Two

What we saw was.. unsettling, but not in any of the hundred ways that had flashed through my mind as they dragged me over here.

Luna Abigail was on the ground, sobbing and wailing, surrounded by faces that looked more in shock than I'd ever imagined they could.

"NOO! Noooooo!" Abigail wailed desperately, looking up to the sky as though pleading with a higher power, "He can't, it can't be true! Please.. you're wrong!" She broke down into wordless, heavy sobs, clearly wracked with grief.

The twins' eyes widened, both of them suddenly looking as shocked as the rest of the bystanders. They exchanged a glance, then pulled me back from the edge of trees more, away from the rapidly growing crowd.

"You should go around the back, try to stay out of sight," Matteus said gravely, and Tyler nodded agreement, "If she decides to lash out, and needs someone to take it out on.." he trailed off as my eyes widened in realisation. They were.. trying to look out for me? That was every bit as shocking as what we'd just heard. "I.. thank you," I stammered weakly, feeling confused, but grateful.

Tyler gave me a small smile, and Matteus bowed his head slightly, as they both turned to head back towards the crowd, "Try to lay low, we'll check in with you later," Matteus said over his shoulder, making me frown after them, feeling like I was rooted in place.

The two of them had never said a kind word to me, as far as I could ever remember. They'd always been my worst tormentors, and as the outcast here, there'd been plenty enough of those. And now they were.. concerned?!

I stared after them, shaking my head in bewilderment, then lifted my basket, not nearly as full as I'd like, and headed through the denser sections of trees, until I was around the other side of the pack house, near the rear door.

Just as I was about to step from the tree line, Mama burst out, heading straight for me. She looked anything but her usual calm self, and only became more fraught as she saw me. She hurried over, turning me around and guiding me back into the cover of the trees.

"I'm sorry, dear girl. We have to leave, I.. " I froze, staring at her in shock, "Leave?!" I asked, far too loudly, and she shushed me frantically. "Sshhh.. Yes, leave. It's too long to explain now, but.. it may not be safe here for us much longer," she continued, as I stared at her open-mouthed.

"I.. but.. where? If Yannick is dead, won't they just.." I trailed off as she shook her head, "We don't know, but.. they lost. A battle.. most of the pack is gone.." she said, her usually so stoic demeanor looking shaken to its core.

"A.. battle? Where?" I asked, realising that the pack clearly hadn't just been 'training' somewhere, like we were usually told. "There'll be time for explanations later," she said, beginning to grow impatient, "I promise, I'll tell you everything. But now I need you to listen."

I nodded quickly, and she sighed, visibly calming herself, "Do you remember the hidden pool I used to take you to as a child?" I nodded slowly again, "Go there, stay hidden, and wait for me. If I'm not there by dawn, just run.. as far as you can, anywhere you can, but away from Lycans, of ANY pack, do you understand?"

She stepped towards me as she spoke, placing her hands on my shoulders as she met my eyes, making the seriousness of her words abundantly clear. "I.. yes, Mama," I said shakily, and she smiled at me through the tears forming in her eyes, before pulling me into a too-tight hug.

I hugged her back, squeezing gently, and she held me for a long moment, before pulling back and wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. She took the basket from me then, and waved me off, "Go on, go," she said weakly, with an attempt at a reassuring smile, "Dawn, and not a moment later, okay?"

I nodded, and immediately took off running in the direction of one of the large, mirror-like lakes the pack was named for, keeping to the darker parts of the forest.

Silver Waters. It was a pretty name, for a pretty location, though the same couldn't be said for the souls of many who lived here. Still, they were supposed to be among the tamer of the Lycan packs, and certainly lacked the reputation for bloodshed that some of the others were known for.

I couldn't help but wonder which of them Alpha Yannick had been stupid enough to pick a fight with. No doubt it hadn't taken much, the man was as bristly as a boar, and half as intelligent, but his Beta, Sean, had gone with them, and should have been able to talk him down from anything so rash.

'Most of the pack'. My mind dwelled on the words, and my stomach turned. I was well aware that Mama and I were rarely given the truth about pack events, but.. a battle that killed most of the pack?!

There was no warning, not even rumours or whispers, that anything so huge was happening. Had they kept it from most who stayed behind? They'd taken almost all of those of fighting age, on their so-called 'training camp', but no one left behind had been acting any differently.

I slowed my pace as I came to a large clearing, moving quietly now as I skirted around the edges, keeping close to the treeline. I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as I looked out over the empty space, right on the edge of the lake.

So many summer nights had been spent here, swimming, camping under the stars, even the occasional bonfire party, especially when it had been the twins' birthday. They'd wanted one for next week too, but Abigail had refused, insisting on something more formal for their coming of age.

No doubt she expected the presence of other packs, and couldn't possibly have them attending something so.. unsophisticated. Even if it meant saying 'no' to her precious children, who usually got exactly what they wanted. The sulk-fest that followed her refusal had lasted almost a full week.

I smiled in amusement as I recalled their reactions, then began moving quickly again, having rounded the clearing, and pushed deeper into the forest. It was quiet here. Calm, and almost eerily still, with barely even a breeze to rustle the evergreen trees.

Thankfully there were plenty of those, as everything else was simply bare branches at this time of year, and trying to sneak away would have been far more difficult. As I kept moving, I began searching for the the small stream that I knew would lead me where I needed to go.

I found it easily enough, and turned to follow alongside it a while, eventually crossing it where an old, mossy log had fallen across its raised banks. From there, it was a short way uphill, to where a rocky outcrop, several metres high, appeared to block the way any further, the water cascading down from above.

I smiled, feeling a sense of familiarity in this place, and worked my way around the bottom of the falls, until I was almost close enough to touch the falling water. From here, the opening wasn't visible, but a couple more steps behind would reveal a small gap that led to a cavern beneath.

The cavern, I knew, ran all the way through, opening out into a beautiful little spot, hidden from anywhere except the high cliffs that ringed it completely. And in the centre, lay a large pool of crystal clear water, fed by another fall that would now be barely a trickle, but would increase when the spring thaw reached the mountains that rose above, just beyond the pack's border.

I hesitated, taking one last look out towards the lake, only tiny glimpses of its silvery surface visible through the trees from here, then stepped back behind the waterfall, squeezing sideways through the small gap. The cavern was dark, but my eyes adjusted quickly, and I moved quietly through, finding my way with ease.

It seemed empty, just as the area beyond was, but I checked both thoroughly before entering the cavern again and sitting myself on a large, flat rock. Wishing I'd had time to grab something warmer, and maybe some food, I tried to make myself comfortable and began to wait, hoping desperately that Mama would appear through the gap before nightfall.