Transformation
Of
Nature
WolfBane Pack
Dominant Male: DarkShadow-Jet black male with a white chest and tipped tail.
Dominant Female: BushyTail-Ginger female with amber eyes and grey streaks.
Prey-Catchers:
FoxTail-Red-orange female with amber eyes and a white chest, paws, stomach, and tipped tail.
NightFall-Black female with a white spot on her left back paw.
RainDrop-White female with a jet black tail.
StarShine-Golden-and-white female.
GoldenSun-Brown-gold female.
Pack-Guards:
DarkStorm-Black and white old male, former Dominant Male.
FogSky-Grey and black old male.
FlowingStream-White gray-streaked male.
BlackFire-Jet black male with glowing amber eyes.
Trainees:
DawnLight-White male with ginger patches and golden eyes.
Pups:
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 1
Thirteen year old Christine Bane climbed out of her little tent. She looked up. The sun was bright this morning. She grabbed her brush and groomed her beautiful wavy blond hair. Christine was a very beautiful young girl. She had blond hair, ocean blue eyes, and a tall figure. Not really skinny, but not fat at all.
Her father, Mike Bane, was also tall. But he had brown hair. Mud Pie, Christine secretly called him. He loved nature. As much as he denied it, Christine knew he loved nature more than his own daughter.
Christine’s mother, however, looked exactly like her daughter, but had a skinny figure and emerald-green eyes. Her name was Teresa Bane. Teresa didn’t love nature as much as Mike, but she enjoyed it.
How I hate WolfBane Forest! Christine thought. Christine was just okay with nature. At least it’s peaceful. She guessed. Christine would much rather go watch television, until the Transformation.
“What’s that?” Christine saw something in the bushes. What if it’s the ghost? She thought, before she realized. Huh! Christine, you still believe that stuff? When she was about seven, her mother had told her ghost stories. She didn’t believe them, or at least she thought so, but they were fun to listen to.
The story was about a pack of wolves named WolfBane Pack. That’s where the forest got the name. Plus, Christine’s Grandpa owned WolfBane forest and his last name was Bane, like Christine. Anyway, the hunters wanted to kill the pack, because the nearby villagers thought the wolves were the pet of the devil. Also, the wolves were eating their food. That’s the main reason, Christine thought.
So hunters managed to hunt down half of the pack. The pack’s leader, ShadowNight, a jet black male wolf with red eyes, was outraged. The rest of the pack led an attack. Everyone in the village was dead by morning. Including all ten hunters, too. Christine shuddered.
Soon the wolves ran out of food, the prey was scarce that winter. The wolves slowly starved to death, according to storytellers. But there were sightings of the same wolves in the forest later on, and still are. Some people say they’re ghosts. Others say it’s just wolves, and the story wasn’t true. Christine wouldn’t know which was true until later.
Christine reached for the knife in her pocket that her father always gave to her during the camping trips. “This is to protect you, only use it when necessary,” Her father had told her.
Christine leaned closer. Looking straight at her, was a midnight-black wolf with glowing ghost red eyes.
She lost her voice and dropped the knife. Christine backed away slowly, closed her eyes, and opened them. The wolf was gone.
I must have imagined it… She turned around and ran back to the tent. She stayed in there until she heard her parents wake up and make scrambled eggs.
Christine was quiet throughout breakfast and lunch. Her parents started asking her if the cat caught her tongue. No, she thought, the wolf bit it off.
“I’m gonna go for a while, okay? I want to sketch the trees over by WolfCreek,” Her father told her.
Ah, WolfCreek. The place where the so called wolf ghosts came to drink the water. Also known for the place where the wolves dragged the bodies of dead villagers. Christine’s father had a drawing ability, Christine did too, but she knew that wasn’t the reason.
Mike obviously wanted to look for the ghosts. Go let him, he won’t find anything anyway! He doesn’t even care about you.
As soon as Mike left, Christine broke out in tears. Her mother was down at the creek too, washing clothes. This was Christine’s time alone, and it just had to be in a disgusting forest owned by her long-dead Grandpa!
A twig cracked. Christine turned, expecting ShadowNight to come and kill her, but it was only a squirrel. Christine went to sit in her tent. It got dark, her parents didn’t come back. By now, Christine had zipped herself up in her tent, and put on two layers of coats, jeans, socks, and shirts. It was so cold. She started to wonder what that possibly could mean. It wasn’t usually this cold around WolfBane Forest. She suddenly felt her neck hair rise.
She turned around, hearing growling and barking. Her heart beat faster and faster. She peaked out of the tent. What she saw sent her stumbling back and the tent rolling over. Wolves. Dark wolves. Ghostly wolves.
The wolves were already eating the food Christine’s family had packed. They didn’t even stop to look at her. They were chomping as if they’d starved. Starved to death…, Christine thought with her heart about to burst out of her chest. She even put her hand there as if to steady it. Didn’t work! This was the real deal, these wolves were ghosts!
She found her very heavy black flashlight. She’d test these ghosts. If the flashlight hit it, it was real and would run away. If it went through…She tried not to think about that.
Christine steadied it in her hand…One….Two….Three! She sent it flying through the air. There wasn’t much she could remember. All she heard was a loud crack, and the sound of yelping and hurrying paws running back to the forest. And the sound of a dead body hitting the ground. She’d killed the WolfBane Pack’s leader. She was a hero! But what would the others do?
The only part she remembered clearly was when a heavy weight came down on her chest. She closed her eyes in pain and felt claws digging into her skin, past her layers of coats and shirts.
The ShadowNight looked down on her and frowned. Christine moaned. And then she tried to scream, she felt the air go past her throat and into the night. But no sound escaped her. She felt helpless and unready to die so quickly.
ShadowNight whispered in her ear, barely able to be heard and narrowed his glowing eyes. You have but a large lesson to learn, young human. And if you don’t learn it, well…
He dug his claws deeper into her flesh.
