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Loup Garoux (Lu-Ga-Ru); It's an adventure, a little romance..
Topic Started: Jul 26 2009, 07:55 PM (1,052 Views)
HopefulDreamer91
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Okay! My character names are all original, and one thing I've learned from reading books, stories that are original is that sometimes the names are a challenge, thus there's many pronunciations for them. Well, here's how my characters' names are SUPPOSED to be pronounced. =)

PRONUNCIATIONS:::

- Arekkusu - Ar-Ay-Ku-Su
(Arekku) - Ar-Ay-Ku
- Merisa - (Obvious)
(Meris)
(Miyana) - Me-Yana
- Keri - (Obvious)
(Ker)
- Chiienn- She-In
(Chii) - She
- Joen- Ho-En
- Jemi- (Obvious)
- Arniamiko - Are-Ne-Am-E-Co
(Miko)
- Wiru -We're- Ou
- Corataka - Cor-Uh-Tak-Uh
(Taki) - Tak-E
- Mekichi - Meh-Key-Chi

Oh, OH!!!! You know what I'd REALLY appreciate?? If you read my story, give me some kinda feedback!! =)
Edited by HopefulDreamer91, Feb 10 2010, 10:33 PM.
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HopefulDreamer91
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Loup Garoux (Lu-Ga-Ru)

(Note: The words Loup Garoux aren't my own,
they're from Annette Curtis Klause's book Blood & Chocolate.
But I assure you that this story has nothing to do with the book.)





Chapter One





Not too long ago, there was a story going around about a group of teenagers from a small town, the exact location was never discovered. The unusual thing about this story is, it’s been discovered that similar stories have been passed down for generations, dating back to the late 1700’s…

Four figures darted through the dark rain filled streets; too fast to be noticed; too graceful to be heard. They raced for the timbers that towered over the western end of a ghost-like town. Very few people knew of the existence of the Loup Garoux, and very few believed it to be more than a mythological story. This particular group seemed to keep to themselves, and you could never tell them apart from any other human being for one of their physical appearances was like yours or mine; nothing out of the ordinary. Just what is a Loup Garoux? Well, lets find out...

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            As usual, Arekkusu was the first back to the house, followed by Chiienn, then myself, and finally Keri. Soaking wet, we enter our humble home, hidden by the dense timbers outside of the town we’d grown to call home. We are all each other had; this is our family. Besides other packs both alike and unlike our own, no one knows of us. Our pack is one of the few "vegetarian" packs of Loup Garoux, we don't prey upon humans like our early ancestors had before us, or like our brethren packs, who insist on honoring the old ways, despite the great changes in civilization since the beginning of our time. We are Loup Garoux, werewolves.
 
            Our small pack consists of the four of us; Arekkusu, our pack leader, and eldest of us, stands at 6’5, average for our kind, very muscular, short soft dirty blond hair, with warm, but firm brown eyes. Chiienn, third eldest, stands 5’8, dainty, but with lean undertone muscles, long silky light brown tresses that splay across her back and shoulders, and has curious, bright baby blue eyes. Then there’s the “pup” of the pack. Keri, obviously youngest, but second tallest. She stands at 6’0, though her physical strength doesn’t show, her inner strength gleams from the inside out, keeping the rest of us together.  She has shoulder length dark midnight tresses, and playful, beaming turquoise eyes. Then there’s me, Merisa. I’m second eldest. I stand 5’10, femininely built with undertone muscles, fiery-red hair, to match my temper at times, that streams down my back and ending at my waist. My eyes are a glistening hazel green.
 
            Once in the house we each retreated to our own space to wash and dry, and then returned to The Den for a pack meeting. Someone or something was hunting us and we wanted to know why. We have been hiding in this area for almost half a century, this is the longest we’ve been able to stay in one place for so long, we are not about to give up our home without a fight.
 
 “What was that thing following us tonight?”  Keri asked.
 
 “I don’t know, but it doesn’t smell friendly.” Arekkusu replied.
 
“So, what’s the game plan, Arekku?” I added. He looked at me, with a hint of irritation in his eyes, no doubt from the nickname I had given him.
“We find out what it is they want, then, drive them from our territory. You know as well as I do, living so close to the humans is a dangerous decision. The last thing we need is anonymous murders in the town, the humans will get suspicious.”

I nodded in agreement. The others just stared at me, waiting for me to explain to them what it was exactly that they were supposed to do. While Arekkusu was our Pack Leader, I was the communicator, and mother... And I just understood him more.

‘Sometimes it’s a good thing I’m the only one that understands what he means…’ my thoughts trailed off, I shook my head to get back to reality.

“Okay, basically, first thing tomorrow night, we’re going to scout out the area where we found this thing and try to track it back to where it’s hiding.”
 
As usual, Chiienn was the first to catch on, her big blue eyes widening with realization. “Soo… Who’s going to be investigating the area?” She looked at me expectantly, I glanced at Arekkusu, and he shrugged. I smiled at Chiienn, “You can come with me. Arekkusu and Keri are going to stay at the house and do some research.” Chiienn has the best sense of smell out of the four of us. She could smell an intruder within 100 miles, while the rest of us wouldn’t notice it until they were within 50 miles.
 
            The following evening Chiienn and I headed out, back to the park on the opposite side of town in search of any remaining scent that could lead us in the direction the thing had gone to or come from. While Chiienn had the best sense of smell, I had the best night vision, clear as if it were day. We ran across town in record time. We then stopped in the dense area that we had first caught sight of the creature that followed us. Chiienn went to investigate first, sniffing out the area, she froze. I looked in the direction she was staring, I could feel my canines lengthening, and a growl forming in my throat.

There before us, in the shadow of the surrounding trees was the thing that had gotten us riled up, that vile creature that had dare set foot on our territory. I saw the swift motion as he switched his blood red eyes from Chiienn to me, the light showing his extended fangs as he smirked a crooked smile at us. I concentrated on his yellow stained teeth, for if you looked into his eyes, you’d be frozen still, like Chiienn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
            Back at the house, Arekkusu and Keri were pondering ideas of why anyone would want to track our pack down in particular. We hadn’t wandered into unknown territory, hadn’t started anything with neighboring packs. Seeing how the closest “neighbors” of Loup Garoux was over 10,000 miles away. Occasionally we went to visit the pack like ours; the other “vegetarians,” that refused to prey on humans, but we hadn’t gone that far north in over 40 years.
 
Keri, who had excellent hearing, perked up when she heard my distant growls and snarls. “I think Merisa’s in trouble.”

Arekkusu noticeably stiffened, “What’d you hear?” She didn’t get time to answer before they heard my desperate howl for help.
 
            Arekkusu, being the fastest, was the first to arrive, to see me splayed protectively over Chiienn, snarling, bearing my claws at our unwelcomed guest. Arekkusu cautiously, but quickly, came to my side, “Are you okay?” he asked looking at my bloodied clothes.

 I nodded in response, too far gone into the transformation to speak coherently. Arekkusu turned to look at the vile creature, scrunching up his nose at the smell of rotting flesh and dry blood.
The creature smirked his crooked smile and licked my blood from his claw.

Arekkusu snarled, his canines lengthening, going down on all fours, completing the transformation from human to wolf. He lunged at the creatures head, gnashing his teeth at it’s throat, managing to wound it before being thrown from its body. Arekkusu jumped to his feet, ready to attack, but also ready to protect if need be.
 
            Keri arrived, already half through transformation, like me, extended canines, fingernails turned to razor sharp claws, covered in dark-midnight fur, same as her hair. She glanced at me, horror clouding over her pretty turquoise eyes as she saw my blood soaked clothes, then looked to Chiienn, lying unconscious beneath me, then back to me. I shook my head to assure her she wasn’t dead. I forced my transformation to complete to turn wolf and went to stand by Arekkusu, ready to fight. Keri took my place guarding over Chiienn.
 
 For the first time, the creature spoke in a hollow hissing whisper of a voice, “Sssso, thisss iss the pack of Loup Garoux that strayed from the old wayssss.” It hissed at us.
Arekkusu snapped at it, the creature smirked, showing its blood stained teeth, “Ah I ssssee, you cannot sssspeak in that form… Allow me to introdusssse myssself. I am the vanpariu, called Lord Barbain.”
 
            After his so-called introduction, Lord Barbain lunged towards Arekkusu. Using speed to his advantage, Arekkusu avoided the attack and quickly spun around to pounce Lord Barbain from behind, digging his claws into his back while clamping down on his jugular. Lord Barbain screeched in pain, which soon turned to a low gurgle as his windpipe filled with cold blood. Arekkusu held tight until he was sure Lord Barbain was in fact, dead. Or whatever happened to a vampire. After releasing the gruesome corpse that soon turned to ash, he rushed back to my side, checking my wounds then licking them clean, then to Chiienn to do the same.
 
