TF Dires
By
Dragon with a Shotgun
I am so sorry (especially to antubis) for not posting for a while. I wouldn't be at all surprised if someone thought that I was off of FanFiction, but I am trying to find the time during school. I hope you like this. Oh, and I have started a new story, just because I was in the mood and I had the time. It is called DBZ Bonds, just in case you DBZ fans are interested. I don't know how far I can get into things, but I am trying my best. Thanks, and enjoy!
Chapter 4
As she kept a steady pace behind Bumblebee, Stream heard her little brother sigh loudly.
"I'm hungry."
She lowered her head with her ears flattened, growling to herself. That had been the seventh time he had announced that. He had complained about his paws hurting, it being too quiet, the adults being too dull, by which had earned a snarl from Ironhide, and now he was hungry. She sighed, and turned her head just enough to see him from the corner of her eye behind her.
"Streak, for the Lord's sake, we just ate! You can't be hungry now!"
He frowned casually. "But that was a long while ago-,"
"It was barely a few flakes ago!"
Streak was about to protest, but then he stopped himself at that remark. That was the term that their mother used to always use with their father. It was a few minutes in human terms, like in snowflakes falling. He had thought that it was funny whenever she used it with him, she always put a loud tone at the end of it, and it made their father go cower outside the den, but he was never in trouble long.
As if reading his mind, Stream sighed deeply. She stopped, turning around to walk back to him. When he raised his head to look at her, she licked his small face gently.
"I'm sorry, Streak. I didn't mean it. I miss her too." she said softly.
The small pup sniffled, and nodded meekly. He really missed his mother, and his sister resembled her so much that a long time ago, before the attack, he had called her his mother when he was younger. Ever since then, Stream had watched over him and his siblings with their mother. She could've been his mother though, having been in the litter before him. But she was still young, and besides, she hadn't found a mate yet. She probably wouldn't find a mate for a while in her opinion.
Streak had fallen silent since then. He followed behind Stream without saying much for a very long time, and now it was starting to get too quiet without him complaining about something, or at least announcing that he saw something. Stream then felt bad about what she had said earlier. She hated that she had copied her mother's words. She didn't mean to, it was just a habit. She had always said things like her mother. She remembered one time she said a really ugly word that her mother had said when she was a pup. Her father had given her a pretty good nip on the rear for it, too. She was careful of what she said after that. Stream missed times like those, even if they weren't so pleasurable when they were actually happening. The young she-wolf sighed. She really missed her mother and father, and her other younger brothers and sisters.
"Are you alright, Stream?"
Stream looked up, and her ears went back when she saw Bumblebee's light but concerned face.
She nodded lightly. "I am alright." she said, and then she looked beside her at Streak. "We've had a long day, and… we just need to rest."
Bumblebee nodded, and looked down at her little brother. The pup looked tired and worn out. His paws and belly fur were matted from walking so low to the ground, and he was shaking. He wondered how the pup managed to keep quiet after all. He then looked at her again. Even though she and her brother had eaten earlier, he hadn't noticed how thin she was. Her ribs were just starting to show, and she looked a bit feeble. He then thought for a moment, and then turned completely around. He bent his head down, and carefully picked up the pup, who didn't even protest. He curled into a ball in his jaws, and relaxed.
Stream smiled tiredly at the yellow juvenile. He was such a kind wolf, and she was glad that he had warmed up to her so quickly and her brother as well. He smiled back at her gently as not to hurt Streak in his mouth. The two youngsters noticed that the others were getting farther ahead, so they looked at each other one last time before hurrying to catch up with them. Having arrived a few paw steps behind them, he and Stream walked along side each other behind the adults.
The sun was up in high noon when the small group arrived to the River Pack dens. They were all very tired, and Streak was already asleep in Bumblebee's jaws. Stream was keeping close to Bumblebee now and was wary of the other wolves. After some minutes or introduction, she knew most of their names. Optimus Prime, their alpha, seemed real nice. He was very soft toned and calm about meeting the two new arrivals. Ratchet, their medic, was grumpy looking, but was careful when he examined her little brother and her. Having already met Ironhide, she found him rather intimidating. There was Jazz, who was like a big pup, but acted mature around her. Prowl was a quiet one. He didn't say much and looked like one not to mess with. Hound was a calm wolf. He was friendly, and offered her and her brother something to eat. She liked him well enough. Magnus was a pretty mature wolf, maybe about the same age as Optimus. He seemed cocky some, but he was pretty fair. And then there was Wheeljack. He was pretty laid-back, and quiet.
