The Criminal

  I am not one person to be messed around with. My teeth have become blood stained by the flesh of my last victim. But, no one knows what a good person I am……I was. I am not some downer girl who tries to commit suicide every five minutes. So if you decide to see what a horrible person I am and leave this horrible story then I’m not stopping you. I have a family to protect now and I don’t need to be irritated by it. My name is Riley and this is my story.

Recap: That night, I had never loved anyone more than any one. He and I were now one. He sighed as the night ended and we fell asleep on the ground with no worries…

               I was awakened by the sound of Chinook snoring. His face was right next to my ears and it was getting irritating, but I still loved him. He was a gnaw wolf, the last and lowest rank in a pack while I was a hunter apprentice. We are not the perfect match but I still love him. Chinook twitched and turned around and was on his other side. He was off me and now I could finally get up.

               The grass was wet and cold and soaked my paws. The little place I was in was a beautiful place and was peaceful. The little pool was still steaming and the blossoms were no longer in the air, but it was still a very beautiful place.

              I looked at Chinook, who was still asleep, and thought of what happened last night. We were now mates and loved each other as any other couple would, but I wonder what my packmates will think. Emerella, my best friend, was excited about for me and Chinook the day before, but what about her mate Kolle? Some time ago, Chinook and Kolle were best friends until his brother, Kolen, sent him to the lowest rank of wolves. Kolle then became protective over him after that, but maybe he’s not my highest concern.

             Kolen was the beta wolf and had a thing for me ever since I came to the pack. What would he do to Chinook when he found out? I may have put Chinook in the big problem by being his mate.

            Chinook stirred in his sleep and woke up. He lifted his head and sat up, yawning. He opened his perfect blue eyes and smiled at me. I envied his eyes for they were perfect and unscarred. I had scar going down my eye from…well, it’s a long story.

“Morning, Riley.” He yawned. He got up and licked my nose.

I giggled and replied, “Morning.” I sighed as I yawned and nuzzled him. His fur was warm and his scent filled my nose and felt his breath hitting my ears as he spoke.

“I love you, Riley.” He whispered. I blushed and returned his statement.

“I love you, more.” I said. The sun was in the clearing and was rising. It was a good thing I didn’t have apprentice training today because I didn’t want to spoil the moment with Chinook.

***

               Around noon, we left the pool and meadow and made our way to the pack camp. Everyone was a little lazy today and were sleeping in their den, except for a blue wolf that was running up to me, laughing.

“Hey” she laughed to herself, “so how’d it go?”

             I blushed and the girly part of me, which I hated, ended up spilling everything that happened the following night. She was giggling to herself during the part when we became mates.

“So, is it official.” She asked, “You are no longer single?”

         I giggled and nodded. She hugged me and congratulated me. She was a good friend with her heart in the right place. She smiled and muttered, “Love. Isn’t it great?”

“Yeah, it is.” I said. I saw Kolle coming out of the den too and he too made his way toward me.

“So are you two mates now?” he asked but not as cheerful as I was hoping for.

         I nodded and he sighed, “Why? What’s wrong with that?”

“Well you do know what Kolen’s going to do when he finds out right?” he asked, spoiling the moment. Yes I have been thinking of that! I’m not stupid to know what the consequence of this extremely hard love is!

“I know, and I don’t care. If Kolen is going to hurt Chinook in any way… he’ll have to go through me first.” I growled under my breath. Kolle sighed again and I got my temper over the better of me, “Can’t you be happy that Chinook is no longer alone anymore?! Instead of worrying about what might happen, can’t you show a little bit of happiness toward your friend?” I paused, “I very well know what might happen but please stop worrying me about things that might happen!” I finished with a growl and Kolle put his head down and replied

“I’m sorry.” He paused, “I worry for the guy, he’s been alone all this time and to think that something will happen to him, it’s too hard. Believe me, I’m ecstatic that you two are mates now, but please try to be careful.”

I nodded gratefully at the response I was hoping for. Emerella was standing awkwardly beside me and was looking at Chinook.

“You know.” She said randomly, “If you have puppies, he’ll have to be moved up to a hunter right?”

