Moon Shadows

Chapter 2

The camp is bustling with full moon preparations. I watch from above, safely hidden away in the branches of an oak tree.

A group of Gammas fortify the camp boundaries, because they will be unguarded tonight. Not that anyone would attack us on the full moon anyway. The Foxborns across the border will also be reveling in the moon.

A couple of pups play in the long grass, while a Theta watches on. Because the pups don't yet feel the moon, one of the Thetas will take wolvesbane to remain human and watch over them during the night.

Pack ranks are complicated, at least to those who don't understand them. Maple, my caretaker, is the Alpha Female, the leader. Her mate, Shale, died when I was young. There are a few Betas, who keep order. Robin, Maple's friend and my mentor, is one. Then there are the Gammas, which is the majority of the pack. Able-bodied adult wolves who hunt and protect the pack and are under the leadership of the Alpha and the Betas. The Epsilons are basically the teenagers of the pack, and are each apprenticed to a Gamma or Beta, to learn the ways of the wild (sounds so cool when I say it that way). The Thetas are the mothers of the pack and take care of the pups. And there is the Delta, Hazel, whom Willow is apprenticed to.

"How's the view up there?" A voice calls.

I look down at Willow, "I can see Cloud picking her nose from here." I shout, and Cloud looks over from where she sits, talking with a couple of her mindless lackeys in the corner. Laughter echoes from the sides of camp as other wolves hear me.

I smile, and swing down from the tree, to stand beside Willow.

"So..." I smirk, "Prank time?"

Willow grimaces, "I'm really sorry, but I have to find some herbs for Hazel, we're running low on a few things. You can come, though."

"Fine. But next time, you won't be able to escape putting thistles in Cloud's bed."

Willow rolls her eyes, "Come on."

"So, full moon tonight..." I say, lounging in a low branch, while Willow scours the undergrowth for wild herbs.

She looks over at me, "Don't worry, Hazel and I have plenty of poppy. You'll be fine."

"It's been getting worse," I look up at the sky, shielded by leafy branches, "I can already feel the pressure building up in my head."

Willow's brows furrow, "We'll figure something out, I'm sure of it."

I hear a rustle in the leaves above. I sit up and look around.

"Did you hear that?" I ask.

"What?"

I scan the trees around me, and suddenly, see a flash of silver, reflecting the sunlight. Eyes. Then as soon as they appear, they're gone.

"Nevermind."

Strange.