Warrior Cats: The Four Clans

Chapter 7

            Ilaris wide eyes watched as Aden rose from where he had crouched at her feet. Her heart beat fast, more from excitement then fear. This puzzled her. She knew she had to be afraid of his dangerous cold smile. She knew she had to be wary of his enchanting blue eyes. Yet now staring in to his handsome face, she was more embarrassed than scared. She wasnt quite sure what to call this feeling; she only knew that her heart never raced like this around any other wolf.

            Her deep brown eyes turned from his luxurious white pelt. She heard him trying to stifle a musical chuckle, but she heard him anyway. She turned her eyes to her child hood protector, Hunter. He was glowering at Aden. Ilari had an impulse to tell him to calm down, but the dangerously cold smile Aden had given her made her think twice about Hunters over protectiveness.

            Aden raised an eyebrow, waiting for his first order. His eyes were almost warm now. The cold almost hungry gaze he had, melted away. Now she was confused. This wolf had to many mood swings for her liking, but on the other hand it was sort of charming. She sighed, why did he have to attack her? Why was she now in charge of his life?

            Ilari turned and flicked her tail for him to follow. Her easy steps carried her toward the hill. She listened behind her but heard no foot falls. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Aden no more than two steps behind her with a quizzical look on his face. She quickly turned back around and trotted toward the hill in search of a den for him to sleep in. As far as she knew there were no more empty dens, which made her wonder where he was going to sleep.

            She stopped and turned to Leon, "Where is he going to sleep?"

            Leons glowing green eyes were dead serious, "In your cave of course. He is your servant now."

            A growl of protest rose from where Hunter was, "Just what are you thinking father!? Letting that killer sleep in her den! I dont even have that privilege yet!" Leons burning gaze whipped to Hunter.

            "He is in Ilaris service, not yours. I dont trust you enough to keep your paws off of her in the privacy of a den."

            Ilari tilted her head his meaning. She didnt quite understand. Her young mind tried to fathom what he had said when out of the corner of her eye she saw Aden shaking. It took her a second to realize he was laughing silently. Apparently he understood what Leon was talking about. Her light footfalls drew her closer to Aden and she whispered, "What does he mean by that?" Her innocence glowed ion her face.

            She saw one corner of Adens mouth tug ever so slightly in to a handsome smirk. She wasnt quite sure if he was hiding a full smile like he did earlier. Her ears twitched and she muttered to herself, "Boys" She saw his shoulder shaking in his musical laughter. She turned and trotted back to the hill. Toward the top was where she slept and she led the way to it. Adens absolutely silent steps followed her so she wasnt quite sure if he really was there. As she came to the entrance she stopped.

            Aden bristled, the cave before him was dark, gray and faintly familiar. Memories of his chambers at the asylum flood his mind. A deep growl rose in him. His lips pulled back in to the beginning of a snarl. The fur on his neck stood up in spikes. He didnt want to enter this den; it was too much like his dark gray cell. He saw a tremor on the edge of his vision and turned his cold eyes to it. There stood Ilari, her whole body shook with fright. Her eyes were glazed with anxiety and worry.

            He sighed and forced his body to relax. He smiled sweetly for her, "I am sorry, its just sleeping in a cave gives me the creeps." Her eyes never wavered, but her shoulders relaxed. He shrugged and slowly walked in to the den. His shoulders stiffened again, but he forced his fur not to rise. He tucked himself in to the farthest corner of then den and gracefully lay down.

            He felt Ilaris wary gaze burning in to his fur, but he ignored it. His eye carefully watched her as she spun in three circles then laid down. He lifted one brow and almost laughed, "What are you doing?"

            She turned her innocent gaze to him, "What do you mean?"

            He chuckled softly, "Why did you spin before you laid down?"

            She tilted her head and thought for a moment, "You know? I have no idea I just do it"

            He snorted and laid his head back down. He thought for long moments about how he was going to kill his target without raising too much alarm. He thinking became some what blurred as he drifted in to a light sleep.

