Blaez The Beta Male

Book 2: Winter

It took them nearly half the day the reach the forest and once they did it was almost mid-day and the suns rays did little to warm the freezing wolves.

‘Where are we going to go?’ Konnor asked turning to Blaez who looked at the surrounding forest trying to remember how it looked before so he could find the best hunting spots since the caribou had returned.

‘Lets just go in and find some!’ Saffron said frowning as she jumped forward but Blaez quickly stopped her.

‘Shhh the Shangkai pack will have sentries we have to be quiet, we need to go in and out very quietly.’  Frowning but seeing his point Saffron stepped back and didn’t anything. Sniffing the air Blaez looked around till he was sure he knew where he was in relation to where the caribou had the best feeding grounds in winter. ‘This way towards the small plain they should be there.’ Walking in to the forest Saffron quickly followed behind but as they walked Konnor couldn’t seem to keep quite as he started to talk to Azure.

‘So how do you like staying with the other wolves?’

‘They’re nice’ Azure said as she kept walking.

‘I haven’t spoken to you for days.’ Konnor admitted looking down at the ground as s\he spoke.

‘I’m sorry I’ve been busy.’

‘Yeah talking to that JD wolf.’  Azure instantly turned around and looked at Konnor with a frown on her face.

‘I don’t need you telling me who I can and can’t talk to.’

‘I’m just saying maybe you should talk to your real friends more!’ Konnor finished and they both stared at each other before Azure said,

‘Have you ever wondered why I don’t talk to you? This is why!’ With that Azure quickly turned around to catch up the others as Konnor frowned and marched after her not saying anything as he imagined JD in his mind getting captured by the Shangkai pack, he wasn’t jealous he was just looking out for his best friend that’s all.

Breaking through some small bush Blaez smiled as he saw a snow covered plain with a few tall yellow grass sticking up and the caribou hastily fighting over what little grass there was left.

Saffron smiled widely as she looked at Blaez who turned and saw that Azure and Konnor looked just as eagerly down at the caribou.

‘Who said you didn’t know your own land?’ Konnor said cheerfully looking at Blaez who smiled.

‘Come one lets get one of them quickly before the Shangkai pack arrive…’ Blaez said as the four wolves quickly jumped down and small hill and ran towards the caribou the immense hunger they felt was going away just by the mere sight of their prey.

Torren stretched out in his large warm den and yawned as he slowly opened his eyes only to see a scout wolf looking down at him. Staring up at the wolf for a moment Torren growled before standing up. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Torren we have found footprints leading in and out of our pack lands.’

‘What!’ Torren snapped looking back at the wolf. ‘Who were they, what did they do, where did they come from?’

‘They stole one of our caribou’ Dusk who had been asleep slowly opened her eyes and looked at the two wolves.

‘Quick follow those footprints we will be able to find out where they are hiding.’ Torren growled as he quickly walked out of his den followed by Dusk and the scout wolf. The sky had turned a dark grey and the sun was beginning to set.

‘Wait till tomorrow my mate there is a large snow storm on its way…’

‘If we wait the tracks will disappear completely.’ Torren argued back looking up at the sky.

‘Don’t worry if they are that hungry they will return and we have more urgent issues to deal with.’

‘The Night-Slayers…’ He finished as he turned back around and walked back in to his den as Dusk walked up the scout and whispered.

‘Double our border patrol if any other wolves make it in our lands and escape it’ll be your life…’ Swallowing hard the scout nodded before quickly running away leaving Dusk looking up at the sky.

‘Whoa Blaez.’ Akela said looking down at the food he and the others had brought back.

‘You should have seen all the caribou and Blaez lead us right to them’! Saffron said smiling looking at Blaez who looked back at Akela.

‘It was nothing, but no one detected us so we can go back and forth and keep getting more food.’ Blaez said looking at Keaton who still didn’t seem to be too impressed looked down at the food and frowned for a moment but didn’t say anything.

Konnor who was standing beside Azure watched sadly as she walked over to JD and started to talk with him completely ignoring Konnor as she did. Blaez who was watching his friend walked over to him and sighed. ‘Nice hunting today…’

‘Yeah she did hunt well didn’t she…’ Snapping back to reality Konnor looked at Blaez and blushed under his fur as he looked away, just as Akela walked up and stood beside Blaez who looked down at her.

