The time is nearing

THe time that Alexis hated was fast approaching. She could tell the full moon was almost upon her, she could already feel her senses accuting. She hated this, even thought she had been a werewolf for over a year now she could never get used to the transformation. It never felt normal to her. Now she needed to find a place to conceal herself until it was over. She snuck out of the castle after making sure everyone was asleep, so no one would be able to stop her.

She was now in Hogsmeade, looking for a place far enough from most people where she could stay. Unaware of it, she had made her way to the Shieking Shack. She became aware when she felt something dark loom over her. She looked at the Shack and smiled. "Perfect." she whispered as she entered it. This rundown shack would be the perfect place for her to stay. The place seemed like it would scare away most people, unless they were like her.

As in like her personality.

Places like this didn't scare Lex - they made her want to go inside and explore whatever it was. She just hoped there was no one like her close, so they wouldn't be curious about it and come in to explore. She didn't have any control over what she would do to them if they did come in, and she didn't want to have to hurt anyone.

Naomi and her pack prowled the woods around Hogsmeade. Nester and Fyona were separated, on guard watch, while Naomi led the others. Typically, a creme colored wolf stood out too much to be worth the risk of being in a pack. They were too visible, too easy to find, too easy to catch. Packs did not want to risk it. The difference was that Naomi was a Greyback. Even if her father didn't see her potential, the pack had and they had accepted her as their leader.

She paused and she felt the others stop too. Colby immediately lowered his head to smell around her, being the perfect right hand for Naomi. Carlyn shook, his grey thatched coat not as thick as it usually was because of a fray he had gotten in. Hoover jostled her, always intent n reminded Naomi and the dog that he was there, always available. She let out a growl but ignored him.

She turned her head and saw Nester and Fyona approach. Nester dipped his head. We found one. A young one. She went into the Shrieking Shack. Naomi blinked and looked over their shoulders. She bobbed her head and turned, walking between her two scouts. Colby trotted alongside her and the other four followed behind. Naomi began to run silently towards the shack as it approached. The door was closed...

Hoover, she called and Hoover let out a snarl, barreling forward. He turned his head as he lept onto the porch and his shoulder collided with the door, throwing it open. Naomi hopped over the porch and skidded into the house, stopping as her pack appeared around her.

Alexis was toward the back end of the Shrieking Shack when she heard the sound the door hurl open. She sniffed the air instinctively, wanting to know if whoever had forced the door open was human or something else. She smelled those of her kind. There was more than one from what she could tell. There were about four or five. She let out a small, low snarl, as she turned around, and walked back to the front of the shack. She walked slowly, crouching slightly as she made her way there.

She poked her head out a little from a staircase to see if she could spot the others that were there. She stayed hidden in the darkness of the stairs but she could see the five wolves. A creme colored wolf was the first one she saw, the leader maybe? She didn't pay much attention to the others except the one beside the creme colored one. She let out another accidental snarl and walked out from the dark into the view of the wolves.

Who are you?! she asked rather protective. She took a step back from the wolves, making sure that she was a safe distance away from them. She wasn't sure of what they could do to her or if they were even planning on doing anything, but she wanted to be sure she was safe from their reach.

Finally the wolf they had been tracking came into view, a young, rater unimpressive plain female in Naomi's personal opinion. She must have been school age, a Hogwarts student. Naomi was at large, so she had to be careful who she revealed herself too, but worst was worst and she'd erase their memories if they didn't join her... Or kill them.

The wolf was nervous, Naomi could sense it, so she sat on her haunches and yawned, showing not only that she was relaxed, but that she was the Alpha. Her pack remained n their feet, glaring viciously at the younger wolf, sure to put her in her proper place if she decided to cause any trouble and show her exactly what place she had in this pack.

I'm Naomi Greyback, the dog said, Naomi orchestrating the conversation. The dog's eyes flashed impressively, sure the dramatic greeting would intimidate the other wolf. Surely, she knew hwo Naomi was. This is my pack. Colby. Hoover. Carlyn. Nester. Fyona. Each wolf either bobbed their head or growled to identify themselves. You don't have a pack, do you?

Alexis watched every wolf cautiously, waiting for one of them to do or say something. Finally one of them spoke. The creme colored one, whom Lex now knew was the leader when she sat and the others continued to stand. Seeing how the wolf was relaxed and most likely not going to attack her or anything, Alexis became calmer and she took a cautious step forward, closer to the wolves.

Greyback? she said. She had heard that name around the school, and in class plenty of times. Are you related in anyway to Ariel Greyback? she asked, remembering whose name she always heard in class. She tried not to pay much attention to the glaring eyes of the other wolves as she spoke to Naomi. But their gazes made her feel very uncomfortable She knew if she tried to do anything, they would easily overpower her, so she stayed still and showed them she wouldn't try anything.

