The song is called Native American Flute Music: Meditation Music for Shaminic Astral Projection, healibg music.
That was a mouthful!

The picture is titled Meteor Shower, Snow, and Bananarepublic on Pinterest.

I'm going to be extending the length of the chapters.

Rewrote and am tired of reading it, please comment any errors that need to be edited. Thank you for indulging my laziness.

"I still can't believe I shifted two days ago, I'm so happy!" I grinned at Ivy and Jade who were perched on the branch above me. The three of us sat on the boughs of an enormous pine cone tree. I cracked a cone open and fished out a couple seeds to pop in my mouth. They didn't taste like anything but I guess it gives me something to do.

"You better believe it, Girly!" Ivy called down.

"I can't wait until the ceremony tonight! It's always waaay more exciting when someone you know really well is recognized!" Jade squealed while braiding an indifferent Ivy's hair.

Tonight was the full moon, and after a whole bunch of boring updates that everyone pretty much already knows, I'll be recognized in front of my whole pack. This has been the tradition of the Silver Moon Pack for as long as anyone can remember. I felt nervous just thinking about it.

"Come on! It's just our pack, we'll be fine," retorted Brook.

"I know, but I hate being in front of so many people!" I grumbled. "They already know I shifted, I don't see why I have to go to this stupid meeting." I leaned back against the tree branch I was on and just listened to the sound of birds chattering.

"Ow!"

"Oops, sorry Ivy!" Jade giggled, apparently having tugged a little too hard on Ivy's hair.

An image popped into our minds through the pack link of the three of us climbing down from our tree and walking back to camp. We looked down to see Scarlet, one of the more experienced warriors, staring at us with silver eyes against her equally colored fur.

Scarlet, like many of our pack, couldn't speak or turn into a human form. She, and the others like her, weren't werewolves. They were simply, wolves. We communicated with each other through images. Even though we shared the mind link, they didn't have the same level of intelligence as werewolves do; however, they were still extremely bright, and my pack always ensured they were treated equally except for one of the pack rules. A mere wolf is never to become an Alpha due to communication issues with werewolves. Also, a werewolf can comprehend more information than a wolf can.

I quickly confirmed we understood that we were to return to camp by repeating what she showed us through the link. She gave her tail a slight wag before padding away.

Ivy, Jade, and I scampered down the tree and made our way back to camp. It was nestled into a steep hill, flat from where we were to the south west, but on the north and east sides it fell deep into the ground where it lay open to the world as if welcoming nature in all forms to visit our humble home of dens and workplaces.

Once we arrived, my mother, Cascade, met us and pulled me away from my friends who a little too warmly smiled at her in greeting. They're probably hoping to be spared from whatever torture lays ahead for the ceremony tonight, I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Sooooo, are you excited?" Mom held my shoulders to look me over.

"Yeah, sure," I grudgingly answered, trying to make my tone convincing.

"Marvelous!" she exclaimed while leading me home. I longingly glanced over my shoulder at my friends who were bounding away. I turned back towards the horrible fate that awaited me back home.

"I hate whoever the moron was that came up with dresses," I growled to Brook.

"Ditto."

__

The full moon climbed the sky until it rest directly overhead. My father stood back a few paces on the ledge while Scorch announced the training plan for this month.

"And to wrap it up, the werewolves who haven't shifted," he paused to glare at a cluster of kids who had been loudly whispering throughout the meeting. "will be going over stealthiness until they have learned how. to be. QUIET." he emphasized each word and was proceeded by moans. I suddenly didn't care so much that I had to be recognized by the pack if it meant escaping yet another dreadfully boring session of crouching, holding still, not talking, and sneaking through the undergrowth; being covered in burrs by the time the session ended.

He stepped back on the ledge before disappearing into the side tunnel and reappearing on ground level where he joined his mate, Winter. In his absence, Dad stepped forward and announced, "With that, I would like to welcome our new pack members. All those who have shifted since the last full moon, please step forward in front of the tunnel."

