PRPG: Dark Wolf & Admin: Story of the Forest

The Throne left the den. The night air blew through their fur. The kits pranced behind them.
Silver paused for a moment, seeing Sasha clearly in the night. "What is this all about? Why did you request us to come out of the den?" Silver inquired.
Ember kept on her guard. She did not trust Sasha, nor did Misty appear to trust her either.

Sasha shook out her fur as she took a breath, letting the cool, night air fill her lungs. "Because I don't know about you but I don't particularly want to get stuck," she said, her voice filled with sarcastic amusement. Settling herself into an open space, Sasha looked at Silver expectantly. "Well come on," she said, gesturing for him to come closer to her. "What do you expect me to do with you all the way over there?" Sasha's eyes glittered with challenge and mirth. "Don't worry, I won't bite. Not unless you want me to," she barked, laughter in her voice.

Silver nuzzled Misty and Ember. "We'll see what she has to offer." Silver said reassuredly. Silver stepped closer to Sasha. He was surefooted, but cautious. He knew with any unknown situation, a ballance of both is always required.
Ember was not pleased at hearing the comments. 'Who does she think she is?' Ember thought to herself. If she tries to steal Silver's affection from us, I'll rip her damn tail off.' Ember's fur began to glow a faint red. She gave a glance over at Misty who was watching Silver and Sasha intently. Ember shifted her focus back to Silver and Sasha as well.

Sasha's eyes flickered with respect at Silver taking the risk and inclined her head slightly. She carefully wrapped her tail around Silver's leg, tight enough to keep hold of him but keeping herself from making it intimate. She could feel the two she-wolves' gazes on her as she eased closer to Silver. She had only done this once and only by accident. Swallowing Sasha closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, blocking out all distractions. She pictured the shift occurring and in sync her spirit responded, transforming her form. At the same time she felt her spirit leap along the connection to Silver from where her tail wrapped around his leg. There it found an open, curious spirit that had already been healed and it leaped up to meet and surround it. Sasha felt Silver stiffen against her, a slight pang of pity in her heart, she knew how painful the first shift could be. Goosebumps raced across her arms as the cold wind hit her now unprotected, naked human skin. Glancing to her right she turned slightly to watch as the shifting power hit Silver full force. Whether he completed the shift was entirely up to him and whether he fought it. If he fought against it for too long the spirits would reject him and he would never have the ability to shift ever in his life. He had to surrender to them completely and allow them to call to the spiritual power in his soul.

The pain surged through Silver's body. It was a familiar pain and he took to it like breathing. The ran up his spine until it reached his mind and branched out to the rest of his body. Despite it being in the middle of the night, a bright light engulfed them thrusting them into the Spirit World. Silver looked next to him, he gazed briefly on Sasha. Suddenly the world around them changed. Visions were before them. Hounds fighting hounds. Hounds fighting wolves. Blood. Humans jeering and cheering. Passing paper around. It did not take Silver long to put the pieces together. These were her memories. Every hound, every wolf, and every human had their souls exposed. Silver took notice of this and tucked it into his memory. He followed her memories, more they flashed before his eyes. Silver remembered the pain throughout his body. The scene changed, back to the Spirit World. Silver looked over at Sasha. "You may not believe it, but even then, your soul was pure and good. While you fought to survive, you did not relish in the fight. Others did, it was their souls that were tainted. Take comfort in that knowlege." There was no time for more than a breath. The visions returned to them. This time, it was night. The air felt colder than normal. The mist from their breath could be seen rising above their heads. Silver knew where they were, when they were. He had been here twice before. The second time was during his Spirit Walk. To relive this scene for a third time, Silver hated the idea, but as he did before, he took a deep breath. This was his memory. He walked forward, prompting Sasha to go with him. The ground beneath them was wet. Then the smell hit them. The smell of blood. Silver proceeded forward, almost unfazed by the scene before them. He didn't look back at Sasha as they climbed over a hill. Over the hill they found bodies scattered and torn. Off in the distance the sound of fighting echoed in the trees. "Father!" came a voice. Silver ran. This was the moment. He could see his father one more time. "Father!" Came the young voice again. They found the voice. A small pup, a runt with pure silver fur, had been cornered by a large wolf. A flash of silver against the darkness rammed into the large wolf. The flash itself was a wolf with blood red fangs and red eyes. "Silver, are you alright?" Asked the older silver wolf. "Yes father." Came the reply. It was then the wolf that had cornered the young Silver grabbed Bloodfang by the legs. Bloodfang fought the other wolf and while he broke free, he lost the use of one of his forepaws. Then two more wolves attacked. Disabling Bloodfang's hind legs. Silver watched as Terror approached the Northern Pack Alpha and slaughtered him. The young Silver ran. Everywhere he turned his family lay dead. Not even the other pups had been spared. Silver ran and ran. He tried to escape the visions, but all he could see was his father's lifeless body laying at Terrors paws.
Silver looked at Sasha. "True evil exists. When the time comes to face it, if you don't recognise it, it will destroy you." Just as he had to in his Spirit Walk, Silver faced the horror of his past, he came to accept it. He focused on his new desire. To protect his family, his home. His body began to change. Bones reshaped, stretching the muscles with them. His fur thinned out except for his face and head. He knelt next to Sasha who had changed, as well, into the form of a human. Silver had completed his transformation.
Ember and Misty witnessed what had took place. Their eyes glazed over. Ember had completely broke down into sorrow. Their souls were directly connected to Silver's, so they saw everything he did in the Spirit World. Ember had been a pup when Silver's pack was destroyed, she had not fully realized what happened that day, not until now. She burried herself into Misty, her fur glowed a dull orange as she wept for what had happened.

