya sighed “that you are going to have to die Winter. If not today, maybe tomorrow. Your card has been called little one. You are just part of my master plan. It will make my life so much easier when you are out of the way. With you dead, Warclaw cannot run this pack as Alpha and I will take over his role. And when I do, high Alpha help them.” Waya chuckled before carrying on. “The path that you are on Winter, is one of death. And it’s
death
by me.” Waya laughed again, cold and cruel.

“And what is this
master
plan that you claim to have? If you are planning on killing me within the next day or two, you may as well tell me what it is.” Winter asked.

“And run the risk of you telling Warclaw what my plan is and get him to stop me? I think not. No, you will not know what it is.” Waya paused and looked over the shoulders of Winter. Winter turned around to see who was there, standing behind her. Behind Winter, stood Wren with his teeth snarling and his stance aggressive. Winter looked back at Waya, with a shocked expression. “Shocked are we? Well pumpkin, I wasn’t exactly going to kill you myself! That would be foolish and I’m certainly not that, far from it actually!” Winter looked back to Wren, who was standing behind her. For one last chance at living, she gave it her last shot. “What have I ever done to you Waya? There must be a something that I can do? Maybe I can become your Luna and that way we can run the pack together. You can’t run this pack without a Luna.” Waya looked blankly at Winter.

“You really think you can bargain your way out of this? Besides I already have a Luna, so I’m afraid that that offer doesn’t stand. So don’t plead Winter, because this is happening whether you like it or not. You cannot intervene with fate Winter.” Waya nodded and Winter knew that it was all about to come to an end. Winter braced herself for Wren to come at her throat with his sharp teeth. She watched as Wren came closer and closer to her.

Just as he went to grab her throat, Winter sat bolt upright. She looked around her. She looked for Waya. Looking all around her, she made sure that no-wolf was there. Winter looked over at Warclaw who was still sound asleep next to her. She slowed her racing heart and steadied her breathing. She took deep breaths which helped slow her racing heart down. Winter realized that it had just been a dream and a dream of what was going to happen in the future. What Winter found worse was that when she dreamt of things that were so real, they often came true. This was a dream that she had pictured so vividly of the ending of her life. And this was a dream that she didn't want to come true...

Chapter 14: Confrontation

That night was restless for Winter. All throughout the night Winter had vivid nightmares that were so real and life like. Winter would sit bolt upright with her fur on end, and then calm her breathing back down and lay down again. Warclaw had been watching Winter all night. Watching as she would sit bolt upright and lay back down again. He watched as she scanned all around her and made sure that she was safe in her surroundings. Warclaw watched as Winter looked at him before falling asleep again. Winter hadn't seen that Warclaw was watching her through squinted eyes. Warclaw knew that she was having these nightmares because of Waya and what he had planned for her in the near future. As much as Warclaw wanted to keep Winter safe, he couldn't watch Winter be restless and hardly sleep. Warclaw knew that Winter was having vivid dreams of what was going to happen to her in the future and Warclaw needed to know this, so he could protect her.

******************

The night sky had become clouded and the stars had started to fade quickly behind the misty clouds. The air was stale and the breeze was cold and harsh. It tore at the wolves' fur, trying to take it away from their skin. There was a storm brewing and you could taste it in the air. The birds had gone silent in the trees, there was no chirping or singing. The sky had blackened. The day had become night once again. Darkness surrounded the area and it became very cold. Each and every breath that you breathed out could be seen in the air. The sky growled in anger and light flashed across the sky. The sea crashed against the shore. It battered the shore so much that rocks came crashing down into the ground, throwing water everywhere.

Soon rain started to fall. It gradually fell upon the ground, slowly falling quicker and quicker until it pounded against the ground. The rain hit the ground with such force it bounced back up before hitting the ground one more time. The rain slashed harshly against the wolves' fur, soaking their coat until it had reached the skin. This was a miserable day and it couldn't get any more miserable. Or could it?

******************

Warclaw walked up to Winter, soaked with rain. He gently nudged her side with his nose, waking her up. Warclaw looked at Winter's tired face and could see in her eyes that she was scared about what was going to happen in the future. Warclaw nodded his head to the side, indicating for Winter to follow him into the cave. She slowly got up; making sure that she didn't lose her balance and walked towards the inside of the cave, where it was dry. As she walked towards the cave, she shook her fur trying to get the water out of her lush fur. Warclaw did the same as they both walked towards the cave. They both knew that the pack members would find their own dry shelters in storm like this.

When they got into the cave, Winter sat down and started to lick her fur back into place. As Warclaw watched, he remembered all the fun that they had had together. He remembered all the memories and how much fun it had been. Warclaw loved Winter dearly and this was going to be the hardest thing that Warclaw would ever have to do. And that was going to be letting Winter go.

Warclaw calmly walked over to her and laid down beside her. He felt the heat come off of her and he smiled. "What?" Winter asked noticing that Warclaw was smiling. "Oh, nothing..." Warclaw paused with a smile on his face, before carrying on "Just remembering all the good times that we have had together and all the fun things we have done." Warclaw looked into Winter's sparkling blue eyes and laughed. "Remember that time we went hunting together and you got lost?"

