When Two Beasts Fell in Love

Chapter 12

Because of experience, kids were forced to be mature… and that was happening to these five kids. 

Angelique walked inside the forest like she owns the place. She never worried if there was someone waiting for them, to ambush them. While the kids become conscious of their surroundings. 

It was a pack territory, so it was common for a pack to dispatch warriors to greet them or attack and kill. 

But for a minute of walking, no one approached nor showed up. They got confused about what was happening. While Angelique just kept on walking, hearing her surrounding. She knew what she was doing. 

Few more walks, they reached the end of the forest line. There, their curiosity was answered. 

The whole pack was in a devastated state. The soil was too dry, no plant growing, few werewolves were there, and it seems really an abandoned pack. No one can stay here if they really want to survive. 

Angelique sat down, took out her map made by her grandfather, and looked for this place. She never saw it before because she was too focused on the meadow. But on her journey, she was brought here and she felt like it will be her home. 

She easily found the said place. This territory was under the White Fang Pack. It was known as White because most of its members have a white wolf. 

“It was like this for all these years?” Kimberly asked no one precisely when she read some words on the notes. 

“It is the pack that only a few families left. They all moved out, some of them went to our pack. But we are a distinct pack so we couldn't accept them.” Clark joined in as he read what was written in the notebook. 

“There’s no hope in this land. If we stay here, we will be like them,” Kevin said while looking at the land in front of them. 

The other kids agreed with them. This land could not be called home. They will just die because of hunger and heat. 

“No. There is still a chance in this land,” Angelique said, startled them, and doubted her. 

“How?” they said together. 

“See this?” she pointed out the lake that was flowing to the Blood Rose Stone Pack, the neighboring pack of this land. “There is a river nearby that flows to your pack. Maybe because of falling debris, it can not be seen. And this,” it pointed to the place outside the forest, it’s Guslar or the Human land. “We can use this to expand livelihood if we start to establish here.” 

“But…” Clark wanted to protest but stopped when he saw a boy peeking on them. “There’s a kid,” he whispered. 

“I know. He was there for a minute now.” Angelique looked at a boy and he smiled at her. You could say that he was malnourished because he was so thin. “Do you believe in me?” she asked. 

The boy slowly nodded his head. His father always said that there's still a chance for them to live. They do not want to leave the soil where they were born. His older siblings left them, so there's only his mom and dad. 

“Can you bring us to your family?” Kimberly initiated. Even she was young, she always heard her father talked to someone in a polite manner, and she wanted that too. 

The boy didn't speak but nodded his head before she walked to their house. He looked at them, saying to follow him. So they stood up and followed the boy.

They still didn't believe that it was a safe place to stay. Yet, they have faith in Angelique. There’s something about her that gave security and assurance to everyone. 

They walked a few meters before they arrived in a small village. They didn't know if it was really a village with only five to ten houses standing. They didn't have any facilities like their former pack. 

The houses were made up of woods. No plants, even flowers, in their surroundings. Just plain ground, dry and sandy. 

The whole place was screaming for help. Seems the king enriched himself but impoverished these people. The whole land was so dry and unproductive. It really can not sustain their needs. 

They saw a few people standing like they were greeting them but Angelique could see how cautious they were. They were thinking if they were enemies, but they were not. They just want to live on their land and to do that, they have to ask permission. 

“Good day, Sir,” she greeted them. When she spoke, they smiled. They can easily read the intention of a person the first time he/she speaks. This is one of their powers. 

“Good day, too. What can we help you with?” the old man asked her with a smile on his face. 

Angelique didn't answer him, instead, she looked around. Planning what she can do to improve the livelihood of the people. 

“Can we stay here?” she directly asked him. 

“A Lycan and five werewolf-sorcerers, want to live here? You know that we are the poorest pack here. We cannot offer you anything and we are not against you if you live here. Why do you want to live here, anyway?” the old man curiously asked. He was telling the truth. They were not against it if someone lived with them. But they were all lacking in food, what they were going to eat next?

“It was calling for me. We already lose everything. We do not trust the other pack,” she truthfully told them. “By the way, I'm Angelique and this is Kimberly, Kevin, Clark, Hanzel, and Pink.” The kids greeted them too. 

“I am Serio, the only elder left in this land. After the death of the last Alpha, no one wanted to stay here. So I stood up as their leader for the meantime until we find the right man to lead us, even if we are in small numbers.” Angelique nodded in understanding. 

“So, are we welcome here?” She's a patient person but she was tired too and it was getting dark. 

