"Might I add, you werewolves stink!"
At this point, the werewolves could only glare subtly at the speaker.
Her name was Tinwart M-G. One of the moon goddesses with the most hate vote at Wocade.
On a closer scale, she was the one fawning the Moon Goddess Overseer in Pinwa M-G quarters.
Like every other Moon Goddess, her left arm was branded with various fitting ceramic accessories. The ceramic accessories, tribute to themselves as respect and a reminder of the ancients Moon Goddesses.
"And somehow...a lot of you werewolves still survived. A pity really. Really pitiful."
"To you lots here, I wish you a blissful life at the academy. Enjoy"
With that said, Tinwart M-G exited the large auditorium, her green gown forming an arc as it continued to drag on the floor.
Werewolves gradually left the auditorium, the noise increasing as some chatted among themselves.
"...so...What do you guys think? Of forming pack?"
Rali Beta started, her question halting the movements of Tri, Tan, Ruby, and Ephraim.
"Are you kidding? That would be awesome! Tan, can you believe this? I've always dreamt of a day like this" Tri squealed
"I have no opinion" Tan said replying to his brother's hopeful eyes
"Yes!"
He cheered.
Now facing Ephraim and Ruby, completely disregarding their personal space, his eyes sparkled, waiting for their reply.
"I mean… we aren't encouraged to do this...and – "
"No"
With that, Ruby left.
Ephraim sighed right on her tail, muttering his greeting to the others.
Rali gave a deep look in their direction. She knew what she wanted, and she was definitely going to get it. A glint flashed in her eyes before walking away.
"W-what?"
Tri was confused. Ruby seemed to change at the split moment.
Her expression indifferent, coming straight at them like fools, disregarding their thoughts, with a cold tone.
That single word chasing all the delight Tri had felt. He thought...hoped that it would be fine. They would form a pack like werewolves should. After all, they teamed up well during The Brawl.
"Come on Tri. Don't dwell on it." Tan said dragging his brother, going in the opposite direction.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"You could have been a bit nicer. Now I doubt we'll still count as friends"
"It doesn't matter"
"But you care!"
Ephraim exclaimed now focusing on the younger girl's figure.
"No, I don't"
"Yes, you do"
"No. Why would I?"
"Oh...I don't know. Maybe the fact that you added more than the requirement"
"Or the fact that you stirred it anti-clockwise" Ephraim pointed out.
Ruby stopped her actions, looking flustered that he was right. She had been stirring the solution in the wrong order.
"T-T-That does – doesn't count"
"What about the fact that all the chemical you used are wrong?"
At that, Ephraim pulled Ruby backwards, watching cautiously as foam and smoke began to rise from the Erlenmeyer Flask.
Ruby groaned, removing the safety googles from her eyes.
"I really wasn't planning to be mean. I just – I just switched okay!"
"I know, but they don't."
Ephraim helped by emptying the failed experiment.
They were in the chemistry room working on a last-minute finding. With Ruby's water vessel and Ephraim's belongings set aside.
School resumed like normal immediately after The Brawl as there was no breaks for them.
Although resting is advisable after such intense activity, this barely affected the werewolves… at least those with stronger capabilities.
And yes. A werewolf school is pretty normal, no surprises there.
Getting another Erlenmeyer Flask with the right chemicals and materials this time, the duo moved to another table.
"Can we not talk about it?"
"About what?" Ephraim 'naively' asked.
She shot him an annoyed look at his feigned innocence.
"Ooohh...your supposed 'switching'?" Ephraim teased
"That's it"
Ruby removed her gloves, lunging at Ephraim as he skilfully dodged, like the two had done this multiple times.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kief N5-Alpha absent-mindedly listened to Rali Beta as they headed to the chemistry laboratory room.
His sight remained on the werewolf who had just received a warning notice. At the sight of this, the werewolf was collectively isolated by others.
Their act was very natural as some headed to class, some injured from the brawl heading for treatment.
He watched as the werewolf face changed from annoyance to despair.
Getting a warning notice equals isolation from others for a certain period. Even after that, interacting with werewolves gets really difficult.
