Chapter 3

It didn't matter, Trigg was not going anywhere anytime soon.

Didn't seem like long before the big papa wolf came flying through the mouth of the great stone hole, holding a large floppy white thing in his mouth.

"It took some effort, but I caught a big dumb goose. Boy, did he put up a fight. My son, someday you will be hunting all on your own, and you will make me, your mother, and the entire pack proud to have you around."

The pup ran up to his father, "Is mum coming back to feed me?"

"What's wrong with the fresh meat I got you?!" glaring from Trigg to the pup.

"Nothing, I just want something less…"

"Less what!"

"Less… Living. I like this thing pupa, it needs to have a life. I don't want to kill."

The big wolfs mouth was in a twisted snarl "Then perhaps you'd rather be killed!" The father snapped.

"No, I just said I don't like it."

"Well! What else would you prefer?!!"

"Mum's milk, bread, grass, something unalive like that!"

"Well, don't blame me when you starve," the father biting around the young pups scruff and throwing him against the wall of the cave.

Trigg watched the whole thing, unable to get up. He knew it was now left to him and the muscular father. The wolf was certainly ready for a dinner of any size.

For the first time, almost as if he were caught in a dream, Trigg's legs lifted up and he ran. Ran like his life was depending on nothing else.

Trigg ran as fast as he could which wasn't as fast as he needed to. His legs wobbled around like a rattle, wide apart. While he ran away his legs burned, surely they would fall off Trigg thought. A ways out of the mouth of that cold stony death trap. All that mattered is where he could go to get out of the grasps of that wolf.

About a mile in some direction he found a bush growing out of a rock and a small crack from the roots, just big enough for Trigg to slip through. For a moment he was safe.

He squished between the sides of the rock. He soon wished he had gone through with his rear first, so he could know what was just outside. His legs hurt so much he couldn't stand right and his legs went right underneath his body again. He was able to calm himself for a few moments before, yet another thing make him stiffen up.

A quiet eerie voice came from outside. "My rock. My tree. My leaves. My pebbles. My dirt. My crack. My grass… MY HOME!"

Trigg felt the thing slide from under him. It then slid up to meet Trigg's gaze.

"You're mine!" A rattlesnake hissed.

Trigg couldn't explain himself, not even a squeak. He couldn't speak, get out, or even find safety.

Footsteps of something came closer. Trigg's heart raced. The big wolf had found Trigg's smell once again.

"I found you! If you want to eat you'll have to come out! Nowhere for you to run now."

The snake glared at the opening of the crack and slid down the terrified colt's spine.

"This is my rock. My tree. My dirt. My HOME! Get out!" He hissed.

"That is my food! He can't run forever. Let me have him!"

"My colt now. My home. My colt. MY home. MY colt. MY THINGS BELONG TO MEE!"

The snake then started to try to bite the wolf, lunging his thick scaley body towards the wolf. The wolf grabbed the snake and shook him. He didn't grab quite in the right place and the snake was able to bite him, making the big wolf howl, drop the snake, and run home.

"My territory." The snake then went after the wolf and disappeared.

Trigg knew the snake would be back and that he had to get out of the crack and get somewhere safe. He tried to wiggle out… no luck.

"Try to stay calm and breathe before trying to pull yourself," the voice of the young wolf said, "breathing gives your muscles strength."

Trigg did just what the young pups said, yet continued to hesitate thinking how surprised he was that the pup came looking from him. He breathed in as much as he could from between the walls, and tried to pull. He slid backwards just a little bit.

"Do it again."

Doing it again seemed impossible to Trigg. The walls seemed to be closer together. He tried and didn't move an inch.

"Try breathing from your lungs and rotating just a little bit this time."

Trigg did it again and this time he came popping out.

Trigg was relieved that the wolf pup came to save him. And got up quickly and tried to use head signals to motion the pup to follow him, out of the territory of the snake.

Trigg and the pup walked, on the way to who knows where.

"You you got pretty stuck in that crack, buddy."

Trigg squeaked, "I know."

"Hey! You talked!"

"I-I-I, did,"

"This is great first you start walking and now you're talking. I've always wanted a friend… well. One outside of the pack. This is great! What's your name?"

Trigg looked down at his legs, he was walking but very clumsy. His back legs crossing almost around to the front of his front legs. Might as well look down at his feet to keep from tripping over himself.

"M-m-my name is Tr-rigg."

"That's a good name, I love it! I wish I had a name like that."

"Well what i-i-is… your n-name?" Trigg asked.

"My name?" The pup looked at his rear toes, "My name is… Trouble."

"It's, ok. I'm sure It's fine." Trigg reassured him.

"No! I mean… My name is, Trouble."

"Trouble?"

Trouble nodded

"Well. Wh-what if I called you s-s-s-s-something else? Like, Hunter."

"I don't like it very well… Bear?"

"What ab-bout, Boomer?"

