Pronucation key:

* Raighne [Raigh-neh] Though traditionally pronouced Reign, main
character. Father felt his name was not unique enough, so he changed the pronunciation.

*Faolán [FEH-lahn] Raighne's brother

*Roibhilín -(ROH-ve-lin)Raighne's father

*Ailin  (ay-lin) Raighne's eldest Brother

*Ríoghnach  (REE-nuh) Raighne's twin sister
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“It is cold.”

“I am well aware it is cold Raighne!” His brother pushed him into the snow as he treaded farther down.“Faolán!” Raighne growled and stumbled up ramming into his brother who shoved him away effortlessly. Raighne was much smaller then his older brother. After all he was only about nine at the time, Faolán was twelve.

Raighne trudged along shivering in the snow as they made their way to the barn. His coat was much to big for him as he carefully picked it up pulling it over himself more. Raighne had grabbed his father’s other coat and Faolán had already scolded him at the very least a dozen times for it. “Come on Raighne, we’re going to be late!!”

He turned holding a lantern in the darkness over Raighne who had sunk in the snow the minute they stopped. “You’re so small,” He rolled his eyes turning and Raighne huffed, “Mum says I’m going to grow up to be tall like father!” Faolán was silent for a moment and turned with a growl trudging back through the snow as they came upon a ragged barn. Chipped paint covered the barn and worn chipped paint and Time had taken its toll. Etching it's scars into the wood.

Raighne arrived behind Faolán a few minutes later shivering and holding the oversized coat close to him, his breath ice. His brother slowly reached up, carefully undoing the lock to the bar and hung the chain onto the wall. Raighne gazed closley at it for a moment, watching it gleam silver in the moonlight. Why his father had taken the expense and time to buy a silver chain had always made Raighne so curious.

"Why is it silver?"

"Huh?"

"The chain, why is it silver?"

"Just shut up Raighne...”

Finally the wooden door creaked open and his brother strode in hanging the lantern on the old wooden door the horses were startled this evening, pacing and anxious. "Raighne go around the back and get some hay. I'll find out where dad threw the feed." He nodded slowly and turned, scrambling around the back and fought his way through the snow.Raighned gasped as he slipped falling into a deep pocket, almost chest deep in snow.Groaning he began the struggleto pull him self up. After much strain he'd managed to free himself. Throwing his arms around himself he rubbed his shoulders attempting to warm up. After a moment Raighne looked up and grinned, the hay lay just infront of him.

Reaching for it eagerly, Raighne froze and slowly turned, the forest. His father had warned him to never venture near it. For great evil made its home in those woods. The fog was drawing out of it, thick even in this frozen weather. Raighne took a step forward and a loud snap echoed through the woods. Thousands of birds rushed up and he gasped grabbing the hay and bolting around to the barn. "Jeeze Raigh' could if have taken you any longer!" Faolán grabbed the hay and promptly began to stuff into the horses stalls and they seemed to grow more and anxious pacing with each moment.

"Is it because of the wolves?"

"What?" Faolán stopped for a moment turning to Raighne, "Is that the reason we can't go in the woods Faolán? Is that why father won't let us?"He dropped the hay and rose up, "Why do you ask such stupid questions? Huh?" his brother's expression seemed so remorseful. "That's why Ailin is sick isn't it? The wolves?" His brother whirled around and snapped, "Shut up, shut up, shut up you stupid boy! Ailin's a werewolf, the werewolves bit him! He's going to die now, happy now Raighne? Huh? I told you what you wanted to know!" Raighne huffed and tackled his brother with immense strength, "You’re lying! You’re lying! "He screamed as Faolán struggled to push his brother off him, "Ailin is going to die Raighne get over it! He's not our brother anymore!"

Raighne fell off of him and turned running right into his father. Standing up straight and in a moment Faolán had snapped into a stance standing before his father obediently. "That will be enough you two, hurry up inside. I have told you once, I have told you a thousands times to never mention that to your brother Faolán!" He took a deep breath,

"Father I ne--"

"I have heard enough for one evening."

"Yes sir." Faolán left the barn and dashed to the manor and Raighne slowly picked up his jacket to follow but his father stopped him. "Raighne..."he stopped and looked up at his father.”Raighne, why are you wearing my jacket?" Roibhilín smiled at him. "It make's me look big and strong—like you!" He laughed and picked up his son, "Come on now, inside. It is not safe out here." Raighne sighed putting his head on his father's shoulder, "Ailin is going to be okay right father?" He kept his eyes on the road, "Raighne Ailin is very sick, but I'm working to make him better—I’m going to find a cure for him...” He trudged in the snow following his younger son's tracks.

Once he had neared the house he set Raighne down. Raighne reached for the knob and threw it open. Dashing past his mother who was trying to keep track of all the children and crept up the winding staircase, that seemed to go on for an eternity. Upstairs it was all black but this didn't faze Raighne. He quickly dashed into his room and lit a small lantern and pulled it from the hanger on his wall. Rushing over to his nightstand and brushed off a delicately made cross, that was carefully hand carved to the best an eight year old could do. He scooped it up in his hands and slowly made his way across the hall. Tip-toeing to his eldest brother Ailhin's room.