“You are all welcome. Just choose where you are going to put your house. But for now, you can stay with us for a night. I can tell that all of you are tired.” He looked at Angelique and Kimberly. “I am sorry for your loss. But please, hide your true identity. You need that in the future.” 

They understood him and he was right. They need to hide for them to be safe. It was the only way for them to live and get their revenge when the right time comes. 

“Thank you for the offer. We won’t say no to that. We really need someplace to stay. Looks like it is going to rain.” She looked up in the sky. They all followed what she did, and she was right. 

People looked at one another then looked at Angelique with something glint on their eyes. Angelique didn't see it but Kimberly did. She knew their stares were not bad but admiration and gratitude. 

“Let's go inside then.” He led them inside.  

Kids came in first and the time Angelique went inside, the rain started to pour on the dry land. Oldies smiled while the children ran outside and played. For the first time, it rained. A new hope shined on them. 

Angelique didn't mind it and put out all the fruits she had in her bag. It will rot if not eaten. 

“Let’s eat,” she called them to eat. The kids ate while the family that accommodated them was shy at first. The kids encouraged them until they ate with them. 

They started to tell stories and became acquitted with one another. But because of tiredness, it didn't take long because they had to sleep. 

That night, they all fell asleep peacefully. No more thinking that tomorrow someone will attack them. Every night they could think was their safety and what they will do to survive. Now, they were all safe. 

They all sleep peacefully, but before the sun shows up, Angelique is already in the forest, tracing where the river might be. 

She followed the map given to her but she couldn't find the said river. 

She stood up on the small hill and looked in every direction for any indication of a river. But there is none. 

She sighed because of disappointment. She looked up to the sky and she saw that the sun was rising. She just looked at it and admired how beautiful it was. It really symbolizes hope to everyone. 

After some time and admiring the sun, she didn't know but she looked again at the place the river might be. 

Her eyes got bigger when she saw a sparkling area. This means that there's water there. 

She ran down quickly. She located the place and started to dig. She saw an old shovel, but it was usable, in the house so she used it. She dug until she saw water coming out of the hole. 

She felt happy that her hard work bore fruit in the end. It was a big thing that helped them. 

Angelique dug, following the flow of the water. She got some debris from trees and the mud was so thick.  It was hard work but she managed to make at least a five-meter small river. Water was flowing and it was pleasing into the eyes. 

“You really found the river just like what my son had said,” someone said in her back. She felt it a while ago and she was thankful they came. 

With other werewolves' help, they dig up all the soil and debris that cover the river. The water was so clean and refreshing. 

“We thought it was gone since the day the big hurricane came and trees fell down and covered it. Then, a landslide covers this river.” One of them said that made Angelique understand everything. 

They all worked together. But at the end of the day, manpower is still lacking. It will make them more days before it will be done. 

They ate together after work. They have a soup that is made from a bird’s nest and some meat that came from their stock. They smoked meat to preserve them for them to have food for another day. 

Angelique thought that it was a great livelihood. They can take it to human land and sell it. For sure, many humans will buy it. They can also take some supplies to them. They are near the border, easy access. 

At night, they still slept in the house of the elder. Then they will work again the next day. 

On that day, Angelique never thought that she would see something she can use to buy their needs. First, it was small pieces until they saw a bigger one. 

Gold. 

Yes, they got a lot of gold from the river. For sure, a greedy person will be ecstatic knowing there’s something like this precious stone to this land. 

They are not greedy people and they know they can use it to do more productive things. So they entrusted the gold to the elder’s hand. 

They worked hard to collect all the dirt to make the river clean. They can use it finally. For drinking and other needs.

Angelique chose, along with the kids, to live near the river and inside the forest. They felt safe there for some reason. 

When everything settled, they had a meeting. They will talk about what they are going to do with the gold they got. 

“We can exchange it to the kingdom. We can have food and other necessities.” 

“We can buy the needed seed for our planting. ”

“We can buy equipment for our life to be easier. We can go to the king and exchange it.”

Everyone talked and pointed out their opinions. But they all stopped when Angelique held up her hand. 

“I am sorry but I do not trust the said king.” She looked at them and she could tell that they agreed. “If you trust me, I can go to Guslar and sell a small piece of gold. I can buy groceries and other needs we can use. I was human once, I can do it. Gold in Guslar is expensive. We can buy many things in just a small piece.”

They all looked at each other and agreed to what she said. No one was monitoring them, so they could easily sneak out to the other land. The king didn't acknowledge them, so they could do whatever they wanted. 

Angelique knew it was hard, but one step at a time they will improve their living. They will climb up in the food chain. 

There are so many things they need to overcome. But now it was their needs. 

She can easily control herself, so it was an easy task to go to Guslar. 

She hopes so.