Moonlight Den

Chapter 1

My father showed me little attention, and my friends wouldn't come near the den because of my mother. She's one of those wolves that felt I needed to spend my time finding a mate instead of playing with my friends. But I couldn't help it…I'm an omega.

My name's Joey. As I mentioned, my parents can really be a drag. I guess they never got over the fact that their only child was an omega, a disgrace to the rest of my alpha family. It was for that reason we moved up into this dark den overlooking Jasper Park. Yeah, my parents really took me being an omega seriously. My father said we had to leave for the good of the pack. We still visited and are welcomed by the pack every so often, but we considered ourselves separate from the community.

"I know, son," my father said when I told him I missed hanging out with my friends down by the river. "But we just can't take the chance. There are some wolves in the pack that feel we are an abomination. This is best. Who knows? You could how them someday how wrong they really are."

My father may have despised me sometimes, but when he did give me a piece of his mind, he really showed he wants what's best for me.

Before I made us an outcast, we were with the eastern pack. Jasper Park was home to many wolves, but we split ourselves up into four sides; northern, southern, eastern, and western. I feel that was pointless. Don't wolves bitter amongst each other anyway? There's so much I had to learn.

The western pack wolves hated my parents' guts, of course, but allowed me to socialize with some of their youth because of my age. They felt I was no threat to them…yet. The wolf children, on the other hand, looked upon me in disgust. Except for one in particular: Humphrey. We saw each other as close friends. His friends, Salty, Shaky, and Mooch, felt similar. I'd known them for quite a while.

I never told my parents about them, as they would never forgive me for befriending western pack wolves. If they only knew what these omegas were like, but then again how would Humphrey and his friends tell the western pack about me. I let the matter go.

Our visits were limited, as were my visits with my own friends I told you about, because I have made friends within the eastern pack, too. I didn't see them much because of my mother, but we hung out a lot. We got along well, except for when I made the mistake of mentioning my friendship with Humphrey and all.

"Whose side are you on?" Ronny had retaliated. "I'm surprised you're even allowed over there. Eastern wolves and western wolves shouldn't be socializing, not even at this young age. It'll only devastate us further when we come of age and grow apart."

I found it incredible they let that go, but I knew that it would only go on for so long. And when that day came…things would get ugly.

Overall, I'd say my life was happy. Granted, there were certain things I didn't show affection for, I really felt at home.

But then, a minor starvation hit, as did some tension between the two packs. But that's not why it's significant to me.

It was a still morning in Jasper. I woke to the absence of my father. My mother was still asleep, so I snuck out of the den in search.

Perhaps he had gone hunting early again. He sometimes went hunting in the early morning to beat the rush.

It was rather peaceful that morning. Even though I was young, I enjoyed a good walk to keep myself in shape. I saw my buddies down by a river and went over to them for a chat.

"Hey."

"What's up, Joey?" Ronny said.

"Nothing much," I replied.

"Same here," said Chip. "Except my dad's gone, and no one knows why, either."

Now the situation struck me as odd. "Wait…what'd you mean?"

"Do I look like I know why?" Chip said. "I just woke up this morning and…bam! Gone. My mom said he told her he had…business…to take care of."

"My mom didn't even tell me anything," I said. Probably because she was never awake to tell me, or even find out.

"Hey, do you guys know where those caribou have been hiding lately?" Meatloaf asked. "I think they know our secrets."

"Man all you do is think about food!" said Ronny. "Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm sick of hearing you complain every five minutes!"

"Well, excuse me for wanting to live!" Meatloaf shot back.

Did I mention they fight sometimes? In fact, when it gets going, Chip and I find ourselves walking away from the two of them. Nice knowing we all had each other's backs.

"Hey, guys?" I interrupted, as Ronny and Meatloaf were on the verge of being nose-to-nose. "Is it possible, by any chance, to focus on this situation?"

"Yeah," Ronny muttered, giving Meatloaf a cold look and Meatloaf reflected it.

"What do you think's going on?" I asked them.

"Huh?" They're also daydreamers, but I never blamed them. I was just as guilty.

