Shades of Night.

[Dusk]

I reveal to you... the prologue! Yes, that's right, it's the prophecy, but it will appear in the actual book...


Shades of Night

By Dusk


Prologue: A legend begins...

In a land of darkness,
Locked in night,
A battle begins,
A time of strife...

A new age has begun,
The Elders have spoken,
An alpha is murdered,
A truce is broken...

A prophecy, written in blood,
The land will be burned,
Friends will be lost,
Dark lessons learned...

A full moon rises,
And darkness takes flight,
To rule this land?,
Or to be pushed back by light...?

[Dusk]

Chapter One: Shadows of the Mind...

The moon shone like a lamp, seeming to coat the ancient trees in silver. Shadows shifted and pooled amongst the gnarled old roots that clutched at the earth like claws...

Shadows in the darkness...

A strong breeze swept through the woods, shaking branches and rustling leaves. The forest itself seemed to be alive, trees whispering and moaning, creaking and groaning. Tangled branches clawed at the night sky like fingers, reaching out to grab at the pale glow of the moon...

Shadows of the mind...

In the secluded tangles of the thicket, a mule doe was sleeping, her two tiny fawns curled next to her. Higher up, birds where roosting, Blackbird and Robin, head - under wing. However, not all creatures were sleeping. A raccoon shambled through the woods, delicate paws probing for food. A weasel prowled through the undergrowth, and an owl glided on silent wings, searching the forest floor for mice and voles.

The foliage rustled and then parted as the creature stepped into the forest clearing. Moonlight caught on the long, silver muzzle and powerful frame. The wolf's breath misted, clouding into the night air. Slowly he padded forewards, shoulders rippling...

The wolf walked for a while, taking in his surroundings. He was muscular and calm, yet not overly confident. Silver flecked his face and coat, but he looked good for his age. The dark, twinkling eyes spoke of liquid intelligence, and wisdom. His movement was fluid, his joints had not yet succumbed to the stiffness of age. He was greatly respected, this wolf. Infact, he was the leader here. He was the Alpha of the Singing Pack, a pack of wolves dwelling deep within Tsura, in the Wailing Forests. He wasn't the Alpha for nothing, Alpha Bluejay had led the pack with strength and intelligence for many years. He had done great things, for instance, forming a truce with the Blackriver Pride. He was good friends with their leader, King Leonidus, the great and powerful lion...

Now he paused and sat, picking a large rock to sit on, that over- looked Willow Lake. It's black waters rippled gently in the breeze, the moon caught in a reflection on it's dark waves. Bluejay thought that night was a beautiful time. Some found it eerie, and disturbing, yet Alpha Bluejay found peace in the darkness. He raised his silvered- muzzle and howled, an alluring melody that rang through the night. The song spoke of joy, love, hatred and sorrow. The love he felt for his beautiful mate Natasha, the sorrow of losing her last winter. The hatred spread by the banished Ravens, and the joy of seeing his son and daughter blossom into a pair of fine young wolves...

Gradually the howl faded into silence, and the song was over...

* * * *

Through the darkness and shadows the dark figure slipped, paddinig silently through the night. Cold blue orbs peered intently, glinting with malice. The jet- black figure made not a sound as he stalked his prey from behind...

Bluejay's ears twitched, and he sighed gently.

"Come out from the shadows Dusk. You never could hide from me."

There was silence for a moment, and then the bushes behind him rustled. A moment later an inky- black wolf stepped out of them with an angry snort. His blue eyes were furious at being discovered. He refused to look at Bluejay...

The old wolf was calm. He'd had a lot of problems with the over- ambitious young wolf before him. Dusk hated the lions, he wanted to wipe out their competition. However, Bluejay would not go to war over the opinions of a rash youngster. This had led to many arguments, and Dusk had supporters too. Twilight was beautiful indeed, with her light, smudged grey pelt, but Bluejay feared she had a black heart. She and Dusk often dissapeared together. No doubt to plot, Bluejay thought. Then there was Viktor and Boris, a pair of brutish northern wolves, Viktor a grizzled grey, Boris a dark brown. Finally there was the shadowy she- wolf Dawn. He didn't know of her past, but he had a hunch that it was dark... very dark. Dawn seemed a strange name for her... perhaps because none of her past victims had seen another morning. She too was black, though not as dark as Dusk. She had strange, dark eyes, almost a violet shade, which made others uneasy... not many would look her in the eye...