I couldn’t believe it. Chinook might actually be made a hunter, but there was a tiny problem, I would have to be pregnant. It scared me to think of having puppies.

“Really?” I asked, excitedly, “Well maybe last night did the trick then. I wonder if I will… have… puppies.”

“Well, don’t be too scared about it. There’s nothing wrong with it, and it’s a girl’s duty here to expand the pack. Girls are not mistreated though.” She said randomly, “But it is forbidden to tell a gnaw wolf that if he fathered pups or mothered pups that they will be ranked higher.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because, then they would get desperate and well…never mind that, but just don’t tell Chinook, when his time comes, he’ll be free.”

***

         Over the next few days, Emerella had been training more to be a hunter and my time was coming to leave apprentice rank and join the hunters. I grew excited that my training is almost over and that I would be a hunter soon.

        Also, I gained a few pounds. I don’t think I have anything to worry about though. If I were having puppies, I have ten weeks till they come. I’m fine with that. I didn’t tell Chinook I could be expecting puppies because I didn’t know if I was or not.

       Jack made himself useful with the pack and built fires to warm up the dens. They started to trust him and didn’t regret letting us into the pack all those weeks ago. But there was something wrong with Jack. He was coughing a lot and was always turning red. I didn’t know if that was normal or not.

        Anyways, Emerella unexpectedly had puppies. There were two of them: one girl and one boy. She adored them and I spent time with her in the nursery.

      Also, I met the pack’s healer (doctor) Her name was Evangeline and was white s snow. She was almost an elder though and wasn’t looking to good, but she had an apprentice named Lira who was as old as I am. Evangeline told me that she was proud to have lira as her successor. 

       Emerella was lying on her side, feeding the puppies her milk that she made. I wondered if that was going to be me in a few months. The puppies were whined a lot until they opened there eyes.

“Oh look,” Emerella exclaimed, “Apollo and Kayak have opened their eyes!” she was really excited.

        I looked at all the puppies: the girl was her father’s brown and the boy, his mother’s blue. They were really cute. “They’ve all opened there eyes.” I told her which made her more excited, “Er, what are their names?”

       “The girl is Apollo and the boy is Kayak.” They were unusual names

        Kolle came to the nursery frequently and gave her fresh-kill. I loved how loving Kolle was toward his mate and couldn’t wait to see if Chinook would be this loving.

       I left that night and started to my den. Everyone was in their dens sleeping… I thought.

       A cruel and horrible scent filled my nostrils and I turned to whom I was expecting to see, Kolen.

“What do you want, Kolen?” I asked coldly, ever since I met him, I’ve hated him.

“Only to walk you home, it seems very late for a gal like you to be wandering alone in.” I rolled my eyes at him. I guess he thought that after the fight Chinook and I had made him think that there was no way that we would be together.

“I’ll have you know that I can take care of myself and don’t need you to watch over me.” I growled

“Aw, Riley.” He said, “Riley, Riley, Riley.” He paused, “You are so naïve to think a little fret like you could take care of herself.”

“Excuse me” I growled

“You know, I will excuse you for your attitude toward the beta.” I growled, “Now why don’t you come with me to my den since just right there.”

“Never” I spat in his face.

“I bet if Chinook asked you would.” He said. I stopped growling for a moment and then I got angry again.

“Yes I would, after all we are mates!” I made a big mistake, but I didn’t care. His face lost faith and was confused.

“W-what?” he asked

“You heard me. Chinook and I are mates now, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” I spat again. He was really bewildered.

“Well, well, well.” He repeated his words again, “It seems Riley has been falling for a worthless mutt.”

“Say it again, and we’ll see who’s worthless.” I challenged. He growled and got into attacking stance as I did. Then He lounged at me, slashing his claws. I dodged and pinned him down from behind. He tripped me and I was being choked by him. He was laughing and I was getting dizzy and losing breath. Then there was relief because I heard another growl.

      My vision came back and I saw Chinook pinning him down and his face was in his, “If I ever see you do that again, I’ll end you.” I’ve never seen Chinook so protective. Then our leader came up and pulled them apart. Kolen was still wearing his look of terror.

