The Pack

Season One, Episode One of the series Reign of the Gods by Lynx!

"Ska'laar!" Someone snaps. I turn my head away from the swaying grass I was watching to fixate my amber eyes on Wu'ol, my closest - and only - friend.

"Yes?" I ask, blinking slowly.

She huffs. "I was asking if you were excited to become a Te'Maer."

"Oh, yeah." I say to placate her. "Not really. That just means more people will torment me."

Wu'ol puffs out her chest. With her sleek, dappled brown-and-white fur and warm green eyes, she looks identical to her father, the Pack leader, Me'tele. "I won't let them!" She says in a commanding voice.

We collapse in a heap, giggling.

"I can't believe it, our last day as pups!" She squeals, sitting back up. "We're going to have our own commanders soon, and we'll be able to talk with the other Te'Maers."

I nod, mouth shut. It's not necessary to talk much with Wu'ol, as she does most of it for me.

She continues babbling about what she's going to do as a Te'Maer, when I feel someone's gaze on me. I scan the area, no one is paying me much attention. I swivel my head the other way.

For a millisecond, our eyes meet. Then he looks away.

His gaze makes me nervous.

Si'nne is the other odd member of the pack.

He's the one who chooses to be left alone.

My solitariness - when I don't have Wu'ol, of course - feels like a punishment.

To him, it's a reward.

"What're you staring at?" Wu'ol asks.

I shiver. "Si'nne was staring at me."

She scoffs. "He's just lonely."

I nod, but something about him still makes me uneasy.

Wu'ol gasps, and I shove Si'nne out of my head. "What?" I ask.

"Me'tele is starting the meeting!" She cries.

"What?" I repeat again. This time, I'm shocked.

I crane my neck, squinting at the large, dusty boulder in the middle of our camp. Sure enough, Me'tele stands there, clearing his throat.

I sit down. My unruly white and brown fur never flattens, I won't bother to try.

"Today, two pups have come to the age of seven moons. They are both ready to become a Te'Maer. Wu'ol, step forward."

No surprise. She is his daughter, after all.

"Do you swear to protect the pack with your life, and dedicate yourself to learning the ways of our ancestors?"

She nods, eyes shining. "Yes, Me'tele!"

He dips his head. "You, daughter, are now a -"

The entire clan joins in. "Te'Maer!"

She's practically floating with pride, I smirk.

My smirk is gone when he calls my name.

"Ska'laar. Do you swear to protect the pack with your life, and dedicate yourself to learning the ways of our ancestors?"

I nod quickly. "Yes, Te'Maer."

"You are now a Te'Maer!"

One person joins in. There are a few halfhearted murmurs as I scan the crowd to see who spoke up.

I catch a glimpse of curious brown eyes and my blood runs cold.

I know those eyes.

They were fixated on me mere moments ago.

They belong to my counterpart.

The one coyote in the pack I'm afraid of.

Si'nne.