Sasha's eyes roamed over Silver's human form, taking in the lean, developed muscles and bright silver eyes that had traveled with the shift. She took a deep shuttering breath as she pushed away the memories of her past that still haunted her. Those memories pushed her to be a better wolf, a better person, a better, whatever she was, though she did not appreciate having to relive them. They were dark times, very dark times, and not so long ago that her muscles didn't pulse along her old wounds in remembered pain. Clearing her throat she nodded at Silver in approval. "Well you took to that like a fish in water didn't you?" she asked, the sarcasm and teasing in her voice more prominent in her human form. "Now see how I couldn't describe it?" Even as she talked to Silver her mind was chewing over the images she had seen as her soul guided Silver's through the shift. The whole pack slaughtered... Sasha's soul shuttered at the pain and loss of life that she had witnessed. She had heard whisperings of rumors throughout the forest and had taken many of them with a grain of salt considering she had not been told them directly and she knew that the majority of rumors were false. The spirits must have had a hard time these past years, she thought sadly, with so many lives being taken from this world.

Misty's eyes were sad as she met Silver's gaze, nuzzling Ember who had buried herself into Misty's fur. "Oh Silver," she said, her voice barely a whisper. She reached her nose out to touch his, not wanting to disturb Ember or the kits but still wanting to let him know she was there.

Silver instinctively reached for Misty and Ember. As their souls were connected, all it took was his touch. He brought their heads close to his as he held them close. Then they too began to change. They felt hot to Silver's touch as they became like Sasha and he was.

Sasha kept her gaze fixed stubbornly on Silver's head as he bent towards his mates, their skin shimmering as the shift began to take over them. The first shift was just skin to skin meaning clothes that were not there could not be transferred. Sasha had been among humans and in her form long enough to develop some of the modesty that her humans displayed. Oh I so didn't come prepared for this, she thought. As Silver stood up her eyes automatically dipped to follow the line of muscles traveling down his stomach. Her gaze reached the beginning of the v before she whipped her eyes back up to his, a faint blush growing on her cheek bones before she cleared her throat. "Right so, um, we have two options here," she said, her voice slightly strained. "I can either show you all how to shift back, or, um, I could find all of you clothes." Her eyes started to dip down again as she said that before she caught herself. She pushed her bangs back from her face as her eyes flickered.

A slight yelp came from her muzzle as heat spread across her body and she shook, closing her eyes as she tried to breathe through it. Her memories flashed through briefly before the pain suddenly vanishing as if it had never been there. Misty stood, wobbling slightly as she stood on her legs but steadied herself by resting her hand on Silver's shoulder and looking up to meet his gaze.

Ember stood, slowly, bracing herself with Misty and Silver. Her hair draped across her shoulder, still glowing a soft orange. Her eyes still teary. She looked into Silver's eyes, drawing strength from him. She was slightly taller than Misty, who she noticed almost as soon as she had Silver.
Silver took in the sight of Misty and Ember. Their lean slender bodies simmered in the moonlight. He pulled them close, their skin felt warm against his. He caught Sasha looking at him. He smiled as leaned over, pressing his forehead to Misty and Ember's. He looked at Sasha. "Clothes, huh? That fake fur they wear? Is how we are not acceptable?" Silver teased. "I think it would be better for us to learn how to shift back. Human customs can come later."