After the introductions and uncomfortable sniffing and poking and crowding, Stream to do nothing but lie down somewhere and go to sleep. She was very frustrated, depressed, and exhausted all at the same time. Her belly was empty again, but she didn't want any food at that moment. At that time, their medic, Ratchet was leading her to her and Streak's den.
"… And we haven't had company in a long time. I am astonished that you and your younger brother have survived. The Mountain Pack is a very aggressive one, and dangerous. They could've killed you."
Stream nodded a few times as he spoke, and then sighed. She was too tired to say much, and only mumbled, "Yes, I know."
The yellow and red wolf looked her up and down as they walked. As Bumblebee had observed earlier, he noted how fragile-looking she was with her bones starting show and her fatigue taking over. He guessed that she fed her brother most of the food she managed to catch or find. He would have Hound look for food later. What this she-wolf needed now was rest, and plenty of it.
After a short silence, besides the brushing of their paws against the light layer of snow, Ratchet then stopped.
"Here it is. It is a mess, since we were not expecting company. If you want another den we can get someone to-,"
"Oh no," she interrupted, "this will be fine. Thank you."
The older wolf nodded, and turned away. She watched as her disappeared over the low hill, and then looked back at the den. It was a large tree with the roots sticking out of the ground oddly at the bottom like cage bars. The tree itself was a pine, a very old one in fact. It must have been over a hundred years. Then again, this almost untouched forest rarely had humans around to cut it down. So there were plenty of trees like this around the forest.
When she looked up, Stream could see the snow, just barely grasping the needles in fear of falling down onto the ground. She knew that when it started to get warmer, the snow would crumble to the ground in a large heap. So she was going to have to work on the den to prevent the snow from sliding down into the burrow. The burrow was similar to a badger's, but the roots' scars were proof that a wolf had dug this den, most likely one of the others.
Stream then got to work, digging out the snow at the entrance to the den and around it so that the snow wouldn't fall in. She scrapped snow and sticks off the top of the roots. When she entered the burrow, she found it rather small, so she got to work on digging it out, making it more open. After expanding the inside of the den, she went back outside and dug in the snow. She brought back some oak leaves and placed them inside in various spots in case her brother wanted to choose his own bedding. Finally, she was done and the den looked a lot cleaner. Snow didn't clutter the entrance, and she could walk around better.
"Your name is Stream, am I correct?"
She jumped, dropping a few leaves from her mouth, and spun around. It was Optimus, the large blue and red wolf. Instantly she tucked her tail, and lowered her ears and head.
"Now, now, you don't have to do that." he said softly. When she lifted her head curiously, he smiled. "May I come in?"
She nodded meekly, and lowered her rear, and barely perked her ears. "Um… yes, sir, I am Stream. Can I help you with something?"
He shook his head, and ducked into the den. Once inside, he looked around and seemed to study it with admiration. Stream looked around too, not knowing why anyone would find this a… admiring den. It was damp in some places because of the snow, and leaves were scattered everywhere. She would need to work on that.
"You did well in redecorating your den. Will you be staying her long, Stream?"
The young female looked up at him from her thoughts, and then lowered her head again, looking at her paws distractedly. "Well… I am not sure. Our pack… It is-,"
"I know, young one," he spoke calmly, a note of sympathy ringing in his voice. "Bumblebee told me all about it."
"He did?" she questioned, her ears perking up now.
He tilted his head slightly to the right, but lowered his gaze. "Yes, and I am very sorry about your home and family. I wish we caught wind of it sooner."
Stream looked away. She could feel her chest tightening and a sick feeling in her stomach. She felt that she needed to cough up, but she would hold it back. Just the mention of the word 'family' made her melt. She didn't care about her home. If her pack was still alive, she would've been fine. Her home could burn down, but as long as she had her mother and father, she would have been alright. Well, she had no mother and father now.
