It has been years since the humans finally faced their demise; those in hiding died in the place the thought would protect them from the fate. It was the wars that brought the humans to their end. We went to our underground dens away from the explosions of their missiles and the bullets of their guns. We hid for ten years coming out only to get what little food had survived the rampage on the high ground. When we stepped from the dens into the world above we were disheartened. It was expected but it never hurts to hope what we knew would come, wouldn't. They tore the earth to pieces, conflagrations left scars in our forests that seemed to go on for miles, the water was poisoned, and their vehicle and building shrapnel was everywhere.

            Some of our kind, wolves, lived on the meat off the bones of their battlefields, and the meats humans left in packing facilities. Some of us ventured off from the "Home" den to make a life in what forests were left. Two of these wolves were my parents on search of a life unlike those wolves that stayed behind, picking from the humans leftovers. My parents led a small pack called the "Kaylock" pack. My father, leader of the pack for some time, was a strong leader, but didn't believe in strict rules, making it easy to follow his lead. My mom was a hot-headed but nurturing wolf, always putting anyone before herself. She would only snap if you got in her way, or conflicted with anyone she put her trust in.

            They were happy to be with one another and tried their hardest to stay together at all times. They were well respected by their pack and never were revolted against. They always had an answer for every issue, whether it is for food, water, injury, or a pack trying to cross into their territory. But that only lasted for so long; it wasn't long till the "Vulture" pack began attempts at overthrowing our territory. They were called such because they were the ones who stayed behind to pick the meat of the battlefields and cities. Now, the bones were cleaned inside and out of meat and they needed more and knew we wouldn't have room in our pack for them.

            This was believed to be the start of the "Pack Wars". For after the first attack from the Vulture pack came many others. All from surrounding packs whose reproduction called for the need of more territory and food. Our pack did it's best to keep their forest stronghold fighting off pack after pack with well planned strategy. Some packs were killed off in the fights but some only got larger as pack made treaties and deals if they helped take over the Kaylock territories. More and more the attacks came, weakening the numbers of our pack to greatly. My father stepped down and in his place a young leader, Arson, stepped in his place. He decided all females would be required to produce at least one pup and if they were unable would be required to assist in the raising of another’s pups. This is when I was born; I was my mother’s only pup making her care for me all the more. She had named me Kay, after my father, Kaylock.

            Just as the other pups were required, I was required training to fight, strategize, and kill. It pained all the mothers to see what we went through at such an early age, to know that once full grown we would be made warriors to fight in the pack wars. I was lucky enough to of been able to stay with my parents for a month, because of my father’s prior standing as alpha. Arson had this great plan to increase our pack size and train pups from the beginning to fight in their prime. However it's approval would not reach to the lower levels of the pack, barely the beta's thought it proper play out such a plan. Revolts were all over the place as the females were forced to produce pups that were taken to be trained.

            My parents revolted, followed by many, attacking our battle trainers. This is what began the fall of the Kaylock pack. For in this revolt the alpha began a civil war sending the most trained pups to attack the parents and elders that were attacking those who trained us. Family killed family, brothers tore each other into shreds, and loved ones were put against each other. I can remember that day clearly, it was the day I fled the pack and began my journey for a place I was told that held peace, away from the wars.

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            "What are we supposed to be learning with this old hag rambling his life away," Leva complained, as the beta wolf told us stories of times before wolves were forced to bury themselves in the ground. None the pups around listened to the old wolf tell his and his comrades stories, of their fictional heroic deeds.

            "No kidding, and it's not like we don't know there all made up to make us think our lives as trainees is so great." I responded. Leva nodded her head in agreement then began to scan the crowd around her then turned her attention back to me.

            "Things aren't right around here, I since way to many wolves in our group" Leva stated as I began to realize she was right. I looked at the group I trained with and noticed way too many scents. Some were oddly familiar, not from anywhere in training but before then. Then my eyes locked on two older aged wolves that were definitely not there for training, they were my parents.

            "Leva," I whispered frantically trying to get her to look in the same direction I was, "look." She snapped her view towards my parent then looked at me inquisitively.

            "Who are those two?"

            "Leva, those are my parent's I remember them, their scents."

            "Well, what are they even doing here?"

