Prelude

Deep in the heart of the Big Bear Mountains, deeper than any man has ever gone, dwelt beings most mortals only ever dreamed of-- a small pack of creatures known as the Summit Vale Pack of werewolves.  This medium sized pack was well known among the other packs around the world.

          Among the Summit Vale pack was a small group of young adults known as the Seneca Pack.  The heart of the Seneca Pack was sixteen year old Vivian Summers. She was the glue that kept them all together.  She was also the one getting them into as much trouble as she got them out of. 

          Vivian Summers covered her eyes and began to count, "1.... 2.... 3....", but before she could finish the twins, the two children she was baby sitting.  Brandon and Amie Amethyst, both let out a scream as the two story Swiss cottage they were in began to shake violently.

"What's going on?" Brandon asked gripping Vivian’s dress.

"I'm scared.  Make it stop!" Amie pleaded with her from the other side.

She was frozen in place with fear until the cottage started to creak and crack.  Dishes were shattering on the floor, furniture was tumbling over and rattling across the floor, windows broke and scattered across the freshly waxed wooden surface.  Vivian somehow pulled herself from the grip of terror and started to run with the children towards the front door.  As they stumbled carefully towards the door it suddenly flung open as Axel and Mark Summers burst into the cottage.

"Is everyone alright?!" Mark shouted towards the children.

          "Yes, the twins are just scared.  For that matter so am I,” Vivian replied to her father.

Wasting no time, Mark and Axel rushed forward scooping up the young twins and hurried out the front with Vivian quick on their heels. Right before the entrance though, she tripped falling hard on her hands and knees.  As she looked up to call for her father, the doorway collapsed trapping her inside.

"Daddy!" Vivian screamed at the top of her lungs.

She stood looking around frantically trying to find another way out.  A familiar scent passed the Vivian’s nose as she turned to find the stairs had collapsed and the back of the cottage had caught fire.  A dark choking smoke began to fill the room.  Vivian dropped to her hands and knees again coughing and crawling while calling out to her father and brother.

          Outside Mark and Axel rushed around to all sides of the burning cottage looking for a safe way in.  In a desperate panic Mark let out a loud cry as he bull-rushed the burning side of the cottage barreling through with Axel close behind as the two fell skidding across the floor.  Vivian lay in a far corner unconscious.  Mark hurried to his daughter lifting her easily into his arms and headed back towards Axel and their way out.  Without warning the ground began to crack and ripped open through the floor under him causing him to fall a short distance before he was able to grab hold of the splintered wood with his free hand.

          "Axel, take Vivian and get out of here!" Mark shouted tossing Vivian up to her brother knocking him to the floor.

          "But what about..." Axel was cut short by his father.

          "Don't worry about me. Take your sister and go now!  I won't be far behind you!"

           Axel growled audibly in frustration as he rose running out through the burning hole carrying his sixteen year old little sister to safety.  As they emerged from the flames, Gabriel, a close friend of Vivian's family, came running from the nearby woods checking on the twins then coming over to Vivian as she coughed roughly and opened her eyes.

          "Where's Mark?" Gabriel asked Axel with concern in his eyes.

          Axel turned looking towards the burning cottage.  Without giving the other time to say anything, Gabriel took off towards the cottage.  He only made it a few steps before another quake ripped through the land and to all of their horror the cottages roof gave way causing the entire building to collapse in on itself burying Vivian’s and Axel’s father alive.

          They were all startled again by the hysterical screams of Entity Summers, Vivian’s and Axel’s mother, as she ran towards the wreckage. Kelsey Marquette, a fellow member of Vivian’s pack that had gathered to the chaos, quickly grabbed a hold of her restraining her.  Although she was still young, she was Entity's equal.  Vivian reached out towards the cottage as tears slowly streaked her face.

           "Daddy,” she gasped out weakly as the darkness consumed her once more.

          "Shh...” Gabriel hushed stroking Vivian’s hair gently, "You're safe princess...You're safe."

          The Summit Vale pack made their way from the woods of Big Bear, California to the long journey to Anderson, South Carolina.