"Raighne!" His sister came rushing over to him, his twin sister. "Raighe Ailin's been acting strange all day—he won't even talk to me!" She tugged on his sleeve ushering him towards his room faster.

In the blackness sat his brother, eyes flickering back and forth, door shut as he reflected his thoughts...

"Are you ready?"

"I am!"

"Enough to prove yourself? To do the ultimate—the unthinkable?"

"Your word is enough my grace and I shall do whatever thou request."

"Kill them."

"All of them?"

"Yes...”

"Thy will be done."

He had shifted, crouching behind the door, waiting for them to ambush them—his own blood. Ríoghnach crept closer to the door, "He's been in here all day," Raighne stepped up to it and knocked slowly on the door, cross in head, "A-Ailin?" He whispered, "Ailin a-are you okay?" The wood creaked and shifted from just behind the door, “I am grand..."His voice made Raighne shiver and he turned to his sister who was shaking beside him. "Raighne...open the door won't you?" He tensed staring at the door, "Come one Raighne...don't be afraid I'm your brother...” He pushed his sister urging her to get away. "Raighne!" The voice was a snarl now, "G-- d---- boy!" He roared and took a step forward barreling down the door with a mighty blow. Slamming into his twin sister killing her instantly. Raighne froze as the feeling washed over him and stumbled over and lay curled on the floor, he'd just felt his twin die.

"Raighne?" His mother whirled around and came rushing up the stairs and screamed upon seeing the site. Ailin now more wolf then human stood over the lifeless girl and bared down at his mother. "What have you done?" She screamed, "What have you done!" Raighne's father had rushed up the stairs, gun in hand screaming at his brother to stay back. "G-- d---- it!"His father yelled and cocked the gun aiming it Ailin who snapped turning his attention from Raighne to his father and leapt at him, crashing the two down the stairs as he fired shot after shot missing Ailin narrowly. Slamming into the ground her screamed as the beast ripped into him. Faolán screamed and ran at Ailin and stopped suddenly as his father let out a single cry and the gun dropped to the ground.

Rising up turning,Ailin snarled at his brother as he stood over the lifeless man. "Ailin..."Faolán had dropped to his knees sobbing, "Ho-how??" His mother screamed from the banister, "You monster don't you touch him! Ailin stop this, why are you doing this!! “Her voice croaked as she held Raighne who struggled in her arms, reaching for his sister she turned him away crying, "No-no Raighne don't look..."

Ailin had a crazy smirk on his face.The werewolf lunged at Faolán and he backed up screaming and started running. Bolting through the living room as Ailin went on a rampage. Flipping the furniture and he smashed into the wall causing Faolán to slip and fall. Sliding across the wood floor as the kerosene lantern lit up the wall in flames. Raighne’s mother was racing down the stairs, “No!” She shrieked as he rose up advancing toward Faolán. He was struggling to move, coughing from the smoke. She ripped an axe from the wall and swung it at Ailin. Who howled in agony as it clipped him and jumped slammed her into the wall as Raighne came down the stairs/ “Mum!!” The world seemed to fall in slow motion as she dropped to the ground and he turned covered in blood looking down at Faolán.Raising his paw as Raighne ran towards him, but it was too late his brother was struck dead. Raighne stopped, shivering, his family was murdered. Dead.

“No…”He shivered, stepping back as Ailin came out of the smoky blackness, taking an eerie step, foot by foot towards Raighne in a husky voice, ”Raighne….Raighne….”He let out a horrid laugh, ”What’s Raighne going to do now that mummy isn’t here to save him?” He cried tears welling up and looked around and saw a sword on the wall, and remembered his father had lectured him to never touch it. This was a dangerous sword, pure silver and surely would cut him or worse…

But it clicked in his mind, his brother; his own brother would do worse to him. The house was being surrounded by werewolves and Raighne could barely breath he grabbed the sword as the house filled with the beasts, snarls and howls erupted. “Raighne, Raighne!” His brother taunted and lunged as he thrust the sword up and Ailin fell upon him.This was the last thing Raighne remembered.

The eldest of the group followed in and pulled Ailin off revealing the boy. Raighne who lay on the ground sword still in hand. “You have failed me!” He snarled at the lifeless figure which lay beside Raighne. “On the other hand….”His fangs gleamed,” I can use him, he will grow to be much stronger then his brother, though convincing him to behave will be a challenge.

Flames engulfed the house as the other werewolf picked Raighne up by his jacket (which was much too big for him).They dragged him out of the flaming house and into the wrenched cold. “Bite him when he wakes and I’ll deal with him then—if he lives.” Raighne’s eyes fluttered open for a moment as they dragged him away from the burning manor and he knew his life was forever changed and he was all alone.