I looked at the big wolf. He was intimidating, but I saw something in his eyes. He was only doing this to protect his pack. He thought I was a threat!
To me, it seems absurd, but I know that a good leader doesn't let harm of any kind come to his family. This one was a good leader. I bowed low, showing him that I meant no harm, and he seemed to accept it. Hopefully this would help me find my family too. Papa couldn't be happy that I wasn't yet home. He would be even less so if he discovered that I had been eaten by a rival. I would just have to play it cool for now.
I looked up into his eyes again and made a small whimpering sound. "Please," I begged him. "I mean you no harm. I am alone. Please do not hurt me."
His fur prickled. Not a good sign. He would attack me anyways.
Just then, a smaller gray stepped forward out of the pack. He looked kinder, somehow. Looking at the Alfa, he pointed his nose to the ground and gave a small bark. "Don't kill her," he said. "She's no threat."
The Alfa looked indignant. "You have a soft spot for this foreigner!" he growled. "Back with the pack, Nalu, or I'll have Mara drag you back!"
The small one, Nalu, stepped in between us and faced the Alfa. "You won't hurt her."
I shrunk down and whispered, "Thank you."
The Alfa glowered. "Alright. She lives. But you cannot keep her as long as you are my pack. If she is found here again, she will die." With that, the Alfa turned and wandered away, the rest of the pack, save Nalu, following.
Nalu looked at me. "You should run. By the gods, leave. I cannot save you again."
I ran.