            It was now a week after the Lord Barbain incident, Chiienn was feeling fine, but couldn’t recap anything that had happened. I was still healing, besides not being able to sleep due to my back wounds, I was alright. Keri was still a little traumatized by seeing her sister and motherly figures covered in their own blood, but was recovering fine. Arekkusu, being his usual manly self, denied needing any medical attention and insisted on watching over everyone as they rested.
 
Keeping to his promise, Arekkusu was in fact hovering around the room when I awoke. I sat up with a grimace, the wounds to my back and side, strange enough, hadn’t healed completely. Usually, wounds inflicted upon our bodies recover quickly, but the ones I acquired from Lord Barbain seem to be different than any normal wound. Arekkusu came to my side when he noticed I was rousing, sitting in the chair next to my bed.
 
            “How’re you feeling?” His warm, almost golden, eyes searched my face for any hint that I might lie.
 
 “I’m feeling better, just a little sore.” I tried pushing myself up further into a sitting position, grimacing at the use of stiffened muscles.
 
Arekkusu gave me a skeptical look, swiftly standing, his hands on my forearms, helping to ease me into a comfortable sitting position. I gave him a small smile of gratitude. He smirked back, leaning down, merely inches from my face. I could feel his warm breath, smell his woodsy scent.
 
“How about some dinner?” He said in a husky voice. It took me a minute to realize he’d asked me a question.

Then it clicked; “Dinner? Is it really that late already?”

He chuckled softly, “You have no idea how long you’ve been out, do you?”
            I shook my head. I thought I’d been awake talking to everyone just a few hours ago, but apparently not.

“You’ve been out for a week straight.”
 
My mouth gaped open in shock. ‘Has it really been that long? And I’m still not healed? What’s wrong with me…? This is taking way too long; usually I’d be healed within a couple days at most!’ I looked up into Arekkusu’s eyes, searching for any sign that he might know what was going wrong with me. His eyes were guarded; that’s not like him. ‘He’s always open towards me; it must be bad, real bad…’ I frantically searched his face again and again, seeing the same thing every time; worry.
 
Arekkusu sighed, and then shifted me in the bed so he could sit with me. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, bringing me closer to him. I leaned my head against his shoulder. “What’s wrong with me…?” I said barely above a whisper.
 
He pulled me closer, rubbing my shoulder. “A… Apparently there was something in Lord Barbain’s claws that can be very deadly to us.”
 
I looked up at him, horror overtaking my calm expression. He saw the look on my face and hurriedly added, “But, the wounds he inflicted upon you weren’t deep enough to… to kill you. Only slow the healing process; you’re going to be fine.” He smiled apologetically.
 
I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Easing back into my current position, but also wrapping my arms around Arekkusu’s torso, holding tight. He kissed the top of my head before nuzzling his face into my hair, inhaling my scent.  We stayed like that for what seemed like an hour before he shifted slightly. I looked up at him. He was grinning down at me. “You need to eat something.”
 
“I’m not hungry.” My stomach betrayed me as it then decided to growl . Very loudly. I could feel my cheeks become warm with a blush.
Edited by HopefulDreamer91, Feb 27 2010, 04:33 PM.
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Chapter 2



By the end of the week I was feeling much better, I could move freely!

No more worried glances from my family, or being watched 24/7. Yes, it truly was good to be able to move on my own. But I couldn’t get over how much my dreams had been bothering me lately, they seemed so real. But when I woke up, nothings changed, I was still in my own bed. I shook my head as my thoughts trailed off, looking around I noticed Keri was looking at me strangely. I smiled at her in an assuring way; she smiled back her big goofy, happy smile.
 
            I looked at the clock in the den, it was almost 9 P.M. I headed up the stairs to my room, to retreat to my special spot on the roof that no one else knows about. My room is the only one on the third floor, there’s a balcony off my room that I use to climb the tree closest to the balcony. Using the tree’s high branches to my advantage I found a way to the center of the roof where I can see the landscape surrounding our home, but no one can see me from the ground.

Laying here I often times find myself falling asleep beneath the stars, thinking over the days’ events, or just about anything really. Recently I’ve come here, when I could escape the heavy surveillance of the household, to think about Arekkusu’s strange, yet pleasant, behavior. Tonight, I came to think of not only that, but this strange dream I keep having.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
Merisa's Dream


            I’m running through unfamiliar territory, a woodsy area, but one I’ve never seen before. I’m in my wolf form, flowing through the trees like I was never here, but where am I going? Somehow I know exactly where to go, but without really knowing where I’m going. I come to a stop at a worn path in the dirt; obviously something travels through here often. I follow the path to my left, trotting along at a slower pace, like I’m waiting for someone to meet me. After traveling a ways, I can hear light foot steps coming behind me. I stop and turn my whole body to face whoever is behind me, to see that it’s Arekkusu, in his human form.

He kneels down to pet my head, smiling his radiantly perfect smile. I smile back, the best I can in the form of a wolf, wagging my tail, happy to see a familiar face. Then all of a sudden, he’s gone. I’m alone. It’s dark. I feel a heavy pressure on my chest, like someone’s stepping on it. So much that I find myself gasping for air, then slowly, the pressure fades, and my breathing evens out.
 
            Slowly, I can see a sliver of light. Blinking a few times I can see that I’m in a bed, in an unfamiliar room.
‘It smells of death and medicine here.’ I think to myself. Finally it dawns on me, ‘I’m in a hospital?! How? Why?!’ I look around frantically, but the rooms void of any life aside my own. I open my mouth to holler; nothing comes out. I try to get up, but find it impossible, looking down at myself.
I’m human.

I think, but covered in bandages and a cast consumes my entire left leg. Almost to the point of hysteria, finally someone enters the room, it’s Chiienn!
‘Thank god!!’ She looks at me with her bright blue eyes, wide with shock, and… relief? She rushes to my side, hugging me like she thought she’d never get the chance to again. ‘What’s going on here?’ I smiled at her, hugging her back; one armed. It hurt to move my right arm, ‘Oh great, not another cast, not another cast, please not another cast!!’ I looked down. ‘Damn it! It’s in a cast! What happened to me?!’ I looked up into Chiienn’s eyes when she pulled away from me, searching her eyes for anything. But, they were quickly filling with tears. She wiped her eyes before rushing out of the room, yelling something along the lines of, “Everyone!! She’s awake!! Arekkusu!!!!! Meris! She’s awake!!!”
 
            Rushed footsteps sounded like a stampede was coming toward me. Seconds later Arekkusu was at the door way, breathing hard, like he’d raced here. His eyes widened in shock before he quickly strode to my side in three big steps, wrapping his arms around me in a death lock of a hug. I could feel his nose in my hair, inhaling, almost in a relieved way. When he pulled back to look at me, I gave him a look hinting him that I was clueless, and tried to speak again, but like the first time; nothing came out.
 
            Movement by the door caught my eye; it was Chiienn, and Keri! I smiled brightly at both of them. Hesitantly they smiled back, but didn’t budge. I frowned and opened my arms wide, signaling I wanted a hug. They looked at each other then at me, biting their lips. I growled softly, irritated.
‘I want a hug now damn it!’ I didn’t get the reaction I thought I’d get, they coward away!

I dropped my arms, staring at them blankly. I heard a growl from my right; it was Arekkusu. He was looking at Chiienn and Keri, slowly they entered the room; stopping at the foot of “my” bed. Chiienn sat on the edge of the bed, careful of my casted leg while Keri still stood behind her. I growled again, in frustration.
 
            Arekkusu grabbed my shoulder, soft, but firm. I looked up at him, his eyes looked clouded over, misty. Like he’d been crying. I gasped softly, somehow finally realizing what everyone was so scared for. I had almost died. Tears welled up in my eyes, falling down over my cheeks, but never reaching my chin before Arekkusu wiped them away. I looked up at him, extending my good arm, he nodded once and shifted me over in the bed to make room for him to lay beside me, hugging me to his side. I leaned against him, trying to get as close as possible. Nothing made sense! Why was I here? WHAT happened to me?!
 
            I opened my eyes, and Arekkusu was still by my side, his arms around me.
‘He’s so cute when he’s asleep… Asleep?!’ I looked toward the window, it was in fact daylight. I laid there perfectly content for the moment to just be held by his strong arms. I sighed. Silent tears streamed down my face, dripping onto his arm. I didn’t notice his hand move toward my face to wipe them away. I gasped a little, looking at him. He smirked at me, that all too familiar smirk.

I cleared my throat before hesitantly opening my mouth, “Wh… what happened… to me?” I grimaced at the sound of my voice, it was raspy, but it would do. The smirk quickly faded to a hard expression that I knew all too well. Something bad, real bad had happened.

 I touched his cheek lightly. He looked at me with hard eyes that quickly became soft with sadness.

