Forest
Run
It was the
afternoon,late, and the sun was close to sunset when the forest
transformed from an ordinary woodland to something beyond anything
ordinary. In the distance were the mountains and not far above them
was the sun slowly inching downward towards the threatening peaks. I
waited impatiently for the suns rays to touch the sharp peaks so that
I would only have a few minutes left until I heard the call I'd been
waiting for since early morning when I woke up.
Every sense
in my body screamed for nature to hurry along it's course so I could
have my impatience resolved and relieved. My muscles ached. My breath
came in short puffs from my mouth as if I had just done a sprint over
miles of territory and hadn't stopped for a single breath. How I
longed to begin my never ending run through the forest with the rest
of my pack. Longed to feel the breeze ruffle my fur and soak up the
nightly scents that permeated throughout the forest. Oh,how I long.
I sat
perched on the smooth top of a rock. My gaze never left the blazing
sun until the snap of a twig came from behind me and I whirled to see
what it was.
"Relax.
It's just me."The boy stalked up to my side and gazed at the
setting sun.
"Your
senses weren't sharp enough this time. Perhaps you need more training
in Mr Dafts school for pups?"
I
snorted."I had enough of that teacher for four years. If you
think going back to kindergarten is something I should consider
retaking,think again. Being in twelfth grade is twelve times harder
than learning how to be a wolf in grade zero."
He
snickered a laugh."I would agree with you."He met my
gaze."So why are you waiting here all by yourself?"
"You
know I'm not the partner type. I prefer solo. It gets me in the
mood."
He nodded and I went back to pleading the sun to sink
faster.
Dan was one
of the seniors and one of my classmates at Woodland High. He was
popular too. Very,and no girl walked past him without giving him a
high pitched hello every stroll down the halls. His broad shoulders
and far too much muscle suggested that he was the strongest wolf in
the pack. Maybe even stronger than the Alpha. I never cared. Dan also
had the brains of an athlete hunter. All As on tests and every report
card. Smart a-lack in my book. We were friends and all but not my
type of guy to hang out with all the time. Dan just wouldn't leave me
alone so that's how we became close friends and I dropped my attitude
towards him.
Dan was
lost in the moment just like I was five minutes ago. His expression
was as excited as mine was. We both loved the nights more than anyone
else I knew. Some nights I wished they would stay dark forever and
we'd never have to wait endlessly for the ball of fire to vanish
behind the killer mountains that suppressed the stars light for only
about ten hours when we wanted a full 24/7.
"It's
at the peaks."
I flashed
my gaze north and felt the anxiety well inside me. My heart raced and
my blood pumped through my veins close to overflow and I thought for
a moment they would explode and I would suffer death from internal
bleeding. My lips pulled into a smile filled with teeth that were
sharpening into canines. Hurry!
I glanced
at Dan. His muscles were flexing,I could see from underneath his
thin,deer skin, black shirt. My own muscles ached for the approaching
darkness. I slid of the rock I sat on and wriggled my toes in the
damp earth beneath my bared feet. I loved it when it came to nights
like this one. We had a rain fall only hours ago and yet the boiling
heat of the day failed in attempting to dry it all out.
My dark
rope of hair dangled at my back and bobbed against my butt as I
positioned myself beside Dan and continued to watch the sunset in a
heap of hasty pleads going through our minds. Come on. Hurry it up.
Faster! Please. Move faster!
Just
then,when I didn't think I could hold back much longer,the suns last
rays of light vanished from the sky. It began to turn from a
yellow-blue to a much darker thicker crimson blue and it was then
that Dan and I turned our backs facing the forest that stretched for
miles on end,a never ending wood that began to quiet and then it was
pitch black after I risked a blink.
Nothing
could be seen. No shadows. No dark shapes that you find in your
nightmares ready to scare you careless of weather or not you scream.