All heads turned in the direction of the tunnel which my mother nudged me to walk towards. I stepped forward, my grass green dress, which actually did have grass tightly weaved over my belly onto the silky hide composing a vest. The tightly woven, green stained cloth forming the lower half slightly blew on the breeze. My lungs constricted as I felt a number of eyes staring at me, and I subconsciously pulled loose strands of my long, brown hair out of my face. Most of it was in a braid going over my left shoulder with a single, symbolic red hawk feather over my ear.

I hurried to the front of the tunnel that twisted up to the ledge my father stood on. I was the only one who shifted this moon, which was common considering the size of our pack.

I looked forward at nothing specific as my father called, "I hereby offer you the right of passage. If you wish to accept the Silver Moon Pack and equally accept our laws, state your name and join me here on this full moon."

"Brook," I replied too softly for my liking, but I knew they could hear me as I was a soul amongst wolves. Before I could do anything stupid, I turned and entered the tunnel. Like all those who have come before me, I shifted to my wolf, having stashed my cloths away in the crevice that lay along the edge of the tunnel that concealed me. If I were to leave it on, only destruction could lie in its fate as my body morphed into a much wider, longer, and furrier form. Even though my hair turned to fur, the feather remained knotted just below my ear.

I stepped out onto the ledge and stood before my father, my chest tightening as a feeling of claustrophobia overcame me from all the sets of eyes. I glanced down at my pack to see both Mom and Jade crying silent tears while Ivy had a goofy smile. My eyes slid over all my nearest friends and when they fell to Geyser, he gave me an encouraging wink before I turned to face my father.

I noticed the bowl of red powder that he must have been holding the whole time; it also held a striking white feather with black notches only possessed by a snowy owl.

As is tradition, I bowed with my right forepaw lifted to my father as he dipped two fingers into the rusty red powder.

"Brook," he began the ancient ritual to the right of passage, "you have been bonded, by the most powerful of magic to our pack's young brave." The term for a pack member who has not finished their training reminded me of all the new tasks and challenges left for me to face before becoming a Warrior. He continued before my mind wandered any further, "guide her, protect her, and most of all, accompany her as a dear friend in all that she does.

"As your Alfa, I here by welcome you to the Silver Moon Pack!" my pack mates roared in approval as he used the red dirt to make our mark on my forehead.

When silence once again fell, I rose to my full height as the bowl was set aside, and in his hands, laid the enchanting owl feather.

"Crystal, you have shown great commitment to your pack over the past sixteen springs that you have lived. You have already received the hawks feather, symbolizing your success as a young brave."

I had to force myself not to reach up and stroke the feather that twisted on the wind before everything fell eerily still.

"And now, you have been kindled for the rest of eternity with your wolf. Together, you will both strengthen the pack beyond measure, and I am sure the land will treat you well for it," with that, he reached forward while I closed my eyes, ducking my head. Having done it many times before, he skillfully twisted the feather into my hair alongside the one from a hawk.

After standing, I dipped my head to the pack and stumbled into the tunnel taking a deep breath, "Welcome to the pack, Brook.

She sighed, relieved, "That was a lot more than I expected!"

I smiled and once I'd ensured that I was alone, shifted to human form. I changed back into my dress and emerged from the darkness. The pack was already dispersing as the meeting had concluded when I walked away. I silently walked towards my family's den, one of the larger structures in the housing district, when Ivy bounded up to me.

"Some of us are going hunting tomorrow, want to join?" she asked even though she already knew the answer.

"Sounds great, I'm gonna go to sleep. What time are we leaving tomorrow?" I looked at her but my gaze wandered back to my den which I desperately wanted to return to.

"Shortly after dawn."

"Uuugh, why so early?" I moaned. Normally, I'd be expected to wake up that early anyways, but never after a pack meeting since they ran late into the night.