‘Now that we have a way in which we can get food I’m going to allow you to seek out the Night-Slayers on one condition…’ Looking at confused for a moment Blaez quickly nodded. ‘…that I come with you.’  Akela smirked up at Blaez who returned one of his own. Sage quickly padded forwards towards the entrance of the cave and looked up in to the sky.

‘There’s going to be a bad snow storm you’ll have to wait till tomorrow.’ Blaez quickly walked up beside Sage as the snow outside began to fall down harder covering their tracks that were on the snow.

That night Blaez didn’t sleep as he thought about Aleu and the old pack he had left behind, he wondered what winter they were facing, were they surviving would they make it the year? Could Blaez save his pack or would he let them down? He knew unless the Shangkai pack were defeated that neither his pack nor any other pack could ever survive again on these lands, the Shangkai pack were the law.

As the thoughts crosses his mind he remembered the talk he’d had with Akela weeks ago about the fate of Nava.

‘So what happened, did he survive is he alive?’ Blaez asked looking at Akela excitably as she sighed.

‘The last we know of Nava was that when the Shangkai pack attacked and took over what was once his land he vowed to take it back but that was last he was seen or heard of.’ Hanging his head low for a moment Akela put on a small smile as she looked up at him. ‘He could be alive’  

‘I hope so…’ Blaez finished looking out towards the ocean as Konnor and Azure both looked sad at the news.

Slowly Blaez closed his eyes as the howling wind outside echoed throughout the cave like the eerie howl of a lone wolf left out on its own.

‘I used to live on those lands…’

‘That’s impossible the entire pack was killed.’

Blaez sighed as he looked down at her. ‘Don’t believe what everyone else tells you Saffron.’

Akela who had also woken up quickly padded up beside Blaez and looked down at Saffron as they exchanged frowns before Akela said, ‘glad to see you’re up so early.’

Akela said as Saffron frowned and walked away leaving Blaez and Akela standing at the entrance. For a moment they both stood there in silence before Blaez quickly walked inside the cave to try and find Konnor and when he did he saw he was lying down still asleep. ‘Konnor get up.’ Blaez said rolling his eyes looking down at Konnor who opened his eyes and looked up at Blaez before moaning loudly.

‘It’s too early.’

‘Exactly the faster we get moving the quicker we’ll be able to find the Night-Slayer pack.’ Slowly Konnor stood up and looked over to see that Azure was still asleep.

‘Isn’t Azure coming with us?’ Konnor asked looking at Blaez who slowly shook his head.

‘She wasn’t feeling well last night so she can stay; Akela is coming with us.’

Looking worried for a moment Konnor nodded before both he and Blaez quickly bounded out of the cave where Akela was waiting for them.

‘Wait!’ Keaton yelled as he jumped out of the cave towards them.

‘I’m coming with you.’ He said panting slightly looking up at Blaez who didn’t look to enthused about the idea.

‘Let’s just get going quickly.’ Blaez said as he slowly started to walk in the deep snow up on a narrow path that would lead to the highest peak in the entire area, the area where he knew the Night Pack used to live.

The journey was long and steep and as Blaez started to climb up the rocky paths he could feel his paws being scratched on the sharp rocks but he ignored the pain as he pushed himself higher and higher with Konnor, Keaton and Akela not far behind him.

‘Does the mountain have a top or are we going to climb forever…’ Konnor complained stopping and looking at his paws which looked swelled and sore as he looked at Blaez who hadn’t stopped walking.

‘It’s not much further.’ Blaez said not looking back at Konnor who looked confused for a moment.

‘How do you know where we’re going if you’ve never been here before?’ Keaton sneered looking at Blaez who stopped for a moment but didn’t say anything as he continued walking up the rocky mountain.

After what seem like hours going up in to the mountains finally Blaez came to a flat ledge where he could see the tip of the mountain.  ‘What do we do now Blaez?’ Akela asked and walked up beside Blaez who looked down at her.

‘We wait till dark.’

Slowly the setting sun began to sink lower and lower in to the sky and the four wolves watched as if by magic every single star slowly start shining in the sky. The golden moon rose higher and higher and once it reached dead center in the sky as if on cue many pairs of glistening eyes looked down towards the four wolves who looked up at them.