"I never got lost. I just took a different route." Winter laughed with Warclaw. "Yeah you keep thinking that. It took me a long time to find you. And then you got yourself cornered by a bison. That was so funny. And then I had to save you yet again." Warclaw laughed even harder when he saw Winter's face. "I didn't get cornered by it at all! I just happened to turn round and it was there wanting to chase me!" Winter laughed.

"Yeah right! Did it go "hello Winter. Can I just chase you and corner you so I can have a bit of fun and then be eaten?" Warclaw laughed. He could see that Winter was not the best chuffed. Warclaw knocked Winter with his paw and she looked blankly at him. "You know it did,
actually
." Warclaw looked at her blankly, before both Winter and Warclaw bursting out with laughter. But the laughter was to be short lived.

"Alpha we need you!" shouted a voice from outside the cave. "Alpha!" the voice shouted again.

"Yes? What is it?" Warclaw shouted from the inside of the cave. Warclaw slowly got up and started to head to the edge of the cave. "Waya and Wren are fighting. We tried to stop them but they won't stop!" shouted Wilda. Warclaw looked back to Winter and smiled. "Can't get five minutes around here can we?" Winter chuckled whilst watching Warclaw walk out of the cave. "Watch her Wilda. I expect to see her here when I get back." Warclaw said to Wilda before walking out of the cave and running off to where the fight was.

******************

When Warclaw got to Wren and Waya, they were already deep into the fight. Warclaw stood back for a bit watching in amusement, as the two wolves fought. Wren was taking the brunt of the fight. After a few minutes, Warclaw decided that he had seen enough and howled. The fighting didn't stop though.

Sighing, Warclaw walked towards the middle of the fight. Getting to the middle of the fight, Warclaw growled "Both of you, STOP this instant!" Warclaw bared his teeth at Wren and Waya. By this time Wren was pinned to the floor with Waya on top of him. "STOP THIS!" Warclaw shouted again. But Waya did not stop and Warclaw did not like it. It threatened Warclaw as Alpha and that was something he didn't want nor need. "I said STOP THIS!" Warclaw growled before biting down onto Waya's tail and pulling him away from Wren. Waya winced in pain and turned round to Warclaw. Growling, Waya bared his teeth before going to bite Warclaw.

Warclaw moved out of the way and flipped Waya onto his side, using his paw. Standing on Waya's side, Warclaw growled fiercely. "I told you to stop and you disobeyed me!" Waya tried to get up from underneath Warclaw but he was too strong. "Now you listen to me,
Waya
, if I ever find out that you are starting fights or are even involved in one, then you
will
be banished from this pack. And you
will not
be coming back! Do you understand?" Warclaw growled loudly, spreading saliva all over Waya's head. Watching as Waya's head slowly went up and down; Warclaw leaned in closer Waya's face. Growling more quietly, he made sure that what Warclaw said next was out of earshot of the other wolves that had surrounded them. "And if you ever go near Winter again, I will personally rip your heart out of that tiny little chest of yours and you will
not
live to see another day! Have I made myself clear?!" Waya nodded slowly. "Good!"

Warclaw stepped off of Waya's shoulder, allowing him to get up off the hard ground. Waya got up quickly and ran off into the distance. Warclaw turned round and looked directly at Wren, who had not long gotten up off of the floor. Blood dripped down off his shoulder and splashed down on the floor beneath him. Walking towards Wren, Wren started to shiver. "Why are you more scared of me than of Waya?" Warclaw asked out of curiosity.

"Because you are the Alpha and he isn't." Wren said nervously hoping that that was the correct answer. "Hmm. It that really why? Is it because you know I will carry out taking a life, where as that scumbag will not?" Wren slowly nodded. Warclaw stopped in front of Wren and smiled. "Wren come with me. I shall get you fixed up." Wren nodded slowly again and followed behind Warclaw.

"So how is your training going Wren?" Warclaw asked as they walked towards the cave. "It is going good thank you. I am learning quickly and I’m becoming stronger every day. Why do you ask Alpha?" Wren asked, wondering why Warclaw wanted to know.

"I was just making sure that you were doing well and that you are becoming stronger every day." Warclaw stopped walking. He could feel the rain beat down upon his coat, but Warclaw didn’t care. He needed to sort this out. Reaching a quieter area of the den, Warclaw looked at Wren. "Why were you fighting with Waya?" Warclaw asked his voice stern. "We had a difference of opinion which then turned into a fight. Waya always thinks he is the best."

Warclaw sighed. "When will you young wolves learn that you cannot just fight a wolf over opinion? Although Waya hasn't seemed to have grasped that idea yet." Warclaw chuckled. "Well at least it wasn't anything major. What was the argument about?"

"It was about..." Wren paused.

"Yes?" Warclaw asked, being a little impatient.

"It was about you and Winter. I didn't want to mention it but seeming as you have asked, I have told you." Wren looked away in fear of what Warclaw might do. But Warclaw just looked blankly at Wren. "What did you argue about?" Warclaw asked, making sure that he had heard what he thought he had heard. "You and Winter." Wren said almost holding his breath. "Why was it that?" Warclaw asked. Curiosity was playing a big part but Warclaw wanted to know more about his enemy was certainly playing a major role. Warclaw wanted to know about the whole argument and what it had to do with Winter and himself. Wren sighed. "Because Waya wants me to..." Wren paused trying to the think of a better way to explain it.