The Wolves of Eagle Pass

The story of raider (part one, the begining)

The moon shone down, filling the mountian pass with an ghostly glow, the frosty evening was filled with shouts of celibration as the new alpha of the pack raised his head and let out a braying cry. The pack followed suit until the air was suffocated with song, but not everyone was celebrating. A red wolf carried her cub into the darkness. Tears streamed down her face she took one final look back at the pack silouetted in the moonlight.

The pup whimpered and she nudged it foward towards the forest.

"Don't fret my son" she whispered "your father will arrive soon you wil go to live with him just as your younger brothers and your sister is now " Her face lit up as he turned an looked at her.

"why?" the only word he'd said for an hour.

"For I will not survive the night" she whispered to him."and you will be killed because of what you are, if I don't get you out of here"

The pup pressed his face againt her flank. He let out a stiffled sob.

"Hush my son,you will grow up to be big and strong like your father"

A braying call rushed through the forest her eyes lit up

"sorak" she said and then turned to her son "your father is here" she said snarles filled the air behind her she turned to see the pack had found her. "RUN... RUN" she shouted the pup was stuck on a decision,

He let out a yell as a wolf bit his mother on the neck and another grabbed her tail.

"Run son.. RUN"

The pup sped of into the trees.Two hours later, exhausted he collapsed in tears on the leafy floor. A shadow lingered over him.

He looked up in fright.

"You will avenge her death" the black wolf said his voice had a soft edge to it that made the pup trust him.

"follow me" his rough voice guided the pup through the darkness. A call filled the stars but was suddenly silenced

long live the alpha it said.

The shout of several young pups running in woke Raider from his nightmare, He yawned but it was cut short as three of the young pups jumped on him biting his ears and his tail.

'Gah.. spring' Raider moaned he stood up and two of the pups fell off but one stayed there holding on to his ear.

'Sky' Raider moaned as she giggled in her ear.

'Raider.. Daddy has been calling for you for lessons' Raider sighed, Sky's dad.. the beta of the pack had been given the charge of looking after Raider whilst his father was hunting in the great valley.

They were told that they would have a great supply of food for the winter.

'Raider!' a voice filled the cave. Raiders ears flattened and he made a quiet snarl. Sky and the other pups hid behind him.

'Daddys mad' Sky whispered 'I dont like it when he's mad'.

Beta Silver paw stood in the entrance of the cave.

'Pups I wanted you gone ten minuits ago' he stated.

The pups ran out of the cave as fast as their legs could carry them. All but one.

'Daddy are you mad at me' Sky asked. Her puppy eyes make Raider turn away.

'No , pup' Her father said 'I've got to teach this young Alpha a lesson'  He winked at his daughter she licked his mussle and ran to play.

Raider had gone back to the corner and sat there with his ears back ,hunched over, not facing silver paw.

'whats made you in such a fine mood?' silver asked.

'Nothing' Raider mumbled.

'well then let's get on with your training'

They walked to the great lake in the middle of their territory Raider sniffed the scent of the flowers and herd the buzz of the bees.. It sickened him. Here there was no danger, no fighting.

The last fights had been won by his father a long time ago. Now he was meant to be in charge of it?

Their hunt lasted for hours , not that Raider took any notice to what silver paw was teaching him. They walked back, Raider carrying two rabbits. Whilst silver paw dragged a small faun. Lean pickings for such a big pack.

They reached the faith rock.

'Here your father howled his alphahood' Silver paw walked up the slope and traced the familliar prow of the rock with his paw.'The packs of this area was once united. A strong group,but legend says that a wolf grew fond of a species of animals called humans protecting them ,keeping them safe. As the humans grew in number, food became scarce. Humans forgot the wolves kindness and prosecuted them. The wolves decided it was better to hunt in smaller groups,make smaller packs and move on. But there has always been promise of the one who will unite us again'

He looked round to see Raider standing there not really bothered in what he was saying.

'Young pup, what is with you today?, Normally you are full of questions waiting for answers and so forth'

'I just dont feel like asking questions' Raider muttered and stared

'Ah, that nightmare again'

'I don't have nightmares' Raider snarled 'Pups have nightmares'

'Well I consider you a pup since you have not killed your first deer' Silver paws hackels raised

Raider faced him, His eyes were on fire,Anger pushed up inside him.

'I am not a pup' Raider snarled.

Silver snarled back 'you say your not a pup but ,hell you act like one'

Raider lunged at him teeth bared but one slash of the beta's paw sent him flying. he sprawled out on the floor not moving.

Silver paw arrived at the cave with the rabbits in his mouth  the deer was carried by his son mathias a proud young wolf hoping to carry on the line of beta's.

Raider lagged behind, The anger still boiling inside him. He stood there for a moment before running off into the forest.

'Father' Mathias shouted as Raider dissapeared out of sight.

'Leave him' Silver paw dropped the rabbits.

'father, will he really be the one?' mathias sat on his haunches watching the trees.

'he'll find out soon enough, But we best not tell him about the proffacy'

They walked towards the den.

Raider sat on the cliff edge watching the sun fall and dissapear into the abyss below it. Raider let out a steady breath.

'maybe I should return home' He whispered to himself

but somthing beond the horizon had entranced him. He must go further

Suddenly he heard a sound, a sound he had never heard before. lights flashed over the den.lightning?

Raider suddenly smelt the blood enriched air.

'No ... No NOOO!' Raider ran, he must save his pack he was the future alpha his paws skidded to a stop.

The den was ruined, the females slaughtered trying to protect their pups. the omega whimpered in pain as he lay there.

'Felix?' Raider nuzzled his old litter companion the black and white fur now streaked with red.

'Raider, alpha had been tracked back here by the humans..He didn't know' Felix took a breath 'he managed to escape with your younger brothers, all is lost the pack is ruined'

Suddenly Felix yelped died, only then did the sound of a gun echo an eternity over eagle pass.

The was a sudden crack of a whip, a shot of pain ran across Raiders back again and again it struck till Raider could not longer stand.

He was suddenly jumped on by dogs holding him down.

'hold it down boys hold' the human said 'we got a young one ere, make a good sled dog'

Raider saw the human draw a thin thorn dripping with liquid. It saw stuck just under his pelt.

'Hold still pup' said one of the dogs 'your one of us now'. He saw they were all wolves.

'let him go' The human said. Raider pulled himself to his feet . The wolves spread out panting with exhaustion.

Raider took a few steps away from the wolves. Staring he saw a female human standing behind the male.

'Father! how could you' she came forward her eyes intence showing Raider that she was'nt afraid and there was no need that he should be either.

He collapsed in her arms. She kissed his bloody muzzle. Then Blackness