Chapter 1: The Last River Pack Member

Salem

I long to see the outside world and to be around wolves that are my age. Eighteen. It can be tiresome sometimes to dwell on a life in hiding and talk to the only wolf I knew, my grandmother. I yearn for something new to happen in my life.

I was born into a pack called the River Pack. All members had supernatural abilities to prevent bodies of water from dying. They could locate any source of water through a spiritual feeling that guided them. My mother, the Luna, had far more powers. She could heal a sick or dying person with just a droplet of water. She knew when it was going to rain, and when she cried, the sky did too.

The river pack felt loved because of their powerful abilities, which seemed godlike. All packs referred to them as descendants of the moon goddess. But one pack didn't: the Grey Pack. They saw us as a threat and believed we were manipulating the others to become the rulers of all packs. They attacked the River Pack the day I was born, killing them all. My grandmother was lucky enough to escape with me into the depths of the forest, and from that day on, we never left there.

The River Pack has godlike abilities. We were born with physical features that stood out from the other wolves. We had fur that was as white as snow and appeared as if it were glowing, as well as a beautiful blue marking on our right side. My grandmother informed me that my mom had a larger and more visible marking than the other members of her pack. I have her markings. A long stripe from the center of my forehead down to my two front feet.

I had to cover my fur in mud to conceal my markings. I was also forbidden to shift into my human form, for it was too beautiful not to be noticed as a River Pack member. I had long, silky blond hair descending to my waist. Blue eyes and an olive skin tone.

When I first shifted into wolf form, I was only 6 years old. My grandmother made me swear to never shift into my human form again and to never leave the forest for my own safety. I promised her.

Living with my grandmother, I have never seen her human form, only her white wolf form. Compared to her 4-foot wolf, I was much smaller than her but faster when hunting. I guess my small size is where I get my speed from. She informed me that my mother was much larger than her. I wasn't lucky to have her size. But I learned I bore a great resemblance to her. I, too, had all her special abilities.

My grandmother always spoke of my mother but never of my father. I tried asking about him once, and she snapped at me, almost biting me. I never asked again, as much as I was curious to know about him.

I was rolling in mud. My snow-white fur was now dark brown. My grandmother, too, would swirl into the mud, but now she's unable to. She's too old and frail.

I walked to the gigantic tree where my grandmother and I dwell. The back of the tree had a large knothole in it, where we both slept. The door was a large bush that hid our home. I forced my way between them, making an entrance.

My heart grew heavy after seeing my grandmother fast asleep. She was wheezing. Lately, she has been having difficulty breathing. Her eyes opened as she sensed me.

I sat before her.

"Don't worry about me, child. I am blessed to live a long life, and my time here on this earth is coming to an end." Her voice trembled, weak.

"No, grandmother, please don't speak negatively," I whimpered.

"Salem, we all have to go one day. For water, we are, and for water, our pack will return. Please don't cry for me."

My grandmother told me that when a member of the River Pack died, we were so special that our bodies turned into water and evaporated.

Don't worry about being alone after I'm gone.  You're a strong wolf, like your mom. You'll be okay."

I cried.

The rain came pouring down, followed by my tears.

"Salem!" My grandmother tried to shout at me, but she was too weak to do so.

I closed my eyes, stopping my tears. The rain did too.

"You need to be careful of the powers you have," she warned.

I nodded.

"Our pack wasn't lucky to live as long as me. They died before their time. Salem, it is an honor for me to die of old age. I'm grateful," she said.

My furry head rested on her two front feet.

"I hope you will live as long as me after I am gone, Salem, and that you will never feel sad or lonely."

I whimpered.

"Promise me again, Salem, that you'll never leave this place and stay hidden until you die."

"I promise, grandmother."

Good, my beautiful she-wolf. If you're ever caught, I don't want you to meet the same fate as our previous members. I want you to grow old like me."

"Yes, grandmother."

The night my grandmother died in her sleep, as I lay beside her, tears ran from my eyes as I saw her body. The once-warm body I will no longer cuddle beside or hug has turned into a puddle of water. It then slowly evaporated.

That night, the rain fell hard, for I lost the only wolf I knew. I was now alone. I cried for a week, refusing to eat anything or to leave the tree.