Fractured Red

The soft earth turns harder as I step over the border onto the pack's territory. Lily was very interested in something, though I can't be sure what it is.

A male shifter leads the way through the brush and around the trees, taking me deeper into the pack lands. I feel a bit uneasy, however, if Lily feels like it is safe enough then I shall not argue. Her instincts are generally better than mine. I am not one to deny her without good reason. Her claim to this life form is just as great as mine.

The male neither looks at me nor speaks to me save for the traditional greeting. I pin my arms to my sides, refraining from rubbing my hands together. Something is familiar, but almost strangely so. I can't pinpoint it, but I feel like it is at the edge of my mind and I just can't grasp it. It's annoying. It's so close, yet it doesn't come to me.

Pushing it to the back of my mind, I stop myself just as I am about to walk into the male. Going to stand beside him, he takes a step forwards, and his eyes glaze over. I quietly wait, observing my surroundings, though nothing seems to be moving—all is quiet and still. The birds are not chirping, and the critters are not running, their soft feet padding across the ground. Neither do I hear someone approaching until they appear from the trees. The wind whistles quietly as the second male approaches.

The air around him washes over me, neither suffocating nor meek. My own aura is wrap up tightly and concealed as well as possible, but if it were let loose there would be a clash. Two betas; when it comes to hierarchy shifters like to know where they stand. When the first shifter addresses him as Alpha, I raise an eyebrow. The so-called Alpha glances at me before they start on.

I could make a break for it. I could leave now, but I don't. I can't die here, I can't lose anything I haven't already lost. Worst comes to worst I'll slip away at night, and none will be the wiser. Holding the shoulder strap of my pack, I follow behind them, looking around for signs of a pack.

The whole area seems to be filled with the scent of shifters, though I don't see any.

"Bring the female to the house." The second male leaves, not even looking back. I turn to the first male, but he just starts on again. Quickening my pace I try and find out more about this place, but I get no answer. Not a word or any indication of my presence.

It isn't long before a good-sized building appears, and we go inside. The inside is nice, a woven rug, and dark wooden chairs. However, we walk right past this all and I am lead to a set of stairs. Before I can get a question out the male starts to walk off.

"What in Lua Lupa's name-" Shaking my head I decide to drop it. I don't know what kind of pack this is, but who in their right mind leaves an outsider alone in their pack house.

As the male leaves, I look both ways before creeping down the hallway. I can feel the presence of others, but it's just a matter of finding their whereabouts. Something in me winces at this breach in etiquette, but at this point, I just want to find out more. This pack house seems strangely quiet, though maybe it's just the two Healing packs that have such a lively pack. I never saw my old pack's one, for I wasn't allowed inside.

Stopping by a door I assume to lead to a kitchen I call on Lily to help. She helps me heighten my sense and I smell the presence of another shifter. Listening, a soft murmur can be made out. Nothing seems to be dangerous, so I knock on the door. It isn't long before it is carefully swung open, and a dark-haired female stands before me. He gaze is cast down, and she just stands there.

I hear a small crash as another shifter comes up, pulling the dark-haired girl away. "Please, come in, don't mind Cortie. Are you the new member?"

"Sorry?" Fumbling with my words, it takes a moment for the question to sink in. "No, I'm not."

"Really? Alpha sent us a message telling us another female was joining." The dark hair shifter known as Cortie continues to chatter on, showing me around the room.