The footsteps of the person who had left the cabin began to move, crunching through the snow in his direction.
Cyan glanced back and forth in a hurry. His pawprints stood out clearly in the snow. If he darted back into the shadows it would only take a curious glance in his direction to reveal him. He only had seconds before the footsteps rounded the corner. Glancing upwards, he shifted back into his human form and jumped, catching the overhanging edge of the roof with his fingertips. His muscles burned as he hauled himself up with just the aid of his arms, careful not to make a sound by letting his boots knock against the cabin wall. Just as he swung his leg up and rolled over on to the snow-covered roof, the footsteps rounded the corner, and then stopped.
He held still, praying he hadn't sent any telltale flurries of snow falling after him. The footsteps moved closer, then away towards the cliff. Whoever was down there must have noticed his trail. The hidden figure paced back and forth for a moment, then seemed to abandon his search. Cyan breathed a sigh of relief as he heard the sound of the male relieving himself in the darkness. A minute later his boots crunched their way back to the front of the cabin.
If most of Hazel's followers were out hunting there might still be time to warn April. But then what? An advanced warning would only help if she was willing to fight. He couldn't bear the thought of April submitting to Hazel's authority to avoid violence. What punishment would he force on her this time if he had his way?
No. There was only one way this could end. He couldn't gamble on words alone being enough to loosen Hazel's grip on the pack. There was too much at stake.
Crawling as quietly as he could to the edge of the roof, he lifted his head and chanced a glimpse over the edge. The shadowy shapes of more wolves were emerging from the trees around the cabin. He counted five, but there would be more to come. His chances at getting Hazel alone were slipping away by the minute.
His eyes flicked across the tree line anxiously. What could he do all by himself? There was no plan, no amount of cunning that could outsmart being outnumbered ten to one. Up until now, Hazel had always been the one doing the outsmarting.
Cyan ground the cold snow on the roof between his fingers, fighting the growing urge of his wolf to throw caution to the winds and charge in regardless of the danger. Hazel always played it smart. What was he most afraid of happening? What would he expect?
Gradually, one thought joined another until a vague idea formed. It was incredibly risky, but he knew that Hazel was tired and at the mercy of his emotions. Outsmarting him completely might not be possible, but he could at least try to even the odds in his favour. All he needed was an opportunity. It didn't matter that the others would likely kill him afterwards.
Cyan took a deep breath. There was no point in waiting any longer.
He shifted into his wolf form and leaped from the roof of the cabin. The two sentries were the first to react, springing to their feet in surprise as he landed in front of them and spun around, teeth bared. A second later Hazel appeared in the open doorway, his eyes widening as he grabbed for a quiver of arrows hanging from a peg on the wall. Cyan barely had time to recognise their blue flights before Hazel had his bow in hand, knocking an arrow to the string in the blink of an eye.
He darted out of the way, using the cabin wall to create a blind spot as the arrow thunked into the snow behind him. The sentries were quick to follow, the rest of the group bringing up the rear as Hazel yelled at them to give chase.
Cyan made straight for the trees, headed in the opposite direction to the main camp. He hoped Hazel was paying enough attention to realise what he was doing.
The crashing sounds of wolves tearing their way through the undergrowth surrounded him. The faster ones were already at his side, trying to flank him and get ahead so that their slower companions could trap him from behind. He headed in whatever direction he didn't hear them coming from, ignoring the sharp branches that whipped against his muzzle and tugged at his fur.
His pulse pounded in his ears as he realised they were trying to force him up against the cliff, where he would eventually run out of space to flee. He turned and dashed to the left, away from the cliff face and directly into the path of his pursuers. He might not be faster than them, but he had more than speed to rely on.
A pair of wolves appeared directly in front of him, howling in surprise and warning as he tore his way out of the darkness without slowing for a moment. One of them seemed either too surprised or fearful to attack, but the other blocked his path and lunged forward with his fangs bared. Cyan lowered his head and bulled into him, ignoring the piercing pain of teeth catching against the side of his head and nicking his ear. Hot blood spilled down the side of his face as the other wolf lost his footing and hit the ground with a yelp.
They were gone as quickly as they had appeared, swallowed up in the darkness behind Cyan as he ran on. Moments later he emerged from the trees and stepped back on to the path. His cover was gone, but he didn't want cover here. Hazel needed to know exactly where he was going.
He pushed his legs to keep moving, taking advantage of the momentary confusion behind him to gain some much-needed ground on his pursuers before they broke through the treeline.
He was almost there. The trees fell away in front of him as the crevasse came into view, the half-broken bridge highlighted by a covering of snow that seemed to hang in mid air over the dark expanse. Someone yelled behind him, but he didn't stop to listen. He ran straight on to the bridge, a jolt of fear shooting through his body as he felt the planks sag and strain beneath his weight. He forced himself to slow down as he edged past the broken segment in the middle. The entire structure shifted noticeably with every step. On the far side he saw one of the posts supporting the bridge practically falling out of the ground, the rocky earth crumbling away at its base to rattle down into the darkness as it shook.
As he reached the far side he realised his pursuers had stopped. Hazel's voice rang through the air, angry and breathless.
