Chapter Ten: New Encounters
Claw was walking home with the squirrel she caught earlier dangle from her jaws. She kept her guard up since she knew some of her pack mates would try and gang up on her, and try to take her prey away from her. The eastern she wolf was just lucky to grab a plump squirrel like this one, but soon she remember those soft golden eyes looking at her with the same warm glint in them when she first met him. A sigh escape her mouth and slightly muffled her prey a bit, she couldn't help but think about Hutch once again, every time she closed her soft yellow eyes she remember the fun they had last night but then when she saw those western she wolves attack her last night her fur would bristle in anger as a soft growl rumble in her throat.
Her den was not too far away from her; Claw had an average size den big enough for her and at least two or three more wolves to fit in there. Claw's den was a cleft in between two rocks; the entrance was at least twenty inches wide and seventeen inches high. On the outside of the entrance was covered with dried grass and dirt, around it was the only beautiful flowers that grew in the eastern territory. She had a vertical slightly slanted rock a few inches away from it and a small pond at the back of it. She decided to eat her meal on her slanted rock so she can keep an eye out for anybody who was brave enough to come and take her meal. Claw walk up a couple of rocks that led up the slanted rock, she walk on top of it until she was almost at the edge of it. She drop her squirrel on the rock, Claw turned her attention away from it for a second making sure no one was around to snatch it.
Finally relax and seeing it was safe, Claw place her paw on the stomach of the squirrel and she tear open its stomach, she dug into the open carcass and eat out the small meat that would at least keep her full for a few hours until she had to eat again. Her teeth grind and gorge on her small kill loud crunch and cracking nose was heard as she gnawed on one of its tiny ribs. She pulled and tugs out a piece of its intestine and pieces of its stomach and gobbles it down. She started to become picky and started tugging on its leg easily ripping them off as she happily ate and gnaw on the thigh of her small kill.
She oblivious to a pair of grey eyes watching her closely, the wolf licked his lips hungrily as he eyed the she wolf's small morsel kill. The wolf slowly crept closer to Claw, his claws scrape the ground to make sure he didn't make any loud noises to alert the red and orange she wolf. The wolf slowly crept closer to the relaxing she wolf, a low and soft growl rumble in his chest as he was close enough to strike and take the meal.
As Claw continue to eat her meal, she felt something inside of her weird and as if it was telling her that something was bad was about to happen. She stood up and start to look around with an uneasy gaze, just as she turn her body away from her kill a loud growl was heard from behind her. Claw's soft yellow eyes widen when she saw a large wolf coming right towards her.
The wolf pressed his paws against her chest and pushes her off her rock. Both wolves landed on the ground with a soft thud, the stranger had his paw press on her throat growling. Claw pressed her paw on his chest and using all of her strength she began to push him off of her. Both wolves were now standing on their hindlegs, Claw scratch the male's shoulder and slam her paw roughly across his cheek causing to take two step backs away from her. Seeing that she was still in striking distance, he lashes out at her. His claws raking down on her chin towards her chest.
Claw snarled loudly her claws raked into his shoulders as she bit down on the side of his neck, the stranger growled and winces slightly. He pushes her off him his claws sliding down her face causing the eastern she wolf to wince in pain. Both wolves landed on all fours now, they both looked at each other growling and staring each other down. Claw stood slightly on her hindlegs her claws scratching on his mane and face, the wolf growled slightly and slapped her away from him. Claw stood there watching the male closely as he ran right towards her, he lifted himself off the ground and press his paws on her chest pushing her down on the ground but the tables turn when he felt her hind paws press against his stomach. Claw had flipped the male onto his back, with her landing on top of him knowing victory has fallen upon her to seal it all in she lifted of his body off the ground and slammed him back down on the ground.
The stranger gasp slightly as the air was knocked out of him, his grey eyes widen as he look up at the she wolf who was growling down at him. Something about her began to ravel in his mind and then it hit him, "Claw…" He said softly trying to figure out was it really the she wolf he knew from the past.
The red and orange she wolf stop growling, her soft yellow eyes widen as she back off the stranger and took a couple of steps back looking at the stranger. The wolf got up and took small hesitant steps towards the she wolf, "Claw…Is it really you." A slow and soft smile began to spread across his black lips. "Who are you?" The she wolf squinted her soft yellow eyes.
He tilted his head to the side slightly, "It's me Castiel."
She took one small step towards him, "Castiel…"
He nodded his head, hopefully to get Claw to remember him. A slow smile spread across Claw's lips as she finally remembers her best friend Castiel, "WOAH!" "WOW!" Both wolves ran up towards each other and pressed against each other's head.
Castiel is Claw's best friend he was formerly in the eastern pack until he and his family left the eastern wolves to live among the northern wolves. Castiel is a reddish-auburn wolf with a white under belly. He is taller and more muscular built then Claw showing traits of a beta wolf the same size as the western beta wolf Hutch. He has a reddish mane with streaks of white on it stopping at his cheek some of it pull back and a couple of strands on his foe head showing off his grey eyes. His front legs are white while his back legs are fully reddish-auburn; the upper half of his face is reddish-auburn while the lower half towards his jaws on down covering his chest is fully white. His upper and lower eyelids are light shades of red and he has a dark red tail tip. Castiel is a generous, handsome, respectful, loyal, strong, is willing to give up his life for his friends in the time of need, and sometimes a little goofy.