      Junt was not mad at Chinook at all, he was rather upset with Kolen and I making a fuss in the middle of the night.

“You two, in my den.” He was not in a good mood, “Immediately!”

        Before I made my way to Junt’s den, I ran up to Chinook and hugged him.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I cried. He had saved my life from Kolen. He nuzzled my head and said,

“You’d better get to his den before Junt gets madder at you than he is.” He joked to himself. I giggled also and nuzzled him in gratitude and made my way to the leader’s den.

***

           Junt’s den wasn’t really that special but it looked comfortable for me. All I had was a bed of twigs, but it was worth it because I had Chinook with me. Junt was furious and looked as if smoke was coming out of ears!

          Kolen was at one end of the room and I was at the other and we glared at each other.

“What, in the name of spirit pack were you two thinking?” He asked, “Making a scene in the middle of the night and in the middle of the camp?”

Kolen glared at me and replied, “Don’t worry, next time we make a scene, it’ll be somewhere dark and where no one can hear her screams!”

“That’s enough, Kolen.” Junt growled, “I expected more from a puppy but beta wolf? Inconceivable! You nearly killed a pack mate tonight and made a gnaw wolf protect stop you. What if Chinook didn’t come and save her, where would Riley be now?”

Dead. I would be dead if it weren’t for Chinook.

“In spirit pack, I know!” He growled at his leader. Junt didn’t make a fuss about disrespecting the leader and just kept on with it.

“There is no reason for you to almost kill Riley, or any other pack mate and for that I… I’m taking your beta title away, and you’ll spend a month with the gnaw wolves. You will get to be a hunter, but you will never be beta again am I making myself clear?”

Kolen didn’t make eye contact with him and mutter, “Yes, sir.”

         Junt turned toward me and said, “Riley, I know you’ve been through a lot tonight, and I want you to go to Evangeline to get those scratches healed.” I nodded and headed toward the healer den…again.

***

       I told Emerella all about what happened to Kolen and she laughed harder than any other wolf has.

“Good thing Chinook was there though. He must be a loyal mate.” She said sweetly.

“Yes he is.” I sighed happily to myself. He was a good mate, and deserves a better life.

     Later on that day, Chinook visited me and brought me a rabbit leg for something to eat. I smiled at the thought of how sweet he is. He lied down by me and licked my wounds on my neck.

“They’re not as bad as they were before.” I reassured him. He nodded and I placed my head on his back and fell asleep.

***

          I left the healing den the next day and smirked at Kolen who was in the gnaw wolf area. Chinook stood tall and proud and no one made a fuss because he wasn’t crouching the way he was supposed to.

         My ceremony for being a hunter was tonight and I was excited for it. Emerella told me that it wasn’t really a big deal, but I know that I want the title of being a hunter.

        Emerella moved out of the nursery and back into the den because the puppies no longer needed her for food. She was happy to finally get out of the nursery and was relieved not to hear the little whining any more.

        The evening came quickly and Junt then called for a pack meeting. He stood tall and proud as he always did and started his speech that will make me a hunter. I’d never felt so proud in my life, with a mate at my side and I am finally being accepted into the pack. Chinook licked my ear and reassured me that there was nothing to fear.

***

           I was now a hunter and I thrived in the pack as the new beta. I couldn’t believe how much I accomplished since I came here into the pack. It seemed so long ago when I first came here with Jack and now I am respected to everyone in the pack. It was official, I was having puppies, and they were due in a few short days. Chinook was made hunter and was grateful that he could move out of the den where we met.

          Jack had his own den where he could fit inside for himself. He had learned hunting tricks with a stick and a pointed rock. He brought back a lot of food back for the pack. They gave full respects to him and didn’t think for one moment that he would turn his back on them.

         Kolen’s sentiency was over and he was just an ordinary hunter. He lost all his respects when he tried to kill me and only a few people were on his side. He slept in the back of the room and was just a kill joy.

          Chinook walked up to me and nuzzled my face, “I never regretted standing up for you, all of those months ago.”

        He was talking about when they accepted me into the pack. Some people thought they should have killed me and others said to let me starve to death. But Chinook was the one that accepted me into the pack before anyone else did.