"He's trying to lead us away from the camp! We can't waste time chasing him."
Cyan slowed and tucked himself into the shadows of the cliff once he was sure he was out of sight, glad for the opportunity to catch his breath. The dim shapes of his pursuers had gathered on the opposite side of the bridge. He couldn't hear what was being said any more, but Hazel seemed to be giving orders, standing over the others in his human form as he gestured back in the direction of the camp with his bow.
A smart leader would recognise what Cyan was trying to do, and it seemed as though Hazel had taken the bait. A lone wolf wasn't much danger by himself, and certainly not worth committing such a large pack to chase down, but Hazel was tired and anxious. One little mistake might be enough to put a wrinkle in his plans, and he knew it.
Cyan bared his teeth in satisfaction as the larger part of the group broke off and headed back down the path towards the camp. Only Hazel and three of the others remained.
You just had to deal with me yourself, didn't you? Cyan thought. He was still outnumbered, but the odds were now far less daunting than before. With the group split, he at least had a chance.
Hazel began to make his way cautiously across the bridge, gripping the one intact handrail for support. The structure groaned, and another scattering of loose earth crumbled away from the damaged post. If only it would collapse with him in the middle. Even if Cyan gave it a little help, Hazel would still make it across before...
He tensed, realising that it didn't matter if Hazel made it across in time. There would never be a better chance to separate him from his followers.
Cyan dashed out of the shadows, almost tripping over his feet as he shifted back into his human form at a full sprint and threw his weight against the loose post. A painfully loud cracking sound split the air as the entire bridge listed to one side, the structure deforming under its own weight as planks splintered and nails popped loose from old boards.
Hazel was almost across, but the sudden shift sent him staggering to one side. His e
yes flashed with fear as he realised what was happening, but Cyan ignored him and continued to push, digging his heels into the snow and driving his shoulder against the listing post as hard as he could.
With an ungainly leap Hazel made it to safety just a few seconds before the post tugged itself free from the ground. The struts supporting the near side of the bridge shattered into splinters, the middle section falling inwards and dragging the rest down with it. The one remaining post on Cyan's side gave way, and a moment later he was on all fours staring down into the abyss as two thirds of the bridge tumbled away into the darkness, crashing and shattering against the rocks as planks and struts spun off in every direction.
The remaining three wolves stared across the gap in shock, edging out across the part of the bridge on their side that still remained. They were completely cut off. Cyan had Hazel to himself.
"You can't run away this t—" The breath left his body in a rush as something sharp struck his side with such force it almost sent him stumbling off the edge. Cyan's hand shot to the shaft of the blue-flighted arrow protruding from his side, yanking at it instinctively. Adrenaline dulled his throbbing nerves, but as soon as he pulled the arrow out he realised his mistake. Cracks of pain spread through his chest, deep and fierce, stealing his breath away as he collapsed to the ground coughing.
The bow. He'd forgotten the bow. He tried to get up, but he could barely breathe. Blood spilled from the wound in his side as the deeper internal injury pounded like a hammer against his chest.
He expected a second arrow to strike him at any moment, but Hazel had lost his quiver in the scramble to the edge of the bridge.
Cyan dragged himself to his hands and knees, his breath wheezing and rattling in his throat, every inhalation tearing at his lungs. He crawled away, trying to summon the willpower to shift into his wolf form, but the effort felt like it would kill him. The arrow had gone in deep. Far too deep.
Black spots swam across his vision as he tried and failed to get to his feet. His bloodied fingers still clutched the shaft of the arrow, the razor-sharp tip glistening red.
The sound of Hazel's footsteps approached him from behind. He tensed himself for one final burst of energy, gripping the arrow tight. This was his only chance.
As Hazel's fingers tightened around the collar of his jacket and yanked him up he spun around, forcing himself to his feet as he drew back his arm and swung hard, aiming the tip of the arrow at Hazel's neck. There was no time to think about what he was doing. He didn't lash out in anger, or for the sake of bringing Lisa's murderer to justice. He acted on impulse, doing the only thing he could to survive. His life against Hazel's.
The arrow dropped from Cyan's hand as his opponent's boot hammered into his stomach, driving the last of the wind from him. He collapsed to the ground feeling as though he was about to vomit, his chest filled with such pain that it made him dizzy. Hazel kicked him again, sending him tumbling down a slope until the trunk of a tree brought his body to an abrupt halt.
Cyan's thoughts swam. He could barely move. A trail of his own blood darkened the snow where he'd fallen. He closed his eyes, thinking of April. Hopefully it was enough. Hazel was separated from the others. She'd have the time she needed to get them on her side.
He'd been ready to die for her, and now he would. Of all the ways he could have met his end, Cyan thought, this fate was as good as any he could have asked for. At least it had meant something in the end.
He forced himself into a sitting position, opening his eyes to show Hazel that the fire hadn't gone out. His wolf had never given up. Never until the bitter end.
Hazel stooped and picked up the arrow from where it had fallen. He knocked it to his bowstring and drew it back.
Cyan didn't blink. His eyes were fixed on the man in front of him, but his thoughts were somewhere else. He was hunting again with April.