            "I really don't know," I answered as I turned my attention to the Higher that was present. His name was Arson; he was a strong wolf, with no real significant intelligence at all. He constantly used his large size as an advantage, but could easily be outwitted by some of the simplest of strategies. He was clueless of the addition of members to our group; he only sat there his chest out making him look more refined and muscular. I took a quick glance back at my parents then turned back to Leva asking, "What do you think our parents are doing here?"

            Leva shrugged then took her own look at the Higher and noticed a wolf come to him and whisper something into his ear. "I don’t know but look," Leva responded pointing a paw in the Highers direction. Arson was nodding to the wolf who whispered to him. Finally, the wolf finished whispering and sat down next to Arson who took a long look over of the group. "Kay, do you think they found out?" Leva asked me.

            "No way, cause if he did he'd cause uproar"

            "What exactly makes you think that though?"

            "Come on Leva, be serious, you know our Higher just as much as me or the next wolf. If he found out of any parent invading the training grounds he'd have his brutes after them." I responded as I saw Arson stand to all fours and begin to walk towards the den, taking one glance back as he went out of site. The wolf that had whispered to him stayed however as if taking his place. "Besides look at that, he just left, and that's even more proof" Suddenly the wolf that took Arson's place nodded to someone in the crowd.

            "Kay! Something’s going down. That wolf just nodded to your parents and they just acknowledged him" Leva whispered loudly. I turned my head quickly at my parents who were doing just as Leva had said. I looked sharply at the parents in the grounds, all with an odd look to them. Their eyes were lifeless and hard, full of anger.

            "Leva, there's about to be an uprising, just like the others," I said regrettably knowing what was soon to come.

            "Kay, you can't be serious," she said looking at me as if trying to find some kind of sarcasm.

            "I'm serious, look at all the parents, there claws are sharpened, and you can see some of them starting to snarl there muzzle slightly"

            Leva began to notice the same things I was, you could tell. She began to snarl herself a bit with a smile. "Suppose we join em' them?" Just as Leva had asked I was cut off from an answer, it had begun. A wolf in the very front leapt at the elder wolves taking them out with a simple rip of the throat. The other parents also charged from the crowed to fight off the few guards that surrounded our group. The guards were beaten on the ground continually, fangs and claws drove into their bodies, there blood flooding the ground below and showering those who beat them.

            Most of our group ran at the sight of such brutality, others stayed to enjoy the sight. Those who ran were cut off from our path by the Arson's soldiers. He stood in front of his entire squad snarling angrily. As the parents completed their task of taking out the guards they stepped to the front facing Arson ready to take him and his soldiers out. It seemed to be completely silent for an eternity as the parents' eyed Arson as he did the same to them. To my surprise, Arson lifted his head up and removed himself from his attack ready position, and smiled. "Your surrounded completely rebels, you’re out numbered," Arson snarled.

            "Who are you kidding Arson you know the only soldiers you have are right there behind you, you've been too stupid as to surround yourself with more protection" my father growled in response to Arsons threat.

            "Oh, really" Arson laughed, "look behind you." It was then I realized he meant us. "Attack them! You mutts!" Arson shouted in command towards our group. Most of the group responded by entering their attack positions eyeing the parents', others stood fearful at the command after seeing what the rebels had done to the guards and elders. I had no idea what they could have possibly been thinking. I knew then that most of these pups around me were taken right at birth unable to be nursed and raised to size by their mothers' and fathers'. However, I still thought they should recognize their own parents when they scent them.

            The parents immediately turned to face their children with soften eyes, saddened from what they saw. And then, the attack began, of children pitched unknowingly at their parents. The parents howled in agony as they were torn apart by the fangs of their own pups. As much as they begged and confessed themselves as their family the group struck them down. It was a horrible sight, watching the parents' suffer the same fate as the guards and elders. Beaten and mangled, bodies littered the ground, and Arson could only. The fighting began to die down to snaps and growls as the group surrounded a small group of wolves, which included my parents.

