"What is that?" Cyrus dared to ask. "The Darkness." They answered together without looking away. "Why is it...? I mean... WHAT is it?" Beta turned tired eyes to the little female. "This is where you were born. Among wolves that have forgotten to be grateful." Alpha spoke now. "They break every code and every sacred tradition is lost." "They are lost..." The entire world seemed to whisper. Cold fear trembled down Cyrus’s back. "Can they be helped." "Only when a star bleeds in two worlds will there be peace...."

Legend of Cyrus

By Revera Love

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Revera Love
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4772-9699-8

Chapter One

Part 1: Blood Pack Territory

Cyrus fell with a thud on the hard ground scuffing her white pelt into the dust. Black and brown figures hovered inches from her face pinning her into the dirt.

"What's the matter, Runt?"

One of her cruel brothers laughed snapping at her nose.

"She just can't keep up with us." Turveren snarled from behind. Cyrus fought to draw her paws to her chest and push off her larger brother, but his snapping teeth deterred her efforts. "Not so strong without Camera huh you little weasel?" Their taunts rang in her ears like the echoes of so many others.

It was true. Cyrus knew that her pack was watching her squirm in the dirt; just as she knew no one would help her. She was just a runt.

Useless.

The whole pack said so. They didn't bother to hide their snide comments or sheath their fangs. Even her parents turned their backs on the little white wolf. Camera was the only one who could seem to stomach the sight of her.

"Is there a problem?"

The pup let out a sigh of relief. "Camera,"

It didn't matter that Camera was an Omega. She was still one of the largest wolves in the pack and even Taro and Turveren would not challenge her. With relief she felt the weight of the black pup lift, and the dust found its way beneath her paws where it belonged. Both young males sat hunched, avoiding their sister's hot orange gaze. Cyrus's tail wagged with justification. If there was one wolf she could count on it was Camera.

"Leave. Your. Sister. Alone." She growled and, with that, drew Cyrus to her side and marched off. Cyrus yipped with excitement as the den site faded into the tree line behind her. She breathed in deep the scent of pine. Soft needles folded under her pudgy paws occasionally finding a way to trip her. Camera never faltered though. Her long legs loped over the ground with the grace of ghosts.

Again, Cyrus found herself wondering why Camera would choose to be an Omega. She'd told the young pup once after a trip like this, but it didn't make sense. Camera chose to live on the outskirts of the pack; almost more Lone then Pack. Why wouldn't she want to be with her family?

Camera flicked her tail to the young wolf that was falling behind. Before long they come up to a strand of honeysuckle. This was where Cyrus would be staying while Camera hunted. Her tiny body fit easily in the bush just like it had countless times before.

See being small is good for something.

She smiled at the thought and milked a flower between her little black gums. This was her favorite place. The nectar was endlessly sweet and the petals fun to bat. All she had to do was stay quiet until Camera returned. She licked her lips thinking about the kill Camera would bring. She imagined the soft brush of downy fur on her muzzle and the sweet tang of hare meat.

Her little head cocked as she wondered not for the first time why her pack did not eat with them. Was it because they were outsiders? Her face fell.

Maybe they just like the meat they get. It might not be us. She wasn't convinced.

A crackle in the grass caught her attention. She pricked her ears expecting to see Camera's gray white pelt marching over the little hill where she always was but it was not her this time. A scent unlike she'd ever experienced wafted on the breeze. Her hackles rose and she shrunk down, instinctively terrified. Something was coming. Its heavy paws plodded the ground like a troop of bears.

Hungry bears She thought.

The scent of their blood lust was not unlike Camera after a hunt. She strained to see the strange creature through the golden bloomed branches. Not even the birds sang anymore. Unable to resist she crept closer. The ground scraped against her belly, and her haunches hurt from crouching. She let out a whine and it appeared.

It stood larger than any creature she'd ever seen. Its two legs suspended it like a duck before flight but it was much swifter than any duck. It rushed the bush, wielding a long stick that tapered to a point. Cyrus watched wide eyed and frozen. One stick flew straight into the bush and glided past Cyrus's shoulder branding her with an ugly red scratch beginning to pool with blood. She screamed a silent cry of terror. Desperate to flee she turned and caused the burning pain to race down her little foreleg.

Another stick flew from the creature's paw. Its point found the flesh of her flank bringing a sharp cry from her lips. The point fell as she ran but she could still feel the wetness sliding down her hocks and painting her tail. Her terror escalated, A blood trail! Now they could follow her forever! Clutching her eyes shut against the pain she ran blindly. The creature's heavy approach was in time with her exploding heart.

Then the beat detached, blooming and morphing from one mutant to many. An entire mutant pack was after her!

Chapter Two

With the blood pounding in her ears Cyrus ran. She wanted to scream for Camera but pain and fear held her in its grasp. The ground pounded with the clumsy paw steps behind her.

Her small legs couldn't carry her much longer. She was about to give up when suddenly she was flying over the dirt with her scruff clutched in familiar jaws. The ground flew as Camera raced the pointy sticks. They flew like flies all around the fleeing wolves. Cyrus trembled, too frightened to whine.

