MOONSTONE LEGACY

Disclaimer: I do not know nor am I in any way affiliated with any of the celebrities mentioned in this fic. This is all a sheer fabrication of my mind and I gain no monetary profit through posting it.

Rating: R for violence, language, and mild sexual situations



Prologue


Even the man who is pure in heart
And says his prayers by night
May become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms
And the Moon is pure and bright...

-Actress Maria Ouspenskaya's famous lines in
("The Wolf Man," 1941)



They tell me I am a cursed man.

Sheets of blackness surround me, air that is so dark I can nearly feel its smoothness with my fingertips. Velvet shadows to comfort my star-crossed, sinister soul. My eyes twitch the surface of the murky oxygen. Anything to seek a splinter of light, to find a glimmer of hope.

But, there is nothing in this place of doom that could ever be considered positive. I am trapped inside these stone walls, this prison they created around me to confine my spirit. There are no windows in this makeshift tomb, no way for the moon to give me a glimpse of companionship. No lunar glow to comfort my wounded back.

Blood is dry and caked beneath my fingernails as I lift one lone digit to scratch across the wall. There are twelve marks on the stone, imprints that only a monster with eyes like mine could make out in this pitch-black cell. I have been imprisoned nearly two weeks now, the only knowledge to count the days is the fact that they bring me food on a structured schedule.

They want me alive…but just barely.

Shifting on the frigid, rock-hard floor, I throw my head back and take in a deep breath of the stale, unclean air. There are a thousand different scents roaming through this place, as though I haven’t been the first beast to be trapped. And, I am a creature, never think for an instant that I am a whole human.

Learning always takes away the sting of my fate. Once people comprehend more about my history, my blood, they can understand the way my life has unfolded. I am not an evil thing; I should not be kept against my will like a savage dog.

For, what I am has been around forever…nearly since the beginning of time. The earliest recounts tied my ancestors to the Greek twins, Apollo and Artemis. They were connected to wolves, the hunt, and the moon. They continued this line; they forced this tainted blood to run through my veins. Apollo was called a wolf, Apollo Lycaeus.

I have a sister, just as he did.

I think of her now, I recall that she is alone. She cannot flash her teeth or shoot silver moonbeams across the sky. The little one will not be able to protect herself now that they have me. She is lucky; the curse runs lightly in her veins. But, as the damnation drips away, as does the strength and power. Who will keep her safe?

A growl reverberates through my throat as a bitter scent attacks my nostrils. Someone is suffering in this stone structure tonight, someone is being killed. I have smelt it countless times since I have been here…blood, thick and warm, spilling across the aching, naked ground. It makes the hair on my neck rise, causes my stomach to twist in a vice of repulsion that is overcome by longing.

I thirst and ache to hunt.

It will soon be a Full Moon, She is waxing hard and brightly in the sky. I can sense Her pull, Her call just as surely as if I were an ocean tide, changing beneath Her influence. The power will flood my body soon, and I will be free of this cage.

They cannot stop me when the animal uncurls inside my form. The claws come out, the lust for violence and pain will control my every waking moment. And, they will pay for shutting me away, they will suffer for bleeding my body these past days…for letting that warm, crimson life force spill and drip off my flesh.

Oh, they will pay, even more dearly for putting my sister’s life at risk. I will release myself from this entrapment and kill all who stand in my way. They will know the pain I felt, they will be repaid tenfold.

If a single hair on her head has been harmed, if her golden eyes have been forced to watch the tiniest amount of pain…they will all scream for death before I am finished with them. They will burn and writhe beneath the mysterious force of the Moon.

It is my duty and job to protect my blood relative, the only one who still takes breath. I feel chilled when I realize what she will have to overtake during my absence, she is the only one left to step up and control them all. I do not know if she has the power or ability to rule, to be fierce in times of uncertainty.

Letting loose a howl of rage, my eardrums nearly burst as the sound echoes in the enclosed space, revealing to me the depths of my fury and need for revenge. Shuddering, I clamor back against a stone wall, shaking as I wish for relief.

A wolf can only take so much.

Oh yeah I get first reviewer rights!!!!!!!

Anyhoo, great start Am. I really liked how you introduced us to the character. And as a history minor, I did grin at the Greek mythology reference.

I love your stories Am, I can't wait to see where this goes. But I know you and your stories and there is no doubt in my mind that this will be an amazing story.

:hug:

Katie

:eek: *blink* Oooooo.....

Eesh, you're giving me chills hun *laughs* I am SO excited for this fic. Not that I don't love all your work, but I can't help but remember UYS when I read this and bounce about a bit from excitement! Hehehe...

Hmmm, now I wonder who his sister could be.... *ponders* (or him for that matter)

:faint: Holy crud, that was amazing! Haha, forgive the foremost lack of eloquency in my post, but the things going through my head after I read that weren't quite comprehensible. So good. Your description is fantastic, you let us see and hear and smell and feel exactly what's going on with this werewolf. I love how you describe him in his human form as being inside a cage...a bit Steppenwolf, I thought. ^_^ Love love loved the excerpt, and the Apollo and Artemis reference (I didn't know they were tied to that, that's awesome!), I love Greek mythology to pieces. All in all, it's a fabulous start! I can't wait to see where this already awesome story goes, and I know full well that as your writing goes, you never disappoint! :hug:

Squee, it's up!!

I love it when you write fantasy, you do it so well! And I'm so happy this is a werewolf fic...I used to scare myself by reading ghost stories before I went to bed, and the werewolf ones always scared me the most, like nightmares scary! lol And then Brian from BSB was the wolf in the Everybody video, and I was happy!! LOL!!

So I'm soooooo excited for this, post more soon or I shall die! DIE!!!!!!!

:love:

*g* werewolvs, huh?
Now what will you give us next murderes, werewolves and then? *chuckles*
No no, don't take me seriously, just teasing.

Cause I love this beginning, very deep and I love love love the way you employ language. (In fact I am sitting here with a notpad, jotting down words that even though I know and understand, I never use because they are not in my active vocabulary. lol.)

So about the wolves... I mean I had such a crush on Remus Lupin all through the Harry Potter books (oh why oh why, [insert casting manager, whose name I am too lazy to look up on imdb] did you spoil it all by casting that git *criiies*)
But yeah, loved him - so I thought this would be all for me, but this is a lot darker then my cuddly Lupin.
Muahaha but dark is good, which is a relevation for me :-P and I adore this story already.

I have a couple of theories as to why 'they' keep him there - but I won't embarress myself by revealing some half-baked ideas. Just know that I am riveted and can't wait for more.

*hugs*
Laila

*howls*

yay!! It's SO good to see that days and days of annoying whinings and pleads from my part paid off and you finally posted!

How I missed your spelboud atmospheres... like always when someone posts a new story, I grow sentimental and think back about the other stories by the same author.

I remember when i first read UYS... I was gaping at the sreen in total awe, because you had always been writing light comedies, and that was totally new.

Now I know you can do this, so I expected not to be surprised, but I am. I could read a million pages of an angsty story by you, and still, every new chapter would make me gasp and gape.

It's perfect, puppy. (I know you don't like puppies, but right noew we're all livin' in a werewolf world and you're a werewolf girl!). The image of the moon, it's influence like something irresistible... and I LOVED the ref to Grek mithology, cuz we know I'm a sucker for it just as much as you are.

And it as pure brilliance to have 'him' narrate this prologue, because he will be so important in the story, but far away and unreachable, and I immensely enjoyed seeing things through his eyes before we had to leave him.

Dana would say (oh yeah, I'm attempting at a lame analysis until she writes hers, although I'm not half as good), that it's interesting to see how he is locked away, a prisoner in the body, but his mind is free and flying to reach the one he cares the most for.

And his rage is soaring and getting stronger just atogether with he moon growing full.

Oh, now I already need more, and more, and more. Mind, I've never been fond of werewolves, sides with the Vampires in Underworld, although they were bitches, because 've always found werevolves too close to dogs, and so, loud, furry and slobbering and brutes. But i know it won't be the same after this story!

Please, introduce 'her' soon! ;)

*babbles like an idiot* :blink: :eek: :yay: SWEET!!!! WOLVES!!!! Sorry, ok, great start Amber and I totally loved how it began and I can not wait to find out more. It is dark and creepy, but not the gory kind of too much blood to amke me puke creepy, it's the mysterious, what is that thing, creepy. I love it! Update soon. Great job Amber. :hug:
:love:
~Kit-Kat~

AMBER FIC ALERT! ALERT! CODE RED!

DROP ALL AND START READING!

okay done with the hysterics. I have had a shitty day and to be able to read someting new by Amber is *great* and I do mean great.

I love the fantasy and can't wait for the next chappie.

Oh yes... there will be blood *nods head*

I will give some more coherent and intelligent replies later on... I'm just to excited right now.

Love, Moon

*blushes fiercely*

I love you girls!!!! I mean, seriously, love love love you girls! I have been so sick and pathetic lately and it has taken me sooo long to get this fic started and rolling and I've been so worried over it. I can't even tell how grateful and giddy I feel to read your kind and supportive words. I loveeee you!!!!

