-PROLOUGE- It was a cold, spring morning. Dew dropped off leaves, the sun shone. Inside a cave, was a worried, canid mother. “The legends say that on the designated day of Greenleaf, a silver pup will be born. They will set the world in an eternal Frostbite, and only one of their own kin can stop them.” The wolf was a soft, pale brown, and so were most of the pups, except one. It was a shining silver, its delicate hairs quivering in the wind. And soon, it would be time to bring the pups to the pack. She did not know what they would think of her if what that legend spoke of was true, and if the very cause was her. But it was time. She nudged the pups, and they awoke and stretched. She let out a soft bark, then led them off towards the stretch of hills the Windori called home. -CHAPTER 1 - STRANGER DANGER- Snow had begun to fall, and Korika started to rethink taking her pups out. What if we get caught in a storm? What if we’re crossing a lake and the ice breaks? What if… Her thoughts went on and on. She soon stopped paying attention, ears high with worry. The dark and heavy clouds soon began to spit hail at them. “So much for spring…” She held up her tail to signal the pups to stop, then began to dig a hole in between some tree roots. She picked up the pups, one by one, and placed them inside. She laid down by the entrance, the weather outside still beating on her pelt. She noticed another wolf walking by, that was visibly not from the Windori pack. No, they even looked like they were from the Pyroci pack. The wolf was black and white with green eyes, and a thin, elevated scar went down their cheek. She tensed up her muscles, and anxiously patted her tail on the ground. The pups backed up against the makeshift den’s wall, and were whining loudly. The wolf turned in their direction. “Who is there?” They growled. They lifted their muzzle, then fixed their eyes on Korika. She curled her lips into a growl. “What are you doing in Windori territory?” She barked. The wolf didn’t respond. “Let me reword that- what are you doing in Windori territory? I’ll rip you to pieces!” The stranger wolf laughed. “You, a feeble Windori mother, thinks you can take me on? You know, I was a Next in Line. Then I lost. I was demoted to a Songwolf- something I’m not good at. Howling. I simply… despise it. Why should a wolf be judged on their abilities depending on their howl? And so I fought the leader, and now look at me. A Pyroci exile.” “And that gives me even more reason to fight you!” And she launched herself at the stranger wolf, clinging her mouth onto their back. The wolf let out a sharp wine, then pushed her off. They revealed curved, wicked fangs, and sank them into her flank. Korika turned, and kicked them away from her. Charging at full speed, she toppled them over, and stood above him. They snarled hopelessly, tring to get a grip on her. Korika bared her fangs, and put them near his neck. “Guess who wins now?” The stranger wolf whimpered, and put his tail under his legs. She stepped off, letting the wolf get up and run away. Returning to the pups, she licked her wounds. The pounding snow and hail had finally stopped, and the sun peeked through the parting clouds. Standing up again, she let out another bark, and she and her pups were off. -CHAPTER 2 - A COLD WELCOME- The sun was midway across the sky when Korika found the clearing the pack was staying in. She stood on the forested hill above, holding the silver pup carefully. She trotted down, and peeked her head out of the trees surrounding. A black wolf, Ame, turned to look at her. “Welcome back, Korika.” He trotted down to greet her. The other wolves just turned to look at her, staying in their spots. “What are the names of the pups you have brought us?” “Their names are Prock, Tenin, and Kak. Prock is the darkest brown, and Tenin is the paler brown. Kak is the silver pup.” Ame padded up to the pups, and licked their noses. He stopped to carefully inspect the pups, then backed away at Kak. “This pup… has a splayed paw. It is to be demoted to Tailless, effective immediately.” The omega walked up to Korika, and took the pup from her mouth. It was set out outside the clearing, left out for predators, but also clearly in the pack. If anything happened to the pup, they wouldn’t do anything. And Korika would have to learn to be emotionless towards it, like every other mother who had bore a tailless pup. She led the pups to a ditch in the trees, and laid down beside them. Lifting her paw over her head, she whimpered softly. Maybe I didn’t give birth to what the legends spoke of, but a tailless pup. Which one would be worse? She was interrupted by Falaci, the other songwolf, beginning to howl. The others joined in, and she joined it too. But instead of her usual, beautiful, joyus howl, it was a rugged song of sorrow.
continued -CHAPTER 4 - MAKING DUE- Akio was following numbly behind Solaris. His paws were cold, and she had refused to carry him. ‘Raising him like she was raised’ she had said. Scrambling over the rocks, he struggled following. They had entered Terrasker territory, where they would both be attacked if found. “Solaris,” He started. “Can I sit on your back? My paws hurt.” “No, you cannot, Akio. Soon, when you get used to walking long distances, your paws won’t hurt.” “Your paws don’t hurt because you have big paws! I’m tiny! My paws are for running, not mountain climbing!” Akio whined. “Fine, when we get into the rockier mountains i’ll carry you.” Akio held back a growl of annoyance. He followed Solaris, lost in his own thoughts. Then, with no signal, Solaris stooped down and was staring straight at a bush. “Hunting lesson number one. Always be on the lookout.” She whispered, hoping to not scare away the hare. She crept forward, then with a single push of her powerful legs, she pounced directly on it. She poked her head out of the bush, hare in her jaws. She clambered out, and began to nibble on the meat. “Can I have-” “No, you can’t. You’re too young, and need to stick to milk.” She continued eating the hare until only about half was left. “We will stay here for the rest of today.” “But why? Shouldn’t we be going?” “We need to save our food. This year’s Frostbite is showing no sign of stopping.” “What’s Frostbite?” “You know, the seasons? Frostbite, Greenleaf, Sunfruit, and Redfall? Every once and awhile they change, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter.” Solaris sat down. “But recently Frostbite has been out of cycle. So has Sunfruit. Sunfruit is supposed to be the best time of year, but there's been less and less prey. Frostbite has only been getting longer, but that’s just as bad.” It looked like she was going to say something else, but she was interrupted by a wolf snarling. “Who are you and what are you doing in Terrasker territory- with a wolf pup, at that?” “We’ll be off before you can scramble to your pack leader! I’m well fed, but your ribs are showing! Think of the odds of a battle.” Solaris hissed. “My name is Gretor- one of the next in lines of the Terrasker pack! How dare you insult me!” The light brown wolf bared their fangs, tensing their muscles. But they were too slow. Solaris had already launched herself at the wolf, her claws unsheathed. Knocking the wolf over, she clawed at their flank, showing a deep wound. The wolf pushed her over. And tried to bite her shoulder. Solaris shoved their jaw off her, leaving a scratch on their muzzle. The wolf launched at her again, but they missed and flew headfirst into the ground. They recovered quickly, quicker than Solaris anticipated, and managed to grip onto her and push her off the side of the mountain. They were in a hissing and snarling bundle, trying to push their opponent off. Solaris managed to bite, and rip off the wolf’s ear, and kick them off her, launching them into a rock. The wolf limped away, having been the losing side. Solaris retreated away, back to their resting spot. She sat down to lick her wounds, while looking over the small cliff they were by. “This place is beautiful, isn’t it?” The sun was setting, it glow beggining to fade. “I guess.” Akio sighed. “I’m hungry.” He shifted to his back, and held his paws up. “Come here. I’ll give you some milk.” Akio padded over, and laid down by Solaris’ stomach. Lynx milk seemed thinner than wolf milk, maybe even runny. But Akio didn’t care, and he drank until his belly was content. He rolled over onto his back, and patted his tail on the ground. He fell asleep next to Solaris, who laid watching over the little pup for the night. -CHAPTER 5 - FROZEN SOLID-
