Post by Dawn on Nov 22, 2006 8:41:32 GMT -5
I actually wrote a story about these wolves and thats what got me started on this whole thing, so, here goes:
Chapter One
Star looked at the moon. The wolves of Snow Pack lifted up their heads and howled. A pup was just about to be named. Star couldn’t see the pup because the crowd of wolves was too large. She decided she would see it later.
She caught a glimpse of the pup very quickly. His pelt was all black; which was unusual for a wolf in the tundra. His eyes were orange, red, and yellow. The colors danced like flames. They also seemed to change colors every so often. (Actually they looked like flames too.) Star blinked was she imagining it? Everyone was acting as if this was a normal pup.
“This pup has opened its eyes and seen little of the world, but he should be honored. He has looked upon our land; let’s hope he sees more in the future. He will be named in the eyes of the Sky Pack. His name shall be what he sees reflected in this water we call the Star Lake.” That was Flame, leader of Snow Pack.
When a pup is expected to come, the mother will lay by the sky lake with the healer by her side. When she has the pups, they will stay in a den until the pup can open its eyes. Then the naming ceremony takes place. The pup will look into the water and tell the leader what they see. But, if something terrible happens right before the pup is born they will be named after that.
“Now I ask you, pup, what do you see?” The pup looked deep into the water. He mumbled something Star couldn’t hear. “In the lake, he has seen the reflection of the moon. From this moment on you will be called Moon.”
“I like that.” Moon squeaked.
Flame howled once more to tell the wolves to follow him back to camp. Star stayed behind to look at Moon. He wasn’t the most beautiful thing in the tundra, but he was just as Star had seen him, all black with eyes like fire. There was something about Moon that made her tail shiver. He looked at her and his eyes turned ice blue. Star jumped back.
Hawk, the mother, licked Moon’s ear and his eyes turned into a relaxing maroon color. “You can see his eyes? Do they change colors to you too?” hawk asked. “Of course they do!” Star barked. “They change according to his mood.” Hawk replied. “Follow me. There’s something you need to see.” She stood up and went over to a stone that had sat upon the bank of the Sky Lake since Midnight. Midnight was the very first of his kind. No longer dog, but all wild. He was said to have a coat that resembled the color of midnight. He was huge with muscles you could see under his shaggy fur.
Hawk swiped her paw across the stone to get the dirt off. On the stone were strange symbols that Star recognized as letters. Only some could read, and that didn’t include her. “I can’t read.” Star said, wondering if Hawk could. She nodded and replied. “Don’t worry. I can.”
On the night a pup is named,
Two will gain knowledge of the powers he possesses,
One will go on to see his battle day,
The other will not.
Hawk finished reading. “I showed it to Flame, but he said he only saw a stone. I thought he was one out of two, but now I’m guessing it’s you.” She murmured.
Star trotted back to the sleeping pup. His neck was oddly twisted. Star nudged him and Moon curled into a ball. Star curled up next to him for warmth. “I guess I’ll be sleeping here tonight.” She said sleepily.
Hawk yawned. “Yes, I suppose if you are that tired you will stay here…”
Moon kicked his legs and clawed at the air as if he were trying to get away from something that only he could see.
Hawk opened one eye and looked at the poor pup. “So young, his fate is in the paws of another…” She whispered and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter Two
Leaf growled at the rabbit in front of her. Usually, she wouldn’t go for a rabbit, but she was hungry. She pounced on it like a cat would. She looked up and sniffed. Another wolf was approaching slowly.
“Come out! I know your there!” She howled towards the shadows. A large dark gray he-wolf hesitantly came out of the bushes. “You couldn’t catch an antelope with a kitty pounce! I can teach you how to hunt properly.” He laughed.
Leaf growled and went closer to the wolf. “I know how to hunt, you cat-brain.” She went even closer so that their noses were almost touching.
“I’m no threat to you.” He said coolly. He laughed again and lay down. “I guess not since you’re laughing at me.” Leaf batted at the leaves falling from above her. It was a sign that snow-fall was coming soon.
“Where are my manners? I’m Rock from Blood Pack and you’re…what did you say it was again?” Leaf turned to look at Rock. “I’m Leaf, a loner.” She said blankly. She sat down wondering why she had let that rabbit go. Her belly growled with hunger. Eating a rabbit would be better than meeting this…Rock.
“Hungry?” he asked
“No”
Why did she say that? She was nearly starving!
“I-I mean, I can find food on my own.” She corrected herself. Leaf stood up a sniffed. “I smell…doe.” Leaf licked her lips. She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten.
Leaf whirled around. She heard a twig crack behind her and it certainly wasn’t a doe.
