‘I’m sorry, I thought David was defrosting it!’

‘David? DAVID! How can DAVID do it! He’s busy sewing up the flags!’ yelled a very angry stalls women. ‘Hurry up! We might still make it in time for the festival!’

‘Yes ma’am!’

And with that, the boy ran off into the kitchen. The women continued to cut up the slices of red pepper.

‘Honestly, those boys, can’t do anything with them!’ she grumbled. ‘What are you looking at? Eh? EH?’ She was spitting in the direction of a very mysterious creature.

He was standing tall, his upper face hidden by the darkness of his black cloak. His hands hidden within his sleeves. She watched as he licked all round his lips, like a hungry starving beast…

‘Eh? EH?’

He stared at her, the darkness brimming from him. He tilted his head slightly, and the woman immediately shut up.

From within the shadows of his hood, his single left eye seemed to appear. A glowing yellow eye lighting up the darkness, with a black vertical slit down the middle, like some kind of lion.

The man shifted his head away, and became yet another one of the busy crowd.

‘Ma’am! Ma’am!’ said the boy, running in. ‘Ma’am! I’m defrosting ma’am! Ma’am?’

She had fallen on both her knees, her hands to her face, her skin now even paler than before.

‘What’s happened ma’am? Should I call a doctor ma’am? What’s wrong ma’am? Ma’am?’

She then looked up at the boy, her lips now pale and frozen.

‘Werewolf…’

‘EH? What’s that?’

‘Werewolf…’

Tira heard the phone ring all the way from upstairs. The steam raised from the water of the bath, clouding up the tiles of the bathroom.

‘Hi Tira, it’s me, Suzanne. Listen, major news! Rory just called, and asked me to ask you if you want to go to the movies with Alex. Now I told- sorry, got to go! Alex’s on the phone! Eek!’ and with that girlish squeal she hung up.

Tira soaked in the bath, her problems seeming to all go away. So Alex wanted to go out with her huh? Tira had to be careful, otherwise she’d be the next to make a girlish squeal.

Alex was, well, cool. That’s all there was to. Tira had been waiting for almost two years for the chance like this to come up… and now.

‘The waiting was worth it.’ she said, sinking her head below the bubbles. The candles gave of streams of smoke, smelling of daisies and other flowers.

Where would they go? What would they do? All of those thoughts quickly applied to her head, and then the big question practically slapped her.

Would he take her seriously? Or would he just laugh it all in her face?

She ran her hand through her hair, and came up above the water for a breath of air. The air was soft, and cold against her skin.

What if he did laugh at her? Then what would she do?

But no… she had to take the chance. It was too good to simply let loose, and start chasing all over again.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I’ll say yes.’

The cloaked figure walked through the streets, nobody daring to so much as get dirt in his way. He walked down the streets completely free of will, but not free of problems. One thing haunted his mind. One thing stalked his presence.

He growled at the thought. His fangs biting into his tongue, the anger swelling up inside of him.

He haunted his mind, leaving him biting into his tongue. He was determined to defeat him. If his brother jumped off a cliff, he would follow. If his brother landed in a pit of scorpions, he would still follow. He had to make sure he avenged his people. He had to make his brother’s blood spill on the earth, only then can his peoples spirits rest in peace. Only then, can he be happy.

He walked into a shabby inn, and up to the inn keeper. The old man stared at the cloaked figure with widened eyes.

‘Oh,’ he said. ‘You must be one of those ritual keepers. Well, I’m afraid I’ve only got one room left, and it’s not exactly-’

‘I’ll take it.’ said the cloaked figure, sharply.

‘Oh, well very well.’ the old man shuffled underneath his desk, and brought out an old dusty book. He slammed it against his desktop, and started blowing the dust of the pages.

‘Let’s see,’ he flicked through the pages, as if looking for something.

‘Excuse me,’ said the cloaked figure, not so very politely. ‘But what did you mean by ritual keeper?’

‘Oh? You haven’t heard?’ asked the old man. ‘Well then, guess you must be some tourist or something… well. Tomorrow there’s this festival, celebrating the birthday of our Princess Sheila. Now this is just rumour, but these people called the ritual keepers are said to be doing some kind of ceremony.’

