Happy New Years!
Otto VI
For one precious moment, the entire world was completely still. His dagger's supple leather hilt was slick with sweat, unsteady in his grip. To his right, Joseph squinted into the darkness, his hands clenched around a sturdy wooden bow. Elsewhere, Willam shifted uneasily with a wooden club clutched high above his head, eyes sweeping from side to side. Winter snarled and bared his fangs, golden eyes gleaming with malice. Argentum growled hesitantly, suddenly uncertain in the presence of so many foes.
Otto Weiss had never felt so overwhelmed in his life.
The Direwolves advanced from every side, snarling and growling like a horde of angry demons. Otto counted at least a dozen before him, and more along his flanks. There were surely others approaching from behind as well. He cursed softly and backed away from the hillside, as far as the blazing fire behind him would permit. A dozen bloodthirsty eyes followed his movements.
"This is it," Joseph muttered under his breath, desperation tinging his tone. "There's too many. We're done for."
Otto's reply died in his mouth. He only managed a slight nod which his companion surely missed. He returned his attention to the incoming tide of teeth and claws. With a menacing snarl, a huge black Direwolf pushed his way to the front of the pack and eyed Otto's group ferociously. With a single howl, the night erupted into pure chaos.
Direwolves rushed in from every angle imaginable, snarling and snapping like ravenous monsters. Out of the corner of his eye, Otto watched two huge wolves back Willam against a boulder. A fleeting glance revealed that Joseph was hardly faring any better. The large man kicked one Direwolf away while stringing an arrow to his bow, which he released into the throng of bristling fur and snapping jaws. The wave parted and the arrow harmlessly lodged itself into the dirt with a soft twang. The Direwolves converged again like a seamless mob and rushed back up the hill, with twice the vigour from before.
Winter was holding three Direwolves at bay, attacking each in turn and retreating before the others could flank him. The huge white Direwolf was already bleeding from various bites and scratches on his regularly pristine coat. To Otto's left, Argentum was circling an albino wolf with gleaming red eyes, smaller than all the others. Based on the various trickles of blood running down the wolf's pelt, Argentum had experienced some small degree of success in defending himself. Otto was interrupted from his observations as a huge tan wolf bounded over Winter and slammed into his chest, knocking him into the icy ground.
Before he could even raise his knife to defend himself, the wolf was already moving in for the kill. Otto barely managed to throw his hands out in self-defence before two monstrous jaws snapped together with a spray of froth. He clamped the wolf's muzzle shut, struggling to hold the monster away. The pungent odour of the wolf's last meal made him gag.
Otto's knife was on the ground within arm's reach, yet on the other side of the island for all the good it contributed. He couldn't move without releasing his grip on the Direwolf. Unfortunately, holding the beast's jaws together left its claws free. They dug into his flesh over and over again, gouging canyons into his chest and waist. Otto felt his strength draining away with every passing second.
In those frenzied moments, he risked a brief glance at his surroundings. Joseph had already expended all seven of his arrows and now stood with his knife in hand, a parallel to Otto's own, which was still discarded on the ground. The huge man's back was against the fire, and he was holding wolves away by swiping his knife back and forth. Otto noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, no more than a silver blur in the darkness. The Direwolf took a running start and bounded over the fire in one swift motion, slamming into Joseph with a bloodthirsty snarl. Man and beast went down together, entangled in a struggle for life. The other wolves Joseph had been holding at bay now joined the frenzy with a chorus of snarls and grunts. The living mountain of fur crushed the two combatants under their combined weight.
Out of the corner of his eye, Otto watched Willam stumble backwards as Direwolves leapt at him from every angle. The old man had lost his weapon and now backpedalled with his arms spread out, shoving his assailants away. Willam's scrawny arms were torn and bleeding. His fur clothing was shredded to reveal an equally torn body, which ran red with blood, staining the ground into a murky crimson sludge.
