Book 1: A New Day

"Under no circumstances should anyone who wants to be in charge actually be allowed to be in charge," Patrick points out. "If you want power over others, you shouldn't be allowed to have it. Full stop." As he talks, he walks closer to Misha to show support.

"Y'all keep talkin' about 'being trained for leadership' or whatever, but let me be as.clear as possible -- that's why you shouldn't be allowed to lead. Also, I don't care. You can have a cookie."

The whole conversation bewilders Paul who just follows the dialogue from person to person to person. "Honestly, I agree that there's not really a need to have a boss," he says "but since there are a few people who seem to be insistent on settling this right now, I'll just flip a coin."

Misha sat off to the side, clearly giving fuck-all about the entire discussion. The others didn't know that her plan was still to bail this crazy sect of nature-worshipping lunatic murderers as soon as she could get back to the city. Although she was starting to understand that it wouldn't be that easy. These motherfuckers could track a turd in a sewer. Worse, there were things out there that actually hunted the crazy hippy murder machines. Just how the fuck was she supposed to have some sort of normal life with all that shit going on? Fuck, this was almost worse than foster homes.

So that brought her back to surviving this whole ordeal a little bit longer. That was OK. She had done a lot of enduring so far. But this whole alpha thing took the cult to a whole new level. And no fucking way was one of these fucking lunatics going to tell her where to go. And the others were now really looking at her to pick up the beating stick. Kids knew who was the strongest among them, and for Misha this had nothing to do with this Ahroun bullshit.

So when they looked at her again she shrugged.
"Fuck it. I'll do it. Not because I want to, 'cuz I actually want nothing to do with all this bullshit, but I ain't going to let that entitled bitch tell me what to do."

Fuck, she needs a cigarette..

'If you just dump someone who doesn't want to be in charge they won't do right by the people relying on them. They won't try and get better for their pack.' This was going badly. Then the one person who seems to get it got distracted by cookies and she was reminded he was probably little more than 2 and still new to everything. Great.

' This isn't something to be settled by a coin toss surely? ' She was losing control of the situation. It wasn't meant to go this way.

Then Misha spoke and her stomach drops. Why did she say yes. This was ludicrous. Then her last words reach Diana's ears and a small growl escapes her throat. ' I am not an enti... She gets herself off. Composure. She had to maintain composure. Just because these were all too inexperienced to know better she hadn't lost yet.

She glances over to Running Fish and Rat food. 'And you two?'

"OK, Alexander, I don't understand. Do you want to be alpha or not?" Paul says bluntly. "Why make all this noise just to discredit someone when you aren't even interested? If you don't want the job, then I'll just get behind Diana just to get this all over with. I hate politics. Fighting the elemental was more fun." He stands there waiting, his youth giving way quickly to frustration as he awaits an answer.

Deep breath. She needed to focus. She was coming across wrong, that was clear. ' Okay, what would alleviate your worries that I'm doing this for purely selfish reasons? I want what is best for the pack, and I felt that with my experience that would be good. I realise that that may have rubbed so of you the wrong way, as if I was thinking I was better than you, stuck up as it were. Taht was not my intention.'

'A pack is not just one person. We all have our skills, what we are good at. Fighting, knowledge..trickery. A leader's role is to know the rest of the pack and guide them for the success of everyone. They need to care about this all..and not just think its bullshit.' She throws a look at Misha. 'I'm not exactly planning to go all dictator or demand special privileges, if that is what some of you are worried about. I plan to pull my weight as well.. I was on the front line with the spirit like the rest of you.

God! How long will this shit go on? She wanted to get back in her normal form and put some clothes on! With a groan Misha threw her maw up.
"HRAAAAHHH! Fuck's sake! Do you even fucking listen to yourself? Can you cut the crap with the goody goody fuckshow? Oooohhhh, looook, I'm super special, I'm deeestined to rule! I'm the brightest, most special, most wonderful wolfy wolf ever and a love aaaalllll of you and I think you are alllllll super special!"