            Arson swerved through our group towards the circle containing the remaining parents. He smiled at walked up to my father and eyed him down. "Well now, you wretched rebel, how’s it feel to be covered in your comrades blood."  My father snapped at Arson who simply dodged it then smashed my father back to the ground with his paw. With intending, I let out a small yelp, which in the silence seamed to echo through the whole territory. Arson quickly turned in my direction and shot glances at all the wolves near me. "Who did that?" he growled as he walked in my direction. I stood my ground as best as I could but felt like I was the only wolf Arson could see he headed towards me. "You" he shouted pointing his muzzle, not at me, but Leva.

            "M... M-me?" Leva questioned putting her paw against her chest.

            "Yes, you, you idiot," he snarled. Leva bowed her head as she walked to Arson and stood in front of him. He growled then sunk his teeth into the back of her neck and threw her to the ground. "How dare you yelp at such a good thing?" He continued to beat her digging his claws into her flank several times.

            "Stop this, I'm the one you heard," I shouted as I stepped towards him. Arson could only smirk devilishly and he turned away from Leva and at me.

            "Oh really" he said, "and why is that? I honestly wouldn't expect such a thing from a male like you." As he spoke he eyed me curiously as if he had seen me before. He turned his head towards my father then back at me and realized where he in fact had seen me. I was almost an exact copy of my father, minus a few extra markings on my right flank. Arson snarled promptly then gripped my scruff in his jaws and threw me across the ground into the circle at my father’s paws. I stood weakly then after a quick worried glance at my father turned to Arson. "Kill them, all of them" he growled as he gestured at the remaining parents in the circle.

              I stood trembling my tail sunk between my hind legs as I faced my father. He did his best to keep a hard look, why, I don't know but I knew he was doing it to help me. "Well, what are you waiting for mutt? Kill them, no rebel deserves life" Arson said as he gave me an evil smirk. I turned my head away from Arson and back at my parents. My father looked at me and showed me his throat gesturing for me to tear it, making it easier on the both of us. I looked back at Arson who was beginning to look impatient, and then I made my move. I immediately jumped on my father and caught his throat in my fangs. But I only pinned him to the ground, there was no way I was going to kill my own father, so I just stood on top of his throat in my mouth.

            "Enough!" growled Leva from behind Arson, who quickly turned to face her.

            "What did you just say you little she-wolf," Arson snarled.

            "This isn't punishment for Kay, he's done nothing wrong, and you know as much as I do what your making him do right now" This caused quite an uproar in the pack but it was quickly silenced by Arson's shouting.

            "Silence! All of you!" Arson turned his attention back to Leva and began to walk towards her threateningly, but she kept an attack ready position, "so who do you think you are to command a Higher such as myself?"

            "I am Leva, and I believe you are no better than I am" she snarled

            Arson laughed sarcastically but turned it back into a growl. "You fool!" he yelled and he grabbed her throat and threw her directly at me. My jaws, still around my father’s neck, were torn away by Leva's impact into my flank. As I skid to a stop I began to taste blood in my mouth. I stood as quickly as I could and ran right for my father. I looked down at him, ashamed, I saw him choking on his own blood, for the tear wasn't significant enough to kill him instantly. I put my paws on the wound trying to stop the continuous blood flow but it went on. My tears fell mixing with his blood as I heard the last of his life being choked away. I almost fainted, but knew if I did I might have been killed too. I took a glance at Leva, Arson, the group, the soldiers, everything began to blur into one thing. My head felt like it was spinning uncontrollably and there was nothing I could do.

            In all the blur of my vision, the sound began to blur as well, the cries of the rebels, my mother and some of my group, the laughing of Arson and his soldiers. I didn't know what I was doing anymore; I just turned for my clearest point of vision and ran. The sounds began to fade but my vision began to blur even more as my tears stung my eyes. I thought Arson would have a group of soldiers after me at anytime, but all I scented was one wolf, and it wasn't a soldier, it was Leva. Even knowing it was her after me I still ran, as fast as I could. I finally came to a stop as I fell into a ditch looking up into the sky. The blur of my vision began to mix with the blackness of unconsciousness. The last thing I saw was a wolf standing at the top of the ditch I toppled into.

            I awoke to the darkness of night outside. What little light there was came in slivers from the moon. It took me a while to adjust to the darkness, to be able to see where I was. From the looks of my surroundings I was under the exposed roots of the tree. I began to stand to all fours but toppled back to the ground as another wolf's paw struck me back down and pinned me. "Hey wh..." I began to ask but another paw covered my muzzle cutting me off. I recognized it as Leva's but remained silent as she apparently wanted me to. Leva turned to me and whispered as quietly as she could, "Stay quiet, there after me."