“Please… Tell me. I want to know…”

He sighed, looking away. Finally, he spoke, softly; “I… don’t know exactly. I was out for my morning run, when I caught your scent. I knew you’re never up and around that early, so I went to check it out. About 10 miles out of our territory there you were… Waggin’ your tail at some strange wolf; like some love sick pup.”

His last words were harsh; I grimaced.

“First thing that came to my mind was, ‘Who did he think he was?! Comin’ up on my woman like that.’ And secondly, ‘Why was he in our territory?’”

I gasped, looking up at him,
‘My woman, huh?’

He continued, “Then there was a bright light, like headlights, only much brighter, and you were lying on the ground all banged up. The lucky SOB vanished.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
            I gasped, sitting up. Looking around, I was still on the roof… ‘What the…?! Not AGAIN!!’ I growled lowly, this was getting ridiculous. Every single night, it’s the same dream! No matter where I am. I sighed, looking up at the starry night sky, the moon beamed brightly above. it couldn’t be much later than midnight. I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my chin on top of my knees.

I heard a rustling in the tree I had earlier used to get from my balcony to the roof, moving to a low crouch I awaited whoever dare try to sneak up on me. ‘What am I doing? No one would ever think of looking up here! I think that dreams gettin’ to you Merisa.’  Lovely, Now I was talking to myself! I was seriously starting to lose it.
 
            Somebody grabbed me from behind, wrapping his arms around my stomach, pulling me back against a hard muscular chest. My eyes widened in a mixture of shock and fear, a scream rising in my throat that was quickly silenced by a large, rough hand clasping over my mouth. I could feel breath on my left ear, “Did I frighten you?” A husky voice whispered.

My eyes widened so big I thought they might pop out of my head. “Jerk!” I hissed, but relaxed my tense posture, leaning back against my guest.

I got a rumbling laughing in return, “What? Did you not think I knew of your little hide away?”

I tilted my head up to look at him, though upside down, I glared at him. “How’d you find out?” I pouted.

“Not hard when your scents all over the place.”

“Everyone’s scent is all over the house! Wrong answer.”

He cleared his throat. “And I might’ve seen you come up here several times.”

“HA! So you WERE spying on me! What if I came up here to get an even tan!”

“So?”

“SO?! I’d be NAKED, perv!”

“Really?”

I slapped his face. He laughed, “Kidding! And why would you come out to TAN in the middle of the night? Huh?”

“Ummm….”

“That’s what I thought.”
 
            I sighed, leaning back against him with a pout on my face, arms crossed. “What do you want Arekkusu?”

“Nothing, just merely to be with you.”

I could hear the smirk in his voice. I snorted, “Right, just like I want to be bed ridden again.”

His voice became softer, “Honestly. You’ve looked pained while you slept lately. Are you okay?”

My breath hitched, ‘Is it that noticeable?’ I groaned. “I have no idea… It’s some weird ass dream… Nightmare more like it…”

“What about?”

I shook my head. “It’s stupid.”

“Can’t be too stupid if it has you so riled up.”

I sighed and proceeded to tell him my confusing dream.
 
            After I finished telling my story, Arekkusu pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around my waist, and nuzzling his nose into my hair, inhaling deeply. I tried to turn to look at him, but his iron grip held me still. I gave in, settling back against him comfortably.

“That’ll never happen… I promise you. I won’t allow anything bad to ever happen to you again.”

I tilted my head to look at him, smiling. “I know. I trust you with my life.”

He smiled back, but his eyes were still distant, I touched his cheek, startling him. “Sorry… What’re you thinking about?”
 
He looked to the sky before looking down at me, nuzzling into my hair again he spoke; “You know how we all have our gifts…? How I have the gift of speed, Keri hearing, and Chiienn smell? I know you have good night vision… but… could there maybe, be something more for you…? Like this dream you keep having… Could it maybe, be the sign of a new gift for you…?”

I looked at him puzzled, “Like what? Seeing bad fortunes?”

“No… What if… What if that was a vision… What if that might actually happen?”

I looked down at our clasped hands, “Oh… I try not to think about that… if it is… Then why can’t I see what really happen?”

He shrugged. “Who knows?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

In the morning Chiienn and I met in the kitchen for our usual breakfast, as usual Keri and Arekku were still upstairs. Keri was always the last one out of bed. Though Keri wasn’t willingly dragged out of bed each morning by Arekkusu, but it was a humorous event that never gets old, and never is quite the same.

This morning it seemed that Keri was extra belligerent to get out of bed, thus was the ruckus we heard and then the scream that could shatter glass, and before us stands a dripping wet Keri.
 
“My, what happened this time?” I asked smiling, trying not to laugh.
 
“That jerk! He threw me in the shower and turned the cold water on! That’s what happened!!!”
 
Everyone, excluding Keri, couldn’t help but laugh. Then Arekkusu came downstairs with a grin plastered to his face, Keri stuck her tongue out at him before racing past him up the stairs. She stopped at the top of the stairs when she heard him start to follow.

“I’m not going back to bed! I’m changing into some DRY clothes now; thanks to you!!”

Everyone roared with laughter as a defeated Keri slumped to her room.
 
            Once Keri reemerged from her bedroom and descended the stairs our morning meal continued. Breakfast consisted of scrabbled robin’s eggs, fresh bacon, and homemade pancakes. Everyone helped out, but as usual. I ended up being the only one cleaning up the mess after breakfast.

After cleaning up I went for a three hour run to clear my mind of last night’s events. Sure I’ve always had feelings for Arekkusu, but he’s never returned them, not like that… It makes me wonder if something’s wrong with him. I shook my head and turned my MP3 player volume up louder and picked up my pace, drowning out all thoughts, and all my concentration on running to the fast beat of the heart pumping music.

Eventually making my way home. Our house was magnificent, and perfect for us. It’s an old Victorian style home built back in the late 1800’s. When we first came to this land it was a bit on the shabby side. More or less abandoned as the civilization of the town grew, leaving it to rot in the timbers. We worked to restore it, and here it stands today.

As you walk in the front door you step into a spacious room most commonly known as the Dining Hall, though it’s not a hall at all. In the center of the room is a huge solid-oak table big enough to seat 12 with matching chairs around it. Above the table is a small glass chandelier To the left of the table is a grand piano, passed down for many generations of Chiienn’s family it was still in perfect tune.

Adjoined at the north end of the Dining Hall is the kitchen, separated only by a breakfast bar. The kitchen is that of the kind only chefs dream of having; matching iron appliances of all the sorts, and very spacious. At the back of the kitchen is an old walk-in pantry closet; big enough to store enough food to last through the harsh winter months.

On the West Side of the kitchen there’s a long narrow hallway, branching off to the north are three rooms. The first you come to is a full bath, equipped with a tub/shower, toilet, and double sink. The second door leads to the laundry room. There are six laundry shoots that have baskets below them. Five of the shoots drop down from the ceiling, the sixth is on the east wall; coming from the bathroom next door. As you go down the hall to the third door, it leads to a huge Recreation Room that we added on.

It’s contents consist of two pool tables, a plasma screen TV that takes up most of the north wall, might I add that the walls are approximately 20ft high, a black soft-leather couch accommodates the plasma screen, along with surround sound speakers placed around the room. To the left of the TV are arcade games and an air hockey table. These take up most of the space of the west wall. Along the east wall are three 30” TV’s with gaming systems hooked to them. Accommodating the TV’s are plush red and black pillow-like chairs.

Moving back out to the hall, it continues to the south for about 5ft before it comes to a set of white French doors. The doors open inward to a room twice the size of the dining hall. To enter it you must go down five steps, this is what we call The Den.

Along the south wall are three desks widely spaced apart. Two of these desks contain desktop computers, the third, which happens to be the middle one, holds a reading lamp and several neatly stacked piles of books. A sleek midnight blue office chair sits before each desk. On the west wall is an entertainment system that would blow you away. It has everything you could only dream of; the newest stereo equipment, surround sound speakers that stand 5ft high, along with smaller speakers mounted on the walls all around the room. On the north wall is a soft couch that swallows you when you sit on it. The rest of the room has chairs, bean bags, pillows, blankets, of all the sorts.

About midway on the east wall of The Den is a door that leads to a staircase that takes you to the second level. First thing you see is a big space, to your right is Arekkusu’s room, to your left is Chiienn’s room. East of Chiienn’s room is a lounge area, then Keri’s room, that has a door to a stairway that goes up to my room. There’s another door that leads to my room outside of Keri’s room, south of that is the master bathroom, though we all share it unfortunately.

Usually I have first dibs because right outside my door is the bathroom door. It’s very luxurious; stand-in shower, Jacuzzi tub, regular tub with shower options, oh and four sinks! Did I mention we redid the upstairs bathroom ourselves?
 
Once home, I checked my email, yes even out here in the middle of the woods we do have Internet. Though I only get on every once in a blue moon to check mail from my cousins down south. I got an email from my cousin Arniamiko, she wrote:

“Meris!!!
 