She shivered and hoped this wasn’t the end. Standing right in front of her were two giant bears. They slashed their claws and bit at Leaf. She leaped at one of them, hit its belly and fell to the ground.
Rock suddenly jumped out from behind her and hit one of the bears neck with his claws. It split wide open as the bear let out a massive howl of pain. It fell to the ground with a thud. It tried to get at Rock but he was already running to save Leaf. The other bear was hovering over her, drooling. Rock did the same thing he had done to the other bear, but unfortunately this one was much smarter. Rock went in for the death blow, but the bear swiped at him once he was close enough. Leaf had time to attack while the bear paid attention to Rock. She clawed at its belly and face. The bear turned its attention to Leaf while Rock went in for the final blow once more. It fell to the ground on top of Rock.
“Rock!”
The gray he-wolf struggled to get out from under the bear’s lifeless body. Rock had broken ribs and legs, while Leaf only had a few bruises and scratches. (Although she was still losing too much blood from the scratches on her face)
“You have to get to a healer.” Leaf helped Rock get up. She left go and he fell over into a heap of fur. “I need your help.” He said.
“I can’t! I-I mean, I can’t come into the Blood Pack camp. I’m a loner…” She helped him up again so that he was leaning on her shoulder.
“Dawn will understand.” Dawn was the leader of Blood Pack.
The two wolves made it to the camp side by side.
“A loner! I can’t heal a loner!” Mist, the healer of Blood Pack, barked. “She helped me.” Rock said coolly. Mist paced back and forth.
Leaf was staring at the two wolves that were arguing about her fate. If they didn’t do something fast, she could die. She was losing too much blood, and Rock already had cobwebs on his wounds.
“You have to help! The healer oath says that you should heal others whether they have a pack or not!”
Mist stopped pacing to look at this strange she-wolf. She didn’t talk much, and now what she said was even stranger.
Rock coughed up blood and Mist hurriedly gave him an herb that Leaf couldn’t see.
Mist got an herb from her inventory and set it in front of leaf. “Are you trying to kill me?” Leaf barked loudly. Sitting in front of her were four neatly place deathberries. Deathberries were bright red berries that could kill a wolf if not expelled quickly enough.
“I could have sworn it was juniper! I’m sorry! Thank Sky Pack you noticed it.” Mist swiped away the deathberries and set juniper in front of Leaf. “Sky Pack doesn’t exist.” Leaf said staring into the distance. “Of course Sky Pack exists!” Rock barked.
“Well if they do, then they are not with me.”
“Sky Pack are with every wolf!” Rock rasped as mist pressed cobwebs on to Leaf’s wounds. “Thank-you.” Leaf gave Mist a friendly lick. “Sky Pack does not care for loners like me.” She shook her head.
Rock crawled over to her. “Sky Pack does not care if you’re a loner.” He curled his tail around himself neatly. “Hungry?” he asked. Leaf nodded slowly.
He got up hesitantly and limped over to the fresh kill pile. Rock sniffed it and picked up a large amount of deer left over from the night before.
Mist stopped organizing her herbs and set her paw on Leaf’s shoulder. “Do not lose faith. Sky Pack has faith in you.” She whispered in her ear.
Chapter Three
Moon stood up and breathed in the cool air while Star blew the snow off the top of his head. Moon would have his first meat ceremony soon.
The first meat ceremony was when a wolf pup stops suckling and starts to eat meat. Of course, he didn’t eat it with the bone in. Hawk still had to pull it off the bone and pre-chew it for Moon.
Flame and three other pack members, Night, Frost and Sun, traveled behind the Frost Mountain to find a tender doe for Moon’s ceremony.
Star wasn’t going. Sun had said that she would “hold them back”. Sun was the meanest of all the wolves of the pack. (Well, she was the meanest to Star anyway)
Moon stared at Star. “Why can’t I go?” He barked softly. “You can’t go with them until you are over eight moons.” Star nudged him. Hawk trotted up next to the two young wolves.
“Have you seen Flame?” She asked. “Yes, he just left to find the doe for Moon’s ceremony today. Shouldn’t you be with them?”
Hawk nodded.
The first meat ceremony was also the first hunt for the mother after she gives birth.
“Run! They went behind the Frost Mountain.” Star pointed with her tail.
Hawk ran while Star was shouting. She ran as fast as her paws could carry her. She felt like a bird soaring through the air, against the wind, she had to make it.
Moon’s eyes turned bright orange, and then they faded into a sad, depressing blue color. Something happened to hawk. Star could tell. She repeated the two lines of the prophecy that was written on the stone.
