Three cliffs, p.1
Three Cliffs, page 1
Three Cliffs
AJ Estelliam
Chapter 1
Insomnia has struck once again, and after hours of contemplation, I finally succumbed to the need to get up and leave the comfort of my bed. Creeping from the house in the darkness, I stole into the night, a shadow unseen by the sleeping village.
Slowly, I made my way to the path which led to the beach. It was a long path, steep and arduous so I walked slowly in the darkness, navigating the rocky outcrops along the way. When I reached the end of the first pathway, the moon appeared before me, illuminating the beach below. Pausing to stare at the place I called home, I revelled in the beauty of nature. Three Cliffs beach stretched out before me, it’s golden sands wide and pale. Beyond was the sea, still and calm, no breeze at all this early morning. The best part of all was the cliffs-the three distinct triangular cliffs, which lined and dominated the view. I’d spent much of my time here recently because I found my peace in this place. Somehow, the setting calmed me, made me breathe a little more easily, and I appreciated that. With so much to worry about, and concerns filling my head, sometimes the only happiness I could focus on was the fact that I lived in this wonderful place, where I could just be.
I loved it down here first thing in the morning, before anyone was awake. I felt like the only person in the entire world, and like it was mine. Walking down to the sand, I stepped out into the expansive beach and breathed the fresh, salty air into my lungs. Letting it still my body and mind, I slowly began to walk down the sand, my bare feet sinking into the soft, grainy mass with each footstep. Glancing back, I smiled at the path I made…the footsteps on the beach. Only mine, I mused. It had been untouched, perfect, empty. Now it was mine. Turning towards the sea, I started my walk down the golden sand.
Downwards I strode, until I reached the cliffs that my home was named after. Standing below them, I looked up, taking in their majestic beauty and sighing at the feeling of magic which rushed through me. Of the three cliffs, there was one large triangular shaped cliff and to its right, a second smaller one followed by a third, even smaller than the other. In the middle of the three, a small hole, just big enough to walk through. It had been eroded by the waves, years of water making the hole bigger and wider until the time when it was large enough to walk through.
My pack had taken on the ancient cliffs as part of our backdrops for ceremonies, rituals and celebrations. The Therafrax pack of Three Cliffs was now small, but our community important and customs steeped in history.
I stood for a moment, enjoying being here on my own, before walking through the gap in the cliffs and onwards down to the sea.
The moonlight was beautiful, and I smiled to myself as I walked down the sand. By the shore, I paused, letting the water lap over my feet and chill my cold body. Staring at the moon, I tried to keep my mind positive and focused, but too many worries were plaguing me.
Expectations and responsibilities were being thrust upon me, and I felt the pressure building to give into what my family were demanding. As I was of age, and unclaimed, it was seen as abnormal that I hadn’t tied myself to another wolf, as was our custom. The truth was that I had no desire to tie myself to any of the single members of our pack. There was no-one who made my heart flutter, and I was determined that any match would be a true connection rather than forced. My mother and brother were of the opposing opinion. They were adamant that I put myself forwards as the next claiming ceremony and tied myself to another. It was also expected that I started churning out cubs as soon as that happened. I wanted neither, nor saw no prospects for it happening either. My mind was in turmoil, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Thankfully, I knew we had an impending gathering first, so that would prove a good distraction.
Sinking to the sand, I sat down and watched the world go by, lulled into a sleepy feeling by the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Here, I found some peace. At home, I was lucky if I managed to sleep two hours a night.
Time ticked by, and the dawn slowly arrived. I didn’t move from my cold spot on the sand, I just let the atmosphere of this special place wash over me, calm me, restore my sense of serenity.
I was quiet and peaceful when a sound alerted me to the fact that I was no longer alone. It was the heartbeat I heard first, and then the paws on the sand. Turning, I saw a flash of white and as fast as lightning, another wolf shot down the beach, heading for the shore like a firecracker was chasing its tail.