Hey how’s life in the wild? Get it?!.. You’re in the woods… The wild… Right! Anyway! Why I’m writing you, is to forewarn you I will be there in about a week, I’m coming to live with you! It’ll be great! Just like old times! Oh and I’m bringing some old friends, sorry but I’ll explain EVERYTHING when I get there! Love you much!
*Miko*”

 
I stared blankly at the screen and looked at the date on the email; it was a week from tomorrow that it was sent…

“ZOMGAH!!! She’s going to be here TOMORROW?!?!” I shoved away from the computer and turned to run up the stairs, but ran into a wall in the process and fell back. “What the…” I looked up, and behold I had indeed ran into a wall. A wall of muscle.

There stood Arekkusu in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. “…Uh…” I couldn’t stop staring! ‘Tell him to go get dressed so we can call a meeting you dimwit! I will… Just… Oh, man I’m staring!’  I shook my head, “Uh, hey go get dressed, we need to call a meeting; now.”
 
            He gave me a funny look then went upstairs to his room; I caught myself staring after him and slapped myself for it. ‘It’d never work out, you know that’ I sighed and got up and brushed myself off. ‘Now, to find Chiienn and Keri.’
 
I found Chiienn out back practicing with her katana, she was getting good. “Hey, have you seen Keri? I looked throughout the house and haven’t seen her.”

“Um, I think I saw her in the treehouse about an hour ago. I think she’s sneaking in a nap while Arekkusu’s in the shower.” We giggled.

“Alright, well you can come help me look for her. I’m calling a house meeting.” She frowned and gave me a worried look. “Oh, no nothing bad. Just about some things I think you all should know about.”

“Oh, like what?”

“You’ll see.”

She shrugged defeated and followed me to the tree house. Indeed Keri was there, sound asleep. We always kept spare stuff stored up here, just for emergency occasions, and had a bucket to catch rainwater. It had apparently rained sometime during the night because there was water in the bucket.

I grinned at Chiienn, looking at the bucket. She grinned back with a nod. I stepped lightly over to the bucket and, careful not to make any noise, proceeded to pick up the bucket. Then continued to pour its’ contents of icy cold rainwater onto Keri’s head. Keri’s eyes snapped open, she sat up with a scream, Chiienn, and I could only laugh at the drenched Keri.

I wiped the moisture from my eyes and told Keri about the house meeting. She complained about traitorous housemates that do not respect a person’s sleep. “I need to change again.”

“That can wait ‘till after the meeting, it won’t take too long. And besides, you’re not made of sugar. You won’t melt.”

She gave me ‘the look’ and asked, “How do YOU know that I’m not made of sugar?”

I looked at her skeptically, and grinned, “Because if you were, you’d have either melted already from all the water Arekku has thrown on you, or he’d have eaten you by now.”

Keri shivered at a mental flashback of Arekkusu’s last big intake of sugar.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
            Once we made it into the house Arekkusu was waiting for us in the den.
“Okay, I’m sure all of you are wondering what exactly this meeting is about.”

Everyone nodded. “Well, I got an email from my cousin down south, Arniamiko. Apparently she’s taken it upon herself, without consulting me first, that she’s decided to live with me.”

Everyone had a puzzled look on his or her faces, I sighed. Keri’s’ expression changed into a very serious one before she raised her hand, waving it anxiously. I chuckled, “Yes, Keri?”

“Uh... Okay, first; Who’s Army-neko?! Secondly, why did you talk like you’re the only one who lives here?”

I smiled, “Well first its Are-nee-ah-mi-co; Arniamiko. Secondly, I haven’t heard from her for a while, last she knew, I was living on my own.”
 
“So… She doesn’t know who we are?”

“No...”

“WHAT?! She doesn’t know who I am?! WAAAAHH!!! Whhhy?! Don’t you love me enough to tell your cousin about your favorite cub!!!”

I laughed, “Keri! She doesn’t know about any of you. That’s what I’m saying; I haven’t talked to her since before I met any of you.”

“Ohhhh… But, when she gets here you’ll introduce her to me, riiiiiight?!”

I laughed, “Yes. Keri, you’ll get to meet her.”

 “Oh… Well… YAY!!!!”

“But, why’d she suddenly decide to come here?” Chiienn chirped in.

“I don’t entirely know… She said we’d hang out like old times... Only time we had a need to ‘hang out’ back then was to run from some rouge wolvren that went mad.”
 
I got some wide-eyed responses and continued quickly, “but that was a long time ago. Not much of that happens anymore.”

“Ohhhh, so there’s not like some crazed pack of wolf slaughtering wolves after her, is there?”

“Uh, Chiienn. Like I said to Keri, I’m not sure why she’s coming, all I know is what I’ve already told you; She’s coming here with the thought of staying here, for what reasons, I’m still not sure of yet.”
Edited by HopefulDreamer91, Feb 28 2010, 03:06 AM.
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Chapter 3


“Meris? Pssst, Mee-rrr-iiii-sssssss?! Helll-oooo? Anyone home?”

I looked around my bedroom groggily, then at the clock on the nightstand. It read 4:30AM. I groaned and rolled over with the intention of going back to bed and cursing my illusive mind later when I had the energy to care.

–CLINK-

I opened one eye and lazily looked around, nothing.

–CLINK, CLINK, CLINK-

“What the…” I sat up in bed and looked at the window in time to see another rock hit the glass. “What in the world.” I got up and went to investigate by poking my head out the window to holler at whomever dared to wake me at such an ungodly hour, bad idea.

No sooner had I stuck my head out the partially open window did a rock meet my forehead.

“OUCH!”

I rubbed where the offending rock had made contact and glared down into the still dusky morning at five black figures.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“WOMAN! I’m sooo going to wring your butt! What’s the deal?! Comin’ here at 4:30 IN THE MORNING and throwing rocks! Rocks at the window is one thing, but at my FACE?!”

“MERIS!! Calm down! I wasn’t sure if you were awake! Therefore, I threw another rock before I saw that you were in the window! You just blended in so well.”

My eyebrow twitched in anime style irritation, “Are you calling me pale?”

“Huh?”

 “The house is WHITE, Hun. You said I blended. DO I LOOK THAT PALE TO YOU?!!!”

“AHHH!!! Don’t hurt me!! I’m sorry! I knew there was a reason I never woke you up too early, now I remember why!”

I growled in irritation before starting to calm down.

 I looked at the four boys behind her. And laughed at how far behind her they actually stood,  "Hey guys... Sorry, not exactly the morning type.” I smiled nervously.

I got three nods and an oddly familiar chuckle in reply.  I sighed, “You guys can come in… At least say something. I promise I won’t bite; hard.”

I saw muscles tense, but slowly one by one they jumped up to the window I held open for them, and couldn’t help but laugh, “Only kidding! Wow… C’mere, lemme get a better look at you to see if I see any familiar faces.”
 
            I looked them over, and had to do a double take! I couldn’t believe it! “Oh my…” I slowly approached the four boys, each stiffened only slightly, except for the really cute one, he had a lopsided grin on his face that made my eyes widen in immediate recognition as I flung myself at him.

"TAKI!!!!!!!" I said, almost a sob of pure astonishing glee. "ZOMGAH!!!! I can't believe it's you?!?" I hugged him tightly then looked around at everyone staring at the scene I'd made, my loud outbursts had alarmed everyone in the house, so I had quite the audience. I looked at each one and smiled with tears in my eyes as I looked over the other three boys, a tear slipped down my cheek as they joined my embrace with Corataka, aka Taki, squeezing me so tight I thought I might pass out! But it was a good feeling.

“Joen!!!, Wiru!, Jemi! I cannot believe that I’m seeing you, ALIVE!! In this house of all places!”

I wiggled out of the clatter of arms to step back to get a better look at them. They’d certainly changed, so much that I couldn’t believe it was the same four boys I grew up with. The four stooges I grew up with; my stooges.

On the right stood Jemi, he was the most serious of the four, sometimes uptight about anything and everything, but still hilarious when he felt like it. He stood at a whopping 6’0, which was on the short side for our kind, especially next to his twin brother; Joen. Jemi’s well built, not to the point you could drool over, but well enough to know that there wasn’t any fat. He had light brown shaggy hair that hung over his ears and half his face most of the time; he had it framed around his face now, showing off his pretty sky-blue eyes.
           
In the middle stood Joen, he was the jokester of the group He loved to make people laugh, but when the time called for it; he could be the most serious person in the world. He was Jemi’s twin brother, though you couldn’t tell by just looking at them. Joen stood around 6’7, and very well built. You could see how muscular he was by just looking at him! His hair was short jet black, but slightly curly, he had eyes to match his hair for they were like an endless black pit.
And on the left stood Wiru. Good ‘ole Wiru, he always knew how to make me smile. He was more of the intermediary, personality wise, and height wise.