That day had been a happy one.
* * * * *
Harriet hung back as they stepped out of the cabin. April turned to see if she needed help, but her grandmother shook her head and shooed her away.
"When you stand up in front of them, you let them see you, no one else." Harriet squeezed her hand, giving her a firm look. "They don't need to see Harriet's granddaughter, they need to see April. Make them listen. Make them change."
April nodded. Her fear at not having Harriet by her side faded almost as soon as it had appeared. This was her responsibility, and the weight of bearing it alone would make her stronger. Now that she'd accepted that, the world had dulled and taken on a new clarity. Without the fear of something so precious to lose, the task before her seemed small by comparison. What could she be afraid of revealing to her pack that she hadn't already exposed to Cyan in her most trying and emotional moments? What could they do to her that would be worse than losing him?
Now that she had chosen to lose him for herself, everything was simpler. And yet, the hope that had glimmered at the end of the tunnel, the one little shard of light that had promised her things she hadn't dared to wish for, was gone. It was the last piece of childish longing to leave behind.
She could bring her pack a better future, but the future she was about to step into was a place far greyer than she'd expected.
Leaving Harriet outside her cabin, April began to walk down the slope towards the meeting area. A sizeable group had gathered, some of them still wearing bedclothes beneath their heavy coats, others huddled together in their wolf forms near the central fire. April held her head high, fully aware that she was walking towards a pivotal moment in her life. When the eyes of her pack turned on her, she felt no shame or anxiety. The unspoken judgements of her people were nothing more than silent thoughts. They couldn't pierce her shell.
The group fell silent as she approached. Some of them watched her with trepidation, others with scorn, others relief and hope. She met their looks unblinkingly, never faltering in her stride as she made her way to the spot in front of the fire from which she would address them. Blackthorn emerged from the crowd and came to meet her, and even he seemed to notice her change in disposition as he regarded her with furrowed brows.
"Everyone's here," he said. "I had a hard time getting some of them to give you a chance, but Elthy helped convince the stubborn ones. I can't say they'll all agree with what you have to say, but they're willing to listen." He lowered his voice, leaning in close. "What are you going to say?"
"What I believe," April replied. "Thank you for gathering them, you can join the others now."
"You don't want me there with you?"
"No, this needs to be me," she said, then smiled at him, cupping his cheek with her palm. "Once I've said my piece, that's when I'll need your help."
Blackthorn nodded. He no longer seemed quite so much like the stern older brother figure April remembered. "Alright. Good luck."
April returned his nod and stepped through the benches to her spot near the fire. She took one last deep breath, and turned to face her pack. Without saying anything she reached inside her jacket to withdraw the token Ingrid had given her and held it up for everyone to see.
"Even if I didn't have this, I'd still be here to say the same things. Being an elder means nothing if you can't lead your people the way they deserve to be led. I think most of you know that, even if you're afraid to say it out loud."
A murmur of discord ran through the crowd. April was fully aware she must be telling them the exact opposite of what Hazel had been drumming into their heads ever since he took charge.
"Ingrid lied to you, but I've spoken to her. I believed her when she told me that what happened to Harper was an accident. She never wanted to hurt her own pack, not even those of us who turned feral, but she wasn't strong enough to make a stand for what she believed in. Judge her for lying to us, but don't judge her for any more than that." She let the token drop and ran her gaze across the group. Even though many of them loomed over her from where they stood, she didn't let her short stature humble her, nor did she try to draw herself
up to match their height.
"I won't lie to you. I won't force anyone in our pack to live a life they aren't comfortable with. I will respect each and every one of you for as long as you give me the same in return."
"What does Hazel have to say about this?" a voice murmured. April was happy to see several stern glances directed at the speaker.
"What he has to say doesn't matter," she replied. "None of us would have picked him as our leader if we had the choice. When he returns, I'll be asking him to step down."
"But he's an elder now! He's got just as much of a right as you."
The fire inside April burned brighter as she remembered the night she'd run away, and she used it to temper her words with a passion that left the speaker silent. "He's lied to you. He's killed innocent people, and he's been trying his best to make sure nobody has the chance to question him. Is his title more important to you than that?"
"You're making a lot of bold claims, April. What makes you so sure?" Garland asked from the front of the group, watching her with curiosity.
She turned to face him, her answer ready. "Because I believe Cyan's word over Hazel's." She didn't pause to indulge the protests she knew were coming, raising her voice to speak over them instead. "And I pity anyone who thinks that him being an outsider matters more than the fact that he's a good man. A better man than Hazel. He's risked his life to save mine more than once, he saved the human girl when half of us would have let her die, and right now he's out there trying his best to protect us, even after we exiled him. He remembers that he's not just a werewolf, not just a member of some pack; he's a human. We could all learn a lot by trying to be more like him."
April's chest hurt as she said it. Cyan had changed so much for them. She wouldn't have been standing there now without him. She prayed he was safe, wherever he was.
The crowd still seemed unsettled, but something about them had changed. She saw the uncertainty on their faces, the fear of being forced to question things they'd previously taken for granted. But in spite of that, they were still listening.
Broken Moon: Part 5 Page 7
