The fragile infant wailed as the fire raged around it, seeming to imitate the mouth of hell itself. Smoke billowed and sparks flew from all directions. Creaking beams and shattering glass announced the old building wasn't ready to give up its prize just yet. A small band of men and women out for a night stroll, saw the smoke rising in the distance along with the smell of burning wood raced towards to the source.
Faster Faster there's no time.
The older woman chanted in her head as she pressed on towards the distressed sounds of the infant. She had to get there now, she willed her tired legs to move on despite the pain cramping her muscles and the flames licking at her skin. She came across the screaming child in the midst of the blaze, somehow still untouched by the searing heat. The small bundle quieted immediately and stared in wonder as the strong woman carried her out.
"I want her Thomas." The elder woman stated. He knew not to argue with that tone of voice as he looked down on the babe that was surely a miracle. Strong feelings of care and pride swept over him.
"I know Hun, I feel it too. She is ours." he murmured. The once noble manor suddenly collapsed in a heap of smoke and scattered debris, as though content that the treasure it had been protecting was now safe.
*****Some Years Later******
In the depths of the forest a young woman dangled from a branch by one hand, swinging with ease. A smile creeping across her face as she climbed yet higher in the proud standing tree. It was a sunny spring day, the kind when the sun is warm and the breeze just cool enough to be refreshing. She reached the next branch and stopped to look down at the young male who seemed to be struggling to keep up.
"Come on Dale shake a leg, you're supposed to be my big brother remember?" The woman teased.
"Yeah big is right, I go any higher and those branches are going to snap. I weigh more then you, remember Em?"
She shrugged and dropped, gracefully perched on the branch next to him. "Oh fine then you big baby lets go."
Dale leaped to the ground first then Em followed in her usual fashion, landing squarely on him.
"Um-pf, you know I really hate when you do that."
She feigned an exaggerated innocent look. "I haven't the faintest idea what your talking about bro."
After a quick grin she then bolted like a rocket towards home taunting over her shoulder "Catch me if you can. ". Dale darted off in chase then after a few moments realized he wasn't going to catch up without some help. He stopped to shimmy out of his tracksuit then got down all fours, a few moments later there stood a large shaggy brown wolf with deep green eyes. The wolf howled and bounded off determined this time not to be beat.
Twigs snapped and the leaves crunched under Em's graceful feet. She heard the howl and increased her pace. "Cheater." she muttered under her breath. Dale now in wolf form was gaining ground. She pressed harder now not wanting to see the arrogant look on his face if he did win.
The first glimpses of home came into her view. A small water fountain appeared with a weathered stone wolf sitting on its haunches howling, the water gushing from its open mouth. She glimpsed the large fire pit lined with heavy slabs of granite, used during the warm months for sacred ceremonies and sometimes social gatherings, as she sped along the path. Finally she reached the ornately carved wooden doors to her home. She spun around victoriously, only to be tackled by the panting brown wolf.
"You're a cheater Dale, no shifting!" she shouted as he changed back to human form.
"Hey I had to give myself a fighting chance at least, not my fault you can't shift!" he shouted, before faltering as his cheeks heated with shame. "Look Em I-I didn't mean ... I'm sorry" he stammered desperately.
Em didn't even turn around as he called after her, storming angrily into the house she had grown up in and slamming the heavy oak door behind her. The other pack members blurred around her as the tears trickled unheeded down her face. She rounded a corner and fled up a flight of stairs, into her room before sinking down in front of the fireplace with its merrily flickering blaze. Em always had a fire going in her room. She loved the warmth and light it gave her, but most of all she enjoyed the calming effect it seemed to have on her.
Lost in her thoughts she didn't here the soft click of her door open then shut again. "Ember darling whats wrong?" Juliana her mother gently sat down next to the fire as well. Em jumped at the soft voice, but quickly calmed realizing its source. "Oh! Geez ma you scared me... eh its nothing really just Dale being, well himself."
"Ah I see, what did he do this time?"
"Nothing that he hasn't done before its just..I-I'm not sure he just got to me today that's all I just don't understand why I'm not the others."
"You know I can't answer that honey"
Ember mumbled "I know no one can. Why me? How can I be as strong and fast as everyone else, yet I can't shift or project my thoughts like the rest of the pack? Why did you find me all those years ago in the woods, why did you take me in, why can't anybody tell me who or where I came from?" The last bit came out as a squeak. Her tears started to spill again as she leaned into her mothers lap. The older woman rubbed her daughters back gently trying to sooth her.
