A quiet night hangs over a near by the lake. Only one creature near by stirs under the moonlight. Her eyes stare quietly, a tongue lapping over her lips as she snorts, but her frame remained in the shadows.
"Who are you? Why are you approaching me? A story? You want me to tell you the story? Well, I know of one story of the Lunar Wolf. Well the near end of the pack of Whitemoon. You want to hear that story? Fine then. I'll only tell you the major details. The story about "half-breed" and finding peace with both of her blood."
The pack of Whitemoon Mountain is unusual to said the least. They are like other wolf packs. Well, expect they live in a valley off-limits to Humans and their have a tradition. The "Lunar Wolf" is the Alpha. They are chosen by the ancestors themselves. They carry a weight of not only their pack, but powers beyond the other wolves. They're chosen wisely by the way. They're not given to one who the ancestors believe will betray it. It doesn't matter if you're first born, last born or third born. They choose who it would be. How? A necklace. Yes, a silver pendent in the shape of a crescent moon on a gold chain. You'd think wolves would want nothing to do with a piece of jewelry, but that's what they do. It glows in front of the pup chosen to succeed when their older.
Now we can begin with the story of this half-breeds parents. Her father was Siku. He was a young Alpha, succeeded his mother after she retired along with his father. Siku was the last born in their litter of three. The first born being his brother Azar and then his sister, Chyna. Chyna had no issues with it. She simply wanted to live the life of a wolf. Azar, however, had a problem with it. He believed being the oldest he should hold the right of Alpha to the pack. However, he wasn't chosen. He didn't believe in whole Lunar Wolf business. He believed he was the strongest. It was still not his choosing.
A couple of years after Siku became Alpha, it had come time for him to take his mate. There were plenty of she-wolves to be taken as his Alpha female, but he felt feelings for none of them. One day, he heard strange howling not far outside the border. What he found was a dog, a Siberian Husky, caught in a hunters trap. She snapped at him at first, fearing him. He assured her he was no threat and freed her from the trap. He then brought her food and he found she was indeed a pet. She had no taste for real meat, being used to the food her humans used to give her. She introduced herself as Ambra. Ambra explained her old owners had to give her up to their nephews family. She used to be a show dog, but her masters fell sick and had to be moved to a place that didn't allow dogs. Sadly, these masters were not so kind to her. She wished to run away at time, but had no survival skills. Siku offered to teach her, even though she was a dog. She agreed and after healing from her minor injury, she started her "lessons" in hunter. She even got a taste for meat.
Chyna did find out about her brother meeting with a dog. She rejected the idea of him possibly taking her as a mate at first. However, she grew fond of Ambra and agreed that her blood as a dog shouldn't mate any difference as dogs did descend from the wolf. Azar found out soon after and attempted to ridicule his brother when Siku approached the pack in the way. He explained that having Ambra as his mate should make no difference and the pack sometimes be allowed to help dogs return to their wild instincts. Some pack members agreed, others didn't. Azar was the loudest voice against him. He challenged his brother, seeing a way to get rid of him. Ambra claimed she could be no more loyal to Humans and wanted to prove herself from Siku's teachings. However, Siku would not fight him. Instead, he surrendered the position of Lunar Wolf and Alpha. He claimed that if he was to lead a pack that judged based on blood and not loyalty. He told them that their own ancestors could very well also be the ancestors of dog. Siku then left with Ambra despite protests from his supporters and Chyna. He told them not to follow him, but continue serving the pack in hopes that they could see a better future.
Ambra soon found she was pregnant with pups. Siku made a makeshift den and she birthed four of them. First was male they named Yakone, who looked like his mother with her red and white fur. The second was a female named Aleutian who looked much like her father. Although her eyes were oddly bi-colored with one blue and one a strange silver color. The third was another male with red and white fur named Ikiaq. The last born was a female who looked a bit like her father, but had lighter gray fur. They named her Miki and she was the runt. Being born in the late fall meant it was hard to keep them all alive, but all of them, including Miki pulled though. If you haven't guessed, Aleutian or Aleu as she liked to be called is the "main character" of our story now. Aleu was the most dominate of the litter, always beating up both her brothers, but leaving her little Miki alone.
