FOUR BROTHERS: PART 2

 

 

Blade

 

When Jei and Akela lead Blade to the entrance of Bloodclaw's camp, Blade was near to crying. And he had never done that...maybe he didn't know how. But he didn't want to leave his home, his father, or his brother! And what about his friends? He didn't have many of them.

The camp was huge, dark, and covered in boulders...ditches...trees...frightening place. Yet...so comforting somehow. Blade thrashed until his mother dropped him to the ground, and he shook his pelt. "Where are we, again?"

Resa sighed as they headed deeper into camp. "Your father's pack." She flattened her ears as eyes glinted from the darkness, though none of the wolves were in sight except a stunningly beautiful blue-black female in the center of camp.

Jei slowed down until he got to Resa's side, and muttered, "Be careful. That's Bloodclaw...Murder's mate, and the Alpha Female." Then he sped up again to Akela's side.

Blade squinted and stared at Bloodclaw's claws...and they were blood red. Stained by the blood of others, he couldn't tell. But this sight made Resa gulp, and Blade sure heard it.

As they got closer, Blade could see a small silver pup chasing his tail in boredom, not much younger than Blade was. When they approached, the pup looked up and jumped up to Bloodclaw's side, both of them having ice blue eyes just alike.

Jei took them to sit infront of Bloodclaw, then he left and headed into the bushes along with Akela, both of them looking like they knew what was going to happen next. Bloodclaw finally turned Resa's way, who was shaking by Blade's side.

"So...My mate had a pups with you? He was smart enough to tell me, for sure I'd find out later." She flicked her long black-blue tail in dismissal of the subject. "You will live with our lowest ranking wolves, underground. You will work twice as hard to earn your keep. If you do not...you will be killed by Murder's claws. Your son...?"

"B-Blade."

"Yes, Blade. He will live with Murder and I in the Alpha section, along with the highest ranking wolves and our top generals." She curled her lip, revealing sharp yellow fangs. "You will not speak to him unless Blade orders you to, but only if it's nessacary. When MY time comes to an end, HE will be the alpha and choose his mate. But I will NOT allow you to have any other pups or mates. Got it?"

Resa trembled with effort to not cry, and she hung her head. "Yes, leader."

Bloodclaw flicked her ears, and lifted her head higher. "Good." Then she pointed her tail towards the silver pup. "This is my son, Silver. Before Murder, we had a different Alpha who had him with me. Then he was bravely killed in battle, and I chose Murder to fill in his place after a moon of mourn. Your son will compete with mine, for the leadership that will be theirs one day. But only once they turn a year will they begin their training. Until then, I want them to be the best of friends. Got it?" This time she turned to Blade.

Blade blinked in shock, but flattened his ears in submission. "Yes."

 The little silver pup tipped his head, but padded over to Blade. "Hi, I'm Silver."

Blade tried to be friendly, so he wagged his tail. "Hi, Silver. It's nice to meet you." Maybe he could have friends...This place wasn't that bad.

But as soon as Blade said hi, Silver had turned and raced back to his mother. Blade flattened his ears. Nevermind, he thought.

Bloodclaw stood on her paws, and Blade almost shrinked back in fear. She was incredibly tall and muscled, but not bad looking for a wolf. She whipped around after snapping at Resa's paws for her to follow, and took off across the clearing and climbed boulders to the other side of camp.

Resentfully, Resa followed without looking back at Blade even once. Silver got to his small paws and trotted after the two wolves, as if he didn't have a care in the world for anything.

Jei and Akela jumped from the undergrowth and took their places a little ways off from Blade, watching Resa, Bloodclaw, and Silver leave. Blade's fur bristled with new shock flowing through him. Bloodclaw, Silver, Jei, and Akela all had the same eyes...

But Blade quickly fixed his gaze on a black she-wolf he hadn't noticed sitting by Jei and Akela. She  had the same amber gaze as him, but looked a little older than her. She had the pelt of her mother as well, and Blade even caught sight of dark, red claws. Just how many pups did Bloodclaw have?!

Suddenly the ferns quivered, and the largest wolf Blade ever saw stalked out from the shadows. His pelt was dark brown and a light tan, but he was extremely massive. The wolf's amber eyes could peirce through Blade's fur.

The wolf sat down on the boulder where Bloodclaw had been, eyes narrowed harshly. "Blade, meet your half brother and half sisters." He dipped his head to Jei, Akela, and the black wolf in turn. "Jei, Akela, and Bullet. I want you all to get along for now, especially with Silver."

Blade pinned his ears back and tried to be brave. "Where's my mother...?"

"In the slave courters," He snapped, as if anyone would know the answer right away. "You will stay with the Alphas and their pups for now, son."

 He didn't use the word son lightly, he said it more as if it were duty. Like it was his job to raise young, to become strong and agressive like him.

With that he whipped right around and left into the shadows. That was all? Not even a good 'welcome'?

Blade turned to Jei and Akela, eyes questioning and curious. "Where is everybody?" He hadn't seen but a few wolves, and he could barely see them from the shadows.

Akela answered this time, blue eyes narrowed. "This is all we have. And if you-"

"If you tell anyone that, I'll rip your throat out myself," Jei inturrupted.

Blade gulped.

 

END OF PART 2