|
|
|
hapter 1
The tiny white pup opened her eyes. A big, raggedy circle was before her, surrounded by earthy smells and a brown material, yet outside was the hiss of the winds and white drops floating quickly down. It was bitterly cold, and she struggled to look around. Sleeping bodies of the others were all around her. She whined and whined, but the same sounds still lingered, nothing more. Light grumbles arose from the others, above the pitch-changing hiss of the winds outside. Moments later, what seemed to be days, the ceilling of the small cave shook, and small specks of dirt rested lightly on her white furred head. A sweet, warm, milky scent filled the room. She whined, hoping whatever was in here could do something about the strange feeling of coldness. It discomforted her very much, to the point where it lingered for several seconds after a warm body of fur, like a larger form of the others, wrapped softly around her. She recognized the words. "Hush, my child. You are safe now...Sleep..." obeying the kind, soft words, nearly murmured into her, she drifted into sleep.
Awake again. She whined, and sat up wobbly. The white drops outside were slowing, and the hiss had quieted, though soft grumbles and growls remained. Voices could be heard from the back. "What shall we call the runt?" a deep, rough voice asked. What was a runt? She wondered about the strange sounds. Why should they 'call' me something? "Now, Storm, she is not a runt, for she is bigger than two others of the litter... She is perfectly a healthy, normal wolf." the same feminine voice was speaking back as well. "Wolf..." she breathed the first word. "Me..." then the second... "Normal..." and last. Two pairs of gleaming eyes shined towards the back, one silvery blue and one earthy hazel. "What....what did you say?" the feminine voice... She hesitated. Who were these...creatures? "Most likely a small grumble... Her eyes have just opened, haven't they?" the other spoke up. "Wolf..." she sighed quieter. "See, honey? She's special... She's perfect...She's...She's..." the white figure stepped out. She had patches of grey on soft white fur, and a black spot around one of her blue eyes. "Rain." she murmured. "Rain? Well, well, well..." the deep voice stepped out and a big other figure, taller than the first, trotted forward, chuckeling. "She's something alright..." "Storm..." the First trotted forward and sniffed. "Hello, Rain..." she whispered and leaned down. "Wolf..." she repeated once more, seeming to entertain her. "Ha, ha, yes... I am Star, your mother..." "Mother?" and another word... "Yes. And I am your father, Storm." "Father." and again... "She learns quickly!" Star laughed. Newly named 'Rain' stepped unevenly forward and sniffed the big paws of Storm. "Now now, little one." just then a a weird tang hit her nose and a dark red drop fell from her nose. She shook her body in disgust. "I just went hunting. That's blood, Rain." he licked her as she passed. He squeezed out into the world and disappeared. "Now, Rain, here." Mother passed a small chunk of red, about the size of her paw. "It's meat. Elk meat, to be precise. Try it. But you must chew it! Your old enough." Rain stared at the bloody chunk in horror. If that came from...Whatever an Elk is... and if that 'Elk' is in the outside world, what other things may be out there? She timidly took a nibble. A delicious, warm filling taste filled her mouth. She bit into the chunk and chewed it up. Rain yelped for more. "You can have more later." Star said as she curled up near the back of the cave. Rain pouted and turned torwards the entrance. She had an idea. Bouncing excitedly, she turned and checked if Star was facing her. Nope. Perfect... She tiptoed outside and felt brisk air. Little white, cold flakes landed on her nose, and the soft, warm brown gave way to cold, crunchy white. Her paws froze and she backed away. Another flake landed on her ear. She sighed. She had to find more of that 'Elk'! She charged forward into deep crunchy White. "White..." she mumbled. She bounced forward, making small holes in the ground. There were tall, brown figures surrounding her. They were covered with pointy Green, just re-covered with piles of White. The flakes seized falling, but it still remained bitter cold. She wandered in between the tall, thin objects. The Green on them had fallen off, covering the White with endless amounts of the... Leaves? She had heard the word before, yet didn't know the proper use. But that's what she would call them. The leaves created a material she could walk on. The White thinned and soon she was from nearly swimming through it totrotting on top. Weird, strange tangs and sounds filled the air. She panted out of nervousness and surprise. Rain had gotten used to the cold and didn't bother with it anymore. A blue covering lingered above the trees. She twisted her head, this way and that, but it didn't seem to change, as did the scenery. But is did seem to be where those White Flakes came from... Sheturned away and trotted forward.
A ways farther, still no Elk. That blue cover above her head seemed brighter. Rain had checked under the coverings, around the tall figures of Leaves, ontop of these big, hardened grey blobs of... somethng... but still... No Elk! She sat down. Her stomache hurt, and her paws ached badly. She should probably go back, but... Where was 'back'? She looked that way. Leaves and leaves, and a blob of Grey jutted out of the side of the path. Then she looked that way. The same Greenery, but looked rougher and seemed to be going up. She howled miserably. This was a really bad idea! A shriek answered her call from above, and a patch of dark rose above her. All of a sudden, wind rushed against and in a snap, she was in the air. A shrieking animal had gripped in it's skinned feet, and was flapping its enormous wide warms. She wriggled in panic. She almost gave up when, by instinct, bit the feet with her new sharp teeth. It shreiked and let go. Rain plummeted towards the Green, and almost hit the ground, when two rows of sharp teeth met her neck. She dangled helplessly as a familiar shape carried her from its mouth... "Father!" she exclaimed the word. He looked down with fierce eyes at her. She curled up in fright, tucking her tail in between her hind legs. Later, Father brought her to the familiar clearing, squeezed into that familiar hole, into the familiar face of her Mother. He dropped her into the warm dust. "Look who I found outside." he growled. He was furious. Terrified, Rain scuttled torwards her Mother. "Rain! What wer you doing out there?!" she growled. She too was angry. "Mother..." Rain slouched in sadness. "Where was she?!" Star turned to Storm. "Being carried off by an Eagle!" Father growled. "What?! How did you get her back?!" she exclaimed. Star trotted over to Rain and licked her all over. "Somehow she fell out of it's grip, and sinceI had seen and I had been chasing the eagle, I caught her just in time." Father explained. "I...I..." Rain murmured. "Oh my stars! Rain! What were you doing?!" she asked. "Elk!" Rain yipped. "Elk? Even if you found an Elk, you couldn't have any" Star exclaimed.
 Charmcress · Sat Sep 24, 2011 @ 10:56pm · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