Back at the pack, things were not going over all well. Azar's make Kiska had given birth to his two sons, Tyrain and Akashay. Azar presented the pendent Siku left behind to both of them, but found it didn't glow for either of them. He assumed it was because Siku was still alive. He sent some of his best wolves to assassinate Siku, but they failed as the cunning wolf proved to be too swift for them. Azar came up with another plan when an insane and dangerous bear named Tungulria had wandered close to the mountain. No one knew exactly what drove this bear insane, but what was known is that something caused brain trauma. He went as far as to devour humans. Something both the wolves and the dogs wouldn't do. Human meat isn't very good either way... No, don't ask me how I know this.
He had the plan to use Siku's pups to lure the bear into a clearing. Siku would not allow his pups to be harmed. Azar knew he'd arrive in time and knew his brother was a force to be reckoned with. He knew that Siku could very well kill the bear, but he wouldn't come out unscathed. It would go into action just as he wanted to. He found and taunted bear into the clearing. Aleu had been chasing a squirrel when she was confronted by the bear. She only managed to avoid his swipe from his powerful paw. It barely nicked her left eye, but it was enough to cut across it, leaving a scar.
Siku arrived from her cries as Aleu ran to hide in the brush. She watched her father fight the bear, soaking the very earth below them in blood. It ended with both exhausted. Tungulria was the first to fall. He died slowly, but almost seemed relieved. Siku too was wounded severely. He collapsed onto his flank, calling out to his daughter to get her mother. As Aleu turned to get help, she heard a loud cry. Turned back around she found the bear strangely closer to her father and Azar standing over him. Aleu raced forward trying to get her father to wake up, but it was clear. He was dead.
Azar introduced himself and told her that the bear had not quite died yet. He had crawled forward and deliver a killing blow to her father and he had bled out. Azar then told her that he arrived to kill the bear, but too late to save her father, explaining he had seen the error in his ways and wanted him to return to the pack with his family. Little did the young half-breed know, it was all a lie. He gave her false directions back to the Whitemoons den. He told her to follow the river running west, the complete opposite direction of where it really was. Aleu followed his direction running as far as she could. She could feel what she described as shadows chasing her through the forest. Aleu managed loose them, but slipped on the river bank, knocking herself out.
Meanwhile, Azar found Aleu's litter mates and told them to fetch their mother. When Ambra saw her dead mate, she let out a howl that could be heard for miles. He made up a lie that Aleu had taken off out of fear. He offered them a place back in their pack. Ambra accepted. Azar took them back and presented the pendent to each the remaining three pups, but it still would not respond. Siku was now gone, but now he assumed Aleu was still alive. He wasn't worried though. She was out there alone, she'd likely die. Ambra and her remaining three pups were looked after by Chyna. Azar did nothing to stop some of the other pack members from pushing Ambra and the pups around, although Chyna and a few others attempted to protect her.
Aleu woke up on the side of the river bank, dazed and confused. Her memory of the events were fuzzy to her and she wandered aimlessly around until she reached a near by city, far from the mountains she was used to. She fainted from hungry and exhaustion. Aleu woke up in an abandoned apartment. She had been found by a small group of dogs on the outskirts of the city. The dogs introduced themselves as Laika, a black and white Siberian Husky; Riley, a young Border Collie; Blue, a blue Merle Australian Shepherd, Ryou, a Shiba Inu and Lady, a Spaniel mix. As Aleu recovered, she began to remember her fathers death more clearly, but refused to speak to the others about it. Lady suggested they give her a while as it was too painful for her to remember them so soon. As for "shadows" chasing her, for a while Aleu believed them spirits, hunting her for her fathers death. She had nightmares at times about them. In truth, they were whatever wolves Azar fooled into supporting him.