"Maybe… Logan? No, wait!... Buck?"

"Well, when you find a na-ame, let-t me know."

"...So what do you like?"

"W-wait, what?!"

"What do you like? You know?"

"I'm not-t sure I under-rstand-d the question."

"What's your favorite food? What do you like to do for fun? I like bread, running, sniffing."

"You've h-h-had bread? When?"

"About 3 months ago. Pupa came in the cave and said he got something 'very rare' from some travelers going westward. Bread was one of the things he brought. They're not found everywhere, just sometimes when people come walking around."

"I guess m-my favorit-te food's apples."

"That would make sense…"

The afternoon was full of cheer and conversation for Trigg and Trouble. But when night came the temperature became unbearable for the two.

"I-I… I can't walk mu-uch f-farther, Trouble."

"We need to find somewhere warm for the night," Trouble looked around, there were plenty of trees around that could block out the wind. "Let's come over here there's a big tree that could keep us warm."

Trigg went over to Trouble and the base of the tree. They tried to curl up together so they could get warm. They were able to stay there for a minute until the wind changed direction.

"Trouble!" Trigg cried out.

"I know, my cave was not this cold at night."

"Do y-you understand wh-why?"

"I think the wind didn't blow in the cave. Or maybe because I'd try to snuggle in warmly next to pupa when he was asleep and wouldn't bite me for misbehaving."

"And you two are? Who?" A strange voice called out

"S-s-sorry!" Trigg cried, "who are y-y-you?"

"More like where are you?!" Trouble yelped, curious but irritated at the same time.

A huge winged bird came falling silently from the trees. Huge talons, big eyes, yet such a kind voice came out of him.

"I know this land better than any other animal around. I know of a place you two could rest warmly."

"May we?"

"Oh no! You two want to take advantage of the knowledge I possess."

"No! Mr. Bird."

"Owl." Trouble whispered to Trigg.

"I can't just give things out without something in return."

Trigg looked at the cold wolf pup curled next to him the best he could, eyes starting to freeze. Then felt the gnawing pain in his ears and feet.

"Wh-what would w-we have to d-do to get war-rmth f-for the night?"

"Catch a rat… for me."

"A rat?!" Trouble shrieked, "Trigg, Neither of us can catch an animal like that. Plus, remember? I HATE Hunting! This owl just wants to kill a living thing, I won't agree to him."

"Don't worry Trouble, I won't make you," Trigg turned and looked the owl in the eyes, "I'll catch you a rat tomorrow."

Trouble, in shock. The owl, quite joyful. Trigg, having no idea what he had just signed up for.

The owl led them to a huge bush with a hollowed out trunk. The three stepped inside, and surprisingly, they could all for fit in the trunk with some space left over.

"This is my home," the owl announced, "I can let you stay here and keep warm, but tomorrow, you need to pay for your stay. Understand?"

"Yes, Mr. Owl. No worries about that," Trigg reassured him.

Just to be clear, you are to wake up and hunt. No Making up excuses to go running off for free. I once killed a moose for destroying the beautiful wild roses surrounding my bush. I'm a good host until I'm cheated on. I'll be able to hear you if you try to escape."

"We both understand, we'll get you a rat so you can eat and we can go."

The owl took off out the opening. The two icy bodies collapsed on a nice warm, but rocky, ground.

"It's not the n-nicest place to s-sleep, but it's bett-ter than out in the w-wind," Trigg yawned in relieve not noticing the irritated pup next to him.

"What were you thinking?! We could have found a better place. Why are you agreeing to do something you can't do?"

"W-where were we supposed-d to go? We would have fr-rozen to d-d-death out there."

"Fine, I get your point! Just… How are you planning to catch a rat?"

"It shouldn't be too hard," Trigg looked out at the now rainy night, "Catching an animal can be easy… Right?"

Trouble stared at him in disbelief, "Do you even know how big a rat is?"

Looking blankly, "I assume about your size. Maybe a little bit bigger."

"Oh, brother! How to explain them… They are like big mice."

"Really?"

"Like slightly bigger, longer, scarier mice. Now, you'll have to catch one tomorrow, or we'll be the owls Thanksgiving Dinner! And I hate killing stuff so you have to do this yourself."

Panicking about the thought of his situation, Trigg began to tear up. "I don't know what I was thinking. I just thought we both needed to be warm tonight. Are you sure you can't help me catch a rat?"

"I'm sure I made a promise I'd like to keep, unless you agree I should have never spared your life twice today. If you agree I should have torn you to shreds."

"I'm sorry, I'm going to m-m-make this right," Trigg rests his head on the warm ground, thinking of how big the mistake he made could possibly get. If he couldn't find food for the owl, they would have to take the rats place.

Not too long after Trigg had attempted sleep, Trouble came up to him and said, "Trigg, could you please call me Scamp?"

"Sure, that's a great name for you," Trigg yawned before drifting off to a deep sleep.