            "Wait who's after you" I whispered back.

            "Arson's soldiers"

            "So they're just after you and not me"

            "Ya, Arson said to just let you go, you'd die eventually, but if anyone was dumb enough to follow you to assist your survival he'd have them beaten and left to die"

            "And let me guess... you came after me"

            "Well, duh, why wouldn't I" I only shrugged in answer and watched as Arson's soldiers sniffed the air for a scent. Most likely Leva's who turned to me again "So what do you think you’re trying to do? Running like this?”

            "I don't know, I can't go back after that though."

            "Where exactly will you go? It'll be like this almost everywhere," Leva said then thought for a second about what she said, "I mean, like this everywhere." I could tell from the way she turned away that she lied to me.

            "Wait, what was that about?" I asked curiously. Despite my question she just kept her head turned away. "Are you trying to say you've heard of someplace better than this?

            "No it's.... it's nothing, ignore I ever said it"

            "Okay, be serious Leva, I'm not going back there ever if I have to stay here my whole life I will, so if there is somewhere free of these wars, forced drafting, and bitches giving birth to unwanted pups, now would be a good time to tell me so as I can actually have somewhere to go, okay?" I stated. Leva turned back at me and smiled slightly nodding her head then sighing. She looked out between the tree roots inspecting the area for Arson's soldiers.

            "Common, follow me," she said as she gestured with her muzzle for me to come. I was curious to where she was leading me but knew she'd want me to keep quiet. I followed her every move no matter how precise it was. I looked around at the forest that surrounded me, it was awkward and I was unfamiliar of all my surroundings. However, I noticed Leva moved through the woods as if she had learned the location of every twig and leaf.

            "How do you know these wood's so well. Have you been here before?" It was a dumb question to ask on my part because I knew the answer, but I had to know for sure. Leva stopped at a large tree with a carving at the base of the trunk. It was a circle with what appeared to be a snowflake inside of it. And at the center of the snowflake were seven wolves howling. The detail was astounding, but I ignored it still awaiting an answer from Leva.

            "Of course, you should have been able to tell that. Beside how else would my father eat if I had never brought him any food?" Leva had a large smirk on her face as she put her paw on the marking for seven seconds then removed it.

            "Wait you father? Food? Hold on, I'm not following you," I said with a confused look to my face.

            "You'll get it soon Kay, trust me. Now common we need to get you to safety."

            "And what about you Leva?"

            "Ya, Me too I guess" Leva smiled as she jumped around the tree and began to dig in a small spot that where the soil appeared to have been disturbed before. The ground under her paws quickly poured away and slivers of light shown from the opening made by the falling dirt. Leva looked back at me again a squeezed her body through the hole she had made. I was startled to go in at first, but as I heard voices approaching I quickly followed.

            Once inside the small hole I noticed I was in a comfortable den and the hole me and Leva came through but begin closed again by an older wolf. I recognized the slight resemblance between Leva the old wolf, for he was her father. That’s when Leva began to introduced me to who we were with. "Kay I'd like you to meet Avis, my dad. Dad this is Kay, a good friend of mine" Avis smiled and nodded in acknowledgement then returned to his task of filling the entrance me and Leva created.

            "Hey, Leva, what's going on here exactly," I questioned

            "A rebellion, well it was supposed to be one until... well you should know you were there," Avis answered.

            "Wait, do you mean the parents attacking today was...," I began to asked my voice raised in surprise, until I was again answered by Avis.

            "Yes, it would have gone off without a hitch too, if that damned Arson had not put you pups against us."

            "Okay, well still, that doesn’t really answer my question of why I'm here"

            "Like I said Kay, were protecting you from these soldiers, they have every right to do whatever they want to you, your presumed dead to the world" Leva said still listening through the dirt entrance to the soldiers that sniffed the land just outside their hiding.

            I acknowledged Leva then turned back to Avis and questioned him, "So Leva was telling me about some place not like this. What we've seen today that is. So, is it really true, is there such a place?"  Avis turned and looked at Leva who was giving him an innocent smile.