“I love you, Chinook.” I sighed.

“I love you more.” He said. I pulled away from his muzzle and then I felt very bad. My stomach felt all weird and I got all dizzy.

“Chinook, get me to the healers den.” I panicked. They were coming, the puppies were coming right now and I could feel it.

Chinook understood immediately and helped me into the den. Evangeline had passed since I was made beta, but Lira was now a full healer and was ready to help me give birth to puppies.

***

           After hours of struggle and pushing, I had given birth to four beautiful puppies. There were three girls and one boy, and were healthy as horses (not really but you know what I mean). I was giving them milk right after they were ready to have some. Lira was terrific at helping me and took the news as if it wasn’t a new thing for her.

       Chinook was finally ready to see the puppies, “May I come in, now?” he started to become a little restless about having to wait so long.

Lira nodded and left the nursery to make room for our new family. Chinook walked to me and when he saw the puppies he smiled.

“What will we name them?” Chinook asked.

“I named two already and I saved the boy and oldest girl for you.” I said, “The grey little girl is Holly and dark brown female is Miya.”

Chinook nuzzled Miya and Holly, and looked at the remaining two.

“The light brown female, I think we should call her Haelow, and the only male, I’ll name him after my father, Niche.” He licked Niche on the nose and then licked my head. I smiled at our puppies and felt all of their little pelts coming up against me to get milk.

         Chinook laid his head on my back as I gave the puppies milk. I licked his head and he fell asleep. Emerella came in and saw the puppies a little bit afterwards. She adored the puppies and then also said hello to her own puppies who were still in the nursery. Emerella’s daughter, Apollo, wandered over to my litter of puppies.

“They’re so, “The brown puppy said, “small.”

           I chuckled to myself and Emerella turned toward her puppy.

“Apollo!?” she growled, “Mind your manners.”

“But it’s true they are…” Apollo went on.

“It’s perfectly alright, Emma.” I reassured her, “You were once that size, little one.” I said sweetly to the puppy.

“I was!?” Apollo gasped, “What about Kayak?” I nodded and she went to go tell her brother the strange news.

          Chinook stirred in his sleep and licked his chops. He was probably dreaming of eating a rabbit. He looked a lot healthier from when I met him. He was more confident and everyone in the pack trusted him. He was peaceful and less stressed about talking to people and I was proud to be his mate.

***

          I woke up on a hot summer night in July. Chinook was moved in with me in the senior den and I was more thrilled than he was. My puppies were walking and were almost ready to train to be hunters. Chinook took his only son, Niche to work on fighting skills before he was trained while I took Holly, Haelow, and Miya around the borders to get them use to their environment. They loved it but it was just an irritating walk for me.

        News spread around the pack that they were only a half mile away from Nome. To think that this whole time, I was closer to home than I really was, but that isn’t my home now, this was. We had to move to a different habitat so that we are not hunted, since we were near a city that’s known to hunt.  It was scheduled at the end of summer, when we were most vulnerable to hunters.

       The murderer of Junt’s mate, Lucia, was still unknown and they almost given up on whom it was, but they stopped thinking it was Chinook though.

      I sat up and walked outside my den. It was a warm night but a slight breeze flew by me. The pine needles on the ground went into my toes and stuck a bit but I was used to it now, I was used to this environment. Now we had to leave it. This is where I met Emmerella- my best friend, Kolle, and Chinook. It was where I had my puppies and where Evangeline was buried. How was I supposed to leave it? Better question, how was I going to get Jack to leave? He had barely gotten used to this place and now he had to leave soon. He can’t just leave with us, without getting more confused about me being a part of a pack. Then I wondered if Junt would make it through the journey. His black fur was getting over ruled by strands of grey and he was starting to get weaker. He couldn’t make the journey even if he wanted to. Would I be made pack leader? The thought struck me like lightning. If he died I would be the one to replace him. But that was too cruel to think about, me wanting to be his successor, but of course that would be like me wanting Junt to die. I could never want that. I would rather die than have an urge for him to die. I wandered down to a puddle and washed my paws. The water soaked in to my paws causing them to sodden. I saw my reflection after the water stopped moving. I was no longer afraid of my scar across my eye, now it was just my first battle scar. I remembered when I was only a yearling when I got this scar but I was a house-pet then, nothing special but a spoiled dog, but actually I wasn’t spoiled, I was abused. The sun started to rise and the pack camp lit up. Junt was first to wake up and he weakly walked up to me and sat next to me. His tail rapped around my shoulder and I looked at him. He had grey hairs around his eyes and muzzle but his back and legs were still the night black fur I remembered.

