I sit down beside the pond, peering down into the water. My reflection stares back up at me. My amber fur glistens in the moonlight, my green eyes twinkle with excitement. Tonight was going to be the happiest night of my life. It is my first test of my coming of age ceremony.

Looking up at the sky, I watch as the stars glisten. Momma always told my brother and I that the stars where our ancestors spirits, and that they would always guide and watch over us. I send a quick prayer to them, hoping they would help guide me tonight.

"Aiyana, time to go," My brother Helaku says from behind me. I pull in a big breath and turn to my brother. His white fur resembles our mothers coat, and his dark eyes were full of love.

"I can't believe my little sister is finally getting her rank." Helaku states, bumping me with his shoulder as I walk beside him. I let out a chuckle and bump him back.

"I know, I have worked so hard these past few months." I boast. Since it is my third year, I am finally getting my own rank. Eventually I may work my way up the wolf hierarchy throughout my life time.

We make our way through the forest, catching onto the scent of the pack. Soon we hear yips and whines from the pups. Did I use to sound like that? I think to myself. Helaku and I start to race towards the noises, nipping at each other's ears. We slow down as we come to the edge of the clearing.

As we step out from under the tree's, we are greated by a short chorus of howls. My mother and father push through pack. They each lick my muzzle and go to stand beside me. My mother is a lead hunter for one of the hunting groups, and my father is the lead warrior, he takes orders directly from the Alphas or the Betas.

A path way through all the wolf body's opens up. We walk towards the large stone ledge where the Alpha Male and Alpha Female stand, Dakota and Nadia.

As soon as we stop beneath the ledge, Dakota steps forward.

"Welcome Aiyana, we will be begin the first test tonight. This test will determine if you are fit to be a Hunter. You will go out with Shasas hunting group tonight. Help and show us your usefulness." Dakota explains. Excitement, fear, and nervousness flows through me, causing me to shiver.

As Shasa walks forward, my mother and father as well as Helaku back away, letting my hunting partners come up beside me. I get to familiarize their scent, placing them in their ranks.

A brown wolf with a scar above his eye, shows submission towards me. He must be a subordinate, not a ranked hunter, but he still helps with any hunting group he can get into. Every pack member hunts, but the main hunters and the lead hunters run the show.

I was classified as a hunter so far, three other hunters were with me. A grey female wolf, named Selena. She helped watch me when I was a pup. She must have moved up from a watcher to a hunter. There are also two males. One is a white wolf with dark spots under his stomach, he looks maybe a year older then me. The other one looks to be almost an Elder, his brown and black fur is matted. He is probably 6 years, his wisdom will help with the hunt tonight.

Shasa gives a little yip, amd we start running through the forest. Tree's blur past us. Shasas ear flicks to the right, , meaning she has caught onto a scent. We slow down to a fast jog. Another ear flick, this time to the left letting the left side of the group know we have to inch around the perimeter of the animal.

The brown and black wolf leads us around, down wind to the prey. The scent of the animal hits me, it is a deer. As we spread out, a growling sound erupts from where the other group should be.

Soon I hear bushes rustling and the deer jumps out of the trees. As soon as the deer finally realizes that she is in danger, the other group jumps out behind her. We slowly push her towards the back of a bolder. Everytime she would try to bolt, someone would snap at her legs, pushing her back farther.

I don't feel confused or afraid, I just feel joy and excitement. Once she backs into the stone, Shasa gives a yip and an ear flick, signaling that we were aloud to attack.

Shasa jumps first, and goes for the animals neck. The rest of us jump at her legs, making her fall to the ground. The deer thrashes, and I grab onto its neck, helping Shasa kill her.

Slowly the animal goes limp. Thank you, you will help feed our pack and supply us with energy we will need. We can not have life without death. I say in my head, thanking the animal. We each back away from the body, letting the Lead hunter eat first. Shasa eats her fill, and then lets the hunters eat.

As I walk up to the fresh kill, a subordinate walks in front of me. A low growl escapes my chest, my ears go back and my tail goes down. It is a cream colored female, that I did not notice during the hunt. She turns towards me and snarls back.

I bare my teeth letting another growl erupt. She finally gets the clue and crawls onto her belly. She roles over and shows submission. I lick her face telling her she is forgiven.

Once the hunters have eaten and the subordinates finesh there food off, we head back to the pack, dragging the body with us.

We are met by a series of howls, everyone jumps around us, tails wagging. Then we set the deer below the stone ledge. Both alphas and both betas come down to eat the kill.

"You did good young one," Shasa says from beside me. I hold my head up a little bit higher. First test down, two more to go. My next tests will be for the scout rank, amd the warrior rank. I could also possibly become a pup watcher, but you need to be very vicious in order to protect them. I also don't have the patience...

"We will meet back here at high moon tommorow night, to begin the second test." Dakota barks. I have no idea which test is coming next, which leaves me on edge. As the clearing begins to empty, the truth finally dawned on me.

In two days, I would be able to start really living, not depending on someone else to save me. I would have my own life. My family comes to me, giving congratulations. They start to head off towards our den, and I follow behind, still deep in thought.

In the distance, I hear an unfimiliar howl. Gazing up at the moon, I feel at peace. Everything was going to be fine.

____________________________________________________________________

Okay so im going to try writing another story. Hopefully this one will last longer! My last story (Tide) didn't work to well, I have actually plotted this story out a bit better then Tide.

Wish me luck!!

~Sierra