‘What kind of ceremony?’ asked the cloaked figure.

‘Well now,’ said the old man, whispering to his ear. ‘Not many people know this, The Royal Family are trying to keep it quiet but I hear they are trying to open some kind of portal.’

‘A portal?’ asked the cloak figure. He couldn’t think of anything to say. Then, ‘This portal… what’s on the other side?’

‘The Fire Goddess.’

‘Fire Goddess?’

‘That’s right. It should be something an old man like me gets to see before the end of his day. Ah! Here we are! Please sign here!’

The old man pointed to a place on the book, right underneath Room 17.

The cloaked figure wrote something down, and immediately headed upstairs.

‘So how long will you be staying with us Mr…’

‘Two days. And it’s Leo Wolf.’

‘Sure thing Mr Wolf.’

It took Tira fifteen minutes to find the courage inside her to dial number. His number...

'So Tira,' she remembered him once asking. 'I still can't believe you managed to pull that off! You must practice every night!'

She blushed, looked at the ground and mumbled something.

'Sorry, what was that?' asked Alex.

Tira looked away, still blushin and clasped her hands across her art folder.

'Nothing.'

They walked down the street in the night, with the lamplight flickering away at them. Tira loved the moment between the two, but shivered as a cold breeze blew gently between the two.

Alex noticed.

'You're freezing, here.'

He placed his jacket round her shoulders, and she looked up at him. His hands were firmly on her shoulders, his chest facing towards her. Their eyes met, both feeling the spark in each others.

Slowly, they leaned in, their lips drawing nearer...

'Hey Tira!'

No... she thought to herself. She watched, as Suzanne ran up the hill towards them

'Tira! Tira! Hey Tira!'

Suzanne ran up the hill, and took in the scene a little too quickly.

'Oops! Sorry! Catch up with you later then!' and with that, she ran off as quickly as she had came.

Three really is a crowd... thought Tira.

Alex let go of her shoulders, and turned the other direction.

'We should get going.' he said, clearly blushing. 'We don't want you to be... late.'

'Yeah... guess so.'

And they then walked back to Tira's home, both blushing, both walking in awkwardness.

Tira never forgave Suzanne for that.

That was about a year ago, but now came her last chance. She had to go for it... she had to.

Bring, bring! Bring bring!' went the phone.

'Hello?' was her reply.

'Hi, is Alex there?' asked Tira,

'Hang on,' said what must've been his father. 'I'll go and get him. Alex!'

Tira listened to the background noises, such as the tv, footsteps, and a baby crying.

'He'll be right with you.' said his fathers voice again.

'Alright.' but it wasn't alright. Tira couldn't wait. And at the same time, all she wanted to do was hang up and swallow herself in her bed.

'This is Alex.'

'Hi... Alex?'

'Tira?' he said, with a sudden pause. 'Did you get my message?'

Tira giggled a little, almost as if she was flirting.

'Yeah.' she giggled a little more. She was shocked at herself! Since when did she develope the whole girly attitude?

'So then.. you know... how I... feel?' he paused between each of them, as if taking breathes.

'Yeah... Alex, I...' she tried to say.

'Tira, I'll understand of course if you don't want to. I mean, we've been friends since we were - what, six, and I don't want to risk that. But I keep thinking about what happened a year ago. It might not mean alot to you, but it-'

'Alex,' she gave of a another giggle. 'I'd love it if we became a couple... if that's what you want of course.'

Silence... then.

'You don't know how long I've waited to hear that.'

'Really?'

'Of course! I've always felt this way about you Tira,' he said. 'It's always been about you.'

'Alex... I don't know what to say...'

'Then don't say anything. Just meet me underneath the apple tree at the East Park, at 11:00 tonight.'

'Alex, are you insane? That's way too late!'

'Tira... I want to see you.'

She paused, having no idea what to say.

'I want to see you too.'

'Then 11:00?'

Tira knew she'd never pull it off, but something stirred inside her. Something that made her want to disobey. Want to feel the thrill...

'I'll be there.' she said.

'Thank you.'

Tira was about to hang up when-

'Tira...'

'Yeah?' she asked. Hopes lifted inside of her, could he say those words that meant so much to her.

