Chapter one
Her mistake
Sky Mongrel stalked her prey aware of her father, Grim Mongrel just ahead of her, the kudu made her mouth water her stomach pounded with hunger it had been days since a proper meal. With the thoughts of hunger and thirst she attacked striding out to receive her prey but at the back of her mind was the thought that her father had not given the signal jet. The bloodlust was to strong she could not give it up now, a wolf called Mack got in her way and without intending to she attacked him nothing would get between her and her prey. Sky aimed for the throat instinctively, she felt her jaws hit her target and sink in with the blood oozing into her mouth and as her thirst began to quench she realized her mistake she had just killed a pack member. Stopping in midst ride she waited for her fait but nothing came except deadly silence.
Taking a quick glance behind her she noticed her father his green and yellow eye fill with shock. Grim Mongrel howled then ran to his injured member Mack .Grim Mongrel gave him a lick and then a long sniff before Growling at Sky mongrel driving her back the rest of the pack joined in. Carefully Sky Mongrel retreated noticing everything around her turn against her watching her birth mother whimper in sadness and her father's new mate Fruitcake growl with know remorse. Sky mongrel sensed her best friend Grass Hopper near by then realization hit her he was right besides her growling at the advancing pack.
"What are you doing?" Sky hissed her voice quavering."I'm coming with you we promised each other we would be friends till the end", Grass Hopper said and this happens to be your end he said with a nervous laugh. Sky could not believe that Grass Hopper could make a joke right now.' Okay, but check your mom out", said Sky painfully reminding him. Grass Hoppers mom's fur was bristling and her face was consorted with anger and sadness. The pack was hesitating now seeing another pup go but they all new pack customs and were smart enough to understand the consequences that would face them if they stopped.
Sky Mongrel turned around and dashed into the undergrowth Grass Hopper by her side. They both ran till there sides ached with the effort and there breathing had turned harsh. When they finally stopped for a breath to get there heart beat even they noticed there surroundings they were know longer in the tundra they knew trees had started to show themselves. Sky Mongrel took charge and decided they should start by scouting around the area to make sure it was secure.
"We are in the coniferous forests of the tundra", said Grass Hopper slowly remembering the stories about travels that his father had told and taught him about. "How do you know?", asked Sky in wonder "Many species of trees inhabit these forests including cedar, cypress, Douglas-fir, fir, juniper, kauri, pine, podocarpus, spruce, redwood and yew" ,said Grass Hopper quickly "and I see the start of these trees approaching." "Oh…. ", said Sky trailing off. "Remember my dad was a timber wolf and he lived here for a while", said Grass Hopper at sky's expression.
"Is there anything nice here for us to eat?"Said Sky suddenly flinching as the memory of her last meal crept back. "Well there's the…. Ground squirrel, red fox, bob cat, raccoon, otter….lynx, cougars, moose, coyotes and the deer." said Grass Hopper struggling to remember. "You are forgetting something", said sky with a sigh. "we don't have a pack anymore and most of the food here is a packs meal." "We can catch a deer, some ground squirrel and maybe even a raccoon", said Grass Hopper trying to ease the atmosphere.
"It will all work out", Grass Hopper promised soothingly even though he was not so sure himself.
With a sense of determination Sky Mongrel stalked her prey the small roe deer just ahead. Sky had ordered Grass Hopper to circle round incase the deer made a break for it.
Sky had made Grass Hopper promise that he would not get in the way of her during the hunt for safety reasons. Then they had started forward into the forest in search of the prey. It had been spotted by Grass Hopper and they had quickly devised a strategy to take it down. Anyway Sky's thoughts came back to the hunt and she slowly crept forward treading lightly as to not alert the prey. When in leaping distance she circled round making sure the creatures eyes were always on her. Sky heard a rustle in the brush thankfully the deer ignored it still eyes warily taking in sky's stance. It suddenly spun around and bolted into the brush in the direction of the noise where Grass Hopper leaped out onto its back intending to crush it down. Sky added her aid into the tussle and together they both took down the deer and each dug into there meal.
After the meal they both licked there teeth of the blood and lay down in a clearing surrounded by Douglass fir trees. Where they dosed off in the afternoon sun.
The next morning they woke up with renewed strength and a new determination to survive. "I think we should try get to the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrub so that we have a better chance of surviving the winter", said Grass Hopper in thought "whatever you say", said Sky she had learnt to trust Grass Hoppers knowledge of the tundra. "That's quiet a while away from here though we are in North America at the moment I think" ,said Grass Hopper "why do you only think that?", asked Sky surprised "There are a lot of different coniferous forests in different areas except we used to live closer to the one in North America than all the others that's why I assume it is the one in North America", said Grass Hopper trying to explain.
"Where is this Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrub?" , asked Sky "its in either the Mediterranean Basin, California, Central Chile, Southwest Australia, and the Western Cape Province of Africa.", Said Grass Hopper in exasperation "We will have to choose the closest one to North America", said Grass Hopper "That must be California" ,said Sky Mongrel recalling something her dad had said about the place. "But that's South of here is it not its in central North America", said Sky Yes it is and it is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild and rainy winters. Nearly all of the rainfall occurs in the winter and spring rainy season. That's why we are going to be there in December when there is the least amount of rainfall. Said Grass Hopper
"We should start moving at sundown", said Sky "when there is less heat and we should travel through the night taking our rest during the day." Very well" , said Grass Hopper knowing that Sky Mongrel had been trained to lead and make decisions not be told them.
