Collateral Damage
Hundreds of footsteps from the wide major streets made of cobblestones to the murky roads in the back alley were all buried by the sound of traditional music instrumentals from the open bars around the area. The buzzing chatters from merchants who came from the farthest part of the continent gathered at the central town of the Blood Claws Pack.
The central town was the alpha’s grounds. Hundreds of imposing buildings surrounded by canyons watched the history of one pack loved by the goddess to bloom into one big pack, followed by hundreds of wolves. Blood Claws Pack was above all loved by the moon goddess, for they were specially crafted for two seasons as the goddess loomed over them with one great smile—or so the legend said. But some would say that the Blood Claws Pack was cursed and not blessed by the Moon Goddess for having an alpha like Alpha Dylan Cain. Other packs would say that he was not destined for a mate – but here she was, reborn with witchy abilities.
Though the Blood Claws Pack was primarily known as a ruthless bunch of wolves that would tear their enemies to pieces when need be; the fact that they were the strongest and most united pack in the continent was an undisputed fact.
And now, Diana had just become a part of this amazing pack.
After the Welcoming Ceremony which consisted of a simple process of kneeling on the packhouse once before shifting together and howling together. The entire time, it was Beta Seymor Tesa who officiated the entire ceremony. No one asked about the alpha; it was as if everyone had a tacit understanding not to mention him, especially the old packmates.
After the Welcoming Ceremony, Diana, who was now connected to the entire pack decided to mingle with her new packmates. She needed to establish a bond with the pack in order to be able to adjust her instincts immediately.
And now, here she was. She was basically running away from the present and just treating herself better. A typical me-time apparently. Observing the central town with relish, she took her sweet time before dealing with the pile of problems and enemies she had.
Flags made from the finest silver silks which were cut out right from the phoenix’s tail littered every nook and cranny of the town’s streets. The sigil of a wolf crying out to the crescent moon with its tail almost touching the said moon was the symbol of Blood Claws Pack’s glory—in which the moon goddess loved them.
The warm lanterns hanging on the main straight illuminated the lively central town as the last crimson and azure hue of the sun touched the roofs made of cobblestones and walls made of clay bricks. The sunset did not deter the onslaught of travelers, tourists, merchants, and locals from experiencing the famed central town, the town that never sleeps, especially on the night of the Welcoming Ceremony.
The citizens and tourists wore the splashes of kaleidoscopic masks crafted by talented artisans in the Blood Claws Pack with stretched grins.
“Masks for the Welcoming Ceremony, everyone! One bronze for three pieces of masks!” A merchant with a protruding belly held out his hands to the crowd passing by his stand as he showed them a couple of masks. Masks were carved into a black wolf, a brunette wolf, a red wolf, and the white wolf with a crescent tattoo on its forehead.
“Mom! Mom!” One kid tugged his mother’s dress before he pointed to the white mask. “I want a white mask, please!”
The merchant’s ears twitched upon hearing the quivering voice of a potential customer. With gleaming eyes which only saw everyone as a possible bringer of gold and bronze, he clasped his plump hands and stepped forward to gauge the little boy more. “Little boy, I see the spirit of a brave wolf in you. You might have been a member of an alpha’s descendant in your last life!”
He inched the white mask to the child who was nodding his head profusely. The merchant continued. “Will you buy this, customer?” His eyes shifted onto the frowning lady.
But seeing the look of sheer happiness on her son’s face made the mother draw a deep breath. Taking the white mask which symbolized peace and power—and by far the most used mask among the citizens—she gave the mask to her son as she rummage through her purse for a piece of bronze. “We’ll have this.”
“Yes! Thank you, Mom! I will be a brave wolf so I can protect you forever!” His small limbs encased his mother’s waist with a hug as his hand held the mask with utmost care.
Ruffling her son’s hair, the mother smiled even when her purse lightened. “I am sure you will.”
Not minding the drama, the merchant turned around with the bronze in his plump palm. The corners of his equally plump lips curled up with delight.
Among the buzzing crowd, a woman with a faceless mask was observing the scene between a mother and child from the second floor of an opened bar. With her chin atop the back of her palm, her stormy eyes stared down.
“Such love for a child,” said Diana. Though her words were muffled because of the faceless mask she was wearing, the person in front of her heard her loud and clear.
“Hmmm? What love, Diana?” asked the man with a calm voice. He was no other than the Blood Claws Pack’s healer – Shinro.
“Nothing. I just saw my mom and my past self in them.” Diana shrugged her slumped shoulders while her left hand was playing with the necklace she bought from the same merchant she was looking at. Her fingers traced the pendant carved into a small sword. If it was in her first lifetime, she would have bought a moon or a flower. But not this time.
“What’s that, hmmm?”
Diana raised the necklace and deadpanned. “Oh, this? It’s a necklace.”
“So it seems, Diana. But who is it for? You know we did not come here to appreciate trinkets, right?”
Rolling her eyes, Diana knew that behind Shiro’s mask was a frowning face. “I know. Just a little something to bring them home.”
Alpha Shinro of the Black Ridge Pack visited the Blood Claws Pack under some business pretext, but only Diana knew that he was here to meet her.
“You are worried.” This was not a question, but a statement. Shinro was sure of it.
“Who wouldn’t? I am starting a bloodbath between two great packs.” Diana looked at the happy packmates on the streets. “These innocent people will be the first blood of this game. They are the collateral damage.”