Claw walked up to Castiel, "It is so great to see you again Cast…" The red orange she wolf rubbed her cheek up and down against his neck causing his cheeks burn with hue. "Its g-great to see you t-too Claw."
The reddish-auburn wolf lifted his white paw and rubbed it up and down her back. Castiel secretly had a crush on Claw ever since Alpha school, he remember seeing her with a feisty attitude that could make any wolf make a run for their lives. After a few seconds the she wolf back away from him and look up at him with a joyous smile on her face. "I remember the last time I saw you. You were skinny as a stick." Claw said jokingly while Castiel frown at her.
He looked at her and shook his head, "Ha ha laugh it all up but I'm not that same skinny weak yearling you met back at Alpha school."
Castiel gave her a toothy grin and started flexing; this made her laugh as she watched him. "Yeah and your still goofy." Both wolves started laughing at the moment then they stop and looked at each other for a moment.
"And if you're still not the skinny yearling how did I pin you down so easily!" The she wolf smirked as her voice had a hint of a challenge and confidence in it that may Castiel stand up and look at her a playful growl was rumbling loud in his throat. "First of all you did not pin me down so easily." He huffed that made Claw roll her soft yellow eyes. "And secondly since you are a girl I decided to be a gentleman and allowed you to win, so that does not mean you pin me down so easily." He said a slow grin spread across as he press his paw on his chest sounding like a gentleman that made Claw snort slightly and shake her head.
A plan popped into the she wolf head as she thought of something, "Yeah sure you were being a gentleman, but even if you weren't I can still kick your butt." She said walking past him her red and orange tail slap him across his face, the reddish-auburn shook his head and followed her movements watching her with half closed eyes. "You think I can't beat you." Claw stopped and look back, "Oh remember you were just being a gentleman and allowed the lady to win." She smirked at him as her plan was falling perfectly into action. "I bet I can beat you right here and now!" Castiel said growling. Claw turned and smile, "Alright your on!"
Both wolves looked at each other with confident smiles knowing that one of them were going to win this battle, after a few seconds of staring each other down Castiel was the first to charge in on Claw. His claws gripped the ground to give him more excelling speed as he gain ground towards the she wolf. He furrowed his eyebrows as a triumph smile spread across his muzzle as he knew he was going to beat Claw once and for all. Claw stood her ground her muscle tense as she prepare for the impact that was coming towards her, she couldn't help but snicker slightly at the thought of pinning her best friend down once again. She reared on her hindlegs as she saw him lunge himself of the ground his front paws outstretched pressing his paws firmly on her chest. Claw pressed her hind paws against his white stomach and she lifted herself up flipping both wolves in the air. Castiel landed on his back with Claw on top just as she was about to seal her victory once again, the reddish-auburn wolf placed his hind leg under hers and flipped her over. Claw gasp in surprise as she fell over with Castiel rolling on top of her, she wasn't going to give up that easily and did the same maneuver he did.
Castiel squirm and wiggle from the she wolf, as she got up, he charge in on her side. His fore legs wrapped firmly around her back and stomach, using all of his weight he knock her off her feet now both wolves sprawling around on the ground. Just as Castiel finally manage to get her under him, Claw once again did her signature move and pinned the reddish-auburn wolf on the ground. Claw smiled down at the pinned wolf, "Pinned ya again." She smirked as he looked up at her frowning. He pressed his paws on her chest pushing her off, "Alright alright you win!" He rolled over on his side pouting. Claw couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Are you going pout and whine about it like a pup." Both wolves started laughing at the statement Claw made. A loud rumbling sound alerted Claw as her ears shot up listening out for the sound, then she look over at Castiel who was blushing in embarrassment.
"Hehe I guess I'm kind of hungry." He chuckled nervously giving her a puppyish grin that made her shake her head and laugh softly.
The red and orange she wolf remember she still had the squirrel she had from earlier, "Hang on a second I think I still have my squirrel that you try to steal from earlier." Castiel gave an apologetic smile that made her roll her eyes and she went to go fetch her meal from the slanted rock where she left it. Claw retrieve her meal and walk back with it towards Castiel, it was tore open the insides of it was dangling from the bones as pieces of skin touch and rub up against Claw's chest. Castiel mouth began salivate as his tail starting wagging at the sight, the loud rumble in his stomach made Claw chuckle a little as she set the half eaten squirrel in front of him. Without even thinking the reddish-auburn wolf happily dug into the half eaten squirrel.
"Wow you must have been really hungry." She laughed when he look up at her, his mouth covered with blood and his cheeks stuffed with meat like a pup eating meat for the first time.
The reddish-auburn gave Claw a toothy grin and loudly swallow his food, "I'm sorry Claw. It's just I haven't eaten for three days." Claw just nodded her head and sat down allowing him to eat the rest of her breakfast.
