Torak, Renn and Wolf find a small girl in the heart of the woods. She holds the secrets to the future of the forest and the fate of the clans. Will she trust the Raven's and tell them what she see's? What is in store for the Clans of the forest? Told from Wolf's and Torak's point of view.
What lies within…?
Wolf breathed in the wonderful smells of the forest. The damp leaves that moved under his paws, the faint rustle of prey hiding in the shadows, the air weaving between the trees carrying the sent of the others living downwind. Then there was a smell he didn't recognise. His fur bristled slightly. Lowering himself onto his hunches he breathed in again deeply. There it was again. A smell that was different to the ones that were so familiar. The raven Clan camp. Torak. Torak's friend, Renn. But this, this was different.
He crept forwards, following the sent. He turned, curving around a tree and there, sitting right in front of him was a human. Wolf approached curiously. The young girl was leaning against the tree, breathing heavily. Wolf recoiled at a familiar smell, blood. As Wolf looked closer he saw the girls small, ruined, ragged body was covered in blood, pouring from cuts all over her arms, legs and face. Her eyes flickered behind her eyelids like she was having a nightmare.
Wolf moved forward and poked the girl experimentally. She didn't stir or move. Wolf whined a little and nudged her again. Nothing. He turned and ran, racing through the trees and the undergrowth, the smell of the prey not interesting anymore. He had to tell the two-legs about the girl.
I was sitting in my hut sharpening my knife by the light of the fire. The sky was darkening fast. I sat in silence for while, and then I heard rapid footsteps approaching the hut. Renn appeared at the doorway, her face etched with worry.
"Torak!" She cried, "Wolf is here." I stood; worry starting to pulse through me.
"Is he hurt?"
"No," Renn shook her head, "He's found something." I raced from the hut, Renn on my heels, and spotted Wolf in the clearing whining and sitting next to him was Fin-kedinn. When he saw me he jumped to his paws and almost knocked me over, licking my face and whining.
What's wrong? I asked, are you hurt?
Girl, hurt in woods. Whined Wolf sadly and he started to race off, Almost dying. Needs our help. And he ran off into the forest. I turned to Renn.
"What is it?" She asked.
"There's a girl in the forest that needs our help." I whispered and turned to Fin-keddinn. "We need to go and help someone. We'll be back soon." He nodded.
I turned to Renn, she nodded and we raced off into the forest after Wolf.
He led us deeper and deeper into the forest. Renn was running beside me, her bow bobbing on her back. The trees grew bigger and bigger, blocking out the fading sunlight so it felt like night already. Wolf's tail whipped out of sight around a giant tree trunk and I skidded to a stop, Renn beside me. Her hand flew to her mouth in a gasp. A young girl was leaning against a tree trunk; her small body was ragged and cut in all places. Her face was etched with pain but her small eyes were closed, asleep or just exhausted, I didn't know, but she was limp and looked weak. Wolf stood beside her, whining softly again. I kneeled down and touched the girl's cheek. I pulled it away and my fingers were dotted with blood. Renn knelt beside me. Her hands hovered over the young girl's cuts and bruises, checking for broken bones or more wounds. I looked up again and my eyes met muddy brown ones. The girl gasped and recoiled away from us, fear shining in her eyes.
"It's o.k." I whispered. "We won't hurt you." I held my hand out towards her but she tucked her legs under herself and pulled away further. Renn shifted forwards and held out a piece of dried meat. The girl's eyes widened, she shifted her weight to her legs and snatched the meat from Renn, sniffing it before gulping it down.
The young girl only looked about six summer's old. Fear, panic and hurt shone in her eyes. Wolf brushed past me and before I could pull him back he rushed forwards and licked the girl's face. She looked at Wolf surprised for a moment then flung her arms around his neck and buried her blood-stained face in his warm fur.
I reached out and took the girl into my arms. She shivered and struggled a little but I held her tight and soon she rested her head on my chest and her eyes dropped closed.
I looked to Renn and she smiled.
"Well done." She whispered to me. I straightened up and managed to pat Wolf on the head once.
Well done to you too my friend, I murmured to him in Wolf speech, if it had not been for you this girl may not have survived.
He grinned at me then raced away to do more hunting. I started back towards the Raven Clan camp, wondering who the girl in my arms was and why she was so badly hurt.