Chapter 19: Denial *Asher*

As I jumped over the river away from Aliana, I decided not to turn around to look at her; that is until she could not see me. When I was behind the cover of the trees, I instantly turned around to see her eyes shining at me. My heart felt light, and my head became air in the sky. Those eyes; they always caught me, always stared into my heart with a passion that I could not understand, nor control. She made my heart flutter like the leaves through the warm wind. I just sat there, waiting for her to turn around and leave, and when she did, I could not help but stare at her cute fluffy tail with that dark grey slash on the side. She was so unique, so genuine, and so stunning.

Then I dramatically whipped my head around and proceeded back to where my own home had been. Inside of my head I could not help but wonder all the things that I could say to my uncle; and somehow that mutated werewolf looked somewhat familiar. It was hard to understand that he looked familiar from the corruption, but my mind just stuck to it.

On my way back to the rogue encampment, I had taken down a few critters to bring back; Aiden was the only werewolf as busy as I was. I rarely ever see him, and when I do, he always wants to be better than me, when all I want is survival. I have no idea what Aiden wants, besides being a thistle in my paw.

As I arrived back, no one had noticed my disappearance; speaking of Aiden, he was here for once, sitting next to his sister Ava. I was not surprised when he noticed me walk through the bushes into the middle of the camp. I went to set my kills in the food pile and saw there was already a huge elk that had been half eaten. I heard a grunt in front of me, "It's ok there Asher, I can take care of everyone else, while you wonder off and just feed yourself." I just picked up my kills again and took them over to my aunt in the medicine den, ignoring Aiden's snide comment. I looked at her as I dropped one of the critters; she gave me a small grin and licked me over the ear. She then took the small raccoon and began tearing into it. I saw one of the smaller wolves in the back, laying there as if he was completely drained of energy. I took a few steps towards him when my aunt cut me off, she just shook her head and gestured for me to leave. So, I picked the other two critters up and walked out.

I went to find my uncle in his den, but as I stuck my head in, I saw nothing. I sat down outside of the den and looked around the camp. Something just seemed off about everyone. No one was being productive like they usually were. The females would always be laughing and crafting new things by the vine walls. The men would always be having competitions and planning patrols and what not. I walked over to the elk in the center and inhaled the scents that were flowing from it. I crinkled my nose as it had a sour smell to it and something else that I could not quite make out. I looked up, looked around the camp and spotted Aiden harassing one of the girls by the looks of it. "Aiden?" I gave a short shout as I stood in front of the elk carcass. His smirk changed into an off frown as he transformed. He proceeded towards me and then stopped about five paws away. "Where did you hunt this elk?" He let out a puff as if I had tried to compliment him but failed, obviously what I was not doing. I wish he would get over his arrogant self. "Where did you hunt this Aiden?" I admit he did intimidate me for being a few sizes bigger than me now that he was older than before; I thought he would be smaller since his wolf form came the latest in the clan. His arrogance made him a bit harsh, but he was a few years younger than me and seemed to have issues controlling the beast inside of him. "I got it over by the western border if you must know." My heart sped up just a bit as my brain picked up all my information I discovered about the West. I shook my head slowly back and forth trying to think of something to say without offending him, which was likely impossible. Aiden took it as an insult either way. "As if you have ever caught anything this big little wolf. You should be happy I fed the clan while you were off in your own little world." I looked at him in disbelief. My goodness he was such an idiot. "Aiden…you don't understand. There's things happening in the west that are unfathomable to believe." He just glared at me, "Because no one is ever better than the great Asher, right? Asher knows all!" I honestly understood why Aiden disliked me so much; just as every male that wants to be dominant over the clan. I was now the heir to be the pack leader, but I do not think I would ever be ready. Then I heard an all too familiar voice in my right ear, "Aiden, calm your testosterone levels." My uncle's rough voice pulled into the argument, and I knew it was time for me to start explaining. "Asher? What is wrong with this elk that Aiden has brought for the clan?" I took in a big sigh and looked into my uncle's eyes. That is when I found out, that he already knew. "There's something I need to tell the clan uncle." As I spoke that exact sentence, everyone began to come closer towards me to hear what I had to say as they were watching Aiden and I's argument. "Telaerion…is going to become a wasteland, and its starting in the western region. Has anyone been on the Great Serenade Hills lately? The willow trees have been falling, birds have been fleeing, smoke rising into the sky and animals becoming…tainted; like this one." I heard people gasping, some were laughing, and others were completely silent as I spoke. I looked at the two that were laughing, "This is a serious matter, and I am not making this up. If anyone ever noticed how long I was gone, you wouldn't be questioning me." Aiden decided to put his thoughts down as he interrupted me, "Asher's probably just mad I killed something bigger than him." My uncle gave him a strict glare and then nodded towards me. "I went as far as I could into the western territory, and I saw something that I can't just ignore. That smoke, was from dead rotting animals in a huge pile, with trees dying around it; humans have invaded Telaerion."

Everyone stared at me silently as the word "human" registered into their thoughts. My uncle took a step towards me and looked straight into my eyes, "Asher, what do you expect us to do about the humans? There is nothing we can do." His eyes were worried, and I could tell he could smell Aliana's scent on me. "We just wait until they cross into our borders, then we must move." I looked at him baffled. I could not believe my uncle did not want to fight for our territory; he is just going to let the humans run us out of our own home. "We need to inform the other clan." He shook his head, "The other clan is not our problem." My clan looked at me in disbelief as I spoke of the other clan. "Maybe they can help us. We can all live as one clan again…like we used to." Questions arose and soon everyone's voice was blending with the others. "Asher? What do you mean used to?" The clans have never been one; just allies long ago." I just gave him a look full of hope. He looked so ill inside his eyes. They were dark at the bottom and his face was ageing quickly. I set my mouth by his ear and whispered, "I know there are so many things that you are not telling me. I'm giving you no choice to inform me of what is happening to you and what happened in the past."

He just looked at me and shook his head, then looked at the small crowd. "No one should be alarmed at the moment. If the humans cross our borders, I will oversee it and inform every one of my decision. Everyone continue back to your duties." He beckoned Aiden to stand next to him, then spoke to both of us. "I want you both to start doing border patrols all around our territory. If you see anything, report to me, and yes, both of you…together. You need to learn to get along." I gave a big sigh, but did not argue with him, Aiden on the other hand began to disagree. My uncle put his hand up, "Aiden, you are young and don't use your brain properly, but a strong warrior. With the plague coming in, I cannot afford to send my senior warriors out. You and Asher need to learn to see as one. Now, I want the patrols early and as it gets dark; twice every other day until things get better… or worse."

"We will begin tomorrow, when the lights rise." I looked at Aiden respectfully and then switched into feral, he gave me a snarl and turned toward his sister in their den. I looked at my uncle, as he was walking towards my aunt's den, I followed, he shooed me away. "I will tell you in time."

What did he mean in time? This was the perfect time to tell me everything, I was old enough and I pretty much knew what was going on. I stopped disappointed at him, but then wondered how Aliana's clan was taking things. I most definitely was not looking forward to trading my mornings and nights with Aiden.

What did my uncle mean about, the plague? Is that why that little wolf was in there; he had looked like he just turned not too long ago. Rogues changed younger than the castle wolves. No one knew why, that is just how it has always been. Being only ten when the change came upon me, seemed like so long ago and now I suddenly felt so old. I laughed as I thought of my age. I went back to thinking of the sick little pup. Having a sickness right as you are just learning about your change has to be frustrating, and much more difficult. Maybe that will make him a stronger warrior one day, that is, if the sickness doesn't take him first.