She had grown up here. She never once spoke of her past. As the years passed by, she began to show more and more of her wolf side. Aleu knew of her blood. She had faced teasing from other stray dogs and at times, they turned violent when her temper got the better of her. She could never find a home with humans. At times, the dogs attempted to find her, but being half wild animal, it was difficult to find one and Aleu gave up. She faced abuse from Humans who disliked strays. She sometimes showed aggression against them, despite Riley and Laika advising her against it.
While there, Aleu stranglely enough, ran into another a wolf-dog by the name of Zain. Baffled at the fact she was not the only half-breed, Aleu became suspicious of him. Zain told her and the others he was not wild born, not like Aleu. He had been born to an abusive wolf-dog breeder. His parents and siblings had been taken away by the authorities. He had managed to slip away where he had lived in an abandon shed being fed by some human children. Unlike Aleu, he had no problem with begging for food from humans and being around them. Aleu only sneered at him, but he was invited by Laika to join their small group. Ryou, Riley, Lady and Laika believed it would be good to for Aleu to have another half breed to relate to, despite the differences in their history.
One night, she had a strange dream. A dream of spiritual wolves running through a forest at the base of a snow capped mountain. One of those wolves she could recognize. Her own father. She had this dream several nights over and eventually attempted to ignore it's message. Finally, her father and the spirits of Whitemoon spoke to her within her dreams. Aleu wanted to ignore them, but Siku's message of Azar leading the Whitemoon wolves to disaster sunk in deep. He was starving the wolves he believed to be "unworthy" letting power and greed get the better of his mind. Only those he deemed worthy of a higher rank would be able to gorge themselves in their kills. Everyone else got the scraps. He told her the stories of the "Lunar Wolf" were no myths and she had been chosen by the spirits to succeed the position. Siku even told her it was Azar who had lured the bear into the field and delivered the killing blow, dragging the bears body close to make it look like he did it. Aleu at first denied wanting to become Alpha. However, her father left her with a note that the influence and change the she could bring was not limited to Whitemoon.
Waking up that night, Aleu was faced with the decision to return and lead the life she had grown used to with her dog friends. She confronted Zain, Riley, Ryou, Laika, Blue and Lady telling them of her past and deciding to return. They offered to assist her, but Aleu declined, believing they couldn't face on what could possibly be a large pack of supporters for Azar. Zeke insisted on returning with her because of his own wolf blood. Aleu rejected his support again, but he kept pressing her and she finally gave in and allowed him to join her. It's was suggested that her own feelings may have persuaded her into letting him come.
She made the journey back that night, following her instincts through the bitter coldness. Winter was closing in quite fast. That pretty much meant half the pack would die of starvation. As Aleu neared her old home, she was attacked by two reddish colored male wolves whom she did not recognize at first until a small lighter gray she-wolf called out her name from the bushes. She found the two that had attacked her were her brothers, Ikiaq and Yakone, although they both looked very skinny. Even her little sister Miki looked quite skinny. They took her back to a makeshift den were those cast out by Azar stayed. She found her mother, who almost mistakes her for her father before realizing who it was due have been weakened by hungry and illness. She, along with Chyna, were clearly relieved she had survived and Aleu explained her story, much to the surprise of her mother and the other wolves. Aleu also met her aunt Kiska and her cousin, Akashay. She explained that she had left Azar and tried to convince her oldest son, Tyrain to come with her, but declined due to being under the influence of his father.
While the remaining wolves are happy the "Lunar Wolf" has returned, Aleu became unsure of wanting to take the Alpha position. After speaking to Chyna one night, she explains the pendent does slightly enhance the barer skills, but not by much and they could still be defeated by others. She went on the explain that she realized the pack didn't need it's guidance, but Aleu explains she wanted to keep the tradition alive, even if she did not fully serve as their leader for a while. That being to take the powers outside of Whitemoon. She told of how she had seen the darker side of humans and how she despised seeing creatures suffer by it. While she believed survival of a fittest, she saw humans as a arrogant species. Chyna told her that she could so long as the ancestors approved. Aleu was hesitant, not wanting to feel like the ancestors controlled her life.
