Chatterbox: Inkwell

I'm not really back, but I'm posting my camp NaNo novel (or what I've written of it) for critiqueing. I'm still trying to finish the werewolf novel based on that old rp that Snake and Elizabeth M. did with me. Hi Snake & Elizabeth M.! =)  I won't have a lot of time to post anymore so sadly I can't rejoin the dragon rp =( but I had to say hi since I have some time now, and here's the first two chapters of my novel, please tell me any ideas you have for making it better! =)

& Admins, sorry this is so long. It's ok if you only post the first chapter or something like that if you don't have time/room/etc for such a long post. =)

Thanks! 

Chapter One

Tala

Marcus, Leo, and Sylvia all ran beside me through the streets, the wind hitting our faces as we went. We ran faster than was humanly possible, only slowing when a hominem (that means human, by the way) turned our way. Our run took us around the small town, down main street, and back to the manor. I grinned when the gate to our property came into view, and with a quick glance around to make sure no hominems were watching, me and the others leapt up over the tall gate. Our jumps were easily higher than 15 feet. We literally hit the ground running, then sped off across the courtyard and toward the mansion.

We stopped at the giant double doors, opened them, and were greeted by an angry looking Uncle Richie walking toward us. He scowled at us, fangs bared, and stepped aside so we could enter the house. I noticed that his hands were clenched into fists, and when he opened his hands a bit, I could see that his fingernails had  grown into long, sharp claws.

“I saw you out of the study window,” He said, sounding disappointed and angry at the same time. “You shouldn’t be running above hominem speeds in town, and especially not in broad daylight. What if someone saw you just now; jumping over the fence like that? Especially you, Tala, your jump nearly cleared 20 feet!”

“Richie, no one saw us.” Leo said dismissively, acting like Richie’s anger and the fact that we could have been seen was nothing. Richie just glowered harder at Leo instead of at me.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Richie.” I said slowly and quietly. “No one saw us out there.” I laid my hand lightly on my Uncle’s arm. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but he just grumbled something under his breath and turned to return to his study.

Me and my cousins ran through the house and into the backyard, away from our uncle. Yes, our uncle, not their dad. None of us are Richie’s children. My father, (who’s name was Fredrick) and his older brother, Helios, used to run the pack. Richie is the youngest brother of the three. Marcus, Leo and Sylvia (the twins) and Danielle are all Helios’s children. Or were, in Danielle’s case. Danielle, Helios and my Dad, as well as mine and my cousin’s moms, Richie’s family, and dozens of others, were killed by Interfectores when our pack was discovered six years ago. Some of their bodies were never even found. Those of us who survived ran and regrouped, and Richie took all of us– his nieces and nephews– in.

We ran out into the large backyard, and a slight breeze ruffled my hair as we sat down on the grass. The full moon (or Purnima) was already starting to rise over the tops of the trees, and wolf howls echoed through the afternoon air. It was only about four thirty in the afternoon, but it was already starting to get dark. It was also starting to get colder. I shivered. 

“The pack is coming.” Sylvia said quietly. The rest of us simply nodded. We could all feel the presence of our pack nearby. We could also feel Purnima’s calling, and come around midnight it would become too strong to ignore; our whole species (or at least those of us on Eastern time) would transfigure into our graceful wolf forms.

Just then a movement in the forest to my left caught my attention, and my gaze was drawn to where I had seen motion in the leaves. I squinted into the underbrush for a moment, but then went back to staring at the moon.

Richie’s property went all the way from the edge of town to the large stream in the center of the woods. The backyard of the manor borders the forest, and all our land is surrounded by a ten-foot iron fence, one of those “fancy ones with spikes on top” as I used to call it when I was younger.

No one– except the pack– gets onto or off of our land without our permission. Only insects, squirrels, rabbits, rodents, birds, and the occasional small fox inhabits our forest. Nothing large, like deer or bears, or natural (natural here meaning the kind that can’t change into humans at will) wolves. That’s why when I saw the leaves rustle a second time, I got suspicious, thinking it was one of the pack playing tricks. Or maybe worse.