I couldn't even see Dan who stood only an inch from me. His
scent,coffee and the hint of dirt was all I knew about him indicating
his presence. The smell I used to hate but grown used to through out
the four years we've gotten to know each other. The scent I hadn't
caught when he'd sneaked up on me which meant,I knew,he had been down
wind from me. But enough of that. My heart thumped against my chest
uncontrollably and I needed to concentrate on that,not my failed
senses of the fact that I should have heard his approach when I
didn't and he was only increasing his skill at stealthiness. I would
worry later though.
"Are
you sure you don't want me with you?"
The sudden
whisper in my ear made me jump and nearly choke on a shriek.
"You
remember what happened with Kate don't you?The Elders haven't-"
"I
know about Kate,Dan."I interrupted."I'll be careful. I
promise."
An
unconvinced sigh."Alright,but I'll stay close. I don't want the
same thing happening to you."
I rolled my
eyes despite Dan's concerned tone. He had clasped my small hand in
his and I pulled away saying,"I know how you feel but I can take
care of myself."I kept my voice soft but firm so that he
understood that I didn't feel the way he did about that night three
years ago when Kate had mysteriously vanished without a trace.
It was a
long story but in my mind I kept it short. On a night similar to this
one all of the people in Woodland spread out among the forest in
assemble of the Call that sounded every night on a full moon. Each of
us took position and when the darkness came and the lights of the
forest appeared casting their colors of light we all sound in unison.
A harmonic song we sang. Tradition among our kind for thousands of
years. Then at the end of the Call all gathered in the center of the
forest where a lone oak rooted high above the pines stood
representing the wholeness between animal and forest. It was after
roll call that we realized someone was missing. We searched every
inch of our territory on until we reached the ravine where it served
as a boarder,a scar that separated us from the rest of the forest
that no one knew where it led. Her scent stopped there and we all
knew that she might have fallen into the ravine accidentally. No one
knew how,or why. No one was with her. On the mourning day of Kate's
death the alpha brought the pack together and announced that it was a
choice that every one partner up at night. The alternative wasn't
said,but we all knew what that was.
I shook my
head ridding it of the memory. I had made myself separate from the
others. Most people paired and grouped. But I,and a few others,stayed
on our own. We liked it that way and it was going to stay that way.
Dan worried from time to time and I never surrendered to his
persuasions of letting me partner with him. Like he said before,he
would stay close to me. Otherwise he would go off with someone else
in a group and leave me alone.
I sensed it
then. I shifted to all fours and a bushy tail. I panted at the ready
my snowy eyes scanning the pitch black for the first spec of light to
appear. Dan panted beside me, waiting.
Then I
spotted it first. I let out a sharp whine getting Dan's attention
instantly. Our heads were turned and our eyes widened at the sight.
Bright green was spreading over a patch of grass only feet from us.
Then there were patches everywhere;all their own shades of green,some
close to a turquoise blue. The breath-taking sight spread wide and
beyond us into the forest,the darkness engulfed in the wondrous
colors of light.
Dab and I
felt our pulses racing waiting for the Call to begin and each of the
wolves from around the territory would join in. I glanced at him from
the corner of my wolfs eye. His chocolate brown fur twitched at the
strong muscles that tensed at the ready. His gaze was fixed on the
fantasy land in front of him but one of his deep brown eyes caught me
staring at him and he turned his muzzle to me.
"Are
you sure you don't want me with you,Lana?"He asked,his
gaze pleading for me to let him accompany me even after I said no the
first time."I don't want your father
worrying for you."
A low growl
rumbled in my throat. I hated it when he brought my father up in that
way. Father may have said that it was a choice for the others but he
insisted I take someone with me. We argued the whole night about it
on the mourning of Kate's disappearance but mother wouldn't have it
that way. She silenced the both of us and concluded that I was fine
to be alone as long as I watched my back and kept up in training at
school.
I hate
being Alphas daughter.
I shook my
head to rid myself of the fact and planted my feet.
"I
will be fine on my own Dan. Stop worrying."
He stared
at me for a long minute his gaze worrisome still but resigned and he
looked ahead just in time for we both stiffened at the musical sound
in the distance.