He could be completely serious one minute, then just burst out laughing like someone had just told him the funniest joke in the world. He was quite the character, his pretty blue-green eyes shone when he laughed. He’s of no real relation to Joen and Jemi; but was still a brother to them, as well as to me. That’s who they are; my brothers.
Wiru stood around 6’4, with short dark-brown hair that ended at the tops of his ears, he's on the pale side with long, but not lanky, arms and legs; you’d think he’d be able to dunk a basketball standing flat foot! He has undertone muscles, but they were definitely there.

Arniamiko stood to the far left of the boys, standing at a whopping 5’8, she was a bit on the short side but definitely had a lot of spunk. Her dirty blonde tresses hung just below shoulder height, a few strands hanging over her mysterious blue-grey eyes. Miko was always hyper, she always knew how to control a scene, I guess that explains how she’s kept those boys in line all this time, she’s very curvy in a drooling kinda way, but watch out boys, she’ll knock you in your place if she catches you staring at anything but her face.

Then there's Corataka, ah how I loved that boy! Out of all of them, he's the one I had grown closest to when we were growing up together. He's not very tall, maybe 6'3, but definitely got a lot of spunk in him if the time ever came, I knew he could hold his own in a fight, and probably win. He's the strongest willed guy I know, and most caring/understanding that I've ever met!! I have to admit I've had a crush on him for as long as I can remember, and let me tell you, he's not bad to look at!! I could feel some of those old feelings reemerge as I looked him over, he'd grown his pretty brown hair out in the front, so that it hung over the left side of his face, while the back was still short. His eyes were a kind-warm brown, same as I remember them, and his muscles! Were definitely there... The shirt he wore exposed his arms and part of his chest.
 
“Oh my gosh guys, I’ve missed you sooo much!! How’d you… I mean… I thought… What happened?”

The smiles that had graced their handsome faces disappeared so quickly you’d have thought it was never there. Joen looked at Jemi; Jemi looked at Joen then to Wiru, Wiru glanced at Corataka, then all four pairs of eyes landed on me.

I looked anxiously from each pair of eyes, egging them on to explain to me what happened so many years ago…
 
My thoughts were interrupted when Joen stepped forward and cleared his throat.

“Well, you see… After you left…”

As he went on to tell everyone of our dreadful past, it all came back to me. Everything I had once forgotten; everything that seemed nothing more than a nightmare I had once lived was now becoming realistic once again.
Edited by HopefulDreamer91, Feb 27 2010, 05:36 PM.
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Chapter 4



Looking around you’d think you were trapped in some old-fashioned horror film. Bodies and blood everywhere you look. Homes blazing with fires fueled by burning torches. Women calling for their young. Babies crying. Men were being slaughtered one-by-one.
 
Running. Breathing hard, sweat mixed with tears and blood pouring over my face as I raced for the tree line that surrounded our small village; Arniamiko, Corataka, Wiru, Joen, and Jemi not far behind me.

Panting hard I stopped once we were concealed from view of anyone looking from the surrounding area. “Is everyone alright?” Five shaky nods were my replies. “No matter what, we have to get out of here. Remember what the Leader said? We must get away at all costs.. Even at the costs of our family’s lives’…” I sniffled and wiped concentration from my forehead.

“Does everyone remember the plan? We split up.. Same groups as we’ve practiced.”

Arniamiko gave me a horrid look, “You can’t go by yourself!! What if they track you!?”

I looked at her kindly, “Then that’s the risk I’ll take.” I wrapped my arms around her, “You’ll always be in here,” I tapped my forehead.

“As will I. Don’t forget we still have the gift from the Elders. But don’t use it lightly either. The Wolvren may have the gift too. If you need me, I’m only a thought away. Be safe my sister.”

Shifting my gaze to the four boys I nodded toward them, “Take care of our sister. Help keep her strong. And keep each other strong as well."

I stepped to Corataka and kissed his cheek softly, "Be safe."

I was done saying my good-byes, I couldn’t stand it. Wiping tears from my eyes I turned to head north, but two hands caught both my arms.

I turned to see Joen grasping one arm and Corataka had the other. Looking up at their faces I could see they wanted to say something, something to make me go with them, or to allow them to come with me.

Joen let me go with a sad look in his eyes, Corataka gave me a look so painful I almost looked away, but I didn't.

He pulled me into his arms, hugging me fiercely before brushing his lips against mine.

“Promise me,” he whispered, “Promise me that you’ll come back to me someday.”

I looked up into his bright shimmering eyes and couldn’t keep the tears from flowing from my own, I nodded, “I promise.”

Giving him one last hug, and a glance at the others, I changed forms, stealthily speeding off in the northern direction.

The direction of where I would find more difficulties with growing civilization, but most importantly, I would find friends. A place to call home.
 
First came the difficult times. I had gone further north than I had ever dreamed of going. The further I went, the fewer trees there were! There were more open fields, but those weren’t good for hiding in, even in my wolf form, the grass was freshly cut.

Everywhere I went I could pick up this strange scent, I’d smelt it before, but I couldn’t place what it was exactly. It was almost Loup Garoux, but not quite.

I soon found out that this strange scent was that of humans. Can you believe it? Humans! They’re remarkable creatures. They wear only one skin! They cannot change into a beautiful wolf or any other animal for that matter,
‘How sad’ I thought to myself.
 
After months of surviving I came across the scent of a Loup Garoux! Not familiar, but definitely a male Loup Garoux. I approached his territory with caution, he was a loner. Male Loup Garoux are usually very territorial.

From the bush I concealed myself in I could see him in his human form, pounding a hammer on boards cut from fallen trees.
'Has he gone mad?'

He was standing not 5ft from the largest hut I’d ever laid eyes on yet he was pounding wood as if he were making another. As I pondered this, he slipped from my sight.
'Not good… Who knows where he could be –'

He pounced me! He had actually snuck up on me and pinned me down! I couldn’t believe it. I was baffled.

I whined, snapping at his long hair.
‘Let me up you creep!’ I barked at him.

He gave me a sidelong glance. “Who sent you.”

I stopped to stare at him, cocking my head to the side in a confused look,
‘Sent me? Why are you some stray runaway from the pound?’ He growled at me. 

I barked a laugh.
‘Oh I hit a nerve did I? So which is it? A stray or is the pound really after you?'

“Listen here pup. I haven’t the time for your insolent games. Now why are you sneaking around my property?”

‘Let me up first.’ Begrudgingly he let me up, I shook the grass from my fur and stretched, turning human. “Oh wow, that hit the spot.” The stretch had done my back justice.

I stood up turning to face him, “Now pup you say? The only insolent being I see here is the one who stands before me. And I was not ‘sneaking around’ I was merely seeing who was in the neighborhood. Is that a crime these days?”

At first I didn’t think he heard me. All he did was stare at me like I had two heads. I waved my hand in front of his face. “Hello, mister. Are you okay?”

He shook his head, giving me a hard look. “I’m fine” he barked out.

I frowned, “No need to get snappy!” I crossed my arms, wandering towards his abnormally large hut. “Did you build this yourself mister?”

He growled, “Knock of the mister crap, pup.”

“Then knock off the pup crap, mister. And you have yourself a deal.” I smirked as the look on his face hardened.

“My grandfather built it. I’m merely adding on.”

I stared at him like he was the one with two heads, “Adding on!? Heaven sakes what for? Is your mate expect 5 liters?”

His face went bright red as he stuttered, “I don’t have a mate you-.. I don’t have a mate.” He stated firmly.

I rolled my eyes, “Whatever you say.”

I stuck my hand out, “Names Merisa, and you are…?”

He stared at my outstretched hand like I had fleas; okay so maybe I did, but he didn’t have to stare! Finally he looked me in the eye, “Arekkusu.”

I smiled, "I think this is the beginning of a bea-u-tiful friendship Arekku." I said patting him on the shoulder.

He gave me a skeptical look, "One, don't call me Arekku. And two," he shrugged my hand off, "don't touch me."

I pouted, "Aw c'mon Arekku. You'll grow to love that name; promise." I finished with a grin. He merely shook his head and muttered something about females and how he'd never understand them.

I frowned, "HEY!" He turned around. "Was that directed at me?"

He smirked like he knew something I didn't, "No, not at all."

I smiled, "Oh, okay!" I thought to myself,
'I'll play along with your stupid mind games just to see where this is going.'

I followed him up the path to the front of his hut, he paused then turned to face me. "Where do you think you're going?"
I looked around, "Who? Me?" I smiled. "Oh! Well, you see... I don't have any place of my own, so I was hoping.." I kicked the dirt at my feet. "I was hoping that I could stay here with you?"

He stared me down with that two headed freak look again, "Just for awhile! I promise! It'll be like I'm not even here."
His stare lessened it’s intensity but was still a stare that I didn't like the looks of. "Puh-leeeease!" I gave him my very best puppy dog look, my wolf features seeping through showing my wolf ears down.

"Oh alright. Just don't look at me like that."

