Prologue

“The bid starts at four thousand.” Sgt. Sargo talked amongst the small group. His eyes fell upon Ed Albert, the Auctioneer. “What do you think, Ed?”

Ed knelt down toward the child curled in a ball, surrounded by a wall of cardboard. He glance dup at Sargo. “This is a child. One of Wither’s?”

“Yes, but she’s stable.” He nodded with a swift motion, bald head shining in the Cascade’s light.

Under their feet were metal plates, separating them from the ocean below. The Cascade was one of the successful ships the military used to cross the ocean without showing threat upon shore. After all the Caro Tribe was awaiting, eyes watching their every move with their bows ready. They hated the southerner’s military. Many of their people slaughtered by the same hand which protected them over the years.

Luckily the fog picked up and provided a semi-camo protection for the Cascade. They had precious cargo aboard. Too valuable to lose.

“Did you hear about Kirby? He was put down because he snapped.” Ed cupped the child’s chin in his palm and she looked up at him with violet eyes. “Yep, she’s Wither’s.”

“I wouldn’t give her away if Wither wasn’t behind bars.” Sargo fixed his suit and glanced at his wife, Minnie. “Do you suppose I raise the price, dear? After all she is valuable to be the first stable at such a young age.”

Minnie puckered her red lips in thought as she looked down upon the child in the box at her thigh. “Yes, she is young, but that will only influence the buyers to let their money fly. Now, if they knew what exactly she was, there’d be none.”

“A wise choice, dear.” He flashed a warm smile. “Ed, we’re ready for the Auction.”

Ed flashed a yellow smile, teeth aged by years of cigarettes and alcohol. “Great. Put her with the storage, and it will begin tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Ed.” Sargo shook his hand with a tight grip.

“Of course, Markus.” Ed shrugged, digging his hands in his pockets. “Of course, I’m not the one to pay back the family to return her to be put down. She may be stable now, but imagine after the years.”

Sgt. Sargo went stiff with fear for a moment, thinking over the ideas. He squeezed Minnie’s hand, trying to shake off the images from his thought.

“She’s stable down to the core of the dark wolf spirit inside her.” Minnie growled in a low tone. “We had to put Wither through a test of pain for her to spill the whereabouts of the child.”

“A wolf, huh?” Ed patted the child’s head and she recoiled.

“Yes, the others, her brothers and sisters weren’t stable, for the energy in the spirits she gave them weren’t balanced with a nature injection.” Minnie narrowed her eyes downward. “Wither calls her Milo.”

A chuckle escaped Ed as he eyed Milo, watching her eyes as she stared back with fear. “Milo?” He took her face once more, and knelt down. “You’re so special, your master named you a-”

“Silence, Ed. She doesn’t understand.” Markus interrupted with a quick snarl. “Let’s move her to the storage before the others grow curious.”

Sargo’s men bent down to lift the box, when Milo stood her ground. They shot a glance at the Sgt. Awaiting orders. He halted them.

“Milo, sit down. You’re being moved downstairs.” He commanded.

“I don’t want to go, Markus.” She countered, glaring through her long, blonde curls.

“Here, Milo.” Minnie offered a large sucker, smiling like a mother. “Now, would you please wait in the box downstairs while we find you a family?”

Milo received the sucker, but stared up at the woman with frightened eyes. “You guys fear me. You believe I’m not completely stable.”

“We just want you safe, dear.” Minnie squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll get you a family tomorrow.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Milo licked gently at the candy.

And the shadows consumed her as the men carried her away. She closed her eyes to savor the candy on her tongue. 

Author's Note

It might be a little short in my taste, but it gives a good start so sorry if it's too short, I'll work on it more later when i have more ideas. ><