She nodded respectfully to each of the wolves as Naomi said each of their names. No. I don't have a pack. Not anymore apparently. she replied, remembering what her siblings had told her. She hadn't even known she was related to them when they walked up to her. They just did and said she wasn't one of them anymore and then, as quickly as they came up to her they walked away, glancing back to shoot dirty looks at her. She shook her head to get their faces out of her mind and looked back at Naomi.

The dog could not roll her eyes, but Naomi wished she could have. No shit, sherlock. But is that REALLY the name you connected to me to? Ever heard of Fenrir Greyback? She heard Hoover give the wolf variation of a snicker, which was a low wheezing snuffle. What sort of wolf are you, never hearing of Fenrir Greyback? he sneered.

Naomi snapped her head towards him, barking a warning. She was allowed to show her superiority being the alpha of the pack. But it was not the time for them to bully her. They were supposed to seem subservient to Naomi, nothing more. Once the girl joined, then they could worry about establishing the pecking order. Every new member had to prove themself. Every pack had a chain of command.

Naomi twitched her nose. A wolf can't survive without a pack. Ask Carlyn. Or Fyona. Or any of these guys about how they were before they had a pack. Fyona bobbed her head and said in her low, snuffly voice, It's true. I was half dead when Naomi and the pack found me. Naomi nodded. And it's really a shame that you're a lone wolf. They don't last long. Hoover licked his lips hungrily, adding to the effect.

Alexis stiffened a little when she heard one of the other wolves snicker. I have heard of Fenrir Greyback. Ariel's name was just the first one that came into my mind. she said, feeling a little more uncomfortable now. She hadn't wanted to say anything stupid, that would make them mad or anything of the sort. She shot an unintentional dirty look at the snickering wolf and quickly looked back at their leader.

She lowered her head, unsure how things were going to go now. She hoped that they wouldn't attack her just because of that small mistake she made. But she wondered why Naomi cared that she connected her to Ariel instead of Fenrir, they were after all siblings weren't they? But she thought it best not to ask or say anything more on the subject. She raised her head a little bit but she tried to aviod any eye contact with any of the wolves.

I know that, but what can I do? If I don't have a pack, there's nothing I can do about it.. she said softly. There was nothing she could do, her family had abandoned her and she hadn't yet been able to find another pack to join. Sure, such a shame. she said sarcastically. She took a step back putting distance between her and the wolves again after seeing Hoover lick his lips. She was starting to become frightened about what could happen to her...

Hoover was getting worked up and out of hand, Naomi could feel it, but he was saying the things it would not be prudent to say. No, fool, because what is Ariel but a shadow to the greatness that is his father. And Naomi is much stronger than her puppy of a brother. Naomi dipped her head,smiling a wolfish grin because she knew that it was true.

Instead, she turned her head and said in a low voice, Hoover, he who keeps his tongue loose, loses his head. And in my pack, literally. She ticked her head impressively. She knew how to make a good impression and she was keen on doing it.

But Hoover could not seem to contain herself at the girl's next comment and he burst out, Are you DAFT? Or just clueless. We are subtly informing you that you need a pack. We are a pack. Can you connect the dots or should I spell it out- Colby barked and Hoover shut up. Colby said in a low voice, Hoover. Stop. You overstep your boundaries. Young one, we are suggesting you may consider joining us. Though we can't ask you. That's not how these things work.

Of course she is. She is way better than her brother. Alexis said, trying to make up for her stupid comments. She had never really interacted with Ariel but from what she could tell, Naomi did seem like a much stronger wolf than he did. After all she was the leader of her own pack, and Ariel was still just a pup following his father. She could tell Naomi had what it takes to lead that pack - a pack she would have loved to join.

Alexis lowered her head again as Naomi spoke to Hoover, listening carefully to everyword she said. She knew from what she said, that she would have to keep her mouth shut most of the time and that when she spoke she made sure she thought about what she said, so she wouldn't say anything stupid that could harm her in any way.

She winced a little and her eyes narrowed as Hoover continued to speak. She hadn't really thought about the whole not having a pack thing, until he blurted out what they were doing. Her eyes went back to normal and she lifted her head again, when Colby spoke instead of Hoover. Consider joining ...? she echoed Colby and then nodded slightly. She didn't need to think about it much, she knew she needed a pack and she also knew the quicker she got one the better. I... I would be honored if I could join your pack. she stuttered, and bobbed her head to show respect.

Naomi had to hold back a wolfish smile. Ah what the hell? She grinned a dogged, sly grin, one that was not reassuring at all and she felt the excitement in her pack rocket. A new pack member was always an exciting endeavor all around. She could hear Nester hopping from foot to foot and even Fyona snuffled under her breath.

I wish it were that simple, Naomi said. But we do not even know a thing abut you. You're age. You're name. You're alliance. You're willingness to kill. You're intentions. Because we surely have intentions, but none of them are good, I can ensure you.