One will go on to see his battle day,
The other will not.
“Come on. We have to find her.” Star followed the same path Hawk did, but she stopped when she came to a gorge. Many wolves die to this terrible fate.
She quickly slid down to the bottom to see Hawk. She was just below a sharp rock and her head was bloody.
Moon’s eyes grew dark. A tear rolled down his check.
“Star? Moon? Is that you?” Hawk wheezed.
“Save your breath.” Star licked the blood but it kept coming back. Moon was to stunned to talk. “No, it is my time. Sky Pack has sent me a last message. Moon and Star will join, but Sun rises above all. May we meet in the stars someday…”
“What does that mean?” Moon asked but hawk had already gone to hunt with Sky Pack.
Moon whimpered and rested his head on hawk’s chest. “I hear…nothing.” He squeaked. Star replied. “She is with Sky Pack.” She looked at the sky. She could see a formation of clouds that looked like a she-wolf. “Will she come back?”
“No.” Star wished she could tell the pup that Hawk would return, but that would only make matters worse.
Flame came running up behind star and Moon. “Who did this?” he braked. “It wasn’t my fault.” Moon licked his mother’s ear.
“Star?” Flame turned to the she-wolf. “She fell. It was an accident.” Flame nipped at Star and trotted away.
“Why does he treat you like that?” Moon asked. “He’s just full of himself.” Star growled towards the leader. “Come on, we must leave.” She took one last look a Hawk and trotted away whispering a soft prayer to Sky Pack.
Moon gazed at the stars. Three moons had passed since the death of his mother. Star had gone to ask Flame if she could mentor Moon when he became 8 moons.
Moon had told her that she probably would be turned down because Flame blamed her for Hawk’s death. But she went into his den anyway.
The sound of two wolves fighting echoed through the camp. Flame and Star were scratching and biting at each other violently. Moon jumped at Flame and landed on his back.
Star yelled at him to stay out of it but Moon kicked Flame vigorously. Moon bit Flame’s muzzle and they both jumped back. Star grasped the scruff of Moon’s neck and dragged him away from camp.
“What were you doing?” She said, breathing heavily. Star rasped her tongue over his ear. “I’ll show that good for nothing—“ Moon’s word were cut off by a soft whisper.
“Remember…” It said. Star recognized the voice as Hawk’s. Moon thingyed his head. “Remember what?” he called out towards the sky. The clouds formed into the shape of a shaggy she-wolf. The bitter-sweet smell of Hawk surrounded the wolves.
“Remember…Star and Moon will join, but Sun rises above all.”
The clouds faded away and Moon ran towards them. “There’s no use.” Star ran in front of the young he-wolf.
Night, the chief of Snow Pack interrupted them. “Fire!” He barked. “Run to the gorge! We must get away! Follow me!”
Star knew she couldn’t run quite as fast as Night, but she could manage.
All the wolves huddled together as they watch the fire spread over the tundra. They were safe in the gorge because it was barren and so far below that the fire would not reach.
Shadow, the healer, was tending to the injured wolves, but Flame called over to Night. Flame had a fit of coughing and whispered something to Night. He took a long deep breath and lay there, motionless.
Night rested his head on the dead leader. Moon felt for him. Although he still didn’t care for flame.
Night stood on a small rock and howled to get the pack’s attention. “Our leader, Flame has breathed in too much smoke. He has told me that I am to be leader.” Star could tell he was nervous. “Tomorrow night I will perform the oath of the leaders.”
Chapter Four
Leaf bowed to Dawn, to show she would be loyal to Blood Pack and its leader. Dawn motioned with her tail to Rock. He came up and rested his head on top of Leaf’s. He would be Leaf’s mentor until she learned about pack life.
She was becoming a member of Blood Pack.
Rock lifted his head and smiled. Mist was smiling too. They were glad their newly found friend was joining their pack. “You are welcomed as a Protector of Blood Pack.” All the wolves cheered for Leaf. She could feel many eyes burning into her fur.
Dawn nodded to the newest member of the pack. She already knew what she was supposed to do. Leaf raised her head slowly and let out a fierce howl. Usually, when a hunter or protector in training performed this ritual, this would be the first time they actually howled, but Leaf already knew how.
“Have you seen the newest pup of Snow Pack?” Rock sat down with a Jack Rabbit in his mouth.
“No, what about it?” Rock looked around as if the pup was going to jump out at them from behind. “He’s all black and he gives me chills all over. Its like he has some sort of power, but I can’t really explain it.”