Sasha huffed out a breath, rolling her eyes as she flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Not unless you're a prostitute," she muttered under her breath. Though I could definitely see him as a model, she thought, making sure she kept her eyes on Silver's. Clearing her throat she continued, "Alright to shift back you need to think about what being a wolf feels like," she said. "Now that you know what it feels like to be human you'll be able to shift back easier. Close your eyes and picture being a wolf again. Feel the wind through your fur, the grass under your paws, the smells in the air." Sasha closed her eyes for a second, instantly feeling the shift come over here until she opened her eyes on a wolf's level, which turned out to be a very bad idea. Huffing out a breath she flicked an ear and turned her head slightly. "Alright now you three go."

The shift back was smooth for Silver. Soon he was Wolf's eye level. He looked to his right and left, Misty and Ember both had returned to their wolf forms. Silver nuzzled both before approaching Sasha. "Thank you." He said sincerely. "We have learned a lot tonight, some things we weren't expecting." Silver laughed a bit. He turned back to Misty and Ember. The kits looked confused about what had happened. "It's time we get the kits back to sleep."

Sasha dipped her head, holding his gaze for a bit. "I have to get back to Jack," she said softly. She inclined her head towards Silver for a second before glancing around at the rest of the clearing and turning to lope back towards the human camp, gathering her clothes on the way. Jack and Jess would be waking soon and she needed to be back inside before that happened. Shifting for a second she slipped inside, her mind replaying what had transpired earlier that night. What have I done?, she thought. I have no idea how they will use these new skills and I just handed them right over. She shook her fur out before lying down on her bed in front of the fireplace, her gaze watching the front door protectively before she fell asleep.

Misty picked up the two kits and brought them back into the den, settling them on the inside curve of her stomach. "Well that was certainly something," she commented softly. Looking up to meet Silver's gaze she tilted her head slightly. "So what are you going to do now?"

Silver nuzzled Misty. "We'll talk about our next move tomorrow. For now, let's sleep."
Ember felt some relief with the events that took place that night. Her fur still glowed a soft orange. This was something she quickly became accustomed to. She lay down next to Silver and Misty. She lay her head down and soon was fast asleep.

