Secrets of The Pack : Part One : The Cry of a Wolf
 
The sun was rising in a small town in the snowy land of Alaska, as Tyson, a brown and cream coloured Siberian husky, was pulling a sled with the help of six other teammates. The team pushed through the deep, freezing snow as they strove to deliver a cart of food to another town not too far off from theirs.

“We can't be late again!” Tyson called in frustration from the head of the team, briefly craning his neck to face his team. At least it wasn’t snowing, thought the team leader. “Who in hell cares if we’re late?” Feathers mumbled under her, hardly in earshot of the lead dog.

Tyson rolled his eyes at his Feathers. She was his best friend, but sometimes, her carelessness aggravated him. “I heard that.” He replied sharply. Feathers pretended to have not heard him, and put her head low to the ground, as if truly putting her heart into pulling the sled. But, Tyson knew it was simply her way of ignoring him.

     After a few minutes of hard running, the team did arrive on time, which was to Tyson’s pleasure. As the sled dogs rested, the musher went to bring the food cart to the grocer.

Tyson sat down, his sides heaving from the extra effort he had put into the run, which was what had gotten the team to be on time. “That…was a good run guys, you deserve the rest.” Panted Tyson, pride glowed from his eyes as he praised them.

“Heh, thanks for running my paws off,” Feathers complained. “I think I’d rather have them chewed off, than have them run like that.” She concluded, before flopping herself to the ground lazily.

“Save your breath Feathers, we still have to get back home.” Tyson replied, his voice rich with a teasing edge.

Once the food cart had been given to the grocer, the dogs’ human returned to his sled team.

He had a great smile upon his face. “Good dogs!” The man said, with a proud shine in his eyes as the team responded with enthusiastic and appreciative whines and yips. “Well, let’s head back home!”

Tyson barked happily to his human as he stepped onto the sled. “Mush!” He ordered.

“Hey! Tyson, wanna go dig over by the old dead tree, when we get back to town?” Asked Feathers, trying to make her voice heard as they jogged through the snow.

     “Sorry, can’t. I’ve got to visit my dad today.” Replied Tyson, his mind primarily focused on leading the sled.

“Fine, you old family dog…Hey, Torino, do you wanna go digging with me later?” Feathers asked, sounding mildly flirtatious. Tyson’s attention was then swayed back to Feathers. He knew she was hoping that Torino would say yes. After all, Torino was the guy all the girl dogs wanted, especially Feathers, which did annoy and frustrate Tyson, it was so foolish to be so obsessed over anything. She’s so damn obsessed, thought Tyson, pinning his ears down and putting more of his weight into pulling the sled.

 And of course, since Torino loved the attention he received, answered with a smile, “Sure, why not?”

 Feathers turned away from Torino and began to run faster, out of pure excitement. Tyson took that opportunity to pick up his own pace, but for a much different reason: frustration. The lead dog was now truly plowing along through the snow, dragging his unprepared teammates behind him.

“Slow down Tyson! What’s wrong with you? We’re hardly warmed up for this kind of speed!” This time, it was Raie’s turn to complain, he was Feathers’ sled partner.

Tyson was too angered to even reply to Raie. He tried to focus on his run. He loved running and he loved his job. He loved everything about it, especially the running and the outdoors part. To clear his mind, he allowed himself to let the fresh scents of the trees and the mountains seep into his nose.

I must get this love of the run and the outdoors from Kayo, my dear father, thought Tyson. He began to feel his mind relax and his soul refresh itself. It was his most favoured activity, to become lost in the wonder that was the run and nature. No matter how heavy the loads became, he would always feel free when he ran, he would never truly feel the restraint of the harness, or so he thought.
 
     When the team finally returned home, the dogs’ human took off their equipment and set the dogs loose in the town, which was acceptable at that day and age. By the time Tyson had caught his breath and calmed down from the thrill of the run, he realized how hungry he was. I’ll take a bite to eat and then head to dad’s, thought the husky. He trotted slowly towards his food bowl and ate his fill.