You shall know what to expect. When his weight lifted off of her, and her scream got past her. It was the most terrible sound in the whole world. As if she was dying, and she felt like it too. She felt her bones changing…Turning and twisting and breaking to get into different places…
And then it went black.
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 2
When Christine woke, she felt bursting with energy. After what had happened that night, she ought to have been dead. “Hey, wait minute! Oh-
My-God!”
Christine looked at her feet. They were now furry paws. She let out a long howl. “No! It can’t be! I’m dreaming, for goodness sake!” She barked. She ran and leaped around the campsite howling her head off. Christine was a Wolf. How could it have happened? She looked over where there was a torn tent and food scattered everywhere. A body lay motionless on top of Christine’s torn clothes and next to her flashlight.
It was the dead wolf. The one she had killed to save her food, heavens above! She’d killed a wolf for food, and now look what happened to her!
Christine finally sat down, after thirty minutes of howling and barking. She panted and let drool slide down her tongue. “As much as this is nasty, it feels better.” She whimpered.
She perked her ear up. She heard footsteps. Oh no! The body of the dead wolf started to disappear, leaving behind blood and Christine’s flashlight.
“This is not good at all!” She whispered.
She turned and saw Mike running towards her with a large book in one hand, and a pot in the other. He was screaming his fat head off! Christine jumped out of the way and ran for the bushes. Mike ran after her, but stopped dead in front of the flashlight and saw Christine‘s torn clothes, marked with the wolf‘s blood on them.
Christine’s mother lay on her knees and held Christine’s torn clothes in her hands. Oh heavens above!
Christine’s parents thought the blood on her clothes was hers. It wasn’t, but how where they to know their daughter was turned into a flea-bitten wolf and the blood wasn’t even her own? They weren’t. That was ShadowNight’s plan.
For a brief moment, Christine felt no fear for ShadowNight. Instead, she felt rage and hatred. She longed to run to her parents, to tell them she was okay, and to rip ShadowNight’s head off. Not for turning her into a wolf, but for bringing such unhappiness to her parents.
Christine knew that moment, her parents really did care. It was just too late to tell her so.
Suddenly, she broke out of thought as her father looked at the sky, and screamed the loudest ever. While Teresa wailed and cried into Christine’s torn clothes. Christine almost howled into the sky herself, but held back for fear she would only be chased away.
Christine watched her parents for the longest time. She smelled a new scent. Wow, there were so many scents she never knew! She looked around. Christine always thought that dogs saw in black and white, but she saw in the most beautiful colors in the world. Some colors that no one ever knew existed! She noticed so many things invisible to her before.
Teresa and Mike were gone. Probably to the police, she thought.
She heard rustling behind her. She tried to stand on two’s, but failed. She hit the ground and came nose to nose with a wolf puppy.
Christine would have screamed, or howled, if she hadn’t been in such a brave mood. “Who are you?” She demanded.
“Ah!” The puppy started to run, but Christine was too fast. She stepped on his tail. “Ouch! Hey, let me go!”
“Then tell me who you are and where you’re from.” Christine growled loudly.
She studied the puppy closely. White with ginger and golden streaks and amber eyes that glowed. How unusual!
“I…I’m DawnLight of WolfBane Pack.” He yipped proudly.
“Oh, I’m so impressed!” Christine growled.
“Who are you?” He added more loudly.
“I’m Christine.” She barked. “I come from far away, and I…” Maybe she shouldn’t tell him? After all, she killed their leader! “I’m lost.” She admitted falsely, losing her pride.
DawnLight seemed convinced, but all of a sudden, burst out laughing. “That’s the stupidest name I’ve ever heard!” He rolled on his back, and then quit laughing when he saw the look of rage on Christine’s face.
“If you ask me, you’re the most stupid pup I’ve ever met! And the rudest!” She started to trot away, but he ran in front of her.
“Hey, I…” He put his head down. “I’ve got to confess too. I’m lost just as you. And I’m sorry.”
Christine raised her furry eyebrows. Was this for real? “You mean it?” She sat down in astonishment. It was only a second ago this pup had been mean and uncaring sounding.
“Nah, I’m kidding!” He ran laughing through the woods and farther away from her wanting her to chase him.
“You little creep!” Christine ran after him and as she almost had him, he squeezed into a crack in a large pile of rocks. Christine squeezed herself in as well. “Wow..”
In front of her, was a dusty clearing, bushes growing along the edge. It was the WolfBane Pack’s Camp! She looked around. In the middle there was a large stump where the supposedly pack leader stood with other wolves around him. Christine backed away a little so they could not see her.
On the left side of the camp, there stood a small pond of water with a waterfall over it! Christine looked in amazement. It was so beautiful…
On the right, was another stump pile with dead animals such as birds and squirrels. Christine guessed it was like a refrigerator. All around the camp stood small nests of twigs, grass, and moss. Obviously, that was where they slept.
Christine strained her ears to hear the conversation. She saw a black male wolf with a white chest and tipped tail speak.
“DawnLight, you met another wolf? Are you sure you didn’t eat too much fresh-kill today?” Christine noticed the little sneak, DawnLight, sitting beside the black wolf. The little creep! She was sure to be run out of the forest now!
“I saw her, DarkShadow, I really did! Maybe she can become our new female leader! She WAS very beautiful dad.” Christine, beautiful? Go figure. She was a dog, for goodness sake! Christine looked at her coat. Maybe wolves considered her fur charming?
DawnLight seemed desperate now. “Oh, C’mon dad! She’d only be a temporary one until ma gets back! We NEED a new leader until then.”
DarkShadow spoke and looked ashamed of DawnLight. “There are no other wolves in this forest besides us.”
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 3
DawnLight tensed. Was he trying to convince his own father to take Christine as his mate? NO WAY, Christine thought, I’m NOT going to allow myself to be that dog‘s mate!
Christine listened harder. DarkShadow whispered something to DawnLight she didn’t catch. DawnLight left the clearing and looked as if he was going hunting, his head low in embarrassment.