Bluejay surveyed the beast before him. Dusk was larger than him, his ebony pelt rippling with muscle. He had sharp, handsome features, glacial blue eyes glittering coldly...

"What brings you here Dusk?" Bluejay asked calmly Yet, inside, he knew full well Dusk's intentions. Dusk remained stubbornly silent. Seconds passed as Bluejay regarded Dusk intently...

Finally Dusks eyes flicked to stare at Bluejay. His cold hostile eyes harboured a haunted look... a guilty look...

"Y - your time is up Bluejay..." he said. Dusk was many things, but he wan't a murderer... was he? Given the correct teacher, you can sculpt anyone's mind for your own purposes... however dark they may be...

The wolf continued to speak;

"You have led the pack for long enough... too long. You are an old fool, our numbers are superior to the cats, we could wipe them out if we tried!"

"You speak like a barbarian Dusk." Bluejay said calmly.

"FOOL!" the black wolf spat, "You're no longer fit to lead us. I have been given a taster of our true glory... I will not let you ruin our chance!"

Bluejay remained silent for a moment. Then he spoke, placidly and clearly;

"It is you who is the fool Dusk. My body may not be as strong as it once was, but my spirit will carry me on. If you want to kill me then so be it, kill me. But you will suffer dearly for your actions tonight."

Dusl stood rooted to the spot. His eyes darkened. Any trace of guilt had been wiped away by rage. His muzzle wrinkled into a snarl...

"Fine... fine... then you can rot in hell you bastard!" he barked, as he lunged towards Bluejay's throat...

[Dusk]

Chapter Two: A Sinner's Thoughts...

Ahriman was feeling rather smug as he sat, hunched, in his withered old tree. The ancient Raven smirked to himself. Everything was going to plan... he had gradually gained the trust of the young wolf Dusk, and then conspired with him, flattering him, with promises of power and glory. The wolf had taken it hook line and sinker...

It wasn't much longer until Dusk introduced Twilight into their scheme, and, although she was less trusting than Dusk, she too fell victim to the devious bird's cunning. Eventually, Viktor, Boris and Dawn were enlightened about their little plot, and Ahriman had fives wolves at his beckoned call...

Ahriman saw good reason to conspire. Altough he enjoyed mind games and making others suffer, this was for more than just that. This was for revenge...

When he first came to this region from the south, he attempted to poison a wolf's mind then. However, he chose the wrong wolf. Alpha Bluejay was wise and saw past the cunning bird's tricks, and banished Ahriman and his followers into a burnt wasteland on the border of the Wailing Forests. The Raven skulked in secrecy for what seemed like an age, gathering imformation, and plotting the wolf's down fall with the Crows and Magpies he had fooled into following him. However, an oppertunity arose. The young wolf Dusk. A young mind ripe to be tainted...

And here he was now. His plan was being carried out at that very moment. Dusk had followed Bluejay into the forest, to murder him. He and Twilight would become the new Alphas of the Singing Pack, and Ahriman would be free to move in as his "advisor". With a pack of Wolves at his command, Ahriman would be unstopable. He and his band of rouge Corvids would rule Tsura, and then Kiwara, with the help of the Wolves...

He congratulated himself. What a sly old bird he was!

The wind was strengthening. Ahriman ruffled his black feathers, then shuffled down the branch and into the desserted Owl hole that he called his temporary home. From inside he watched, hunched. The wind was buffeting what remained of the trees, and the dark tufts of grass whipped violently. This was a rotting place, and the sooner Ahriman left it, the better...

[Dusk]

A very short chapter indeed, but don't worry, the next is much longer...

Chapter Three: Bluejay's Demise...

Bluejay hit the earth with a sickening thud. Blood was streaming down his face, his fur stained scarlet. He was silent, not a whimper escaped his muzzle.