'Nothing.'

'Oh... um, alright.'

And with that, she hung up, questions popping up in her head.

Leo sniffed the scent in the air, and could smell three guards. One was far off, another could be a possible threat, and the other couldn't of been more than five meters away.

Leo drew his dagger, purposely letting it scrape against the sheath. The sound of the two metals sliding past each other shrieked down the halls.

'What was that?' said the guard, caution drawing in his voice. 'Who's there?'

Leo heard his footsteps drawing nearer, and nearer. The guard turned the corner and Leo didn't hesitate to raise the dagger to his throat and make the slit.

The body gave one last gasp, coughed up blood, then layed on the floor motionless.

Leo licked his lips, and checked through the body. He carried a knife, money (which Leo pocketed), a letter which gave the soldier times and orders from his superior, and of course, the Dark Clan soldier broadsword. It had a large spike coming out the end of the hilt, and the blade was thicj and heavy.

Leo found no other goods or treasures, so (feeling a little dissapointed) he lifted up the solier corpse, and walked towards the nearest window. There, he slowy dropped the body into the moat below. Leo watched as the body suddenly made a sickening splash.

Leo could tell, that even if the soldier was still alive, that would've finished him off.

He continued to explore the palace, knowing that somewhere inside the walls that there was something to do with this Fire Goddess.

After all, it was the Dark Clans base.

Tira sat underneath the apple tree, her watch alarm starting to beep.

It was 11:00, and Alex was late. This only helped Tira's nerves growing, and she couldn't help but feel that Alex had just taken her for a joke.

No, she thought. He wouldn't. I've got to have more faith in him.

'Tira?' said a voice. His voice. 'Tira, is that you?'

'Alex?'

Tira stood up, and turned round her shoulder. He was standing in front of her, his eyes bold, his shoulders strong. His hair was loose, and hung down his brow. He smiled, and stared at her.

She couldn't take her eyes of him. He wasn't laughing, he knew that she wasn't a joke. Tira wondered if Alex knew how much she appreciated that. Perhaps she'd tell him, one day in the future.

'I know that jacket.' she said. 'That's the jacket you gave me once.'

'It was cold,' said Alex. 'Your skin was pale. It was the night we almost- well you remember, don't you?'

Tira smiled.

'I've never forgotten.' she said. 'And never will.'

They walked towards each other, each footstep echoeing through the air. The air was warm, and a breeze through petals around them.

Tira and Alex walked towards each other, neither wanting to stop. She was right up to his chest, and had to look up to see his face.

'I remember,' she said. 'I remember.'

That was all it took. Their lips locked onto each other. They knew their friends and family would call it 'puppy love' and 'a child's dream'

But they didn't care. This was one dream that had came true.

Leo ran down the hall, his footsteps unnaturally silent. All that could be heard was his cloak, rustling in the air. But perhaps that was all that they would need.

He had a sword hidden within him, but that would be a last resort. Leo hated to do it, but if need came, he would kill. And like before, without hesitation.

The scent was getting more bizarre as he continued to run through the air. Sometimes he'd run on the walls, just to stay in the shadows. Other times, he'd run through the air as if glidding slowly onto a surface. These were tricks the wolf inside him had granted Leo, and the child inside couldn't help but play with them. It was a rare bright side that the 'curse' had.

Leo continued to stalk the scent down, until the sound of drums could be heard. They were beating in rhythme, two large beats followed but five short one in the following three seconds.

He could sense that something big was going on, and he would go to any lengthes to know what it was. But knowing the Dark Clan, it wasn't good for him.

Leo darted along the wall, his footsteps leaping over portraits. Such a skill still shocked many as impossible, but when they watched Leo defy gravity and the laws of reality, they couldn't help but show respect for the werewolf.

Just then, Leo came across a large wooden door, with metal handles nailed into it. The sounds of the drums, they were on the other side of the door.

'This is it.' said Leo.

He opened the door slightly ajar, and slid through into the room. Little did he know, that what was in that room would change his life forever.

They walked round the park, hand tightly gripped onto the other. Silence often crept over them, but it was a warm kind of quietness. They were taking in the moment, embracing the emotions, not wanting to spoil it all with one slip of a word.