Misha got up, the gray crinos towering once more. A mountain of rage bristled under the Ahroun's skin and clearly was steering her words towards aggression.
"Listen up kiddos. Here's what miss brainwashed isn't telling you. Those old fucks? They want to send us into a war. A FUCKING WAR! Us! Kids! They want us to MURDER. They expect some of us to GET MURDERED. In some fucking war that's been going on for a billion years. It ended, and now they want to kickstart it again because murder death kill is all those idiots know. Blood will flow, limbs will get torn off, and nothing will change just like in the billion years before. So you can get on board with that, salute like a fucking moron soldier who gets sent off to Afghanistan to get blown up for god knows why, and follow miss pretty over there like fucking girlscouts thinking it will alllll be fine and dandy because she's super special ya guys! You want to go die like a dumb asshole by giving your life over to some asshole who will toss it into a fire? Go right ahead. See if I fucking care. Me? I'm on team 'stay alive.' I'm heading back to town, gonna find a place to live, and deal with shit as it pops up. You know, like someone who isn't someone else's little bitch! I live my own life and fuck anyone who thinks they can run it for me! Wanna come with me? Fine! We'll watch each other's back. Live life the way we want to. Because I'm going to tell ya, those old fucks don't know how to win their war, but they sure are happy enough to throw in the cannon fodder."

Running out of words to say, Misha looked over the group, and turned away with a frustrated snarl.

Patrick holds a fist out to Misha for a fist bump.

"Is it think for ourselves? I feel like it's think for ourselves."

"Finally!" Paul says emphatically. He's not a kid anymore, but he can't help himself sometimes. His age just shows itself. "That was really stupid, but I guess necessary? So, now what?"

The crinos looked at Alexander like he was an idiot for bowing. The hulking monster didn't seem in the mood for returning fist bumps either.

"Now? I'm going to get changed. Then I'm headed to the city. So if yer coming get ready for that I guess."
She half-turned to go. She was in charge now, and these guys weren't real big on thinking for themselves it seemed. To be fair, most of them hadn't lived a hard life. None seemed the gang type, that's for sure.
"That means we go as humans. We'll need some cars. I suppose some of you can drive too? And get whatever food you can carry. I ain't got money for that yet. Today's job is finding us a roof, alright?"

That shouldn't be too hard. Some abandoned building would be fine for starters. No fucking way she was headed back to the foster home.
"And get some soap or something for Rat Food's skin." Before we all catch what he's got. Fuck that looks nasty..

"Be right back. Gonna change."
With that the crinos plodded towards the shed again..

As Misha stands up Diana stumbles back slightly, fear crossing her face briefing as the Ahroun starts yelling, before realising it not all directed at her.

And somehow it works. Before she can even rebut it's others, those choosing to go with the person with the biggest stick. She stands there a look of surprise on her face as everything comes crashing down. She'd somehow fallen at the first hurdle.

'Pathetic She could hear her Uncles voice already, see the sneer and look of contempt, the ones that always came whenever a mistake was made. This was going to be far worse when she told him. One hand grips tight at her other wrist as she tries to process everything.

For a brief moment the thought of changing to Ciinos, to challenge Misha, pulses through her. It didn't matter that she would be batted aside, she jsut needed to let the frustration out.

She pushes it down however. If she was going to regain control losing herself at the first set back wasn't a good look. She grips her wrist harder, trying to wrestle control of her thoughts and snap out of the spiral they are going down.

It's Misha's voice that actually snaps her out of it.

'Wait you were serious?' What was the point of all that of she was immeadiatly running away. As the Ahroun goes to change she looks to the others.

'You all honestly don't think that leavings best right? You' ve suddenly become werewolves and we're just going to run away, from food and shelter and those who can teach us how to control it? ' She had told herself and the others she would accept the vote, but when the first order was to just leave... The disbelief is clear on her face.

"Sounds like we need a minivan!" Paul says jokingly. "And a sqaut, apparently." He's less enthusiastic about the latter. "Are we seriously just going to camp out in some back alley? I mean I guess it works, but there's not a better way to figure out accommodations?"