* * *

Camera ducked and dodged the flying arrows. In her jaws was the most precious thing of her life.

I have to get you safe! She growled with frustration as the Mans' closed in. The path was widening and she could see the soft etch of many paw prints. She gulped and twisted to the side of the trail.

There the undergrowth was thicker and hazel branches reached their prickly hands out to catch the skin of the unlucky. Camera dipped her head to shield the pup. Pain laced her face where they met the sharp leaves but she kept on. Man Pack howled as their stretchy pelts caught in bramble and hazel. Camera sighed and turned back to the trail. She couldn't do this alone and now, with the yowls of Man Pack warning the others, she wouldn't have to.

* * *

Gentle spring sunlight flitted like may flies through the canopy of maple trees that framed the den site. Soft green foliage marred the ground in huddles where the pups had balled it for play toys. Taric sat quietly with pride in his eyes. Camelle, his mate, lay off to the side; her pale cream coat dusted a light brown with dappled shadows.

Tumbling and playing before her were his prized pups. Taro drew his teeth over the soft skin of his brother's neck in a perfect death swipe. He would be a fantastic warrior one day. The black wolf watched his son's nimble paws and cunning eyes, an alpha in the making.

Suddenly a yowl wrenched the peace from the very air. Taric was up in an instant, his mate at his flank. "There's an attack." she barked calmly. This pair had been through many battles at the paws of Man. The pups stumbled and listened to the howling of a creature they had never seen.

Taric did not need to direct his pack. Many practice bouts had honed their emergency strategy to a science. Alexandria and Demetry grabbed the young ones and bundled them deep in the den. Then Alexandria went to join her parents in the ambush while Demetry stayed behind to watch the pups.

Something top heavy was bashing down the path straight for Blood Pack's den site. The wolves filtered about the bushes and trees to become no more than specters themselves. A sudden quiet fell over the den as they waited. Taric could hear the beat of his heart as he crouched.

Silence.

* * *

Camera returned to an empty den. She knew they were out there watching. Quickly she tossed the young wolf to a fluffy fern bush that grew not far from where the pups normally played. She hoped it didn't hurt her but had no time to make the landing softer. The Mans were barely tail-lengths behind her.

Camera yelped as the burning pain invading her body. The arrow had struck her abdomen right through her ribs. Hot blood flowed from the wound but the pain was soon forgotten. There were more pressing matters.

The monsters pack had scattered; their dark silhouettes like living nightmares. They reared and roared with bloody fury. Trembling but determined Camera crouched, ready to attack.

* * *

Washita grinned. His tribe had finally caught the pale demon. There she ducked; teeth bared and side bloody from his shot. Her demon ways would be conquered this day and her pale pelt put to some use as a blanket for his daughter's pallet. The young one would also be slaughtered, he thought with relish. Its bones would make great spear heads and the marrow a tasty seasoning.

He stooped, knife in hand, to end her curse unaware of the shifting shadows that worked to circle his troop of warriors.

He stepped.

They attacked.

Suddenly a scream of terror and death roared from the many throats behind him. The pale wolf was gone from his sight replaced with the black King of Demons. It didn't wait as its subject had, but flew high into Washita's face. The overwhelming scent of musk and suffocating fur drowned him. The knife moved and caught against flesh but the demon did not pull back. Sharp teeth like daggers sought to rip and tear at his exposed throat.

The ground scratched his back and soon more teeth bit and scathed his head and trunk. Somehow he managed to gain his feet and with a gasp order retreat. At least three of his men did not rise at his word but he couldn't bother with them now. The living must be saved and the dead would be honored.

* * *

Camera clung to what breath she had. Her father had shoved her back to protect her but it had served to drive the flint head deeper into her body. Camera could not cry any more than she could think. The smell of blood was fading but she knew she must be drenched. Her flank felt sticky and warm. Lights flashed about of her eyes so she couldn't focus. There was nothing in the world now; nothing but the river.

A river of peace flowed around her pulling her in its warm persistent current. She closed her eyes willing it to carry her into the next world.

A cry of fear brought her back. She knew that voice better than her own. "Cyrus" she murmured. The Peace would have to wait. She had to know Cyrus was safe.

Chapter Three

"Get away from me!" Cyrus screamed. Her mother who had weeded her from the roots of the fern she'd hit was now hovering like a great bear over the helpless pup. Camelle's punishing muzzle lingered against her shoulder and flank. Cyrus cried again in fright, but no sharp fangs descended against her.

From around her mother she could just make out the blood stained pelt of her sister. The pale wolf was lying flat and her chest did not fall with breath.

Cyrus whimpered.

Death was not new to the pup but to see Camera's body ... empty ... The pup crumbled in silent sobs.

"Hush" the Alpha female's voice floated above her. "It's okay now, Love. It will all be okay." A warm tongue fondled the pups ears and head. She shrank from the touch but her mother persisted. Soon the blood and wounds were cleansed from her body and for the first time in her life she was held against her mother's hard chest. Cyrus gazed up at the wolf that had never been so kind. Those tender golden eyes gazed at her now.