"We want to try and reach Misty Meadows before sun high, that way we can sleep before the elk come out." she said mater of factly. "If we're there before, they won't see us coming!"

I grunted before wishing her good night and turning home.

I fell on my bed, a pile of leaves covered in hides to be precise, and instantly fell into darkness's warm, comforting grasp.

__

My eyes fluttered open as I heard the first howl. At dawn, the night's guard howls to announce the sun's return. At sun high, a second howl is heard. And finally, at dusk, the third howl is what sends half the pack to bed while dragging the other half out.

Currently hating myself for not sleeping any longer, I rolled off my leaf pile and lay on the floor. "Just a few more minutes, Brook," I muttered as darkness once again welcomed me.

I was unfortunately reawakened by my mother, "Either get ready for your patrol or come help me serve the pack breakfast!" she called sternly from the other room.

I grabbed onto a crudely built wooden desk and hauled myself up, stumbling forward at the motion.

After locating a new set of cloths, which I folded into my spare shirt, I leaped out the door and rushed to the food quart. I'm late, I'm late, I'm late...

"If you don't shut up I'm going to cloud your brain with so many thoughts and feelings, you'll cut your own head off to escape me." Brook growled, clearly not a morning wolf.

After choking on my food in a drastic rush not to be the last one ready, which I was anyways, we were now able to proceed. I was the first to shift, and once I came back from the rock I stashed my cloths behind, I was loaded with our gear. Pack rules, last one ready, last voice heard when dividing the load.

Now that my flank was covered with two belts that each held another two medium sized sacks that slapped my belly annoyingly, it was filled with ropes, a couple knives, and the spare cloths everyone brought.

Ivy smiled deviously and for some reason felt like she had to tell me, "I remember the first time I had to carry the supplies. You think it's bad now, wait until we start moving!"

My only response was to glower at her. This miserable morning just got a little worse.

"And you criticize me for how I act in the morning?" The voice chided me in my head while Ivy, Jade, Talon, Geyser, Storm, and I trotted to one of the camp entrances where we broke into a run.

__

We finally found the edge of the forest that wound around a big meadow at the base of several mountains. Big is an understatement. This vast hoard of green and sunshine continued on for miles and miles until it was just a blur on the horizon. The blue fuzziness of my vision blurring where it met the misty mountains. Waves of green grass rippled as a strong gust of wind assaulted the rolling hills from above.

I exhaustedly followed the rest of my patrol who had retreated a few steps away to where we could easily view the great openness from the seclusion of the evergreens that surrounded this side of the meadow.

Ivy and Jade, who had slipped away to shift after grabbing a couple bundles of cloths from me, reappeared and helped take off the belts and untangle my long fur where it had been matted by those torture devices.

Without even bothering to shift, I quickly traced a circle and fell fast asleep.

__

I growled as a foot nudged the corner my head and shoulder made. No, not a foot, a muzzle.

I lifted my head to be met with Jade's green eyes. "There's a herd of elk, c'mon!" she linked me.

It's about time! I thought impatiently. We had been hiding in the shade of the forest for two sunrises now.

"Just be glad it isn't winter," Brook chided.

I carefully rose to my paws and cautiously followed her back to where the others crouched. They were already devising a plan and talking about strategic attacks. I sat and listened until it was time to start our positions. Ivy, Talon, and Storm who all shared dark coats parted in opposite directions while Jade, Geyser, and I stayed as still as possible.

Once we were linked that they were ready, we stealthily moved forward. I stayed in the center, heading straight towards the herd of elk while Jade and Geyser crept off in different directions while slowly making their way around the herd.

We now had them fully encircled. The side of our attack force opposite me was nearer to the herd and began to stalk forward.

My heart beat faster than it ever has before. I took everything in, not wanting to miss a single moment of my first hunt as a wolf.

Snap

My keen ears perked at the sound of movement on the other side of the herd. I crouched even lower to the ground as the elk surveyed their surroundings, ready to run... which is exactly what we want them to do.