‘We wish to speak to the Night Pack.’ Blaez called out as the glistening eyes disappeared in the darkness and three wolves walked forward towards them. Standing his ground Blaez waited till he was face to face with a black wolf who was staring directly at them.

‘Who are you?’ The black wolf asked in a low voice.

‘I am Blaez a member of the pack whose lands which are now over-run by the Shangkai pack.’

‘You lie that entire pack has been killed.’ The black wolf sneered.

‘He speaks the truth.’ Akela stepped forward beside Blaez. ‘We are part of the rebellion to over throw the Shangkai pack and reclaim our lost lands’

Another wolf who was also black except for white ears said solemnly. ‘You do not concern us now leave our land.’

The three wolves began to turn around but Blaez quickly jumped in front of them. ‘We’re here to help the Night-Slayers now tell me have I found the right wolves?’

The black wolf looked at the other two before saying with his head held high. ‘You have indeed.’

‘We do not need your help.’ The wolf with white ears said looking at Blaez.

‘Just hear us out...please.’ Blaez said looking at the black wolf who he guessed was in charge.

‘You have our ears Blaez the wolf.’ The black wolf said turning around to face him.

‘Me and a few others are planning on trying to overthrow the Shangkai pack, but our numbers are small we need help, we need food and we need somewhere we can work together with others to try and help overthrow Torren.’

Thinking for a moment the black wolf said. ‘I am Night Alpha Male of the Night-Slayers, we were once the Night pack but our numbers have greatly dimished no thanks to those horrible Shangkai wolves. As much as we value your help we do not need it, we are planning our own attack and we plan to win.’

‘Yes so leave our lands now.’ The wolf with white ears growled as Night turned to him and frowned.

‘Orion please these are not our enemies we have no need to fear them.’

Akela quickly jumped forward in front of Night who looked down at her with his golden eyes as she began talking. ‘Our pack below in the mountains are dying, we have little food and water, we ask you as partners in the force to try an destroy the Shangkai we need help, we need your help.’

‘How many are there of you?’ Night asked looking back at Blaez who turned to Keaton who had remained quiet.

‘Ten.’

‘Ten! We barely have enough for ourselves.’ Orion protested as Night growled low at him causing him to slink back a few steps.

‘You may stay here but let it be known now our plan to attack the Shangkai pack will not be aided by you we have our own battle to fight as do you, get in our way and I promise you will regret walking upon the land which was once the home of the glorious Night pack.’  With that Night, Orion and the other wolf walked away and seemed to disappear in to the darkness leaving the four wolves all looking at each other.

‘So that means we can stay?’ Konnor said looking at Blaez who didn’t look to sure and didn’t say anything.

‘I don’t like this idea.’ Keaton said looking at Akela. ‘What’s the point of us staying here if these wolves refuse to help us?’

‘They might not help us in the fight but they will help us to survive now quickly lets gather the wolves and bring them up here before daybreak tomorrow.’ Blaez said as he quickly padded back the way he came as Konnor looked after him with a sad look on his face.

‘You mean we have to go down and back up…again?’ Akela rolled her eyes at Konnor as she ran past him and down the mountains slope after Blaez. Keaton turned to Konnor and sighed.

‘For once I’m with you.’ With that Keaton and Konnor slowly began to follow the others.

‘This is foolish Night.’ Orion growled as the three wolves watched from a ledge as Blaez and the others went down the mountains.

‘They will not help us in the fight that’s all we ask of them and let’s hope they keep that promise.’ Growling Orion slowly walked away as Night continued to sit on the ledge as the wolves disappear in to the darkness.

Blaez and the others moved the wolves up to the Night packs lands and unknown to them that very day Torren had discovered the cave and if they had been there the full force of the Shangkai pack would have killed them.

They spent many weeks on the mountain only rarely seeing the Night pack members, a few of the wolves thought that they were ghosts because they were only seen at night when the needed something or would ask for help.

The food on the mountain only consisted of mountain goats but it was enough to sustain them but whilst the Night pack trained for war Blaez and the others only tried to survive the winter.