Christine followed him on light paws. She planned on hitting him from the back, which is exactly what she did. Christine leaped onto him, pressing his nose into the mud. “What the heck was all of that back there?” DawnLight tried to look confused. “Don’t play with me, I know what you tried to do!” She bared her teeth. “Wow, what sharp teeth I have, all the better to eat DawnLight with, of course!”
DawnLight sighed. “Okay, okay! I’ll tell you. My mom, BushyTail the Dominant Female, was-” He broke off as they heard someone lurking in the shadows. DawnLight lifted his nose into the air, and yelped. “Run!” He took off while Christine stayed, planted to the ground.
She saw the disguised face of Mike, with his gun pointing at her. She stared at him and howled. He shot, but she had already leaped away. Why had her own father tried to murder his daughter?
“He tried to kill me…” She panted. How could her own father think that she…“Oh, I get it.” She whimpered. Mike must’ve thought that she killed Christine. She was Christine!
DawnLight pulled her by her tail into another bush. “Have we lost it?” DawnLight woofed without hardly any breath left in his lungs. Christine almost cried then and there, but she held the tears back somehow.
Christine felt as if she were floating rather than standing. “Yeah, I think so.” They sat there for a long time.
What was it you were going to tell me?” Christine whimpered.
“Well…” Christine heard DawnLight whimper. “BushyTail was my mom, and she led a patrol not long ago. We were starving for food, and still are.” Christine noticed how thin he looked.
“She and the patrol found a human camp with food. I didn’t go, but the others say it was delicious.” Christine held her breath. She knew what was coming. She had known it since DarkShadow called DawnLight son. Poor, poor DawnLight.
“Something was hiding! It…it was a young human and it threw something hard and black as night at my ma…The others say she was knocked out, and she’ll be back as soon as she’s fit enough to find us. I hope she’ll come back soon, I miss her.” DawnLight lay his head on his paws.
Christine’s body went cold. She’d killed a young pup’s mother! Not just any pup, a pup that would one day rule the pack, according to the stories she’d heard from Mike.
“I’m-I’m so sorry, DawnLight.” And she meant it! OH DEAR, she’d sounded like it too! Was DawnLight suspicious?
“Don’t be. Besides, my ma’s sure to come back soon! She’s tough.”
DawnLight looked as if he actually believed it. Christine felt like a knife was driven through her heart.
“Anyway, I saw you and thought you were really pretty, and I was sure DarkShadow would like you. I could tell you had no pack…And I thought you might want to stay with us. But seeing as my dad doesn’t believe me…” DawnLight looked expectantly at Christine.
“Uh, DawnLight…I can’t.” Christine saw the look of disappointment on his face.
“What? Why? Where else could you go? And besides, you’d only be a temporary leader. Not for long, when my ma gets back you can-” Christine interrupted him before he could finish.
“DawnLight, who told you your mother was coming back? How can you believe that stuff? It’s just stories!” Christine growled.
“DarkShadow said she’d come back!” DawnLight growled loudly at Christine.
Christine noticed that she needed to get a grip. It wasn’t this pup’s fault. And who else could help her return to normal? If she wanted them to trust her, she’d need to earn it herself.
“I’m sorry, I’m just upset because of the hunter…” And that was part truth.
DawnLight’s ears flattened. “Can we please go now?”
Christine looked at the sky. It was almost pitch black. “No, it’s getting late.
You can come get me in the morning.”
They agreed, and DawnLight left Christine in search of shelter.
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 4
DawnLight sighed and began his journey back to camp. Who was the real Christine? She had a weird, human-like name. He gasped. What if she was a pet? Nah, Christine would never let a human handle her, gosh, she won‘t even let anyone handle her! He thought.
All he could catch on his way home was a scrawny rabbit. He growled and his ears flattened in frustration. He could do better than that! The Pack was starving, and needed food. Winter was already here, and snow covered the ground. Prey was even more scarce than usual.
It’s the human’s fault! Their guns kill everything in sight, and frighten the prey! He could almost howl aloud at the waste of food. Humans have their own food! Why can’t they just leave us alone? We were here first.
He pushed through the familiar snow-covered bushes into the clearing. He had known his pack his whole life…Why should they starve now, if his life was only beginning?
He laid his catch on the Stump-Of-Food and went to see if anyone noticed his return. Nope. He crouched down beside FogSky and FlowingStream, who were already eating the skinny food they caught.
“Here, young one.” FlowingStream shared his squirrel with DawnLight. DawnLight’s mouth watered and he bowed in thanks and respect. Good old FlowingStream, His best friend since puppy hood. Even thought FlowingStream had already been a Pack-Guard when DawnLight was born, they were the best of friends. In fact, FlowingStream was one of the wolves in the pack who trained him most.
After the meal, most of the pack went to bed. Some of the older ones stayed up, swapping stories of the past. DawnLight already heard the story they were telling, so he lay down in his bedding under the stars.
“Oh, mother…Where are you?” He whispered painfully. He missed his mother and couldn’t live without her like you couldn’t live without oxygen.
It wasn’t until he’d already said it when he realized RainDrop, one of the best Prey-Catchers, behind him.
“DawnLight, are you okay?” RainDrop asked, concerned. The pack had been pretty nice and comforting to him since his mother disappeared the day before. Usually, they didn’t accept him for being the know-it-all son of the leaders.
“Huh? Oh, I’m fine. Just…tired.” He faked a yawn. The last thing he wanted was sympathy from her.
RainDrop didn’t look convinced. Just hurt. She walked away from him and settled down beside her best friend, BlackFire.
DawnLight heard his stomach growl. Maybe if he didn’t wake anybody, he could sneak some more food… He tippytoed to the Stump-Of-Food pile. He stretched out his jaws and was an inch away from his mouth clamping onto a juicy mouse when he heard low growling behind him. “Uh-oh!”
DawnLight turned around to see FoxTail standing over him. Great. It had to be her of all wolves who caught him! FoxTail was the meanest one in the pack, despite her beauty. DarkShadow even had a crush on her himself.
