• The Rising Light
    By:Uezama Oookami Kibi

    CHAPTER 1
    A forest, located in the wilds of Florida, glistens in the sun’s diminishing light. All is quiet. The leaves glisten like purple and pink diamonds. The dawn was coming. Something stirs the peacefulness. A person, a girl 12 or 13 years of age, runs, dodging trees. She gasps for breath, for she has been running for miles. All the while, some one, something chases her. As the sun sinks lower, she runs faster.
    “Wait!” yell one of the pursuers. They are all men, tall, and wearing strange jet-black cloaks. With about five or six of them, the girl seems outnumbered.
    She stumbles, falls. She hits the ground with a whoosh, as all of the air in her lungs is forced out. The sun made it's last shine, and as it faded the full moon rose and shone brighter by the minute. The girl started to change, growing fur. A tail grew, her ears lengthened and slid to the top of her head.
    “No! She's one of them!” one of the pursuers shouted, enraged.
    The animal that replaced the girl watched as the men stared in horror, turn and run faster than ever the other way. She sighed with relief and looked up at the moon, her saving grace. With a flick of her tail, she was racing away to meet with her pack.
    She arrived at a clearing, glistening with a silver light from the moon. Many other creatures that looked like her were sitting in the clearing. They looked as if they were waiting for something. They saw her, and all stood up.
    “Your late” the biggest one growled.
    “I was being chased” she huffed, still catching her breath.
    “Again!?” The large creature loomed over her, then he snarled “You’ll be watched from now on. We can’t risk some idiot following you.”
    “I would hear him!” she retorted, swiveling her ears.
    “ Maybe you will, but we still can’t risk you getting us all killed!”
    By the way the huge wolf stalked off, she could tell the argument was over. As she watched the head wolf bark orders to some other wolves, her best friend, BarkFoot, quietly tried to sneak up on her.
    “Gotcha!” BarkFoot yelled as she jumped for her friends back. But she simply stepped to the right, letting her friend crash to the ground.
    “Hi RunningStream” she said sheepishly.
    Her friend looked down at her.
    “He thinks I cant hear humans. *Sigh* If I can hear you I can hear them just fine!”
    BarkFoot staggered to stand up as RunningStream started towards the rest of the pack.
    “Hey! Wait up!”
    As they walked together towards the rest of the pack, all the glowing eyes turned to look at the two wolves.
    “Nice going!”
    “I bet you’re pelt will be hanging around before your old enough to be a warrior!”
    “Try not to get us all killed, m’kay?
    The taunts stabbed at her ears as she approach a silver wolf.
    “That is enough” the large silver wolf barked. She looked down at RunningStream. Her eyebrows rose as the young wolf retorted:
    “It’s not like I look for vampires to chase me. I’m sorry, SilverPelt.”
    SilverPelt just snorted as all the other wolves stated to run after the Lead Wolf. They all ran, they’re paces met, they’re bodies moved like one big furry current. RunningStream was named for her running grace. She ran like a small stream racing along a trail. BarkFoot caught up to her.
    “Hey” Barkfoot panted.
    “Hey. Have you seen GoldTip?” GoldTip was a wolf that was expecting pups soon, and RunningStream was assigned to help her raise them. If these lived longer than the last ones.
    “Nope. Sorry. Why do you want to see her?”
    “I’m excited I get to help with her pups.”
    “If they live this time”
    “HEY! Don’t think like that! They’ll live this time.” *I can feel it.*
    All the wolves had started to slow they’re pace. Soon they all stopped. RunningStream and BarkFoot could her some others sniffing questionably. They heard the Lead Wolf yell:
    “There have been enemies in this area. Stay close and keep a look out.”
    Soon they arrived at a campsite, with a big fire in the middle. Caves of all sizes surrounded the fire. The wolves sniffed eagerly, hoping all of they’re belongings still were there. RunningStream shared a cave with BarkFoot and another white apprentice named SnowTail. They all started fluffing they’re beds. Werewolves sometimes would stay as a wolf for extended periods of time. So they had beds, duties, and trained as apprentices to become full members.
    There are Warriors, who act as guard dogs to the leader, or Nursing Mothers. There are Hunters, who, obviously, hunt for the whole Pack. RunningStream wanted to be Warrior, BarkFoot aspired to be a Hunter, and SnowTail wanted to settle down and have pups of her own one-day.
    “I wonder where GoldTip is” RunningStream sighed wonderingly.
    “Probably checking in with MudFace.” SnowTail said, settling down in her bed. MudFace was the Clan’s medicine dog, or basically the doctor of the community. Every day GoldTip checked in with her to assure her pups safety. Last time, she thought she didn’t need to check in. he was wrong.
    “RunningStream! RunningStream!” a voice yelled. RunningStream leaped to her feet, and darted out into the dark clearing. There was a shadow on the other side of the fire.
    “It’s GoldTip!”

