Young Writers Society

Kk, ready to roll! ^_^ Ready when you are, Chupa!

Catherine Elizabeth Wolf (Cael)

Howls pierced through the night while heavy pawsteps crunched across the snow, followed close by a pair of human feet that bore a simple layer of thin leather to protect from the bitter cold. The owner of the feet, a girl with long brown hair and simple leather and fur clothing, howled the best she could into the strong winds, spear in her hand. How she loved hunting. She prefered it to nights spent in the den taking care of elders and the soon-to-be mothers. Her bright blue eyes caught sight of a large buck and the hunt was officially on.

The dead, yet still sharp thorns that dug into her arms annoyed her greatly, but didn't hurt like they would have in the spring, when her skin wasn't completely numb. She lept over a falled tree, ahead of the buck, and jumped down, spear digging into soft, warm flesh. Within seconds the other wolves were attacking the buck, the alpha finishing it off and getting the first bit. The winds shifted and the girl, Cael, stiffened as the scent of humans wafted around her.

**Sorry I haven't posted; I haven't been able to for awhile! **

"Come sire; we are almost home!" Grayson said joyfully. He reined in his excited horse who pranced next to the prince's.

The prince laughed. "I see you're as excitd as I am, Grayson. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed."

They heard wolves howl in the distance; one sounded a little bit off from the others. "Sounds like that wolf doesn't know how to howl like the others. We'd better hurry, though, unless you'd like to become a midnight snack, your highness."

The prince smiled and kicked his horse into a full gallop, with Grayson and his soldiers trailing behind him.

*S'ok*

Cael growled, the sound sounding like a normal wolf to her. She knew she wasn't like the others but they didn't treat her any different. Right as a large horse barreled through the trees the wolves around her let out angered snarls. Cael stood upright, spear at her side and eyes on each of the horses which held riders. Cael tightened her grip on the spear and watched with mild intrest as the young man in front pulled back on the horse's reigns, causing it to whinny and rear up, coming down and indenting the snow with its hooves.

*short sorry*

**It's okay.**

The prince peered into the woods as he heard growling, trying to keep his horse from bolting out from under him.

"Prince Nathaniel, we must hurry! There are wild animals that walk among us!" Grayson trotted towards him as the soldiers still galloped past. "I cannot confront your mother alone to tell her you got eaten by hungry wolves."

Cael smirked to the wolf next to her, who licked its chops hungrily. "How about we eat a bit of horse tonight my brothers and sisters?" The wolf snarled aloud. Had Cael not been raised with them she wouldn't have had a clue what they were saying, but thankfully, she did. The wolves around her yowled in agreement, each sinking into the shadows. Cael smiled widely as she crawled through the brush near the group of humans, ready to do what they'd always planned once she was given the sign.

A howl broke the stiffling, nerve-wracking silence around Cael and with it she crept slowly out of the brush while the men looked all around. She stood upright, spear at her side still and smiled awkwardly at the men. The alpha that was rocking back on his haunches behind the weakest horse nodded once with his eyes. Cael nodded in return and spun her spear around, sticking the head into the ground to show she meant no harm. "Good evening," her voice was slightly foreign, even to her ears. It wasn't like the accent that the men had all had. "You men do realize that it's not at all smart to be traveling at night through these forests, even when mounted upon such strong, swift, and del-" The alpha shook his head. "I mean on such strong and swift animals. Do forgive me when I say this, but it's a bit foolish."

The rest of the soldiers had passed the spot where Grayson and Prince Nathaniel had stopped.

The prince looked at the strange girl with a puzzled look. "What's foolish, miss, is you hanging out around these woods all alone. What are you doing out here anyways? You could get hurt. Are you lost?"

Cael shook her head and laughed lightly. "No, of course I'm not lost!" The alpha seemed to smirk as he followed the horse's movements. "My family own part of the forest and I'm used to these areas and the wildlife." Another howl, this time closer, sounded, telling her to hurry up. "Ah, my family's calling me. I must get going. G-" Before she could finished the pack lunged at the horse that the young man sat upon, obviously not following the regular plan. Cael smiled lightly, eyes full of humor.

Prince Nathaniel cursed as his horse reared and gave a high-pitched squeal as wolves latched onto it with their claws, biting down on its unprotected vulnerable flesh. He took his sword out of his sheath and swung at the predators who instantly let go as the weapon came dangerously close to beheading them.

"Grayson, run!" the prince cried. He took a moment to notice Grayson was fighting off his own group of wolves.

Cael watched, full of intrest while the young man and the other fought off her family, who obviously weren't going to flee. "Stonewatcher!" Cael immediately looked up, her eyes glinting the young man's sword that was coming down on a dark grey, almost black wolf. Without a second thought she shoved the wolf out of the way and yanked her short sword out, holding it over her head, arms shaking slightly. Whoever this man was, he certainly was strong. A deep growl rippled out her mouth and she stood to her feet, deflecting the sword. She spun her own sword around, sticking it in its sheath and leaping back, the wolves circling the horse for another blow.

Prince Nathaniel and Grayson took this brief pause to charge their injured horses down the path towards the castle, not afraid to trample any wolves that got in their way. They saw a group of soldiers speed past them, fending off the wolves. They turned and quickly went back with the two men as the wolves reluctantly backed down, seeing that they had no chance against eight horses with armed men on their backs.

Cael sighed and watched the men run off towards their little castle. Humans like them really bothered her. She and the wolves gathered around the alpha, a white wolf with piercing golden eyes. "We all tried our best. Cael, good job on talking to the men, that even surprised me to hear your human speech."

"Thank you. May I propose a plan?" Cael smiled, her worlds coming out in wolf speech. The alpha nodded. "There is a large, warm place where the horses are kept. A stable I believe is what it's called. If I can at least lead a horse into the woods we'll all feast tonight. Will that work?" The alpha nodded once, his eyes proud.

"Okay, that's the plan. Try not and get caught by those lousy humans."

"Oh please sir, I'm Cael, the human wolf. I can do anything," at her words she laughed before bowing slightly and starting towards the castle, the trees around her a blur.

Nathaniel slowed his horse down once they entered the castle gate, his men slowing behind him. Looking back he called out, "Any injuries?"

One of the men answered, "Only yours and Graysons horses, Sire. We need to get them checked out."

The rest of Prince Nathaniels' escorts rushed to him, physically unmounting him and leading him to the family's doctor. He protested the whole way there, constantly ssuring the men that he was physically fit and nothing was wrong.

*All I got right now. *

By the time the moon was in the middle of the sky, signalling that it was midnight, she slid into the stables, nocturnal eyes ajusting to the darkness easily. She spotted a large horse and grabbed the reigns quickly, pulling the horse after her, only to have it object and rear up. She'd fallen beneath it, rolling out just as its hooves came down on the place she had been. Its nostrils flared and she stood up slowly, holding her hands out.

Once the horse accepted her she gripped the reigns and started out the stables, unaware of the royalty that was headed her way to check on his horse.