His hands were tight and gripped onto Tira's tightly. Occasionally she'd edge a little closer to him, until eventually she was tempted to lay her head down on his shoulder.

She gave into that temptation, and wrapped her hands round his chest with her head on him.

She heard him say something but didn't hear a word of it. But did it really matter? She'd wanted this for so long. So did Alex. He wouldn't of spoiled it.

They sat down on a bench, with Tira keeping her head on his shoulder. It was late, the stars were out, all grouped round the full moon. The wind was warm and blew leaves into them. A fox could be seen on the other side of the park, scurrying away into the bushes.

'So then, this is it huh?' asked Alex.

'Yeah... I guess so.' she said. 'I'm excited... but a little scared too.'

'Scared?' he said, his voice worried. 'Scared of what?'

She brought her legs up to the bench, and kept her head against his shoulder, almost as if she was lying down on him.

'I don't know...' the fear she spoke of was caught in her voice, and they both knew of it. 'But I keep feeling something bad is about to happen. Like something- or someone out there needs me.'

'Something bad?'

'Yes.'

He brought his arms round her, and held her firmly.

'I will never let anything harm you, or get between us.' he said.

Tira said nothing, trying to feel the warmth in the words he said. The warmth was there, but the truth was not. Whatever was coming, was coming fast. And it would be more than Alex could handle.

'...thank you.' she said, and held him tightly. The wind blew flower petals round them as the two held onto each other.

They felt that if they let go, they would never hold each other again. Never feel the others breath upon the others skin.

Alex... she thought. Tira then saw it, fire burn between the two. A figure stood amongst the flames, with wild hair and two yellow eyes. He mouthed words to her, and despite not being able to hear them, she knew what they were.

'It starts with One.'

Leo was standing on some kind of blacony, confused and lost. The door had led him into kind of courtyard, with the drums being heard wilder and wilder. He crouched down, not forgetting who's base he had snuck into. He strained his ears, trying to hear voices or something... anything, to help solve the puzzle. Nothing.

The drums droned out any sound, and their scents didn't help much unless he knew who they belonged to. He drew his knife, knowing battle and combat was approaching.

Would bloodshed appear on his dagger yet again that night? Or would his wolf insticts get to much control and slaughter them all, one by one? Either way, many would die, and Leo prayed that nobody innocent got in his way. Sometimes... he couldn't control himself. The wolf would run wild, and return to the wilderness, doing anything for survival.

He peeked across the balcony, and saw what lay in the courtyard. Three unarmed drummers, fifteen kinghts, he could see two archers and smell two others (the sheep skin of their quiver gave them away without much trouble).

'Easy...' said Leo, licking his lips. He growled a little inside his chest, and was about to jump down, when it happened.

Three people approached the center of the courtyard, dressed up in wild clothes and materials.Strange ancient tattoos scrolled across their bodies. Two were men, but the other was a woman wearing a pink sort of jacket with white triangles dotted round her. A sort of black crown like scar was across her forehead, but Leo was handlying it hard to decide whether or not it was a scar or merely another tatoo.

'All preperations are complete!' said the head kinght, saluting them. 'We are ready to open the gate!'

The gate? thougth Leo. So then, this is where the Fire Goddess is being summoned.

'Return to your post. Remember, if the Goddess is hostile, you and your men are all the first line of defence. If you should fail, leave the rest to us sorceressess.

Ah crap, thought Leo. So I'm dealing with not one, but three sorcressess? And a squad of knights?

Then the biggest problem hit him.

And perhaps even the Fire Goddess herself? Can a werewolf truly defeat all those foes?

But he never got any time to think about that, as a familliar scent crossed his nose.

He's here somewhere, thought Leo. Demi... brother...

The sorceressess raised their arms and chanted, the kingths rose their swords, the archers readied their bows, and Leo prepared himself.

A battle was coming. He could smell it.

'Life, death... two rivals, two tests, two burdens, where we are responsible.' said Alex, as they both stared up into the sky. They lay on the grass, hand in hand. The stars were all the light they would need, with a trivial moon overhead.

'That's true...' ushered Tira. 'I've learnt that through my childhood. It was never easy, watching as everything faded before me.'