As he neared Kayo’s human den, his house, Tyson heard a wail of pain. He whirled around and angled his ears in its direction. It seemed to be coming from the forest north of the town. Tyson decided he’d visit his father after seeing what was going on. Someone could be hurt or worse, it could be important. The husky cut through the alleys of the houses and headed out of town.

Tyson ran as swift and soundless as the wind, toward the forest. As he neared the forest’s edge, he saw a slender, dark figure running clumsily with a painful looking limp. Tyson bounded ahead of the mysterious creature, to cut off them off in order to help them. It didn’t take the dog long to get to the creature, due to his obvious physical advantage.





“Are you alright?” Tyson asked with haste, not wanting to waste any time to avoid any possible danger. “Who are you? Stay away from me!” The now clearly visible creature, who had turned out to be a female wolf, snarled aggressively and confidently, even though she wasn’t in any shape to back herself up. “No, I only want to help, I can’t leave you like this. What’s wrong?” The husky asked, trying to remain calm even though he sensed something dangerously menacing approaching from the nearby forest.

“You want to help, you say? I guess I’d better take up that offer, I’ve got nothing else now…” She declared with a sigh. The she-wolf studied Tyson with observant, quickly shifting eyes.

“If you want to truly help me, get me out of here and somewhere with alot of…humans.” The black wolf explained her voice hushed to an almost inaudible level.

“Wait, first, let me help you with your leg, it’s bleeding alot and—“ His words were brutally interrupted. “No! Do not touch me, you pet.” Her voice was rumbling in her throat aggressively. Her fangs bared, ears pinned back.

“Ok, ok, I won’t!” Retracted the husky as he lept backward, surprised of her suddenly sparked aggression. “Follow me, I’ll take you to my town.” Said Tyson, using his words carefully, in order not to offend her. After all, he wanted to help her, not get her angrier and hurt.


As the pair walked to the small town, Tyson felt awkward about the silence between them. He’d rather chat, than just travel in silence, it felt more natural to communicate. “Tell me about yourself, like where you’re from or maybe your name, to start with.”





The she-wolf looked him over once more and seemed to be judging whether she could trust the husky or not but, she soon gave in. “Well, my name is Katara and I am of a wolf pack.” She introduced herself warily, as if waiting for the dog to mock her or run away in fear. But, he did not. Tyson simply studied her. Wolves are not so different than us, he thought. Though, it did show that she was a wolf, a lot, when he really thought about it, though, he and she were still both, canids.

Tyson looked more deeply. Katara had beautiful, green eyes. Her muzzle was long, but strong looking, and her ears seemed so perfectly set on her delicate head. Her coat was shiny and black, except for the one splash of white that was on her chest. Before his thoughts could go any farther, his thoughts were cut short.

“Are you ok? Do you have a problem with wolves?” Katara asked. Sounding hurt and defensive. “No, of course not! Why would I have a problem with wolves? After all, they’re a lot like us dogs.” Said Tyson, embarrassed that his starring had been noticed.

“Yeah my dad used to be friends with a wolf, but, one day, the wolf came into town, and a human shot him…” The husky told, with a sadness rimming his voice. They carried on a casual conversation until they were a few tail-lengths away from town.

“So, this is it. This is where I live.” Tyson declared. “It looks alright, for a human place.” Complimented Katara, even though her voice was frosted with a bitter coldness. This she-wolf obviously did not favour humans, so why did she ask me to bring her here, wondered Tyson thoughtfully.

“What do you mean, “for a human place?” ” Asked Tyson, a little taken aback. “You wouldn’t understand. Just, never mind.” Katara concluded. “Alright, sorry I asked.” Replied the husky. He was beginning to become annoyed with her being constantly dismissive towards him.

“C’mon let’s go to the old barn. You can warm up and rest there.” Tyson beckoned her to follow him with a swish of his tail. “Ok, whatever that is.” Katara mumbled, confused. Tyson lead the dark wolf from the back for the town toward an old run-down looking human den.

-To be continued…




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