I gotta quote a few peoplessss

ahhh! Jess! You have no idea how much I loved that part of the video! I used to screech and die! And, of course, still know the whole dance from it. :laugh:

Really? That is sooo cool! That honestly made me blush. I take that as a huge compliment! Thank you for reading! *hugs*

*smiles bashfully* I'm just so glad that you like it. It is still a bit of a challenge to get back into that UYS mentality after writing WIR for so long, and go on to angsty stuff and play the whole fantasy game again. I'm just so thrilled that you enjoy it so. I don't deserve the compliments, baby. I really don't. But, thank you! They make me smile so big! *skips happily*


Now, now, a bit of an explanation I forgot to give with my prologue....for years and years I have been fascinated with werewolf folklore, mainly because my last name is Loup. And, I guess a tiny part of me is always convinced that somewhere in the past there has to be a reason my ancestors got that name, eh. ;-) So, I have finally decided to indulge myself and write the werewolf story that has been dancing about in my head for ages.

Word of warning...I am still on rotations and still ever so sick, so if I don't update as often as I did in the past, this is why. I am going to try my best, but we shall see. I am optimistic, though, because I do have the month of December off. Yay!

So, here is chapter one!



"When loup-garou the rabble call me,
When vagrant shepherds hoot,
Pursue, and buffet me to boot,
It doth not for a moment gall me
I seek neither palaces nor halls,
Or refuge when the winter falls;
Exposed to winds and frosts at night,
My soul is ravaged with delight.
Me claim my she-wolf so divine;
And justly she that claim prefers,
For, by my troth, my life is hers
More than another's, more than mine."

Pierre Vidal




Chapter One~ Tala

Darkness guards the silence of the room, the only breach in security coming from the pale shafts of moonbeams that fall across the old wooden floor. Feeling surges in my blood to move towards the small window and let my golden eyes feast upon the mysterious entity of the night sky.

The black air does not hinder my motions as I let the sun’s freezing sister call out, enchant my ears. When I gaze up at the midnight pools of heaven, a small smile creeps up and lingers upon my face. She is the epitome of pale beauty, a frigid bit of perfection that pulls at us all.

The moon is showing its waxing gibbous expression which can only mean that in a few days it will happen. Nearly the entire circular orb is visible, save for a slight sliver that still dances away in the dark; soon it will shine out, however, and the power of the Full Moon will be upon us all. A jolt of energy pulsates through my body at the mere thought of it. I crave a blue moon.

Instead, I wait here, sitting on what I lovingly refer to as my throne. It’s an old, tattered and well-worn purple cushioned chair, tiny golden flowers embroidered on the seat and back. My mind is heavy as I think on the past week, a time that seemed to stretch endlessly, each day heavy and monotonous as the one before.

Dolph is out of town, has been for nearly two weeks. He is my brother, the only family member I have left. Our parents died when I was just a child, I can barely remember their faces, though I do recall that they laughed often. There is an age gap of fifteen years between Dolph and I, suppose I was what is often referred to as the ‘miracle’ baby which in reality means the ‘oh gosh, I accidentally got pregnant’ baby.

I never felt like I wasn’t wanted, though. In fact, I have led a rather spoiled and secluded life. Dolph has catered to me something fiercely, made me a little princess beneath the moon. I don’t need constant supervision. I don’t need a bodyguard.

It doesn’t mean I don’t have one.

If Dolph is gone, I am not trusted to be left on my own. Well, I guess I need to explain a few things here…Dolph and I aren’t exactly a normal brother and sister team…we aren’t even regular human beings.

I was born a werewolf, though I don’t often like to speak about it. We are descended down from some of the greatest Germanic packs that ever roamed the world, though now we are settled in the United States…Virginia, to be exact. There are packs littered all over this country, here and there, trying to fit in but always roaming the land together. There is safety in numbers. A lot of people still don’t view us as their furry friends.

My brother is the Alpha of this pack, which means he rules the roost, he is the captain, master, and commander. When Dolph tells the other wolves to jump, they squeak how high. When he orders them to take down an enemy, they do it without blinking an eye. When he tells me I must get married, I say…

Do I have to?

It’s what he gets for spoiling me, though any girl would hate the circumstances I am in, wolf princess or not. We live in the twenty-first century here, people! Who ever heard of arranged marriages and making good connections with other powerful packs and trying to keep things peaceful with unions that include me served on a silver platter?!?

Well, maybe if I hadn’t of screwed things up so much the first time around….

Better not to linger on the past. It only gives me the chills and an occasional upset stomach. I have to be strong and aware tonight…as we approach the Full Moon, the pack will get wilder and more careless in their actions. We do not need the regular people that reside in this small town to be even more suspicious of us. Though, I often think that isn’t possible.

With Dolph gone, I have stepped up as next in line and closest in ties to the Alpha. The others aren’t too keen on this idea, they mostly see me as a prissy girl. Heck, sometimes that is how I see myself, but I think I can take care of things for a few more days! Though, Dolph did say he would be home three nights ago. I try and ignore the butterflies that dance in my stomach.

“Got lost in the moon again, didn’t ya?” a voice suddenly breaks through the air and I glance up to find Orlando standing there. His brown eyes are sparkling with their own cosmic energy, as I sigh aloud over his presence. His words are true, but I don’t mind…I could never be ashamed of watching something so beautiful. Ha, all those fools who worship the sun, only thing they’ll get out of it is skin cancer.

However, the presence of Orlando reminds me that my brother still thinks I need a baby-sitter. The tall, dark-haired man is my appointed bodyguard until Dolph returns and I must say he takes his job ever so seriously. Orlando has been haunting each step I make and I can’t take a single breath without smelling his scent on the air. It’s not meant to be dirty…werewolves have a keen sense of smell, everyone knows it.

“I was thinking about Dolph,” I call to Orlando softly, brushing my fingers against the arms of my chair, as I move to stand.
My bodyguard frowns, “Don’t worry, it is not something you should trouble yourself with. Dolph said he would be back with another prospective wolf for you, and so he will. He will be back as soon as he can, I am sure.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes as I stand in the quiet, cool room. Everyone wants me to get married, they are all tired of looking after spoiled, little old me. The thing that they don’t realize is, I don’t need looking after! I never said I was Scarlet O’Hara waltzing about Tara and incapable of lifting my tiniest finger. I am a wolf, for the Moon’s sake! I don’t need these males surrounding and smothering me and…

My ears prick and I freeze in my pacing. A wave of sensation nearly flattens my body as I can smell the sorrow and fear flowing across the air, rolling through peak and trough until it slaps me hard across the face. Quickly looking to Orlando, I see he has sensed it, too, his dark eyes morphing into a nearly yellow color.

“What’s happening?” I breathe just as the door swings open madly, the form of a tiny woman residing in the middle of the open space. Aryanna’s pale eyes move first to me, then to Orlando, as though she is unsure who to stick her vision upon. She clutches the doorframe for support, as I watch my bodyguard move in and help her to a chair.

“What’s the matter?” I question sharply, keeping my stance firm and guarded. You have to be strict with those who are lower than you in the pack; you just can’t be a leader and have friends. So sayeth Dolph, and so I must follow.

I hate it.

But, Aryanna is a special member of our little group. No other would be allowed to burst back here in my private chambers unannounced, fling her form through that door without the ever vigilant Orlando attacking. She is marked by the Moon, a streak of bright silver runs through her dark locks and shows her uniqueness.

Aryanna has the Touch, the Sight, whatever you might like to call it. She was the seventh child in her family, born on the seventh day of January beneath the Full Wolf Moon. It gave her a little something extra, a precious ability to have visions and to feel emotions that for most fly under the radar.

She is an extremely valuable member of this pack, though I do not know her well on a personal basis. Dolph has kept too many people from me by order of his protection. He would have me sitting inside like a perfect China doll if he could. Though, I don’t know many dolls that turn into savage beasts when the moon is right.

“Why are you here, Aryanna?” Orlando questions gently, his fingers brushing her thick black hair back. The girl stares with frightened eyes at him, her gray-blue pools falling to me in hesitation. I give an impatient nod of my head to indicate she should speak.

“I have a bad feeling about our leader,” Aryanna whispers, her lips quivering and streams of discord running off her body. It is easy for wolves to sense the emotions of their pack members…a little bit harder when it comes to wolves from other packs, and nearly impossible with those confusing human beings! I don’t understand how they have managed to live along together for so long. Though, they do, indeed, work at destroying one another to the best of their abilities.

“What is it?” I inquire sharply, my voice rough and with a bit of a growl to it. Aryanna stares hard at the ground, unable to meet my eyes and I immediately feel guilty for the petty display of dominance. I just really don’t like sentences that have the words ‘bad feeling’ in them along with my brother’s name.

“I think Dolph is hurt, I think he is captured,” Aryanna whispers quietly, her raven head popping up to meet my horrified glance straight on. This she-wolf has never been wrong before with her predictions, I know it from all the years that have passed.

Dread uncoils inside of my body like a long rattlesnake, the tail shaking and banging in my brain. The noise around me blends into a long, monotonous tone that is merged with syllables and exclamations. Closing my eyes, I think hard on my brother, I try and feel anything from him.

But, we are shut off and I know no good will come of this.

“We must act now,” Orlando says quickly, his swift and well-muscled body zooming all around the room, “We must contact our allies, hire a tracker, set plans for a rescue into motion.”