Sasha blinked her eyes open and yawned, her jaws opening so wide it forced her eyes closed again. She stood and stretched, her muscles shaking slightly as they worked out the kinks of sleep. Shaking out her fur she trotted over to Jack’s door. She jumped up and pawed at the door handle, her nails clicking softly against the brass before her pads caught on it and the latch popped open. The door swung open and Sasha thudded to the ground. Trotting quietly to the bed she crouched down then sprung up off her back legs, her entire body weight landing on Jack’s stomach and knocking the breath out of him. She barked once, her tongue lolling out happily as Jack launched upward, shoving her off him onto the bed as he laughed and coughed at the same time.
“Sasha!” he yelled, laughing even though she did it every morning. Shaking his head he reached over and pulled Sasha to him, ruffling the fur on the top of her head. He stood up, pulling a shirt over his head before slipping on his running shoes. He yawned, his white teeth flashing before he put a hand up to cover it. Sasha barked twice, running a circle around him. “Alright, alright, I’m coming,” he said. “Give the old man a break it’s five in the morning.” Shaking off the last bit of sleep he walked to the front door and held it open, allowing Sasha to slip outside.
Immediately Sasha’s nose went straight up, smelling the wind for hints as to what had happened since the past night. There was a sour smell to the air, the wind stagnant as if the whole world was holding its breath. Sasha glanced at Jack and whined softly, causing him to glance down and ruffle her fur again. Her hackles stood up slightly but she shook it off, glancing around for a second, her nose twitching as Jack took a step into a fast paced jog. The early morning fog left dew drops on the tips of her fur, the cold from the pavement seeping into her bloodstream, causing her to shake her fur out for a second. She took a running step to catch up to Jack and settled into her running stride as she followed their 3-mile track through the forest trails. As they went along their route the air turned from slightly cool with a hint of exhaust to crisp forest air infused with the scents of forest animals and the earthy smell of moss and mulch. Her ears perked and she slowed sometimes to investigate a particular smell before speeding up to catch up with Jack. Every now and then she would catch a hint of wolf scent along the trails, intersected with animal smells they must have been hunting. As they looped back around to the house, they skidded to a stop at the door about sixteen minutes later; both of them breathing hard, Sasha’s chest heaving with each breath even though her tongue lolled out happily. When Jack went to go inside he left the door open as Sasha trotted to the end of the driveway, jumping up to open the mailbox and gently pull it out, collecting the newspaper on her way back.
As she trotted back into the house, nosing the door closed on her way in, the smell of bacon filling the house. Her nose twitched as she followed its snaking path to the kitchen where Jack was already frying it on the stove. He turned and patted her head before taking the paper from her mouth and giving her a piece of bacon as thanks. Sasha lowered her head to gulp water from her bowl, panting with her tongue out as water dripped off it. She pushed her head into Jack’s hand and licked it, water and slobber soaking his hand. “Aw gross,” he said laughing, shaking it off and wiping it on his pants. Sasha barked once before turning to jump up the stairs and walk to Jess’ room at the end of the hall. She woke her up more calmly than she did Jack, shimmying up to the side of her bed and lying her head next to Jess’, licking her hand and her cheek. Jess’ eyes twitched then a final lick made her push Sasha back. “Alright Sasha I’m up,” she said, her voice sleepy. Sasha pushed her nose under Jess’ hand again, her tail thumping against the floor until Jess’ started petting her and reached her arms towards the headboard, her body contorting slightly as she stretched and yawned. Once Jess sat up Sasha licked her again then loped back to the kitchen, earning another piece of bacon from Jack. Jack always included bacon in some part of their breakfast whether it was omelets, egg sandwiches, or breakfasts bowls, which was today. Sasha slipped under Jack to sit in her usual spot beside the counter, catching the food that “dropped” off of it. Jess had gotten into this healthy phase a while back and had tried to stop Jack from feeding Sasha so much human food but she’s since given up. As the heat of the stove simmered down and Jack began to move the food to the table Jess called to Sasha from her room. Sasha entered Jess’ room to see her hair put up in endless curls with a slight cat-eye and shimmering gold eyeshadow on as she held up two different shirts. “Which one do you think Sasha?” she asked, her weight resting on one leg. Sasha tilted her head as she considered the options and eventually went with the slim-fitting deep maroon colored shirt that hung off one shoulder. Jess grinned and ruffled Sasha’s fur. “Exactly what I was thinking,” she said, picking out a flared black mini skirt to go with it. “Good choice.” Sasha barked then followed Jess downstairs for breakfast. Jess and Jack’s voices filled the air as they laughed and joked. Jack’s wife had died a couple of years ago and it had been the two of them ever since. They always got this peculiar smell when thinking of her, sad and yet happy at the same time, Sasha didn’t always understand it so she just tried to be there if they needed her. After breakfast Jack left to get ready for work and left Jess and Sasha to do dishes. Which in Jess’ book was to cheat her own rules and let Sasha lick all of the plates before Jess rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher. Jess grabbed Sasha’s work jacket from the closet and slipped it over her body, tightening it around her stomach. Once Jack came out in his uniform Jess grabbed her things for school and the three of them filed into the police cruiser. Jack stopped by the school to drop Jess off where she immediately slipped into her group and was gone for a second before returning to kiss Sasha on the nose through the window and give her a pat on the head. Sasha jumped up into the passenger seat and curled her tail around her paws as they drove to the station.
Sasha was practically a celebrity at the station and everyone came to give her a pat on the head in greeting as she followed Jack to his office where she lay down next to his desk. Throughout the day various people came in and talked to him or the phone rang and he’d have long conversations on it. Sasha just lay with her head on the floor kind of zoning out until she heard her name. Rolling over slightly she twisted her head back to look up at Jack behind her. “Sash? You ready?” he asked. Sasha barked and jumped up even though she had no clue what they were doing. As long as it gets me away from just lying here, she thought. They walked to the stables at the back of the station and loaded Star into the trailer. Sasha touched noses with Star before hopping into the cruiser. Once they got to the town center Jack took a dog’s collar from the man next to him and held it out to Sasha, telling her to find. Though Sasha put her nose to the collar she already knew what she was supposed to find. The air around her had the sharp sour smell of a rabid dog and the collar confirmed it. Sasha whined but barked to tell Jack she had the scent. Wrinkling her nose she looked back at him as he mounted Star and clucked to her. She started off, zigging back and forth along the dog’s path as it wobbled through the town. Every once in a while Jack would speak into his radio or talk to the people they passed in the streets. Soon enough they reached the edge of town. “Well,” she heard a man behind her say. “At least it’s not in the town anymore.” Sasha sighed. Why does everything lead back to this damn forest? she thought. She looked back at Jack and he nodded his head to continue. “Go on Sasha, follow,” he said. Sasha sighed once more trotting forward towards the tree line, her nose to the ground to follow the trail.