“You have been through a lot, my friend.” He wisely said. His eyes were not at me but at my reflection.

“You were nothing but a lost house pet when you arrived and now your one of the most respected hunters in the pack.” He complimented. I just stared at him with modesty.

“I just wanted to apologize for doubting you all that time ago.” He said now looking at me. His yellow eyes were now on me. He licked the top of my head and without a warning he left back for his den and watched his clan come to life.

***

                 It was near August now and the heat was going down. I woke up with Chinook next to me as usual. I lightly nudged his head off me and got up to go into the nursery. I was going to take the puppies to the border that was closest to Nome. I had taken them to every other border but not this one.

          Holly and Miya were already ready to go, but I had to shove Haelow to wake up. She woke up excitedly and they followed me across the camp. Chinook came up to me and nuzzled my face (Holly, Haelow, and Miya were gagging as we nuzzled.) He looked at them and licked their heads and turned to me again,

“I’m going to show Niche our secret place.” He was referring to a meadow with a misty pool. That was where me and Chinook became mates.

“Aww,” Haelow whined, “How come he gets to go?”

“It’s because he’s the only boy.” Holly said.

“So?” Miya asked

“That makes him the special one out of us four.” Holly explained.

Chinook lied down at their level and reassured them, “I promise you that is not true. Tell you what, next time I’ll take you and Niche can spend the day with Riley.” They cheered quietly and remained happy. Chinook winked at me before leaving and left to the nursery to get Niche.

           I then turned in the direction of the border and started there. Holly and Miya were play fighting on the way while Haelow stuck close to me. Her head was leaning on my arm and she looked up at me.

“Mommy?” she asked, “Does dad really love us?”

“Of course he does!” I exclaimed, “Why would ask such a thing.”

“Well, he only tells you and Niche that he does, but he hasn’t told us, yet.” She explained to me.

“Well that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.” I explained, “I’m sure he will tell you that he loves when he takes you to our special place.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Of course.” I reassured her; she then playfully pounced on her sisters as we moved toward the border.

***

          I had only been here once and that was when I was training with Emmerella, yet I remembered the path as if I had been across it yesterday! At the border, I could smell humans but I could barely see a town, but in the distance I saw a wrecked boat that looked older than my parent’s grandparents! The border was the tree line to the ocean, because there was no use to try to hunt there because it was just sand and foothills till the city. The puppies were playing at the shore line and getting their paws wet.  I smiled as they were having fun and then Miya splashed me with her paw. I laughed and lightly splashed back.

         Then I heard a crack in the woods, and I turned my head to sudden death. There a man in camouflage and with what we call a deathtwig. We called it that because no wolves have survived what it has done to you. He pointed the deathtwig at me and I felt adrenaline all over. I turned to the puppies and howled, “Run!” and I pushed them with me. They got the idea but didn’t know if it was real or not. I heard a loud noise and I felt pain in my arm. Whatever hit me only grazed off a bit of fur but that wasn’t the worse thing it can do. I urged the puppies to keep running and then I noticed that we were heading right into the town. I remembered the town well and then I smelled a familiar scent. It was my mother.

       Her fur wasn’t grey from age and she still looked young.

“Riley?” She gasped. She then saw the hunter and shove us into an alley way. The hunter was about a quarter of a mile away and was running as fast as he could.

“Oh. Riley!” she said nuzzling me, her accent was familiar, “I missed you so much.”

“Mom, I don’t have time to explain, but I can’t…” I couldn’t get out of this without risking the puppies, then I had to make a very horrible decision, “You need to take them in, they’ll be killed if you don’t.” Holly looked up at me and asked

“Mommy?”