'I know. I was there. I watched you.'

'Promise me you won't go.'

His silence brought tears to her eyes. Would he leave her? Would he abondon her? Was what they had nothing more than puppy love.

'Tira...'

'...yes?'

'I promise.'

'It starts with One.'

'What?'

'It starts with One.' said the female sorcress with the crown scar. The three sorceressess all had their palms out, as if pushing something invisible in the air.

They pushed and chanted together, with beads of sweat dropping on the knights brow. Leo watched as a dim light emerged in the center of where they were all pushing. The werewolves ears sprung, eager to see the sorceressess and Goddess, but something else forced a sharp pain in his blood.

Had he really smelt Demi? Was his brother really here?

No... he thought to himself. No he can't be... not now. Not after everything I... WE went through.

Images of his past flashed his mind.

'Leo... your posture is all wrong.' said Demi. 'Honeslty, how can you grow up to be a fierce warrior when you can't even carry a sword right.'

'I can too!' squeeled Leo. The thought that Leo was ever that young and carefree suprised him. 'Watch!'

Leo started to jab at a nearby tree, causing leaves to scatter and dance round him.

'Oh?' said Demi, as he realised what his younger brother had done.

Leo had scratched words into the tree, witch was odd considering his sword was made of wood.

'Perhaps there is some promise in you after all.'

'What would you know?'

'Haha... come on little bro!'

And the two boys ran happily home to their mother. They had decided to take a shortcut home, as the sun had already started to set.

Demi took one last look at the words carved in the tree, and smiled as if satisfied.

'It starts with One.' is what they said.

They ran home, unaware of the tragic incadent about to befall Leo.

Leo shook his head.

No... he thought. No... that was in the past. It's over now, I've got to focus.

He peered over the balcony again, and saw how much the dim light had grown. In fact, it was far from dim. Now it was as bright as any torch.

It got brighter, and brighter, picking up speed. Eventually it had gotten so hard to look at, that the sorcressess and Leo had to all look away.

The werewolf covered part of the cloak he wore, and waited until the light had dimished. When it did, he was shocked to see what he saw.

A white door with golden handles had appeared in the middle of the courtyard.

'The Gate has been unlocked.' said the female sorceress, 'Let the Awakening begin.'

That's my que.

And with that, Leo jumped down of the balcony and landed on one knee and his foot, as if kneeling to be crowned.

'What is this?' asked the female sorceress. 'Demi? What are you doing here?'

Leo looked up at here, his right yellow eye glaring at his prey.

'What?' she said, taken back. 'You're not Demi! Who are you?'

The archers all readied their bows, the knights drew their swords, and the trio of sorceressess all stared at him, chanting the mysterious of the planet.

'My name is Leo Wolf.' said Leo.

'Leo Wolf? What? Am I supposed to be impressed?'

'No, you're supposed to be scared.'

'Scared?' she scoffed, and a few of the defences laughed with her. 'Perhaps I was scared... but only whilst I mistook you for him.'

'Demi?'

She glared at Leo, her eyes dark and piercing.

'You... know him?'

'Of course... can't you tell?' said Leo, drawing his sword. 'I'm his brother.'

The words made Leo feel ashamed, forcing his stomach to turn.

A group of deadly foes stood between him and the white door.

He had to get in there.

She's shivering... though Alex, holding her by the shoulders and walking her way home throught the park. That's strange...

He rubbed the back of her neck to keep her warm, but found that she already was rather hot at the back of her neck. In fact, Alex found that if he didn't flinch, his hand would've had perhaps burned.

How can she still be fine, she's roasting.

'Are you sure you're ok?' he asked her. She looked deeply into his eyes, and he could see the fire that burnt within her. Her face was paler, and more tired than before.

'You don't look so good.'

'I'm fine...' She turned, stopping eye contact and focusing the other way.

'Tira...' said Alex. 'Don't lie.'

Silence filled the park around them, and she stared of into the distant hill.

'Actually... I'm a little cold.' she said, pulling his jacket around him.

Unbelievable, he thought. She's unreal...

'Tira I-'

His question was interuppted by a sudden explosion of light appear. Alex ran towards Tira, and pulled her back, keeping her safe from the unknown threat.

