Once more, a chapter told in Tomo's POV. It really is the only way to tell the next part of the story.
Disclaimer: Lost in Blue, I own not. Bored of this I am.
Chapter 12: JunglePack
I liked my new home and pack. We looked out for each other. But the hierarchy of our pack was hard to understand. Usually the male was the alpha, but Ocean had clearly taken that position. I'm not saying that she controlled every aspect of our lives, because she didn't by far. But, for the most part, what she said, we did. She listened to Smoke and I could tell she tried to listen to me. Although we couldn't understand each other completely, we had learned some of each other's language.
I had grown used to the thing around my neck. I sometimes stayed with Smoke in the cave, and other times I went with Ocean. Most of the time it was the former. Even though his leg seemed to be getting better, she still was very worried about him. I did what I was told, but sometimes Smoke told me to go out. I think he felt embarrassed that Ocean had me keep a close eye on him and was tired of being treated like a pup. The only thing I wouldn't do was accept food from them. I hunted for myself, but every so often I would hunt for them too. They were both surprised the first time I brought in a rabbit for them!
Still we all trusted each other. So when Ocean put a thing made of logs on me, I made no effort to get it off. I knew she wouldn't hurt me, at least not on purpose. When she told me to follow her, I did. When we came to the cliffs, she helped me get up it. Even though she tried to keep smiling and talking merrily, I could tell she was worried about Smoke. She hesitated often, and I knew she was thinking about going back. I kept going forward to encourage her to keep going. I knew Smoke was just fine. He could take care of himself now.
Near to where we first met, Ocean took the wooden thing off me. She sat down beneath a tree and opened up the pouch she always carried with her and took out some food. She offered me some, but I turned away. "I don't understand why you won't take anything from me. But that's okay. You go find your own stuff, just don't stray too far," she said. I could only understand a few words, but I got the idea. I climbed up the cliff side and started into the jungle.
I kept alert for any sign of StripedFur, but so far I hadn't found anything that would point to him being nearby. I still didn't relax, and I became petrified with fear when the bushes rustled ahead of me. I sniffed that air. I wasn't sure if I was relieved or even more worried when I found out who was really coming.
Out of the bushes came the JunglePack. Even when my own pack was alive, we avoided this one at all costs. They were meaner, bigger, and tougher than any of us were. I instantly picked out the alphas, the gray Rock and the brown Russet. Two jet-black wolves followed them out. On closer inspection, I noticed one had a white spot of his head and the other had white paws. I recognized them as being Claw and Fang, the rogue brothers. Seems they've found a pack, I thought with dismay.Lastly, four wolves that were smaller, meaning they were my size, trotted out behind the others. They were Rock's and Russet's pups; Dust, Alder, Poppy, and Lichen.
"Well, well. What do we have here?" Russet snarled.
"Looks like a member from BeachPack wandered away from home," Rock growled.
"Back off!" I barked. JunglePack fanned out in front of me. All except for Poppy, who stepped forward.
The red she-wolf sniffed the air, and then drew back sharply. "What is that smell? It's smoke, and something…else. You haven't been living by the sea for a while, haven't you? I can't smell the salt water on you that would come from where you BeachPack wolves normally live."
"No, I haven't," I replied. I was scared, but unlike the others, Poppy wasn't acting hostile towards me.
"The something else…it smells like the scent that was on StripedFur, doesn't it father?" she said, turning to look back at Rock. He nodded slightly without taking his eyes off me. Poppy returned her gaze to me. "What is it?" Her face became worried. "Is it a sickness?"
This could be my ticket out of here, I thought"No. It comes from a strange creature who came here. A powerful one."
"What kind of creature?" Claw snarled. I stiffened. I could feel his eyes running over me, looking for my weak spot. He was trying to scare me off, but I refused to be intimidated so easily. I forced myself to relax.
"They walk on their hind legs only. They have thin loose pelts, and use their front paws to do things, like pick stuff up. They do not have claws or fangs to fight with."
"They don't sound very tough," Rock's jeering voice broke in. The rest of his pack starting laughing.
All except for Poppy, who was listening with careful attention. "How can they survive?" She asked in wonder.
"They have created tools, like a stick that has a sharp rock on one end to fight with. And they can control fire." That got their attention. I was starting to get to them. Time for the finale. "And they are so powerful that they drove off StripedFur." Poppy's eyes went huge.
Fang stepped forward. "You've seen them do this?" he challenged.
"Yes, I have," I replied, holding my ground. Okay, so it was a lie. But with the way StripedFur had run the day I met Ocean, I knew that she had done something to him.
"And you went to live with them?" Poppy asked. Her eyes were shining. She looked like a pup whose mother was telling a bedtime story.
"Yes, I did. I respected them, and they respected me. They have become my pack mates."
"Respect you? Ha!" Russet barked. "Look at you! You have a vine tied around your neck! They aren't your pack, you're their slave!" The wolves all started to laugh at me.
