First hunt

     Growing up in the edge of the woods is such a distinct experience like no other. Far away from the noisy world, where pollution and population is a daily phenomenon (and not a bother at all), we live in the edge of the woods, where the daily phenomenon is creepy crawlies. And a large amount of leaves too. Instead of all the digital wonders, you get to put up with the flora and fauna. Ugh! The life here is quiet. (And I literally hate it). The Sun comes and along with it, the town awakes, and it falls asleep along with the Sun. It is considered a bad omen to even stay awake after gloaming. The non residents of our place call it a bliss, but I call it, well, boring? I love the bustling city life where you just hang out in food outlets at night, go shopping, browse your time away, be a fashion diva and become a part of the modern world. I call that a bliss! I feel that our town is way beyond the modern civilization.

      Well, the above was my perspective until…  let us just say my first hunt. Yeah, you read it right. Hunt. You will understand it as I finish my story.

      Our family was a very regular family in the town (or, that was what I thought). Nothing new or amusing happens. As far as my knowledge goes, I have never seen my father go to work. My mother is the sole bread winner who has to put up with me, my younger sister and my jobless father. As a result, the reins are also in my mother's hands. What she says happens in the house. And my dad, well, he does nothing but sleep, watch sports, eat and then sleep. He doesn't even talk much. Surprisingly, I have never heard my mom complain. 

      This was my family as I saw it till my sixth grade. It is not that my family changed after that, my perspective changed.
      I often had to visit the Principal’s office. Not because I was doltish or delinquent, but because I support Shannon McLeone. He is the most bullied boy in our class. Reninton Wolsorley is the head bully. He always claims himself as the pure blood descendant of Viocrent Wolsorley (I have never understood what is there to be proud of). He boasts often that his family has got their very own coat of arms. A hunting wolf surrounded by teaks and olives. He is the third person in his family with the same name it seems for his name comes along with the tag “the third”. Although he adds “the third” with much pride, I personally find it funny. The richness of his raising is always reflected in his behaviour. The way he ill-treats other students, the way he wastes his food, the way he orders everyone around are a few examples worthy of mention. You can always find him whining that it was fate that brought him to this poor school while he ought to be enjoying the luxuries of private schooling.

       I have never understood what his problem is with Shannon McLeone. At every interval, Shannon automatically becomes his gang’s punching bag.

       As soon as the class was over, I ran down the corridor to get my little sister. While crossing the store room, I heard soft whimpers from inside. I had to strain my ears to hear it.

       I forced the door open. Inside I saw Shannon tied up completely. His nose was bleeding profusely. The sight of blood made me angry. I don't remember getting that angry ever before. As I began untying the rope, I heard Reninton’s voice from behind.

       “Such a dedication!” he smirked showing his milky white teeth. “All for a son of loner.”

       “You find it amusing huh? To tie and hit?” I felt a rise in my voice as I spoke. A part of my brain started to wonder what a loner was and the rest of it was teeming with anger.

      That was all I remembered when I woke up. My body ached terribly. My dress was all dirty and at places soaked in blood. Wait a minute. Where did that blood come from? And how did I reach home? Where was my sister now?

      I climbed downstairs. I could hear my parents whisper. What? They were whispering inside a locked room and I could hear it so well! Nervously, I started to bite my nail. Surprise! My nail was already broken and bleeding. From somewhere, I could hear my sister's sobs.

     My thoughts shifted back to my parents. “We need to tell her soon.” I guessed that voice to be my mom’s. It was heavily laden with concern.

     “I am afraid to start. I am not sure how she will take it.” said my dad's voice.

     “It doesn't matter. You will have to tell her anyway. That is what who she is now.”

     That was a little pause. I could almost hear my father breathe.

     “Oona!” he called in a whisper.

     I did not respond. I did not want to give myself away.

     “It’s okay. Come in.” my father called again.

     I went in. I felt very terrible. I felt as if I committed a huge crime and couldn't remember what.

     My mom had a container in her hand. In spite of the fact it was airtight, a horrible stench came from it.

     “Wolfsbane.” my father explained as I stared at it. I nodded. All of a sudden, everything made sense. Why my father never went to work, why I wasn't permitted out of the woods or into the woods, why I was in such an inexplicable state. I understood all of them.

     “You will become the alpha after your father.” my mom said proudly.

     I had to drink the wolfsbane. It tasted worse than it smelled.

     “Mixture of arnica, aconitum, thyme and sage fermented underground.” my mom explained in her usual fashion just to let us know how much effort she put in. “Helps you to retain your consciousness even during the transformation.”

     “So I am a werewolf?” I had at last found my tongue.

     “Yes. Just like your father before you, and his father before him, and all ancestors before them.” she suppressed a laugh. I could sense the tension even as she joked.

     “You?” I asked my mom.

     “No dear. Not me.” she replied.

     “Why didn't you tell me before?” I sensed my voice rise. “Did I turn today evening at school?”

     “Yes.” my mom replied with a sigh.

     I felt more terrible. “Why is Lokwa sobbing?”

     “She saw you turn.” my father said bluntly.

     A part of my brain recalled the entire situation. Another part was feeling… quenched. Vaguely I remembered Reninton and Shannon.

     “What happened to Shannon?” I asked. I had the least worries for Reninton.

     “He is good. Get ready. The pack will be here soon.” my father said in a hurry and left.

     “Why didn't you tell me before?” I asked again.

     “We wanted you to have a normal childhood.” my mom replied. “We did not want to terrorise you.”

     I made a mental note to research all about this.

     

     An odd group of people arrived. Among them I saw only two familiar faces. Shannon and his elder brother. Something made sense.

     “Thank you for standing by Shannon's side.” I recognised him as Mr.McLeone.

     “What is a loner?” I asked Shannon in almost a whisper.

     “A wolf without a pack. My father was a loner when he first came to this city. It was your father who joined him in our pack.” Shannon explained. I noticed the way he stressed ‘our pack’.

    

     After all the chatter, the party got ready. The place was completely devoid of light and nobody seemed to want it. I was gradually getting accustomed to the darkness. The sky was bright and clear. A perfect ball of moonlight streamed steadily all through the night.

     From a distance, I heard howls. Our pack howled in reply. “The Wolsorleys.” Shannon explained.

  

     Reninton and I stood opposite to each other. “To the future alpha wolves.” a man from their pack read. “As per the pact of ancient times, the west of the woods belong to the family of Wolsorleys and the east to the pack of Carlinleys…”

     I noticed how they didn't add “family” to our name.

     “...And the middle longitude shall be common to both. It also includes whatever is in it...”

     That explained why Reninton had to put up with our school. I turned and smiled dryly at Shannon. Certainly, Reninton knew a lot more than I did.

     “...as per the ancient pact, we shall live in harmony and respect each other’s borders and join together in times of trouble.” he completed at last.

     We were made to promise to abide by the terms of the pact.

     “You should not hurt Shannon anymore.” I said.

     “Agreed.” he said with his usual crooked smile.

     “Nor any members of the pack.” I added hastily.

     He nodded slowly. “As for your part, try not to add any more loners.” he said as he left.

     “That is none of your business.” I cried back.

     

     The entire pack hailed me. The claimed that I possessed all the qualities of an alpha.

     The hunt began. For the first time, I saw my town in the eyes of a wolf. I loved the way it was. I loved my pack. A kind of inexplicable respect for my father reflected from within. I saw the same respect in the eyes of all our pack. I had my first hunt.

     Pack is not about whose blood runs in your veins. Pack is all about the love and compassion that runs deeper in your veins. I learned that day this important lesson.