Rachel

Chapter 2

Five years later.

I stop, panting. I place my hands on my knees to catch my breath.

“Rachel! Are you alright?” Suma comes running up next to me. He’s a bit older than I am, and a lot stronger.

“Yeah, I’m just catching my breath.”

“Don’t push yourself.” He says.

“I need to get stronger. I need to keep going.” I take off running again. Suma runs after me. After I got attacked by the rogue, my parents sheltered me. It took me a few months to fully recover, and when I did I was ready to get out there a build up my strength again, but my parents kept me from training. They kept a close eye on me any time I left the pack house. Finally I put up such a fit that they got someone to watch over me, Suma.

At least after that I could leave without them pestering me and watching my every move. Suma’s always been pretty cool, but I hate feeling like a burden, and I hate feeling weak, even though my parents disapproved I decided to take upon my self to get stronger.

I run into the clearing and head for the cliffs. A year ago I told my parents that I had been secretly working out and that I wanted to start joining in on the pack training sessions. They were not happy, and they didn’t let me join the pack trainings, but they did allow Suma to start training me one on one. When we first started training Suma only did the basics. I guess my parents were telling him what to do. Over time though I’ve gotten him to push me in training, or rather I’d push him. Which is what’s happening right now. I finally reach the cliffs and stop again. This time I feel the pain in my side as I try to catch my breath.

“Why do you do this to me.” Suma says as he reaches me.

“Because you don’t push me enough.” I say. He puts his hand on my head and tussles my hair.

“You are so funny. You want me to train you harder?” He asks.

“Please Suma. It’s been five years since my attack. And it’s been two years since any ones even seen a rouge! I want to be able to defend myself. I don’t want to live in fear of the next attack.”

“Your twelve years old Rach. You shouldn’t be thinking about stuff like that. You should be thinking about boys, or school, or getting your wolf soon. Not about protecting yourself.” He walks over to the edge of the cliff and looks down at the river.

“I know you think your parents are sheltering you, but it’s more than that. They are worried you’ll hyper-focus on training. That the training will consume your thoughts.” He looks back at me.

“But if you want me to push you a bit harder, I will. But until you get your wolf, the training won’t go beyond that, okay?”

“Good, when can we start?” I ask excited. Suma just laughs.

“You have to make me a promise first.”

“What is it?”

“You won’t let this consume your mind. Make some friends. Talk to a boy. Be a kid Rach.” He walks over to me and looks down.

“Promise me.”

“Fine, I promise.” I hold my pinky out. He hooks his pinky in mine.

“Promise.” We say together.

“Fine, we’ll start tomorrow. Let’s head back and get some lunch. I hear they are making Mac n cheese.” He pats my head again and starts walking back.

“Seriously?” I love Mac n cheese. Suma laughs at my excitement.

“Why do you love Mac n cheese so much?” He asks. We start walking back to the pack house.

“What?! It’s so versatile. You can but so much in it. Bacon, hot sauce, Buffalo chicken, ground beef and taco mix, jalapeño and cream cheese, lobster!” I’m hopping around him with excitement.

“When have you ever had lobster?” He teases.

“Well.. never, but I’m sure it tasted great in Mac n cheese.” I say. Suma laughs.

Suma is a warrior, but he spends a lot of his time with me. If you can’t tell, I don’t have many friends my age, I mostly hang out with Suma’s friends. It’s my fault. I don’t want to make friends my age, I want to train. I know when I have my wolf things will change. I’ll change. We get back to the pack house.

“Good afternoon Suma, Rachel.” Omega Camila says.

“Good afternoon. Is lunch ready yet?” I ask.

“Yes it is. Better hurry before the Mac and cheese is gone.” I hurry up the stairs and into the cafeteria. There is a line, so I get in it quickly. Please don’t run out of Mac and cheese. Please. The line moves and finally it’s my turn. I look down and see the tray empty. No! It’s gone, already? Then they bring out another tray! Yes!

“Mac and cheese with bacon Rachel?” Omega Wendy asks.

“Yes please!” I’m so excited. I get my food and have a seat. Suma and his friend Forest join me.

“How was the training this morning?” Forest asks me.

“It was good. We ran out to the cliffs.” I say as I dig into my lunch.

“The cliffs yeah. Did you know those cliffs are haunted?” Forest teases.

“Yeah right.” I say with a mouth full of food.

“No it’s true.” Lucy takes a seat next to me. She’s also Suma and Forests’ age.

“See!”

“I heard there was a ritual sacrifice on those cliffs. And the souls they fed are still up there, waiting for more. And if you go out there on a full moon. You can hear them crying out.” Lucy takes a dramatic pause.

“Forest is an i***t. Forest is an idiot.” She whispers.

“Ha ha very funny.” Forest says. Lucy and Suma laugh. I just keep eating my noodles.

“That’s a decent run if you both went out there. Good to see my girl getting stronger. Man I can’t wait for you to get your wolf. We can all go for a run.” Lucy is cool. She’s one of the best warriors. One day I’m going to be just like her.

“Yeah, I can’t wait either.” I don’t know why Suma says I need friends my age. These guys are good enough for me. After lunch I go home to change and do the homework I’ve been putting off. I walk through the door.

“Rachel! Is that you?”

“Yeah mom. I’m going to go take a shower.”

“Did you eat lunch?” My mom shouts as I run up the stairs.

“Yes, I ate with Suma, Forest, and Lucy.” I get to my room and shut the door. I get undressed quickly and hop in the shower. I wash my hair and my body. I know my legs will be sore tomorrow from the run, but it’s worth it. After my shower I get dressed and go downstairs to grab my book bag. I hear my mother and father talking in the kitchen.

“She needs to be friends with her peers!” My mother says.

“It’s fine. She trains with Suma, so of course they’ve become friends. It was bound to happen.”

“All she wants to do is train. You know what she’s like when she wants something. Like a dog with a bone.” Suma was right, they are worried about me hyper focusing on my training. I need to get them off my back before they start making me stay home again. I guess it’s time I make some friends.