A threat? How could he just assume that it would be a threat? Was he really that protective over her? It seemed that way.

Then, after a long moment of confusion, the light stopped, leaving the two teenagers standing in the clearing.

'What was that all about?'

'It's coming...'

'Tira, what's coming?'

She turned round, and faced him again. The fire that he had seen in her eyes still burnt strongly, but it was flickering, dimming with each small passing moment.

'He's coming...' the words slipped out her mouth, freely moving from her lips.

She turned, and ran down the hill.

'Tira! Tira wait!' he said, running after the girl. He chased her down the direction where the flash of light had sprung.

What is she thinking? What's going on?

She ran and ran, and he chased her down. Why was she running from him? Was she scared of him? Or perhaps Tira really was ill.

Then, she stopped running and Alex caught up with her. She had her back turned to him, and her eyes stuck on a oddly shaped white frame. Where had it come from? Was this the source of the sudden light. Seemed that way.

'What is it?' asked Alex.

'It's a door.' said Tira. 'I... I...'

A door? How could that be? A door in the middle of thin air? But she was right. It had two handles, and a spliting line down the middle. Even a keyhole.

'How did it get here? There wasn't always a door here, was there?'

'There was.'

'What?'

'You just never saw it. The door only just appeared, but before it was hidden.'

'You sure?'

'Yes.'

'Then how come it just appeared just now?'

'Because, they are summoning me.'

'What? They are summoning you? What do you mean? That doesn't make any sense. In fact, this whole thing doesn't make any sense!'

Silence. She stood with her back turned to him still.

'Look at me!'

He grabbed her shoulders, and turned her round to face him.

'Tira! I... what's happening to you? You're changing!'

It was true, her light hair before had gone completly pitch black and wild, her eyes were blazing again only this time more feriously, and her skin was as pale as a ghost.

'They are summoning me. My freedom awaits.'

Alex now noticed something about Tira's voice. It wasn't her's. He could hear her voice saying it, but another voice had taken over a part of it. It was like she was two different people.

'You're not Tira...' Alex said, taking a step back. 'Who are you?'

'I am the Goddess which rules the sun. My saviours have broken the chains.'

'What have you done with Tira!' he spoke it not as a question, but as a threat demanding an answer.

'You will see the girl again. Just... come with me.' she said, reaching a hand out to Alex. Her eyes burnt, not of warmth but of hatred and anger.

Her hand hung in the air, reaching out to Alex. What could he do? Tira needed him. And he needed Tira. But what was going on? Who was this goddess that stood before him?

'If I go with you.' he said. 'then you have to promise me that Tira and me will be together again.'

The Goddess smiled, almost looking childish. A slight giggle escaped her, making her look like the ghost of a child.

'Of course. The girl you love is only... carrying me to where I need to go.' she said. 'You do not have to fear. When we walk through the door, the sorceress will seperate us, and the girl will be in your arms again.'

Alex's heart beat more furiously than ever before. How did the Goddess know all that about him? But it was true about the way he felt.

He did love Tira.

With a nod, he took the Goddesses hand.

The kights swords lay beside them on the bloody ground, the archers were dead after their last arrow, only two remained on the ground.

'You...' scorched the sorceress. 'You're a... monster... you killed them, without even hesitating. Do you even feel sorry for them?' she asked. 'Do you even feel the slightest of guilt?'

'You know how it goes.' said Leo. 'Live by the sword, die by the sword.'

They both slowly took three steps to the left, circling each other like a vulchar to its prey.

'Excuses?' said the sorceress. 'Is that all you can say? You've killed wolf, you've stolen lives.'

'And I suppose you've never?' he asked, his fangs slightly showing. The dagger in his hand grew tighter.

'Of course,' she said. 'But do it in a way you could never understand. You kill without remorse or regret... you kill, just like an animal. Then again...'

They both took two steps to the right, their eyes following each other.

'I wouldn't expect less from Demi's brother.'

A bridge snapped inside of Leo, bringing all his patience into a drowning river. Without thinking twice, he leapt into the air, towards the sorceress.

A shadow appeared underneath her, the leaping wolf blocking the sun. She smiled,