Emerson
Ivy looked uneasy which he understood. Emerson knew it would be hard for her to choose who was more worthy of her power. A small part of him was delighted that she chose come along, in hopes that she saved his people, her true origin. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJYc6DNxtu
The visions that Emerson had have come in hard and strong. He’d only told Ivy about the he had in the office because she saw him slip into it. The others had shown him fire, war and the chilling screaming of those that they loved and cared about. No matter what fate brought to the group, there would be death, for that Emerson was certain. Living with wolves in the past few weeks had been entertaining. Watching them eat and converse was fascinating to Emerson. Some of them gulped their food as if they hadn’t eaten in weeks and others preferred to hunt and eat their kill fresh, but allowed their wolves to take over. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCgXB2BmLF
Emerson understood why Rowan and the pack were respected among other territories; he allowed his pack to be wolves. The territory was secluded enough, away from the nearest human village, where Angus came from. He thought about Angus and how much he struggled being away from Fi for so long. Angus constantly wrote to her and snuck off in the middle of the night. For him to back by the afternoon, Emerson knew he’d tapped into his wolf for the speed required to return in the time frame.
The five of them set off after Ivy returned with the Chief Sentinel. She told him that he was required to mind the pack in her absence. Ivy was a fine Luna and stepped up when required. She sent word out with the Scouts to surrounding territories of her absence and what had become of Alpha Rowan. Ivy requested that anything amiss needed to be reported to the Chief straight away. The other Alpha’s were reeling with anger over what happened to one of their own. There was built up angst and tension between the North and the South. Some of the younger ones like Rowan, would have no clue as to why, it’s just how it’s always been. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCadske8KB
The last Saviour sacrificed their life and saved those around her when she was cornered in the last Great War. Great Wars generally started between the Lycan communities and Wolf territories. The hunt for the Saviour was long. One Alpha got so caught up in trying to catch her for her blood, they didn’t care about the chaos around them. They did not know what she was capable of and the Lycan’s were only too happy to keep her safe. Amidst the fighting, burnings and carnage, and murdering, she escaped. He followed her through the forest until he cornered her. He wanted his seed inside her and wanted to know what would happen if he were to create a hybrid. Only for the sake of his power. At that time, no one knew that the Saviour’s genes were not genetic but chosen by the Moon Priest of around five months gestation. As the Alpha made a move to subdue her, the howl cried over the land and something like a sonic boom flattened the trees around them. It seemed like she sacrificed herself, for herself but, there wasn’t anything to fight over anymore. There wasn’t a Saviour, the wolf pack’s Alpha had passed, and they had no one to command them.
“Are you okay Emerson?” whispered Ivy.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUwQm9Buih
“Yes, I’m just thinking about the previous Saviours and their stories.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqsUrqKY9M
“How they ended?”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcoTpqzHUq
“Yes, but also how and why they started as well as what good it brought to those around them.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ8B3iY6sQ
“So, being a ‘Saviour’ is more of a curse and nothing good can come from it? Other than me dead?”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6VxiHmb57
“Don’t think like that Ivy. I know its hard, but we are here for you every step of the way,” smiled Emerson.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnoa20Y2Sx
“Is there anywhere in your stories that tell us how to break it without dying?”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhODQAz2CoG
Emerson shook his head slightly.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpr6HSm9VS
“Not in these ones Ivy, but you may be the first.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaU8mCpQ3Y
The Saviour didn’t look convinced. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdOzbhEofe
“Is my fear of dying a sign of weakness?”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQazNVAjbXf
“Heaven no Ivy, you are only fearful because you know what to expect. The others didn’t.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLo8cca76Q
Alex and James returned from scouting the clearing ahead. They started to walk along the back of the Elder Hall, from where Rowan was dragged through the forest. There were dry blood marks through some of the grass which led into the trees. It was enough for Ivy to hold his scent and be able to follow it. Emerson secretly hoped that it lasted and didn’t fizzle out so that they could make some quick ground. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HWQZpVFcn
“There is nothing out there but a few rabbits and deer, we should be safe to cross,” announced Alex.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFp8lZ414y
“Are there anymore trail marks through the clearing?” Ivy asked.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfW4zskd00
“They stop about halfway through. Even if they were in a hurry, they must have realised the trail they left.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa98FWAMGU
James was a whizz at tracking and his skills were vastly un-utilised during his time in the South with Alpha Harold. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIzHdAQNHS
“Let’s get through the clearing as that’s the border of the territory and we’ll get some lunch, then see if there are any other clues around the place,” stated Ivy.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazjppiboCi
The group moved quickly to remain undetected. The tree line ahead looked grim and grey. Who knew who could have been keeping eyes on them in the darkness from afar.