I gasped, shocked at the sheer agility the wolf displayed. I knew I didn’t know her-I was well acquainted with all the wolves in my pack, and this one was a stranger for sure. Standing up, I shifted quickly, unsure whether she was friend or foe. Adjusting my stance, I prepared myself to run, knowing that while she may be fast, I would be faster.
Lifting my head, I howled at the moon, alerting her to my presence. I heard her heartbeat falter as she stopped, turned, alert and ready. Watching her from a distance, we stared each other down, both curious, confused and a little baffled that we’d interrupted each other’s peace here when we’d both assumed we were here alone.
Slowly, I stalked towards her, cautiously approaching the unknown wolf. As she wasn’t pack, she was an unknown entity, and that was cause for concern. Even in our sister pack, who were due to arrive in the next few days, there was not this wolf. I would have known her, I was sure. She was unique; too distinctive. Large for a female, pure white with glossy fur, as I got closer, I saw her eyes were almost translucent blue, shining in the moonlight.
I growled a warning to her. She was on my territory, how dare she? She steeled herself, waiting for my move…my attack. When I didn’t move forwards to hurt her in anyway, she cocked her head at me in question and then I heard her words flit through my mind, spoken telepathically.
‘Chase?’
I stared at her in confusion. This stranger wanted me to chase her? Was she serious? Before I could react or respond, she bounded off down the sand, so fast that I couldn’t move fast enough to stop her from gaining a lead.
Following swiftly, I quickly rushed after her, determined to catch her and not lose this race. It was a point of pride to me that I was fast. My athleticism had been noted from many of my pack, and at the games we held each year, I always prided myself in the activities I won. No-one in the sister pack could beat me either, and that always gave me a sense of satisfaction.
Today however, I found myself struggling to catch up. This wolf was fast! And I couldn’t catch up with her. Her long limbs thundered along the shoreline; her grace effortless while I panted my exertion at the extra push I needed to even close some of the gap between us.
Determined, I rushed her, taking advantage of the fact she’d slowed to look behind her to see where I was. Taking her down and tumbling along the sand with her in tow, I revelled in my capture.
Unwilling to be caught, she sprang back up and we faced each other, our stances both tense and ready. The chase was on.
I moved first this time, and I headed up the beach. I could hear her just behind me, dogging my every step and as I neared the three cliffs, she took me down, taking me to the sand from behind, having caught me fair and square. We tumbled over and over, her attempts to pin me to the sand being fought at every move. I wrestled away, constantly moving to avoid capture and once up, shot off again, up through the gap in the cliffs and then towards the back of the beach, where the forested area lay beyond.
If I could get to the forest, then I could surely lose her, I mused. I knew every nook and cranny, every cave and crevice. I kept going, my limbs straining under the effort it took to stay ahead. She was fast, and I knew we were so evenly matched that it was somewhat of a challenge to stay ahead.
Rushing into the forest, I darted this way and that, in and out of the trees and as I reached a clearing, she took me down once more, landing on me heavily and knocking the air out of me. We tumbled through the undergrowth in a mass of limbs, her heavier frame able to hold me down far easily than I could maintain dominance over her.
‘No!’ I objected, telepathically.
She held me fiercely, as I struggled beneath her, fighting with her to release me. The trouble was, she was so, damn strong and at this proximity and there was another major issue. Her scent. Suddenly, it invaded my every sense. It surrounded me. It made my head grow dizzy. I made me yield. Succumbing beneath her, I allowed her to win, her strong body holding mine captive. My mind was in turmoil, and I felt bewildered and confused, her invasive scent messing with my head.
‘Got you,’ she murmured, in her head.
That had me waking back to my alert mind. Annoyance flooded me and I struggled once more, getting away from her and darting away at speed, knowing she’d chase. I fled for the beach, down the sand and through the cliffs, all the way down to the shoreline. When I reached the sea first, I was exhausted but happy. I’d won, at last.
‘Great chase,’ she said, panting by my side, moments later.
I looked at her, still breathing hard. ‘Who are you?’ I wanted to know, my wolf and human interested beyond measure.
‘Who are you?’ she repeated back.