Storm sprang from behind a mound of brambles. Talon and Jade followed his lead and the three of them slowly approached the frantic elk.

"Look for the sign," Brook murmured half to herself as we watched the elk like our life depended on it. A few strong members of the herd raced away from their companions. Ivy and Talon charged the remainder of the herd in synce; as Talon moved forward, Ivy moved back, forcing the herd to display all its members. That's when I saw it; there was an elk who momentarily moved to the outer edge. Its hind hoof was injured.

Without hesitation, I mind linked the others what I saw and Storm leaped into action accordingly. Ivy and Talon held the herd steady while Storm worked to drive it in half, jumping in and out. I wasn't worried about him coming so close to danger and slapping it in the face. Storm was one of, if not, the fastest wolves we had.

"They're about to break, be ready!" he yelled.

I shifted my position so I could easily pounce and my sides quivered in excitement.

The herd broke apart into two uneven halves, Storm and Ivy converged on them, driving the uninjured half away. The manageable number of six or seven remained.

"Here they come!" Jade squealed as the herd was forced to run in our direction. Jade, Geyser, and I stealthily repositioned to meet the un-suspecting elk with the injured hoof.

We had to sprint as best we could while slinking low across the ground to meet the elk in our attack position. I waited a few paces deeper in the forest while Jade and Geyser were ready to flank it on either side.

Crash! Thunk! Snap! It was all around us while the terrified elk smashed through the woods to escape our pack mates. The injured creature was pounding straight towards me, five wolf lengths away. Four. Three. Two. One, I thought for a moment it was going to trample me, my heart beating erratically.

White and grey blurs hit it simultaneously from the sides. It stumbled and screamed a horrific gurgle of a cry for the rest of its cowardice herd, but it was to no avail. I jumped up from where I had been crouching and leapt towards the resistant creature which refused to fall.

I sprang and latched onto its throat, my mouth salivating as warm liquid oozed into it. I was barely aware of my pack mates who had been in the field approaching to help finish the mighty creature, but there was no need. With one last tug of my head, I felt a delightful crunch and the elk crumpled to the ground, slain.

I carefully let go and licked my bloody lips, my patrol looking our friend here, over.

"Crystal, would you go get the ropes and knives?" Geyser lifted his head and I nodded, whipping around and back tracking to where we had slept before the hunt.

The sun hid behind the mountains making it hard to judge the time. Everything was cast in a bluish light as I reached the pack's sack. I quickly shifted and pulled on my blue cotton shirt and undyed leather pants.

When I returned, they had already decided how the deer should be divided. Talon and Storm made short work of dividing it up as best they could after changing to human form. The main body was left, being to large to split since we'd lose the valuable internal organs if we did, so we would have to carry it back.

I passed them the ropes and a short time later, we had Ivy and Jade tied to the largest portion to drag it back on top of two large sticks. I shifted and Talon stuffed the remnants into my belt sacks before we leisurely trotted back to camp.

My eyes were starting to droop and my limbs ached towards the end of our journey back.

The moon was rising high overhead when we approached it, the sound of someone speaking coming from inside the barriers. My sides heaved in exhaustion and my muscles burned as we slunk through the south entrance.

The voice fell quiet as we came in view of the camp's center. I looked up and froze, my heart stopped and I was filled with horror. My stomach twisted at what I saw.

In the center of camp lay part of my father's body.

Part of it.

What do you think happened?
A rabid squirrel could have sliced and diced, but than again, this is the Alpha we're talking about. I'd love to hear your thoughts *smiles hopefully*

IMPORTANT!!!!!!

I REALLY would like for you guys to tell me if the elk hunt was to detailed, don't be afraid to offend me, and if you did like it tell me so I don't delete it. It was to introduce their pack's ways, so if it was too out-there, PLEASE let me know.

A simple keep the hunt, remove the hunt, or less detail about the hunt would be greatly appreciated!