Betrayal (4)

4: Almost there now

the sun had just set and Jasperain was out hunting. The antlers on his head began to shine more and more in the moonlight as the days passed. Kacima said it was because Japserain was giving the antlers something to grow on, therefore making them shine. Jasperain, was the only wolf in his pack that had such a signature of maturity other than Kacima, who had a skull attached to his head. All the other wolves had small objects, like stones or charms embedded in their chests, hidden by their long fur.

Jasperain caught onto the sent of some Humans. He followed the sent through the forest. What was that second sent? Vampires? Was the pack camping that close to the Vampire's camp? No, they would not take that risk. So the Vampires must have left the camp to hunt.

Jasperain stopped at some bloody boulders by a deep stream. The Human's sent was stong now, but still stale. He sniffed the air. What?! he exclaimed in his mind. Veax's sent was here. It was not very strong underneath the sent of scared Human but it was there none-the-less. She had been here about an hour ago, with another Vampire. Jasperain wondered who.

After he left the spot where Veax and the other Vampire fed, he found two young does grazing in a small forest clearing. They would do for Jasperain's hunt.

The does had no chance against Jasperain's speed and now were slung over his back. A hot blazing fire up burning in the center of camp, it was the third half moon since Fregor, the deputy, had died and Alarik needed to choose a new deputy. Jasperain laid the two deer in the pile of prey by the fire. The older cubs were skinning and gutting the prey while the younger cubs were cooking the meat.

Kacima came up to Japserain, Cregan at his side. "Jasperain, since you are now of maturity, you may participate in the ceremony." Kacima said, nodding towards the fire. Jasperain smiled and bowed.

The fire was unusually cool against Jasperain's fur. Alarik was centering himself with the half Moon away from the fire. Beryl sat by the fire. She was a big wolf with an ashen pelt and pale green eyes. For some reason that Jasperain never understood, Beryl did not like him. Tabrez, Fregor's son also sat by the fire. The other wolves stood in small groups, quietly talking about who Alarik would choose.

Jasperain felt out of place now with his antlers and Cregan was always with Kacima now, so Japserain had no none to talk to. Well he could talk to anybody in the pack, but not everybody was as enthusiastic as Cregan.

The moon rose fully in the starry night sky. Kacima and Cregan gathered up all the cubs and sent them away from the fire. Alarik came back, the power of Lune shining in his eyes. All the pack that could participate came to stand by the fire.

Beryl glared at Jasperain. He flinched back from her hateful eyes. Beryl was fifteen years older then him and always like this. Kacima and Cregan stepped between Beryl and Jasperain and began the ceremony. "Oh Lune, granter and taker of our power and sanity, we call upon thy sight! Through Alarik, pack Alpha, choose the wolf you would want as the next deputy!" Kacima and Cregan called up to the Moon at once.

Alarik's eyes lit up, shining as bright as the full moon on a clear night now. He walked around the fire, meeting the eyes of each and every one of the silently waiting wolves. Kacima and Cregan chanted in low voices.

When Alarik looked every wolf in the eye he took up his spot between Kacima and Cregan. "Oh Lune, granter and takerof our power and sanity, we call upon your voice! Through Alarik, pack Alpha, show us the wolf you want as the Quicksilver pack deputy!" the two shamans called towards the moon again. Alarik's eyes dimmed and became as black as a night with no moon. He turned and faced Jasperain with his black eyes and in a voice that was not his own he spoke, "Lune hath chosen thy as the deputy of the Quicksivler pack." he pointed at Jasperain.

Jasperain froze. What?! Me? the surprised showed clearly on his face. Beryl glared at Jasperain furiously, but said nothing. Tabrez and everyone else looked at startled as Jasperain felt.

Kacima placed his hand on Jasperain's shoulder. "Lune has chosen you as deputy. Fulfill the task." he told Jasperain, handing him a silver dagger. Jasperain looked into the fire. He had to cut his palm and hold it over the open flame. The power of Lune would then heal his wound through the fire if he was truly was the one Lune had chosen. Jasperain had seen wolves who had not really been meant to be deputy howl in pain when the fire seared their flesh.

Jasperain took a breath and then cut his palm. The silver blade stung and cut deeper than Jasperain had meant it to. Cregan nodded to Jasperain, telling him that all was going to be alright.

The fire hurt, but did not burn. It was an odd feeling. Jasperain could feel the flames licking his palm and felt a strange sense of peace. His palm tensed up for a moment and then loosened again, the pain gone. Cregan took Jasperain's hand out of the fire. His palm was completely healed except for the scar that ran across it.

Alarik was out of his trance now and smiling proudly at Jasperain. Alarik held out out his paw, his palm was also scared. Jasperain shook it, the official ending of the ceremony. There were howls of joy and the cubs were allowed to come back.

Tabrez was the first to congratulate Jasperain. "I thought you might be chosen." he said, smiling. Jasperain smiled back. "I honestly thought it would be you." he said. Tabrez chuckled. "Most everybody did."

The meat was cooked to perfection by now and there was much feasting. Beryl was the only wolf that seemed to not be having a good time. Jasperain knew why: he had been chosen and she had not.

Cregan came and sat beside Jasperain. "I can't believe it Jasp!" he exlaimed with a smile. "I could feel Lune emanating form Alarik. It was so empowering." he said, lost in the memory. Jasperain chuckled softly. Cregan was such a wistful wolf. But Jasperain's thoughts were on his new job. He had to be deputy. That was a lot of responsibility and left him little time to do anything. It left him with no time to go and sneak over to Veax. No time to learn more about her.

The feasting ended and the fire had dwindled down to shimmering embers. Most of the wolves had gone to sleep, but Jasperain stayed by the embers. So many questions in his mind were going to go unanswered. Alarik pulled him back to the present. "Jasperain?" he asked softly. Jasperain looked up at the Alpha. "Yeah?" he asked in return. "You look unsure of yourself." Alarik said, sitting down next to Jasperain. "I'm just stunned. I never thought I'd be chosen deputy." Jasperain explained half of what was worrying him. Alarik chuckled. "I know what you're feeling. But don't worry. Things always work themselves out in time." the Alpha said encouragingly. "Yeah, things do work out in time...." Jasperain said, looking up to the sky, his hope renewed.

Jasperain got little sleep that night. Horrible images flashed behind his eyes every time he finally fell asleep. It was terrible. Jasperain wished he had someone in the pack to talk to about his nightmares, but if he told anyone, they would knew about him and Veax. Every image that passed through his mind was of Veax and in each image, she was hurt or injured in someway. Her pale face and icy eyes were red with her tears of blood. What had Jasperain promised to her? He needed to know, so that he would not make this mistake he kept seeing. But Veax's voice was always blocked by thunder, leaving Jasperain in the dark as he tore Veax apart.

He was glad when morning finally came. The Vampire city was about a days travel from where the pack camped now. Alarik came to Jasperain before he woke any of the other wolves up. "You will be traveling up front with me today." Alarik told Jasperain. Jasperain nodded. "Should I help wake up the pack?" he asked. Alarik smiled broadly. "Just what I was just going to ask you." the Alpha answered Jasperain's question.

Japerain went around waking the pack up one by one with Alarik. But Jasperain stayed away from Beryl. She would attack him if he woke her, she hated him that much. That thought sent shivers up Jasperain's spine. He almost wished that he had not been chosen, for so many reasons.

All the pack was awake and traveling now. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky and warmed the previously cool air. It was nice, but Jasperain and Werewolves in general, liked the night time better. Alarik walked on all fours beside Jasperain on the forest path. "Tell me, Jasperain, what do you know of being a deputy?" he asked. Jasperain thought for a moment. "I don't know the specs, but I know that I am to be the bridge between you and the pack. I know that I must support you, no matter what...." Jasperain looked at Alarik, uncertain. Alarik nodded. "I'll explain to you."

Alarik explained everything he needed to as they walked at the front of the pack. He said that there must be trust between the Alpha and the deputy in a pack. No secrets. That part Jasperain did not know how to handle. He would have to tell Alarik about Veax sooner or later. When Jasperain knew it would be safe to tell Alarik, he would. Alarik also said that the deputy had to establish trust and friendship between him or herself and the pack. Jasperain was going to have a problem with that too. Beryl would rather become a loner than be friends with Jasperain. He would have to tell Alarik about that one too.

The sent of Vampires filled Jasperain's nose as the pack traveled. Jasperain looked at Alarik. "What are we doing so close to the v-blood drinkers?" his tongue almost slipped in to saying 'Vampires'. Alarik seemed not to notice. "We are going to camp where the blood drinkers just camped. Their sent will vaguely cover ours." Alarik explained, but Jasperain was still confused and Alarik could see that. "We are going to camp near the city and then we will call the hoard and then we attack the city." he said, his voice dark. Jasperain could not help but think of Veax.