I stared at her, intrigued but wary, nonetheless. ‘Who are you?’ I said again.
‘I’m the one who is going to beat you at the games,’ she replied, her wolf’s eyes intent on mine as we communicated through our minds.
Her words pissed me off, and I growled a low warning sound. ‘No-one beats me,’ I told her, angrily.
‘Wanna bet?’ she replied, sounding pleased with herself. Turning, she shot off, heading for the for
I walked slowly to the rocks by the cliffs and then slumped to the sand, utterly exhausted from the chase. The light was beginning to come up, but I was so, so tired. Curling into the safety and shelter of the cliff, I bent my head to the sand, closed my eyes and went to sleep. Blackness consumed me, and I became lost in a dream world of beautiful, white wolves and glimmering, blue eyes.
When I woke, it was to sounds coming from various areas on the beach. Getting up, I quickly dressed as I’d shifted back in my sleep. Standing and stretching, I saw a few people I knew, clearly beginning preparations for the gathering that was happening in a few days. I hurried up the beach, trying to stay unnoticed and made my way up the paths which led back to the village. When I reached home, I attempted to slip in unawares, but it was to no avail. The damn woman was on me the second I walked in.
‘Caliopia! Where on earth have you been?’ she demanded.
‘Oh hey, Mum,’ I murmured, unwilling to engage in a confrontation at this time in the morning.
‘Don’t you ‘hey mum’ me!’ she exploded. ‘I’ve been calling around for ages in search of you! Where have you been?’
‘Down at the beach,’ I told her. ‘I was practicing for the games.’
‘Ridiculous!’ she scoffed. ‘I don’t know why you put so much time and effort into something so worthless. It’s entertainment, that is all Caliopia. Your focus should be elsewhere,’ she said, clearly.
‘Mum, please…we’ve been over this.’
‘No, I won’t, Caliopia. You are twenty-eight years old, for goodness’s sake! It’s time you settled down and take on your responsibilities. I want grand cubs before I die, and I will damn well cut you off if you don’t claim someone at the next ceremony. I’ve had enough, Caliopia. Your father would be ashamed,’ she said bitterly, before turning and stalking off.
I watched her go, feeling sadness coarse through me. She always threw him back in my face when she was angry, and I hated her for it. It wasn’t fair, and she knew how much the memory of him affected me.
‘Hey Callie,’ my brother said, coming into the room.
‘Oh, hey Cam,’ I replied.
‘You just got in?’ he frowned.
‘I couldn’t sleep,’ I told him.
‘You went and trained again?’ he asked.
‘Yeah…down the beach,’ I replied.
‘You know Mum’s on the warpath,’ he said, eyeing me carefully.
‘Oh, I know. bloody woman just told me she’d cut me off if I don’t claim someone at the next ceremony. Who the hell does she think she is to demand that I tie myself to someone? There’s no-one in the pack I want to claim! I’d be miserable!’ I ranted.
‘I know,’ he sighed. ‘I’m the same though, Cal. She’s said the same to me,’ he sighed. ‘But I’m more screwed that you are,’ he said, walking over to the sofa and sinking down on the soft couch.
‘Yeah? Why? I thought we were in the same boat,’ I said, going over to sit beside him. ‘I mean, neither of us date any of the single pack members, do we? How is that different that we have to choose from them?’ I asked him.
He sighed, looking over at me. ‘Cal…’ he murmured, in warning.
‘No, tell me! I want to know!’ I exclaimed.
‘It’s just…more difficult for me…’ he said, cautiously.
‘Why? Why is it different?’ I demanded. ‘We’re only a year apart, we both don’t date and there’s no-one single we’re attracted to in the pack! What’s different?’
He sighed. ‘I just…well, I want different things, Callie.’
‘Like what? I mean I want different things! I want to fall in love-or at the very least be attracted to my partner! Is that what you’re talking about?’ I questioned.
‘Uh, no,’ he said, looking uncomfortable.
I frowned at him.
‘I do date, Cal,’ he told me then, ‘But I go out of town to do it…away from here…away from pack,’ he explained.