“Uh-Oh’s right! You haven’t caught enough for you to get seconds, young pup!” She barked softly. DawnLight flattened his ears in shame and tucked his tail between his legs.
Just then, hallelujah, StarShine, his half-sister, jumped in front of DawnLight. “Oh C’mon, FoxTail! He’s just a pup. Besides, there’s bound to be no food out. It’s too cold.” StarShine whimpered and bowed her head to FoxTail in fake respect.
FoxTail just snorted and walked away. She dared not talk back to DarkShadow’s little girl.
“Gee, thanks sis!” DawnLight said carefully. He didn’t know whether she was on his side, or just wanted to get him in trouble herself.
She seemed calm and caring. “No problem, brother. What are big sisters for, anyway?”
DawnLight took a stupid chance. “For getting me in trouble most of the time?” He shut his mouth and knew that was the wrong thing to say.
Suddenly her expression changed. “Did your really think I did it for you? Puh, yeah right! I did it because I’m not gonna let her think our family is weak and vulnerable. Don’t you realize how much she expects to be voted Dominant Female? She wants to take over our family and doesn’t really like, dad, but she just wants to lead us!” She snarled instantly.
DawnLight shrunk back in amazement. He didn’t think she’d get so worked up. Since BushyTail wasn’t even her real mother, he thought she’d care less of who ruled them. Obviously, she’d grown attached to his mother and loved her just as much as her own.
“I…I’m sorry!” StarShine licked his head and pushed him toward his nest with a piece of that mouse. “I’m just worried, is all. Get some sleep, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, StarShine.” DawnLight curled up next to her and he dreamed of leaping in the meadows with StarShine just as they did not that long ago.
DawnLight woke up the next morning with a start. He saw DarkShadow and other wolves gathering around, growling and most just plain confused. He jumped up and pushed through the crowd to see FoxTail about to attack Christine.
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 5
Christine shivered and looked up at the large female red and white wolf in front of her. She looked able to give Christine a nasty bite, or worse.
Christine flattened her ears, ducked her head down low, and put her tail between her legs as the wolf growled and bared her teeth at Christine. She felt as if she were about to have her third, no, fourth heart attack in the last few days.
Christine had woken up to growling back at the place where she had spent the night. Two wolves ,carrying the pack’s scent, had dragged her to the camp and in front of the fierce wolf in front of her.
Just then, DawnLight’s face broke through the crowd. He was leaping toward her, tail high and paws out. Christine closed her eyes, knowing he had lured her to come to the pack for dinner, when the growling stopped, turning into surprised yips.
Christine opened her eyes and saw DawnLight standing protectively in front of her. Would he really stand up for her against his family?
Well, he did. Darkshadow broke forward, and stared in astonishment. “What?
DawnLight, you were right!” He barked. “There really is another wolf in the forest, and now in our camp.”
FoxTail took a step back and snorted. “Don’t you see?” She stuck her snout in Christine’s face. “We must run this…this vermin out!”
Vermin, eh? Christine wasn’t about to take that. She shot FoxTail a look of pure hatred and snarled at her. She was actually convincing too.
DarkShadow thrust between them. “Enough.” He gave the angry female wolf a warning glance. “Don’t get your tail in a fluff until you know who she is and what she’s doing here, FoxTail.”
FoxTail snapped behind his back something Christine didn’t catch, but she said no more.
DarkShadow looked expectantly at DawnLight. DawnLight took a breath and explained everything. “I was going to show you yesterday, but FoxTail’s patrol took care of that.” He finished.
DarkShadow still looked hungry for more. “Where are you from?” He turned suspiciously to Christine.
She told another lie. “My owners abandoned me.” She lifted her head up, but set it back down low when she saw the wolves get more and more suspicious. Oops. She shouldn’t have told THAT particular lie.
DarkShadow sniffed her and lifted his head very high as if she was on the bottom food chain. “So, you were a pet? I find that hard to believe.”
“Believe me, it’s true, I swear.” Christine was aware of DawnLight gaping in disbelief on her left side. She shot him a glance as DarkShadow sneezed from Christine’s perfume she was wearing as a human.
DawnLight crept forward and looked as his father, with pleading puppy eyes.
“She needs somewhere to stay. “
DarkShadow didn’t look happy, but he approved, In a way. “Just until she finds out what to do.” He growled and the pack broke apart, staring and still throwing sights at Christine.
DarkShadow nipped a golden and white female on the ears. She turned and looked a bit annoyed, but her eyes betrayed her tone. She looked happy that DarkShadow wanted to speak to her. “What is it?”
DarkShadow led her to Christine. “I want you to give Christine the tour. Then go over pack rules and such.” He nudged StarShine toward Christine, and left.
The female bowed her head. Christine guessed this was a greeting, so she did the same. “I’m StarShine. Pleased to meet you, Christine.”
Christine managed a sweet tone at last. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
StarShine sat down. “This will take a while to explain. First of all, I’ll explain leaderships.”
Christine settled down in front of StarShine, and lay her head on her paws.
StarShine took a breath. “We have Dominant Males, the male leaders, and Dominant Females, the female leaders. When one dies, they choose their mate out of the whole pack. It’s usually the sibling of the dead mate they choose.”
Christine nodded in understanding. “This makes sense.” She barked.
StarShine looked pleased that Christine understood so quickly. “They are the only ones allowed to have pups or mates.”
Christine didn’t think that was fair, but she kept the comment to herself.
“The Prey-Catchers are the females who catch the food for the pack. If you are to stay here, you will have to catch your share also. You will train with us until further notice.
“The Pack-Guards are the males who guard and fight for the pack. We have no business with them, they have none with us. Simple.
“Trainees are the pups ready to train to be a Prey-Catcher or Pack-Guard. DawnLight is going to be a Pack-Guard. He’s my brother. Starshine stopped as Christine made a confused look on her face. No, no. DarkShadow is my dad, and Berrybush was my step-mother, you see.
