Just a brief introduction. I haven't posted anything in half a century on here, but since I had posted this story on my DeviantArt account, I decided to put it up on here for anyone who would want to read. This is a story based in the Wolf's Rain universe, but doesn't coincide with the main story line of the pack or the nobles. If you have no desire to read because of that, I understand completely. For those that are still interested, continue! :D
The frigid cold had made the land bitter and dead over time. It seemed like this winter had been the hardest yet. There were no animals that were stupid enough to waste their time in a frozen mass of mountains and blizzards. Many years ago, it was a perfect paradise. Years of the environmental destruction and the world slowly dying had made it dangerous and unsuitable for a perfect living. The large pack of wolves had now been decimated to a starving few.
Although they were starving, some had no appetite. The group of 8 wolves had just lost the larger portion of their family. The nobles had their soldiers comb the white peaks for these canines, and had attacked when they least expected. Their mighty, successful group of nearly 40 were slaughtered. Those that were smart went and hid when they realized that there wouldn't have been a difference made if they searched for survivors. It would've only resulted in more deaths.
These few that still remained were of the alpha's immediate family, and closest subordinates. The alpha, Orn, and his mate, Takara. Their three remaining children; daughters Akiko and Maverick, and the last son, Kenko. Jarrel, who was the only male beta of the pack up to that point. Jäger, or Hunter as he was more commonly called, a loner of the group but respected for his skills in exactly what he was named after, hunting. The last was Freya, an old den mother that watched over young pups while the alphas were hunting or away for other matters.
The three pups that still lived after the malicious slaughter of the noble's commands were stiff, even as they moved forward forcing their paws through the soft snow. Until then, they had no real experience of living in danger resulting from humans. They were exposed to tales and songs from their den mother that either gave them entertainment or helped them sleep, but the real confrontation was much scarier than any of them could have imagined. They were giants wielding sharp objects, thunder sticks and garnishing themselves with hulking, black skin. What was even more offsetting were the red eyes that seemed to glow.
Akiko, the one who seemed the most shell-shocked of the three, pushed through the whiteness and whined, wanting to be by her mother's side. Takara took a brief moment to coax her daughter and encourage her to keep moving. The three siblings weren't fully grown, so they weren't quite expected to act like perfect adults just yet. The extra attention to Akiko had held up the group some, and caused Orn to bark to his followers in frustration.
"Keep moving! We need to keep a steady pace!" The old wolf commanded. Like it was a ritual, the rest moved closer behind him. Takara approached her mate and whispered to him. Once the words were uttered, he stopped and turned to face his kin and friends.
"I suppose we've traveled far enough today. The next thing we can consider shelter will be where we'll sleep for the night." He explained, and with that he continued forward once again. Some of the others sighed in relief knowing that they could relax soon.
It had taken some time, but they had eventually come across a cliff side that had hollowed out sections of rock near it's base. There were enough sections for each wolf to have their own personal sleeping space, two young ones could even fit if they tried. Orn had found this a perfect place for the time being. He knew very well that what remained left of his pack couldn't travel much farther. The adrenaline wore off, and the wolves were unaware of how exhausted they were until now.
However, even though they were totally defeated and knew they could collapse into the ground, Jarrel and Hunter shared a few words. Once they had made a decision, the two of them headed towards the horizon of the white valley they stared at in front of them.
"What are you two thinking?" Orn caught their attention in a gruff. The two males looked at each other, one nodding to the other. Jarrel then approached Orn, his head low clearly showing his respect towards the old one he still viewed as his alpha.
"Sir, the pack hasn't eaten since the attack. The younger ones wont last much longer if we don't find any food. Hunter and I will scout out the area, and we'll bring back anything we find." The beta had responded.
"Alright, be safe." Orn sighed. "First, I want to speak with you for a moment."
"Of course! Anything you need, sire." Jarrel's tail wagged ever so slightly. It made him happy to know that Orn still seemed strong enough to keep an alpha's steady mind after all that's happened.
Orn looked around to see if any of the others were listening. As he expected, everyone else had already made their bedding areas and were sleeping heavily. The alpha then turned back to his beta.
"If anything should happen to I or Takara, you must assume the leader position of this group." He simply ordered.
"Why so sudden?" Jarrel responded.
"I still feel like I'm in a nightmare. Almost all of my family had been wiped out in one morning. I keep telling myself to wake up, but I know I never will. All of those passes were secure, and somehow those demons still found us. They won't stop until all wolves are dead and rotting in their claws." Orn explained, a disturbed expression on his face, his muzzle wrinkling up in disbelief. "If our home wasn't safe, no place is safe for us. There's a pitiful feeling in my guts, and it's telling me that my luck may be finished."
"Are you saying you're certain you'll die soon?" Jarrel asked. Even as he was asking questions that would hint at uncertainty, this brute kept himself strong and steady. "Excuse me for my interruption, but I have to suggest that you have a different mindset." He then could feel a low growl in his throat, but he tried to subdue it. "If you succumb yourself to the fear of dying, you will."
"I appreciate your concern, but my fear is now necessary. What I am asking of you is to lead this pack. You're the beta for a reason. You have an aggravating temper and you seem to lose your composure more than one would find acceptable. However, you're the best chance they have to survive."
Jarrel could feel himself becoming annoyed by this, but, he swallowed the need to disagree, and he bowed before Orn.
"As you wish. I'm honored that you have chosen me."
"Good. Now go look around where the old streams used to be. If you're lucky, you might be able to find a rabbit or two."
"Yes!" Jarrel barked, almost as if he were giving a salute, and he turned to Hunter and the both of them headed off towards a thick growth of trees.
