Chapter 8

Azrial groaned as he slowly sat up in his bed. He was still recovering from the aftermath of the adventure that he had gone on. He felt as his memories came back to him and he frantically sat up in his bed. He didn’t want to assume the worst of his pack and he could only hope that they were alright.

He sighed as he made his way over to the corner of the room and splashed some water onto his face. He sighed as he made his way out of the tent.

He made his way out of his tent and he gasped at the sight that he was met with in front of him. He looked around and his ears were filled with laughter as a bonfire was set up in the middle of the pack. He felt a small smile creep onto his features at the sight of his pack up and about once more. Several questions ran through his mind at the sight as he tried to decipher what was going on.

“Good morrow Alpha.” He heard Garth say and he turned towards him in shock. How was it possible that his pack who had been laying frail on what seemed to be their death beds were now up and about. “What is going garth?” He asked and he watched as the man beside him smiled. “Well Alpha it seems that it had been a miracle. The flower worked and it revived the people overnight.” He spoke and Azrial gaped at his words. Although he had faith in the flower, he hadn’t been entirely sure whether or not it would work.

“Are you sure? How is the status of the pack?” He asked frantically and Garth chuckled lightly as he said, “the members are well and fine, there are no complications and it seems that everyone is doing well in their recovery.” He spoke and Azrial let out a sigh of relief.

He turned his attention towards the few pack members that were scattered outside and he heard several groans and grunts coming from one of the mats. He furrowed his eyebrows at the sight and watched as they turned into large wolves before him. He couldn’t help but put a smile on his face to see everyone getting back into their normal routine.

“How many have we lost?” he found himself asking. He knew that he wasn’t going to like the answer but he also knew that it was something that he had to ask. He watched as Garth let out a sigh from his lips and looked at him apologetically. “We have lost 9 men, 16 women and 30 children Alpha.” He said and he swallowed the lump in his chest.

He felt defeated and although he was happy that they were able to get some of their pack back he couldn’t forget the fact that they had lost so many of their members as well. “We will hold a funeral for them by the bonfire this evening.” He spoke and he watched as Garth nodded his head at him.

He let out a loud howl from his lips as he caught the attention of the other wolves that were in the room. They turned to look at him as they all stopped what they were doing. “I know that as a pack we have suffered tremendous loss and that we are still trying to heal from our own pain but don’t ever think that I will leave you again. I am your alpha and your pain is my pain. I will protect you till I die. We will honor the dead that we have lost and we will carry on. We will show that the silver pack will not bend to death but overcome it.” He spoke as he let out a loud growl.

He waited and watched as several howls of approval soon followed after. “We will hold the bonfire this evening to mark their lives.” He spoke and they all agreed. He spent the rest of the day accounting for those that were dead and he had felt his heart ache when he realized that one of them was his beta. He had already lost so many people, and he knew that rebuilding would take tine as well as effort. He was pulled out of his thoughts when he was trying to pack the sick tent as he heard someone clear their throat behind him.

It was Elder Ran and he had on his long robe. “What can I do for you?” He asked and he watched as the man ran his face over him before he let out a scuff. “I have to say that I am impressed that you were able to save the people. I just hope that you know what you are doing.” He said.

Azrial looked at him with a raised eyebrow as he said, “What do you mean? What are you talking about?” He asked as he said to him, “Well there is a reason that the flower isn’t searched for. It is best kept hidden. I hope you are ready to face the consequences.” He spoke and he walked away leaving Azrial to stand alone in the tent lost in his own thoughts.

He didn’t allow the words to bother him for the rest of the day as he tried to focus his attention on getting the rest of the bonfire ready. He sighed as he watched the night roll over as the flames were ignited. He watched as the back gathered around him and he smiled. Although their numbers were now small he was still more than determined to help them alive. “We step into a new era.” He chanted and the wolves howled.

And for a moment there was complete peace but then that moment ended as one of the wolves let out an agonizing howl.