Otto grimaced and turned his gaze toward Argentum. The young Tyrannosaurus was thrashing around like a fish out of water. The albino Direwolf, although not much larger than the infant, had pinned Argentum against a boulder. The two beasts were trading bites, though their jaws were equally matched. But even as Otto made the observation, he noticed more Direwolves approaching the ongoing struggle. Unlike the albino, these were full sized monsters that would tear Argentum apart within seconds. Otto grimaced but there was nothing he could do for the infant. It was a pity that Argentum had known the world for less than a fortnight. His brief existence was only a temptation of the bounty that life offered, a fragment of his full potential.
The thought was enough to jolt Otto back into reality. They were all going to die; Joseph, who had only recently started recovering from the previous attack; Willam, the gentle old soul who had never harmed a sentient being without reason; Argentum, who only hatched a few days ago; and Winter, who had been there since the very start. Winter, who was Otto's first and oldest friend. Winter. . . who was nowhere to be found.
With a start, Otto realized he hadn't seen his Direwolf since the start of the battle. He looked around frantically, but the only visible white pelt belonged to the albino. Otto's brief search was abruptly ended by his attacker, who had managed to escape from his grip. The Direwolf backed away, its jaw completely free. The beast snarled and rushed in again. Otto managed to roll aside, narrowly avoiding his attacker's frothing maw. The Direwolf shook its head and charged, but Otto managed to kick it away by lashing out with his feet. The ravenous beast recoiled away from the impact, its bloodthirsty eyes gleaming with malice.
Otto was scrambling to his feet when he noticed the other wolves. Two more of the beasts now growled at him, approaching from different angles. Otto's original assailant charged with a deafening snarl. The others quickly followed.
Otto Weiss managed to twist away from the first two Direwolves, but the third slammed into him with the unyielding power of a landslide. He stumbled head-first into the ground and banged his head on a rock. Otto's vision spun and he tasted the sharp metallic tang of blood in his mouth. Before he could recover, his attackers had already returned again.
The first Direwolf tore into his arm. The second clamped its jaws around his ankle and dragged him deeper into the fray. The third went for his neck.
Otto managed to slam the beast away with his free hand, but it rebounded right back an instant later. His vision was tinged with black spots as the Direwolf latched onto his shoulder, digging into his flesh. Otto's three attackers mauled him from every direction, tugging him back and forth like a ragged scrap of cloth. Otto felt his limbs stiffen as blood seeped from his body. Very distantly, he noticed his friends in similar conditions. Willam was sprawled on the ground. Joseph was still entombed beneath a mountain of Direwolves. Argentum was cornered, snarling against a horde of attackers.
The numbness spread to the rest his body. Otto could no longer feel the Direwolves clamped onto his limbs, nor the stinging abrasions that covered his bloody frame. The rest of the world was a dull roar, strangely melodious to his ears. At least my death will be swift, Otto thought. If I close my eyes, it will be as if I'm dreaming. . .
Suddenly a howl pierced the air, more deafening than the crack of thunder. It drowned everything else out; the snarling, grunting, barking, scuffling and cursing of friends and foe alike. The entire world was filled by the eerie cry. Dozens of heads swivelled simultaneously as the source of the noise presented itself.
Winter emerged from absolutely nowhere. The Direwolf seemed absolutely resplendent under the steady glow of the overhead moon. He stood tall and straight, his head inclined and his tail raised like a flag. The stance simply radiated authority.
Winter tossed his head back and howled again, imbuing the world with his modulating pitch. The Direwolf had attracted everyone's attention. All eyes were transfixed on his luminous form. He barked with such power and vigour that even Otto himself flinched away. The Direwolf pack hesitated, every beast frozen in place.
Winter barked again, louder than before; an explosion of overwhelming noise. The other Direwolves cowered and backed away slowly. Otto sighed in relief as their heavy jaws withdrew from his tender flesh.
