This is a cut from the book im writing there will be no more posted. So tell me what you think.


Howls in the Wind
Prologue

A small expecting fea trudged through the woods "Ricko! Ricko where are you?" She cried looking around franticly for the large brown and white brute. The forest begun to spin, faster and faster her vision blurred, eyes ached, head pounded. She felt sick, stumbling as she walked legs shaking she collapsed into the leaf litter and lost her dinner as she puked violently. She tried to get up again and failed. Exhausted she gave up thinking about her unborn pups hoping they’d get to see the world. She felt the scruff of her neck being pulled a familiar scent filled her nose, she relaxed as much as she could in her condition knowing they would, she felt it. She sighed heavily and passed out.





Chapter one
Rachel blinked looking at the sunlight that poured out of the blanket of leaves above her and onto the leaves on the ground. She continued down the path to camp wondering about her birth mother. She was lost in thought as Ricko limped towards her "Rachel" he barked his voice rough and raspy, causing her to jump and blasting away her thoughts " Yes Ricko?" she said sheepishly turning around to face him, smiling a little shyly under the elders gaze "I need you to go hunting for... rabbit. Yes, I want a rabbit." He paused there was something else he needed to tell her he just couldn't remember. Oh he'd tell her later. "That's it you may go now," He dismissed her "Oh and may the huntress guide you." Rachel nodded gratefully accepting his shatra, she had only gotten a few of them since she became a full-fledged hunter. "May the stars guide you safely" she said, bowed and backed up. Ricko nodded smiling he didn’t plan on following the stars quite yet he still had a good year or two left.
Rachel made her way through the woods passing the howling grounds. The next full moon she would be allowed to participate in the howls, her pelt tingled with anticipation. She came to the end of the path that leads to the splitting river meadow, the best place to catch rabbits and the occasional deer. The warm breeze welcomed her with scents of living prey, her mouth began to water. A strong scent of rabbit wafted around her. "Mmmm" she licked her lips. She might just pick up two rabbits. Spotting her first target in front of her a few deer leaps away. Melting into her hunting position, she stalked forward gently placing her paws. Her ears flicked at flies, and she refocused her attention on the task ahead. The rabbit stood on its hind legs, alert for predators, glancing over Rachel unaware of her presence. It returned to its clover patch munching happily. Rachel saw her chance and leaped, she looked like a bullet spiraling through the air, landing on her target instantly breaking its neck. The move she had been working on ever since she became a trainee hunter, finally perfecting it.
She continued hunting looking for another rabbit, accidently stumbling over one. The rabbit took off at a fast pace feet pounding the ground. Rachel followed on its heels copping it’s every move. It scrambled for a hole, refusing to let it get away. Rachel moved faster cursing under her breath. Jumping, paws extended make contact with its head, she missed, and it runs into the hole. She can hear it running through the tunnels and follows it quickly, keeping up easily. The rabbit immerges out of another hole. Rachel jumped on it, quickly biting its neck. “Little rabbit did you really think you could escape me that easily” she whispered to her dead prey, before chuckling to herself. A figure watched from the shadows in the forest.
Happy after a successful hunt, she picked the rabbits by their scruff and carried them to camp. "Ricko? I’ve brought your rabbit" she sung. Having known Ricko before anyone else in the pack she felt very comfortable with him, and he was her birth mothers friend. Ricko looked up and blinked sleepily "What? Oh right. Thank you Rachel," He said before tearing into his rabbit greedily. Rachel nodded unsure if she was dismissed, but knew better then to ask. She turned around and left. Hurrying to her den to eat the rabbit, on her way she saw shadow, he glared at her. Rachel looked away from him, why is he so mean she thought. When she got to her den she started on the rabbit. Quickly polishing it off and began to chew on the rabbit bones. She fell asleep while chewing the bones.
Rachel woke up slowly. Some wolf was nudging her roughly with their paw. She opened her eyes slightly it was Trever, her sort of boyfriend.
"Trever" She yawned "What’s up" she said in a slightly annoyed but flirty way. She stretched and sat up slowly.