            Ilari watched as Adens breathing slowed. The dim light of the den dulled his luxurious white coat. She warily put her head on to her paws. She let out a soft sigh as she watched his steady chest rise and fall. He looked like he had slept there for years. His whole body was relaxed. The only thing that kept her wary was his ears. They were alert even in his sleep, as if he expected to here the world crass down around him.

            She felt sorry for him. He was the kind of wolf that she wanted to see happy. His handsome face was often ruined by his cold smile and scowling. She wanted to get to know the civilized wolf within. She closed her eyes slowly, she wasnt used to the sound of another wolf breathing near her while she slept. It was sort of calming. She smiled. Aden wasnt so bad, as long he was acting civilized. Slowly the darkness overtook her and she fell in to a deep dreamless sleep.

            Aden awoke from his light sleep when his ears had picked up the change in her breathing. His lips pulled back in to a cruel grin. He silently stood and glided over the ground to her side. He loomed over her. His teeth gleamed in the dark cave. He chuckled softly and whispered silently, This time it is truly the end. He lowered his face to her neck. He jaws parted in to a heartless silent snarl. With just a few inches between him and his target, he felt triumphant. His mission was almost complete.

Chapter 9

            With just inches between his jaws and her neck, he turned his eyes to give his target one last look. He almost gasped as the moonlight flooded in to the cave and highlighted her face. Her face was relaxed and so innocent. He hesitated and watched her. He couldnt help it. She was so young, to young to have done anything to the white coats. Why did they choose her?

            He stared at her young innocent face. His hungry blue eyes never wavered, but this time the hunger wasnt for finishing his mission, it was hungry for the beauty of her face. Her soft expression reminded him of when he was a pup. He had been taken away from his parents when he was a little younger than her. He leaned forward to get a closer look.   

            The heavy metal color weighed against his throat and his objective became fresh in his mind. He snapped his head back to her throat. He had wasted too much tie. His jaws parted. Outside her heard light footfalls and he growled silently. He leapt away gracefully and landed back to where he was sleeping earlier. He casually lay down and watched the entrance with burning eyes.

            A silhouette of a wolf filled the opening. A soft enticing voice reached his ears saying, "Well, well, well," he growled inwardly as the familiar words came to him, "Aden you didnt stop by my den earlier." Aden stood and silently walked to the entrance. There stood the cream colored she-wolf named Athena.

            "What do you want?" He growled.

            Her eyes had the same hungry gaze that they had earlier. She whispered softly with fake hurt in her voice, "What do you mean? Do you have to be so rude?" Adens gaze hardened as she continued, "Though, I do like a rude boys myself." Her voice was seductive but Adens gaze became viscously cold. She brushed her muzzle across his ear. "Well? How about it?" she whispered. Her breath stirred the hairs in his ears but he didnt react.

            Aden growled deep within his chest, "I dont like girls who invite just any boy to sleep in her den." He had never felt so furious in his life. Just what did she think he was? Did she honestly expect him to follow her to her den? He shuddered at the thought, "I hope you know," he growled fiercely, "That I absolutely hate girls like you." This had made Athena flinch, "What? Did you really think I was going to be mesmerized by your offer? Did you really think I would go for you? I can tell by your tone that you do this everyone!" His burning eyes fixed her in place, "I never have and never want to be anything special to you. Not even for one night." Suddenly he felt a pelt brush his and he turned to see Ilari standing close to him.

            "Athena? What are you doing here? Why are you bothering Aden?" Her innocent face glowed in the moonlight and Aden couldnt look away. He tore his gaze away when he heard Athena.

            "Well, I was just coming here to make sure he hasnt done anything to you. It is my job as the betas mate to make sure my subordinates are alive." Her voice was formal, not like it had been when she talked to him.

            Ilari shrugged and walked back in to the den. Aden gave Athena on last cold stare and followed Ilari back in. His anger subsided when he saw her curled up. "This is going to be very troublesome." He whispered silently to himself.