“We don’t even know who took him,” I whisper pathetically, suddenly feeling all of my stupid worries over an upcoming marriage fall to pieces at my feet. My brother could be hurt, could be dead, and I was sitting here cursing him like a spoilt child!

“Which is why we have to act immediately,” Orlando barks out, looking more and more like the wild beast he is inside, “We’ll get the best tracker there is, we will start the search before the sun rises!”

My heart beats erratically in my chest as I feel the other eyes in the room all moving to focus on me. Orlando’s mouth has formed into a hard, disappointed line while Aryanna’s eyes have filled with hopeless, crystal clear tears.

I know what they are both thinking; I can sense their unease clamoring against me as though they were shouting it aloud. They are filled with doubt and fear, they wish they could change things.

If Dolph is gone, I am the new permanent leader of this pack.

May the Moon help us all.

You deserve all the compliments you get and even more! Your descriptions are to kill for, and the plot to... I'm so grateful we're friends and I got a reserved view of this and an idea of what will happen, or I might die for the tension already.

I loved the introduction of Tala! She's such a spoilt princess, but I appreciate she's jittery and not completely at easy to be pampered and treated like China.
Plus, she has Bloom as a bodyguard, what the heck is she complaining 'bout?

And I loved Aryanna too! So cool and intriguing, she reminds me a lot of the person she's based upon. And the 'touch of the moon' on her hair = brilliance.

:hug:

Wow,

I do love this well written angst. I like to read how you have made them into people that have the well buried secret of being a werewolf instead of some scary creature. And I do love Tala's resistance. A modern woman she is.

And the description of their worlds..... I mean Gosh.. How do you come up with it.

I am awed.

Love, Moon

Oooooo *bounces around* I love this! There's so much going on- who was Dolph going to get? What was she talking about with the, the something about the past? What now? Where is Dolph? Oh dear, save him Tala, etc!

I love how Bloom's the bodyguard. No nerdy Bloom in this one eh? Alas *sniggers* Still, he seems interesting enough...hmmm...

Aryanna sounds pretty freaking awsome *nods* Though I doubt that would be a fun gift to have.

Yay, can't wait for more. Ttfn! :)

Ooh ooh ooh, I love it so much!! I love Tala and Orlando and Aryanna and the very rich landscape and language you portray! My replies are of the crap variety right now, but I seriously loved it!!!

:love:

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm glad ya'll are liking, so far.

Chapter Two~ Tala

This night is thick, the blackness heavy on my shoulders and the air nearly palpable around me. Moving forward, I can feel my ears jerking every which way, trying to grow accustomed to the new noises. There are whispers in the trees, their long, skinny branches reaching down and trying to pluck at me like scary fingers. Crickets cry at my feet, animals scurry in the underbrush, fleeing from me and my companions. We may not look like beasts, but other creatures sure can smell what hides within.

There is something else whipping in the wind besides the normal night smells. I can sense the tension in my partners, the scent of their unease rides strong on the air. And, perhaps my own is joining in, for I am not feeling much better myself. What started out as a normal evening has quickly transformed into something eerie and dreadful.

“Hurry up then, Tala,” Orlando calls over his shoulder, glancing back and snorting impatiently. The moon catches on his orbs, reflecting and making them shine like an animal’s in the night. A shudder runs down my back as I try to move around an errant tree root that blocks my path.

I’m not used to running about with pack members at all hours of the night. And, yes, I know that sounds ridiculous, for one would assume I always go out on a hunt when the moon is right. But, Dolph forever told me I was too delicate and couldn’t handle the rest of them…he would take me out on his own early in the evening of the Full Moon and then lead the group hunt after I was safely back inside our home, curled up like a little dog by the fire. I never questioned his behavior before, but now I am starting to wonder.

Had he trained me better, could I have been prepared for all of this?

“Tala, are you alright?” Aryanna’s voice softly questions, her lithe body dropping a few feet behind Orlando in order to wait for me. Her pale eyes assess my face seriously, as the streak of silver through her black locks glows wildly beneath the moon. I feel touched over her concern, especially since I was a tad bit rude to her earlier in the night.

“I’m just thinking about Dolph,” I whisper, trying to quicken my pace so the two of us can catch up to Orlando, “And, I’m really not so happy about where we are headed.”
“Well,” Aryanna smiles quietly, “I don’t think any of us are overjoyed with this situation. We are going to have to remember that patience is key, once we arrive.”

Sighing deeply, I wrap my arms about my body, shivering under the night air. I should have gotten a jacket, but I guess I was too preoccupied. My sleeveless, light pink shirt is not giving me much protection on this Virginia evening, as we wander through the wilderness of the mountains. Just over the crest ahead, I know what sight awaits us. I traveled this path so many times when I was younger…some of them happy memories, other bitter times that I would just as soon forget.

To put it simply, my pack is not the only one to reside on this mountaintop. Lunar Ridge is occupied by another group who we mostly get along with through avoidance. In the old days, there were challenges and battles over the land but now we have peaceably decided where the line is drawn and have managed to co-exist for a hundred years. Sure, there is still a scrap every now and then and most of the time we never even acknowledge one another, but it works for our packs.

But now, we need help.

Orlando thought it would be best if we sought out the aide of Faline, the neighboring pack’s Alpha female. It is unusual to find a woman in charge, especially in such a small, old-fashioned community such as this, but it sort of fell upon her when…well, when a former Alpha male decided to abandon not only his pack but maybe a certain someone else, too.

Yes, yes, what am I talking about…alas, it is a story for another time. Preferably, never.

I don’t want to share our troubles with Faline. The woman hates me! The only times we have ever spoken she looked down her nose and criticized every single thing I said or did. In the past, I took it like an obedient lap dog but at the rate my emotions are running tonight, I do not believe I will play the happy, pleasing princess wolf.

“Have you spoken with Faline, lately?” I ask Aryanna conversationally, though I am secretly dying to find out if the Alpha Queen is still a Grade A Bitch.
Aryanna shudders visibly, her electric eyes slapping shut, “I avoid her as much as possible. Besides, you know our packs hardly ever associate. It’s like inviting an argument.”
“Which is why I didn’t want to meet with her tonight, cross her territory without permission,” I mutter quietly, biting on my lip.

As the two of us catch up with Orlando at the top of the massive ridge, we gaze down into the holler and see the sprinkled out illumination of the homes and businesses of Faline’s land. Their glow twinkles like fluttering lightening bugs, appearing deceptively inviting. I know better. Any of those wolves would fight us in half a second if an alliance hadn’t been signed ages before.

“Our best bet will be to catch up with Faline at her hotel,” Orlando muses, dark eyes not betraying any emotion he may be feeling inside, “Hopefully, she won’t be too angry over our surprise visit.”

Right, and wolves can fly. Topic: Things that will never happen!

“Now, Tala,” Orlando turns to me with a stern expression, “You are going to have to take the lead in there. You are the Alpha in charge of our pack and we would look ridiculous if I, the mere bodyguard, swung in and took over. Be firm, don’t back down…and, for goodness sakes, don’t cry!”

“I’m not going to cry!” I exclaim indignantly, though the thought had fleetingly entertained my mind just a moment before. Faline may be tough, overbearing, strong, hardcore, violent, intimidating…but, I will not break down in front of her. I can do this, I can be in charge. Maybe?

“Good luck,” Aryanna whispers carefully in my ear as the three of us move down the hill and through the small community. There are few people out and about, though it is still rather early in the evening. Yet, I know they can smell us. Intruders to their tiny, happy family. There is a charged expectation in the air, as though each wolf were waiting for a call to rush from their homes and beat us down. Gulping, I try to think happy thoughts.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens….

All too soon we come upon Faline’s large and swanky hotel. It seems out of place in this shabby, time-forgotten town, though I guess she does good business. The highway that leads to Richmond, the capital of Virginia, veers off to the left, making the village a convenient stopping point for travelers. Though, I suspect they always leave quickly enough. We werewolves aren’t exactly the most welcoming lot. Maybe it’s our teeth…

“You go in first, Tala,” Orlando hisses in my ear, nudging my back roughly with his arm. If I didn’t have werewolf brute strength it might have hurt, but lucky for me I do. Glee, let’s throw a party!

As I creep inside through the entrance, my eyes take an instant to adjust to the screaming light of the lobby. There are figures sitting on some of the sofas and chairs, most of them regular people. Yet, it doesn’t take a second for several werewolves to surround us, their human masks looking insanely polite but still insinuating that there is something more volatile hiding beneath.

“Um,” I cough, clearing my throat, “We need to see Faline. Please tell her that Tala is here and it is an emergency.”
“With pleasure,” one of the hotel employees spits out, flashing his fiercely white and sharp teeth in my direction.

Standing tall, I give him a glare that means business and he shrinks down a bit before heading away to speak with Faline. It is not required for wolves of another pack to acknowledge me as leader, but it is still considered polite. I know the strange man was testing me and luckily I passed. I have a feeling it won’t be so easy with Faline.

About ten minutes later, a very different looking man from the first approaches, nearly gliding over the floor with his fluid-like motions. He is powerful and dangerous, I can sense it with one tiny breath of his scent. The fellow is taller than Orlando by several inches and he has the darkest eyes I have ever seen. Mystery and enchantment dance in them as he shoots a salacious grin our way, licking his lips like he wouldn’t mind a taste. I thought we were more civilized than all this.

