"Now that we are all here, today's activity will be very different from the ones we have had in the past."
The instructor began to address everyone as the other wolves came from their classes. Snow included. She had never heard of such activity. But everyone was being grouped.
"Pale girl, come here." the instructor pointed at her before moving her fingers to where Naelle stood with some other girls.
"Ugh, please not her. She can't even shift." she groaned in protest, but the instructor had already decided. She had grouped everyone into four and had put Snow into Naelle's team. Snow felt bad now that everyone knew she could not shift but she didn't let it show on her face for too long.
"That doesn't matter. The activity today is to test your collaboration skills. I have grouped you into teams of four and you are to bring back a flower that is of utmost importance to wolf rites." majority of the she wolves seemed bored by the activity already, but Snow's ears perked up when she heard flower.
Which flower didn't she know? Lyana was obsessed with them and they were always a main component in her skincare routine. This was going to be easy for her.
"Lessavine Orkitt. It is an extremely precious flower and if you should find it, you all will get a passing grade." The instructor dismissed them with more confusion in their minds than when they came. What kind of flower is that?
And Snow, who was equally confused, raised her hand, "can you give us a description? I have never heard of that kind of flower before." Though her voice was soft, it was clear enough for everyone to hear.
"There is not much that I know. It has been out of reach for a few years now. But its petals are lush, and the flower is white with a hint of red. I wish you good luck. You can go." and with that, everyone scattered into the looming forest to find a flower that they weren't even sure existed.
As they roamed around in circles, frustration became more evident, "what type of dumb class is this? We are supposed to be training and fighting in case we get attacked by rogues and here we are finding a flower." Naelle's thought process was not alien, her group members felt the same, well except for Snow. She kept repeating the name of the flower, it didn't ring a bell.
"I have a feeling it doesn't even exist." another one scoffed and sat under the tree, Naelle and the last she-wolf followed, the sun was scorching today and they needed the shade they could get, "if we had a smell now, we would be getting somewhere."
"Yes, there are so many flowers that are white and red here and if we bring back any, we could fail."
"Lessavine Orkitt, Lessavine Orkitt…" Snow, who had not joined them under the shade of the tree, was checking any flower that matched the description, smelling it too, but none of them rang true to her, "lessa…Les…Ly…" Naelle watched her face twist like she had eaten something sour.
"Oi! You do know the flower isn't real right?" she scoffed, "she can't shift and she is also dumb, what a wonderful combination." A scowl left her. Snow wasn't paying attention, she was too busy twisting her tongue, she was up to something.
"Ooohhhhhh! Lysavine Orchid! Of course!" a sonorous laugh escaped her and echoed into the forest, causing the birds in the tree to chirp and fly away. Her teammates were surprised by her laugh and with the look on her face, she seemed happy. Naelle got up immediately and crossed the distance between the two of them.
"You know it?" she asked expectantly and Snow nodded with enthusiasm.
"I do. What I don't know is if it grows here." The others perked up at her statement and got up from their resting position, moving closer to her, "it cannot be found here, the conditions are too fickle for it. However, we might find it if we go deeper. I know what it smells like."
"Then lead the way." Naelle gestured for her to take the first step and Snow immediately ran, with the others following suit.
Hours had passed by and they were deep into the forest, Snow's nose was the compass and the others followed her, they were pushing vegetation more than they were taking steps, but the good news was that she could smell it now.
"Are you sure we are going the right way? We are so distant from everyone now." one of them complained until the final push of a massive leaf and they came into a soft clearing that had flowers littered everywhere.
The rays of the sun danced through the leaves, making everything that it touched glow a beautiful aura. The girls had never seen anything like it and Snow was the most excited when she saw the flower; Lysavine Orchid.
She moved gently to it to marvel at it more, the last time she saw a flower like this was in Whitefang. The flower had ribbon like white petals with blood-red veins and it was used in many wolf rites. However, it could not be grown in gardens and would naturally do better in the forest where there are more nutrients. The petals were so soft and delicate that to make a bouquet, one only needs three, so the shape of them would not be ruffled.
It was one of Lyana's favourites and Snow always made sure she had a few in her room.
"It is…really beautiful…" Naelle was at loss for words as she moved closer to it, Snow had a small smile on her face.