She sighed deeply. She still couldn't believe that they were gone. They had always been there. Always. They had always been there to watch over her. Her mother always slept next to her at night while her father went on nightly patrols, her mother always groomed her after she had gotten dirty as a pup, her mother was always there. Her father was always inventing new games to play with her and her sisters, her father always the one to take her on patrols when she couldn't go to sleep at nights, her father was always there to protect her from the nightmares that attacked on some nights.
Now, they would never be there again. Now, they would be a lost memory in the future. Now, she would have to always be there for Streak. It was her turn. She needed to gather herself, and do what she could to protect and love her little brother. Now that their territory was taken by a very large pack, the option of going back to start a new pack there was out of the question. Well, for now, she would stay here with the River Pack. At least she and her brother would be safe, and maybe if they were willing to, they might teach her how to hunt.
"Stream?"
Stream raised her gaze to meet the older wolf's blue eyes. They were kind and soft, nothing like the red, menacing eyes of the Mountain Pack's.
"Your brother is with Jazz and the twins in case you need him. He has eaten already, and here…" He back up out of the den and then returned with an odd-looking creature in his jaws. The thing had a green head and reddish-brown feathers with webbed feet. It was a moment later when she realized that it was actually a duck. When he placed it on the ground in front of her, a small feather floated off of its chest.
"This should take the edge off your hunger." When she was about to thank him, he shook his head before she spoke. "You can thank Hound later. You must rest. I will meet you again later after you have regained your energy."
Stream smiled softly as he turned around to leave the den. She lied down with the duck between her paws and started to pluck the feathers off. She had seen her father do so when he had caught a pheasant once. She guessed that since they were both birds, she would have to do the same to the duck. When Optimus was just half-way out of the den, Streak suddenly appeared under him and dashed between his legs and into the den. Optimus chuckled as he turned his head to glance at the pup amusingly, and then he disappeared out of the den.
"Sissy, sissy! Guess what happened!" he yipped cheerfully, sprawling his front paws in front of him as he wagged his small tail.
Stream gently tore a piece of meat from the duck's breast. "Um.. I don't know. What happened?"
Streak started spinning around and did so a few times before he spoke. "'Sides said that he'd teach me how to hunt when I got big enough! And right when he said it, 'Sunny threw a weasel on him and 'Sides screamed and ran into his den!"
At his own information the pup started laughing and then he fell onto his back. Stream found his sudden happiness quite odd. They had just lost everything they had: Their parents, their pack, their home… why would he be so happy? She'd think that he'd be curled up beside her, crying his little heart out and wanting his mother. This… was nothing like she expected.
Then again… she thought to herself, grieving would only make things worse. Maybe a little fun for him isn't so bad.
With that thought in mind, she smiled gently at him as she chewed on a piece of duck. "That must have been hilarious."
Streak took in a few deep breathes before tilting his head forward to look over his chest.
"Ya bet! It was the funniest thing I've ever seen!" he laughed, rolling onto his side. The pup had a bright shine in his eyes, and he seemed to act like everything that had happened had never happened at all.
Stream hummed to herself before tearing another bite of the duck. She had never had duck before, but it was actually quite similar to pheasant. It was dark meat, and was kind of chewy. Well, her mother said that it was tougher when she was a pup. But then again, she was too hungry to even care to wonder if it was chewy, tough, stringy, or anything. She just wanted something to put in her empty stomach.
Finally after she finished off her duck, she saw that Streak's eyes were squinted a little. His ears drooped a little, and it was a sure sign that sleep was cloaking him. She smiled at him as he dropped his head onto his paws. Then she stood up, and feeling tired herself now, thought that it was a nice time to take a nap. She stepped to the entrance to the den, and looked at the sun. It was just after noon, so she and her brother would probably have time to explore their temporary home when they got their rest. So Stream turned and carefully picked up Streak by his scruff. Then she groggily lied down in the leaf bedding, and when she placed Streak beside her, he snuggled up to her, and sighed. It was a quiet one, and she sighed as well. It had been a long morning, and she would be glad to regain her senses.
As she laid her head between her paws, Stream thought about what they would do when they were going to leave. Would they find a new pack? Would they start a new pack? Would they live as lone wolves without a pack at all? She wouldn't know. All she knew now was that she was too tired to think now. So she slowly closed her eyes, and let the warm darkness take over, and shut the cold winter world of nightmares out.