Chris held on tight as she turned her body towards the next tree. She readied herself, crouching on the branch. Then pushing off from the tree, flying between branches, and out into the open autumn air. She slams into the next tree, using the momentum, immediately pulling herself around the tree and pushing off to the next tree.
Chris continued flying through the woods, 50 feet above the ground. Every now and then she would partially shift either her hands to claws or her feet and legs to her more powerful wolf form. Shifting just long enough to push or pull herself faster and further. Pushing herself, her breath came harder and faster as she strained her screaming muscles to move quicker. Chris was flying so fast through the canopy that she didn't realize she had made it to the Tower.
The Tower was a grouping of five large trees with platforms at different levels. All the platforms were connected through rope bridges, ladders, swings, and pulleys. The fifth, and largest, tree was in the middle of the other four with a large platform high above the others called the King's Landing. It was used for the game King of the Tower. Normally the Tower is covered in different military groups in a training session. However, Chris planned on coming during lunch, no one was around.
Leaping out she grabbed a rope which swung her onto one of the lower platforms. As soon as she hit the platform her body crumpled from exhaustion, her breathing was heavy and her vision was waving in and out. Her wolf growled in distress, 'You shouldn't have pushed so hard.' Chris finally slowed her breathing and pushed herself up to a sitting position with her back against the tree. She lay there enjoying the euphoric feeling of endorphins, adrenaline, and exhaustion.
Ten minutes later she heard a male voice cursing as he slammed into a tree. She laughed out loud, which started another stream of cursing aimed at her. Chris started to stretch her sore arms and legs, as she watched a black figure leap from one tree to the next. He missed a step and just barely grabbed the branch swinging himself up again. He used a rope ladder to climb across to the outer tree directly across from her. He plopped down on the lower platform facing her with his long legs dangling off the edge.
Chris grinned, "that was close, you almost became a doggie pancake."
Joseph wiped the sweat off his forehead and smirked, "if only getting rid of me was that easy." He rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms as he looked around at the very large tree house. "So how did I do?"
Chris stood up and stretched her back, "for that only being your second time tree running. It wasn't that bad, but I know 12 year olds who are quieter than you." She matched his smirk, "It sounded like you hit every single branch on your way over."
"I probably would have broken bones if it wasn't for this armour." He pulled at the black material and grinned up at Chris. "I really like it... It shows off my abs really nicely."
Chris rolled her eyes, "Yes that is what we are looking for when testing these prototypes. Whether it makes your abs look more appealing." Chris was wearing one of the dark blue wereform prototypes and Joseph was wearing a black one. They had been testing the armour all day. Running through different obstacle courses, shifting back and forth between forms, and sparring with each other with and without weapons.
A wereform outfit is made of stretchable fibers; like spandex, except more durable. When werewolves wear them in human form they look like form fitting workout gear. When they shift from human to wolf the wereform is able to expand and shrink with them. It makes the wolf look like it's wearing clothes. After years of tweaking the wereform they have been able to make armor that protects in human and wolf forms. Chris along with a team of designers started making them when she first became Alpha, and after 9 years the industry has grown to be able to produce mass amounts for her pack and others.
"This one feels thicker and heavier than the ones I have at home." Joseph said pulling at the material.
"My team found a way to incorporate steel fibers into the armor. It does add weight but it is also strong enough to withstand claws or jaws."
"Hmm... When do they go into production?"
Chris cracked her neck thinking, "as soon as I put my stamp of approval on it. Gia says they can make 10,000 units in 4 weeks. Her and Garrett have already tested them and approve the design."
"Wow! 10,000 units?! Is that enough?"
"Should be more than enough. We accounted for your pack wanting a few thousand. That is why I'm glad you came today. Now I get a better perspective-"
"On my abs?" Joseph grinned a her, standing up to show off his built physique, including his abs. Joseph's face turned mischievous as he said, "race to the top?" Nodding to the King's Landing high above them.
Chris cracked her neck again and grinned, always up for a challenge. Her muscles squealed at her as she stretched her back out. "As long as you don't cry like a whiny kitten when you lose."
Immediately Joseph jumped off his platform and landed on a rope bridge trying to race his way across to the main tree. 'Cheater,' Chris's wolf thought. 'But if we are being honest it is probably fair for him to get a head start. He's not very good up in trees.'
Chris began climbing her tree with a fierce intensity. There are many ways to get to King's Landing. The most direct going for the middle tree and straight up. However, you still have to make it past three platforms before you get to the top. The other way is by climbing to the top platform on the outer trees and then taking a bridge to the King's Platform. By the time Chris made it to the top bridge, Joseph was one platform below. She pulled herself up and began running down the bridge making it swing and wobble dangerously. Joseph saw what she was about to do and sped up. As Joseph pulled himself up to the platform, Chris pulled hard on the rope bridge and launched herself forward.
Landing right on top of Joseph.
Chris's body slammed into Joseph and they both rolled across the platform together. Sliding to a stop 3 feet from the opposite ledge. They were a mix of arms and limbs as they both groaned. "I win." Joseph wheezed out.
