{+ Azure +} The Wise Curse

Chapter One, Where the Water Flows

Tenshi woke up in a cold sweat. His brown and white pelt stood on end, his soft blue eyes seemed frightened. The taste and smell of smoke lingered for a few moments but then dispersed. He had heard several words in the dream. 'Alpha rock, midnight, full moon.' That rang in his head. It was already half moon, so Tenshi had some time to prepare.

He emerged from the den the sun brightening his mood. "Hey, Tenshi! You good?" A pure white she-wolf asked the male. "Mhm, just a bad dream" Tenshi smiled weakly. The words still rang in his mind as he padded to the camp entrance. He walked into the forest, needing a nice walk.

The nice fresh fall morning air complimented the dew on the grass and undergrowth that brushed against his legs. He remembered that today he earned his title. He wondered what his title could be, but in the end, that was up to the Alpha. Ryujin, Of The Roaring Shadow, and his mate; Sakura, Of The Winding Tree.

Both were great wolves, the betas were who scared him. They- unlike a classic wolf pack- were second in command. Sending out patrols to hunt and check borders. And everyone hunted for those weaker than them. As in pup mothers, pups, and elders, who couldn't hunt for themselves.

He smiled, every pack had this system. It worked too! No wolf went hungry, and it was peaceful. He shuddered as a cold wind brushed past him, and leaves danced past him.

Spring had just begun after the harshest winter the packs faced, yet the cold winds had not dissipated. It was almost refreshing to Tenshi, his ear picked up the faint call of a pack meeting and he raced back. Luckily he wasn't too far, his paws skidded the ground as he walked into the camp clearing. He sat down among the pack and watched the Alpha, Ryujin, began speaking. "We have a wolf, ready for his title. Tenshi, step up so you may claim it." Tenshi stood now in the middle of a half circle looking up at the boulder the Alphas sat on. Ryujin leaped down and gazed at him. "For your swiftness, and fantastic hunting skills. You will be a hunter, and your title will be Tenshi, with Paws That Walk on Air." He spoke giving the young hunter's head a lick. "Your mother would be proud." He spoke softly, the Alpha was close with his mom- before she had passed. "We welcome you among the ranks, and hope you hunt well for the pack!" The meeting after was dismissed and all his friends who had already earned their titles congratulated him.

Backing away from the crowd, Tenshi leaped away nervously. He was always paranoid in crowds, a wolf could easily injure him. Nobody would have a clue...

He relaxed sitting on his own and cleaning his brown and white speckled fur. Wolves passed by carrying out their duties, none even took a glance at him. He liked it but- at the same time... no wolf actually believed in him. He felt hopeless.

He paused his grooming, looking at his paws sadly. His eyes drooped, thinking to himself; 'Why can't I be like all of them? Understand and accept my place- I don't want to hunt... I want to fight.'

Fight. That word ignited something within him, maybe... maybe he could prove himself worthy of the title of a warrior! Though- Ryujin would never change his title. Padding out of camp, he felt calm as the cold, still damp from dew, ferns and plants brushed against him. His pace got quicker and quicker and he was running as fast as he could now.

Skidding to a halt, he watched as a somewhat shallow and rocky river flowed below him. He'd reached the border between his pack, and the Pack of Flowing River. A black he-wolf appeared, he had deep green eyes and they pierced him. "Come to steal prey, hm?" The stranger inquired accusingly. "No- I'm sorry if it seemed that way I just... needed fresh air and didn't realize where I ended up," Tenshi mumbled barely loud enough for the other wolf to hear. "What's your name? I'm Crow That Flies at Dusk."

Tenshi's eyes lit up, "I'm Tenshi with Paws that Walk on Air!" He felt warmed by the kindness from Crow. "You're a warrior and not a prey-hunter I'm guessing?" Crow asked sitting down. Tenshi shook his head, "I'm a prey-hunter, haha..."

Crow frowned, "You sure are built like a warrior, with your amount of muscle you could beat an alpha if you trained." He spoke beginning to clean his midnight black fur. "I wish my alpha thought that way... he was close with my mother and wants to protect me as much as possible but... I feel like he treats me like a pup." Tenshi heaved, his blue eyes glistening with tears.

"Well your alpha is dumb, mine would make you a warrior because you have the build and hidden spirit to be one."

Tenshin paused at the last part, hidden spirit? Did this other pack wolf actually think he could become a warrior!? "Thank you for that, but... I'm still useful as a prey-hunter... I guess..."

"Are you happy as one?" The question caught him off-guard. He paused, thinking deeply about his answer. "I... don't know. I mean- as long as my pack has a use for me- yeah, I'm happy!" Crow frowned at the response, Tenshi really had no self-respect. "You really need to hold yourself to more respect, Tenshi."

Then, Crow disappeared into the bushes by his side of the river bank. Tenshin frowned and disappeared into his own part of the forest.