Clouded Jade

Chapter One

So where did you say you came from?

From the southern territory. The man said.

Who do I know that way? Ponus asked his alpha leader Billup.

Kenti of the Forest. He returned.

Oh yes! Kenti. And why does he outcast you? Ponus asked the man.

The man stood looking very uneasy. Kenti outcast me cause he claimed I was stealing supplies. When all I was doing was stocking up for the winters snowing.

Yeah well, Kenti was always one to be up his subjects asses.

He does sir, Tarper said. Guess it was against his rules to stock up supplies. So I got outcast. I headed down to the south and west until I found another village. Bunked up there and went back to Forest Felt and then stole as much supplies as I could. Been doing it for over a year now. Got enough to supply a small army. Which I've been building. Tarper explained. But his words only caused Ponus and his men to start laughing.

What? Tarper asked.

After a moment Ponus gained his composure and said, You call what you have...an army. You've got what...three, four hundred men? You need at least a couple thousand men to call it an army. He laughed again. His words sank deep and were hurting. Tarpers level of being pissed off was rising, but as he looked around himself at all the laughing faces he could not help but to laugh as well.

Chapter Two

Running as fast as her twelve year old legs could take her, she dashed through the trees with blinding speed. Up a hill she moved with a quickness, knowing that they were right on her tail. She made the top of the hill and leaped as far as she could. Her arms spread out wide letting the long length of skin along her sides catch the wind and she glided as far as she could. Then as she caught hold of a branch, she began to scamper up the tall tree. Up she went until she found a crop of thick branches that were close together. There she hugged the tree so that the branches around her would not move and give her away.

Out beyond the branches of the fifty foot pine, she could see the early morning sun as it stretched out along the horizon. It's splay of color was like nothing she had ever seen before. Thinking to herself that the beautiful burst of colors that lit up the clouded shies may be the result of a storm on the far horizon. And maybe her last.

Beneath the skies lay the jaded colored canopy of trees. The sun was warming the coolness of the night, creating wisps of smoky fog that hung to the trees in clouded jade. Dancing with the same colors that fluttered in the clouds above.

The deep purple heaven was bluing as the clouded sky spilled with hues of violets, oranges, pinks against a back ground of jaded greens. But all this beauty was only superficial to her as she hugged the tree. Trying to catch her runaway heart and panted breath.

Below her, she could see them creeping in through the trees like cats on the prowl. Their noses were to the wind, sniffing for her scent. They were just below her now and searching every inch of foliage. She could hear their grunts and growls, but then, they went quiet.

Chapter Three

Torno...Have the men finished their patrols? Macillian asked his alpha leader in charge of the morning sentries and supplies.

Yes sir, they... His words cut short as a lesser came running in.

Sir, I'm very sorry to have bothered you, but it is told me that a pack of Fury Fangs were spotted just to the north. It seems they were chasing a young female Feather Fang pup.

What do I care of a Feather Fang pup? It'll make them a nice meal. Macillian said with a wave of his hand, hoping to dismiss the issue.

But sir, The lesser insisted. She is hidden up in a tree.

A hard meal to get. Macillian cut in with a chuckle.

What I mean sir, The lesser persisted on. Is that, they are on our territory. Just a mile or so from the village. He ended.

Macillian' eyes snapped up at Torno who knew immediately.

On it sir. He said then turned on his heels and ran off. Macillian and the lesser stood for a second longer, watching the man pace off. Then with a loud whisper Macillian began.

You will head quickly to the south and east. To the Forest Fang village near Lunar Glare. There you will find Kenti. And to his ears only,you will tell him these words. Macillian spoke with importance.

Tell the old wolf that, word has come to me that Ponus of the Feather Fang has plans to try and take control of the Floating bridge in the north. And that he should watch his son's life.

Tell him also that the merging is long over due. It's been three months past. What will he do? And tell of the Fury Fang that still plague us. Macillian said as he pushed the lesser and told him, Go now, move quick as the wind. I fear time is short. Now go! He demanded as he stood staring at the man's back then at the lycan he twisted into as he disappeared into the sweet shadows of the early morning's splay of color.

Chapter Four

Come...follow me. Ponus told Tarper. They walked through the village as eyes spied the Felon Fang with hated suspicion. But Tarper did not take notice at their glaring. His whole mind set was on the mission he had in mind. He did not have time to worry about what or how these beasts felt about him. He only wanted and needed them to do as he would have them. Even though he had given his allegiance to Ponus, he knew that the hate Ponus had for Kenti would surely work to his benefit. All he had to do now was wait and play along.

He followed Ponus through the village, into a hut as Ponus lead him through the crowd of men that sat in session throughout the hut. As they made their way to the back where those of high status sat, Tarper could hear the grunts and growls coming from those who detested the Felon Fang defector. Their glaring eyes were full of hated fury.

Sit there! Ponus pointed. Tarper looked down at the small mat on the floor. Circled twice and sat. Ponus continued on toward the rear where soft pillows had been set up for his comfort. Then he himself circled twice and sat.

His eye's staring out over the sea of