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    The warm sun rose over the forest, and the Wolf Clan was busy. RunningStream was in GoldTip’s den, looking over her pups. RunningStream watched as the two fluffy puffs stumbled and tripped over each other. The birthing had gone perfect, but shortly after, GoldTip died. RunningStream looked at the rising sun. She had been watching the pups all night, and was exhausted.
    *Why GoldTip? Why couldn’t you stay long enough to name your kin?*
    “RunningStream, I hope you aren’t to mad at me for putting you on pup duty without you bein’ a warrior n’ all.” MudFace entered the cave, her eyes red from obviously crying all night. GoldTip was her sister, after all.
    “No, its fine. It’s the least I can do for GoldTip, since this was to be my duty any how.”
    “Ya know, there’s a rumor floatin’ ‘round sayin’ that Lead Wolf is plannin’ your warrior ceremony soon.”
    “What?”
    “Ya ya! Your gonna be a full blown warrior before ya know it! And I know you’ve been plannin’ to be a guard, but I thought since, ya know, last night, ya should be a care taker. Or at least these here pups’ mum.”
    RunningStream looked into the old wolf’s eye and saw so much of her younger sister in them. And how could she say no? She opened her mouth to agree when one of the pups charged and slammed into her side. It didn’t hurt, but she rolled on the ground, as if a bulldozer had hit her. MudFace laughed and turned to walk out. She knew Stream well, and she knew that it was impossible for her to say no.
    Stream was on her back laughing as the tiny pup yipped happily and piled onto her, the pup’s brother close behind. Stream rolled them off, and the pup’s turned on each other, nipping and yapping in mock ferocity. She stuck her head out of the cave to have her nose pushed into SilverPelt’s chest. Stream Jumped back, startled my her Master’s sudden appearance.
    “I see you have your paws full, Stream.”
    “Uhhhh, ya . I guess so.”
    “And your going to be a warrior soon?”
    “Thats just a rumor, right?’
    “Well I guess time will tell.” SilverPelt winked and turned to join a nearby group of other Masters who had apprentices. She recognized BarkFoot’s Master, FishFur, and SnowTail’s master BullSpirit. He got his name for his microscopic temper and his abusive training methods.
    Stream delicately picked up the boy pup in her mouth and nudged the other pup. She trotted out of the opening of the cave, the little puff dangling from her mouth

    CHAPTER2
    Elsewhere in the forest, in an area unknown to the werewolves, a colony of vampires was busying themselves. The settlement was small, there were only 6 or 7 adults, and 1 child. They usually only fed on animals such as deer and elk, but the lack of animals due to hunters drove them to try to capture humans, one of them turned out to be a werewolf. This inccedent alerted the vampires to the presence of the wolves. Where there are one, there are a whole lot of them waiting around the corner.
    The vampires stayed in huts around a center fire, much like the the werewolf settlement. They hoped to find more vampires, since they didn't like to convert people themselves.
    The vampires, at the moment, where organizing a hunting party, consisting of about 4 of the 7 vampires. They left, leaving the other 3 vampires to discuss the werewolf problem. They filed into the biggest hut, leaving a small vampire, probably converted at the age of 12, standing alone in the clearing. She was intriged by the thought of a human that could transform.
    Looking around to see if anyone, or thing, was watching, she ran off into the woods, towards the direction the others saw the werewolf run.
    She walked silently, thinking of the rumors about how the werewolves lived. She remembered one saying they had wolves patrolling the border, another saying that if ant of them heard an intruder, they all ran to rip it to shreds.
    Suddenly, there was a russling in the bush to her left...