“Power?” Leaf laughed. “A pup? Come on.” Rock nodded. “I’m serious! It’s almost as if he could control me. This pup’s gaze is so overpowering that I felt…safe, like nothing would ever happen to me.” There was a long silence until Leaf said. “It’s getting dark. We better go back to camp.” She liked her paw and trotted away, leaving rock alone. Rock to one last bite of jack Rabbit and followed after her.
Dawn motioned to the two wolves when they returned to camp. “I need you two to come with me to Snow Pack.” Her voice echoed. “We’re going to see how they’re doing. There has been a fire.”
A young pup named Fire ran to the Blood Pack leader. “Where you calling me?” He asked. Fire tripped over his paws on to his face. Leaf nudged the pup so he was facing the nursery. “This isn’t about you.” She laughed a little. “I expect Cloud is waiting for you.” Cloud was Fire’s mother.
“You will make a good pup-mother.” The wise leader smiled as Fire ran of to seek Cloud.
The four wolves, Mist, Dawn, Rock and Leaf trekked on through the snow. There were signs everywhere that snow-fall was coming. Leaf looked down at her paws to make sure they were still there.
“Not much farther now.” Dawn looked back at the three wolves. Frost covered them, making their coats look snow-white.
Mist could scent Snow Pack not to far away. They came to the border and Dawn let out a howl to call Flame over.
To their surprise, Night emerged from the hill. “Night, where is Flame?” Dawn dipped her head. Night now had a star on his forehead to symbolize leadership. “Flame has died.” His tail drooped. “Do not be sad. You must take care of your pack. They look up to you.” Dawn touched noses with the new leader.
“Have you lost any others?” Mist could scent death mingling in the air. “We have lost Soot. He was a protector in training.”
“We suffer for your loss.” Leaf put her paw on top of Night’s. “Did the fire reach your camp?” Dawn asked. “Yes, but everyone was safe in the gorge.” He pointed with his tail.
‘Good-bye. We will see you at the meeting.” Dawn touched noses with Night once more and turned away. Rock waved with his tail and followed Leaf back towards the Blood Pack camp below the mountain.
Leaf was smiling. “What’s so funny?” Rock whispered in her ear. “Flame…I met him before. I asked to join Snow Pack and he nearly bit my head off!”
Mist and dawn were much farther ahead of them.
“Like this?” He leaped at Lead and they rolled around until they stopped at the bottom of the hill.
Leaf looked deep into Rock’s eyes. There was something there that she couldn’t quite place. Mist broke the connection by yelling from above them “You two coming or not?” Rock got up first, then Leaf. They followed Mist back to camp.
The wolves gathered below the stone on which the leaders sat. Tonight was the meeting. Leaf looked expectantly to the leaders and let out a sigh.
Rock was supposed to guard the camp while the others went to the meeting.
“Where is Moss?” Ash, the chief of Blood Pack asked. Moss was the leader of the tribe of cars that lived in the valley. The meeting was the only time cats and wolves associated.
Moss appeared with a couple cats trailing behind her. “I’m here.” She leaped on to the stone. She mumbled something and flicked her tail.
“The meeting has started.” Dawn announced. “I will start.” She curled her tail and looked down on the wolves and cats. “In Blood Pack, Robin has had pups. She could not attend for obvious reasons. We have also welcomed a new member. Her name is Leaf.”
Leaf could feel eyes burning into her fur. A few cats hissed “Housedog!” or “Leash-licker!” But she paid no attention.
Dawn went on about other things, like Mist finding a new area with herbs. She sat down and nodded to Moss.
The un-groomed she-cat stood up. “Wolves are sneaking into our territory! Especially Snow Pack.” She glared at the wolves. All the Snow Pack members protested, as well as a few Blood Pack members. Night lifted his tail to hush the crowd. “I do not know of any from my pack that have crossed the boundaries.” He barked. Leaf was surprised at how fierce he sounded at his first meeting as a leader.
“Also, Valley tribe would like to spread out our territory. We have more kits and that means more mouths to feed. We already have limited space and bad hunting grounds, and we wish to move out a bit further.”
Dawn nodded. “That sounds reasonable. I will think about it.” Night stood up. “As will I.”
It was Night’s turn to speak. He talked about new pups, new hunters in training, and good hunting.
“This meeting is at an end. The peace will be broken once we return home.” Dawn adjourned the meeting.
Leaf glanced around. She caught a glimpse of the black pup Rock had been talking about. Her paws felt as if she were walking on top of thorns. There was a she-wolf with him too. His mother perhaps? She trotted over to them. “Hello.” She sat down. “Hi” The she-wolf replied. “I’m Leaf.” Leaf said. “I’m Star and this is Moon. We must leave.” She pointed with her tail to Snow Pack.