I grinned, "Why? Because I'm just too adorable to resist?"

"No. Because it makes me want to tear my eyes out it sickens me so much."

I smacked the back of his head, "Jerk. That's no way to talk to a lady."

"BAH! Lady? Where?" He was grinning ear to ear by now.

I was seething, "Oh, I'll show you lady." I grumbled under my breath as I shoved past him and into -OUR- hut.

It has been almost a year since I stumbled upon Arekkusu and our banter hasn't lightened up any, if anything it has gotten much worse over the months. But I enjoy the challenge and even though he says he hates me being here, I think he secretly loves the company.

It was like any other day, we went for a run through the forest that conceals -OUR- home from the human world, enjoying the fresh air and all of nature and whatnot. But there was something wrong; I could just sense it.

"Hey Arekku?" He grunted his acknowledgment "Does something seem.... off to you?" He stopped and glanced around slowly, listening, searching; he froze.

"What? What do you hear?" I looked at him nervously. Somehow I KNEW what was out there, but was too scared to acknowledge the thought, too scared that it'd be true.

He looked at me, "We have company." His look hardened, "And they're not friendly, either." 

My heart stopped.

I froze. "No.... It' can't be them... Not here.. Not now.."

He glanced at me worriedly, like he wanted to put his arms around me or do something -ANYTHING- to make me stop shaking as tremors shook up and down my whole body. "Merisa?"

But it was too late. "I know who they are. I know what they want."

"You're really starting to scare me, are you okay? How do you  know what they want?"

I gave him a small sad smile. "Easy. I know because it's me that they want."
'They found me.. Now what do I do..'[/i]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Everyone had entered my room and sat quietly listening to Joen tell his -THEIR- story, as I relived mine in my minds eye, I could still see that day, hear every tree branch swish in the wind. Waiting in agonizingly painful silence. Waiting for -THEM- to come and try to take me back "home".

"Bah." I mumbled. I saw from the corner of my eye that Arekkusu gave me a small smile, I looked up, but his stoic, unreadable, expressionless facade had returned. 

Edited by HopefulDreamer91, Feb 27 2010, 05:50 PM.
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Chapter 5


Subconsciously, I had snuggled closer to Corataka, who hadn't left my side since I threw myself at him. I smiled up at him as he squeezed my shoulder in a comforting way. "Taki, I'm fine." I sniffled a little, "I promise."

He smiled, kissing the top of my head, "You fo' sho'?"

I giggled lightly, "Yea, fo' sho'." I looked around, everyone was still just standing in my room, I nudged him, "So, uh.. What's going on? I kinda spaced out there for awhile.."

"Not a lot, Joen just finished telling our side of the story, I think your friends are having a hard time taking it all in."

I glanced at what had become my new family, Chiienn was holding a sobbing Keri, Arekkusu's face was emotionless as always, but his eyes showed pain for what my brothers and sister had been through. 'Wish I had been paying attention, I really wanna know what happen to them!! No matter, I'll get it out of Taki later.'

I gave him one last big squeeze before leaving the warmth and comfort of his arms to be with Keri and Chiienn. 

Keri looked up when she heard approaching footsteps and immediately launched herself at me, clinging to me for dear life.

"Shhh, It's okay." I said, while rubbing her back in slow circles.

She sobbed a hiccup then slowly she started to relax and settle down. Looking up at me through tear blurred eyes she asked, "Was it really that horrible? Did all of those awful things happen to you too before you found Arekku?"

I smiled at her gently, "I don't think I had it near as bad as they did." 

A warm large hand squeezed my shoulder, I looked back to see Corataka standing there, with that same smile he always wore. "It wasn't that bad. We survived didn't we?" He stepped closer to whisper in my ear, "I found you didn't I? How can it get any better than that?"

I could feel my cheeks heat up ever so slightly, and heard Keri giggle as she had overheard what he said. I looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay! Now that everyone knows everyone else, where do we put you guys?" I looked at each of our new "Housemates". Joen, Jemi, and Wiru were comfortably lounging on the soft leather couches in the Den, they looked at one another, grinned, looked at me, and announced all at once "We call the Den!!"

I shook my head and laughed, looking toward Arniamiko I was about to suggest she should stay with me since she was my cousin who I needed to catch up with, but Keri beat me to it.

"Army-Neko!!!! You should sweep with me!! You need to know, I'm the pup! The favorite pup!! And .... And if you don't know me... Imma cry..."

Arniamiko laughed and moved to hug Keri, "The pup, huh? But you're so tall! I should've guessed though, you're by far the cutest one here." She winked at me, "I'd be honored to share a room with you, Keri."

Keri glomped Arniamiko in pure joy, "YAY!!! I GET TO SWEEP WITH THE ARMY-NEKO!!!" Everyone laughed at that.

I was about to turn to where Taki was sitting to ask where he'd like to sleep, when a pair of strong arms snaked around my waist, I felt his hot breath against my neck as he spoke softly, "I'd love to stay in your room, if you don't mind, Meris-Kun."
I felt my heart skip a beat and my face felt like it was on fire. I heard cat calls from the couches, along with snickering. I turned to give each a death glare that made them all instantly shut up. Satisfied, I turned in his arms, "Wh-what'd you call me?"

He smirked, that familiar grin of his, "Meris-Kun?" I looked away for a moment, then looked back up at him, smiling.

"So why my room? Why not Chiienn's? Or Arekku's? I mean, Chiienn's so much prettier than I am, and Arekku, well he's got a lot of muscle, and you're not bad lookin'. I'm sure your looks could convince him to switch teams." I winked at him and Arekku, who was standing a few feet behind Taki. Both growled lowly at me, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Taki's grip around my waist got tighter, "You think that's funny woman?" He had that look in his eyes, I knew what he was up to! "Hey- Taki, no. Bad." I tried to squirm out of his grasp, but he was so darn strong!

He smirked at me, "You asked for it." He let go with one arm, keeping the other tight, and tickled me! The jerk! He tickled me till I was gasping for breath and begging him to stop.

"Ta-Tak-iiii...... Ple-ee-ass-eee...... ST-OOOOP!" I gasped out, grabbing his wrists weakly, all my energy drained from laughing so hard.

He looked down at me, with a somewhat serious face, but I could see the smirk in his eyes. "Only if you ever answer me, Meris-Kun."

I blinked at him, "What'cha mean? 'Answer you'? Answer what?"

He faked a hurt look, "You never gave me an answer of whether it was okay for me to sleep with you or not."

My eyes got all big and I choked on my words, "WH-AAA-AT?!?!"

Realization crossed his face at what it sounded like he was asking. "WAIT!! That's not what I meant! Not like THAT!!!" His face was beet red, "I meant, you never answered if it was okay for me to stay in your room..."

I smirked at him, "HA! Got'cha! Haha, I knew what'cha meant. Just wanted to see you sweat." I hugged him and kissed his cheek. "Of course it's okay for you to sleep WITH me." I gave him a wink as I walked up the stairs to go take a shower. Leaving him staring after me with a dumb-founded look on his cute face.

I giggled to myself softly, remembering the look on Taki's face as I walked up the stairs. 'Ah, that was priceless.' I was stretched out on my king-sized bed in nothing but a towel, my bed is sooooo comfy.
'I should probably go get dressed before Keri or Miko come barging in here. Or worse, my new roommate. I think I embarrassed him enough for today, he'd probably set on fire if he saw me now.'

No sooner had I finished that thought, I heard footsteps storming up the stairs then Taki burst into my room, slamming the door shut and leaning against it completely out of breath.

"Sorry to barge in here like that but -" His sentence cut short as he looked at me. "Uh.....d-uh....." his face turned bright red, all the way to his ears! 'He's so cute when he's embarrassed.' "I can..... I can leave." He turned to open the door.

"No, that's okay, I was getting ready to get dressed anyway."

He looked back at me, eyes slightly big in a 'WHAT?!' kinda way.

I giggled, "I mean, you don't have to leave, but you can't look either. Turn around."

He nodded and did as I told him.

After I was dressed I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around him. "So why'd you rush in here like a bat outta hell?"

He turned to give me a slightly confused look, "OH! Yea.... Keri was chasing me..."

I laughed, "Keri? Why?"

He looked down and mumbled something I couldn’t quite hear.

I laughed, "What was that? I can't hear you."

He looked at me, defeated, "She was trying to put bows in my hair.."

I couldn't help but snicker, "Why?"

He gave me a small glare, "She said she wanted me to look 'pwetty' for you..."

I smiled as I ran my hand through his hair, "Aw, how sweet. But, I think you look pretty, just how you are." I kissed his cheek, "But... Your smell, that could use some improvement. Showers that way." I said, handing him a towel and pointing him in the direction of the master bathroom.