But, I’ve been wrong before.

“Mistress Tala,” the man says, each word like a piece of silk being brushed gently across my flesh, “It is so lovely to finally meet you. I have heard tales of your beauty for so long.”

Fighting not to roll my eyes, I wonder when this dandy got initiated into the pack. He wasn’t around five years ago when I was a near constant visitor to this place. I wouldn’t have thought a wolf could rise so high in the pecking order in such a short amount of time. At any rate, I don’t like this slimily smooth behavior.

The dark haired man reaches out to grasp my hand, though I did not offer it. An internal fight goes off inside as I force myself not to shudder beneath his intense stare. The look in his eyes makes me feel naked, his touch fire hot on my skin. Yet, I squeeze strongly on his fingertips to show that maybe he does not affect me so much as he thinks. As the man pulls away with a sneer, I realize what a terrible bluffer I am.

“My name is Stuart,” the werewolf announces with a flourish of his arm, “I am sent by Faline to welcome you to our land.”

He acts like we traveled for weeks instead of just half an hour. Ugh, werewolf dramatics are so silly, but we must follow tradition! I won’t make a false step now.

“This is Orlando,” I tell Stuart in a firm tone, waiting a moment for the two males to size each other up, “The female is Aryanna, she has information that Faline will need to hear.”

As Stuart remains preoccupied with Orlando, I make the mistake of thinking he never even heard my words. However, when the man turns to Aryanna an instant later, I know my folly. The wolf’s eyes widen to an extraordinary level as he takes in our powerful little visionary. I can feel in the air that Stuart’s pulse rate has quickened, the sight of Aryanna pleases him greatly. Feeling lost in a current of pheromones, I take a step forward in front of Aryanna to let Stuart know that she is not his to leer over.

“Ah, forgive me,” Stuart murmurs, his chest heaving expectantly, “But, what is the silver-haired one’s name, again?”
“Aryanna,” my new friend pipes up from behind me, “And, you can close your mouth now.”

Stuart throws his head back at her comment and laughs in a tone that could be mistaken for a howl as I glance back and shoot Aryanna a swift smile. She shrugs in response as though she was quite outdone with Stuart and makes an exasperated face. Okay, enough of his games!

“Are you taking us to see Faline or not?” I question angrily, a small growl rising in my throat. Stuart sobers immediately and can barely hide the scowl that crosses his features. I’d bet my life he doesn’t like having me, a tiny unobtrusive woman, order him around. This means he probably doesn’t like Faline doing it, either. Wonder how he got to be her right hand man.

“Please, follow me, Mistress Tala,” Stuart states in a tightly controlled voice. I stalk forward after his sleek form, Orlando and Aryanna trailing at my heels. I’d like to have either of them by my side as a form of comfort, but I know I must lead in this situation or it would show weakness. Goodness, I wish Dolph was here!

We travel through several hallways, moving past some small offices and the kitchen of the hotel. All the walls are papered in a fierce crimson color that has tiny silver patterns entwined through it. It reminds me of a mixture of the sun’s fire and the frigidness of the moon. An unwanted shiver of dread runs down my spine while heavy footsteps lead us closer.

Abruptly, Stuart stops in his tracks in front of a large, heavy wooden door. The frame is painted a thick black color and the sheer darkness of it is intimidating. I feel like a child about to enter the principal’s office, but I know this is much worse. My principal couldn’t bite my head off if he felt like it.

“Faline will see you first, Mistress Tala,” Stuart whispers, his voice cold velvet, “Alone.”

Pinpricks of anxiety stab away at my skin as I demand my back to stay straight. I will not look to Orlando or Aryanna for help, I will face this on my own. I am completely capable of speaking to Faline without another in the room.

However, what the main problem is, I am not completely capable of protecting myself against Faline without another in the room.

Time to face the wolfy music.

Man this wakes you up in the morning..
In about ten minutes I have to go to work and I should be doing different things than reading this.... Like getting dressed or combing my hair etc.

Just wanted to say I loved it.
And Chapeau for creating such a believable world, werewolves with business lives huh??

Tala is stepping up to the plate, though I feel sorry for her for being held back for so long.
Aryanna is beyond cool... I like her additude and the soft comfort she gives Tala without beying to obvious.

Love, Moon

I was on the train this morning, thinking why I was so giddy about this chapter, and then I eventually realized it.

You've been writing hadcore, kickass women before, and I have, too.

We've 'been' each other's hardcore and kickass women many times.... but we've never been opponents before!! Even in Lies we were on the same side, and basically in all stories, no matter how cool and nasty we were...

in a few words, your fictional self has never been shitless scared of me before.

AND I LOVE IT!!!!!!

Oh, and I dig Stuart... per usual. Have ya'll noticed how we all adopted him in our stories, thanks to Dana? :shine:

I need more, now.

Oh holy hell, I missed two bloody chappies!

*smacks self*

Sorry, work has been busy and my free time is mostly being spent with my new boyfriend, companion, partner whatever you wanna call it lol.

But I'm so glad to see more of Tala. I love her character. And it's so weird to see you and Anna enemies or not getting along in this. You two are like Frick and Frack lol. But it's awesome!

I can't wait to see more Am. :hug:

Katie

Ooo... I can't wait to see how this goes *laughs* Amber and Mena show-down; ready- go! Teh hehe...

Oh gawd, my magazine article writing professor is starting to rub off on me *shudders*

Love the descriptions, love the interactions. They're certainly a contradictory bunch eh? Straightforward between Aryanna and Stuart, but all games between him and Tala *sigh* Oiy.

Tala's attitude about things makes for an interesting sort of humourous flare admist all the seriousness and beautiful descriptions. Honestly I'm not quite sure how I feel about it, though really it's most likely because I can't help but think Tala's a bit too princess-y for me. But I'm sure she'll get over that soon enough, hah.

Meloves hun, as always. Ttfn!

Oh squee squee SQUEE!!!!!

Tala and Faline mortal enemies?? I LOVE IT!!! And Stuart is just to die for!!! All of these characters are so dark and so rich and so mysterious, I'm like TELL ME MORE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

So on that note...TELL ME MORE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

Pretty please??? :love:

Ok, I am all caught up now and let me tell you... I LOVED IT ALL!!! Tala is such a great character, even though she may be strong looking on the outside as a Princess, she still ahs her real almost human like feelings on the inside, which is great.

I wouldn't mind Orlando as my bodyguard either. :tsk: And him as a werewolf is just.... :drool:. Anyways, my favorite part was in chapter 2 when everything was dark until this line:

:tehee: That made me giggle insanely. Great job Am and update soon. :hug:
:love:
~Kit-Kat~

Wow, I was so so so very impressed with this right away, so I thought maybe you'd want some kind of dissection for your work. It's what I do. I apologise.

I love that you use that quote in the beginning, it's very Steven King or Margaret Atwood of you. It establishes this sense of legacy about it, some sort of granduer. Steven King has this quote in the beginning of "Four Past Midnight", I'll have to dig them up for you... but anyway, it's effective.

Oo, straight away you grab attention, you establish a sense of character, some form of a trouble gentleman, you establish the individual verses society with the ambiguous 'they', relating back to the traditional sayings, superstitions and legends, that all knowing 'they'. Evocative opening line, quite classical.

I like that metaphor, of bringing the touch of night when you can't feel it, very true, I'm getting a kind of a silk sheet in my mind, like a dark almost black kind of purple, like a very bad bruise a day or two old, before it goes greenish. I also like the velvet shadows, good texture there, and your use of alliteration at the end of that line, to draw out and hush the sentence. Star-crossed kind of jars me for some reason, maybe because it's breaking the line of 's's, and the rhythm of of it some how, I think sinister is a very melodious word, maybe because it's giving me romeo and juliet flashbacks. I like the twitching eyes. Splinter of light, piercing metaphor, re-introducing the persona.

After establishing your setting you go back to the persona and the 'they', he's obviouly articulate and misunderstood, very Mary Shelley of you. This whole passage is very Frankenstein, really. I like the lunar glow on the wounded back, just teh contrast of it, the chaste moon and the damned flesh. Very gothic indeed.

Waaiiit, blood? There's blood, come back to the blood. Now, when I got to this, I was thinking, okay, werewolf, because of the quote. Describing as you do so richly the scene, I'm wondering if a werewolf would be like a dog, so the eyesight would be poorer, but the sense of smell infinitely increased. And then there's blood, congealed, and that has a very peculiar smell indeed to predators. Does the prison have the sweat of others that rotted away before? Makeshift would suggest not, but that they have some method of delivering food and that it's regular would suggest that it's more controlled than that, it is a more militant kind of thing, in which case there would be all kinds of grit, the sweat and probably urine and feces of other people or werewolves or both, oh, urine, wolves would definitely have a thing for urine, wouldn't they? That's just about the only scene I remember in "Dancing with wolves", when he marks his territory, I recall making a joke about electric fences at the time. You write sublimely, and you don't have to go with my opinions, I know nothing, but if you want to play with some sense imagery it might take it some interesting directions or something. Maybe. I'm excited by how beautiful your writing is, so I'm just throwing things in there.

