~Burdon~

I crouched down, low to the ground-somewhat accepting life as it is. While stretching my claws on the earth; enjoying how they feel in the dirt and grass.
Keeping my eyes on the herd of deer in front of me, I couldn't help but think how different my life is turning out. I mean it used to be my job basically to make sure that none of the wolves get any of our animals, and now I'm doing it myself. How ironic. And unfortunate for the farmers, shepherds, and animals.
I wouldn't normally have been hunting this doe but my wolf instincts are so empowered that I can no longer ignore them. And they led me here.
I was in the middle of lunging towards the naïve hind, when a male voice asked, "So how are you adjusting to this life?" Which caused the deer to stop grazing and bolt. I leaped into the air anyways, half attempting to catch it, but the only thing my claws caught as I landed, was a handful of dirt and grass.
Shame. I was looking forward to having some fresh meat to gnaw on for once, instead of having to salvage all the meat from a dead animal.
I swung around-my tail whip-lashing as I swirled around-to growl at the person in front of me. And I bared my teeth at him. I wanted to taste some fresh deer, and I lost it because of him.
"Oh! Put a muzzle on it!" scorned the tall, rather young, familiar-looking man standing in front of me. "You should know better than to snarl at your own grandfather!"
I halted in my growling at him and settled with just gurning at him.
"I know you are angry at me-"
I scoffed at that.
"But at least something good comes from it."
I gave him the evil eye. I couldn't believe anything good could come from this.
"At least you'll look young forever," commented my Grandfather. "You'll basically appear to be the same age for almost forever. Which is a great thing to have when your crush is a elf-who also has ageless beauty."
My hackles returned as soon as he mentioned her, so did my fangs. Needless to say, I did not want him talking about her-she's mine.
"Ecoè, if you keep on acting like this, I won't give you the antidote to help you change back to your human form," warned my Grandfather-who's already stepping backwards into the woods.
The hackles resided; and I covered my fangs by closing my lips like a angry teen slamming their door shut. And I sat down on my bottom like the obedient dog I wasn't.
"That's better." And my Grandfather pulled out a vial of Canis Lupus Humane-Canis Humane or Canine Humane for short-out of the pocket of his sand coat. "Now... this will hurt," warned Grandfather.
Without my consent to do so, he clamped his hand around my muzzle-forcing my mouth to shut. And I hardly even begun to fight him when Grandpapa plunged the syringe into my neck, emptying the contents into my body. I closed my eyes right then.
The instant the antidote reached my bloodstream, every single cell in my body began to flared with renew pain-it felt like I was being ripped apart from the inside out. Then, my bones started cracking as they retook the shape of a human once again-losing the fur, fangs, claws, and all.
My eyes flashed opened as I realized that I was on my back with a emerald forest and a Grandpa standing over me to greet me.
With worry upon his face, my Grandfather asked, "Are you okay?"
"J-ju-jus-just p-pe-peach-peachy," I replied, hoarsely.
"I'm glad you haven't lost your sense of humor."
I grunted in response.
"So how are you adjusting to this life?" repeated Grandfather.
"Ho-how do yo-you th-thi-think?"
Grandpapa tilted his head to the side then back to where it was before. "Don't worry-the stuttering will pass eventually." Nearly immediately he reached out his hand to me, I slapped my hand up onto his palm, and he yanked me up. Which almost caused me to fall down on my face, but I ended up just bumping into him. My Granddad chuckled at this. But with his hand on my elbow, steadying me, he-instead of commenting on my clumsiness-explained, "And it will take time to adjust to your human legs again."
"I wouldn't have to if I was normal," I snapped, apparently my vocal cords are now used to being human again. But I did snatch my arm away from his hand, even though my legs are a bit unsteady, and not used to being upwards. I almost tripped over my two feet by just merely standing, but I fixed my feet position in order to feel more like I can stay upright. I slowly backed away from him.
He stepped forward while I backed-stepped. Also, he dared reach his hand forward and tried to touch me. I avoid his touch with surprising easiness-probably because I'm more certain on my feet than before.