The Call.
Only moments later howls erupted in all directions,all falling into a
harmonious song. Dan was the first to raise his muzzle and I followed
after pushing my breathe out in voice.
I felt
different during this moment. A sensation I wasn't sure I understood.
Some sort of tingly feeling that made me quiver but made no effect
over my note. What ever it was,I assumed it was my ever growing
excitement. I was sure Dan felt the same way. Everyone maybe. This
was the best time of the day when everyone was at peace with
themselves and we cast out any problem or situations of out day out
minds and let the voice carry us away to an unknown land where we
let our souls rest in peace.
On the last
note the forest fell quiet for a moment. The single howl rang out to
the east and my ears flickered at the summoning of the Alphas telling
the pack to meet at the center of the forest.
"Let's
go!"I shouted. With a yelp of pleasure I leaped into a
sprint leaving Dan to follow behind me. I didn't care if he followed
me or not. The thought had fled my mind leaving pure joy to replace
it. My heart fluttered over the sights that I saw in the transformed
forest of fantasies.
In my rush
I startled a white rabbit that fled into a burrowed hole as I past..
It would have been an easy snack but in the time of the gathering you
were forbidden to do such a thing. I came to a small clearing and
there a small heard of deer started and bounded off into the
protection of the trees. It was when I had leaped a small creek that
a voice reached into my mind.
"Your
alone again?You father is going to give you the lecture again."
My eye
drifted off to the side where I could make out the light gray fur of
a young female sprinting at my level but at a distance from me.
Rainy.
"I'm
fine Rain. Go find Vera or Isa."I barked.
My sister
disappeared then and I picked up speed.
"You
shouldn't be so hard on her Lana."Another female voice
reached my thoughts.
Anne. My
best friend since we were pups was on the other side of me but like
Rainy she kept her distance. I growled low trying to pick up more
speed. Though because she was a Chaser she kept my pace easily.
"What
do you want Anne?"
"Rainy
is your little sister Lana. You should let her run with you."
"I
run alone."I leaped an old fallen tree branch.
"Lana."
"She
went with her friends An. She'll be fine."
An left me
then and I slowed a bit. I hated the fact that everyone thought I
needed a partner. I didn't. I was an experienced hunter and fighter.
Rainy may be my sister and years younger than I-In the second
grade-But she had friends she could keep pace with. I liked speed and
I wasn't going to slow down for her. Anne always ran with a group
anyway so she had no reason to come looking for me. I needed no
partner. I am a loner.
When I
burst through a wall of brush I halted. Sitting all around the Great
oak were wolves of every color shape and size. Dan popped out at the
side a moment later and walked up to me. on my other side Anne leaped
out and trotted towards the large group of wolves only glancing at me
before she paused in front of a sandy colored wolf. Wolves were
gathering from all around; popping out of the barrier of brush that
served as a boundary of the large clearing.
"You
should head up to the Rock now."Dan said drawing my
attention to him.
"I'll
tell your sister to meet you there."
I
nodded."Thanks."
He returned
it and I trotted off into the crowd. Some of the wolves caught my
scent and moved aside for me to pass leaving a clear path for me to
walk. When at the gathering we're all supposed to be in certain
groups. It went in order of Adults on the far left and then teens to
youngsters of seven on the right. Any below that age stayed home with
a few adults who we considered the Elders of the pack;too old for
much excitement. The Alphas were to sit at the bottom of Wolf rock
that occupied a space at Great Oak base. There my family would meet
and father would acknowledge us first before the rest of the pack..
For me he would gaze at me longer once he found out that I had run
solo again.
I sighed
irritably over the thought. I was definitely going to get a lecture
this time since Rainy had intercepted me and I refused her. I rolled
my eyes causing one of the adults to snort thinking it was toward him
when I'd glanced at him. Great.