Chapter 10

            Aden slowly opened his eyes and saw the light drifting in to the den. It was morning from what he gathered. He glanced over to where Ilari had slept last night and growled at himself. She was gone. He had wasted too much time by hesitating last night and his window of opportunity had left when Athena showed up. He stood and stretched luxuriously. He slowly walked to the entrance of the den and scanned the surroundings.

            There wasnt a wolf insight. His eyes narrowed at the possibilities of where they had gone. His ears twitched as he heard the low growling commands of a wolf coming from the other side of the hill. His ears flattened against his head as he slowly walked out of the den and up to the crest of the hill. When he reached the top he gazed in wonder at the beautiful territory. He glanced down in to a clearing where Leon sat near the bottom of the hill and watched his pack. Adens eyes caught sight of his target moving gracefully around the clearing.

She sprinted for a length off the field and when she came to a muddy spot she crouched low and crept forward. After she came out of the mud she sprinted to a boulder and leapt nimbly over the top and landed on the other side. She quickly changed directions and headed for the one single tree in the clearing. With grace she jump high in to the air and bit the lowest branch. Adens eye widened as he realized what she was doing was training.

He realized that this was an obstacle course; just like the ones the white coats had made him do. He walked gingerly down to the clearing. All eyes turned to him, some full of hate others just curious. Ilaris eyes were the only ones that were warm and inviting. He forced himself to look away before the same hesitation as last night came back. He turned to Leon and chimed, "What are you guys exercising so early in the morning for?"

Leons burning gaze turned to him and he replied, "Today we hunt."

Aden opened his mouth to reply but out of the corner of his eye he saw Hunter speeding through the course. He was nowhere near as gracefully as Ilari but he was using his powerful legs to speed him up. As he rounded the boulder and bit the tree he gave Aden a vicious, challenging smirk. Aden lifted his brow at the offer. "Leon? Would you let me give the obstacle course a try?"

Leon gave him a skeptical glance but nodded his head. Aden walked over to hunter and nearly hissed, "Where do I start."

Hunter snorted, "Over there." He nodded to a line made in the dirt. Aden walked stiffly toward it. He stood behind the line and stretched his muscles. The world around him drowned out and all he could here was his steady breathing. He glanced around at the pack of the icy river. There faces were mocking. He knew they thought a newcomer wouldnt be able to do this, but inside he knew what he was capable of. He glanced over to Ilari. Her face was alight with pride and hope. He glanced away quickly. Only a few words managed to get in to his world.

"Do your best." Came Ilaris sweet innocent voice. Aden lowered himself to the ground. He didnt know why but just those few words gave him a burst of courage. He would beat this course and prove how good he was. Only one more word from Leon broke the silence in his world.

"Go!"

Chapter 11

            Adens heart raced as fast as his paws. His graceful steps carried him across the ground as if he were gliding. His pelt sparkled in the morning sun as he passed the pack. He had more speed than Hunter ever would. He pushed his body to sprint across the clearing. The first obstacle appeared before him. A pit wide and deep enough for someone to get hurt waited just a few steps ahead. When the hole was right in front of him he used his powerful back legs to give him the advantage. He soared through the air and landed nimbly on the other side. Without missing a beat he sped off again. There was another portion of sprinting before he came to the next obstacle. Large grass being swayed by the wind came in to his vision. He had the instinct that he was supposed to follow his nose through this one otherwise another pit was waiting for him.

            His sensitive nose picked up Hunters scent and he followed it. Narrowly avoiding some of the potholes and pits he made it out of the tall grass. His powerful legs gave a great heaved and sent him racing across the Earth again. The sprinting was taking its toll. He was faintly panting now though his gate never wavered. The third obstacle made itself known. It was the muddy land where he would have to crouch. When he got near he ducked low to the ground and then saw why. Large flying bugs buzzed over his head. He growled and knew if he stood these bugs would leave nasty bites. His beautiful white pelt was stained with the mud of the land. At the end of the obstacle his jumped to his feet and dashed to the boulder. With graceful strides he leapt up and over the boulder.