He gave me a pity look before saying, "Ecoè, you know that you are going to have to get used to this. I know you want-"
"I never said that I wanted this!" I snarled.
"Because you were chosen."
"You never gave me a chance to let me choose what I want."
"We royals never are. And the time that we do have a choice, it's usually the hardest thing we ever have to do."
I scoffed as I blinked two times as I became slightly dizzy, but I ignored it. "Of course!" My lip curled in disgust. "You make the decisions, and others have to suffer through them! It's revolting how you people claim to try and do what's best for everyone, but then you go around and do this!" I gestured to the world around me, then motioned to myself-I stumbled a little bit because of my hardly lightheadedness. "A lot of people, myself included, would be human still if it wasn't for you and your stupid project!"
Instead of slapping me for my outburst, like my biological father would have done, my Grandfather ever so slowly walked towards me as I tried to keep myself far away from him as possible. His hand flew out and snatched my right shoulder.
By looking into my eyes, I saw his expression fill with such sorrow that I almost wanted to give him a hug. Well, almost.
"You forget that I was experimented on also. I do know what it feels like. You're not alone in this. Please let me help you," Grandpapa said soothingly.
Tempting, I thought. It's like he's trying to play on my emotions. Oh, wait! He is!
"Why should I?" I demanded, the fogginess of my small lightheadedness cause me to wonder if something was in that vial that wasn't there before.
"Because you don't have a choice," replied my Granddad, his voice suddenly harsh. And before I knew it, his fist came smacking down onto my head and that was lights out for me.

∞

When I woke up, I noticed that I was human again and that my hands and feet were bound together. I groaned. I tried to rub my neck-with my shoulder, since I can't use my hands, obviously-when I felt two bumps on my neck.
Must be from the sleeping darts they shot me with, I thought. I looked down and saw that I was still wearing my clothes. Guess this type of fabric really does help keep our clothes on. As soon as I thought that, I knew that I was still was muddled-head from the sleeping drug.
I noticed that I was in a dark room, not that it was dark to me. I, then, noticed that there was a conversation-argument-going on outside the room that I was in. Suddenly, the door to the room I was in, opened up. The woman, Silver, walked in the room, carrying a tray of food. My betraying stomach started growling at the mention of food.
"Oh, you're awake. I thought I was going to hand feed you again," said Silver, obviously surprised.
She thinks I'm still a wolf. Well, I got to make sure she doesn't think I'm the wolf.
Silver crouched down by me, squinting if to see me better. "Wait a minute." She put hand out to touch me, I tried to back away, but couldn't do it fast enough, because of my bound hands and feet. Silver put both of her hands on my face, saying, "You're not the wolf, you're human." She saw a rag around the my neck and probably it was the same rag they put on the wolf to keep the wolf from biting them. She's probably thinking, Is it possible that the wolf might be this boy? And if she is, I'm doomed. Unless I can convince her she's crazy. Silver took her hands off of my face and put it on my shoulders. "Who are you?"
Should I tell her my name? Will she believe me? Will she give up on the 'I'm a wolf' theory? I hope she does, because then it will be all for nothing.
"Aeri."
"Is that what you are, or who you are?" asked Silver.
Isn't obvious which is which? I thought. Apparently not. "Aeri is my name."
"Oh," said Silver obviously shocked and surprised. "What are-"
"Look. If there's anyone who should be asking questions it should be me."
"Fine," said Silver, who's clearly annoyed now.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"In a secret hideout."
I just looked at her, like to say, 'can you be more specific.'
"The hideout is two miles south from where we found you."
"You mean the wolf that you found," I said, hoping she thinks she made a mistake.
But no success, because she said, "No. I meant you."
"But I'm-"
"But you were a wolf when we captured you, now you're a human."
"You're mistaken. I am no wolf."
"For now you're not. But later on? You're going to a wolf when no one is looking. Do you remember your time as a wolf?"
"If, and only if, I was a wolf, then I would, and should, be able to remember my time as a wolf."
"Hmm," said Silver, as if she was considering something. She grabbed my chin and moved it in many directions.