Ooo... fascinating. Nice continuity with the one line blows to the literary gut. This is very evocative indeed.

Nice motion to establish character, that. Few people can use a verb to do the work of a thousand adjectives, and you just did. OH THANK GOD! The scents are here, the scent and the suggestion of the popel before or not and- whaat? scents? where did you go? I got all excited. I didn't even get to know them. They roamed, which would suggest a rugged seeping kind of scent, good, good, and then..they disappeared. Oo, cretaure, I like the creature, I love that he distances himself from humanity, makes me want to know more, like why, whether it's himself or humanity he's belittling. That's a good evocative curiousity.

Oo, I like this. The legacy of the quote.

Someone's done their research. Has an Anne Rice feel to it this historical stuff does. It's very lyrically put too, it's not verbose or didactic. Love it.

Again with the powerful one liners. You're very good at that.

The protective, poignant potentousness of this is potent and poetic. Creates empathy with the reader, immediately, that was partially denied before, by the enigma of the situation, we are readers had to be distanced with ambiguity so as our interest was captured, and now you lend us this window into these very real and familiar emotions, it's very warm and beautiful and without the saccharine feel or falseness to it, some Gothic stories have with women, (Bram Stoker I'm looking at you. He defined women with hair and eye colour, which he frequently changed. Characterisation not his strong point so much, much as I adore Dracula, do you concur?)

Ohh, ohh, yes, yes! Okay, perfect perfect, divinity in paragraph form. Hold me, I'm about to swoon, that's how good it was, characterisation, setting, imagry, all darn good. 'Aching, naked ground', that is so D H Laurence, it's gorgeous to behold. And the simple statement encompassing the carnal urges of hunting, oh baby yes, YES!

Nice personification of moon, also use of capitol for She, quite Tolkienesque, or Shaekespearean. Oh yes. this paragraph, again with the perfection, of the pulls upon the flesh. I want to marry it and have it's lupine babies.

Next paragraph, I love it, and have the Gothic gut twisty thing for the grit of it too, bringing on the villainy, which separates the angsty from the classic villain. Fine fiendish work.

I can feel the gall rising. It's a good thing. Well, in thie genre anyway, lol.

I like the juxtaposition of the instinctual and the intellectual. It's very effective indeed, especially through your use of language to underpin this, from the more complex descriptions and inner dialogue, to the simplistic evokative statements.

Over all, this is sublime indeed. I shall not analyse any further unless you do not object. I'm very critical when I adore something completely, because I know its possibilities.

You are an amazing writer, if you ever stop, the writing nymphs will hunt you down.

Hey darling,

I am not quite up to date with your last chapter but I wanted to let you know that I am reading!! So far it is one brilliant streak after another. Your writing and characterisation is superb. The use of other myths and storylines brilliant and I literally gawking at the screen.

I will give a decent reply when I have read everything b ut I just needed to let you know that I am here reading it. And I want to say thanks for the character of Aryanna...I adore her and I love how you portray her. Very inspiring indeed.

Well I am off now (exams for uni await) I hope to talk to you soon!
Lots of love
Dana

Thanks so much, my dearest of dears! Quote time...

I know...isn't it strange to have us pitted against one another! It has been odd to write but cool in a different way. I am gonna like your reaction to what happens in this chapter. boehaha!

Han! That whole review you left was beyond amazing! I can't even thank you enough for the analysis and the deep way you looked at everything. It really made me smile and blush! And, this line I quoted made me grin so wide! I can't even say how much I appreciate you quoting and reviewing! Thanks a million!



Alright....here is some more just to set things into motion. I hate to admit that I don't have as much time as I would like to spend on this story, what with rotations and sickness, so if it seems not 'Am-like' I apologize beforehand.




Chapter Three~ Tala

With shaking fingers, I reach out to grip the icy cold silver doorknob, turning it swiftly to grant myself entrance to Faline’s office. Upon walking inside, I notice a large cherry wood desk takes up most of the area, dark red walls making the room all the more imposing. They remind me of pools of blood as I suppress a shudder. A tall chair with its back facing me gives off a commanding aura as I bet Faline is seated in it, just waiting to spin around and give me her patented sneer.

As I try and stand straight to give myself at least a semblance of an authoritative air, I suddenly hear a rustle beside me. Twisting quickly, I nearly fall backwards as Faline seemingly materializes before me, causing all comfort and preparedness to rush from my form. So much for feeling confident…guess I should have expected a surprise attack.

My widened, golden eyes study the Alpha female, taking in each movement she makes. Faline has a strange set of eyes for a wolf, they are a swimming gray-blue pair that at times can even swap to green. The majority of us have golden brown orbs, though a few more in her clan do have a variety in color. It comes with the fact that they mate with humans more. Yuck.

Her hair is as red as the fire of the sun, matching her angry and volatile personality to perfection. I understand that being a woman in charge is tough, she must prove herself time and time again, yet…must she look at me as though she wants to gnaw off each of my arms?

“Well, look who we have here,” Faline states in a smooth tone, making a show of licking her lips as she leans into my personal body space, “The Little Princess has returned! Oh, please tell me to what do I owe the honor of this visit!”

“Faline,” I begin in a pitiful voice, but it doesn’t strike at her rock hard heart. In a flash, the leader has her fingers about my throat as she pushes me roughly against the wall, my back slamming so hard against the wooden paneling that I know I’ll have bruises tomorrow.

“Who do you think you are?” Faline whispers dangerously, her breath hitting my cheek, “I don’t take highly to trespassers just waltzing onto my land like they own the place. You are not one of us, you never have been…why can’t you just stay away?”

Flinching over the undercurrent of warning in her words, I squirm beneath her bruising fingers. Thinking about Dolph and all he taught me in the past, I let a growl loose and flail my arms forward, pushing for all I’m worth. Faline wasn’t expecting me to fight back, that much is obvious as she flies forward, her hips slamming hard against the large desk.

A wry grin crosses her face, “Alright, Princess, point taken. Now, tell me why you are here.”

Feeling surprised that it was so easy, I rub my throat but still remain a few cautious feet away from the unpredictable wolf. As I swallow painfully, I open my mouth to explain the reason behind my visit, “Faline, I would never have entered your territory had it not been an emergency. It’s about Dolph.”

Faline pushes herself up so that she is sitting on the edge of the desk, her long legs crossing daintily before her as though she truly were a little lady. Right, she’s about as sweet and innocent as a vampire.

Yipes, let’s not talk about vampires.

“Oh yes,” Faline laughs carelessly, “Where is your brother these days? Last I heard he had left in his eternal quest to find you a husband. Why is it you can’t keep a mate, dear Tala?”

Ignoring her sarcasm, I continue my speech with a strong voice, “Yes, Dolph was out trying to find me a new mate…but he was supposed to return weeks ago. I have been worried, but tonight, well, a wolf in my pack had a vision about my brother. Dolph is in trouble.”

Faline’s face remains neutral as there is not even the slightest flicker to betray how she is feeling inside, “And, what do you want me to do about it, little Princess?”

Irritation bubbles beneath my skin as I try in vain to keep back an indignant explosion of words, “Would you quit playing games, Faline? You know this will affect your pack nearly as much as mine! If Dolph is really captured and hurt, that leaves us vulnerable to attack and since we are so close to your territory, it leaves you open to fighting as well. What do you think is going to happen when the other packs find out that this whole area is run by female leaders?”

“They’ll think we are free land,” Faline muses aloud, though I think she is mostly talking to herself. Well, at least she is starting to realize how dangerous the situation is, how open to attack we both are!

“We must get my brother back,” I urge frantically, my blood rushing through my veins from the adrenaline of the moment.
Faline nods absentmindedly, “We can try and use a tracker. But, we’ll need more help than that…I’ll have to send some messages out and…”

Completely ignoring her after I hear the magic word ‘tracker,’ I feel a thousand waves of relief coursing over me. My mission is complete, I managed to actually get through to Faline and have something accomplished. And, without hardly any trouble at all…well, okay, fine, I will have finger marks on my neck tomorrow, but in this day and age, you can’t get anything for free.

As I fight the urge to do a little dance in place, I almost miss when Faline calls Stuart and the rest of my crew in. Scowling as Stuart brushes by me on purpose, his skin hot and sweaty against my body as his grin is wide and full of dangerous promise. Where the heck did this perv come from?

“It seems you have all met Stuart,” Faline begins in her authoritative tone as Aryanna and Orlando nod.
I, on the other hand, let out a loud snort, “Since when is he a high-order wolf in this pack? He wasn’t even a member when I was around five years ago.”

Faline seems surprised by my outburst and I feel Orlando slightly nudge me with his foot. Whatever, I don’t care if I sound like an ungrateful bitch…if Faline can play mind games, why shouldn’t I be allowed to?

“Maybe it’s not the best time to discuss it,” Faline answers, her annoyance playing on the air like the sound of a bow across a violin, “Perhaps, we should hear what your seer has to say about Rudolph. I am sure my tracker would like all the information possible.”

Expectantly, we all turn to Aryanna, watching as her pale eyes begin to glimmer over the memory of her vision. The silver streak in her hair appears to grow all the brighter as she opens her mouth, letting the words spill out as Stuart leers so openly at her, I fear for the girl’s safety. Faline better keep better control over that one or I will see to it that he regrets his actions!