“Good-bye.” Moon said as his tongue lolled about. Leaf laughed. “Good-bye Moon.”
Chapter One
Star looked at the moon. The wolves of Snow Pack lifted up their heads and howled. A pup was just about to be named. Star couldn’t see the pup because the crowd of wolves was too large. She decided she would see it later.
She caught a glimpse of the pup very quickly. His pelt was all black; which was unusual for a wolf in the tundra. His eyes were orange, red, and yellow. The colors danced like flames. They also seemed to change colors every so often. (Actually they looked like flames too.) Star blinked was she imagining it? Everyone was acting as if this was a normal pup.
“This pup has opened its eyes and seen little of the world, but he should be honored. He has looked upon our land; let’s hope he sees more in the future. He will be named in the eyes of the Sky Pack. His name shall be what he sees reflected in this water we call the Star Lake.” That was Flame, leader of Snow Pack.
When a pup is expected to come, the mother will lay by the sky lake with the healer by her side. When she has the pups, they will stay in a den until the pup can open its eyes. Then the naming ceremony takes place. The pup will look into the water and tell the leader what they see. But, if something terrible happens right before the pup is born they will be named after that.
“Now I ask you, pup, what do you see?” The pup looked deep into the water. He mumbled something Star couldn’t hear. “In the lake, he has seen the reflection of the moon. From this moment on you will be called Moon.”
“I like that.” Moon squeaked.
Flame howled once more to tell the wolves to follow him back to camp. Star stayed behind to look at Moon. He wasn’t the most beautiful thing in the tundra, but he was just as Star had seen him, all black with eyes like fire. There was something about Moon that made her tail shiver. He looked at her and his eyes turned ice blue. Star jumped back.
Hawk, the mother, licked Moon’s ear and his eyes turned into a relaxing maroon color. “You can see his eyes? Do they change colors to you too?” hawk asked. “Of course they do!” Star barked. “They change according to his mood.” Hawk replied. “Follow me. There’s something you need to see.” She stood up and went over to a stone that had sat upon the bank of the Sky Lake since Midnight. Midnight was the very first of his kind. No longer dog, but all wild. He was said to have a coat that resembled the color of midnight. He was huge with muscles you could see under his shaggy fur.
Hawk swiped her paw across the stone to get the dirt off. On the stone were strange symbols that Star recognized as letters. Only some could read, and that didn’t include her. “I can’t read.” Star said, wondering if Hawk could. She nodded and replied. “Don’t worry. I can.”
On the night a pup is named,
Two will gain knowledge of the powers he possesses,
One will go on to see his battle day,
The other will not.
Hawk finished reading. “I showed it to Flame, but he said he only saw a stone. I thought he was one out of two, but now I’m guessing it’s you.” She murmured.
Star trotted back to the sleeping pup. His neck was oddly twisted. Star nudged him and Moon curled into a ball. Star curled up next to him for warmth. “I guess I’ll be sleeping here tonight.” She said sleepily.
Hawk yawned. “Yes, I suppose if you are that tired you will stay here…”
Moon kicked his legs and clawed at the air as if he were trying to get away from something that only he could see.
Hawk opened one eye and looked at the poor pup. “So young, his fate is in the paws of another…” She whispered and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter Two
Leaf growled at the rabbit in front of her. Usually, she wouldn’t go for a rabbit, but she was hungry. She pounced on it like a cat would. She looked up and sniffed. Another wolf was approaching slowly.
“Come out! I know your there!” She howled towards the shadows. A large dark gray he-wolf hesitantly came out of the bushes. “You couldn’t catch an antelope with a kitty pounce! I can teach you how to hunt properly.” He laughed.
Leaf growled and went closer to the wolf. “I know how to hunt, you cat-brain.” She went even closer so that their noses were almost touching.
“I’m no threat to you.” He said coolly. He laughed again and lay down. “I guess not since you’re laughing at me.” Leaf batted at the leaves falling from above her. It was a sign that snow-fall was coming soon.
“Where are my manners? I’m Rock from Blood Pack and you’re…what did you say it was again?” Leaf turned to look at Rock. “I’m Leaf, a loner.” She said blankly. She sat down wondering why she had let that rabbit go. Her belly growled with hunger. Eating a rabbit would be better than meeting this…Rock.
“Hungry?” he asked
“No”
Why did she say that? She was nearly starving!
“I-I mean, I can find food on my own.” She corrected herself. Leaf stood up a sniffed. “I smell…doe.” Leaf licked her lips. She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten.
Leaf whirled around. She heard a twig crack behind her and it certainly wasn’t a doe.