"What are you doing?" I demanded.
"Your eyes are hazel, but still have yellow in them.... They're almost like a gold color."
"Thank you... I think." I wasn't sure if that was a compliment, or a 'observation.' "When can I go?"
"Go where?" asked Silver, confused.
"Go away from here," I said, as if it was obvious-which it should be.
"You can go when Lady Nasha decides to let you go, or not."
Or not? That doesn't sound very good. "Lady Nasha?"
"Yes, Lady Nasha. Why? Suspecting someone else?"
"Actually I didn't know who to expect," I admitted.
"I'll be right back," said Silver, walking out of the room.
After a few minutes, someone came in, but it wasn't Silver. It was Eucer who walked in. Eucer smiled when he saw me. "Well, this is a surprise," said Eucer with a smirk.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded.
"Well... I'm in the Varden, and Lady Nasha let me meet and talk to the prisoners. Expect I never expect to find you here."
I never expect to find you here either, I thought.
The door to the room opened again, and walked in Silver and Lady Nasha. "Who is this prison-" started Nasha, but when she saw me and she stopped talking.
"Do you know who this boy is?" asked Eucer. The way he called me a 'boy' annoyed me.
"Yes. This is-he is-Aeri, the son of Kar."
"Oh." Turning to me he asked, "Where have you been all this time, Aeri?" I could tell he wanted to get rid of me so badly-he is a giddy as a pig in mud.
"With my uncle and my cousin," I said, confidently.
"That is true. Kar said he and his sons were visiting his brother-in-law and his nephew."
They were pretty much talking about me like I wasn't even here, which was annoying.
"Wait. Wasn't that two years ago?" asked Eucer.
"Yes."
"You remember that after all this time?"
"Yes. I even wrote it down," said Nasha, pulling a letter from her sleeve. She handed Eucer her note.
He read the note, saying, "Hmm... It... Means he was telling the truth."
"Does that means he's free to go?" asked Silver.
"Yes, he's free to go. "
Wow. That was surprisingly easy, I thought. Silver walked to me, grasped me by my arm, unloosened the rope around my wrists and legs, and pull me up. She walked me out of the building. Who was outside of the building was a great surprise: my Father, Malhaw, and another female who looks like Silver was outside.
"Aeri! You're safe!" said Father, running up to me, and end up hugging me. Malhaw was smiling and he put his hand on my left shoulder. I think I know why.
The woman, who looks like Silver, came up to me and gave me a hug. Which is very strange and awkward. "Nice to finally meet you, Aeri," she said. "I'm Rose, by the way. Guess you already met Silver."
'It's really Primea. Rose is really Rosea,' explained Silver, really Primea, with her mind.
"Nice to meet you, Silver and Rose."
"You too, Aeri," said Primea and Rosea, both.
"Let's go," said my Father.
I started to walk away, when I noticed that they weren't coming with us. "Aren't you coming?"
Primea and Rosea shook their heads, no. "We have to stay here-to make sure no finds out about us."
I nodded in response. I forgot about that. That explains why Primea was interrogating me-she was making sure that I wouldn't give away our secrets.
"Bye," said Primea and Rosea.
"Bye," I said, as I ran to catch up to Father and Malhaw. When I caught up with Malhaw and my Father-who weren't actually that far a head of me. I got there they haven't moved forward and then I saw why: Nlof and Lolf were standing in front of them with a least six other people.
They're called Razlk, said Malhaw with his mind.
"What do you want?" demanded my Father, growling a bit at the end.
"You know what I want," said Lolf, who's surprisingly is the king of the Razlks-found that out after looking in his mind.
"What you want? Or, what Nlof wants?" asked my Father in a challenging way.
"What I want," growled Lolf. "What we all want for sometime now."
"Well, what you want, you can't have," snapped my Father.
"Oh, I think we can have it one way or another."
"No, You're not going to have it one way or another."
"Get on with it!" yelled Nlof.
If they're planing to attack us, we will win. Too bad Malhaw hurt his foot-we could really use him if they want to fight us.