"Ow! No! I won!" Chris said trying to get her leg out from under Joseph.
"You used me as a landing pad. Therefore, I win!"
"Get off! Who used who as a landing pad. I am the one who is pinned!"
Quick as a flash, Joseph was pinning Chris's hands above her head, his hands around her wrists. While his legs straddled the rest of her body down with his weight. "I won," He said in a sultry voice.
Chris narrowed her eyes, "Get off."
Joseph smirked and bent down whispering in her ear. "Perhaps this is where our love starts to blossom. Maybe we should make this tree shake- OW!"
Chris head butted him hard enough to make him lose his grip so she could roll out from under him. "Perv," she hissed massaging her forehead.
"Ah! It was a joke! And now you broke my face!"
Chris scooted herself over to the edge and let her feet dangle over the open void. "Stop being a pervy player and maybe you would save yourself some pain." She growled back her eyes flashing in irritation.
"You know... you are the only female it doesn't work on." He stated while moving to sit next to her, still feeling his forehead.
They stayed quiet for a few minutes listening to the birds and watching the sunlight filter through the canopy. Joseph glanced at Chris. Nudging her with his arm, "you didn't have to race me here. You know I suck at tree running."
Chris chuckled and then sighed. The smile fell from her face as her brow furrowed with thought. "Sometimes I feel like if I run fast enough, maybe some of my problems won't follow me. Maybe they will just fall off." She took a deep breath and continued, "sometimes I try to run as hard as I can, so all I can feel is my body's pain....it makes everything else.... all the other worries, fears, emotions.... it makes it.... less some how."
Joseph nodded in understanding. "I do that too. The stress gets so bad that I want to.... no I have to feel something.... anything different."
Chris glanced at Joseph to find him smiling at her. She turned toward him, "So we had a brief meeting with a friend of yours yesterday."
"Oh?" Joseph said pulling his face into a mask of indifference. "Which one? I'm very popular."
Chris shrugged, examining Joseph's reaction closely, "I am sure you told me about Alpha Terrant before."
Joseph kept his face blank, "Hmmm, Terrant...Terrant...I'm not sure I recall a Terrant....hmm."
Chris smirked leaning back on her elbows and staring up at the canopy. They had been friends for close to 6 years; in many ways Chris would consider Joseph one of her closest friends. He was one of the few Alpha's who knew who she was, and hadn't tried to take over her pack. For a long time after he signed the blood contract he would visit her, and they would have interesting and heated discussions on how to run a pack. They would talk about everything from the Alpha/Luna dynamic to the lunch menu. After a while their discussions became more friendly and informative. Then when tragedy struck Joseph, he came to Chris first, and that is when she saw; without realizing it they had both began to trust each other.
Joseph leaned back on his elbows as well, "Okay, okay. Yes I do know Alpha Terrant, and I heard that he visited you yesterday.... Well maybe not you, but Gia and Garrett. I heard that he tore up the library."
"Hmm... not really. He just knocked over a few chairs and a couch. I think a chair's leg needed to be replaced, and a leather folder was shredded. Out of all the Alpha's who have been in that room, he was the only one who didn't shift completely. In fact he apologized and bowed to Gia and Garrett..... It was... kind of impressive."
"Really? Terrant made it sound a lot worse."
"Are you two good friends?"
"Well we got to know each other around the same time I met you. I had been entertaining the idea of introducing him to you, but he has had some issues with traditionalist in his pack. So I thought it would be better to wait."
"Is he a traditionalist?"
Joseph's brow furrowed, "I don't think so. He seems against most of the traditionalist ideas, however, that doesn't mean he wouldn't oppose you."
Chris shrugged, "Who wouldn't? I am just some presumptuous female who doesn't know her place."
"Sarcasm is so unbecoming." Joseph said, sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
Chris sat up, "Okay, cut to the chase. What do you want?"
Joseph smirked. "What makes you think that I want something? Maybe I am here to spend time with you."
Chris huffed, "So you just wanted to come and see me...Sure. Right after your friend tears up my library in an attempt to see me with information that was too sensitive to tell my Beta or Omega?"
"I thought he broke a chair leg."
"Cut the crap, Joseph. The only reason I was able to see you at all today is because you agreed to assist in testing these prototypes. I have been working non-stop for the last few days. I have had very little sleep, and I'm running out of patience. We have been running around all day and you still haven't gotten to the point."
Joseph sighed, "You're right. On a more serious note.... The crotch is kind of itchy." Joseph pulled at the legs to his wereform, attempting to adjust it.
Chris couldn't stop herself from smiling. "I will make a note to tell the designers."
"Good! Cause the last thing you want is an army with a bad case of itchy crotch."
Chris chuckled and Joseph smiled; turning towards her, his eyes becoming serious. He sighed and then looked up, "Alpha Terrant has called a war council."
*Thanks for reading! Please vote and comment! I love constructive criticism, however if it becomes mean I will take you down.*
-LostArrow-