"Yes it is. I will pick them, and we can leave. They have to be picked a certain way." There was a pep in her step as she bent over the flowers to collect them gently.
"She is actually not bad." the two girls whispered to each other, Naelle able to catch their gossip. She rolled her eyes. Though Snow found the flower, she still believed she was inferior.
Her train of thoughts was cut short when a new smell introduced itself as menacing and foreign. It instantly made her at high alert.
"We have enough, we should—" Snow's team member had beckoned to her after a chill ran down her spine but was caught off guard when a body slammed into hers, forcing her against her tree. She hit her head and was instantly knocked out. More of what had caused the attack spawned in numbers.
"Rogues!" In the flicker of an eye, Naelle shifted and let out a deafening rough, her wolf barring her teeth at the rogues that had now surrounded them. The other she-wolf immediately shifted and joined Naelle by her side, Snow was scared shitless but she had to stay with her unconscious ally.
The rogues attacked first, and the girls retaliated, gruesome attacks followed with growling and spilling of blood while Snow made sure that the knocked out girl was okay. Seeing wolves fight again brought out horrible memories from her past, the lifeless body of Lyana flashing in her mind before tears leaked. The violence scared her.
The girl began to wake up gently, her head throbbing before the image of Naelle biting deep into the neck of a rogue overcame her, "rogues?!" She wanted to get up but she was bleeding from the head and Snow instinctively pushed her back.
"No! You're hurt! Please…"
It didn't take long before they had killed a good number of rogues and the rest had fled. The girls shifted back, tired, bloodied and slightly wounded. Snow went to them, "can you walk?" concern laced her face. Naelle didn't say anything but got to her unsteady feet.
"We have to leave before they come back."
The team journeyed back to the academy, the only person that didn't have any form of injury was Snow and she felt guilty within. As the academy got into view, Naelle snatched the flowers from Snow without so much as a word. They were the last team to arrive and as everyone waited for them, they didn't expect them to be injured.
"What happened?" The instructor immediately rushed to them, examining them.
"Rogues." Snow spoke up, "they attacked us, they were a lot…"
"But on the good side, we found the flower." Naelle waved it in front of the instructor and all she gave her was a small smirk, "so are we passing?" the smirk on her face grew wider.
"Yes you are. But first, the healer's place. I'm sure you gave them a run for their lives. Everyone is dismissed." The activity was over with tons of murmuring going on. And it didn't stop anytime soon.
As they were at the healer's, many people said it was because of Naelle that the flower was found, and that she probably saved the team from the rogues. It was all about her praises, but Snow wouldn't say a word, why should she?
"Thankfully it is not too serious. Do try to rest girls, your wounds will heal fast." The healer had wrapped them and given them medicine, Snow wasn't hurt but she stayed with her team members who now slowly filed out of the office one after the other, until she remained, "is there something you need Snow?"
She reached into her jute bag and brought out a bouquet of Lysavines for her. Her eyes widened in astonishment as a small blush coloured her pale skin, "they are very good for making medicine and warding off reptiles." She slowly placed the bouquet into the healer's hands and excused herself with a small smile.
It was then she knew that there was much more to the girl that met the eye.
Snow being done for the day decided it was time to go home. With each step she took back to the packhouse, the events of the day replayed in her head. And she wondered if she would ever be a good enough wolf, a wolf that couldn't shift but was still useful.
As she reached the massive gates, it was opened for her by the guards and as she neared the house, she saw the drooping figure of a little girl sitting at the entrance. Her face mirrored her posture, Liora didn't look happy at all. But she had raised her head when she noticed Snow.
"Ms. Snow, you're back." Her eyes followed her expectantly, she didn't have the bubbly energy she usually did, "did you have a good day today?"
"Are you sad Liora?"
"Just a little…" the child admitted.
But Snow knew the fix to it all, it was common sense for her to have picked a lot and offered a flower to the alpha's daughter, "you are a very pretty wolf and you look as pretty if you're sad. Smile, you're the prettiest wolf I know." Her pearls sparkled at the child and her hopes were lifted on the spot.
"Ms. Snow!" She took the flower with enthusiasm and jumped on Snow, kissing her face repeatedly, "I love you so much." and she loved her more than anything.