The Java Wolf Pack - Part 1

Wolves... gracefull and mighty creatures of the world. We own everything truly wild, the mountains, the trees, the rivers and streams. Our beauty and power, make humans both fear, and admire us.

There's a legend, as old as time itself, of a beautiful mountain range, right by the oceanborder of Nome, Alaska. It is famous for its forest, rich of game, and the gorgeous scenery of the open meadows. But most of all, it's famous for... us! A few years ago, my pack moved into this terrirtory, and we now call it home. We live in an one-of-a-kind cave, one shaped like a wolf! Out of her mouth, falls the great waters. We call this rock, Wolf Rock!

By now, you are probably wondering about, who I am... well, if you know a wolf named Puma, then you've got it! My name's Puma, and I'm the leader of the Java Wolf Pack! I've got quite a story to tell!

Well, my story began the day that my siblings and I where brought out of the den. We where rambunctious as ever, rolling around in the grass and play-biting. My father, King, was taking a snooze, while my mother, Goddess, was watching us youngsters. Ofcourse, as the curious one I was, I never could quite help myself! I can remember atleast.... well.... I can't even remember how many times I almost got myself killed! I can only remember the really serious ones. The one I will never forget, was the time I was almost killed by hunters! Well, like most of the really long stories I drag myself into, this one is a real good one! It just happened to be that same, lazy old day that I was just talking to you about. My papa saved me, and sacrificed his life for me... well, I don't want to get ahead of myself... it really is a story worth telling!

Well, as I just said, it was a very relaxing, laid-back day. I was chasing a grasshopper, up to the point when it lead me straight into an open field. I was too curious to just head back home, so I kept going forward. My ear was itchy, so I scratched it with my foot, and in the process, an oak leaf fell on my head! I shook it off, pouncing on it, and the noise I was making scared some rabbits. They took off running, with me after them. It wasn't long until I became really tired, and decided to slow down. As I watched the rabbits running off ahead of me, I heard a loud "SNAP!" I gazed over, shocked! One of the quick little creatures was caught by a snare trap! I became very worried for the poor little rabbit, so, instead of hurrying back home like I was taught in a case like this one, I went to see if it was alright. There was blood everywhere! The small, furry brown creature was dead! I stared, terrified! It looked as if the snare cut the animal in half, with only the bones keeping the two parts together!

My instincts told me to run for it, but before I could, I found myself trapped in a net! I attempted to bite through it, but the rope was too strong. As the tall, dark haired man picked me up, I screamed for my life. My scream echoed through the mountains. Before the man could throw me in a cage in the back of his truck, a large figure pounced ontop of him, knocking us both to the ground. My father removed the net from under my paws, and pushed me out of the way. He pleaded me to hide in the grass, where I would be safe. I obeyed him, as I was too terrified not to. I watched his brave and heroic battle, against the man. For a minute, I thought that my father was going to win, but as soon as I saw the hunter pull out the long rifle, disaster! The next thing I knew, I heard a loud gunshot, followed by the terrible echoing of my father's screams. The pure power of the gunshot knocked me off balance. When I regained my suddenly lost power, I saw that the truck, along with the man, was gone. The only thing I could see within a million miles, was my father, laying in the ground, near death. All I could hear, was the slow sound of my own breath.

I ran to my father's side, hoping, praying, that he would be okay. I nudged him, and heard a cough. This would be the last time, I would see his strong, blue eyes.

"Puma, look at me..." he said.

I looked up at him, with tears rolling down my face.

"There, there, little Puma. Don't cry. It wasn't your fault.

(sniffs) "Yes it is, daddy, yes it is! It's all my fault! Please don't leave me, please don't leave!" I cried.

"Puma, it wasn't your fault..."

I looked to the ground, and closed my eyes. As a tear fell from my cheek, I jumped into my daddy's arms.

"I'm so sorry daddy! I'm so sorry! Are you going to leave me?"

"Oh, Puma... my dear little Puma. Sometimes in life, things happen... and nothing already done can be changed or revived. This is one of those times, Puma. Just remember, I'll always love you, no matter what."