“There was a large castle, the walls were gray and everything was dark,” Aryanna begins, her lids shutting and then fluttering over her wise eyes, “In the dream, I was walking through it, searching for someone. The smell of blood was thick and metallic in the air, screams of pain erupted from all about me…there were others trapped there besides Dolph.”

Faline and Stuart both watch Aryanna with impressed looks upon their faces. I’m sure Faline would give a lot to have such a valuable wolf in her pack, though I do not know if she has the guts to bribe her away.

Who am I kidding…Faline has the guts to do just about anything.

“I turn and move quickly down a corridor,” Aryanna continues, “I find a small, locked room in the corner. There are bars over a window and when I peek inside I see Dolph. His skin is caked in blood and he is scratching at the walls…he howls, it is full of desperation and pain. I hear him whisper a name and then everything goes black.”

Aryanna’s skin is pale as a ghost when she finally opens her eyes, a strange light in them slowly dimming and falling away. A shudder runs down my spine when she meets my gaze, letting me know that the name my brother whispered was my own.

As I hear Faline sigh, Stuart abruptly clears his throat as he glances around at all of the occupants in the room. After getting a quick nod of permission from Faline, he opens his mouth to speak, “Your brother is not the only wolf who has disappeared recently. There has been news from our international front that a lot of influential pack leaders have seemingly evaporated into thin air. No one knows what has become of them, where they have gone…they left no word.”

“Do you have any idea what this might mean?” Orlando speaks up for the first time and I watch Faline’s gaze dart to him, her eyes widening in an angry manner. She and my bodyguard exchange a glare, fire crackling in the air between them. Great, I can’t handle any more fights tonight.

“If you do know anything, please tell us,” I interject, only to have Faline shake her head in a negative gesture.
“We will contact our tracker as soon as possible,” Faline informs me, “For the time being you are free to come here and consult with me. I will be calling in for some help from outside…I’m not sure how they will feel about you helping, Princess, but I will let you know when the time arises.”

Hating the way she belittles me and everything I am about, I sneer a bit to reveal my teeth before turning on my heel and grunting in a means for Aryanna and Orlando to follow me. As we march down the hallway of the hotel, I feel a small, reassuring squeeze on my shoulder that I know comes from Orlando.

“You did well, Tala,” he tries to soothe my erratic emotions but they will have none of it. Maybe I did fine with this first little meeting, but this job of commander-in-chief is not for me! Dolph should be here, he is the leader. Faline’s right…I’m just a spoilt princess.

I’ve never been so scared in my whole life.

There's no way for me to describe how much I loved this!! I was giggling so madly that i had to tilt my face towards the wall, not to look like a maniacal lunatic.

I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!

It was all so perfect, the poise, the descriptions of her looks, and teh exchange with Tala! When faline actually attacked her I squealed aloud in pure glee!!

Seriously, though, this woman needs some grudge-coping theraphy! Why she hates Tala so much?? (Heehehe, I know that, but I bet everybody else is ondering...) and also, I'm growing fonder of her name, and the bit about the color of her eyes really pulled my interest.

I'm positive this duo is going to become one of my favourites in the history of combination of our characters in stories!!

I thought it was a pretty Am chapter dear..
You kept in the sarcasm that all your female lead characters seem to have and yet you let some vulnerabililty shine through that made her believable and real instead of a-super-magic-dangerous-spoilt-werewolf.

The interaction between the characters was absolutely wonderful and you let on some hints and confusion on the fact that Dolp is in danger.. but that other packleaders are mysteriously dissapearing I do have to quote some things though...

I love this.. Faline is so incredibly cool and collected, this air of danger. She is the exact opposite of me and that could very well be why I am so drawn with her (she is my favourite after reading this) Tala demands the room and is THE personification of a leader(Atleast to me she is).

This to is something I adore... Mind you, I am no Han the super replier with these amazing insights (I always have to look up some of the words she uses in the dictionary because I have no idea what they mean *blushes*), but the way you use colours the match her personality, the first thing I thought of with Faline was Red, and I hadn't even read her discription... it's wonderful.

I. Don't. Like. Him. No-sir-ee, he creeps me out from head to toe and back again. I seriously got the shivers when I read about him, I have a feeling he is not what he seems. Wouldn't be surprised if Stuart the Slick was one of the bad guys.

On a more personal note, It sucks that your'e still pretty sick. Take care... Health goes before everything 'K, so be careful with yourself...

Love, Moon

*edited because I meant Faline not Tala*

Am, that was amazing! comeon I love how Faline was reckless and then Tala just got reckless back and it was just suspenseful and great! Update soon, I am really enjoying this story.
:love:
~Kit-Kat~

Oh, I love Faline! And I love that you're setting up this nice little backstory about Stuart being there - I'm sure it's going to be totally cool and mysterious!!

And I'm also loving the way you're introducing Tala - the way she was surprised at herself when she actually fought back. Methinks she's not as weak as she thinks she is!

:love:

I still had promised you a decent reply and I finally have time to give you one,
So here I am.

First I want to say that it absolutely amazes me how you can switch so easily (or so it seems) between such different genres. UYS was completly different from WIR and this one is nothing like either one of those. It is incredible that you can handle all these different genres and do it so well to. I think it shows that you have true talent and that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Lets start with the prologue...you open your story with a simple sentence.
They tell me I am a cursed man. It is a line that speaks volumes. It says something about the society he lives in, the values it holds and the way it looks at him. At the same time it also tells me that he does noet feel the same way. He says....they tell me..not I am or I think. No it is much more simple. He is who he is...it is society that gives the problems. He is caged inside prejudices and a world that does not understand. He is all ready imprisoned and then comes this.

Showing that he is not only caged by prejudices, society not only figuratively caged but also literally caged. Burried inside a tomb...like only the dead are. And he should be dead for all the world cares. Caged inside his body and the condition he has, caged inside his mind. Trapped by walls and prejudices.

It is brilliant...how you enforce this picture of someone who has no where to go, no place left to run or hide anymore. Powerful writing indeed.

This is something else I find particular fascinating. It is something that is in Dracula to. In order to defeat and capture the monster, the animal we fear and loath we (human beings) ourselves turn into the very monsters and animals we are trying to protect ourselves from. The humans who captured him became what they are fighting. Animals who treat other people as animals. Horrifying isn''t it how easy good intentions slide into something horrible so quickly. It is something that we have to face in real life to.

Now of course I loved how you wove history, myths into this. It creates some kind of link to all other stories, draws a whole hisotry into this tale of yours so that it stands on a long tradition.

And with this you break thr truth of what he is. Though everyone probably expected it you finally let lose the truth of what he is and you do it in the most stunning way possible. Leaving no doubts about his feelings, his nature and the fact that despite what he is...he deserves all our compassion and sympathy.

Stunning indeed!!!


(review of chapter 1 in the next reply)

So on to chapter one (I will write my replies in several posts cause I am afraid they would become to long and get lost if I try to post it)

You start the chapter from someone else's pov and with that you once again have to establish sympathy, make us care about the character involved. A rather hard task certainly if you have to do it several times in a story.

Now I found this a rather interesting statement. She literally says that the moonlight is the only breach in her security. What does this mean...is the moonlight a treat to her, does she fear it or rather does she feel confined and does she long to run free and break away from the silence and the guards. Is the moon for her a away to break free or that what confines her. I suppose it is both. In one way the moon makes her what she is, brings out the animal inside. Someone who is doomed to live on the outside of society, someone always in danger. Yet on the other side she is stronger when the moon shines, stronger physically and mentally because of what she is. The moon is her curse and her rescue....and I love how you play on that with this one sentence.

I also love the fact that you gave them a history...something that marks them. Something that limits her in some ways. A princess......someone who has it all, can have everything she wants and yet is never free. She is more confined then any other werewolf. Having not only that to carry around but also being one of the last survivors of an ancient race. The princess of a people. It must be much and I suspect it must be weighing her down.

This shows clearly the mind of a girl who wants to break free and yet cannot do that. It must be hard indeed.

And I wonder how this will go down. If the spoiled princess really has to take charge. Will she do what she thinks is right or follow the rules because she thinks she must. It will be interesting to see what she will do when time passes. Standing up for yourself is a lot harder then she thinks and being protected is not as bad as being totally alone when you need help. I wonder what she will do.

*insert squeel here*
Oh I love how you made this character and I must say I feel very flattered. I love the streak of silver grey in her hair, the vision and the emotion package. She is a very cool character and I adore what you made of her!

Interesting that you chose another animal metaphor to describe this. It certainly emphasizes the non-human side of her!!

Love how you described this. The feelings she can pick up from them, her own doubts and the impications this has. With one incident you have propelled this story into action and created a character with whom, despite her condition, many can relate easily (incuding me)

Love it!!

On to chapter two.

So I finally will release my feministic side *blushes* cause how can I resist that when I read something like this:

Interesting how you made a character that is deemed, weak, spoiled and unfit to lead. Who had a brother who keeps her locked inside and in some ways away from her own instincts. Away from the pack and that what could teach her confidence, skill and strenght. Like women all through the history of literature she is confined to an inside world, a world of culture and away from animla instinct and a way to develope herself and be who she really is. Like all women she is denied and deprived of what truly belongs to herself. Forbidden to show a part of herself and forced to be a little princes that can be locked inside. Yet now she has to move outside, is forced to be what she could never be before. I am looking forward to see how that will change her.