"About our dads!"

"Hey," Chip intervened. "What's going on over there?"

"Over where?"

"There!"

Some fifty yards away, a group of wolves were gathered. My friends and I began walking over when a thick paw crossed our path.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Not so fast. Here, come with me."

"What?"

"Shh! Just come with me!"

We followed this elder over to his den. It smelled like something had burned and died in there. In fact, when I looked around, I could've sworn that was what happened. There was mud everywhere. In the corner was a ball of what looked like fur, but I didn't know what it was. But I'll tell you one thing, it wasn't alive.

"Don't stare at anything too long," the elder wolf warned. "Might make you crazy."

Though I'm no mind reader, I could tell my friends were thinking my same exact thought: 'Wait, what?'

"So…" I asked nervously, "what did we do?"

"Nothing at all, my boy. I just couldn't let you find out what was going on from listening to them. They don't know what they're saying. I couldn't let you walk into the fight with your eyes closed."

"What's the problem?" I said, and my friends nodded. That was how we did it: I ask, they stand behind me looking curious.

The elder then dropped his voice so low it was really creepy. "We're running a bit low on food supply."

"What?"

"Haven't you heard? The caribou are leaving. They've made themselves scarce."

"Told ya," I heard Meatloaf whisper, and that was followed by a growl from Ronny.

I looked at the elder and realized who he was. He was old Roger, but people called him Hunter because he used to be the best hunter on the continent.

I made the mistake of asking him to repeat himself.

"Ears like that'll get you killed," Hunter told me. "We're almost outta food. I sense something coming. Reminds me of the Rockies."

"When was that?"

"Three years ago, I left for the Rocky Mountains for a few months on a trip. Well, on foot it was more like several months. When I arrived, I was many wolves just roaming around, looking miserable. I was told they were running out of food. Man, there were fights everywhere. Blood was everywhere. I didn't see much more, though, for I ran into a rattlesnake at the base of a cactus. Nearly got me, but I backed away. It followed, but I leapt over it. That was when I accidentally ran into the cactus. My left eye hasn't been the same since. That's when I came back, but of course, no one listened to me. So, I became the crazy old wolf that doesn't know what he's talking about."

"Man, that's just sad," said Ronny.

"There's not gonna be any FOOD?" Meatloaf said, jumping up.

Hunter rolled his eyes and asked me, "Is he always like this?"

"Pretty much."

"Wait," piped up Chip. "Is that why all our fathers are gone?"

"Most likely."

"Why?"

"Is that half the stuff you four say? 'Huh', 'what' and 'why'?"

"I never—"

"I'm just yanking your tail," Hunter said with a scoff. "Look, you four had best get going. I don't want your parents to know you're talking with the crazy wolf."

"But you're not—"

"I know," said Hunter, "but I don't mind calling myself that. Now go. Get going. We can always talk later."

That was the last time my friends would ever see him, but not for me.

The four of us left the den, but while my friends left for their homes, I was consumed by curiosity. 'Curiosity killed the wolf' my mother always said, but I paid her voice no mind as I penetrated the crowd. There were so many wolves there, it was hard to believe this wasn't the whole pack. Finally, I made it to the inner ring of the circle.

"…and therefore certain precautions must be made," our pack leader, Tony, was saying. "I realize this is sudden, but I'd like to discuss the possibilities of an assault attack!"

There was murmuring amongst the crowd.

"It's obvious Winston has somehow contained all caribou on his side of the valley," Tony continued. "I'm forced to take an action such as this to prevent our pack from suffering. I won't let this pack starve. Not now, not ever."

It's sad, but sometimes I like the western packer leader Winston better. Maybe I should've just joined them.

On Tony's left side stood his young son, Garth. God, I hated him. Even at his young age, he only cared about himself and impressing girls. And they fell for him, too! I mean really, they need to open up their eyes!

"I need to speak with someone now," Tony said firmly. He faced the center of the crowd and spoke very clearly my father's name. "Marco!"

AN: Yeah, this first chapter's not all that exciting. It gets better.