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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFUEjXwNTB
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQDcCWWddz
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIqQ3cjS1j
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlGbhtQH5o
“Yes, I’m just thinking about the previous Saviours and their stories.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowhmUbkHAj
“How they ended?”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68BaLZ8dZd
“Yes, but also how and why they started as well as what good it brought to those around them.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHhJzAYxmH
“So, being a ‘Saviour’ is more of a curse and nothing good can come from it? Other than me dead?”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAJ7H0BVX7
“Don’t think like that Ivy. I know its hard, but we are here for you every step of the way,” smiled Emerson.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR284hvMJu
“Is there anywhere in your stories that tell us how to break it without dying?”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nhIqcfMDX
Emerson shook his head slightly.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaWak1xZau
“Not in these ones Ivy, but you may be the first.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT6flhsyT9
The Saviour didn’t look convinced. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEiqNJx3OX
“Is my fear of dying a sign of weakness?”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWayQwWzJyc
“Heaven no Ivy, you are only fearful because you know what to expect. The others didn’t.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsTOvbS6Ko
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Rwje6QGbA
“There is nothing out there but a few rabbits and deer, we should be safe to cross,” announced Alex.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqDGNcfWbE
“Are there anymore trail marks through the clearing?” Ivy asked.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8DeC0TNjI
“They stop about halfway through. Even if they were in a hurry, they must have realised the trail they left.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5vVCifeQg
James was a whizz at tracking and his skills were vastly un-utilised during his time in the South with Alpha Harold. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZbXTwngGZ
“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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZixBnuJZk
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ADUo2EWkK
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8UcImc4IG
“Great eyes Emerson,” Alex said and slapped him on the back. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO9AtGIEQg
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb753MXDd2n
“James, why don’t you see if you can find anything substantial for lunch?” asked Ivy.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf0g8irtQ1
“Yes Ivy,” James nodded as he turned around and darted off into the forest. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oHkvKF8up
Angus yelled out in glee when the fire started to smoulder, and the smallest of flames licked the twigs that Ivy gathered.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k96W2UzLs
“That is how you light a fire,” he beamed. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ492FYnllmh
“Hopefully James won’t be too much longer, I am starving,” whined Alex. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6blM3ntV8v
“How can you think about your stomach right now? I don’t want to be here for long,” said Ivy.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRICZpTORu3
“We need a plan, Luna; we can’t just follow his scent and then walk straight into a trap,” stated Alex.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMivwZAk7uV
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16CAsHNadU
“Alex, do you have any idea who would have done this to Rowan?” Emerson turned his attention to him. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXSrVZxdqo
“Nope! We are pretty peaceful in the North,” he mumbled, still chewing the food in his mouth. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ojvgBE3Sz
“This is my fault,” Ivy muttered. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDIpwdlFQf
“This is not your fault Ivy,” Emerson said. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN82RpPN2y
“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.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHspm7QOx9X
“You don’t possibly know that.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wbWUOSraG
“I do,” she said and wrapped her arms around her body. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEDmcSXjyo
“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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrKGGiJKuj
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrU3d6TJxp
“Who is it then?” Angus asked. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOoy6E04pc
“Harold,” Ivy stated.
Alex sat in silence and Emerson watched the colour drain from his face. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTzvwjh8Zp
“You can’t be serious?” he eventually stammered. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7rl25XB9w
“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.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWnGkRjz0P
“Why would your father do something like that?” asked Alex.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQjmXKOgVE
Ivy returned Emerson’s look and urged him to answer the question, given the conversation they had days before. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERVr6eUdu4
“…because Alan is not Ivy’s father. He stole her,” Emerson confirmed.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ93eNWSzm
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYZ9c1gcv0
“We need to know what’s going on here Ivy…like everything,” suggested Alex.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqeZzutB5K
“Alex, it’s really only you that doesn’t know,” she confessed. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3B9ndX1Rb
“Always me, to know nothing but blindly follow,” he threw his hands in the air. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnzgchceqF
“Honestly, you haven’t missed much,” she continued. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9QYx80L0z
“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!”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e3TWQ207y
“Calm down Alex, please,” Emerson quietly pleaded. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KxREkxlj2
“I am a Royal Lycan Alex,” Ivy stated. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWgDEhu020
“Perfect.”
Alex instantly ceased his tantrum and stood. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicqVnyQ3OX
“Sit down child,” Emerson teased. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yTmz3C9wA
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfGUueHqlJ
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HoLO3NdoM
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydHTJ65zUl
“I think we should start at Alan’s territory,” Alex said calmly as he returned. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4KhYFi8g5
James and Angus agreed with the suggestion. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6HSxGWBWu
“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.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLWrmyfgS4
“I think you might be right,” agreed Emerson. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7HvKV8yVa
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hyTaaqG11
“Come on Ivy, say something,” Emerson ushered. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3qkY7Mn9z
“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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIDOyfPl7p
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRbSzKHBCo
“My back hurts,” she said to Emerson. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZvdbYAjCR
He gestured her to turn around and lifted her shirt. The red marks on her back were bruised and bled. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzk3N1hGtaK
“Jesus Ivy, what did you do?” he asked.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVj6I26Idl
“Nothing, I woke up like this… I just don’t feel right.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ7N54yOgU
“We have to keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t become infected.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ4JJWlPMx
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.