    CHAPTER 3
    Meanwhile, before the young vampire left, Stream trotted out of the cave with a pup dangling from her jaws. She didn't want to be pent up in the cave with the hyperactive pups.
    She walked over to MudFaces cave, first sticking her nose i to sniff out whether MudFace was in or not. She smelled her familiar scent and walked into the cave.
    "MudFace?" She heard a questioning grunt from the back of her cave. She saw MudFace, mouth full of herbs, treating another wolf, with nasty antler wounds on his side.
    "I'm gonna drop the pups off here. I wanna go hunting." MudFace blinked and went back to treating the wolf Stream recognized as BullSpirit. Stream dropped the pups in a small ditch in the corner of the cave MudFace used as a pups' play pen.
    Stream walked out of the cave, and ran into Lead Wolf, who's black fur boldly silhouetted out the sun. His glowing yellow eyes narrowed into slits.
    "Where are you going?" his loud voice boomed.
    "Er...hunting, sir" she lowered herself to the ground till her belly scraped the dust. Lead Wolf snorted and turned to walk off. Stream darted into the bushes before the giant wo,f took 2 steps.
    Grateful to be free of the pups and lead wolf, she went into hunting mode. Stream lowered to an army crawl, and sniffed for a trace of some small prey. Since she was alone, it was safest for her to go for rabbits, squirrels, or even badgers. If she ran into a buck all by herself, she would end up like BullSpirit.
    Suddenly, a scent wafted into her nose. but the smell was unfamiliar, but she could tell it belonged to something big...all by itself. She creeped up until the smell was unbearable. It burned her nose. She, unthinking, shook her head, shaking the bush she was hiding in with it.
    She heard a noise, like a gasp. She poked her head out of the bush, seeing a shaking, pale skinned human staring wide eyed, right in her direction...

    CHAPTER 4
    The two creatures stared at each other, a bush with a wolf's head sticking out the top, and a young vampire trebling with fear. No one moved. Stream had no idea the "human" was a vampire, and the vampire had no idea the wolf could be a human if it wanted. Stream tried to keep a straight face, and seem calm and collected. All the while, the little vamp was shaking up a storm with wide, blood red eyes.
    The little vamp opened her mouth to speak, then time seemed to be in slow motion. Stream saw the vampires fangs and was filled with a natural rage. She leaped from her bush, growling and snarling, keeping her ears flat agianst her heads. She curled back her lips to reaveal long, sharp canines. The little vampire couldn't take it, and fell into an all out faint.
    The little body fell with a plop to the ground, her eyes close. Stream remaned growling and the body. Eventually she got tired and stopped her aggressive display. She sat down and stared at the little vamp. *What should I do?* she sniffed it's hand, and made the mistake of tapping her nose to it's skin. She leaped back, her nose felt numb, as if someone had held a piece of ice to it and just now noticed.
    The vampire had the same reaction. She broke from her fainting spell and sat up quickly, holding her had agianst her chest.
    "Oooooow, that burns!" she whined. Stream simply sat and watched the little vampire look up at her, and start to shake agian.
    She seemed to collect herself enough to say, still shaking: "My name is Victoria of the South-East Vampire Clan." *i knew it* Stream huffed to herself. She made a small, bark noise, careful not to scare "Victoria", and failed. Victoria jumped to her feet, hissing and baring her tiny fangs. *A young one at that!* Stream stood, and cocked her head at the vamp, shrugged her furry shoulders, turned atound and trotted off to her camp, wondering whether to tell the others of her run in with the blood-sucker.

