Thread: The Wolf, the Forge, and Love Forbidden - Raivh & Abovetheroses

It was raining when his father asked him to join him for a hunt. Although Ahren was confused by his mother's tears, he was excited for it was the first time his father had extended an invitation. There had been many times before when Ahren had to watch his older brother Aldred walk away from camp with their father. This time, it was Aldred who stayed behind. Ahren taunted his older brother with an arrogant sneer and a tail that swayed slowly behind him. Aldric! Ahren's mother was weeping. It didn't make sense to Ahren why she was crying. She never cried when father took Aldred to hunt. His ears were pressed tight against his forehead when she rushed toward the boy and his father. Rana. The alpha's command to his mate was simple. His black lips were pulled back, revealing a fierce snarl to show his irritation. The woman scowled at the leader and snarled something back to him that Ahren didn't understand. Then her expression changed, softened, as she knelt down before him. Her eyes and hair were like his in this form. All the frustration he had with her just seemed to melt away when she reached out a small hand and stroked the fur on his head. I love you, Ahren, she said to him. Her eyes were red and swollen. From what Ahren could tell, his mother had been crying the night before as well as now. Her cheeks were streaked and stained as the salt water flowed down them. I know you're growing into a strong young man. Her voice broke, and she choked on her tears as she unwound one tightly bound fist. A small charm fell from her palm, its mark still embedded against her skin from gripping it so tightly. It bounced against the leather string, and she wrapped her arms around her son's neck in a quick embrace before tying it fast around him. Rana! His father's temper was becoming more heated, and this time he snapped his jaw at his mate, showing her just how tight its vice was. This time, the woman obeyed, but not before pressing one loving kiss on the tip of her young son's nose. Ahren blinked once at his mother, and then yelped, feeling his father's sharp teeth sink against the scruff of his neck as he dragged him around and ordered him to move quickly. --------------------------------------------------------------- His clothes and armor were left in a heap on the forest floor, long forgotten as he ran, barreling forward as he wove nimbly through the trees. Toned muscle rippled beneath a healthy coat of brown fur, thick, soft in areas and coarse in others. In this form, the cold didn't come close to penetrated down into his skin, but he could feel it against the pads on his feet. Up ahead he could see a dead tree that had fallen to the ground. Pushing off strong hind legs, he cleared it in one easy leap and kept going. The baying of the hounds was getting louder, closer. He could smell them more easily now, their stench rising above that of the dirt, dormant grass, and the snow he still sense in the sky above. Elise! White foam frothed at the corners of his black lips as he happened upon one young hunter. Ahren slid to a halt, squaring off and shifting his weight over all four paws as his shoulders rolled. This young man couldn't have been more than eighteen, son of kennel master. It looked like he'd lost his hounds somewhere up ahead. Chest heaving, Ahren looked from the man to the direction he was running. Victor, you swine, get after those dogs! Ahren's attention snapped to Luca and his brothers as they rode after the boy, catching up with ease. The horses ears were swiveling left, right, and back, their nostrils flaring as they searched and became jittery. The masters above them tightened their holds on the reins. Their black eyes were huge, sensing the danger that the young Lords weren't even aware loomed but a few yards away. Ahren? He could hear the strained concern in Elise's voice as she projected her thoughts to him. Again, he turned his head in the direction the kennel boy was headed, hiking through thick brush and avoiding the threatening thorns that surrounded some of the trees. Up ahead, Ahren heard a high pitched cry. It was one of the dogs. They must have caught up with her. Soon after, his keen ears heard another yelp, followed by intense, concentrated, and aggressive barking. His heart sunk in his chest. The beating of the horses hooves against the ground caused a vibration to course up his legs. He heard the sound of iron blades being drawn and the quake of quivers on some of the men's backs as they surged forward after the predator they'd been tracking.