I turned my head towards where the rustling had come from, and my hunter instincts kicked in a little. I blinked, switching from hominem vision to my sharper, clearer Lyca (or “werewolf”) vision. The black void beyond the first line of trees was suddenly lightened, and I saw a figure silhouetted in the darkness. A tall, hominem figure. Not one of our pack; the pack shows themselves first as wolves, so we know it’s them.

“Someone’s out there.” I said quietly, so that only my cousins could here me. I could sense my jet-black fur starting to sprout on my arms and legs, and my nails grew into claws. My fangs (which when I’m in human form can pass for unusually-long-but-not-freakily-long canines) elongated and nearly sliced open my tongue. I nearly jumped out of my skin when Marus placed his hand on my shoulder.

“What are you doing, Tala?” Marcus asked nervously. “There’s no one out there.”

I looked back out into the woods. He was right, there was no one in the trees. I reverted back to hominem form, realizing that whoever it was must have ran away while I was focused on transforming. I growled.

Just then the last of the late autumn sunlight disappeared, and a loud, keening howl started from in the woods somewhere. More joined in from all directions. Marcus joined in, changing from human form to wolf form as he did, his body changing from hominem boy to dark brown wolf. Sylvia and Leo did the same, their sandy brown hair spreading over their bodies until they were encased in dark golden fur. I copied them, my black fur thickening by the second. Richie came out of the house and changed to wolf form, dark brown fur with grey streaks covered him. All our eyes changed from their original colors to pure black.

Right as the howl stopped, the first of our pack emerged from the trees, all in wolf form. The full moon hadn’t reached it’s high point yet, but we stayed wolves anyway, enjoying the freedom of being dogs, or in the girls’ cases… well, a word that’s beeped out on TV shows.

Chapter Two

Neoma

“Neoma? Neoma!” I could clearly hear Karl calling my name, but I purposely ignored him, going back to the task at hand. I’ve been trying to avoid Karl at school, because since he found out I’m a werewolf when I was younger, Karl always wants to keep an eye on me. I heard Karl’s footsteps approaching (even though he was still about 30 feet away) and wiped red liquid off my face, standing and moving away from the mangled remains of my fruit punch juice box, which I had dropped on the way outside when the bell rang for the end of school. The strawberry/apple/grape flavored drink was all over the linoleum floor of the school corridor. I wiped the rest of the juice up with the paper towel in my hand, then threw the towel and the now empty juice container in the trash. I turned to leave and ran smack into Karl. So much for avoiding him.

“Neoma, you have to stop trying to hide from me. I’m trying to help you.” He said, sounding hurt. I half sighed, half growled at him, Then adjusted my backpack so the weight wasn’t all on my left shoulder, and started to walk around him. He just stepped sideways so he was in front of me again. Seriously, older brothers can be so annoying!

“Key word in that sentence: trying. Karl, look, I know you’re just being nice, being a protective older brother and all that, but I don’t understand what you’re worried about.”

“I’m worried about the fact that you’re a werewolf, Neoma!” He said, sounding almost frightened. “You’re my little sister, even if it’s not by blood. I feel like I should protect you.”

“That’s really sweet, Karl, and I appreciate it, but who are you protecting me from? The big bad wolf?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “In case you’ve forgotten–”

I stopped as the school janitor rounded the corner and started mopping the floor not ten feet from where we were standing. I pulled Karl around the school until we were alone again, right outside the art room. The art teacher always leaves early, so I knew we wouldn’t have anyone listening in on our conversation.

“In case you’ve forgotten, big brother, I’m a werewolf and could probably kick the big bad wolf’s butt anytime.” I let my claws and fangs grow longer as I spoke.

Just then I sensed someone else in the hall with us, and I spun around to yell at whoever it was to get lost, only to come face to face with, you guessed it– or maybe you didn’t– the big bad wolf.

“Aah!” I screamed and took a step back, then growled and forced my fangs and claws back to human size (or close enough, anyway) as William kept laughing, taking his mask off and stuffing it in his backpack.