I walked
straight down the center between the adults and the teens. Just as I
was nearing the edge of the group a low growl caught my attention and
I paused to look behind me and off to the side. A bark colored wolf
with a pelt that showed off far too much shine with a teasing
expression hooked her tail at me. Rena. I turned and walked up to her
bristling my fur and keeping my head up resembling my rank.
"Rena."I
addressed the she wolf with an authorized tone in my voice as I
paused in front of her. The female dipped her head though she kept
the hint of a laugh in her eyes as she did so.
"I
heard that your father was going to make a speech tonight."She
said.
"Speech?About
what?"
Rena
thumped her tail on the soiled ground."I
here that he was to announce a new member of the new leader of the
warriors. Said that Sky may be the wolf for the job."
I
blinked."Sky?"
Rena
nodded,a smile curled at her lips the tips of her fangs visualizing.
Sky. A
senior wolf. He was another popular wolf like Dan. Only Sky was THE
most popular guy in school. A wolf with attitude and gut. He would
out match my father in a challenge some would say. It was unclear
because he was so much like Dan. Only I think Dan would become the
best hunter considering his stealth and power. Sky was a
fighter,strong and protective.
Then I
frowned. Torok,the present leader of the Warriors always followed the
alphas around. It was his job to make sure that the hierarchy stay
in good health and out of harms way. He would check up on you every
hour to be sure that you weren't in a fight of some sort unless it's
the Alpha himself fighting for his rank.
For our
pack to keep in order the alphas-one male and one female-took up
dominance and decided what the pack did. What changes were to be made
and what time to raise young. Each wolf may have the right to
challenge an alpha if he or she chooses. If that were to happen and
the current alpha were to lose then the family was to step down from
dominance and the new alphas took their place along with their family
if they had one. Only if the male survives will the family keeps it's
rank if only the mother lost.. If the male loses then the family
steps down no matter if the other alpha succeeded or not. The male
has the most power and has more authority over the pack. The females
job was to watch over pup production and growth while looking after
the wounded while the males fought and defended providing for the
pack as well. Only certain females with the characteristics of
fighting could do more. That was me.
Why Sky?
"Lana?"
I shook my
head."Sorry. It's good that Sky is
finally getting his rank."
Rena
narrowed her eyes at me."You were
drifting weren't you."She pointed the tip of her tail at
me accusingly."Your an Alpha Lana.
Sky is mine since he isn't your type."
"My
type?"I glared at her.
"Sky
may be popular and good looking but he isn't interested in an alpha
like you. He doesn't want a wolf who is heartless and
ignorant."
"What?!"
"He
wants someone beautiful and charming. One who has a heart and
actually cares about herself and others."
I lunged at
the insulting female. I pinned her to the ground and she let out a
yelp stiffening underneath me. A few of the other wolves scrambled
back lowering themselves sensing my anger and hostility of their
future alpha. I bared sharp fangs at the pretending to be terrified
Rena and released a fierce low growl..
"How
dare you!I am an alpha. Don't ever say things like that to me again."
"I
was only pointing out the truth."There was a hint of fear
in Rena's voice but I ignored it.
I was about
to say something more to her but a stormy gray wolf hurried up to us
and nudged me off Rena and pushed me with his muzzle in the shoulder
until I was several feet away and out in the open away from the
group. He looked back at Rena who straightened abruptly and back off
into the crowd disappearing into the bodies of the other wolves who
looked uneasy still from the sudden act of their future alpha. When
the wolf met my gaze I snorted and turned to go at the base of the
rock feeling hurt but angered by Rena's words. The male followed me
until I laid down under the rock and rested my head atop my paws and
he sat on his haunches observing my expression carefully.
"You
know that she didn't mean much Lana. You also know that being an
alpha doesn't mean that you have to be all the things she said back
there."
I stared at
the ground in silence. The male continued.
"It
is true though that Sky has been chosen to take my place. I chose him
because he has passed his training ahead of his peers. I also think
he has quite the talent. He will serve his post well."
"And
what of you?"I sighed.
