Dancing in the Dark

Chapter 16. The Village

I heard a soft gasp emit from Raven's chest as her hand slapped over her mouth. In front of us was a small village, like one you'd see in Africa actually.

There was no grass beneath our feet, all dirt. The children were dressed in rags and running about, carrying buckets of water. One child was on a straw leaf bed, being pulled by who I'm assuming is his mother. 

I took a closer look at the young kid who seemed to be 7 years old, and who was also missing an arm. The woman was silently pulling him, tears streaming down her face as the boy barely moved an inch.

All around, the place screamed "Poverty" yet the inside of the house seemed nicely kempt.

"Alpha Blossom is right there." He pointed to a woman with orange flaming hair helping to pull four children on a leaf bed. Immediately, I tried to ignore the looks we recieved from their pack and walked over to her.

Her gaze finally met mine when I was at least within a foot of reach.

"Why are you in my pack?!" She hissed in defense mode. 

"Amber! Take these children to the nursery room!" She suddenly yelled to a girl who seemed pretty young. Her face was smudged with dirt and her blonde hair was up in short pony tail. She seemed younger than my own mate. She nodded and walked over to take the leaf bed. 

I watched as the teenage girl took off with the duties of a woman.

"We actually need your help." I said hopelessly. I highly doubted this pack was going to help us. They seemed constantly gaurded and defensive.

"What makes you think we could possibly help you?" She whispered harshly. Her eyes stared mine down with such ferocity it made me nervous, but I was an Alpha too, so I could hold the gaze.

"We were hoping to make a deal." I proposed.

"Follow me then." She replied, walking in front of me and Raven and walked into the house. I glanced at Raven who was still staring at the village in horror. I grasped her hand, leaving her shocked. She shook herself out of her daze and followed behind me. We reached the house and followed Blossom into a hallway, where she led us to an office.

I closed the door behind me as her Beta soon followed in.

"I'm Alpha Blossom, and I'm assuming you've met my Beta." She motioned to the elderly man beside her. I nodded.

"I'm Alpha of Oakwood Forest, Tyler. And this is my mate, Raven."

"Wait, we're mates?" Raven suddenly asked. My worry increased and I now felt we were wasting time and needed to get her help immediately.

"Wait, what is wrong with her?" she asked.

"That's the thing. Silverlace liquid was injected in her, and it's causing her to slowly lose her memory of me, and it's eating her insides up." I said slowly, feeling my heart ache because of our loss of connection. Alpha Blossom's eyes widened in understanding.

"There's nothing my pack can do." She hesitantly whispered.

"No, you're lying. We know there's a sort of tie with you and the 200 year old Hunter." I hissed, getting annoyed.

Her eyes scathed mine.

"I'd help you if I had a choice! But I do not!"

"Why!?" I pushed her, like a child.

"Because, if I help, do you know what it'll do to MY pack?! Do you not see what we're already living with?!" She hissed. I nodded.

"That's what I can offer you. Protection from Dark River. If the rumors I hear are true, they're terrorizing your pack are they not?" I tested her. She glared at me darkly.

"Do you know why they keep harrassing my innocent pack?" She asked slowly, her anger rising. 

"No," I answered honestly.

"Yes, because of Ragnor the Hunter. Who now lives in a different body. I'm sure you remember the Silverlace tree and it's powers for those of Hunters. Lucky for a certain a hunter, we live pretty close to the origins of this tree that was burnt down." She replied. I was getting frustrated with her and her meaningless puzzles

"So, he offered us a deal. More of a threat actually. He said that if we protect what's left of his precious tree, he'll provide us with the one thing we cannot get on our own. Food. If we go out of our village, Dark River pack members will hunt us down. For years, we've been protecting the small remnants of the tree, in exchange for food that I can't provide for my pack. Dark River pack is onto us and have been terrorizing our pack for three years now so they can get the Silverlace for themselves." She explained. 

And so finally, we had gotten miles farther in progress. Now I just had to come up with a better deal.

"So now then, what is it that you could possibly give us in return for the location of the tree's origin?" Alpha Blossom asked, scrutiny in her eyes.

"How many are in your pack?" Raven asked from behind me. I stared at her in shock. She hasn't said a word yet.

"As of today, 48." She said, her eyes staring down at the ground. 

"Come to Oakwood Forest pack." Raven suddenly said. I stared at her, my mouth agape.

"Think about it! Dark River would be gone, your pack could hunt on its own and defend themselves. Ragnor would be gone forever.We'd split the territory with you." Raven spoke. I was at a loss for words. Did she really just make that bargain?

"I'm listening." Alpha Blossom said slowly. I gulped. Would this really work?

"Yes. But we'd share the same hunting grounds, and if you're in need of anything feel free to ask. But you must give us access to the tree."

"Do you have many enemies surrounding your territory?" She asked.

"No, we've created usefull allies. Your pack would still remain Blue Fire pack, with you its Alpha, you'd just be in a different territory." I revealed, now working around the new bargain my mate has just made.

"Are you sure you could help protect us from Dark River if they ever return?" She asked. I nodded.

"Our forces outdue them." I replied. She glanced down at her hands, hope returning to her gloomy face.

"The tree is south of our swamp. It is surrounded by Silverlace poppies though. Do you know how to get across to them?" She asked. I shook my head no.

"Here, take this pendant. It must be a female to walk through the poppies so I guess your mate will have to do this." Blossom said, lifting a green necklace off of her neck and handing it to Raven. She stared at before putting it around her neck.

"Alpha Tyler, we have a deal." She replied and together, we shook hands. 

Ok this chapter kinda sucks cuz I'm at a writing block . . . Pic of necklace ---->

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