on patrol.”
“…what?” Aleu asked. “…why? …when?”
“…I sent them out this morning.” Saba said. “Timbre’s unit will return tonight, and Dash tomorrow.”
“Wait a minute…” Aleu said. “You said Timbre’s unit and Dash? Is Dash alone?”
Saba nodded.
“It was his idea. He thought he could do a better sneak and peek by himself than with his whole unit.”
“…but Saba, you’ve left the cave very…”
Aleu stopped and knelt to the floor of the cave.
“I am sorry my Alpha. I did not mean to question your judgment.”
Saba smiled.
“Aleu, you know that’s unnecessary.” Aleu stayed down on the ground.
“Aleu you can stand up.” Saba said. “…just go find Raye and bring her back here.”
Aleu nodded and turned, walking out of the cave.
Chapter 2:
Aleu ran east, following the river as it threaded its way through the artic woods.
Aleu had no trouble following Raeona’s trail as it curved its way through the woods.
“If she left this good a trail from her cave to the waterfall Raye may be in trouble…” Aleu thought.
She ran faster and jumped a group of bushes ahead to land in a clearing at the side of the river.
Aleu crept backwards into the bushes and watched… but nothing moved.
She stepped back out into the clearing and walked cautiously to the water’s edge and swam through it to the edge of the cave. She climbed out and stood in the dark cave.
“…Raye?” Aleu asked tentatively.
The only sound Aleu heard was the steady drip drop of the water as it seeped through the rock ceiling to splatter on the rocks below.
“…Raye?” Aleu asked again, stepping further into the cave.
She waited a minute, and when her calls went unanswered Aleu started to walk further into the cave.
“…Raye, where are you?”
“Maybe I’m too late...” Aleu thought. “…Aleu?” a voice said behind her. “Aleu, is that you?”
Aleu turned and saw a young gray wolf standing behind her.
“…Raye?” Aleu asked.
The gray wolf stepped forward and nodded.
“…where’s my Mom?” Raye asked.
Aleu sighed.
“…she… she was hurt bad Raye… she… she barely made it to our cave…”
Raye took a step back.
“…no…”
Aleu took a step toward the distressed young wolf.
“…I’m sorry Raye.” She said.
Raye nodded.
“Thank… thank you Aleu.”
Raye sighed.
Aleu didn’t know what else to say to soothe the youngster’s pain, so she stayed quiet.
Suddenly there was a growl from outside the cave, splitting the silence that had reined for nearly five minutes.
“…Raye, perhaps we should leave…” Aleu said.
A cold laugh came from behind her.
“…heh… heh… you aren’t going anywhere.”
Aleu turned to see two black wolves standing behind her.
“…have they been here the whole time?” Aleu thought. “How did they sneak up on me like that?”
She took a cautious step backwards.
“Raye… stay back.”
Raye’s reply was less than encouraging.
“…um… Aleu… can’t do that.”
Aleu turned to see another of the black wolves climb out of the river and into the cave.
Aleu growled and crouched down, preparing for the fight she knew was only moments away.
The black wolf in front of her smiled.
“As much fun as it would be to kill a beautiful thing such as yourself Aleu I have a proposition to make that will ensure you remain alive throughout this exchange.”
Aleu growled.
“How do you know my name?” Aleu asked. “…I’ve never met you before.”
The wolf laughed again.
“…you’ll find we know a great deal more than you think we do.”
“…who’s we?” Aleu asked.
The wolf laughed again and circled her slowly.
“…the Shadow Clan of course…”
He paused and stopped circling her.
“…now, want to hear the proposition?”
“…sure.” Aleu said, never taking her gaze from his yellow eyes.
The wolf smiled.
“The truth is that we’re really not interested in a full out war. We don’t want to kill… but we will do what we must to accomplish our mission. Now, since you are no longer the Alpha of the Talbourne, you do not concern us. Make your way back to your cave, leave this young one to our…”
The wolf looked over at Raye and smiled, licking his lips.
“…care, and you live.”
