The approaching jungle night was a threat for some
wolves, but not me. I was a brave wolf. I crouched by a stream, lapping up
life-sustaining water. Fishing was tiring when the prey was carp!
“Just a little closer…” One had strayed very close
to my submerged muzzle. My belly growled at the prospect of food, but the Pack
must be fed first. Blood stained the water. I sat on my haunches, admiring my
catch when I heard Mari.
“Seplie!” Her howl resonated through the thick,
pulpy vines that coated trees, hidden by moss.
“Mari!” I replied, already racing
through the brush to the camp of the Pack of Rustling Leaves. My paws took me
home but my mind was far away, running through possible reasons to howl my
daughter’s name. All were grim.
“M-Mari-” I murmured, entering the camp. Wolves
moved to give me room. “Fiol!” She nuzzled me. “I’m so glad they didn’t take
you as well.”
“Who is ‘they’?” I was very confused on who Mari was
talking about. Other wolves? The
thought crossed my mind.
“These ugly creatures that walk on two legs. They
only have fur on their heads only some have a little fur everywhere. And they
were these cloths on their body!” She described from her terrible memory. The
poor wolf had been stormed by vicious creatures.
“Humans!” Creaked an elder. “They’re humans!”
Well. That sure helped the pack panic. I sighed.
“Mach, as your leader, I hereby command you to tell us all you know about
them.” I addressed the old wolf formally.
I gave him a nudge to get up. “Mari, go to the
Healer’s den. They’ll give you some thyme for shock.” I gave her tan muzzle a
lick. “Don’t worry; I’ll get our pup back.”
Mach followed me into my den.
“Mach, please tell me the weakness of these…humans,”
The word felt so new on my tongue.
“Well, they’re scared of the Giant Death.” He ducked
his tail between his legs and I shrank down. I searched the cave walls of my
den for any, but none of death’s servants appeared. “Do not say that name! Do
you want a servant of the god of death to come to the camp?!” I barked.
“No my leader, I am deeply sorry, I did not think.”
Mach hung his head in shame.
“It’s fine,” I felt a pang of sympathy for the wolf
that had been my friend since puppyhood. “Continue.”
“They can’t take a wound like a warrior wolf at
all!” Mach’s whiskers jerked up and down as he chuckled. “They act like scared
pups!”
“Why, it’s a wonder they haven’t been classified as
prey!” I chuckled.
“That’s because of their-” Mach looked around and
continued very quietly. “Their firesticks that rattle the heavens and magically
kill any animal on front of them.”
My eyes widened as I spoke. “I’ve never heard of
firesticks. They must be very rare among the jungles of India.” I was in shock.
“Thank you, Mach, you may be dismissed to sleep and do what you wish until I
need your counseling again,” My muzzle brushed his erect ear. “Stay safe, my
friend.”
The day’s light grew as I went to check on Mari in
the Healer’s den. Her eyes were shut and her flanks rising and falling in
rhythm. I licked her front paw. “Sleep well, my sweet.”
I went with a hunting patrol for the attempt to
track Seplie’s scent. Vines, bird, tree,
hey! A bird! Focus Fiol. The starving pack of wolves back home can wait. I
reprimanded myself. Wait. What is that
scent? Smells very different…but there’s a faint trace of wolf?
“I’ve found something!” I howled loudly. The patrol
checked the scent. “That’s Seplie’s scent! I’d know my pup’s scent anywhere!” I
growled as I thought of those miserable low-life humans that had stolen a pack
leader’s pup. They would be sorry.
I crouched on my belly, ignoring the rumblings of
hunger that curiosity had hidden as I consulted with Mach. I thought of my
fish, lying forlorn and forgotten. Probably stolen. Suddenly, I heard a roaring
noise. The River? I knew how far this
was. And how little time we had.
“Their camp is on the other side, sir!” Lokra
announced over the gush of the river falling down the gorge.
I nodded. “We must see them.” So I bunched up my
muscles and did the impossible: I leapt the River. And didn’t die.
Two-legged beings appeared through the thick, damp
vines. “Humans.” I breathed. I leapt back over the River. I was still numb, so
the complete and utter terror of what I was doing never reached me. “To the
camp. They have Seplie! We will attack them!” A hurrah rose from assembled wolves.
“Attack the kidnapers!” They howled. They took the longer way over the Gorge of
Thundering Water; which had a single, slippery, damp log that had it’s bark
stripped off. And they exploded through the undergrowth. And hideous shrieking
filled the air.
I sank my jaw into the thick leg of a human who
swung his blunt, metallic, stick toward my head. Lokra shoved me out of the
way; and just in time too. An explosion rattled the sky and smoke streamed out
of the stick. Black powder had charred the ground. So that’s a firestick. The thought barely crossed my mind as Lorka
nosed me up. “I’m okay,” I said gently, still a little dazed.
But not dazed enough to miss the giant, grotesquely
skinny human looming up behind my littermate. “Behind you.” I growled as she
spun around to leap at it’s face.
The humans’ screams echoed as my patrol ripped into
them. Blood had splattered all over me. I rinsed the blood from my muzzle and
paws. The taste was horrible! The other wolves did the same. It was customary.
Returning to the deceased humans’ camp, I sniffed a metal cage that held my
baby, looking for a way to set her free.
“Fiol,” A single wolf approached me looking grim.
“Lorka has gone to the pack of Twinkling Stars.” Sadness etched his voice into
a hollow tone.
I dipped my head. I let that wolf mangle the bars of
Seplie’s cage enough to set her free. As I went to drape the lifeless pelt of
Lokra over my shoulders to carry her body back to camp, the wolves followed in
silence. And a single tear streaked down my amber face, stained red from my own
blood. And I felt shattered inside. But I forced a brave expression on my face
as I hid my sadness. The clan must stay
strong. And to stay strong, they need a strong leader that shows no mercy.
~~~
Made this for school, thought it was good. Comments are nice.
