Jupiter, Apple, and the Shadows

**Chapter One
The Shadow Wolves**

Jupiter lay close to his mother, only a week old, asleep. He awoke to his mother's movement, and stood up. He felt the cold breeze rush around his ankles, when a threatening howl penetrated the silent night. He doubled back into the abandoned shed, when a shriek pierced the air. He had no idea what was going on, as this all was happening so fast. His mother guarded him closely, watching for anything, when an almost burgundy colored dog rushed by, which he soon realized was the one who screamed. Before he could process what happened, many wolves ran by, a few skidding to a stop around him. They examined at the rest of the litter, settling their eyes on him. He whimpered uncontrollably when ones deep shadowy voice took his attention. "He'll make a nice fighter. Not much value, tough, and fine genetics for the pups he'll have." they said, tossing aside my mother and the others carelessly, grabbing him and running off. Rain soon started to fall, as hypothermia set in. He started to nod off from exhaustion, as he had only gotten 30 minutes of sleep that night before the incident. He fainted soon after from a mix of hypothermia and exhaustion, and he had no idea the journey he would soon partake in.

**Chapter Two
A Strange Place**

Jupiter awoke in a strange den, an uncanny darkness surrounded by shadows. As he regained his vision he saw one of the shadow wolves from earlier, but a much smaller version, clearly a female. She was surrounded by three younger wolves barking and talking to her. He averted his vision to the shadowy, grayscale looking herbs around him as he inhaled their scents. He looked down at his paws and realized they were cloaked in the same grayscale shadowy darkness as the rest of the place. He immediatly shot up, and the larger female wolf in the room looked at him. "You're awake. " she said sternly, looking him in the eye. "Stay. " she said, her eyes glowing a faint red. She turned her attention back to the pups around her, smiling warmly and walking off with them. I laid back down in fear, and turned my attention back to the shadows that surrounded me. They didn't move like normal shadows, they almost moved like they were alive. He inhaled the scent of the herbs again, they didn't smell any different than normal, it was just the visuals that were altered. He observed that he could see just as well as before, everything just looked more sunken and dark. He decided to observe more later, after that strange wolf returned to give him some idea of what was going on.

**Chapter Three
A New Home**

Jupiter glanced up at the path into the den, most importantly the wolf walking into it. It was the same wolf from before, and this time all her attention was on him. "Can't say i'm happy to see a pup this young join the pack.. " "But that's just how the river flows I guess. " she said. I backed farther into the corner, slightly scared. The wolf spoke again. "I won't hurt you myself. Don't worry. Your welcoming ceremony is soon, however, so it's best you prepare yourself." He nodded shyly, as she spoke again. "I came here to tell you that, and I have an important meeting with the elites and alphas, so goodbye for now. " She walked off before I could ask any questions, so I looked down at my paws again to observe the way the shadows moved when I realized I'd actually lost mine. I stood up and walked in a circle around my uncomfortable nest, and confirmed I had none. I sat down, this was strange as this entire place's theme seemed to be shadows. I began to wonder what a welcome ceremony was supposed to be, would it let me get my shadow back? Would it be me being transfered to whatever everyone else was seeing? Would it brainwash me into thinking the same as them? I decided to get some rest, it couldn't hurt. All I knew was that this was my home now, and there wasn't a way I was going to get out.

**Chapter Four
A Cold Welcoming**

Jupiter snapped awake to the stern voice of a wolf a few den-lengths away from him. He knew this because it echoed in the same way that den lengths normally do. But this was louder. The floor shook with the wolf's loud, stern,
and emotionless voice. Then, The shadow wolf from before walked into the den, But instead of empathy in her eyes, they held no emotion. "Come. " she said. I whimpered softly, and stood up. She started to walk away quickly. I scrambled to my paws and ran after her. When she stopped, I saw four jutting peaks with small flat spots on the edges of them, and steep stair-like steps leading up to them. A crowd gathered, And I sat next to the only wolf I felt comfortable next to, the wolf I met in the medicine den. I say that as if she hasn't been here my whole time here, But she seemed.. different.