He risked a glance at his battered allies. Joseph was covered in scratches and completely dazed, his eyes wide open. Blood soaked his torn clothing, but the damage was far less than what Otto had expected. Willam was sprawled on the ground with his face jammed into the dirt and a bloody hand clamped over his burnt arm, the old scars reopened by the fresh conflict.
Meanwhile, Argentum had recovered from his assault. The Tyrannosaurus glowered at his assailants, who were currently preoccupied backing away from Winter. The white Direwolf swept his glare across every member of the pack in turn, taking everyone in. His gaze lingered on a cluster of wolves who had not retreated from their positions. Winter growled, revealing his gleaming white canines. The cluster stood their ground. For an instant, the tension escalated to its previous peak.
Suddenly, a pure black Direwolf shouldered past the other wolves, his fiery green eyes gleaming with malice. Otto recognized him as the beast who had initiated the attack by howling at their hill. But moreover, there was something strangely. . . familiar about him. Otto couldn't shake his underlying sense of discomfort away. He shuddered and turned back toward Winter, watching for his Direwolf's reaction.
Rather than backing down or simply standing his ground, Winter advanced forward. His eyes were orbs of molten gold as he leapt from his rock onto the frosty dirt, scattering clumps of snow from beneath his paws. Upon the impact, the loose circle of wolves backed away again, forming a ramshackle ring. Without a moment's hesitation, Winter's black-furred rival advanced to meet his challenge. The two wolves padded forward until they were within lunging distance of one another. Winter snarled at his opponent with a bloodthirsty roar, primal and ferocious. Otto flinched from the explosive noise. Never before had he seen Winter in such an aggressive state.
The black Direwolf answered the taunt with a stout bark of his own. Not a moment later, he followed the vocal outburst with a few vicious snaps at Winter. None of the attacks made physical contact, but the effects were devastating all the same. The black Direwolf had declared his supremacy over the pack. As reigning alpha, the beast would answer any threats to his dominance with a show of physical force. If need be, the black alpha would defend his title with his life. If Winter engaged the beast, the conflict would almost certainly result in one of their deaths. But Otto knew his own Direwolf would never simply give up.
Winter surged forward in a seething rage. Before Otto could so much as blink, the white Direwolf snapped at his opponent's face with a fury that Otto had never seen before. The black Direwolf, equally surprised and stunned, blinked and retreated one step. By snapping at his opponent's face, Winter had issued the universal challenge of dominance between Direwolves; the fight between an alpha and their challenger for supremacy over the contested pack.
Winter backed away from his opponent with a menacing growl. The two combatants began circling, sizing each other up. The other Direwolves backed away to form a ring around the two opponents. By traditional customs, none were allowed to interfere in the duel.
As the two wolves surveyed one another, Otto took the opportunity to examine the scene as well. By now, it had been nearly a month since the Megalosaurus attack and Winter had managed to recover from his near-fatal injuries. However, the Direwolf was still far from being fully healed, which was painfully obvious from his struggle with daily exercises. Otto often noticed his companion short of breath during their brief excursions to the nearby lake and forest. However, that wasn't to say Winter was weak. Conversely, he had grown exponentially since Otto's initial encounter with him.
During his first day on the island, Winter had only reached his chest. By now, Otto barely reached Winter's shoulder. In the short span of less than three months, the Direwolf had nearly doubled in size. The monumental transformation was simply astounding. Otto reflected that even though Winter was slightly taller than him, the Direwolf was far heavier as well, perhaps twice or even thrice Otto's weight. With such an extraordinary size, Winter was easily capable of holding his own against countless other inhabitants of the island. However, Otto was starting to develop doubts about his companion's chance of victory.