I certainly like the idea of two rivalling pacts and now both lead by women. And this hint of a deeper history that you give here is very superb cause it certainly makes me curious. I hope we will find out more about that.

Now before Tala can fly free she first has to become the boss and maybe in this instance it means most that she has to teach her bodyguard its place. He is still acting under Dolf's commando's but now Tala must make her own and instruct him. She cannot let anyone talk to her like that...and being stiill dominated by a man...not if she really wants to break free.

*mumbles incoherently*
Goodness woman the way you described him...it made me want to howl at the moon myself. Very sexy indeed and I really squeeled when I read his introduction. I am weak when it comes to Stuart...oh yeah. Gah I just have to love him even though he doesn't come across as very pleasing at the moment.

:lmao: this had me literally rolling over the floor. Love it!

And here we have it all ready. She has to face it alone and this will be the first test to see if she indeed has it in her to break free. To be herself and stand up and fight.

Once again I have to say you wrote this brilliantly. I love how you travel down this path and show the progress and the first steps Tala is taking down a new road.

Well after a good night of sleep I am ready to continue my reviews (I was rather tired last night and I really hope to write something that makes at least some sense)

So next is chapter 3

And here we finally meet Faline. Very interesting that you made her exacte the opposite of Tala. She is a woman in charge and not to be triffled with. No sitting in doors and being protected here. No males running her life but she running theirs. In every thing you describe her; the way she looks, the way her room is decorated, the way she attacks her you see the animalistic instinct in her. The way she is in control of herself and can be herself in every way.

Love how you work the contrats between these two.

Funny how they have to side together in this so that they will not be overrun by males. Alpha men who will think their land is ready to be taken just because it is run by women. Somehow I think these two could form a very powerful team...if they can work past their history and dislike of each other. They have after all both a lot to lose and a common interest.

*grins* It looks like the little princess is rapidly losing her ways and turning into the person she was meant to be. Oh and I do like it!!

Do I need to say how much I love this, do I really? :meh:
Ok yes I love it!
:noangel:

Ah and so the plot starts to move. Leaders gone missing and packs who have to form alliances. I wonder were this will all lead to but I am pretty sure it will be spectacular and stunning.....and most of all something no one expects. *grins* I have gotten to know you lady and I know ow much you love to surprise and torment us. So I am bracing myself for what is to come.

Yes and it looks like she will have to become a whole lot more very soon....but seeing the way she is developing I have good hope she will be kicking everyone's ass very soon.

Brilliant Amber, I love it very much!!

Wow, it's hard to review after Dana lol.

I'm sorry to hear that you're sick Am, I hope you feel better. I think I am getting sick too, it's so funny because I never got so sick until I went to college and also working with elementary school kids. My sinuses are giving me crap like no other right now because in Indiana we've had the weirdest weather lately. Last week we had weather in the 60's and two days later, in the 20's and snowing. Grrrr!

Anyhoo I love this story more and more everytime I read it! I love Tala and Faline! Aryanna's awesome too, plus I love that name..Aryanna...really pretty.

I'm sorry I haven't reviewed lately. Life has been so hectic and I've been dealing with personal problems and a really hard break-up. Men suck. Every last one of them....okay Stuart doesn't. And Orlando. That's it.

I can't wait to see more, I love this!!!

:hug:

Katie

Aw, babe, you have no idea how much this means to me! Because, every time I swap styles I have infinite panic attacks that it won't work to write this way and I can't do it and on and on. So, it always means the world when someone says it is working and I can do it. Thank you for the amazing reviews you left! I loved reading them...specially all the parts about feminism and such. Lovely!

*special hugs, Katie girl* I'm sorry you're having men problems. Just focus on the lovely imaginary ones like Stuart and Orlando and it will all be good. Trust me, I have followed this own advice myself many a time. The real ones just never do what you want them to. :no:

Ohh, a tall order to fill, my pet. But, I will try my darndest! I shall, I shall!

Thank you all for reading and reviewing....new characters, anyone?




Chapter Four~ William

Everybody comes to Hollywood
They wanna make it in the neighborhood
They like the smell of it in Hollywood
How could it hurt you when it looks so good

Falling back against my chair, I idly sip at my pricey coffee and try to ignore the sounds around me. My ears move and twitch in what I hope is an inconspicuous manner as the groups of classy Hollywood starlets chatter about mindless topics. They envelop me at this posh, outdoor café that is no doubt surrounded by hidden photographers just salivating at the mouth to get some candids.

Welcome to my life.

Sighing, I let the overpriced hot liquid pour down my throat as I try to ignore the fact that bright bluebirds are squawking at one another from overhead in a lone tree. It would be nearly impossible for any of these people to hear the slight noise when compared to the out of control sounds of the city that surround us…but, let’s just say my hearing is a bit sharper than the average actor’s.

“Well, hey there, Bill,” a cheerful voice calls out, breaking my concentration away from the solo sound of nature. My tired green eyes glance up to find that a young woman is standing before me, adjusting her huge dark sunglasses and gripping a cup of coffee as well as a pink handbag in the other hand. Her frame is slight, her height maybe just a little past five foot while her red hair burns away at my irises so badly I nearly cringe.

“Mind if I sit down?” she questions as she confidently pushes her body onto the empty chair that was across from me. I’m not one to mind bold moves like hers, besides, I know Jayla from years ago when we did a movie together. She’s a nice girl…from Australia, known as the new Nicole Kidman in this industry.

“How are you, Jay?” I ask her conversationally, setting my drink down on the table and eyeing her face curiously. I know she has been doing back to back movies this year and I can see from her pale skin that the stress must be bearing down on her. Yeah, even actors need a break sometimes!

“Oh, I’m fine, you know me,” Jayla answers with a grin in her typical bubbly fashion, “I was wondering about you, though…haven’t heard or seen hide nor hair of you in a long time now!”

Hide nor hair. More fitting than she knows.

“I’ve been working on a project at nights,” I murmur with a vague grin, making Jayla snort.
“Always the mysterious one,” she comments with a cluck of her tongue, “No wonder people are always clamoring after you for movies. Paparazzi practically kill for one shot of you…how do you get away from them so easily?”

“Animal instinct, I suppose,” I reply with a dismissive shrug of my shoulders. It’s pretty easy to get away when you can smell those slimy buggers coming from a mile down the road. But, I can’t exactly say something like that aloud. Wouldn’t do to reveal my little secret to the rest of Hollywood. I don’t really see directors clamoring after me for their movies if they found out I was a werewolf.

What? Did you really think I was just uncommonly blessed in the olfactory department?

So, yeah, I’m a wolf…I used to live in Virginia and I used to lead a pack. I used to bay at the moon with them and hunt small animals; I used to change into a furry wonder once a month. I used to balance the peace between my pack and another; I used to hold all the responsibility of keeping them safe on my shoulders.

I used to do a lot of things.

Okay, okay, I still do some of the aforementioned stuff. But, as for leading and keeping the peace…well, that just wasn’t for me. I thought I could be in charge and make everything work out and be fine, yet it all sorta exploded in my face. When I couldn’t take the heat or the pressure anymore I decided to run away to the one place where a weirdo like me could actually fit in.

Everybody comes to Hollywood.

I’m not proud of leaving my old life behind; in fact, I would say it was one of the most cowardly things I ever did. But, I left my pack with a leader who is most capable of controlling them and keeping things in line. As for the other important thing I deserted…well, I would rather not think of that just now.

“Billy, are you alright?” Jayla laughs, her red hair falling away from the loose bun she has it twisted in, “I don’t even think you’re listening to my story!”
“Of course I was,” I lie, sitting up straight in the seat, “Go on, please.”

Jayla snorts and shakes her head before continuing, “Well, as I was saying, I am working on this new movie with that actor, Elijah Wood.”
“The one with those huge and sometimes frightening eyes?” I interrupt in a rather uncharitable manner. Hey, it says a lot about a human’s face if even a werewolf is scared of his eyes. That kid needs to do something about those orbs before they decide to take over the world.

“That was mean, Bill,” Jayla admonishes, though she giggles in the midst of it, “But, yeah, you’re right. He is a really nice guy, though, very charming and smart and funny. Anyhow, the other day we were working on a scene and…”

Suddenly, an odd tremble runs through my form as Jayla’s words blur and mold in the air to form unobtrusive background noise. My face turns towards the sidewalk where a gust of wind blows over my cheeks, pushing oxygen up my nostrils as something in my brain registers sharp and quickly. There is a familiar scent out there, a smell that makes the hair on my arms raise and a low rumble start in my throat. I recognize a wolf when my nose senses one!

“Whoa,” Jayla whispers in a low, startled tone which makes me fear that I either showed my sharp teeth or that my growl was a lot louder than I actually thought it was. However, when I focus my attention on the redhead, I realize that she is staring behind me as one transfixed. I can bet her eyes are the size of saucers behind her dark glasses as her mouth drops to form a cute little ‘o’ of shock.