“Pups are…well, pups. The ones that the leaders have. We have none at the time. DarkShadow is still thinking on who will be the next Dominant Female. Are you following this?”
Christine had a hard time understanding, but she nodded anyway.
Starshine seemed happy enough. “Okay. Anyway, When you become a Trainee, you get your name. Example: When DawnLight was a pup, he was Dawn. When he got to be a Trainee, DarkShadow named him DawnLight. It’s a big moment when you get your name.
“Right now, we’ll list you as…A newcomer, as I might say. Maybe if you stay with us and train, you can get your name too.”
Christine almost gasped aloud at the idea. She hated that idea! She’d get home as a person again, anyway. Wouldn’t she?
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 6
StarShine got up and led Christine around the camp. She stopped and pointed her tail toward the nests in the middle of the clearing. “That’s where we lay in the sun at Warm-Season and Hot-Season. There are four in all, if you did not know. First, Warm-Season. Next, Hot-Season. Then, Cool-Season. Now, it’s Cold-Season.” She looked up at the sky as it stared snowing.
She took Christine to the stump of dead animals. Christine held her breath. “It stinks!” She gasped.
StarShine shot her a questioning look, and carried on. “This is our Stump-Of-Food. We, the Prey-Catchers as you can remember, put our catch here.”
“The best stuff is here.” She leapt into the pond and went right through the waterfall! Christine stared in astonishment.
StarShine poked her head out. “Coming or not?” She jumped back in and Christine lost sight of her. Christine took a breath, and put her paws into the pond.
“Cold, cold, cold!” She squealed. She looked down. There were small fish swimming by her feet. That got her running. She crept through the waterfall and shook herself.
She had her fifth heart-attack right there on the spot. She was inside a large cave.
She looked around, her eyes popping out. On each of the walls, many large rectangular chunks of rock were missing. Sleeping in the chunks, curled in warm moss, were some of the wolves in the pack.
StarShine appeared by Christine’s side. “Nature’s gift to us.” She yipped just like DawnLight.
StarShine pointed towards the top of the cave. Christine followed her gaze. There was a crack in the rock, with a wolf’s nose pointing out of it, barely able to be seen through the moss that hung from it.
“DarkShadow’s den is there.” Christine looked beside it, and saw ANOTHER den next to DarkShadows and assumed that was the Dominant Female’s den.
In the middle of the cave, a slope stood above everything else, and below it were nests. StarShine saw the bewildered look on Christine’s face.
“That’s the RockSlope, where we gather to tell news. Our leaders sit on the slope, and we below. Nature really has given us a place to call our own. A place without humans.”
Christine felt too sorry for the wolves to reply. This wasn’t nature that gave them the places to sleep or the slope. Christine could never tell them that it was humans who made it possible. If she did, they would question her for knowing such things. And she couldn’t risk being chased away, not when she had no place to call her own.
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 7
DawnLight sorted Christine’s scent out from the others in the cave. He ran next to her, and was amazed to see bewilderment on her face.
But then again, she said she was a pet, and probably had never seen a cave before. He still wasn’t sure if he believed that yet. He wasn’t going to press her though, it might scare her away, and then he’d never know the truth.
“Christine, hello? Anyone home?” He waved his tail in front of her face and she snapped out of her trance. “The sun will be down from the sky soon. I think you should start talking to some Prey-Catchers, or you’ll never hunt.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.” Christine still stared around at the cave, but she moved towards the group of females.
DawnLight turned to see his father stand on the RockSlope and howl. The others were gathering, but DawnLight was suspicious and chose to run ahead and sit in front in case he had to interfere with the gathering.
“Welcome, my pack.” DarkShadow was barely able to be seen through the darkness in the cave. “I’ve two announcements. As you all know, we have a new wolf in our home today.” DarkShadow quickly explained she was a pet to all of those who did not know, which was probably only the old grey and black Pack-Guard, FogSky.
DarkShadow turned to Christine, who was bashfully looking away. “As long as Christine is in my pack, she will go by a name that fits her.” He slid off the RockSlope and touched his chin to Christine’s shoulder. “By the power of the pack, I call you by your true name, SnowFall, in honor of your snow-colored fur and the brightness it brings to the pack. She is now our Prey-Catcher. GoldenSun, you will teach her all you know. ” He lifted his head up and nodded in approval.
DawnLight felt a surge of happiness for his new friend, she’d skipped training that he still was going through! But he saw a different expression on her face.
Was that guilt, he saw on SnowFall’s face? What had she done? Maybe she thought she didn’t deserve a name. Heck, DawnLight yawned, all wolves deserve a pack-name! Even I know that.
The rest of the pack, who were supposed to congratulate her like any other Prey-Catcher, moved away. All except for GoldenSun, the pretty golden Prey-Catcher who was StarShine’s only real sister. GoldenSun walked in front of SnowFall, her gray eyes shining, turning silver in the cave-light.
“Congratulations, SnowFall. I’ll be glad to train her, DarkShadow.” She looked at her father, thanks in her eyes.
DarkShadow just dipped his head and leapt back on the RockSlope. “On to my other news! It is time for a new Dominant Female to lead the pack,” He paused and looked at his paws, “forever.”
The rest of the pack jumped and cheered, but DawnLight got on his paws, growling and snarling so loud the pack stopped and turned at him.
DawnLight looked at his father, rage burning in his amber eyes, making them turn to flame. “What do you mean? BushyTail is coming back, DarkShadow! I thought you cared about her?” He stuck his tail straight up in the air, making him look like he were already the Dominant Male.
DarkShadow looked up and leapt in front of his son, growling. “Don’t you ever say that again, you hear!?!” By now he pinned DawnLight down, and SnowFall looked horrified.
DawnLight pushed his father away with his back paws. “Then why are you giving up on her?” He bared his fangs. The rest of the pack looked at their paws, as if they knew something DawnLight didn’t. “What are you all hiding from me? Tell me now!” He gave each and every one of them a hard stare.
