"Get me some water while you're out there, pup?" He tossed me a wooden bucket.
"Yessir," I dipped my head politely and took off out of camp. Sometimes I wished that I had known my parents but other times I was angry at them and glad that I didn't know them because of what I might do to them. I was dying to know what being in my wolf form would feel like, however as I was only twelve years old that meant I still had four years to go. Of course Branch only had two years to go, the lucky brat. I sighed angrily and kicked at the dirt. That was when I smelled 'it'. Humans. I had been so deep in my thoughts and anger that I had almost stumbled right into them. Quickly I scrambled up a nearby tree.
I was far enough from camp that the humans shouldn't get too close however I might have to lead them away. There were two men and as they passed directly under my birch tree, I recognized them. They were Curt and Peter Underwood and they were the guys that helped my pack communicate with the outside world as well as make trades. As a were people, the modern world was quickly changing and popping up everywhere around us.
The history was that we'd had to portray ourselves as foreign investors who wanted to buy three fourths of one of the United States and develop it eventually. We'd gotten the state of Montana and still hadn't done any developing. The government had been intensely curious for years but eventually they stopped pestering the Elders Council. We were left in peace and the humans could visit our land but they couldn't stay. We kept a state park inside our lines to keep up appearances or whatever. Sometimes we crossed over into Canada by accident but it wasn't often. We were content and safe and happy. There were other sets of packs with their own Elders Council in the states of Florida, New Mexico, and Indiana I do believe.
Once the Underwoods were well past, I climbed down from the tree and continued on my way. I was taking the longest way to the Black River that went through the Striped Cliff's pack territory. The longer that I didn't have to be around Violent and Branch, the better. It was in a clearing that grew lavender, salvia, and bluebells up to my waist that I saw her for the first time. I didn't understand why I hadn't smelled her, I was going to blame the fragrant flowers. Being only twelve, I wasn't supposed to experience the Imprintment until I was at least eighteen. It was then and there that the Imprintment happened, in the clearing full of salvia and lavender and bluebells.
She was sitting in the middle and creating a necklace out of the beautiful blooms around her. Long and soft looking curly dark blond hair cascaded down her back, she was wearing a human dress. Her back was to me and I couldn't see her face. 'Turn around!' My mind demanded. Slowly it seemed, that she recognized my presence and even slower that she turned around. A small button nose, the beginnings of a sweet mouth, and a dark brown eye were revealed. Then she was facing me wholly and it was all I could do but stare. Those beautiful chocolate eyes widened in shock and she dropped her necklace. Then the gorgeous creature began scrambling backwards. I smelled that she was only human and wondered where her human parents were.
"It's okay," I said softly, trying to reassure her. She grew even more terrified and stood up to run, only she tripped and fell on her bottom with an "oomph". I stalked carefully towards her but she picked herself back up and started running away from me. I chased her, dashing over logs and through a small brook. For a little human, she was extremely fast especially in this overgrown forest. It was almost too late when I realized she crossed the pack border into the Black River Falls' pack territory. I skidded to a stop just in time before I crossed the line and caused a pack fight from a breach; even if it was an accidental breach.
I watched as she faded into the distance, filled with dismay. That was the first time that I felt my wolf stir within me and heard it let out a sad howl inside. That's when I knew that nothing would ever be the same and that I was different. My wolf was already stirring inside me and I had already imprinted. It was extremely frustrating and I realized that I would have to talk to Old Mister Hod about this. Maybe he would have the answers; he usually had the answers to about anything. I started back for camp, remembering the stop by the river and grab that bucket, then fill it with water. I dragged my feet on the way back, wanting to go after that girl with every fiber of my being. She was mine, I would find her and make her mine. One day.