Krix burst out of the water gasping, the memories and his newfound experience running through his mind as his muscles twitched as if he were still fighting, running, for his life and soul. His body shivered though his soul felt whole for the first time in long while. Immediately he sought out Clover’s form, his eyes flicking back and forth.

Clover quickly rushed to Krix's side. She helped to steady him, though he looked stronger than he had prior. 'What is in that water?' She thought to herself. It didn't take long, soon she would find out.
"Clover, we don't have much time, you must enter now." Directed Stoneheart. Clover gave Krix a lick on his muzzle, nuzzled him once more, then entered the water. The shock of the water sent her straight into the unfamiliar Spirit World. She had no idea what to expect, only that she had to make it back.

Ember slipped away in the early morning. She had a feeling she needed to be out and away from the center territory, but she didn't know why. As the morning progressed, she felt a change in the forest. A familiar scent carried on the wind. She followed the scent until she caught sight of Sasha. Her fur shot a brilliant red flash as she slipped into the bushes, making sure that Sasha had seen her presence.

Krix shook out his fur as he leaned into Clover for a second, breathing in her scent before she was gone, traveling through her own journey herself.

Sasha stopped dead, her ears perking and her front paw held in the air midstep as her sharp eyes scanned the forest. Jack leaned over in Star's saddle to look at her. "Sasha?" he asked, his voice wary. Everyone had stopped to watch her as she focused on the forest in front of her. "What is it girl?" Sasha flicked an ear back and gave a very low woof, keeping her eyes on where she had saw the flash of bright red. Her bark was a signal to Jack that she was going ahead to investigate and for him to stay there until she returned. A few of the officers tried to follow her as she went to slip into the brush but Jack stopped them. She looked back once before ducking under and following a new scent, that of the red-furred she-wolf that was with the silver wolf last night.

Ember shifted into her human form. She had desired to grow accustomed to this new ability, she thought it was a good time to see what she could do with it. She caught sight of Sasha immediately, her long red hair glowed softly at Sasha's sight.

The Spirit World felt cold, the air, the ground, like a winter frost. Clover looked around. Emptiness. There was nothing. No light, no life, no rocks or trees. She began to walk aimlessly. Her heart started to race as thoughts entered he mind. 'Is this all there is for me?' She walked in the void unable to focus.

Sasha almost walked straight into the she-wolf's human form causing her to jerk back suddenly. She looked up, her temper spiking before she looked away from the girl's unclothed form. "Are you mad?" she hissed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Ember sat down next to Sasha. "I have to ask you the same thing." If there was one thing Ember was good at, it was only being noticed when she wanted to be. She thought her fur would have ruined that for her, but she found that she could use her fur to her advantage in getting someone's attention. "You led the humans here, why?" Ember asked.

Sasha rolled her eyes at Ember. “Which time?” she asked sarcastically. “It’s not to see you princess if that’s what you’re asking.” Sasha kept her voice low and ears flicking to catch a sound of Jack and the others. “And keep your voice down would you? You’re in human form which means they can understand you.”

Ember thought for a moment. Then she stood up. "Over here!" She shouted. Then she gave a quick look to Sasha. "Follow me." Ember laughed as she reverted back to wolf form and slipped into the forest.

Sasha yelped. “What the hell are you doing?” she snapped. “I know you wolves live your lives out here but in my world I have a job to do. An important one.” Her ears twitched as she heard Jack talking to the others and knew he would call her back soon. “I can’t just follow you into the forest.”

Ember just laughed as the leaves of the forest brushed over her fur, giving the illusion that fire was catching off her fur. She came to a stop in front of a cave. "This is it." She said out loud to herself. "Silver's eastern cave." She ducked inside making the cave look like a large oven.

Sasha stared after Ember before glancing back and forth between Jack and where she had disappeared. Finally she gave a huge scream of frustration before almost stomping after Ember. "What is it with you?" she huffed, her voice slightly sour with frustration as she half-glared at Ember. "You act like you hate me for always 'leading the humans here' and then you do crap like this." Sasha made her way over to Ember then plopped herself almost angrily onto the floor of the cave, looking like a sulky teenager.

Ember stared at Sasha with amusement. Before Sasha had hit the floor, Ember was back in her human form. Her glowing red hair draped over one of her shoulders. Ember played with it while looking at Sasha. "Are you going to slip into something more comfortable?" Ember teased.

Clover continued to wander in the cold void. Her thoughts had started to become a prison. Did she not have a purpose? She would wonder to herself. The void kept getting darker.