            "My daughter speaks the truth. But to get there you have to travel through all of the ten pack territories, and you know how pack take strays and wanderers these days. However, it is to the north a small piece of land large enough for a pack of fifty wolves. Most of our prey has wandered there, but we were too caught up in our territorial wars to follow them. So we stay here and fight over these barren lands of small amounts of prey. We who attacked the training grounds were going to lead you pups there, but our plans failed, we never thought you would attack us, your family. So I have thrown away hopes of ever finding the food that roams in those war free lands." The old Avis's story was about to continue when Leva charged between the two of us, half whispering half shouting.

            "Get down, they've uncovered the scent of the food there right at the entrance."

            Avis turned to Leva and stepped back from she and I and shook his head, "No, you two have to go, Leva you know the way out, take him to the lands I was telling him about"

            "But dad," Leva objected.

            "No, Leva you need to go, I'll buy you as much time as I can" Avis shouted. Suddenly the area patched with dirt that served as an entrance began to break away, the sounds of growls and snapping jaws pouring into the small den.

            "Common Leva," I said trying to help her follow her father's instructions, "do as he says."

            Avis nodded and smiled at me then faced the entrance where a soldier was trying to squeeze in. Leva and I were already gone to a small tunnel, it was a straight shot, to where, I didn't exactly know but it was the only way to go, back was not an option. After a short distance however, Leva stopped and turned and began to dig at the wall. I felt it wise to keep quiet, the soldier being in the den just behind us, therefore just watched as Leva scratched at the walls of the tunnel. TO my surprise the wall gave way and opened to another small tunnel.

            Leva looked back at me and gestured for me to follow her. As I followed I saw the small detour tunnel open into a small room with a small window in it. It had a view right into the den we were in that held Avis. Leva was silent as she approached it only taking half the window, allowing me to watch through the other half.

            Inside the small room was three soldiers growling at Avis, who seemed to be completely unparsed. I began to hear voices that belonged to the soldiers. "Tell us why your here you dumb ass," growled one of the angry soldiers "and where is that wretched she-wolf?"

            Leva held her growls but still shook nervously. Avis was smiling and answered the soldier in a happy tone, "why young wolf, I haven't the slightest idea of any she-wolves that have been around these part."

            "Shut up you lying old hag, we saw her run this way, so tell us or I'll pull you apart" The soldier seemed to be getting even angrier at Avis. Who held his smile and kind tone?

            "Now that's no way to treat a man of my age, but that isn't what I'm trying to say, what I'm trying to tell you is that there has been no other wolf around here for years," he laughed as if he heard a joke, "well except you wolves."

            "That's it you serial fool," the soldier growled lowly, "you'll regret not telling me what I need to know.'' Then all three soldiers jumped on Avis. They ripped chunks of flesh from his flank and neck and tore there claws into his muzzle and head. Leva turned and buried her face into my fur; I felt tears seeping slowly from her eye. I turned away as well, for the site was too gruesome to bear. I backed away from the window bringing Leva with me. As she pulled her muzzle from my fur she gave me a look of desperation. I didn't know what to do except go for the tunnel. I went as fast as I could through the small tunnel Leva uncovered that led to the small room we were just in and back to the main tunnel. I turned and faced the direction we were headed in before and ran. Leva stayed close behind and I could tell she looked back repeatedly.

            We ran for what seemed like an hour and still we were not out of the tunnel, but I figured we would be safe from the soldiers for I hadn't picked up the slightest scent from them. I looked at Leva who appeared emotionless staring at the ground she sat on. I began to approach her when she through herself forward into my fur. She buried her muzzle deep in my fur and I looked down at her. She was crying again so I let her stay in the position she was in, in attempt to comfort her. Then I remembered my father, how my jaw's brought his death. I began to feel tears rising to my eyes as well so leant my neck over Leva's and buried my muzzle into her fur.

            "Leva, what are we going to do? There no hope around us anymore, there all... dead."

            Leva kept her muzzle buried in my fur but still answered, "Kay we are going to the land my father promised us, to peace, we are the only peaceseekers left of our pack, it would not be right to just give up now, we have to go."

            I smiled at her answer and nuzzled her again. Finally, she pulled away from my fur and smiled at me. "But first, we might need a little sleep," she yawned.