PROLOGUE
It is a cold, dark night. The darkness is so thick, that it can be cut with a knife. It is however not difficult for her to see, as her vision is excellent. The harsh, chilly air of the forest slaps against her, but she keeps walking. She is deaf to the chatter of the nocturnal animals, as she refuses to take her eyes off the figures walking briskly ahead of her.
“Mother!” she cries, but there is no response.
“Papa!” she cries again, but there is still no response.
Magically, the moon appears in the sky, bathing her with its light. The figures turn, and she sees their faces.
Her parents. She was right.
As she moves closer to them, they fade slowly into the forest, and she clutches her chest, letting out an ear-piercing scream.
Kayola jerks out of her sleep, drenched in her own sweat, her forehead beaded with perspiration. She lifts her hand to her face and realizes she has been crying.
Not again!
It is the same nightmare, and it always ends at the same scene. She is never able to touch her parents. If she can’t touch them in real life because they are dead, why can’t she touch them in her dreams? She fingers her chain, an emblem given to her by her father on her 21st birthday, and she begins to reminisce once again, about her life, and how gratifying it was, before it all changed, all at once.
The forest is never dry
It is ever filled with howls
And it all goes awry,
when the Rogues prowl.
- PenaciousShewa.
The Taga Wereforest is a large forest, home to two categories of werewolves: The Conscientious Pack and the Rogues. The forest is located in the deepest parts of eastern Crete. It is still today, unexplored by humans, and the werewolves have made it their home. Legend has it, that any human who tries to explore the forest ends up dead. This, has, therefore, kept humans, especially hunters, from the Taga Wereforest.
Right in this forest, there is a demarcation between the Rogues and the Conscientious pack, and there is usually peace unless the Rogues decide to invade the territory of the other pack. Thus, these two have for centuries, been at war. There is a commendable development in both territories, as these rival wolf packs have individually developed their economy and infrastructure, ensuring that there is no iota of interdependency. There are mansions, hospitals, and schools in both territories. And, you guessed right; they do not trade with each other.
The Rogues are enemies of the Conscientious Pack, as the former are violent, and they thrive on causing chaos. Power tussle is real between both packs, and the Rogues will not hesitate to destroy the territory of the Conscientious Pack. Thus, the Alpha of the Conscientious Pack cannot afford to be weak. Complacency equals death.