‘Oh! You’re seeing someone?’ I wanted to know.
‘No,’ he denied. ‘But I’ve dated. I’ve dated enough to know what I like and know what I’m looking for.’
‘Yeah?’ I prompted. ‘Which is what?’ I asked again.
He looked more than a little unsure about telling me, but then finally did, flooring me. ‘A guy,’ he said, quietly. ‘I prefer guys, Cal.’
My eyes widened to huge orbs as I took in this knowledge. ‘You like…guys? You’re gay, Cam?’ I asked, needing to know.
‘Yeah,’ he nodded, his eyes scanning mine. ‘Do you hate me now? Are you disgusted?’ he asked.
‘What? No!’ I cried, shaking my head. ‘I’m just shocked! You’ve never given any indication that was how you were thinking! You hid it so well! Oh my God, Cam! You just came out to me!’ I cried, launching myself at him and hugging the hell out of him, warmly.
‘You still love me?’ he asked, against my shoulder.
‘I love you so much,’ I said, kissing his cheek and cupping his face, ‘And nothing will ever change that. All I want is for you to be happy, and if that’s being with guys, that’s amazing. God, I see what you mean though? It is harder for you-people expect you to settle down with a woman and produce cubs!’
‘I know,’ he sighed. ‘And it’s never going to happen. I’d be beyond miserable, Cal. I can’t do it, even if it means being shunned by Mum. I have to be with a guy. If I tie myself to a woman, I’d spend the rest of my life being depressed and repressing the part of me which is so desperate to come out.’
‘Why don’t you do that then? Just come out?’ I asked.
He sighed. ‘You know why, Cal.’
‘Mum,’ I nodded.
‘Yeah. She’s old fashioned. She doesn’t understand it. Remember when Ernistaz and Krighton claimed each other in the ceremony a year ago? She was disgusted, do you remember? She called it unnatural. She was repulsed. How can I be honest with her and expect a positive reaction?’
I shook my head. ‘I don’t know,’ I murmured.
‘She’s demanding both of us put ourselves up there at the next claiming ceremony too,’ he said, gravely. ‘You know that’s just under a month away.’
‘Look, we don’t have to do it,’ I told him, ‘But we might have to accept that moving out is the right choice instead. I mean, we’re both able to stand on our own two feet,’ I murmured. ‘We both have jobs and are earning. We could even club together and move out. If it gives us the freedom to live our lives the way we want, I reckon we go for it.’
‘So, we’re standing strong?’ he questioned.
‘Hell yeah! I’m not marrying some dope who I haven’t got the slightest bit of interest in!’ I exclaimed, frowning. ‘God, I’ve never even met anyone I want to date longer than a few months, let alone tie myself to for the rest of my days!’
His eyebrow quirked and he studied me with interest. ‘Why do you think that is? I mean, you’re right. You’ve always moved on pretty quickly when dating guys.’
‘It’s just boring…and none of them have smelt right,’ I sighed. ‘Maybe I’m just not destined to mate. It sure as hell doesn’t seem like it anyway,’ I murmured.
‘You’ll get there,’ he consoled, reaching over with his hand laid on mine. ‘Sometimes it just takes longer,’ he added.
‘I don’t know…I mean, as our pack stands, choice is limited. There’s literally no-one I would even consider, quite frankly.’
‘Talking of packs though, did you hear the news from the north?’ he asked.
‘No?’ I frowned, ‘What news?’
‘The sister pack are under fire from a hybrid clan apparently. They’ve been attacked on three occasions I was told-and these hybrids even killed a whole group of wolves from a neighbouring pack of theirs. The massacre was so bad that the Nritang took on the remaining members-just five of them, I was told.’
‘Who did you hear this from?’
‘Tramant; my friend from the Nritang,’ he told me, gravely.
‘Wow,’ I breathed. ‘That’s awful,’ I murmured.
‘Yeah, it sounds pretty bad. I know there was talk of a move…’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked him.
‘Well, their home is dangerous now. Apparently, they’re considering moving their entire pack elsewhere,’ he explained.