I saw a flicker of movement by the corner of my eye. I turned to see it was another Razlk who was carrying a whip. That wasn't even the worst part, but still bad enough-the worse part was it was a silver whip. Another Razlk came up, carrying a silver whip also.
"Oh, your sons can watch me do it," said Lolf, smirking.
I think I saw my Father frown, it at least looks like he is. "Just because I didn't want to marry her doesn't mean you should go around and try to kill me-just for not marrying her."
"You know your father agreed to the marriage because you seem to like each other."
"Yeah, seem to like, but I didn't love her. Plus, I did a arrange marriage with one of your people already."
"She didn't deserved you," snapped Lolf.
"You're right, she deserves you."
"Yes, she does, now because of you she won't marry me."
"If I wasn't introduced to her that wouldn't be a problem right now. I'm sure she won't
marry you if you kill me."
"You're right, you shouldn't have ever met her."
"You should get Lotesa to come here and we'll work things out."
"Maybe I will," said Lolf, turning around to face his... people. He spoked in the Razlk language, which we understood. "Get Lotesa up here now," ordered Lolf. After a few minutes a female Razlk came up. She was quite pretty for a Razlk. But she wasn't what a werewolf-especially a royal werewolf-would want.
"Kar," said Lotesa, voice tight.
"Nice to see you again, Lotesa."
She looked at Malhaw and I with the look of disgust. "How old are you two?"
"Seventeen," lied Malhaw.
"I'm sixteen," I said.
They won't kill the young. But if you get old, they'll kill you-even if you are their kind. Hundred and thirty is the highest they let their kind-and a lot of people-live to.
"Are you sure you're not older?" asked Lotesa to Malhaw. "You got to be older than seventeen, maybe in his twenties. Yes." Suddenly, Lotesa stepped back gasping. Her mouth was opened, and her eyes were wide, as if she was surprised or shocked about something. "You're not seventeen. You're not even close to being seventeen. You're in your nineties-almost century years old."
"Oh, right. You're one of those things that could tell people's real age-or come close to it," said my Father.
"Yeah, that's right. I'm one of those things that can tell people's real age, or come close to it-Larlks." Then she looked like she just been punched in the gut. "Let them pass."
"What?!" demanded Lolf.
"Let them pass all of them and I'll marry you."
"Okay," said Lolf, content with that. "Let them pass." Lolf's men spread out, letting us pass though with plenty of room.
"Why did she...?" I asked as soon as we were out of earshot.
"She knew I didn't mean to hurt her," explained my Father.
Suddenly it happened. A arrow flew though the sky. Malhaw yelled something-a warning, most likely. He jumps in front of our Father; the arrow goes into Malhaw's right knee. He howls in pain. I, immediately, run to Malhaw, and Father kneels down besides Malhaw. "We need to get the arrow out of him!" I yelled, frantically.
"I know. Hold him down. I'll try to get the arrow out of him."
"But....?" I tried to argue, but Father was talking with Malhaw now.
"Don't move."
"Why would I-" And he immediately stopped talking as soon as Father pulled the arrow out. Malhaw's howling would've been hear miles away if I hadn't covered his mouth.
I heard my Father gasped. "What's wrong?" I asked, worried that something went wrong. A million things went through my head, but the one my Father said was one of the worst things, "The arrow was made out of silver."
"Really?! How many things do they have that are made out of silver?!"
"Quite a lot actually. Let's go." Father had already dressed Malhaw's knee. I looked-actually stared-at Malhaw.
"What?" asked Malhaw when he noticed that I was staring at him.
"Nothing," I said, looking away. I helped Malhaw stand up-as much as he can with a wounded leg. Malhaw and I were following Father when a arrow came flying through the air. The arrow went right through Father's sleeve, and flew through the air until it got struck in a tree. It was stuck in the tree, anyone could see that.

-
Question(s) of the chapter:
Does anyone do archery? Or any type of sport? Even something like video gaming or reading competition, or reading? If you do anything like what's above, comment down below. I used to do archery, but I stopped after a while.

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