    CHAPTER 5
    Victoria watched as the wolf turned and left. It was a beautiful animal, she had to admit. It's face was a rusty brown, with the bottom jaw, throat, and belly a pure white. There was a dark brown cap of fur on her head, that blended into a lighter brown that swept down her back. Her shoulder were a darker shade, and as the color ran down to her toes, the brown faded into a tawny gold. Her fluffly tail also started with the dark rust of her cap and shoulders, and darkened to a black tip. Victoria had never seen a creature like it. But she could't help wondering: What would it's blood taste like?
    Victoria had to return quickly, her caretakers would wonder where she went. She turned around to leave. She took a tenative step, and looked behind her, hoping to catch a glimpse of that strange creature one last time.

    CHAPTER 6
    Stream walked slowly back to camp, hoping she could fing something to make an aliby with. She heard a squirrel, and without thinking, swiped her claws in the nearest bush. She got it. Next, she rolled aroung in the dirt and ran aroung in circles. Soon she was panting. Her story would be that she really wanted to find something for MudFace, and she spent the time chasing and trpping the squirrel. Perfect.
    When she arrived at camp, Stream was greated to an ill welcome. Everyone was hiding in there caves. *Whats the matter with every one?*
    Suddenly something barrelled into her, grabbed her by the scruff of her neck, and dragged her into a cave...the dominate wolves' cave.
    "What were you doing, standing out in the open like a fool?!" the dominate male roared. HE had grabbed her, and HE had saved her from whatever everyone was hiding from. Odd.
    "Ummm, i was wondering why everyone was hiding...?"
    "SHHHHH!!!" Something hit the back of her head. Hard.
    She ducked to the back of the cave, and looked at what everyone was hiding from.
    It was the most horrifying thing Stream had ever seen, same as everyone else in the pack. The thing was jet black, and had the body shape of a human, but was covered in fur, and had a muzzle and paws like a wolf. A long furry tail too. Its long ears pointed straight up, flicking to and fro, as if it were listening for some thing. The most horrific thing of this spectical was that it had huge, black bat wings mounte to ite spine!
    It sniffed the air, and turned to the spot were the dominate male had tackled her from...And faced the dead squirrel. It picked up the small limp shape, and looked around, as if it were a nervous teen, stealing from a gas station. Suddenly the batwings opened, and it flapped vigorously, as if it were difficult to lift off. Eventually it rose in the air, and flew away in the dirrection of the Deeper Woods, where the vampires resided.
    The Dominate Male grunted angirly and suprised at the same time: "What in the name of HELL was that?"

    CHAPTER 7
    In the Deeper Woods, Victoria walked into the opening of the camp. The other vampires had come back empy handed. She heard the leader in they'r tent whispering about the food shortage, wondering of the werewolves were to blame. She walked past the tent into her own. She shared her tent with another female vampire. In vampire years, she was ALOT older than Victoria. In human years, she was 3 years older.
    Victoria walked over to the corner of the tent that was hers. She only had a sketch pad, a seeemingly unlimited suppply of regular and colored pencils, a hand held pencil sharpener, an earser the size of her head in the shape of a coiled snake (a sovinier from her former life),a pile of books, and a backpack.
    She picked up the pad that was 100 pages long, but only 2 pages were filled. She grabbed her pencil and started sketching.
    Her hand few across the surface, creating gracful lines. First was a head of an animal, a wolf. The she went down the neck, emphizing the fur. The she did half the torso and went on the the front legs. Then she went on the the rump and back legs. She finished with her favorite part of the animal: the oh-so fluffy tail. She earased mistake lines and looked it over carefully.
    She was about to reach in her bag when her roomey (or in this case, Tenty) walked in. She looked down and Victoria sitting on the foor, and walked and a floating like way the her part of the tent. She grabbed a small mirror and a hair brush, the two items she brought that she used the most.
    After fixing her hair,she went over and sat next to Victoria.
    "Whatcha drawin'?"
    "None of your business." Victoria replied without looking up.
    "Awww, c'mon! You how i adore your little pictures!"
    "Alright fine. Its a wolf i saw in the woods."
    "You saw a WHAT? A wolf?! It could have been one of thpse savages! Are you okay?! Oh no! We have to tell the elders!"
    Victoria jumped. Tell the elders? No way, she wouldn't let them hurt this creature. Not on her unstopping watch!
    "No, Jess. Dont tell them. Think about it. It didn't attack me or howl for its buddies. It stared at me" (She wasn't gonna tell Jess about the whole fainting fiasco.) "It walked away first. Just turned around and walked away, as if it were bored. And what if it was just a plain old wolf?"
    Jess nodded, and watched Victoria color and detail the picture. Victoria added in her mind: * And there was something in it's eyes...Something i cant draw....A spark? But there was something...An intelligent spark. Yes, thats what it was. This was no ordinary animal.*