Blaez knew it was too early to be attacking the Shangkai pack, they had to find a weakness before even attempting it but his thoughts went unnoticed by the Night Pack who ignored Blaez and still continued to prepare for war. Though Blaez had more urgent matters on his paws Azure had continued to grow sicker and he was scared for his friend’s life. Both he and Konnor desperately tried to find some way to cure her but as the winter weeks went on she only grew worse.

‘Is anyone else other than me sick of the taste of mountain goats?’

Saffron complained looking at Blaez who was looking out in to the distance at the Shangkai pack lands which were covered in snow and ice. From nearby Night slowly walked up and stood beside Blaez who turned to him with seeing a fire burning in his eyes. ‘This is a mistake Night you can’t do this, not yet.’

‘I must do what we need to Blaez if you were in my position you’d do the same, it time for us to attack.’

Blaez sighed as he shook his head. ‘At least wait and see whether or not we can find a weakness.’

Smiling for a moment Night shook his head. ‘Winter is the time to attack we can use the cold to our advantage, you wouldn’t understand.’

Frowning for a moment Blaez stood up and looked directly in to Nights eyes. ‘I’m begging you as a friend Night to stay, we will work better as a team the more the better but believe me now is not the time.’

Night’s eyes glistened as he growled. ‘Then as our friend let us do what we have to.’

With that Night turned around and began to walk away but as he did Blaez called out to him. ‘When are you going to attack?’

Stopping Night glanced back around. ‘Tonight.’

With that he disappeared in to the rocky slopes as Sage who had been watching nearby walked up and sat down beside Blaez and looked at him with the same grey eyes. ‘Why don’t you want to fight now Blaez?’

‘The Shangkai Pack are to powerful, going in head strong will not win battle, what does win battles is planning and technique.’

Sage sighed as he looked out to the distance. ‘Will the Night Pack come back alive?’

Looking down at Sage Blaez shook his head before saying truthfully. ‘No.’ With that Blaez stood up and walked back towards the cave leaving Sage looking out to the distance alone.

As night fell Blaez turned to Konnor and Akela who he had quickly found to talk to, he had been thinking for days before this and he knew what he was going to do had to be done.

‘I’m going with the Night-Slayers Pack.’ Blaez said as both Akela and Konnor gasped.

‘Wait I thought you said that they were wrong.’ Konnor said shaking his head and Akela looked more concerned as she stepped forward towards Blaez.

‘Why are you going to risk you life for them?’

‘I thought that Azure would recover from her illness but she is growing steadily worse…I know something that will cure her but it’s in these lands, I must return to mine to get it.’ Balez sighed and Akela frowned.

‘You can’t I’m sure…’

‘If I don’t go Azure is going to die and I’ve already lost Silver I’m not losing anyone else!’ Blaez barked as Konnor stepped forwards towards his friend.

‘Let me come with you.’

‘No Konnor Azure needs her close friends stay with her I promise I’ll be back.’ Turning around he looked over to see members of the Nights Pack slinking down the mountain towards the Shangkai pack lands. With one last look at them Blaez turned around and began to follow the wolves. Konnor sighed as he turned around to see Azure lying down with JD beside her comforting her; looking sadly away Konnor walked away leaving Akela watching as the Night-Slayers continued to run down the steep slopes of the mountain to their doom.

‘I thought you said none of those weak wolves would come with us!’ Orion growled at Night who looked at him and shook his head.

‘Don’t’ worry my friend he will cross and different path then us he is not here to fight.’ Night looked at Blaez who gave one last looks at him before hurriedly rushing off to the plains to find the special plant that he needed to save Azure with.

It wasn’t long before Blaez found the plant and quickly picked it up in his teeth and began to run back towards the mountains and away from the fight that he could hear happening only meters away from him.

Blaez blocked out the sounds as he ran but suddenly someone appeared in front of him and he quickly hid behind some trees and saw that it was Night who looked in bad shape. Smiling that he was alright Blaez was about to jump out and help him but stopped when he saw Jate the Shangkai wolf leap out from behind a nearby tree smiling Blaez was about to step out knowing Jate was a friend but stopped when he listening to what they were saying.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’ Jate snarled at Night who managed to say.