She shivered and hoped this wasn’t the end. Standing right in front of her were two giant bears. They slashed their claws and bit at Leaf. She leaped at one of them, hit its belly and fell to the ground.
Rock suddenly jumped out from behind her and hit one of the bears neck with his claws. It split wide open as the bear let out a massive howl of pain. It fell to the ground with a thud. It tried to get at Rock but he was already running to save Leaf. The other bear was hovering over her, drooling. Rock did the same thing he had done to the other bear, but unfortunately this one was much smarter. Rock went in for the death blow, but the bear swiped at him once he was close enough. Leaf had time to attack while the bear paid attention to Rock. She clawed at its belly and face. The bear turned its attention to Leaf while Rock went in for the final blow once more. It fell to the ground on top of Rock.
“Rock!”
The gray he-wolf struggled to get out from under the bear’s lifeless body. Rock had broken ribs and legs, while Leaf only had a few bruises and scratches. (Although she was still losing too much blood from the scratches on her face)
“You have to get to a healer.” Leaf helped Rock get up. She left go and he fell over into a heap of fur. “I need your help.” He said.
“I can’t! I-I mean, I can’t come into the Blood Pack camp. I’m a loner…” She helped him up again so that he was leaning on her shoulder.
“Dawn will understand.” Dawn was the leader of Blood Pack.
The two wolves made it to the camp side by side.
“A loner! I can’t heal a loner!” Mist, the healer of Blood Pack, barked. “She helped me.” Rock said coolly. Mist paced back and forth.
Leaf was staring at the two wolves that were arguing about her fate. If they didn’t do something fast, she could die. She was losing too much blood, and Rock already had cobwebs on his wounds.
“You have to help! The healer oath says that you should heal others whether they have a pack or not!”
Mist stopped pacing to look at this strange she-wolf. She didn’t talk much, and now what she said was even stranger.
Rock coughed up blood and Mist hurriedly gave him an herb that Leaf couldn’t see.
Mist got an herb from her inventory and set it in front of leaf. “Are you trying to kill me?” Leaf barked loudly. Sitting in front of her were four neatly place deathberries. Deathberries were bright red berries that could kill a wolf if not expelled quickly enough.
“I could have sworn it was juniper! I’m sorry! Thank Sky Pack you noticed it.” Mist swiped away the deathberries and set juniper in front of Leaf. “Sky Pack doesn’t exist.” Leaf said staring into the distance. “Of course Sky Pack exists!” Rock barked.
“Well if they do, then they are not with me.”
“Sky Pack are with every wolf!” Rock rasped as mist pressed cobwebs on to Leaf’s wounds. “Thank-you.” Leaf gave Mist a friendly lick. “Sky Pack does not care for loners like me.” She shook her head.
Rock crawled over to her. “Sky Pack does not care if you’re a loner.” He curled his tail around himself neatly. “Hungry?” he asked. Leaf nodded slowly.
He got up hesitantly and limped over to the fresh kill pile. Rock sniffed it and picked up a large amount of deer left over from the night before.
Mist stopped organizing her herbs and set her paw on Leaf’s shoulder. “Do not lose faith. Sky Pack has faith in you.” She whispered in her ear.
Chapter Three
Moon stood up and breathed in the cool air while Star blew the snow off the top of his head. Moon would have his first meat ceremony soon.
The first meat ceremony was when a wolf pup stops suckling and starts to eat meat. Of course, he didn’t eat it with the bone in. Hawk still had to pull it off the bone and pre-chew it for Moon.
Flame and three other pack members, Night, Frost and Sun, traveled behind the Frost Mountain to find a tender doe for Moon’s ceremony.
Star wasn’t going. Sun had said that she would “hold them back”. Sun was the meanest of all the wolves of the pack. (Well, she was the meanest to Star anyway)
Moon stared at Star. “Why can’t I go?” He barked softly. “You can’t go with them until you are over eight moons.” Star nudged him. Hawk trotted up next to the two young wolves.
“Have you seen Flame?” She asked. “Yes, he just left to find the doe for Moon’s ceremony today. Shouldn’t you be with them?”
Hawk nodded.
The first meat ceremony was also the first hunt for the mother after she gives birth.
“Run! They went behind the Frost Mountain.” Star pointed with her tail.
Hawk ran while Star was shouting. She ran as fast as her paws could carry her. She felt like a bird soaring through the air, against the wind, she had to make it.
Moon’s eyes turned bright orange, and then they faded into a sad, depressing blue color. Something happened to hawk. Star could tell. She repeated the two lines of the prophecy that was written on the stone.
One will go on to see his battle day,
The other will not.