FlowingStream walked over and put a paw on DawnLight’s shoulder. “DawnLight, we found your mother. But she wasn’t alive. Buddy, she was murdered.”
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 8
All of it was a blurr, really. Christine was already dizzy from her ceremony, which was totally unexpected.
The only part she remembered clearly, was when she saw the look of horror on DawnLight’s face. She shuddered, they knew. They knew. They knew. It was all she could think about.
She remembered DawnLight running from the cave, and running after him.
She remembered how extremely cold it was, wet and snow falling. She remembered GoldenSun leading her to the den, and drying her off. They knew. They knew. They knew.
And DawnLight was freezing and shocked, in the snow, in the middle of the night, all because she killed his mother.
And now they knew.
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 9
DawnLight couldn’t believe what he had heard. When he did, he couldn’t control himself. How stupid he had been to run off like that, but he didn’t care. No one cared. He just wanted to die. To die like his mother and be with her and not have to worry about any other thing in the world.
It had been a long time since he had run away, and he was sure there was some wolf looking for him. He hid into a large cut that opened up the tree trunk of a tree, facing away from the wind. He was bound to be warm in there.
He curled up, shivering and shaking uncontrollably, and dreamed.
It was warm, and he was cozy. DawnLight opened his eyes. He was a puppy again, sitting in the sun next to…He turned.
“Mom!” He leaped up and curled next to her. He felt himself shaking. “Mom, where have you been? Why did daddy want to replace you, mom?”
BushyTail curled her fluffy tail around DawnLight, and they stayed like that for a while. Finally, she pushed away from them and ran.
DawnLight ran after her, unable to keep up. “Mom, where are you?” He cried desperately and realized he was in a human camp. He gasped as images flashed into his eyes.
BushyTail, falling to the ground, blood oozing from her injured head.
A young female human, her blue eyes like oceans that were very familiar.
And a whole patrol of his pack coming to find him, SnowFall and DarkShadow leading the way.
DawnLight was being pulled away from his mother, who was running away from him, tail streaming out behind her. “No! Mom, help!” He heard surprised yips and a painful howl, that sounded like his mother’s. “MOM!” He turned to the thing that was pulling him back. It was SnowFall, and her eyes were like oceans.
“No, mom! SnowFall, let me go!” He woke up, SnowFall in his face.
“DawnLight, are you okay?” He saw StarShine pushing SnowFall away.
“Son!” DarkShadow leapt forward. “Are you alright?” DawnLight had never seen him so worried.
“I…” DawnLight dizzily looked around. He was back home, in his father’s den.
“I’m not sure.”
DarkShadow guided him away from the crowd, trying to take him to Darkshadow‘s den. DawnLight got up, and fell back down. Several of the pack gasped, and ran over to help. By the time they had picked him up, he was almost asleep, and he was terribly numb.
The last time he opened his eyes that night, he saw the eyes of the human in SnowFall’s eyes. He fainted, but no one even noticed, really. They already knew he was going to pass out, he’d had a hard night.
Christine watched as they took DawnLight and put him to bed. She gasped at DawnLight when he gave her a look of pure hatred. “Oh great gosh almighty, he’s found out!” She whispered.
She jumped when FoxTail growled behind her. “DarkShadow should have whipped that pup to death! He’s worried half the pack!” Christine turned around and glared at FoxTail.
“Leave DawnLight out of this, you maggot-eating crow!” Christine took a step toward FoxTail, her eyes burning in rage.
FoxTail’s eyes went wide, and she leapt back with a surprised yip.
“You think you’re so tough! Why don’t we see who really is?” Christine crouched down and growled and bared her fangs.
For a moment, FoxTail was too stunned to reply. Then she met Christine’s gaze, and leaped.
Christine dug her fangs into FoxTail’s scruff and dragged her. FoxTail snarled and slashed Christine’s face with her claws. Christine staggered back, and when she was about to attack FoxTail again, the black Pack-Guard BlackFire pushed her back.
Christine fell backwards and BlackFire stood over her and looked from her to FoxTail.
“You’re both acting like pups! You all will be here for a long time, so get used to it.” He left Christine and walked to FoxTail, who knew that BlackFire did not joke, and she turned away to walk to DarkStorm.
BlackFire cast a glance at Christine. “Go to bed, and I might forget to tell DarkShadow about this.” Christine ran off, not because he looked serious and she was tired anyway, but she could have sworn she saw his eyes narrow.
When Christine had lay down in her moss-bed, she almost gasped aloud. She could not believe it. If she wasn’t seeing things, BlackFire was definitely ShadowNight. She had seen ShadowNight narrow his eyes at her. BlackFire was pure black and looked just like him. The only thing that proved he wasn’t ShadowNight, was that BlackFire’s eyes were amber and not glowing red.
She couldn’t sleep. She decided she’d watch BlackFire closely. If he wasn’t ShadowNight, maybe he was kin to him?
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 10
DawnLight had a disturbed night’s sleep again. He had tossed and turned, and only dreamed of SnowFall fighting with his mother. This had been going on for at least a week or two now.
DawnLight sat in his nest for a long time, thinking things over. SnowFall killed his mother. How? She was a wolf…Or was she a human?
However hard he tried, he could not push the thought away. Somehow, SnowFall had something to do with his mother’s murder.
After what seemed like a lifetime, he got up from his nest, only to fall back down from the dizziness. He caught a glimpse of black fur. NightFall was heading toward him with a scrawny rabbit.
She set it down in front of him. “I though you might be hungry.” She raised her head proudly. “Caught it myself!” When he didn’t reply, and took a bite, her ears lay flat on her head and her tail drooped. “Oh, okay. I’ll leave you to eat, then.” She left him alone in DarkShadow’s den.
As soon as NightFall left, DawnLight spat the rabbit out and pushed it away. He wasn’t hungry. He’d probably never want to eat again. All he could do was grieve.