    CHAPTER 8
    Later that month, Stream had to babysit the pups...while being babysat herself! SilverPelt sat outside the cave, and listened to everything going on inside. It had been a week since the creature had been sighted. It was labeled as a "WerePyre", a frightening phenominon when a werewolf is bit by a vampire, or visa versa. They say it loses it's mind and becomes detatched, savage. Stream shuddered at the thought.
    The two pups had an interesting story too. They were werewolves, of course, but being born wolf meant they turned into humans durring the day. They are sarcasticly name "WereHumans". They hadn't transformed for they'r fist time yet, and they probably wouldn't for another whole week.
    Stream rested her head on her paws, and sighed. She was tired of babysitting and being baby sat. The pups jumped all over her, and currently were having a wrestling match on her back. One of them rolled of and landed on his head. He began to whine, and his sister jumped down to apologize.
    SilverPelt walked in to see Stream licking the baby's forhead, which had a small cut in it.
    "Very nice attentive skills" SilvrPelt said scornfully.
    "Sorry, i was busy thinking."
    "About....?"
    "Nothing too important." *If seeing a vampir is no biggy*
    "Well stop thinking and start whatching! On the other paw, why dont you go out and find something to eat. We could have used that squirrel. The critters are starting to hiberanate, and they wont be around for long."
    Stream obediently walked out of the cave, and saw BarkFoot eating a rabbit by the fire. She walked over to her friend.
    "Hey."
    "Hey." BarkFoot grunted, almost angirly.
    "What's wrong?"
    BarkFoot finished the rabbit and said,"Oh i dunno, maybe its the fact I NEVER SEE YOU ANYMORE?"
    "It's not my fault i have to care for the twins. Just come hunting with me, I want to show you something."
    Stream sensed that the vamp would be back to that spot. And it was too big of a secret to hold.

    CHAPTER 9
    In the Deeper Woods, Victoria walks through the brush, hoping to find the spot she saw the creature. Something drew her there, like someone pulling a string on a puppet. Victoria had made Jess swear secrecy, and that she would cover for Victoria while she was gone.
    Vicky stumbled into a small opening in the forest. This was where she met the creature, and hoped with all her unbeating heart to see it agian.
    Suddenly a bush russled. And out stepped the wolf she saw the first time. But behind it ther was another. It crept foward, looking like it would pounce any second. It was a flat brown, all through it body. It had yellow eyes, and shorter ears than the other. But its right front paw was a darker brown, like the bark of a tree.
    The yellow eyed wolf seemed to tense, but the first wolf lifted its front paw and HIT the second in the head. The second wolf growled, and the first wolf growled back.

    CHAPTER 10
    "Stream! What was the for?!" BarkFoot growled angirly. "Its a vampire! A V-A-M-P-I-R-E! VAMPIRE!" Stream took her eyes off Vicky to growl:
    "She wont hurt us." BarkFoot widened her eyes. *She's met this vampire before! I know it!* Stream stepped forward towards the vampire, who was looked tiny in comparison.
    The vampire leaped back at Stream's approach, and she huffed in amusement. "How jumpy. How entertaining." She knew what she said was "Bark woof woof bark" to the vampire, but she knew BarkFoot could understand.
    "ARE YOU MAD?!" BarkFot screamed at Stream. She was definently going to tell the alphas about this.