Friend or Foe? Part 2- The Initiation

Kiwi opened her eyes. She was literally bruised from head to tail.

          “KIWI!!” a familiar voice cried, “You’re finally awake! I was getting worried.” The voice came from Maya. Kiwi saw Boa, injured almost as badly as herself, still out cold. Maya was a little scratched up, but the best of the three by far.

          Suddenly Kiwi jumped to her feet and yipped, “Where is he?” she snarled. “When I find him I’m going to wring his neck!”

          “Relax. He’s over there,” Maya nodded toward an unmoving heap of fur.

          “Is he…”

          “No. Not yet, anyway.

          “What do you mean, not yet?” Kiwi shivered.

          “She means he’s still alive,” Boa said as she stood up. Kiwi jumped again.

          “You scared me!” she snapped.

          Boa froze. “Did you hear something?”

          “No,” Maya and Kiwi said in unison. Then they looked at each other, flattened their ears, and started clawing at one another.

           “Mir…” the strange wolf murmured as he struggled to sit up.

          Maya stopped, looked at Kiwi and asked, “What did he say? Did you… You DID hear him too, right?’

          “Mirage… why… didn’t you finish… me?” the wolf whispered.

          Boa looked at Kiwi and Maya, who nodded, and Boa ventured over to him.

          “Who’s Mirage?” she ask.

          “Don’t try to trick me!” The wolf spat, finally sitting up.

          “I don’t kid with strangers,” Boa said matter-of-factly, and continued, “There’s no Mirage here.”

          B-But she’s right there,” he said as he nodded to Kiwi.

          Kiwi narrowed her eyes and stomped over to the strange wolf. Boa trotted over to Maya and sat down. She really didn’t want to be a part of this.

          “Are you telling me,” Kiwi said slowly, “That you almost ripped my ear off and just about broke my neck because you thought I was someone else?” Kiwi looked she was, in fact, capable of tearing him limb from limb at that moment.

          Boa noticed this and whispered something to Maya, who grinned, and… slowly… slunk… up… behind… Kiwi… and…

          “SUUUUMMOOOOO!!!!” Maya cried, tackling her surprised friend.

          “Auggh!” Kiwi shrieked as she flew to the side. They landed with a thud.

          Kiwi was almost too stunned to speak. When she finally did, she wasn’t happy.

          “What was that??” she sputtered.

          “Boa told me to. It was fun.” Maya chuckled.

          “Wait,” the strange wolf murmured slowly. “If you aren’t Mirage, where is she?”

          Boa cocked her head and replied, “We don’t know who Mirage is.” Kiwi and Maya started fighting.

          “Mirage is leader of a rebel pack… she fights very well. The actual pack only has four wolves in it. They have strengths. BIG strengths. And few weaknesses. Let me see… Mirage, Globo, Candy, and Mud are their names. Black, green, pink, and brown.

          Kiwi and Maya stopped.

          “MUD??” Maya asked in disbelief and continued, “What kind of parents would name their pup Mud? I mean, come on!”

          The strange wolf scoffed. “Don’t get cocky,” he warned, “He’s tough.”

          “Hey,” Kiwi chirruped, jumping into the conversation, “We never got your name.”

          “Yea!” Boa and Maya agreed in unison.

          The wolf hesitated.

          “Oh, come on,” Boa persisted as she stretched.

          “Well, okay. My name is Ackyak.

          “Good to meet you. I’m Kiwi,”- she gestured to her friends-, “And they're Boa and Maya.”

          Suddenly Maya’s eyes grew wide and she stuttered, “A-Ackyak… uh…w-what did you say Mirage looked like again?”

          “Oh, I didn’t. She’s almost all black with silver markings.” Ackyak nodded as he spoke.

          In a very high-pitched, squeaky voice, Maya said, “Then we have unwanted company.” Everyone turned Mirage and her posse hurtling toward them at blinding speed.

To Be Continued…