He took a nap. More horrid dreams came. All nightmares.
DawnLight sat up quickly, unable to take anymore. Just then, SnowFall entered the den.
DawnLight bared his fangs and started backing away. SnowFall came forward, ears back, head low.
She stared whining. “I…I’m so sorry, DawnLight. I had no idea…” DawnLight guessed she must’ve known that he figured out that she killed BushyTail.
He growled softly. “Get away from me, murderer!”
SnowFall’s eyes widened, but she continued to walk towards him. “Just, please, let me explain…”
DawnLight barked at her, not loud enough to gain attention, but loud enough to scare her. “No, you killed my mother! I can’t believe I trusted you, and a human at that!”
SnowFall growled back, losing patience. “I said listen to me!” She pinned him down.
DawnLight pushed her away with his back paws. He sat up and gave her a look of pure hatred.
SnowFall got up unsteadily. “Just listen…Yes, I was human. I was camping here. Your mother and her other pack-mates tried to steal my food. I got scared and threw a flashlight at her. They scattered. “ShadowNight told me I had a lesson to learn and I woke up like this. My father is the hunter, and he’s trying to kill me because he thinks I killed Christine!”
DawnLight gasped. ShadowNight? It couldn’t be…..
SnowFall looked at him sadly. After temper tantrum and after she told him the story, he felt sympathy towards her. How would he cope if his father was trying to hunt him down?
DawnLight couldn’t believe it. “ShadowNight? But he’s dead!”
SnowFall snorted. “Then how the heck could I have turned wolf, smarty pants?” DawnLight tipped his head to one side. What did ‘smarty pants’ mean? SnowFall just shook her head as if he was stupid, and gave up on that phrase.
DawnLight shook his head at her, copying her, but seriously. “ShadowNight was our hero. He died in a forest fire saving the me from the flames. He was supposed to be born into a new life, like all our wolf heroes.”
Right then at that moment, BlackFire came into the den carrying new bedding. Only then did DawnLight know that the stories were true. ShadowNight was born into a new life indeed. DawnLight finally noticed the similarities between the Pack-Guard in front of him, and the old hero who saved DawnLight‘s life...
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 11
BlackFire sat down and let his amber eyes dart suspiciously back and forth between SnowFall and DawnLight. What were they staring at?
“What?” He asked sharply. DawnLight flattened his ears and SnowFall flinched. “You are acting like a bunch of rabbits when I’m on the hunting patrol!”
BlackFire strolled across the room and scraped the old bedding away. He growled and looked straight at SnowFall. “You know, Prey-Catchers aren’t only supposed to feed the pack. They clean out bedding.”
SnowFall’s ears flattened in embarrassment as she slowly crept toward BlackFire. His ears twitched in amusement. She had better be scared of him. He could beat her at anything any day!
BlackFire sat down and watched her put in the new bedding. Something made his fur stand up. What was it? Something was seriously suspicious around here…I wonder what secrets she is hiding from us.
Next to him, DawnLight wiggled in discomfort. He obviously wanted to yell that he could fix his own bedding. But DawnLight should know better, he was still in training. A thought crossed BlackFire’s mind.
There had been more campers in the forest than usual. And they dressed in the same skin they all wore. SnowFall must’ve had something to do with it…
A prod in his side woke him from his thoughts. SnowFall was standing above him. “I-I finished!” Wow, she sounded weird today. BlackFire shook his head slightly and jogged out of the den. Pets would never settle here. Weaklings, as SnowFall was, were not allowed in the pack. But DarkShadow was obviously thinking something else.
He turned around and saw another wolf bounding toward him. FoxTail. What did she want with him?
Whatever she came for, she sure looked excited. “BlackFire, meet me by the Great Oak Tree. We need to talk. And bring FlowingStream!” She left at that.
BlackFire’s paws tingled. Did she want him for a journey? A mission? How exciting! No wonder! He woke FlowingStream, who was asleep in the Pack-Guard den. He did as told by FoxTail and ran into the forest, after sharing a small rabbit with FlowingStream, who looked more excited than BlackFire himself.
His faith dimmed as he emerged at the Great Oak Tree. FoxTail, tail wrapped around her paws, had a look of anger on her face. Standing beside her, tail held high, was the former Dominant Male, DarkStorm. Known for his stormy temper, he thought.
FlowingStream lay down in front of the two wolves, determination on his face. BlackFire sat a rabbit-length behind him.
FoxTail’s eyes burned angrily. “You all know that she-wolf, Christine?” She spat out the word as if it tasted like junk. BlackFire and FlowingStream nodded.
“Then you must know…” She continued. “She is a pet, not a part of this pack. If she stays, we will all be doomed to a life of softness that she will teach us. And softness will make us weak and vulnerable. We must run her off.”
BlackFire’s fur tingled with dislike. SnowFall may have been soft, but she didn’t deserve to be abandoned, right?
FlowingStream had jumped to his feet. “What?” He growled and FoxTail bared her teeth. But he didn’t understand the warning. “That’s against the Pack Rules!”
FoxTail leapt up and stood towering over him while he whimpered. “Silence, fool! I have not finished. The Pack Rules say we must do what is right for the Pack. DarkShadow won’t live forever. And DawnLight will take his place when his father passes by. And who do you think will become Dominant Female?” She paused and let her words sink in. “SnowFall of course!”
She jerked her head toward BlackFire, to see if he agreed. But BlackFire met her burning gaze steadily. “You are afraid the Pack will fall weak, under control by a pet.” FoxTail snorted and nodded.
“Finally, somedog who understands!” She sat back down, and FlowingStream backed away, tail tucked between his legs.
“But is it necessary to run her off?” He ventured.
FoxTail looked startled by his question. “It’s dangerous! The Pack will forget the rules and forget how to defend theirselves. We can’t let it happen. BlackFire, I’ve known you for all your life. Trust me on this, it is dangerous.”
BlackFire lay his head on his paws, but then turned to DarkStorm, who had kept quiet for a long while. “What say you?”