Kief N5-Alpha clenched his fist subtly.
It was becoming worse. The whole civilization...and he felt...no he was powerless.
Self-deprecating.
He turned his eyes away, lips pursing into a thin line.
One wouldn't understand what he was feeling. They obviously had a chance to change it all but…
"I'd like to know them more"
His attention now back on Rali noticing they had reached the Chemistry Laboratory room.
"I'm sure they'll like that" Kief smiled at Rali, giving his assurance.
He heard familiar voices from the Chemistry Laboratory Room.
"...supposed 'switching'?"
"That's it"
"I'm kidding! Just kidding..."
Unconsciously, his mood uplifted. The clouded look in his eyes giving off warmth.
Opening the door, Kief N5-Alpha wasn't surprised at the sight of his two assistants arguing again.
The same couldn't be said for the two assistants though.
Ruby and Ephraim stopped with their antics, turning to the door, noticing someone entering. Ruby's wrists being held by Ephraim, an attempt to stop the punch aiming for him.
Seeing their teacher's amused faced, they were embarrassed. Even more so when they noticed Rali right behind Kief looking amused.
"You're going to stay like that?" The Alpha's tone was laced with amusement
At his words, the two scrambled away from each other.
"Now that's settled. This is Rali Beta"
"...yeah"
"Rali here would be the best werewolf you could ask for help from. Especially with this project." Kief said as he noted the failed experiment.
"Isn't there someone else?"
Kief raised his eyebrows at this.
Ruby wasn't the type to ignore help with studies. Guessing something might have happened, he excused himself leaving the trio to sort themselves.
"You need help"
It wasn't a question or suggestion. Rali knew and she was determined.
"...yeah" Ruby small voice was quite loud in the quiet room.
"Well, I'm not helping."
"We need to get this project done with and Ruby is sorry from earlier. Right Ruby?"
"Sorry for sounding harsh… I just didn't want to form a pack."
It was silent and nerve-wracking for the duo as the waited for Rali's response.
Rali wasn't the warmest person, at least before you knew her. She had her hands crossed, resting on the slab.
Slowly looking at them as her faced revealed a smile, she offered.
"I don't mind. I'll only help if we form a pack though."
There wasn't an option for them.
It was either to form a pack with her or fail the project and be punished by a moon goddess. And that was not something they wanted.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;;;;;
"Do we have to go this deep? I'm tired"
"We're almost there." Rali answered to Ruby.
The Wocade was over. Ruby, Rali, Ephraim, Tri and Tan ended up as a pack with Kief N5-Alpha to tie the moon contract. With the contract formed, they were officially in a pack, never to betray each other. After all, that's the essence of a pack.
It was done privately, which is suitable considering their act could immediately attract unwanted problems.
"I don't see why the base has to be here. It's so far from home"
Ephraim was obviously tired. A large contrast with the beaming Tri and the calm Tan.
"We're here"
The gave Rali who whispered a glance, before turning to the house.
An aged wooden house surrounded by short barricade of bricked wall, the entrance to the house being a wooden gate.
It was barely visible to the ears but with the natural superhuman senses, one would hear the low creak of the door. Its purpose seeming to alert the house as the light from the windows dimmed, gradually being dark.
The moon, brighter than ever, reflecting on the windows surface.
Bang!
Ruby and the others looking up for the source. The sound was clearly from the house, the exact location remains unknown.
The howling wind did no justice to the chills and goosebumps gotten from the house.
Right on top of the roof laid a globe. Its mechanism for its stability was questionable noting it stood right at the pointed tip of the roof.
The globe rotated slowly, with respect to the wind, along its axis.
"It was my sisters."
At their questioning gaze, Rali continued.
"Her pack...they stayed here."
They didn't question further. With time, they'll know more.
Although the act of forming a pack irresponsibly was questionable, it didn't matter. They just had to get along, the best way they can, eventually.
A Level 5 Pack Hangout, isolated with its aged look and from the general public, unique to them only.
"It's quite old." Tan stated.
They moved towards the house.
"Wait till you see inside" Rali smiled.