Taking the towel he glared at me and reached for the door handle. Slowly he opened the door, looking both ways to make sure Keri wasn't waiting for him before he quickly but quietly dashed down the stairs, making a beeline for the bathroom, pulling the door shut behind him. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Somewhere in a dark and dingy cave gathered a group of rouge wolvren, the very same that had burned Merisa's home to the ground, the ones seeking her out, for what reason, no one knows.

"I'm telling you, I can sense her nearby, I can smell the stench of her mother's blood that courses through her pathetic being." Snarled one dark figure, "We should follow it while it's still fresh, hunt her down before she notices we're tracking her. Remember last time we got this close and didn't act fast? The wench fled! DISAPPEARED!! That was 15 years ago, we can't come this close and risk losing her again! The boss will have all our hides this time." He glared at the other four disheveled figures staring at him. "Do you want to be like the last idiot who had to return to the boss empty handed?"

A cold shiver racked each ones body. "I didn't think so. We leave at dusk." He turned to glare out of the cave entrance, 'I'll hunt you down and drag you back myself, little Miyana, and I'll enjoy every bit of it.' His blood stained teeth gleamed a faint rust color as the fading sunlight hit them.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s been a little over an hour since Merisa made Corataka go shower……

"TAKI!!! HURRY UP IN THERE!!" I hollered through the closed bedroom door, pounding on it with my fist.

"Just a minute!!" Came his muffled reply.

I growled, "I don't have a - EEEEK!!!"

Keri and Chiienn came speeding up the stairs, both armed with water balloons. "NO. Bad. NOT in the house you two!"

They just grinned, approaching me from either side, backing me against my bedroom door. "But big sister, we're just returning the favor" Keri smirked. "You know, from all those mornings you laughed your tail off after Arekkusu drenched me so bad that I came down looking like a drowned rat!" She hurled a balloon at me, it burst against my chest.
       
  I looked down at my soaked chest, then looked back up at the two girls through my eye lashes, with a fanged smirk, "Oh, it's on now."

Keri's smirk instantly faded as she backed away. "Now now, you... you can't hurt me. I'm just a pup!"

I snorted, "Keri, by human law, you're almost an adult. That trick doesn't work anymore. Not in this case. It's on like donkey kong!" I pounced Keri, pinning her down, breaking almost all the balloons she was holding in the process.

"Aw.. Maaaan... For once I thought I wouldn't end up being soaked."

Chiienn was trying not to laugh, “‘It's on like donkey kong’? That's so old and lame! Oh, right. That's why it suits you." She said, matter-of-factly.
           
I looked up at her, with a smile plastered on my face. "Oh no, my sweet, sweet Chiienn. That is where you're wrong."

"Oh? How's that?"

"'Cuz, you my dear, are the lame one, so to speak."

Chiienn perked a brow, "Oh? And how exactly am I the lame one? Grandma."

I grinned, "Because I'm not the one who looks like she wet her pants."

Chiienn looked down at her dry clothes, confused. "Uh, is your sight going with your old age? I'm dry, you dork."

"Not anymore" I nailed Chiienn with a water balloon that didn't burst when I had tackled Keri.

Finally Corataka emerged from the bedroom, “What’s all the fuss about?” He looked down at Keri and I then back up to a distraught Chiienn who was staring at her pants. He couldn’t help himself, he started cracking up, “What in the world happened out here?”

“This!” I said as I flung the last water balloon at his face.

“Huh?” He looked at me just as it came in contact with his face and burst, drenching him in cold water.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was night time, everyone was fast asleep. Everyone but me that was. ‘Why can’t I sleep? I have a heater to cuddle with now and yet I still can’t sleep!!’ I glanced over at Taki as he slept soundly. I shifted my head to the doorway, I heard footsteps, soft, quiet. ‘Chiienn?’

Quietly Chiienn snuck up the stairs to my room, gently rapping on the door at the top of the stairs before slowly opening the door. “Meris....”

I quietly slunk out of bed, careful not to disturb a sleeping Taki. I led her halfway back down my stairs, “What’s wrong Chii?”

She looked up at me through her lashes before looking back down at her hands folded in her lap. “I... I smell something coming.. It smells like Loup Garoux, but they’re bad.. Real bad. They smell foul.”

I could feel my chest tightening, “Do you smell the scent of burning timber mixed with dried blood?”

Her eyes widened a little in shock as she slowly nodded her head. ‘Damn.... Not here.. Not now..’ I looked back at her, “Chiienn, we have to get out of here. How long will you think it’ll take them to get here?”

“Maybe an hour.. I’m not entirely sure.”

I nodded, “Then we have a 40min head start. Go back down and get Keri, Arniamiko, and Arekkusu up, tell them not to ask questions, just tell them Merisa says we have to go and we have to go now. Send Arekkusu down to the Den to round up the trio, tell him to tell them escape plan zero. They’ll know what to do.”

I hurried back up the stairs and shook Taki awake, he was startled at first until he noticed it was just me, “What’s going on?”

“No time to explain, we gotta go. Now. They found me.. They’re coming. I’ve already informed Chiienn to tell the others we’re using escape plan zero.”

His eyes widened before adjusting into a serious expression, “You’re not going on your own again. I won’t let you. There’s more of us now, we can split equally.”

I shook my head, “Arekkusu could handle himself I have no doubt, but Chiienn and Keri don’t know this life, they’ve never faced death like this. I need you guys to protect them, keep them safe. It’s me those vile creatures are after, I won’t let them kill anymore of my family. Not this time.” There were tears welling up in my eyes, but none fell.

Taki stood up and pulled me to him, holding me tightly, “I won’t let you go alone. I’ll order the trio to take care of your new family, and Miko can guide them, but I’m staying with you.”

“Taki! You can’t-”

“Merisa! I can. I am. I just got you back, I’m not losing you again.”

“Taki....” he bent to kiss me, his lips so soft against mine. Finally the tears fell in streams down my cheeks. He pulled away, brushing the tears away with his thumbs, “We’ll get through this together, I won’t let them have you.”
Edited by HopefulDreamer91, Feb 27 2010, 06:17 PM.
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HopefulDreamer91
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Chapter 6

In the distance you could hear the horrific sound of wolves. It was not the peaceful howl you hear on the nights of the full moon, no. This was the howl of a hunt; a hunt for blood and revenge.

We had gathered everyone down in the Den, gone over the plan. Jemi, Joen, Wiru, and Arniamiko were to accompany Arekkusu, Chiienn, and Keri to a safe place. Any place, just far from this location, travel non-stop for at least a day and a half.

Corataka would accompany me, only because I couldn’t convince him to go with the others. ‘There’s no point in anyone coming with me.. I’m surely going to die, so why drag anyone down with me?’ I shook my head, ‘No, I’m not going down without a fight, with any luck I’ll get them all before they get me.’

My thoughts trailed off as Taki put his hand on my shoulder, I looked up at him slightly startled. “Everything’s going to be fine hun.” He said with a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

I smiled and nodded my head, “Yeah, I know. I’m just worried about the others. What if they don’t all come after us? What if they split up and go after the others? I couldn’t stand myself if anything happened to any of them...”

Corataka pulled me to him in a hug, “They’ll be fine. The trio can handle themselves, and so can Miko. I don’t know Arekkusu very well but I imagine he can handle his own too, those girls will be fine.”

I nodded, wiping away the moisture that had gathered in my eyes. “Okay, well, we need to be leaving now.”

Arekkusu and Chiienn approached us, "We're going with you." Chiienn stated matter-of-factly, with a slight grin.

'Why is she grinning? Ugh, I don't have time to worry about it.' "Okay, but be on guard, okay?"

Arekkusu nodded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Corataka, Chiienn, Arekkusu, and I split off in the direction of those vile creatures, while Arniamiko and the trio took Keri somewhere safe. I fought Chiienn to go with them but she refused. Arekkusu is too thick headed, and I could really use his raw power in this soon to be fight.

'It all comes down to this.. You know you'd have to face them someday.. You can do this.' My thoughts made me shaky, but I steeled myself, 'They killed our parents, they killed everyone in our pack.. the whole village. I was hopeless to do anything back then, but now I will avenge all our fallen comrades..'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arniamiko, Joen, Jemi, Wiru, and Keri came to a stop in a densely secured area, it was close to a stream, and there was plenty of shelter. Arniamiko put her hand on Keri’s shoulder, "This should be far enough, we're down wind, so they couldn't catch your scent and they're not after you, they're after Meris."

Keri nodded, but with a confused look, "Why're you talking as if I'm the only one staying here.."

Arniamiko looked at the trio then back to Keri, "Regardless of what Merisa says, we've got to go help her. We agreed to get you to safety, and that idiot Chiienn was supposed to come, but she didn't listen. There's something off about that one.. Something I don't like... But we have to go back. I'm sorry, but you have to stay here, if anything happened to you Merisa would be crushed. Please understand, she's fighting a battle that we should all be fighting."

Keri nodded, "I understand.. I'll be fine on my own..." her words were shaky, no one really believed her.