"You aren't fit to be called a wolf anymore. You turned your back on your own pack to become a possession of these other creatures!" Rock howled.
Anger flared in me. How dare he say that Ocean and Smoke owned me! I could leave them whenever I liked! Could you? a little voice in side me asked.
I was brought back to reality by Rock's snarl. "You aren't a wolf, therefore you are prey. Get him!" the alpha howled.
Claw and Fang both leapt at me. Fang sank his teeth into my back. I bit into his shoulder. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Poppy intercept Claw. From behind me I heard Ocean's enraged howl. The entire pack froze in fear. I turned to see her raise the stick. She threw it towards me, and I felt Fang's grip disappear. Ocean darted forward, retrieved the stick from his side, and aim it for another wolf. Before she could pull back to throw it, JunglePack turned and fled.
Poppy followed then skidded to a stop. She turned back to us. Keeping her eyes on Ocean, she stepped towards me. I silently thanked Ocean for not throwing the stick at her. "What are you doing?" I asked Poppy.
"I'm joining your pack instead. I'm tired of fighting every living thing. I've heard that BeachPack wolves are peaceful. Besides, I've always wanted to see the ocean," the red she-wolf replied.
"I'm sorry to tell you this, but StripedFur killed all the wolves from my pack. But you are welcome to join me in my new pack." I looked back at Ocean. She lowered the stick, and I saw the fury in her eyes ebb away. "Just follow me," I said turning back to Poppy. She seemed a little worried about having to go near Ocean. I brushed my muzzle against her neck, then turned and trotted to Ocean, my tail wagging. She knelt down and hugged my neck, making soft worried noises. I looked back to see Poppy approaching slowly with her head down. Ocean looked up at Poppy, who froze suddenly. Ocean held out a paw to her. The she-wolf was highly confused by this. "Come on. Ocean's inviting you to come over. I promise, she won't do anything to hurt you." Poppy came forward and sniffed at Ocean's paw. Ocean moved to pet her, and Poppy jumped out of reach. I looked up into Ocean's face, hoping she wouldn't be too offended. She looked disappointed, but she seemed to understand. She stood up and looked at Fang's body. She picked him up and called to me. She started off, and I followed her. "Come on, Poppy. We're going home," I barked over my shoulder to her. She followed reluctantly.
We made our way down the cliff, back into BeachPack territory, back to where I first met Ocean.
"But what about you're back? Isn't she going to take care of it?"
As if on cue, Ocean opened up her pack and took out a thing of water and a piece of cloth. She poured some water onto the cloth and rubbed it carefully over the bite. When she seemed satisfied that it was clean and not too serious, she put away everything and then pulled the wooden thing over to us. She tied Fang's lifeless body onto the wooden thing, and then tied it to me. Poppy looked horrified by this. "What is she doing to you? Is she trying to hurt you?" she asked.
"No," I laughed. "I am going to pull this. Ocean is not as strong as I am, so I help her whenever I can. It doesn't hurt at all, and Ocean does everything she can to make sure it stays that way."
Ocean called to us and we set off, Ocean in the front, Poppy and I in the back. I discovered going down the cliffs was a lot easier then going up, and on the especially steep ones Ocean would hold onto the wooden thing to help me get down easier. Every time she spoke, Poppy would jump halfway out of her fur. After a while, she got used to it. The hardest part for her to understand was when Ocean tried to give her a new name.
"What do you mean, 'she wants to call me Ember'?"
"Exactly that. She is going to call you Ember."
"But that's silly! I'm Poppy, and you're Shadow."
"I know that, but she doesn't understand us, so we can't tell her that. In her mind, I'm Tomo and you're Ember."
"Fine. But I still want you to call me Poppy, and I'm still going to call you Shadow." We walked on in silence for a little while. Then Poppy spoke up again. "So, why did you go back with her anyway?"
"I don't really know. I didn't want to be alone I guess. Besides, Ocean was so nice to me anyways, and she did save my life, so I trusted her, and over time I grew to love her and Smoke. He's the other one of the pack."
"Interesting." We continued on, listening to Ocean's unending chatter. "Does she ever shut up?"
I laughed. "Yes. But she's been worried about Smoke because of his injury. She tends to treat him like a pup. Look, we're almost home." She looked uncertain, as if she was thinking she shouldn't have come. I licked her shoulder. "Don't worry. I think you'll like it here."
Thinking back, I realized I was a little anxious about her meeting Smoke. But he had grown tolerant, even happy that I was a part of the pack. I certainly was happy that I finally would have someone else who I could talk to and would understand me. This is certainly going to be one heck of an adventure, I thought as we approached the cave.
Well, I'm certainly having fun with this whole wolf idea. I kind of took the pack names idea (JunglePack, BeachPack) from the Warriors series, so let me also say that I do not own Warriors and I would appreciate it if you didn't sue me.