"Fight me! Why won't you fight me!?" Dusk snarled, panting. The old wolf had not flinched when Dusk had attacked, he had been noise-less. He did not fight back, he simply allowed himself to be thrown, tossed about like a ragdoll. Bluejay didn't bark or snarl. He was just grimly silent, and that made Dusk very uneasy...

Then, suddenly, a mark on Bluejay's forehead glittered, a pale light glowing in the darkness. It resembled a scar, with four prongs, a star. The mark was glowing a soft, golden yellow. His Aranck, the sacred mark of the Alpha, was a-light. When a Wolf Alpha is elected, he or she must make a journey to the Star Pool, a small pond deep in the woods, to receive their mark. It was said that only the purest of spirit could make their Alpha mark glow...

Dusk backed off slightly. He was nervous now. Bluejay's calm confidence scared him inside, and the eerie glow of the old wolf's mark was enough to disturb him. Guilt once again gnawed at his heart...

Slowly Bluejay raised his head, blood streaming from his matted, gory pelt. The once handsome, silvery grey fur was now a rich crimson. Slowly his mouth opened, and his dark blue eyes met with Dusk's...

"Know now Dusk, that your plan will fail. You shall pay with your soul. You... will not... triumph..." Bluejay's gaze flickered, and gradually, the light left his eyes, still locked onto Dusks sharp features. The peircing blue orbs were fading, misting over in the cold grip of death, and, slowly, the glow of his Aranck faded...

Bluejay had departed from the earth, once and for all...

[Dusk]

Chapter Four: A New Dawn...

The forest did not mourn the passing of the old wolf. It simply did not have time to. Death was all part of the natural circle of life, and life goes on...

It was dawn, and the sun was rising over the woodlands. It was Spring once again, and the forest was alive with noise. A cacophony of sounds rang out through the woods. Birds calling, defending their territories, while hunting for food and looking after their chicks. It was a busy time of the year for the birds, their ever hungry offspring crying for food over and over again. Pairs took it in turns to hunt, catching dragonflies, mayflies, butterflies and moths on the wing, and snatching worms and grubs from the soil. It was a full time job... with many dangers...

Sparrow Hawks and Goshawks patrolled the tree tops. They were quick and vicious hunters with lightening fast reactions. A bird had to be intelligent and quick moving to escape their talons. Pine martens and wild cats hunted them on the ground and lurked in the branches, waiting to ambush them as they flew past, or if they stopped, and perched for a rest. It was a constant battle between predator and prey...

However, the birds were not the only animals with new young. Woe betide any creature that came between the Cougar and her cubs. She had built her den deep in the forest. The wolves gave her a wide berth, as she was fiercely protective. The Singing Pack hadn't had any offspring this year. Bluejay's mate had died, and since then he hadn't mated. Only the Alphas were allowed to breed, so the pup's dens were silent this year...

Last year's pups were well grown now. Two of Alpha Bluejay's offspring remained in the Singing Pack, twins, Rain, the female, and Storm, the male. All of the other, older siblings were long gone, leaving Tsura to start packs on their own.

However, little did the twins know, they were alone now... their father was dead...

Rain was sleeping soundly, her pale grey frame curled into a ball. Close by her brother lay, slumped in a dark, smoky- grey heap, snoring gently. Sunlight streamed into their den, warm rays heating the earth. Slowly Rain's amber eyes opened, squinting against the bright light. Shaking her head she stood, and looked over her brother. He was still sleeping. She smiled gently. No need to wake him up. Quietly she padded outside.

The clearing was empty of wolves, the pack still slept soundly in their dens. She cast a glance to her father's den. It was empty, but his scent was still fresh, just a few hours old. Bluejay often wandered off into the woods at night , to find peace in the darkness. He would be back soon, she thought. She caught the scent of another, one that she recognised immediately. Dusk. The large wolf had gone into the forest too. That concerned her. What was he doing? A chill crept down her spine as she pictured him following her father. She wiped the thought from her mind quickly. Probably just a coincidence. She considered following them, to make sure, but her father would not thank her for disturbing him. With a last look at the pack dens she padded through the clearing and into the dense foliage of the wailing forests, turning west, away from her father's scent trail...