"So Castiel now that your back, isn't a good time to tell Tony that you're here." She said sitting down. Castiel swallowed the last of the morsel kill nervously, his eyes slightly widen. "I don't think that's a good idea."
She tilted her head to the side, "And why not?" Claw barked in slightly in confusion. Castiel walk towards her with a sad look, "Claw this is Tony you're talking about…What if he says no and get the pack to chase me out of the territory." He sat down whimpering slightly, his ears droop on his head as he looked down on the ground. Claw just smiled, "Hey it's ok and maybe if Annabelle is there you'll be lucky."
Castiel had this uncertain look in his eyes. Claw placed her paw on his and smiled softly at him, "It's going to be okay…trust me." The reddish auburn cheeks burn a bright pink as he look at Claw's paw touching his, he slowly nodded his head.
"Good! Now let's go!" The she wolf said excitedly as she got up trotting off, Castiel quickly got up and ran after Claw. The reddish auburn wolf jumped in front of her stopping Claw in her tracks. "W-we're going n-now." He said wide eyed. Claw nodded her head, "Annabelle and Tony are still here together. So I guess this is a good time to catch up with them." She ran off and in the direction towards the alpha's den with Castiel running by her side.
"Claw do you think this is a good idea!" He look over at her, Claw groan and shook her head. "Like I said before its going to be okay…Have I ever gotten you into situations like this?" She gave a cute toothy grin that made Castiel shake his head, "Don't let me get started." Both wolves laughed at the statement as they continued running.
Tony crouched down and started growling, "Come on bring it!" He barked. A flaming brown streak came right towards Tony knocking the reddish brown wolf on his back. The old wolf began chuckling as his attacker no other than his only son Garth tickling his white belly.
"Gotcha dad!" The young pup said laughing as he began to nibble on his ear. Both father and son began to run around and chase each other having a good time.
"Alright boys settle down a little!" Annabelle chuckled as she watched her two favorite wolves wrestle around. Watching them her ears began to prick at the sound of running paw steps coming from behind her. The flaming brown wolf stood up and slightly turned around her pine green eyes widen at the sight of Claw running and an old yet familiar wolf running towards her. Both Claw and Castiel skidded to a stop, both wolves panting and catching their breathes. The slender she wolf tilted her head to the side looking at them both, "Claudette what is going on?" She ask calmly. The red orange she wolf took a few more deep breathes before she spoke, "Ma'am do you remember Castiel?"
Annabelle look at him for a second, she took one small step forward her jet black nose slightly twitched at the scent. A small smile spread across her lips, "Castiel is that yo-"
A loud growl came from behind them, it was Tony. The reddish brown wolf approach Castiel, his fangs bared trying to warn him off, "Annabelle take Garth and get out of here!" He snarled as he kept walking up towards Castiel. The reddish auburn wolf look over at Claw and lowered his head, his ears were pulled back and his tail was tucked between his legs as he started backing away showing signs that he didn't want any trouble. Annabelle and Claw watch in fear afraid that Tony may attack their former pack member, then the slender she wolf had enough and jumped in front of Tony growling at her mate. This shock him as he stopped and look at her, "Bell what are you doing?" He looks at her then looks over back at the strange reddish-auburn wolf starring deadly daggers at the stranger. Annabelle stood her ground, "Don't you remember Castiel…He is the son of Kato and Uru." She took a step away from the wolf so Tony could get a better look at the stranger.
"Hmmm…" Tony took a couple of steps forward towards him. His white chest was puff out and his brown tail was slightly raised showing the wolf that he was alpha and dominant; Castiel accepted it by whimpering slightly. The old alpha brown eyes slightly widen, "Well I see one of our youngsters have return…" The three wolves looked at Tony, the eastern alpha smiled softly at Castiel a small chuckle escape his lips.
"Great to see you around Cast…The last time I saw you. You were just a runt and being close to your mother!" Tony laughed while Castiel laughed nervously. Claw and Annabelle looked at each other than back at Tony with a nervous smiles. Tony stopped and looks at him then up at Claw, "We'll talk later Castiel but for now I need to talk with Claw for a second."
The red orange she wolf walked up to Tony, "Yes sir!"
"I need you to keep an eye on him…For some reason I don't trust him fully…" Tony whispered softly in Claw ear that made her ears twitch slightly. She looked at him and nodded her head slowly understanding what he meant, "Other than that I need you to come with me to a meeting I'm having about Winston this evening. DO you understand?" He barked. Claw nodded her head, Tony dipped his head and turn walking towards Annabelle, the eastern alpha brush past Castiel roughly making the reddish-auburn wolf grunt in confusion.
Claw sigh and shook her head slightly, "Is everything okay Claw?"
She lifted her head quickly and looked at her friend giving him a coy smile, "Of course Cast! Just have a assignment to do this evening." She laughed nervously, he cocked his head to the side then he rolled his eyes smiling softly at her. "If you say so…" The reddish auburn wolf pressed his muzzle against her cheek; this made Claw giggle as she nuzzled his cheek. Both wolves looked at each other for a second before turning and walking back towards Claw's den.