The waning crescent rested in the quiet night. I sat up on my favorite ridge where I faced northeast. My mother trotted up to me and looked down at me before she sat beside me. My mother was like any other mother. Fair but was stern when one of her pups got in trouble. Even though a simple wolf, my father though she was the lady of the land. Pure black, as if the night had blanketed her when she was born. But in the middle of her forehead was Polaris. A bright, white spot. Her eyes a crystal, tealish blue color. "What are you thinking about?" Her silk smooth voice flowed into my ears.

"Nothing...just enjoying the night sky." I answered.

She bent her head down closer to my right ear and whispered, "You coming to eat some dinner?" I looked into her eyes and found the reason why my father loved her so much. I gave a nod and she smiled before she gave me a gentle nuzzle. She stood and headed back down the ridge to the pack.

I looked like my father except for the white spot in the middle of my forehead. My fur was the color of red dirt. White stockings covered my legs and yellow hazel eyes completed my look. A few minutes later, my eyes spotted some moving lights...moving toward me.

Quickly I stood as with more focus I was able to make out two wolves carrying what you two-legged call torches. Other wolves followed the wolves holding torches in their jaws. I figured they must have gotten them lit by the fire geysers in the Devil Laugh Rock Valley somehow. A growl rose from my throat before I wheeled around and galloped down the ridge to the pack.

As I came closer, giving out an alarm, the pack looked up with blood dripping from their muzzles. Earlier, they had caught a weak moose and that was dinner. They were concerned and whispering to each other what it might be. "Dad!" I called out. My father stepped forward trying to hold a nonchalant expression but his worry failed it. "What is it?" He asked hastily. As I stopped I breathlessly answered, "Another pack...not friendly scent." My father growled before trotting up the ridge to where I was. A howl pierced the sky and my father's deep voice answered the call...a call of battle. The Nabruko Clan had come to fight my father's clan. Our clan members snarled with such savage that I've never seen before. They charged up the ridge to face their enemy. The pack was loyal and would fight to the death. And for one thing I knew about the Nabruko. They showed no mercy....

My mother quickly rounded my siblings and I. "Bonnie!" She barked out. A brown wolf with white stockings and black ears cantered up to my mother. Now Bonnie was like our older sister. My father rescued her when she was just a pup. "Bonnie take your siblings to the cave and don't come out until dawn!" She snapped before bending her head down to nuzzle each of our tear-coated cheeks. "Be safe and stay close to Bonnie." She spoke before joining the pack.

"You heard mother." Bonnie spoke before she gathered us into a tighter circle and pushed us away from the battle. All of our feelings were frozen with fear. What would happen? Would our father and mother live? What if they get us? These questions bounced all round my head as we disappeared into the brush to the cave.

I couldn't leave mother and father. Quickly, I broke from the group. "Wapasha!" Bonnie called out but I didn't listen. As I galloped up the ridge, I could smell smoke, blood, and burnt fur. I heard the snarling and yelps and then I saw the scene. Some wolves were killed on both sides as their comrades battled their enemyo. I couldn't stand the horrid scene. Suddenly, I was knocked to the ground. I quickly turned to see my attacker.

It was a slim yellow wolf. "I think daddy be sad to hear you scream. " It spoke and as it's jaws neared my neck I was frozen with fear. But another set of jaws clamped onto it's neck and threw it off me. It was my father who had come to my rescue. "What are you doing here son?!" He demanded rather than ask. Before I answered, he turned to knock the yellow wolf back down. "Get back to your siblings now!" He snapped before shoved the wolf down the ridge. My father stepped in front of me and nuzzled me. "Now go and be strong!" Then he darted down the ridge to join the battle.

I listened to my father and ran as fast as my little legs could carry me. Then a stench struck my nose. It was death. No it couldn't be! Not them! I pushed myself harder and charged through the brush and into a terrible scene. Tears yet again streamed down my face as I looked over the dead bodies. "Bonnie.." I whispered as I neared her body. Bonnie's neck was ripped open, blood on her teeth, fear and anger frozen in her eyes. A strange wolf lied only a few feet away from her. She must have killed it. I cried hard as I passed my brothers, Reno and Dollar.  Their necks twisted, their sides open. My sister, Harmony's bottom jaw was missing. Where was Gem? Where could she be? They didn't eat her, did they? A rustle in the bushes made me spin around. "Hello." I spoke softly. A whimper and then there was the head of Gem.

"Gem!"

"Wapasha!" Gem limped over to me and I was nuzzling her. "It was a nightmare...they...they were demons. I got away....and...I'll never forget their screams..." She stammered before she broke out crying. I tried to comfort her.

"Let's get to the cave." I said. She nodded and we both traveled over the blood soaked ground to the small cave.

As we neared the moss covered cave, Gem disappeared inside. I stayed outside for a bit, checking the area before following her in. When I got in, she was asleep. Softly, I layed down next to her. I had my head on her back. While she whimpered in her sleep, I stayed awake. Listening to the battle...my spirit broken....my song empty....my heart shattered....