"Please don't leave, daddy! Please don't go!"

"Puma... take good care of your mother and siblings."

(Another tear falls) "I will..."

As I looked into his eyes, I could see the pain he was going through. I licked the wound on his neck, hoping it would get better. My father smiled, and lay his head down on the ground, closing his eyes, and taking his last breath. He died a hero. A real father. One who would die for the ones he loved. I wanted to be just like him.

A million things were going through my mind at that second. Between all the tears, the pain, the broken heart... I knew he was in a better place.

I walked home slowly that night. I treasured every paw print of my father left in the dirt. This was my way home. When I got back to the place where the leaf fell on my head, I stopped dead in my tracks. Like many times before, my father's screams played over and over in my head. This time, the screams were louder, more terrifying. Then, I realized... life is the most precious thing on earth. I started crying harder, and ran with all my might, almost like I was trying to get away from the guilt.

That night was a long night. It was a night full of pain and grief. It was nothing I have ever felt before. And I hoped that I would never have to feel the same pain, ever again. It was not only my grief that cut right through me, it was also the grief from my family, my mother, my brothers and my sister. The hardest thing I had to do that night, was break the news to my relatives. But the hardest thing I had ever done in my life, was letting go of the one I loved so much, the one I looked up to, the one who I wanted to be just like.

Well, there you have it! That's the day I will never forget. It was also the day where my father proved he was a real hero, a real father. But my story isn't over yet! Infact, that's not even the half of it! I still have to tell you about the time of struggle, the time I met my other half, and also, the long journey, towards wolf rock!

A few weeks after the passing of my father, there was more trouble. A famine had just struck the area. Most of the prey have either died, or traveled away. It was almost winter-time. My mother was out most of the day, searching for food, and barely catching anything. On rare occassions, she would bring home a mouse, if we were lucky, two mice. But that was barely enough to feed the entire family. So my mother decided to eat most of the meat, and give us her milk. That was the best way to get food into all of our bodies.

Sadly, most of my siblings did not survive within a week of the start of the famine. It was only me, my mother, and two other siblings. We were all weak, and after a few more days passed, my mother only had one pup.

Weeks went by, then months, then finally, one year. I had grown up to be a very strong, handsome young wolf. My mother always told me, that I looked just like my father. And everytime I looked at my reflection in the water, I couldn't agree more. I had grown to look almost exactly like my father, the one I wanted to be like, more than anything.

One early Summer morning, I was peacefully relaxing by the stream near the den I was born in. When I lay my head down on my paws, I felt something tickling my nose. I opened my eyes, and there, I saw a small mouse playing around in the grass infront of me. I had not yet lost my pup-like behavior, and pawed at the mouse. It scurried off quickly, and yet again, I couldn't help myself, so I chased after it. It wasn't long, before the mouse found a hole to hide in. Not wasting a second, it attempted to jump into the hole, only a split second too late. I caught the mouse's tail, and was sensing victory at last! My first successful hunt! All of a sudden, I heard a voice.

"Whatcha doin'?" asked the sweet voice.

A little annoyed by that obvious question, I ignored it, and kept on focusing on my lunch.

"Well?..." the voice continued.

All stressed out, I accidentally lifted my paw, and let the mouse escape.

"Maaaan, look what you made me do! Because of you, I-"

As I looked up to confront the face, my heart stopped. She was BEAUTIFUL! She... she... she was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! All I could see, was an adorable, black face, with beautiful amber eyes! Her smile was stunning, and don't get me starting on those eyes, those be... be... bea-u-tiful eyes, that still make get "people bumps"! I fell head over heels for that girl!

"My... my... my name is... P...P...Puma." I said, fidgeting and studdering at the same time.

(giggles) "Hi there, Puma! I'm Mira!"

"M...M...Mira! Th..th..that's a beautiful n...n...name!" I said yet again, in a silly, clumbsy, "swept-of- my-feet" way.

The two of us bonded closely, and fell deeply inlove. I decided to run off with my love, and start a new pack. Mira had told me of a