            With a quick turned around he went straight to the tree. Again with a great heave his powerful legs sent him soaring through the air. With razor sharp fangs he snapped a higher and even larger unscarred branch from tree. With the branch falling to the ground he landed with ease and pelted to the end of the course. The finish line was in sight and he stole a glance at Ilari as he passed. Her face was in awe as she watched him. Her mouth was pulled back in to a warm admiring smile. His heart shivered and the courage was afresh in him. He lengthened his strides and raised his head proudly. The finish line was achingly close and soon he would be able to bask in the glory of his accomplishment. The world around him slowed down as something tugged at his front paw. It sent his back end up over the top of his head. He landed with a great Thud and rolled a few feet just short of the finish line. The world around him snapped back on. He heard gasps and bursts of laughter.

            Aden was stunned, his heart sank and his courage cracked. He didnt understand what he had done wrong. He slowly propped himself up on his shaking front legs. His bewildered eye scanned where he had fallen. There was a skid mark in the dirt at the point he had hit the ground. At the very and of the skid mark was Hunter with one out stretched paw and a vicious sneer. Dont get to full of yourself, he chided in a mock sincere voice. Adens jaw dropped and fury, and embarrassment flood through him. All of the pack was in a roaring laughter now and Adens ears burned with shame. All of the pack turned, still laughing, back to the hill. They bounded away until all he could hear was thier laughter. He buried himself in to the ground with shame.

Chapter 12

            Aden shifted uncomfortably. He had never been this close to another wolf unless he was sinking his fangs in to its throat. Without warning he stood and bolt a few paces away. He had felt a great longing to sink his razor sharp fangs in to the soft flesh of his target. He had to resist that urge as long as he was in broad daylight. He had almost lost control. This wasnt good. The closer he got to her the more her sweet, gentle fragrance blinded him. He turned a wary gaze to her, "Thanks," he whispered coldly hoping to mask the longing in his voice.

Ilari shuddered. What was wrong with him? Why couldnt he just talk without freaking out like that? She had only come to comfort him and he acted like she had a disease. Her gaze became sad. How come he wouldnt open up?

            The one and only time she had gotten a peek at the wolf within was when he ran. There was something honest, almost majestic when his powerful legs glided effortlessly across the ground. She was sure she had seen lightning dance across his perfectly white pelt when he had sped across the course. His smile as he passed her was so warm and honest. Her heart had fluttered when he had looked at her from the starting line. He had looked as if he were from some old legend. A great figure from the past that was powerful and beautiful.

            Why was it so hard for him to open up? She had seen part of his true self. When he had fallen she had seen the genuine hurt and devastation. So why did he choose to close himself off now? Her sad gaze traced the back he had turned to her. It hurt her deeply that he would not look at her. In the distance she heard the howling laughter of the pack. Her eyes caught sight of Adens shoulders tensing. Her heart pounded.

            "Aden?" she called softly, but he didnt respond.

From behind her a voice boomed, "Aden, it isnt nice to be so rude to your master." Ilari saw the fur on Adens back bristle. His face turned around swiftly, his eyes glazed with fury. Ilari flinched back. The true self she wanted to see had disappeared as quickly as it had come.

Adens hated filled eyes stared in to Leons fire like gaze. The large golden wolfs lips pulled back in to an impressed grin. Adens face suddenly became confused. "Would you like to join the hunt?" Leons eyes narrowed with expectation.

Aden was stunned. What did he just say? Join the hunt? Didnt he just see Aden fall and plant his face in to the ground? Adens fur settled a little, "Why? I thought the hunt was for those who are apart of the pack." Adens eyes scanned mercilessly through Leons.

Leons mouth pulled in to a sly smile, Exactly.

Adens jaw dropped, "This is some sort of test isnt it?" Leons eyes never wavered neither did Adens.

            "If you think you are good enough on the obstacle course why dont you have a test run with us while we hunt? Otherwise," his gaze became as cold as stone, "Stay here like a scared mouse."

            Aden licked his jaws in anticipation, his mouth parted in to a wicked grin, "Bring it on."