Twisting abruptly to see what all the fuss is about, I am accosted in full force by the scent of a werewolf. And, when my eyes stare straight ahead, I recognize the culprit in half a second. Feeling an uneasy shudder run through my form as the bloke approaches, I know my brain is running at a mile a minute to try and fathom the reason behind this surprise visit.

“Well, hello, William,” the man calls out cheerfully, his lips curling back to reveal his startlingly white teeth. His skin is a shade darker than I remember it to be, the olive complexion running up to meet dark, shoulder length hair. This wolf possesses the typical animal like golden brown eyes that most of our clans have. I’m sort of an odd ball out with my emerald gaze.

“Hello, yourself, Johnny,” I answer back, a cautionary note in my voice to indicate that he should not say anything too rash in front of the woman sitting before us. Glancing quickly to Jayla, I see that she is already a million percent enthralled with Johnny and has abruptly removed her huge shades. It happens a lot…I think it’s a sort of animal attraction, but werewolves always seem a lot more handsome to normal human beings. We’re a pretty lot.

“Mademoiselle,” Johnny purrs, reaching out and capturing Jayla’s hand to lay a kiss on it. Rolling my eyes, I nearly state aloud that Johnny is not French, has never been French, and never will be, but I know it will do no good. In mild surprise, I watch Jayla blush and giggle over my fellow werewolf’s actions.

“This is Johnny Depp, an old friend of mine,” I make the introduction reluctantly, “And, Johnny, this is Jayla Ryan, actress extraordinaire.”

Jayla basks in Johnny’s forward stares for a few moments as I impatiently wait for him to get on with whatever it is he is here to do. The wolf is a member of my old pack, though from the games he is playing here today, he no longer respects me as he once did. I used to keep this man on a tightly reined leash…he is too wild, especially with the ladies. Johnny always drew way too much attention to our group.

Abruptly clearing my throat, I decide to interrupt the little gawking/flirting moment, “Well, Jayla, do you think you could excuse Johnny and me just for a minute? We have something very important to discuss.”
“Oh,” Jayla seems surprised as she blinks away the infatuated haze that covered her eyes, “Of course, I’ll just go get another cup of coffee.”

As she gets up and waltzes away, I notice that Johnny’s eyes follow her form in a predatory manner. Great. If he messes with a starlet it will be even harder to keep the wolfyness a secret. Why does he forever invite trouble? It is obvious to me that Johnny hasn’t changed a lick.

“What are you doing here?” I demand through clenched teeth the instant Jayla is out of hearing distance. My old pack mate smiles briefly before starting to rummage around through his shirt pockets. As I wait impatiently, Johnny finally pulls out a sealed envelope and hands it to me with a flourish.

“I have a message from Faline,” Johnny informs me, his face and tone at last serious and solemn, “It is of a very timely nature and I am to either bring you or your reply back straight away.”

With a sigh, I take the letter from his hands and flip it over to reveal the blood red wax seal that is a replica of our pack’s coat of arms. A round moon and a wolf bearing its teeth glare up at me as I come face to face with a past I have been running from for all too long. Ripping the paper open, I find a short note that appears to have been scrawled out in a rather messy, hasty fashion.

William,

I know that contacting you may get me nothing in return, but I thought you should be warned. Strange things are happening in our world and they can be no longer be ignored. Wolf pack leaders are disappearing and no one seems to know why. The problem has been growing as the months pass and now it has found its way to our backdoor.

Rudolph of Moonstone was off on a trip that was scheduled to end two weeks ago. He has not made his way back and a vision has been created in the mind of his pack’s Seer. She is positive that Dolph has been captured, and you know what this means.

Tala cannot control that pack on her own, she just doesn’t have the strength nor the willpower to be a leader. And, if news gets around that our two neighboring packs are both being controlled by women, you know some thick-headed male Alpha will try to roll in and conquer us. We do not have the resources for a war or any type of battle!

I hate to do this, it nearly kills me to admit it…but, I need your help. Your reputation is that of one of the hardest and most ruthless pack leaders we ever had. I know you have been gone a long time and I know you don’t wish to return, but the pack needs you. If you don’t come back, I am not sure what will happen to our group or Tala’s.

I hope you understand the gravity of this situation. I would not ask if there were any other options. I hope to see you soon, my old friend and Leader.

Yours,
Faline

P.S. Watch out for Johnny. He started biting again.


As I read the letter at a feverish pace, I feel a breath of panic whoosh its way out of my lungs. Anxiety runs over my body as I reread Faline’s words for a second time. Dolph is missing? This is inconceivable to me…he is one of the strongest and most capable wolves I know. How is it that someone could capture or harm him?

Fear falls across my shoulders as I think of what could have happened to Dolph. He used to be one of my close friends; the two of us were the ones who finally brought our respective feuding packs together.

And, I ruined all that with one stupid decision.

Never mind it now, though. I can’t just ignore this letter. The awful things Faline spoke of could very well materialize and I won’t just sit up here in my cushy Hollywood mansion while my true blood ties crumble away. I will not let any harm come to my pack or to Dolph’s. Both groups deserve better and I refuse to abandon them.

Not again.

Squaring my shoulders, I understand what I must do…no more being a Hollywood bachelor; I must go back to my more, well, primal ways. Pulling my face into a fierce mask of determination, I glower at Johnny until I have him shrinking a bit in his boots. He needs to acknowledge my dominance.

“We’ll be going back to Lunar Ridge now,” I comment roughly, stuffing the letter in my jean pockets.
“But, I…” Johnny starts to say as he looks forlornly in Jayla’s direction, hunger lighting his eyes.

Shaking my head, I grab onto the wolf’s arm and nearly drag him away from the coffee shop with an inner strength that I haven’t used in years. I didn’t miss the last thing Faline said in her letter, that much is for sure. Johnny is staying no where near Jayla.

It’s time for me to go home.



Song Credit: Hollywood~Madonna

This chapter tickled my wicked bone and I loved it so!! You introduced THREE cool haracters in one short... and I'm pretty sure our Jay doesn't mind being the new NicKidman or having Johnny drooling all over her, werewolf or not. And Johnny himself... we must make him get a werewolf part sooner or later, he's just too perfect.

Now, to Billy. I super duper loved the way you drag him in, and made him the fomer leader of Faline's pack... this duo reminds me a bit of how they are in White Lies, and I enjoyed how Faline played it cool with Tala, but she's actually scaed enough to call for help the only one she trusts, and she's willing to give him his power back.

And you put in so many hints about Billy's past... I spotted them because I know what happened, and I was smiling at them, wee!!

Gotta quote this bit because it made me giggle, coz it never happens that I feel like I'm superior to Captain Johnny and I gotta nudge him back in place:

Tee hee!!!

So I gor Bill, Johnny and Stuart on my side? choochoo

First off I just gotta say this...I love the Cletus siggie!!!!!! I laughed for about 30 minutes yesterday when I saw it.

Second, thanks for the advice. Love has never been on my side and I have always dated perverts or momma's boys (the second one is recent). Yup my men (Elijah, Gerry, Lando, Billy, Ewan) and all of them haven't let me done yet so on with more drooling lol. :tsk:

Anyway I love this chapter, I loved how you introduced Billy, Jayla, and Johnny. For a second I thought Bills was famous in this because of the song, but nope I was wrong. Then again it is almost 7am lol.

I snickered at the Johnny biting part in Faline's letter. Just had to say something, he's cute. I watched Sleepy Hollow last month and I am still drooling over him. Another one to the JD bandwagon, I guess.

Can't wait to see more :)

:hug:

Katie

Huh??? Bills is famous in this... right *confused look*

Well lovely chappie and the P.s. Johnny bites cracked me up.. really it did.

I love how you described Billy's state of mind. And why he left the pack. and the insertion of his growl and his sense of smell.

Bloody brilliant

This was such a wicked chappie
and I just have to admit that I was so drooling over Johnny.
You write him so hot.....hotter then he normally even is.
Gah it almost made me wish he would bite me *grins*
Still I have all ready someone to bite into :lalala:

Now I all ready had my suspicions about who the missing pack leader was,
so I was not disapointed at all. But I love how you write him.
Billy as werewolf...it certainly has something *smiles*

And I love how you keep hinting back at the animal instinct.
How underneath all the sophistication, the animal lurks.
Beautiful....especially when you consider that humans are pretty much the same.

Great chappie!
:hug:

Moon, it was 7am when I read it and I was half-asleep. The song was called Hollywood and I thought it was relating to Billy. But it wasn't. It's just a song.

So I think that the only way he's famous is in his pack. Not in Hollywood.

~Katie

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know what, it's been a really long, really horrible, over-emotional, dramatic week and I was feeling kinda s**t, but that one line was all it took to make me giggle like an idiot!!! lol My dear, Johnny can eat me anytime. And you can take that however you like! lmao

I'm intrigued by our dear Mr Boyd, usually we all write him so cute and fluffy and funny, but I'm glad you decided to make him a little darker in this, give him more of a past. It would be a hard thing to do, but I think you've done it really well.

And Jayla - little Squee! I'm very excited to see how she's going to get sucked into this world of werewolves and creatures of the night, and how Johnny is going to fall madly in love with her and they'll live happily ever after...okay, I need to stop pre-writing the stories now, huh? lol

Loved it and PLEASE update soon 'cuz this fic makes me soooooo happy!!!

:love: