Clarkson
"You're not attending class?" Cayden asks. The calm wind blows through his red hair. We stroll on the farm. White snow covers some parts of the land.
"I already finished those," I answer. "I only attended the classes to watch over George."
"Now, I think she can do it without me," I add.
This farm is where most of the retired werewolves stay. They are asked to be retired. It is a very new command from the Alpha. He said that this was his reward for them serving the village for so long.
"Father," Cayden greets when our father waves to us.
We run to our parents. It's been a while since I last saw them.
"Mother," I give our mother a warm embrace. Beside her is our father with a roll of tobacco in his hand. He stands and opens his arms for a hug.
"Liev!" He smiles.
Saber soon follows and pulls us together in a big hug.
"Oh," Our mother says in teary eyes. "Look at our sons."
"How is everything here?" I ask, particularly to our father.
"It's great," Father happily says while looking at the animals. "It's more peaceful than being in the platoon."
The shiver of lies, as we call it, crawls in my skin.
"You know you can't lie to us," mother chuckles. "He misses being an officer, staying at the top of the upper village, together with his fellow high-ranking werewolves and working," she continues.
"This is new to me," our father says. "I'm used to being there, in action."
"You are still in action, my love," our mother says kissing our father's cheeks. "I'm gonna prepare for our lunch."
She smiles at us before entering the house.
"I still don't understand why they decided to put you here," Cayden says. "Them," he points at the houses made for the retired werewolves.
"They said we have to take a break," Father answers. He walks to their new house. "We have been serving this village for over half of our lives. I guess we deserve this break."
"It's not what you want though," I say.
"It's bigger than those in the village," Cayden says as we enter the two-story house.
"And spacious," Saber adds.
"You're not an officer anymore," I say as I look around the well-built house.
"I'm still in charge. We," he points outside and waves at the werewolves passing by. "We are in charge of your food now."
"A farmer," Saber says. "That's what humans call this job."
"Fairies and elves care for our crops and animals, right?" Cayden asks.
"Well they need bigger help, " Mom says, serving us raw meats on ceramic plates.
"How are you all doing?" Father asks.
"We are here to tell you a huge announcement!" Cayden says. "This big guy right here," he taps Saber's shoulders, "is having his rank promotion tonight!" he continues.
"Really?" our father gives us a bright smile. "That's good to know!" he gives our brother a high five.
Saber tries to suppress a smile. But then a bright smile forms across his lips.
I shift my gaze to the outside of the window and sigh. This may look so happy. But on the other side of the story, someone is struggling. Someone is confused. Someone is still questioning why all of this should happen. What is happening? Why doesn't everything go well for them?
George.
I must be happy for my brother but a friend of mine is suffering.
This is for the best. I say to myself, convincing that there is nothing to worry about.
George is strong.
"What's the matter, Liev?" Mother looks at me with a warm gaze.
"The bad news is," Cayden begins. "It's George's mother."
"What do you mean?" Mother asks.
"She's under investigation," Saber says. "The council of witches and werewolves are doing their best to figure out what is happening."
"What's happening?" my father repeats with a frown.
"They discovered that George's mother, Esperanza, built an alliance with the Vampire prince's assistant," Cayden further explains.
"Vampires," father spits. "How can she trust those creatures? I thought she was the next Alpha. So all of this is fake?" our father says with a low growl.
"No," I quickly say. "I believe in her."
I believe that George is the Alpha. I believe her mother has a bigger reason to do all of these.
When the night arrived, our family went to the open field to attend Saber's rank promotion.
"Saber, the eldest son of Akela has given his all and proven that he is capable. Now, I will double your men and promote you to a fourth-ranking officer of this village," Dranula says while giving Saber a red epaulet.
Two fourth-ranking officers remove his current blue epaulet. Another two put the new red epaulet on him.
"Thank you, Dranula, our Alpha, Sir. I won't disappoint this village and continue to serve," Saber says.
The oath-taking ceremony continues. In the middle of this proudest moment of our family, my head is filled with questions.
How about George?
What will happen to her?
What will happen to her mother?
What will happen to those people she left?
The sound of the drum echoes in the open field. Everybody starts dancing to the beat. We eat. We drink. We cheer for another werewolf who became stronger.
I scan my gaze to look for someone. It's only a day but I already want to see her. Of course, she won't attend this ceremony. A ceremony of the werewolf who caused her mother to be locked up in the witch's dungeon. Did she lock herself in her house? I hope she is doing okay. As I look around the crowd a familiar face meets my gaze, Camira.
"Liev!" Camira waves. "Where have you been?"
"Oh," I reply. "We are with Saber. We visited our parents."
"Even George?" Camira asks.
"George? She attended her classes," I furrow my eyebrows.
"She did not. I haven't seen her in the camp. I haven't seen you as well. So I thought she was with you this whole time. Yet you're here and she's nowhere to be found," Camira says while looking around. "There are rumors that she ran away after her Mom got caught."
What?
"Dranula commanded the werewolves to look for her," Camira whispers. "But they haven't found her in the village. No one knows where she is."
"Even you," Camira stresses. "I guess you should prepare for what will happen next," she advises.
I rush to Cayden who is busy talking to other werewolves.
"Cade," I whisper behind him.
"Oh, wait a second Larah," he gives Larah a smile before facing me. "What?" he asks.
"George is missing," I softly say.
Cayden didn't say a word. He tries to analyze what's happening.
"Where could she possibly be?" He seriously asks.
"I don't know!" a frustrated whisper escapes my mouth.
He walks to Saber who is having a toast with his new men.
"Hey," Cayden pulls our brother.
"What are you doing?" Saber asks with gritted teeth. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
"George is missing," Cayden whispers.
"Nevigera," Saber growls. He hurriedly walks out of the gathering.
"Where are we going?" Cayden asks.
Saber doesn't answer. His determined march shows confidence in where we could find a hint about the runaway werewolf.
I follow my brothers' lead.
Where is she?
Why did she run away?
"I knew it!" Saber exclaims. "My car is missing too!" He let a frustrated yell out of his mouth while staring at the empty space of the forest.
"She stole your car and left," Cayden says in conclusion.
"Thank you for stating the obvious, Cayden," Saber sarcastically says.
The two continue to bicker, while I pull out my phone and dial her number.
Please, answer.
George, answer the call.
"I guess I know where she is. Do not call her," Saber warns. "We should not let her know that we already knew she was missing.
"But," I show him my phone with George's number on the screen.
"Hello?" George answers.
"Nevigera," Saber mutter.
I can't lie to her now. She's a full-form werewolf now. Panic must be visible across my face as I think of my alibi for calling.
What should I say?
"Hey," I awkwardly answer.
What should I say?
"H-Hey," she replies.
"Uh... I missed you so much. I haven't seen you in a day," I bit my lip.
"Hey, Andrew," I hear a female voice in the background.
Andrew?
Then, that must be Shane.
"Oh-" George speaks, probably trying to grasp what on earth is happening right now. Even I don't know what I am saying.
"That's all," I quickly say and end the call.
I exhale and look at my brother.
"She's in her apartment," I tell them.
They still don't take off their stares at me.
"Right..." Cayden says and nods slowly.
* * *
Hello.
This is Dmitri typing. I am wondering if there is anything you are interested in asking about our creator, Ten-Ten. I will be the one answering the quest-
"Shouldn't I be the one to answer questions related to me or MY creation?" Ten-Ten speaks as she pushes the lenses to the bridge of her nose. Her brown eyes glare at me as she finishes tying her hair in a bun.
"Too boring," I say in a dismissive voice." Anyways, what was I typing again? Ah, right."
I will be the one answering the questions for our lovely author so she won't tire her hands anymore. You can call this Chat With Dmitri.
"I mean obviously it's not chat but you get what I mean," I say before closing the laptop.
"Good luck with that. My readers don't even comment on my chapters," the author says with a chuckle before snatching the laptop away from me.
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