The sun shone, which blinded their view slightly and anything on the other side appeared as a shadow. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4zNAPnQ56
Emerson squinted through the sun rays and noticed the trees approaching. Their huge round trunks were tall and sturdy and such a dark brown in colour. Emerson took note that the forest they were in was much different to the one near the human village. That one was less dense and dark. He spotted a nice spot that had boulders and smaller rocks curved around two trees. It was the perfect set up for lunch as it shielded the group from behind. They also had a clear vision of up ahead if anyone approached. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp9GvmJNw4
“Great eyes Emerson,” Alex said and slapped him on the back. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYf1ZIcyYX
Alex annoyed Emerson, the man didn’t know his own strength. He took a seat with his back rested against a boulder and watched Angus organise tools and equipment to light a fire. Ivy walked around one of the rocks with some kindling she found close by. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhPGCtIzzb
“James, why don’t you see if you can find anything substantial for lunch?” asked Ivy.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyiNjWOISg
“Yes Ivy,” James nodded as he turned around and darted off into the forest. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CxzLfJuBW
Angus yelled out in glee when the fire started to smoulder, and the smallest of flames licked the twigs that Ivy gathered.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsiGSPtFuN
“That is how you light a fire,” he beamed. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5Lx5tD2eu
“Hopefully James won’t be too much longer, I am starving,” whined Alex. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KA5ybshLJ
“How can you think about your stomach right now? I don’t want to be here for long,” said Ivy.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyX7DXM1Hy
“We need a plan, Luna; we can’t just follow his scent and then walk straight into a trap,” stated Alex.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbkEm77udn
James appeared through the trees with four rabbits held in his hands. The men took one each and Ivy and Emerson shared. Angus graciously cooked Emerson’s half over the fire whilst the others ate in silence. Emerson watched as they skinned their rabbits and tore away the flesh from the bone. He’d never get used to the sight of it. However, Emerson was grateful that James drained their bodies before returning as that was the part, he hated watching the most. The sight of it made him squeamish. Emerson lost his appetite after a few small bites and ripped up some nearby grasses from the ground, wrapping the rabbit for later.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUDbXYFIy7
“Alex, do you have any idea who would have done this to Rowan?” Emerson turned his attention to him. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGisT15yGsx
“Nope! We are pretty peaceful in the North,” he mumbled, still chewing the food in his mouth. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlYECWkdXA
“This is my fault,” Ivy muttered. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtwFYLoFcM
“This is not your fault Ivy,” Emerson said. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALH6FAVk9l
“It is. Alan knows who I am, and we haven’t been able to find him anywhere at home. I feel it in my gut that he has something to do with this.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf8f2ywNc4
“You don’t possibly know that.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMIhWFOvpY
“I do,” she said and wrapped her arms around her body. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOYO3Vjx8y
“You said yourself that your vision was of red earth and soldiers so tall. The wolves that attacked Brian were armoured. Rowan was aware who was behind it, they just got to him first,” she confessed. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuAydRVnXO
James choked on a piece of rabbit and coughed until he contained his composure. Ivy stared at him with a look of confirmation, like they both knew something. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs0WINHjkE
“Who is it then?” Angus asked. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKfPk42mcl
“Harold,” Ivy stated.