Jemi stepped forward, "I'll stay here, just incase. If one of those.. things, catches her scent they'd come after her just to see us suffer."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had intercepted the wolvren's path, there were five of them, filthy and vile smelling, their appearances matched their smell. I couldn't tell if I knew any of them, they all rank of dried blood and burning timber. Their faces were covered with black torn cloth, much like their attire that was mostly torn and dirtied with who knows what.

"I don't understand why I'm so important to you. You already took all that I had, all that I ever loved, you destroyed my whole life, what else do you want?!" I growled as their apparent leader stepped closer.

He merely snarled with a bark of a laugh, "Do you really think we'd let you get away little Miyana?"

"Miyana..? No, you've been mistaken. I'm not the one you're looking for."

He grinned in a devilish way, exposing his yellow blood stained fangs, "Oh, but I assure you we've found you at last. No more running. We can do this the hard way, or the easy way. Either way you're coming with us. There's someone who's been waiting a very long time to see you, little Miyana."

With a growl I leaped at him, half transformed, fangs and claws extended as I slashed at his face, he narrowly evaded my attack.

"What gives you the right to call me by that name? Who sent you!"

His grin turned more wolfish as his jaw extended, as he began to transform to his wolf-self. "Isn't it obvious?" He snarled, "Who do you think burnt down our village?"

'Our..?'

His laugh was more of a howl mixed with a snarl, "Oh this is rich, do you really not recognize your own kin, dear sister?"

I stumbled slightly, "Mek...Mekichi..? But... No.. You.. You died!! That's not possible!"

Taki came to my side, "That's impossible! We watched you burn! You and the rest of the villagers.. They all burned to death!" His fangs were extending, he was shaking in rage and shock.

He finished his transformation with a ear piercing howl, 'There are benefits to being a rouge. Like the fact that we're nearly indestructible!’ His voice rung inside my head as he lunged at me, his red eyes crazy, hungry, for blood. My blood.

Still in mid-transformation I leaped at him, colliding with him in mid-air. I wrapped my clawed hands around his throat, forcing my claws into his tough fur.We landed hard, I had him pinned down by the neck, but he yelped and snapped at my face, catching the side of my neck, I growled, digging my claws in deeper and snapped at his ear, successfully biting off the tip.

Mekichi used his weight to throw me off of him, but quickly doubled back, aiming for my throat. Corataka, who was fully transformed by now, tackled Mekichi away from me, but a little too late. Mekichi's fangs sank into my throat, I howled in pain.

'It doesn't have to be this way Miyana, you can still join us.'

'I'd rather die then join you!'
I snarled in reply, 'You're dead to me! You died the day you walked out of the village, the day you turned your back on our family! On me!'

Mekichi was ripped away from my throat and slung to the ground by Corataka. You could hear the crunching of bones as Corataka tightened his jaw on Mekichi's side. Mekichi let out a snarl and swiped a clawed paw at Corataka's face.

I watched as Corataka fought Mekichi, 'Taki...'
Corataka and Mekichi had been best friends when we were pups. Inseparable. When we started training, they were sparing partners, the best of our age group, and equally matched.

I shifted my gaze from them to Arekkusu and Chiienn fighting the other four wolvren, alarm struck me as I forgot we left them to fight those four on their own, but Arekkusu seemed to be handling himself fine. There was one knocked out on the ground, another floating down the creek, and the other two were being handled by Arekkusu and Chiienn. But something seemed off about Chiienn's fight... It seemed played... Like neither her nor her opponent were really trying to kill the other.

'That's weird... But.. Chiienn is my best friend.. She wouldn't join these filthy mutts, no she wouldn't betray me.. Would she..?'

I could hear Arniamiko's voice in my head 'Merisa??! MERISA!'

'WHAT! I can hear you. What're you hollering about? Is Keri okay?'

'She's fine. We left her with Jemi. Joen, Wiru, and I are on our way, are you okay?'

I coughed up some blood, 'Yeah... I'm fine.. Miko.. It's Mekichi.. He survived the fire.. Taki's fighting him now, and Arekkusu is handling the others, but I think he's getting tired. Chiienn.. doesn't seem herself..'

'Chiienn... isn't who you think she is..'

'What do you mean?'

'I... I think she's a spy.. I think she's with Mekichi..'

'That's impossible! She's been my best friend for so many years now... She wouldn't do that to me! She-...'


I was attacked from behind, my attacker dug their claws deep into my side. I collapsed, coughing up more blood as I started to turn back human, too worn out to keep my wolf form, but my transformation stopped midway. I looked back over my shoulder, hazel meeting those pretty blue eyes.

"Chii...Chiienn... Why?" I gasped.

She snarled an evil grin upon her lips as she slowly licked my blood from her claws. "Simple. I want power. I want to be in control of my life, and your dear brother has given me an offer I simply could not refuse."

I stared in horror, "But I saved you! You pathetic wench!" I swung a clawed hand at her, making four jagged marks run from the bottom of the right side of her face, down to her collar bone.

She retaliated with a back hand to my face that threw me back down to the ground. She growled, "I've been acting like your idiot friend for too long. I've been waiting for this day for years now. After I finally gained your trust I could inform the Master of your whereabouts and he'd send Mekichi and his crew to take care of you. But no. You always had to be aware of someone following you, always had to get up and run. I've been stuck here for 10 fucking years! But finally, finally, I'll get what I want. What I deserve!"

I growled deep within my throat, choking on a little blood, but I managed to clear my throat. "You ungrateful wench. You know what, Miko was right, there's something wrong with you, and you're right, you'll get what you deserve."

"I'm glad you agree with me. Finally! I'm right!"

"Oh yeah, you're right, alright." I snarled as I used the last of my strength to lunge at her, striking her chest with my claws, my ears flattened against my head at Chiienn's screams. She clawed at my hands as I forced my claws into her chest, towards her heart. She managed to shove me away just before I could pierce it. She crawled away, toward the creek where Mekichi's minions were waiting.

I looked over to see Corataka lying on the ground, Mekichi walking toward me. 'Is this really how it ends... Do they really get what they want in the end...'

A chorus of ear piercing howls broke through the air, Arniamiko, Joen, and Wiru came charging through the under brush. I smiled as I saw Arniamiko in wolf form, 'You were right...'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Faster!! I lost the link with Merisa! We can't lose her!' Arniamiko telepathically screamed at Joen and Wiru.

The trio burst through the bushes into a small clearing by a creek to see Merisa lying on the ground, nearly unconscious. Merisa looked at Arniamiko and smiled, 'You were right...' Then she lay motionless.

Arniamiko snarled, 'Merisa!!! You cannot die on me!'

She turned her attention to Chiienn who was still crawling away, she charged at her. 'You BITCH, you did this! You will pay with your life!' She leaped up a wolf, and came back down on Chiienn in mid-transformation, connecting her clawed fist to Chiienn’s face with a sickening crack, successfully knocking Chiienn out cold with a broken jaw.

Arniamiko was grabbed from behind and thrown into Joen and Wiru. She looked up to see Mekichi, "Be assured we will return for dear little Miyana, so be ready." His minions gathered Chiienn and they fled.

Arniamiko went to Merisa's side, brushing her hair off her face. "I can hear her pulse, but it's slow. We need to treat her, and soon."

Corataka came to kneel by Merisa, "Then let's get her back to the house." He picked her up, and started limping back to the house. Joen and Wiru went to help a badly battered Arekkusu up, Corataka called over his shoulder, "Arniamiko, go get Keri and Jemi, but be careful." Arniamiko nodded, shifting to her wolf form and disappeared.

Edited by HopefulDreamer91, Feb 27 2010, 06:38 PM.
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Esaul
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Heya, heads up. I'm going to read this once I get out of work. =]
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HopefulDreamer91
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Ah snap... Betware, I'm at a loss of how to really start Chapter 6.. N' w/ these sinus headaches I'm not really up to think much xD... UGH...
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Girl-N-Da-Hat
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"Regardless of what Merisa says, we've got to go help her. We agreed to get you to safety, and that idiot Chiienn was supposed to come, but she didn't listen. There's something off about that one.. Something I don't like...


This part made me lol...but thats only because I know whos being referenced....and i believe i have actually used those words before for a certain someone...lmao... sorry.

btw its getting intense.. i like it
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HopefulDreamer91
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xD I know right? I find that funny now that I think about it cuz I totally forgot about that... lmao
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Girl-N-Da-Hat
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Oh how I love irony mwahhahaha!! :) you know me too well
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HopefulDreamer91
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But that's the beauty of it!!! If I hadn't told who you were... I imagine you would've been able to guess it anyway. I'm an observant person, I love to use that ability to create my own stories xD
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Girl-N-Da-Hat
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Psha!!! her name sounds like mine!!! :p I guess everyone else didn't I???
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HopefulDreamer91
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Pretty much yeah xD
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