Chapter 10
Those first few weeks afterward were excruciating. I won't ever know how I made it through. I was harnessed to a sled that contained a pile of logs and ordered to pull it to an area that pleased my master on almost a daily basis. 'Master' I was told by the few dogs that would talk to me that I was to call Dakota and Chenoa's father that since I was to become a part of their family if I could pass my rigorous challenges, but I must respect all men of the tribe.
Even though I could kill myself of how much my muscles ached from straining them in pulling, lifting, and some times even swimming I was told I was fortunate. If Chenoa and Dakota had not come along I would have probably been doomed to live the remainder of my life tied to a tree.
This was the inescapable fate of my sister. She had remained tied to the same tree since we arrived in camp. She was not given anything to eat or drink by most of the men in camp but a few with a kind heart would sneak her scraps of meat or a small bowl of water when they could, but it was not enough. She had become thin and frail in the time she had been here. Her shiny tan coat was now untidy and darkened by dust.
Her tree sat at the very edge of camp, quite close to the forest. This part of camp was not monitored all the time because there was a hill that was large enough to cover the tree to almost the height of the branches. This made my visits easy after I got passed the small open area between the camp and my sister's place.
On a couple of occasions I would bring something for us to share. One particular time I remember bringing a rabbit. She loved the taste of fresh rabbits. It was our twelfth day in camp. She was lying down, curled up on a patch of grass. "Sister?" I called, my voice muffled by the body of the rabbit. I unfortunately could not remember her name so as an alternative I had resorted to calling her 'sister' or 'sister dear'. She lifted her head. "Hello Guyapi," she said. Her eyes brightened when she saw what I was carrying. I went over to her and placed it in front of her. "Thank you Guyapi. How thoughtful," she said contentedly. "I made sure that I got you the best," I told her. This was partly true considering Dakota always gave me the best things to eat. "Thank you brother." I nodded in reply and sat down to watch her eat. "Don't you want some?" she asked after a while. I shook my head, "I already ate," I lied. I wanted her to have it all; she needed it more than I did. "Do you miss the pack?" she asked, "I mean with you training to be a dog and all you haven't forgotten who you really are, have you?" I didn't know how I could truthfully answer that. I didn't know who I really was in Guyapi's body. I shared very few of his memories and most of his family are no more than strangers to me. Although my eyes conceal the grim fact I shook my head. "No I have not forgotten about the pack. I'll always think of them." "Will you ever go back?" she asked. She seemed now more intrigued by our conversation than her meal. "If I have the chance I will visit them," I answered. She accepted the statement without any more question. "I need to go," I said after she had begun eating again. She nodded and said goodbye to me. I turned and was about to leave but stopped. "Sister?" She looked up. "Do you really like me calling you that?" I asked. She shrugged, "I don't mind," she said, "but I would rather you call me by my real name, Lilac."
Lilac was such a sweetheart. I only wish I had the chance to get to know her as well as Guyapi did. Unfortunately her destiny bestowed upon her by man caught up with her. Six days later, on our eighteenth day in camp she died of starvation. This was the unfortunate part of being a wolf. We were deeply hated and wished to death.
On my nineteenth day in camp I was taken out to hunt with Dakota, his father, and two other men. This was an unusual honor for canines to be taken out on a hunting party. Most dogs would trample through the undergrowth and bark loudly in enthusiasm. This wasn't me. My paws were made for this and as for barking-ha!-I did none of the sort. Instinct overcame me as I crept up to a young healthy grey rabbit. "This one's for you Lilac," I decided quickly as I pounced and killed the creature. "Well done wolf!" A man praised me. I beamed proudly. "You've got a great dog in the making Koi," the same man said to Dakota's father. Koi looked at me and unbelievably he nodded.
"He trusts me," I thought incredulously, "I've proven myself."
A.N- I know I'm like two days late but happy late birthday to Nat! :) And I finally fixed the issue I was having with uploading my video so you can go see it now on my main channel, FireheartedZanessa. It's a full video just for Alex using the Green Day song 'Time of Your Life'.