Alex sat in silence and Emerson watched the colour drain from his face. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa84kzBWheC
“You can’t be serious?” he eventually stammered. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3O4b3hjo6
“He was the only one besides Alan who knew who I am. It’s a bit ironic that Alan is missing, and Harold’s soldiers are around causing havoc.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKSb2Jm2oX
“Why would your father do something like that?” asked Alex.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhlIPafoUi
Ivy returned Emerson’s look and urged him to answer the question, given the conversation they had days before. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5khyEBz4e
“…because Alan is not Ivy’s father. He stole her,” Emerson confirmed.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHXtrmahfa
Alex gasped but no one said another word as they all watched the flames lick the branches. The only sound came from Ivy has she sighed heavily into her lap.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0RwBEWVQQ
“We need to know what’s going on here Ivy…like everything,” suggested Alex.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2V6tkLKmS
“Alex, it’s really only you that doesn’t know,” she confessed. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7NRin61JR
“Always me, to know nothing but blindly follow,” he threw his hands in the air. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA3zWTW1yO
“Honestly, you haven’t missed much,” she continued. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtXKVdxsES
“No, nothing. Just that Alan isn’t even your father and that he stole her to give her to some god-awful man, who now also has my best friend and Alpha to our pack!”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxew0zfsUKU
“Calm down Alex, please,” Emerson quietly pleaded. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd4G4zprc3
“I am a Royal Lycan Alex,” Ivy stated. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ0et0mH7N
“Perfect.”
Alex instantly ceased his tantrum and stood. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw7XaLlOoE
“Sit down child,” Emerson teased. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43gRldAYFV
He left Alex to calm down on his own and Emerson turned his attention to forming a plan of where they were headed to search for Rowan. Time was of the essence, and they had no idea where to even begin. By now, Ivy held her knees by her face and Emerson could tell she tried to hold back tears and anger. It must have been the hardest thing for her. Her mate bond with Rowan was so strong. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlrOdzHtWX
Emerson knew where to start but dared not say it, for Ivy could turn and kill him at any point. For now, Emerson decided to keep the idea to himself and only mention it if it was required. The others were seasoned warries, and their heads were built for this situation. Emerson decided his obligation through their search was to be there for Ivy when no one else could be. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwnAW8kdHM
Angus and James talked among themselves, and Emerson tried to put the pieces of the last few weeks together. The visions that him and Ivy shared and experienced must have meant something. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj3TsWg3FE
“I think we should start at Alan’s territory,” Alex said calmly as he returned. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fECFIicV0
James and Angus agreed with the suggestion. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DYsXNDiOa
“If he is truly out to get you and hand you back to Harold, then he might be hiding Rowan there. He might think it’s the first place Ivy would go.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr37C05pnB
“I think you might be right,” agreed Emerson. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd7MdPdjHj
Ivy looked up at them, over her knees and shrugged. They felt the sense that she over the ordeal and happy to tag along. Even if Emerson didn’t have a wolf, it didn’t much to notice that she was about to go through another mood swing. A new challenge presented itself; they had to get Ivy to shift again. With her ever-growing emotional turmoil, it might’ve been hard. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLMrVRz78g
“Come on Ivy, say something,” Emerson ushered. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9Nj9JPG2a
“I think it’s somewhere to start. We should easily be able to get there before dark, it’s not far from here. So, you might be right,” she responded, perking up.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkIrCfQqym
Emerson started to put out the fire with wet moss from underneath the boulders and thankful that they all agreed on something. James and Angus began to organise their weapons and clipped them on the outside of their sacks for easy access. Alex began to scout ahead and located the river so that they could follow it into Alan’s former territory. Ivy stood, looking brighter and shook off the dirt from her behind.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyPiVgJvV6
“My back hurts,” she said to Emerson. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYOPDvB1M3
He gestured her to turn around and lifted her shirt. The red marks on her back were bruised and bled. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxfFnM2Lnw
“Jesus Ivy, what did you do?” he asked.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpqVwL1IOV
“Nothing, I woke up like this… I just don’t feel right.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35oVv19OM6
“We have to keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t become infected.”123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8sAvxNaaH
Alex yelled from a distance in the direction of the river, so they picked up their belongings and followed his voice, further into the forest, to Alan’s territory.
