Wolf vs. Beast
Chapter 1
It was a beautiful spring morning in the forest by a human barn. The sun shone brightly in the sky above the trees that rustled as a breeze sighed past, casting long, dancing shadows across the clearing that was home to a small pack of wolves. Several dens were dug under the shade of the tall, leafy trees. They were strewn out among the edges of the clearing, identifying the areas of which the different pack members slept and, after mating season, the females gave birth and stayed in them for long periods of time, while the male would hunt for them.
The sun was inching up into the sky as the first of the pack started emerging from their dens. One, a pale gray-colored she-wolf with yellow eyes and a bit of white tinged down her chest, belly and legs, walked up to a pure gray male with big, red-orange eyes and softly pushed her muzzle into his neck fur in greeting.
"Good morning, Shade." The female said in her soft, song-like voice. Shade nodded to her with a smile and greeted her with a, "good morning, Bell."
Shade and Bell were the alpha couple of the pack. They were the ones who made most of the decisions for the pack and who made sure that everyone was in order. Their den was by a large tree stump, which they used to alert the pack of any danger or threat. All of the dens were self-dug by the members of the pack. They believed that independence was mandatory if the pack was to thrive. And it was thriving. They had exactly five pack members, not including the alpha pair, so that made seven. That was plenty enough to take down a bull elk or maybe even a bear, if threatened.
As Shade and Bell exchanged a few words of update on the camp and prey source, more and more of the pack began emerging from their dens until all seven of them were out in the clearing, sitting around and talking amongst themselves before they had to go out and hunt or patrol.
Shade finally ended his and Bell's conversation with a nod and turned to his pack-mates.
"Ok everyone," he said after he knew they all were listening, "Time to assign jobs for the day."
There was a faint murmur of eagerness among the pack as they all lined up and stood up straight, ready for their leader's orders to be given to them. Bell watched her mate with a smile as he paced down the short line of his pack-mates, assigning their roles for today.
"Sky," he said to a pure white, female wolf, "You will go with Boulder and hunt." He gestured toward a dark gray, strong-looking male wolf. In return, Boulder nodded and went to stand beside Sky. As they stood side-by-side, it was easy to tell who was stronger. Boulder stood nearly a half-foot taller than Sky, and his muscles always looked tense, as if he were prepared to spring at any moment. But he looked as calm as a newborn pup in its sleep.
Shade walked up to a male wolf with a mix of Black, gray, brown and white all about his coat and said, "Adder, you and I will go out and find some fresh bedding for the dens and clean up around camp. I want this place neat for when our new pack members come." He smiled warmly to Bell, who smiled back and glanced at her stomach, which was bigger than it normally should be. She was going to have pups! Of course, all the members were happy for Bell and Shade and everyone wanted to do their part to help. But Adder grimaced at the thought of having to clean up after his pack-mates. It made butterflies in his stomach. But, he was a loyal member of the pack, so he took the job with pride and acceptance.
"And now, Mud, you will go with Honey and find some herbs that will help with birthing. The pups should be coming sometime soon, so we want to be prepared." Mud, a pale brown male wolf with even darker brown paws and muzzle, nodded and went to stand beside Honey, who was a beautiful, tan-orange female with a black-tipped tail. She nodded to her leader and glanced over at Mud, who was staring at Shade, ready for him to give the command.
"Now, disperse." Shade said, going to get beside Adder to start cleaning.
Bell looked at her mate, "What should I do Shade?" she asked, already knowing what he would say.
"You will stay and rest in the den. Star and Boulder will be back soon with some food so you can keep your strength up, and so you have plenty of milk for the pups." He said, giving her a quick, affectionate lick to her check and walking away to help Adder, who was struggling with a giant pile of bedding which he collected, already, from all the dens. Shade went and helped to drag the pile away.
Bell sighed and went to lie outside her den. She would wait to go inside until Shade and Adder had brought new bedding. She closed her eyes and slowly drifted into a doze.
Bell was suddenly in an unfamiliar place. There were no trees, no bushes, just an endless array of grass. She looked to see that a wooden fence surrounded her and a big, wooden thing with clear, see-through squares here and there. It looked about as big as a tree! Bell was scared. Where was Shade? Where was her pack? She lifted her head and howled a distress call. No answer. So she got to her feet.
She walked a few steps, then fell back down to the ground. Why was she so weak? She felt her stomach lurching greatly, but she didn't feel sick at all. "The pups," she cried, "the pups are coming!" she howled again for her pack. Still, no response. But something did happen.
A human came out of the door of the big, wooden thing. It must be its den. Bell thought. The human came closer and closer. It squatted down as it got into touching distance and reached out for Bell's head. Bell growled a deep, warning growl at the strange creature. It immediately recoiled its hand and stared at her. She stared back, her piercing, blue eyes locked on the human's hand, her teeth bared in an intense snarl of protection. The pups would come soon, and she did not want this human to touch them.
Bell growled even louder, but this time, the human did not recoil in its position. Actually, it did just the opposite! The human stretched out its arm and laid it gently on Bell's stomach. That set Bell off. The human was now too close for comfort. She stretched her neck to give the hand that touched her a good bite. It tore the flesh and made it bleed badly. The human let out a sharp howl of hurt. It quickly stood up and ran back into its den and slammed the door behind it.
Bell was satisfied. She knew that the human would not bother her any more. But she still had the problem of delivering the pups. She felt more and more lurching every second. And finally, she felt it. The biggest lurch of all. It was time. Alone, lost and weak, she started pushing. I can do this, she thought as she began to deliver.
As time went by, three pups were born and already drinking from their mother's soft, warm underbelly. But Bell could feel another still in her. She pushed and pushed with all her strength, letting out small yips and yowls of pain, and finally, the last pup was born. Bell was so proud. She looked at the three pups, who were by now asleep, and smiled. But she didn't feel the last pup come to drink. She looked over at him to see that he lay still beside her hind leg. Her eyes opened wide in horror.
"No!" Bell yelled, jolting up. She was back in the forest, the trees now still as noon came. The sky started forming puffy, white-gray clouds that promised rain by evening. She gave a deep sigh. It was just a dream.
Shade was just coming out of their den, apparently finished with his duty. He walked up to Bell, touching his nose to hers.
"What's the matter Bell?" he asked, a bit worried.
Bell gave a small grin, "Oh, it's nothing. Just a dream." She said.
Shade calmed down and smiled at her. Bell couldn't look away from him. He looked so beautiful in this position. His gray fur shining a golden gray in the sunlight that now poured into the clearing patched by shadows from the leaves and branches above. His dark, amber eyes were kind and sincere as he stared down at his mate. Bell couldn't help but smile back at him.
Shade also had the same thoughts about Bell. Her pale gray fur turning a dirty blonde-color in the sunlight and her bright, yellow eyes gleamed as she stared up at him.
Anyone with half a mind could tell that these two were in love. From the very first time they met when they were pups, to now and probably farther on until they die, they were, and will be, in love.