“It’s morning you know you can’t sleep the day away princess," he winks "I know lets go swimming" he said smiling
"But I’m hungry," she whined playfully
“That is already taken care of" He moved aside two freshly caught rabbits laid there. "Oh, Trever you shouldn't have," she grabbed one and began to eat it. Tearing into its flesh, savoring every bite. Trever laughed and chowed down in the other rabbit. They finished their breakfast quickly then Trever lead the way to the large pond he and Rachel always swim in.
The water is crystal clear, shallow but not to shallow, and roundish rocks line the bottom. Trever ran and jumped into the pond, he immerged laughing. Rachel padded to the water’s edge and looked at her reflection. It quickly vanished in the waves Trever had made. Rachel looked up at him and backed up a little. Then as fast as she could she ran and leaped into the pond. Trever jumped back, she had landed almost on top of him.
“Are you trying to kill me?” he joked. “Maybe.” She said acting like she was. They both laughed smiling at each other. Trever splashed her. “That’s for almost killing me!” he exclaimed. Rachel looked at him funny “I would never kill you” she said as she splashed him. They played in the water for a while, laughing and giggling having a blast.
Rachel climbed out panting. Trever flopped down next to her. “I’m tired” they said at the same time then broke into a fit of laughter. I wonder what he’s thinking. Is he thinking about me or maybe his next hunting trip? Rachel thought. She got up and started walking down the river bank. Trever watched her go.
She walked until her legs were caked with mud. She sat down and looked at her reflection. “I have no purpose. Maybe to Trever but honestly we could never be mates. Trever has to bond to the fea his parents chose and he knows it, so why dose he act like we could ever be something? All he’s doing is having some fun while he can. Soon he’ll be the alpha and I’ll be that fea he hung out with when he was young.” She whispered to her reflection. A single tear slid down her cheek and fell into the water. Twigs broke on the other side of the river. Rachel’s head shot up and she stared at the spot where the noise came from frozen in place. had they heard her? She thought gulping. Shadow immerged from the dense forest on the other side. He smiled at her like he knew something. Rachel closed her eyes maybe he would disappear. When she opened them he was gone. She sighed heavily thank the huntress. Her peace was short lived. Shadow whispered in her ear “I heard everything” Rachel jumped and looked at him a cold wind, where there had once been a warm breeze, chilled her spine. “what do you want shadow” she sneered knowing it would have no effect on him. He looked at her pretending to be innocent “oh nothing… much that is if you want me to keep my lips sealed about your little secret.” He said like he couldn’t wait to let everyone know. “well what do you want” she Growled, it was the way to go with Shadow, since he thrived off others who gave in easily. “I’ll tell you when I need it” he said as he slipped off into the shadows.
Rachel watched him leave, her eyes cold as ice. Why couldn’t he have been somewhere else? Sighing she got up and swam across the river. She immerged on the other side. Water dripped off her coat as she walked into the woods. A rustle from the bushes behind her made her freeze. Had shadow returned? But an unknown scent filled her nostrils. Filled with fright she ran. Then a sound of thunder erupted and the tree next to her exploded. She gasped and turned away from it, sliding on the leaf litter.
She collided into Bear, the alpha male. He was looking for the source of the thunder “It’s… a… thunder…bringer… with… a… boom… stick” she panted heavily. Terror flooded her eyes. The Thunder Bringer found them and raised his stick “Get behind me, and when I say go you run” Bear growled. Rachel nodded crawling behind him. Bear snarled and fake lunged at the thunder bringer. There was a click. “go, now” bear barked. Rachel took off and the thunder came again. A sharp yap in pain and a heavy thud followed. Rachel circled back and found Bear. He was still alive, but his breathing quick and shallow. The thunder bringer’s scent was fading heading out of the territory. Bear looked at her. “Rachel” he whispered “Seven of our pack members have been murdered by the Thunder bringers, soon there will be eight.” He turned away and coughed up blood. “Remember to stay strong in these hard times, and tell Tiffany I will-“his eyes became vacant, he went limp and his sentence cut short. Rachel stared and tears began to fall. The sun was setting and she howled long and mournful. Seven more wolves howled in grief, for their lost pack mates. One was cut short, thunder had struck again.