“You were saying?” Karl said, sounding triumphant. I went from glaring at Will to glaring at my brother, then back.

“You guys are jerks.” I said, and tried to keep my face serious, but their laughter was infectious, and soon I couldn’t help but join in.

“You got so scared!” Will said between fits of laughter. After a few minutes we finally stopped laughing and tried to catch our breaths.

“Really great timing, Will.” I said sarcastically, pushing my purple streaked hair behind my ear. “So how long have you two been planning this scene?”

“I had no part in it.” Karl held his hands up in mock surrender, then pointed at Will. “It was all him. I had no idea he was going to do that.”

“Guilty as charged.” Will said, still holding down more laughter. “But you do have to admit that really was great timing. I heard you say ‘big bad wolf’ almost right as I was jumping out!” He started laughing again.

“Wait, what else did you hear?” I said, suddenly nervous. I tried not to show my anxiety on my face.

“Nothing. Just ‘big bad wolf’ then I couldn’t hear you, so I moved closer, then all I heard you say was ‘anytime’. What were you guys talking about?” He asked, the goofy grin still on his face.

“Nothing.” Karl and I both said hurriedly. Will’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, but I could see the amused bewilderment on his face.

“Nothing.” I repeated, quieter this time. I pushed past Will and headed toward the door. I could sense Karl watching me, but I didn’t look back.

I pushed open the door and started making my way home to our apartment. I stopped and turned to look at the school. It was still pretty early in the afternoon, but even though it was barely past 4 o’clock, I could see the full moon starting to rise. I shivered in the chilly September air.

As I started down the sidewalk, I had the sudden feeling that I was being watched. I turned around, but I didn’t see anyone there. Still walking, I let my claws lengthen. The feeling got even stronger. I could sense someone staring at me, and my heart raced, trying to beat the world record for how many times a teenage were-wolf’s heart can beat in a nanosecond. I tried to convince myself that I was letting my fear get the best of me, but in the fading light it was hard not to imagine someone– or something– spying on me from the shadows.

“Neoma!” Karl’s voice made me jump. “Neoma! Wait!”

I slowed down enough for him to catch up to me. The feeling that I was being watched had nearly disappeared completely by the time my brother ran up beside me.

“Where’s Will?” I asked. Karl looked back over his shoulder, at the school.

“He had to stay and help Mrs. Winter clean up her classroom today, because of the incident in science class this morning.” Karl said with a chuckle. Will had, apparently, made a huge deal (not to mention a huge mess) out of a science experiment during biology in Mrs. Winter’s room. Being a freshman (not a sophomore, like Will and Karl) I hadn’t been there to see the show. But the story had rotated through nearly the whole school by the time school ended.

“Does Will ever go a day without doing something insane?” I asked Karl, jokingly. He laughed, then for a while we were silent, our footsteps pattering on the concrete. 

“Hey, Neoma?” Karl finally said, almost twenty-five minutes later, when we were only two blocks from our apartment.

“Hmm?” I stopped walking to bend down and pick up a shard of purple glass. I smiled,  knowing that I could definitely use the purple shard for the sculpture I was working on, then took my plastic pencil case out of my backpack and placed the glass inside it. I put the pencil case back, then looked up to see that Karl was waiting for me a few steps ahead. I started walking again, and Karl kept in step with me.

“Neoma, maybe I should… You know, stay up late tonight, to make sure you don’t…” His voice trailed off.

“Make sure I don’t what?” I prompted, glaring at him. I knew exactly what he was going to say. Karl shoved his hands in his pockets.

“Well, to make sure you don’t, do anything weird.” He said nervously.

“Oh, so turning into a huge brown and purple wolf isn’t weird?” I said sarcastically, still glowering at him. “Karl, once again, I know you’re trying to help, but nothing’s ever happened before. Even during a full moon, my mind is still almost completely human, and I take those dumb allergy pills every night anyway. Those things make me drowsy as heck. Nothing bad is gonna happen tonight. Never has, never will.” I kept walking, pretending not to hear Karl’s mumbled reply of,

“I’m staying up anyway.”