What's going on?

* * *

Camelle looked deep into her daughter's soul. There was such a fire there. She could feel it; a burning need to live and consume hovered right beneath the surface. It was too bad the pup would never amount to anything. She would never be able to recover from the wounds she'd received. Not with such a frail and petite body. The pup sighed against her chest and placed its small chin on her paws. A tug as she'd never felt yearned her down to nuzzle the little head. Shame seared her heart as she thought of what she was about to do.

But it has to be done. She justified to herself. The pack must be strong.

She resumed licking the soft white fur and murmured into her daughter's ear. "Cyrus, My dear little one. Does it hurt?" The pup whined against her. She winced.

"I can make it go away, if you'll let me it will all be over."

Cyrus turned deep blue eyes on her mother. Camelle put on her softest face in return. She was glad her sons were still in the den. They would never sit for this.

Trust like she'd never seen looked back at her from those azure depths. She kept the gaze and murmured in her most gentle voice. "Close your eyes and I'll make it go away." to her horror the pup closed its eyes and shivered. She pulled her lips back to reveal her gleaming fangs and prepared to rid the pack of the runt.

* * *

Camera wrenched herself to her paws ignoring how her body protested. Camelle stood poised like a coiled snake over the defenseless pup. Even with her vision blurred she saw the cream wolf's intentions. She leapt and sank her teeth into her mother's scruff. The female still stunned was easily dislodged. Cyrus squirmed beneath them yelping with fear and amazement at Camera. The pale wolf couldn't look for more than a moment before her mother recovered. Memories of the dark and cruel things Camelle had done flashed before her. She had seen more Man and wolves fall before the fearsome she wolf then she cared to recount. Her heart pumped in her chest with painful consistency as she stood over her young ward.

"Camelle, you will never touch that pup as long as there is breath in my body and blood in my veins."

A taste of uncertainty crossed the cream wolf's face but dissipated so fast Camera wasn't sure if she had seen right. She had changed from the mask of a caring parent to the malevolent demon she was known for. Her voice was quiet and controlled as she strolled like a stalking tiger toward her daughter.

"We'll just have to arrange that then. Won't we?"

She leapt, fangs first, into her daughter's face. Camera pulled to the side but the sharp fangs scored across her muzzle. She scrambled with her claws on the hard chest and fought to toss off her attacker but Camelle didn't waver. She coiled her body over her daughter's adding weight to her already taxed side. The females' scrabbled in their grassy arena. Camera swung blindly to protect her sensitive eyes. Long fangs sank into her chin and lip throwing her to head up where Camelle could more easily get to the throat and the surge of blood beneath it.

Cyrus howled somewhere far off and Camera could not resist looking. Alexandria had pulled Cyrus from the fray but the pup had somehow managed to squirm away. Now the cream wolf ran around the combatants trying to reach and dispose of the young pup. This had gone on long enough. With a great effort she ripped her face from the she wolf's grasp and slammed it back into her mother's jaw. She winced as streams of blood flowed from her head to mingle with the broken teeth at her paws. Camelle cried out and Camera had her chance. She pulled from the tangle of legs her mother had made and ran head first for Alexandria. She caught the younger wolf by the shoulder and threw her, with a massive effort, off the chase. Cyrus ran like a half-dead rabbit before her and Camera caught her easily. With legs like fire she fled from the place of misery and prejudice and into the unknown with the sound of wolves howling behind her.

* * *

Camera panted with the weight of Cyrus's body and limped in favor of the slick bloody stick protruding from her side. She knew she should be dead and that death waited just around the bend. Once familiar trees now loomed like fearsome enemies in the fading twilight. She stumbled often but always fought to rise again. Hardly did she notice when the soft grasses and mulch turned to smooth river rocks and cold water sloshed her paws. The next time she fell she couldn't rise. The pup tumbled from her mouth and into the smooth current. The tired she wolf raised her muzzle to gaze around. This was hardly a shelter. Somehow her paws had led her to this exposed patch of world where water reigned supreme.

She tried to find her paws but they'd gone numb. Her head rang with invisible chimes like millions of birds trilling overhead. From far away she felt the soft nudge of Cyrus's tongue on her wounded face. If she had the energy she would push her away and tell her not to bother, but that was before, now all she could do was watch through glassy eyes as her little sister fought certain death with her diligent little tongue.

If she could, she would laugh and tell her she's making a fuss over nothing. If she could ... If ... If ...

There was no time for Ifs now.

She fought to gain what was left of her body and managed to move her muzzle enough to push the pup away. It whined protest but didn't push back. She panted with effort as she lifted her body in a halfway normal position. Those sweet blue eyes stared uncomprehendingly at Camera. She sighed and nuzzled the pup's wet cheek. Her heart burst at the thought of leaving her alone, but it wasn't up to her. Wincing, she pulled her face away and murmured to her sister.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Legend of Cyrusby Revera Love Copyright © 2012 by Revera Love. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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