While making a decision, an alert went out. A group of dogs had been spotted near by. Aleu already had an idea of who it was and quickly came across the group. Sure enough Riley, Laika, Ryou, Blue and Lady had followed her scent trail, wanting to help their old friends. The wolves rejected the idea of having to resort to dogs, but Aleu rebuked them. She had taught some of her own instinctual hunting skills and asked the dogs to try to help her wolf kin to find food. Riley even suggested seeing if any human cabins or camps near by to scavenge for leftovers. Even Aleu did not agree with the idea at first, but seeing the pack, especially her mother, starving to death, she agreed. Chyna asked Aleu about confronting Azar, but Aleu said she'd wait until spring, knowing whatever wolves were here, were clearly too weak to fight.
The idea had worked as a near by cabin hosted some humans and the dogs, used to stealing food from them, were able to gather enough leftovers for the wolves to eat in order to survive the harsh winter. However, Ambra only grew more sick as it got colder. She passed away in her sleep, surrounded by her children. Aleu decided that if they could survive the winter, they could confront him in the spring. She knew his wolves were likely more well fed then her own. The Wolf-Dog knew that they'd be able to feed well, even outside the territory.
Spring did finally come with prey running again, but not without a few losses. Azar once again began to expand his territory to try starve out what remained of those he drove out. What he didn't expect was confronting Aleu as he believed she had died after driving her away. He only laughed at her "pitiful" excuse for a "pack". He left some of her wolves to drive off. What they didn't count on was the spirits favor and abilities Aleu had learned from her life in the city among dogs. Azar's group failed to drive them and Aleu pushed farther into his territory. With that, Aleu turned some of his wolves against Azar to build her numbers and weaken her Uncles. Despite all Azars efforts to thwart off Aleu, he's numbers dropped. With his support dropping rapidly, Azar attempted to flee up the Whitemoon mountain, but was followed and cornered
Aleu offered two choice to him. To either be driven out and live in exile or to stoop down to the lowest Omega rank with no chance of ever rising above it. Although his two sons would keep a good future in the pack. Letting his pride get to him, Azar lashed out and attacked her, leading to a bloody fight. His final demise came when the rocks under his own paws began to crumble down the cliff. Despite Aleu's attempt to "save" him, Azar fell into the gorge, the large boulders crushing his body underneath. Aleu only turned and limped away, knowing he had done himself in with his foolish pride. The few remaining pack members still loyal to Azar were driven out and this included his oldest son Tyrain, who lashed out at Aleu with blame for his own fathers death. In the end, Aleu only knew that Azar was nothing more then a coward.
With Azar finally gone, the pack spent the remainder of Spring and most of the Summer recovering. Chyna had retrieved the moon pendent that Azar had buried outside of the territory. Aleu accepted the pendent, but stated that it was only be from now on, for sentential value. She told the Whitemoon wolves that no more did the ancestors and spirits control their lives, but only to revere them. She stated that she as well as her litter mates, and the ones who had followed her from the city would not be staying. Instead, Chyna was chosen to be the next Alpha. Even Kiska and Akashay were accepted by Chyna, although Akashay knew he may face a difficult time. Under her fathers approval and knowing their future secure, Aleu, Zain, the dogs and her litter mates left Whitemoon. Her dog friends had settled back in the city. Aleu, Zain, Miki, Yakone and Ikiaq settled outside the city within a small forest. Aleu kept the pendent around her neck and since then, she never truly knew if it really had any "power" to it, but she did know her life was only just beginning. Starting with a possible mate in Zain...
"And that's the story. What? You want to hear more? There really isn't much more to that. At least no more then I want to tell. You've heard enough. Besides...The wolf-dog grinned lightly. It certainly is not over yet. She stepped forward revealing a silverish gray coat. A silver moon pendent sparkled around her neck as she glanced up with her bi-colored blue and silver eye, a scar painted across the left one. "My story is not over yet..." She turned back around padding back into the shadows in which she came from. Although there were others with her, only their silhouettes could be seen. She knew that maybe again someday, she'd have more to her story.