“Come on. We have to find her.” Star followed the same path Hawk did, but she stopped when she came to a gorge. Many wolves die to this terrible fate.
She quickly slid down to the bottom to see Hawk. She was just below a sharp rock and her head was bloody.
Moon’s eyes grew dark. A tear rolled down his check.
“Star? Moon? Is that you?” Hawk wheezed.
“Save your breath.” Star licked the blood but it kept coming back. Moon was to stunned to talk. “No, it is my time. Sky Pack has sent me a last message. Moon and Star will join, but Sun rises above all. May we meet in the stars someday…”
“What does that mean?” Moon asked but hawk had already gone to hunt with Sky Pack.
Moon whimpered and rested his head on hawk’s chest. “I hear…nothing.” He squeaked. Star replied. “She is with Sky Pack.” She looked at the sky. She could see a formation of clouds that looked like a she-wolf. “Will she come back?”
“No.” Star wished she could tell the pup that Hawk would return, but that would only make matters worse.
Flame came running up behind star and Moon. “Who did this?” he braked. “It wasn’t my fault.” Moon licked his mother’s ear.
“Star?” Flame turned to the she-wolf. “She fell. It was an accident.” Flame nipped at Star and trotted away.
“Why does he treat you like that?” Moon asked. “He’s just full of himself.” Star growled towards the leader. “Come on, we must leave.” She took one last look a Hawk and trotted away whispering a soft prayer to Sky Pack.
Moon gazed at the stars. Three moons had passed since the death of his mother. Star had gone to ask Flame if she could mentor Moon when he became 8 moons.
Moon had told her that she probably would be turned down because Flame blamed her for Hawk’s death. But she went into his den anyway.
The sound of two wolves fighting echoed through the camp. Flame and Star were scratching and biting at each other violently. Moon jumped at Flame and landed on his back.
Star yelled at him to stay out of it but Moon kicked Flame vigorously. Moon bit Flame’s muzzle and they both jumped back. Star grasped the scruff of Moon’s neck and dragged him away from camp.
“What were you doing?” She said, breathing heavily. Star rasped her tongue over his ear. “I’ll show that good for nothing—“ Moon’s word were cut off by a soft whisper.
“Remember…” It said. Star recognized the voice as Hawk’s. Moon thingyed his head. “Remember what?” he called out towards the sky. The clouds formed into the shape of a shaggy she-wolf. The bitter-sweet smell of Hawk surrounded the wolves.
“Remember…Star and Moon will join, but Sun rises above all.”
The clouds faded away and Moon ran towards them. “There’s no use.” Star ran in front of the young he-wolf.
Night, the chief of Snow Pack interrupted them. “Fire!” He barked. “Run to the gorge! We must get away! Follow me!”
Star knew she couldn’t run quite as fast as Night, but she could manage.
All the wolves huddled together as they watch the fire spread over the tundra. They were safe in the gorge because it was barren and so far below that the fire would not reach.
Shadow, the healer, was tending to the injured wolves, but Flame called over to Night. Flame had a fit of coughing and whispered something to Night. He took a long deep breath and lay there, motionless.
Night rested his head on the dead leader. Moon felt for him. Although he still didn’t care for flame.
Night stood on a small rock and howled to get the pack’s attention. “Our leader, Flame has breathed in too much smoke. He has told me that I am to be leader.” Star could tell he was nervous. “Tomorrow night I will perform the oath of the leaders.”
Chapter Four
Leaf bowed to Dawn, to show she would be loyal to Blood Pack and its leader. Dawn motioned with her tail to Rock. He came up and rested his head on top of Leaf’s. He would be Leaf’s mentor until she learned about pack life.
She was becoming a member of Blood Pack.
Rock lifted his head and smiled. Mist was smiling too. They were glad their newly found friend was joining their pack. “You are welcomed as a Protector of Blood Pack.” All the wolves cheered for Leaf. She could feel many eyes burning into her fur.
Dawn nodded to the newest member of the pack. She already knew what she was supposed to do. Leaf raised her head slowly and let out a fierce howl. Usually, when a hunter or protector in training performed this ritual, this would be the first time they actually howled, but Leaf already knew how.
“Have you seen the newest pup of Snow Pack?” Rock sat down with a Jack Rabbit in his mouth.
“No, what about it?” Rock looked around as if the pup was going to jump out at them from behind. “He’s all black and he gives me chills all over. Its like he has some sort of power, but I can’t really explain it.”
“Power?” Leaf laughed. “A pup? Come on.” Rock nodded. “I’m serious! It’s almost as if he could control me. This pup’s gaze is so overpowering that I felt…safe, like nothing would ever happen to me.” There was a long silence until Leaf said. “It’s getting dark. We better go back to camp.” She liked her paw and trotted away, leaving rock alone. Rock to one last bite of jack Rabbit and followed after her.