‘My pack, they’re…they’re…’

Laughing to himself Jate sneered. ‘No one can defeat the Shangkai pack you’re fools to even think so…’

‘No please…’ Night yelled as Jate slinked forward, Blaez was just about to jump out to help Night when he felt something sink their teeth in to his leg and as he thrashed around he came face to face with Torren who smiled showing his razor sharp teeth. 

‘How joyful that you’re apart of this Night-Slayer pack and I actually thought they might be a threat but oh…how wrong was I? You pitiful wolves just don’t understand we are the new rulers of this land…Jate!’ Torren roared as Jate burst through some trees with a smirk on his face but as soon as he saw Blaez it was instantly wiped away.

‘Yes Torren?’ Jate said not looking away from Blaez who stared are Jate with a hatred he’d never felt before.

‘Kill him.’ Torren said boredly stepping back as Jate looked from Blaez to Torren as though unsure what to do.

‘You’re a traitor Jate!’ Blaez yelled angrily as Torren who looked intrigued turned to Jate as Blaez continued.

‘He’s been helping us; he saved us from the den he’s fighting against you!’ Jate looked very worried as he turned to Torren who looked furious.

‘No Torren wait listen to me…’ Jate pleaded looking at Torren who slinked forward towards him ignoring Blaez completely. Seeing his chance Blaez quickly picked the plant he needed and hurriedly limped away because Torren was to busy with Jate.

He knew that Akela would be so disappointed that her only Shangkai friend turned out to be a traitor and as Blaez ran away he knew he had done the right thing the traitor had been dealt with for murdering Night and other Night-Slayer wolves.

The journey back up the small mountain drained all of Blaez energy as he finally managed to make it back to the large open clearing near the top and as soon as he did he sat down breathing deeply as he turned around and looked back towards the Shangkai Pack lands.

‘Blaez!?’ Konnor yelled as he ran forward towards Blaez who smiled up at his friend.

‘What happened…you’re hurt!’ Konnor said looking down at Blaez’s back leg which was bleeding.

‘I’m fine, quick give this Azure.’ Nodding Konnor took the small plant and ran to find Azure and JD and just as he left Akela quickly padded forward towards Blaez with a frown on her face.

‘How could you Blaez!?’ She yelled making Blaez look really confused but he quickly looked past her to see Night sitting down in the distance looking at Blaez.

‘Night’s alive he managed to escape Jate.’ Blaez said happily smiling but stopped when Akela gave him a serious look.

‘Jate didn’t kill him he pretended to so Night could escape, and now you’ve told on Jate, you told Torren even though he tried to help you, he tried to help everyone!’ Akela yelled making Blaez gasp as he stood up and shake his head.

‘No Akela I saw, he was going to…’

‘Don’t talk to me Blaez…’ Akela said as a tear slid down her face as she slowly walked away leaving Blaez on his own. Blaez could have kicked himself as he sighed and hung his head low as Night walked up beside Blaez.

‘I don’t blame you Blaez I did to believe he was going to kill me and…I want to apologized if I had done as you had told me my pack-mates would still be alive now.’ Night hung his head low but Blaez didn’t say anything as Night slowly walked away leaving Blaez alone in the cold snow his leg stinging painfully.

Slowly Blaez walked over to Konnor who had given the plant for Azure to eat. ‘How is she?’

Blaez asked looking at Konnor who looked sad. ‘We have to wait…’

That night Night sat alone on a small ledge looking up at stars thinking about his mistakes, Akela sat on her own a little teary as she overlooked her old territory, Konnor and JD watched over Azure whilst Blaez laid down on his own with a guilty pit in his stomach that seemed to get worse every second, what had he done?

Meanwhile at Torren’s den his mater Dusk quickly walked up to him and nuzzled him softly. ‘I have good news my mate.’ She whispered smiling up at him. ‘I’m going to have pups.’

Torren nuzzled his mate as he smiled and looked out of his den as the snow began to fall lighter and the clouds flew by revealing the moon shining in the sky, Winter would be over in a week or so and spring would arise with new life.

Coming soon

Book 3: Spring

Characters: Blaez, Konnor, Azure, Silver, Akela, Keaton, Torren, Dusk, Night, Orion, Sage, Saffron (c) Kaynight