DarkStorm looked at his paws. “I believe FoxTail has a right to worry about the safety of the Pack. SnowFall is not meant to lead the Pack I once led. I am ashamed of how low we have fallen. We have to take food from humans, and keep pets as our members. It is not right!”
FoxTail looked satisfied. “If our once leader agrees, then we should do as I say.” Her amber eyes glowed. “We run her out tonight.” FlowingStream sat up straight, but said nothing. “I will gather some other wolves, and we will meet here at midnight. Sundown is fast approaching, so we must hurry.” She jogged off, head up and tail high. BlackFire could easily imagine her being the next female leader.
BlackFire still did not feel right with her decision, but it was for the good of the Pack. He looked at FlowingStream. “Are you going?”
FlowingStream replied without looking up. “It will break DawnLight’s heart; he is good friends with the she-wolf. But yes, I will come. If DarkStorm says okay, then it must be right. His word was once law, and he led us safely in the past. I trust him still.” FlowingStream heaved himself to his paws and followed after DarkStorm, who had been waiting in the bushes.
BlackFire stared after them, lost in thought. Were they really right? He knew FoxTail would like to be Dominant Female, but don’t all she-wolves wish that sometimes? Or was FoxTail too ambitious for her own good? He knew her well enough that she would do anything for power. He sighed and walked slowly after them, waiting for midnight to come.
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 12
Christine watched BlackFire return from his patrol. Puh, he didn’t even take any wolf with him! She thought crossly.
Christine looked out of the corner of her eye at BlackFire. He was slowly walking toward her, and then just veered away to sit beside FlowingStream. They were talking in whispers. He had a weird feeling it was about her.
Why had he wanted to talk to her? She knew that was what he was going to do, but he had just wandered away. Was she doing something wrong? She noticed GoldenSun, who’s ears twitched in amusement. Christine had been standing up, staring at BlackFire the whole time! OH, she must be looking so stupid!
She walked over to GoldenSun and sat down next to her. “What is it?”
GoldenSun pointed her tail toward BlackFire, with a amused look in her eye. “BlackFire, that’s it.”
Christine stuck her tongue out in disgust. “Oh, yucko! I can’t believe what you’re saying is what I think you’re saying.”
GoldenSun laughed. “So you think you know what I’m saying is what I’m saying is what you think I’m saying?”
Christine fell over, pretending to be dead. “You’ve killed me with your knowledge.” Christine jumped back up.
GoldenSun shook her head slightly and headed towards the cave, whispering over her shoulder. “Be careful, SnowFall. Only the leaders can have mates. That’s how it is.” Christine make a yugh sound. She didn’t like BlackFire at all! So why did everyone think she did?
She looked at the group BlackFire and FlowingStream were in again. DarkStorm, FoxTail, and FogSky sat with them. Christine had already given up her suspicion of BlackFire, about him being ShadowNight. But a new suspicion formed inside her.
Sudddenly, they started leaving. The all filed out of the clearing, and left. Christine started to follow them, but decided against it. She would talk to DarkShadow instead.
Christine finished off eating a small sparrow, and headed towards the cave. But not before she heard a howl in the distance. An ear piercing scream. Someone was hurt, and maybe dead. Just then, a faint smell of blood flowed on the wind towards her. She let out a gasp and started running to the waterfall, barking. The blood she had smelled on the wind was BlackFire and FlowingStream’s.
She ran into DarkShadow, her eyes glazed with fear. “Blood! BlackFire, and FlowingStream. They’re hurt somewhere!” The fur on DarkShadow’s neck rose, and he scrambled up the slope.
“GoldenSun, SnowFall, DawnLight, let us go! BlackFire and FlowingStream are in trouble.” He gasped when he saw that FoxTail, DarkStorm, and FogSky were not present. “EVERYONE, let’s go! Follow the scent, SnowFall.”
Christine ran out of the cave, water still dripping off her fur. She scented the air. Again, she smelled the blood scent. She put her head back and howled. And she ran toward the trees, the Pack after her. And she heard a gunshot.
Transformation of
Nature
Chapter 13
DawnLight ran as fast as he could, side by side with his Pack-Mates. He cast StarShine an anxious glance. SnowFall had stopped running. He lifted his head up, and scented the air. Suddenly the whole pack stopped. DawnLight climbed onto a large stone, being the small wolf he was, and tried to get a better look.
He gasped outloud, and the rest of the Pack stared out, horror on their faces. Beyond where they stood, fire was swallowing the forest whole.
“No…” He heard most of the Pack whimpering and saying the same thing.
“DarkShadow, what is going to happen now?” He heard RainDrop ask, her voice shaking.
DarkShadow looked down on his family, eyes glazed with fear. “We must try to find our Pack-Mates, and then leave the forest.”
“What? But this is our home!” GoldenSun cried out.
“There’s nothing else we can do.” DawnLight growled, his eyes never leaving the burning trees ahead of them.
“I will go.” DarkShadow said softly. But just as DawnLight was about to object, they turned their faces to see two wolves making their way to them from the forest.
“FoxTail, FlowingStream!” Some-wolf called out.
DarkShadow ran over, as did NightFall, and they supported the two limping wolves.
Something beside DawnLight in the bushes stirred. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked. What that….? He twisted his body around to see. Red eyes. Glowing red eyes. Blink. Still there. The black wolf in front of him turned and slowly walked away, ghostlike. With slow movements that could only be visible once every three seconds. ShadowNight would disappear, and reappear very slowly;DawnLight felt it hard to find him.
ShadowNight must have wanted DawnLight to follow him, because DawnLight automatically felt his feet moving foreward. He disappeared into the bushes while the pack tried to heal FoxTail and FlowingStream.
ShadowNight was leading him toward the flames. Did he want DawnLight killed? DawnLight strangely felt calm, like something else was taking over his body.
And that's all I wrote. I did this two years ago, lost intrest, and decided to let you see what I wrote.