Dawn motioned to the two wolves when they returned to camp. “I need you two to come with me to Snow Pack.” Her voice echoed. “We’re going to see how they’re doing. There has been a fire.”
A young pup named Fire ran to the Blood Pack leader. “Where you calling me?” He asked. Fire tripped over his paws on to his face. Leaf nudged the pup so he was facing the nursery. “This isn’t about you.” She laughed a little. “I expect Cloud is waiting for you.” Cloud was Fire’s mother.
“You will make a good pup-mother.” The wise leader smiled as Fire ran of to seek Cloud.
The four wolves, Mist, Dawn, Rock and Leaf trekked on through the snow. There were signs everywhere that snow-fall was coming. Leaf looked down at her paws to make sure they were still there.
“Not much farther now.” Dawn looked back at the three wolves. Frost covered them, making their coats look snow-white.
Mist could scent Snow Pack not to far away. They came to the border and Dawn let out a howl to call Flame over.
To their surprise, Night emerged from the hill. “Night, where is Flame?” Dawn dipped her head. Night now had a star on his forehead to symbolize leadership. “Flame has died.” His tail drooped. “Do not be sad. You must take care of your pack. They look up to you.” Dawn touched noses with the new leader.
“Have you lost any others?” Mist could scent death mingling in the air. “We have lost Soot. He was a protector in training.”
“We suffer for your loss.” Leaf put her paw on top of Night’s. “Did the fire reach your camp?” Dawn asked. “Yes, but everyone was safe in the gorge.” He pointed with his tail.
‘Good-bye. We will see you at the meeting.” Dawn touched noses with Night once more and turned away. Rock waved with his tail and followed Leaf back towards the Blood Pack camp below the mountain.
Leaf was smiling. “What’s so funny?” Rock whispered in her ear. “Flame…I met him before. I asked to join Snow Pack and he nearly bit my head off!”
Mist and dawn were much farther ahead of them.
“Like this?” He leaped at Lead and they rolled around until they stopped at the bottom of the hill.
Leaf looked deep into Rock’s eyes. There was something there that she couldn’t quite place. Mist broke the connection by yelling from above them “You two coming or not?” Rock got up first, then Leaf. They followed Mist back to camp.
The wolves gathered below the stone on which the leaders sat. Tonight was the meeting. Leaf looked expectantly to the leaders and let out a sigh.
Rock was supposed to guard the camp while the others went to the meeting.
“Where is Moss?” Ash, the chief of Blood Pack asked. Moss was the leader of the tribe of cars that lived in the valley. The meeting was the only time cats and wolves associated.
Moss appeared with a couple cats trailing behind her. “I’m here.” She leaped on to the stone. She mumbled something and flicked her tail.
“The meeting has started.” Dawn announced. “I will start.” She curled her tail and looked down on the wolves and cats. “In Blood Pack, Robin has had pups. She could not attend for obvious reasons. We have also welcomed a new member. Her name is Leaf.”
Leaf could feel eyes burning into her fur. A few cats hissed “Housedog!” or “Leash-licker!” But she paid no attention.
Dawn went on about other things, like Mist finding a new area with herbs. She sat down and nodded to Moss.
The un-groomed she-cat stood up. “Wolves are sneaking into our territory! Especially Snow Pack.” She glared at the wolves. All the Snow Pack members protested, as well as a few Blood Pack members. Night lifted his tail to hush the crowd. “I do not know of any from my pack that have crossed the boundaries.” He barked. Leaf was surprised at how fierce he sounded at his first meeting as a leader.
“Also, Valley tribe would like to spread out our territory. We have more kits and that means more mouths to feed. We already have limited space and bad hunting grounds, and we wish to move out a bit further.”
Dawn nodded. “That sounds reasonable. I will think about it.” Night stood up. “As will I.”
It was Night’s turn to speak. He talked about new pups, new hunters in training, and good hunting.
“This meeting is at an end. The peace will be broken once we return home.” Dawn adjourned the meeting.
Leaf glanced around. She caught a glimpse of the black pup Rock had been talking about. Her paws felt as if she were walking on top of thorns. There was a she-wolf with him too. His mother perhaps? She trotted over to them. “Hello.” She sat down. “Hi” The she-wolf replied. “I’m Leaf.” Leaf said. “I’m Star and this is Moon. We must leave.” She pointed with her tail to Snow Pack.
“Good-bye.” Moon said as his tongue lolled about. Leaf laughed. “Good-bye Moon.”
