Riza that it wasn’t a trap. I couldn’t think of any other reason.”

“But perhaps Aleu did the right thing,” Lorna said quietly as her friends looked back at her. “I mean, think about it: whoever is left in the Clan is loyal to you, Aleu. If Riza decided to plot her revenge and return, together we’ll be ready for whatever she dishes out.” 

“Right,” Scarlet agreed. “Now that Riza’s gone, this will give us more time to focus on our search for the caribou.”

“And prepare for Riza’s attack, whenever that may be,” Aleu added. She knew that with Riza gone, the Kawa was safe . . . for now. She still had to find the caribou that Aniu had promised them and remain the Alpha of the Clan throughout the remainder of the winter. She sighed in frustration at the many dilemmas that were rested upon her young shoulders. 

Scarlet quickly took notice at the quarter-wolf’s expression and tried to reassure her with a gentle nuzzle. “Right now, don’t worry about Riza. She’s probably long gone into the forest, and I’m sure Aniu will protect us from her if she dares to return to harm you or anyone else within the Clan.”

“He’s right,” The light gray smiled at her friend. “Aniu has blessed us with a great leader, one worthy of the title of Alpha. I’m sure we have nothing to worry about.” 

Aleu gave a slight smile back. “I hope you’re right.” She looked up at the night sky above her sitting figure, watching as the stars started to sparkle. Soon she and the others retired for the night, only awaiting the coming morning light in which they planned to continue their search for the caribou herd.

Little did they know, a small group was brewing up a storm within the deepest parts of the woods. Hidden beneath a series of brush was a small, rocky cavern where three shadowed wolves lay in wait, awaiting the day when their dreams would finally come to pass. 

“Grr, I just can’t stand that little tame-born!” Riza stomped her dark foot down on the rocks beneath her paws. “She thinks she’s all that because she was sent by Aniu . . . but what does she really know about being wild? She’s just a yearling! She should have been a much easier target for me to attack and take over! ” She paced around angrily, then quickly turned to her fellow companions. “This has gone far enough! What do you think we should do about this, Viking?”

“Nothing for now, Riz,” The bluish-gray male replied back calmly. “We’ve got more important things to focus on at the moment.” He turned to his twin sister and nuzzled her gently. 

“Oh, stop it, Viking,” The she-wolf giggled lovingly back at her brother. “Just because I’m carrying the ‘chosen child’ within me doesn’t mean we can’t give up on destroying the tame-born’s rule of our Clan. We still have many weeks until he arrives.” She lowered her eyes very thinly and deviously as she looked back at her fellow female. “We must destroy her reign before the child is born.”

Riza smirked. “I couldn’t agree more, Tydra. I knew I made a good choice in partners with you two . . . although I originally thought the whole brother-sister thing was a bit much.” 

“But that’s how we created the chosen child together,” Viking explained. “When Tydra gives birth, the evil one – our child – will live and grow among us at last; we all shall have the ultimate power to regain everything that we ever wanted!”

“Happiness and glory!” Tydra said happily. 

“Power, power and more power!” Viking joined in, again nuzzling his beloved. “Especially once we take over you-know-who!”

“Ha! Those items are merely child’s play,” The gray and black she-wolf laughed with pride. “But first things first – there are only two things I want right now:” Riza concluded, bearing her teeth in her large grin. “Niju by my side as my alpha mate, and revenge on that damned tame-born brat, Aleu!” She paused for a second, her eyes lit up with a bright thought. “Wait, I’ll be right back. I think I’ve got the perfect idea to begin my revenge!” Riza began to chuckle in a low tone as she ran out of the cave, through the brush and into the forest, heading towards the Kawa Clan territory by the wood’s end.  

“How would you like to be taken down by your own best friend, Aleu?” She chuckled again, speaking to herself as she sprinted through the snowy forest as the stars glinted through the layers of leaves and fallen snow. “You may have your special powers passed down from our father, Lorna,” Riza lowered her eyebrows, causing her to travel rapidly. “But you have no idea that I have my own little secret. I will block your own mind-reading abilities . . . with my own special powers!”

Lorna was fast asleep in her mother’s former cave, while Aleu and Scarlet were sleeping together in another cavern below. The light-gray she-wolf couldn’t sense the presence of the vengeful female as Riza placed one black paw on her sister’s mouth and another on her white chest. The older twin closed her eyes, focusing her energy and sudden power into her sister’s own body. A red glow began to cover the older sister as she pressed down forcefully with a thrusting grunt; the glow was now around the sleeping younger sister, but it quickly faded away as Riza released her grip on the young she-wolf, placing her paws back onto the solid rock. She began to pant quickly to catch her breath, for the amount of energy that she transferred to her host’s body was almost too much for her to bear. 

“Now, Dearest Sister,” Riza murmured into the air wickedly once her breath had returned to normal. “You will do my bidding and follow my every command.”

Lorna’s eyes opened slowly, but glowed in a soft red tint. “As you wish, it shall be so,” Lorna responded in a dazed voice.

“Now, come with me, Lorna, and together, we shall take over the Kawa . . . using brute force!” Riza growled, exiting the cavern. Lorna, still in her controlled state, followed closely behind as her elder twin led her into the woods; Riza led her far away from the safety of Aleu, Scarlet and the remaining members of the Kawa Clan, back to the new shelter that they had created.  

“Prepare yourself, you little tame-born,” Riza murmured into the wind as she paused by the entrance of her newly-formed rebel pack. “When the morning arrives, your reign shall be nearing its end!” She walked into the cave to rejoin her fellow team, continuing to speak of the downfall of her former Clan. “Without your close friend by your side, you’ll be helpless and weak as the days go on without any luck of finding the caribou or your dear friend! Your Clan will have no choice but to join me and my small band of wolves! Your best friend is one of us now, so the others cannot resist my offer of freedom from your futile reign!” A fiendish cackle escaped her lips. “And soon, Aleu, you will step down as Alpha and bow to me! Ha ha ha hah!

Riza began to howl, happily singing her glee of Aleu’s upcoming doom. Tydra, Viking and Lorna, still restrained under Riza’s power, joined in the cry as a flock of ebony birds fluttered their wings and flew off into the early-morning horizon. The difficulties of winter had only just begun, but now, the winds of change may have taken a turn for the worst as the storm of impending destruction and doom was starting to take form. It was aiming for the new Kawa Clan and their quarter-wolf Alpha female, hoping that soon the yearling would give up and follow Riza’s command.  

(Part THREE – finished 5/9/07)