Aleu smirked.
“You said you knew more about me than I knew… well you obviously don’t know much if you think I’d accept a deal like that.”
The wolf smiled.
“…so that’s a no then?”
“Yeah,” Aleu said. “...that would be a hell no.”
The wolf smiled again.
“…good.”
He looked her in the eyes.
“…I like it better this way.”
His eyes suddenly turned red and Aleu gasped.
“…Shade!”
The wolf laughed.
“…not quite.”
Then he hit her.
Aleu’s head snapped to the right from the blow and she rolled with it, carrying her away from her assailant.
The black wolf turned to his friend, who was standing in front of Raye and smiled.
“You kill her, Aleu’s mine.”
The wolf nodded and turned back to Raye, just as the young gray wolf tackled him.
Aleu crouched down and growled as the black wolf turned to face her.
“…just give it up Aleu.” The black wolf said.
The third wolf circled behind her and Aleu mentally ran through the attacks she could use in her mind.
Then the wolves attacked.
Aleu ducked and the two slammed into one another.
Aleu jumped to the side as one of the wolves tried to hit her, and instead he caught his partner full on the jaw.
Aleu watched in amazement as the wolves paw crushed his partner’s muzzle and then went through his head, popping it like a gory balloon.
The wolf dropped to the ground.
Aleu turned to face her remaining attacker.
He growled.
“…I’m gonna get you for that one.” He said. “It’s going to be heaven to hear you scream…”
Aleu growled and leapt at him.
The wolf slashed at her, and Aleu rolled under him, tearing at his belly with her claws, then she used the momentum from her leap to roll clear of the wolf, coming back up on her paws.
Her attack had done some damage, and the wolf limped noticeably as he came after her.
“…Aniu I could really use your help.” Aleu thought… but instead of the calming sensation she normally felt in the wolven goddess’ presence she felt…
…nothing.
“…Aniu?” Aleu thought.
…nothing.
Aleu turned her attention back to the by now very angry black wolf that was standing in front of her.
Aleu growled and swung her paw at the side of his head, but the wolf turned his head and snapped at Aleu’s paw, catching it in his jaws.
He bit down and Aleu yelped in pain.
The wolf didn’t let go, but instead turned his head and flipped Aleu over on her back.
Aleu felt something in her shoulder pop and she screamed as the wolf’s teeth tore into her paw.
Aleu slid under the wolf and used her back legs to kick the wolf just below his stomach.
The wolf yelped and for a moment Aleu’s paw was free.
She jerked it clear of the wolf’s mouth and kicked him twice more.
The wolf dropped to his side and Aleu kicked him again.
The wolf tried to snap at Aleu’s back leg.
This is what Aleu had been waiting for.
As the wolf snapped at her, he stretched out his neck and exposed it to her flashing jaws.
One snap and it was over.
The wolf looked dumbfounded at the blood that flowed across his shoulder.
He crawled a few feet away, then he stopped and was still.
Aleu spit on the ground, trying to rid her mouth of the horrible taste.
She tucked her injured left foreleg close to her side and turned.
“…Raye step back and…”
Raye dropped the dead wolf from her jaws and walked over to Aleu.
“…you’re hurt?” She asked.
“…nothing too bad.” Aleu said. “…got my leg a bit is all… you’re a good fighter.”
Raye smiled and then sighed.
“…yeah… yeah, my… my father made sure I knew how to defend myself.”
“…well come on Raye.” Aleu said. “We’ll go back to our cave. It’s just to the west of here, only about two miles… you’ll be safe there.”
Raye nodded and the two walked out of the cave.
Aleu had been walking for almost ten minutes when she heard the first voices.
She turned to Raye and crouched low, walking back to her.
“What is it Aleu? Raye asked.
“Shh…” Aleu whispered. “…voices, just ahead. We’re going to check it out, but keep quiet.”
Raye nodded.
Aleu turned and crept forward.
Soon they came to the upward slope of a hill and Aleu looked around, expecting a trap… but no one sprang from the
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