I nuzzled their faces and said, “I’m so sorry, but you’ll be safe here. I love all of you so much.”

“But you can’t leave us with house-pets!” Haelow said.

“I will of course.” My mother, Olly said, “I’ll take care of them.” I nuzzled my mother and licked my puppies. My heart was broken; I had just lost three of my kids. They cried as I left and I ran as fast as I could passed the hunter. He shot at me again and I had dodged death by an inch. When I got into the forest, he gave up and left. I kept running though, and I felt emptiness in me.

      I ran through the camp and Chinook and Niche came up to me. I looked Niche and I collapsed. I was on the ground and I twitched a bit. My puppies were gone.

“Riley, where are the kids?” Chinook looked down at me. What was I going to tell him? Then a horrible lie came into my mind that was the most horrible thing anyone could ever lie about.

“They-were” I sniffed, “hunter-deathtwig.” My vision left and I said the last word before I fainted, “gone.”

***

                 My life was about over. I had lost my kids and my mind. They were the best things that had ever happened to me and now they were gone. Chinook took it hard and stayed isolated in our den for about a month. Niche was devastated as Chinook and I were. He had lost three sisters in one day but he continued his life as now an apprentice but was scarred for life.

               Chinook stopped sleeping with me at nights and slept in a corner. How could I have lied to him, but if I told him the truth, he would have tried to break into Nome by now and take them back. After about a week we started talking to me again and then he left his isolation and returned to hunter duties.

             Hopefully Haelow, Holly, and Miya were all safe. But my heart was torn in two. I lost three kids and Niche doesn’t talk to me anymore. He wasn’t in best moods.

            The following week after, I woke up around sunrise. Chinook was lying next to me snoring. He was always snoring when he was asleep. I gently licked his ear and smiled. From a distant away, I heard the sound of coughing. It sounded very serious, so as beta, I investigated.

         The coughing sounded very serious now and it didn’t sound like it was going to go away. The sound led me to Jack’s den and on the ground; Jack had his hands to his mouth coughing his lungs out. His face was bright red and his hair was sodden with sweat. He didn’t notice me and his eyes were dazed and he looked like he was getting dizzy.  He rolled over and covered his face with hands as he coughed.

          I lied by him and licked his hand. I didn’t know what to do, he was a human. How can I possibly help him stop coughing? Maybe Lira could help him. Jack patted me on the head and continued to cough. I couldn’t look at him anymore and hurried off to the healer’s den.

***

           Lira was asleep on a bed of twigs. There were herbs and berries of all sorts on the ground and it looked as if she had fallen asleep counting them. I tried not to step on them as I poked her. She woke with a startle and looked at me with tired eyes.

“Oh, it’s you, Riley. I’m so sorry about your loss-’’ I interrupted her.

“Never mind that!” I exclaimed, “I need your help with Jack!”

“Your human friend?”

“Yes! Are you going to come or not?”

“Of course, but I don’t know if I can heal humans.” Lira said weary.

“Just try.”

          I led her to Jack’s den, where he was on the ground, coughing his lungs. Lira looked down at him and rested her head on his. She then looked in his mouth while he was coughing and turned toward me.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t treat him for this.” I glared, “he’s a human and I don’t know what herbs would do, I’m not a human healer.”

“There must be something you can do!” I snarled. She looked terrified of me and I calmed down a bit.

“I’m sorry but I don’t know anything to do, Riley.”

          I sighed irritably and replied back, “So we’re just going to let him sit here and cough to death, is that what you’re trying to tell me.”

“Riley, listen-’’

“No you listen!” She stared at me with a surprised look on her face, “You are a healer, and you should be trying to heal people, but now you’re telling me that you can’t do that? Are you a healer or not? Can’t you just give him a herb or something.”

        She looked furious, “Don’t you dare tell me how to do my job, Riley! Do I go around telling you or Junt how to run a pack? NO! Do I go to the gnaw wolves and show them how to gnaw a deer’s femur? NO! When I say there is nothing I can do, that means THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO!”