"I
will be watching over how he does for a while before I go into
retirement."
I closed my
eyes and breathed deeply. Torok was a close friend to me. He may have
to watch over the alphas like a hawk but when he was off duty when he
curled up in the den beside me and my sister he was the person I
would talk to about problems. He would give me advice and remind me
who I was and prevent me from doing something I would regret. Killing
Rena was a perfect example.
"Rena
was toying with you."The guardians voice went in one ear
and out the other."She knows that
she can provoke you easily. Don't give her that idea. Be that strong
alpha I've watched over for many years now and show Rena that you can
be the alpha you need to be. Alright?"
I didn't
respond.
Torok arose
and gave my head a few licks of reassure before turning his head
suddenly. I raised mine when I sighted Rainy and then sat up on my
haunches when I saw Sky trailing behind her. Rainy yelped when she
spotted me and broke into a fast trot. Sky approached with his head
low in greeting to me and Torok who nodded approval to him and left
my side with a quick glance at me before he walked off to the side
and sat near the ramp of the rock waiting for mother and father.
Rainy shoved her muzzle in my chest.
"I
thought I wouldn't find you Lana. I tried to look for you again when
I couldn't find the others. Where
were you?"Rainy whined and gazed at me with her sky blue
eyes that sparkled.
"I was
here."
Sky nodded
at me drawing my attention to him.
"I
found her close to the ravine and brought her to you before she could
get any father."
"The
ravine."I coughed baring my teeth. I looked down at Rainy
who settled herself down at my feet. Why was she heading for the
ravine?Father had asked that no one go to far near that area. I never
went there. No one did as far as I knew. Her back was against my paws
and I blinked when I felt the vibrations from her. She was scared.
Why? I couldn't think of anything that could have been seen near that
area. The more I thought of it the more I was confusing myself and
shook my head to clear it. I like the top of Rainy's head a few times
before the scent of the alphas drew my attention to the side where
Torok still sat but now stood as mother and father approached him.
Mother glanced in our direction and flicked her tail. Sky arose and
trotted to her just as father was walking up the ramp.
"Lana."Mothers
voice called. I looked at her and she glanced down at Rainy before
say,"Is you sister alright?"
"Yes."I
replied and she nodded before motioning Sky to follow her up the
ramp.
I sat there
with Rainy who still shivered at my feet and watched as the crowd
silenced their talk and turned their muzzles up high where father now
stood on Wolf rock. His voice echoed over the silence.
"Tonight
we are honored to be in the presence of the sacred oak. For tonight
all are accounted for and present."A few nods from some
wolves and father continued."Tonight
we are to give an honorable rank to a wolf that has earned his place
among the pack as our new head warrior. Torok has asked me to do the
honors."A moment of silence and the head of the guards
voice rang out amongst us.
"I am
pleased to announce that Sky will be taking my place as the warrior
and as the protector of our alphas."
The crowd
burst into howls. I turned my head twisting it up to see Sky standing
proudly beside my father,his chest exposed and tail curled.
"Thank
you all."Sky's voice already resumed the tone of a
general. I was impressed.
"He'll
make a good general."I said to myself. Maybe he won't be
so bad after all. A smile curled at my lips when my eye caught Rena
staring at me with a glare and jealousy in her eyes. Yes. Sky was
mine. I dropped my gaze to Rainy and found her staring up at me no
longer shaking. It made my smile fade and wonder why she was anywhere
near the ravine. Her expression told me that she would talk to me
tomorrow morning. For now everyone was departing from the circle.
Rainy left with mom when she came down from Wolf rock and I cringed
when father gave me a look that said he knew I had run solo and I
would get a chat when the sun was up. However I felt me cheeks heat
when Sky walked along side me behind my parents as we made out way
home. Rena glared at me as she passed us but Sky wasn't paying
attention. I smiled sharp canines of triumph as we trotted into the
slowly darkening forest.
Thu Apr 24, 2014 5:44 pm by 
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Subject: Forest of Fears 