      I growled at the healer as she stormed away. After she was back in her den, I heard her curse loudly. I turned to Jack who was still coughing. How was I going to get Jack better? If Lira couldn’t do it I couldn’t. There must be another way. If Lira couldn’t then maybe no wolf can. But who? I saw Jack’s face; he was all red and sweaty. He was a human and he couldn’t be treated by wolves, but maybe humans can… No, he couldn’t possibly be able to get back to town on his own and I wasn’t going with him. I am going to stay here with my pack. I saw Jack again who stopped coughing. Maybe it will go away.

***

         It was time for us to leave camp and find another place to live. We had to leave all of our things behind so we can be able to make the journey which also meant no herbs for Lira. Ever since our quarrel, we had not seen eye to eye but I had more friends than I needed besides her.

       Chinook and Niche were both ready to go by the time the journey came, They were both built for this journey and are most likely going to make it. Niche and I started talking again and he had almost forgotten about what happened to his sisters (or what he thinks) I hadn’t told him and I wasn’t planning on telling him. Niche told me that he was going to travel with Emerella’s offspring, Kayak and Apollo. (I had a feeling Niche was just trying to get close to Apollo…) 

       Junt’s grey hair had taken a turn to white as he aged. He was still strong but was most likely not going to make it, but he had all my faith that he would.

     “Is everyone ready to begin this journey?” He asked roughly. His voice was breaking up a bit. He coughed once afterwards and awaited his pack’s answer. Everyone howled-including me-in approval. Niche didn’t howl, though. He was probably reluctant to leave the last place he had seen his sisters. He hung his head low as I felt horrible. I regret lying to him but he wouldn’t understand the risks I had to make for us to survive.

***

        Chinook stood beside me as we started on the journey. His warm fur was brushing mine as we took our steps up and through the mountains. The higher we went, the fewer trees there were and the sun was beating down on our fur and was creating sweat on our backs.

       I looked toward the center of our caravan and saw Lira helping Niche, Apollo, and Kayak keep on. They were so young, but I knew they would make it. Lira gave me a look that said come here and take care of your kid. I glared and I fell back and journeyed with Apollo and Niche as Lira helped Kayak.

      Lira looked as if she were going to break down on the ground and start crying. I couldn’t blame her. We were leaving where we-other than me or Jack- were born, or where Evangeline was buried and Lira wouldn’t too happy about that, and also we don’t even know where we are going.

       Apollo looked at Kayak as if she were uncomfortable with Niche. She hadn’t really known him that long and she was about a month older. Kayak prompted over to where his sister was and she leaned on him. Niche looked at the two and moved away from and ran up to his father, who was only a few paces away.

      A little bit later, Emmerella came bounding up from behind. Her blue fur shining in the light and she looked radiant under it.

“Hey, Ri!” She said friendly licking my ear. I nodded in response and notice how weirdly energetic she was.

“How in the name of spirit-pack, can you possibly be so jumpy while we’re all tired?” I asked suspected.

      She turned toward me smiled, “When I was younger, I had ran away from my pack and traveled about five miles a day. To me, this is just a walk around the corner!” Kolle unexpectedly walked up to us and whispered to me

“Don’t worry. I don’t get it either.” I chuckled to myself. I hadn’t noticed the pups until I heard them laughing. They were chasing each other as we walked on. Niche was looking a-bit awkward as Apollo passed him. I couldn’t help but howl softly with amusement.

       Jack came rushing up suddenly and patted me and Emerella. Emerella had gotten used to being patted or stroked by a human but I couldn’t blame her for having doubts. Not all humans were as nice and caring as Jack was. A chill ran down my spine as a memory of Jack’s father filled my mind. All of the abuse we went through, you could only imagine.  

      Jack’s face was less red as it was before, but it still worried me thought of him being choked to death by his own cough (twitches).

     I licked his hand once; my ears perked when I heard a cry of horror. I raced to the front of the caravan where it had came from. Junt lay motionless at the feet of a large dark-brown wolf, his body was sodden with blood. Then before we knew it, we were surrounded by a pack of wolves, four times bigger than our clan; and the brown wolf on top of Junt stared at me then raised his bloody paw and raised it up to attack.

To Be Continued…