A brief analysis of Winter's opponent revealed nothing but bad news. Standing in such close proximity, it was unquestionable that the enemy Direwolf was the larger of the two combatants. He was taller than Winter by half a head and much burlier as well, at least half again the width that the white wolf possessed. The reason behind this disparity was obvious. After the attack on their previous camp, Winter had suffered from an extensive coma, which he nearly starved to death from. Following their arduous journey into the north, Winter had been sustained by salmon and occasionally the rare otter or Megaloceros fawn. This insignificant diet had barely kept him nurtured. Worse still, it completely prevented him from regaining lost weight. Winter was currently on the verge of becoming a sack of skin and bones.
His opponent, on the other hand, was a looming mass of fur and muscle. The enemy Direwolf had a glossy coat of shiny black fur, which gleamed like freshly spilled oil under the moonlight. Beneath his outer layer, the black Direwolf was lean yet surprisingly muscular. His well-defined body rippled like water with even the slightest of movements. Immediately, it was evident that this wolf was at the height of his physical peak. Compared to Winter, the black Direwolf simply shone like a beacon of health. In fact, it seemed to glow with an aura of authority, similarly to Winter.
Suddenly, every observation clicked together within Otto's mind. Urgently, he glanced around at the Direwolves who surrounded the circling combatants. A handful of long-forgotten memories suddenly resurfaced within him.
Otto immediately noticed a plump slate-grey wolf who seemed ready to throw himself into the battle. He was crouched down low and his shaggy coat was bristling in anticipation. Currently, he stood in the very centre of the black Direwolf's cluster of companions. With rapidly mounting dread, Otto observed that one of the grey wolf's ears were completely torn off. He gasped in alarm.
Whirling around, Otto scoped out every other wolf in turn. There, in the corner, two golden Direwolves stood side by side; one male, the other female. They were nearly perfect replicas of each other. Twins, Otto knew at once. And there; a cloudy grey she-wolf, easily the oldest in the pack, yet no less intimidating than any of her comrades. Otto recognized her as well. The beta female.
He noticed another black wolf, nearly the same shade as Winter's aggressor. Both Direwolves shared the same pitch black hue. Otto shook his head and cursed. My older sister, one part of him whispered, while the other thought, this can't be happening. A closer inspection of the other Direwolves confirmed his growing suspicions. Otto quickly reached one prominent conclusion; he recognized this pack of wolves.
Perhaps not him exactly, but an extension of himself. One that had experienced Winter's past. One that had relived the Direwolf's life. Everything suddenly made perfect sense. From Winter's aggressive behaviour, to the pack's initial submission to his authority.
Otto realized that Winter had formerly belonged to this pack.
The connections had been there all along, but Otto had never noticed them. Now they were blatantly obvious to his eyes. Winter's challenger, the black Direwolf, was his father's murderer. Not just his father either, Otto reflected with a pang of rage. The monster had murdered Winter's entire family. By usurping his father's position as alpha, the demon had thrown Winter's life into utter chaos. The monstrous black Direwolf had isolated Winter, both from his home and his pack.
Otto shifted his glare toward the black alpha's equally ruthless second in command. The cowardly grey beta, formerly an omega, stood on the edge of the ring, looking ready to pounce into the fray himself. Otto recognized the miserable beast by his missing ear, the area that Winter had mauled apart in an attempt to tear the beta's throat out. Otto cultivated an intense hatred for the worthless beast. The traitorous Direwolf had turned against Winter's father before his blood was even cold. However, being the first to convert sides, he had jumped positions from omega to beta. During Winter's absence from the pack, the beast had clearly enjoyed a life of luxury under his newfound power. The beta's position guaranteed him choice portions from fresh kills, whereas before it was lucky to eat at all. This allowed the wolf to grow plump and fat, when before it had been a living skeleton.
The beta flicked his tail disdainfully, his eyes narrowed. He was completely absorbed in scrutinizing the fight, though his focus was clearly fixed on Winter's opponent. Otto immediately understood why the beta was so eager to support the black Direwolf. He owed all his success toward his alpha. Without the black Direwolf, this cowardly grey beta was nothing. However, Otto was more concerned about the extents of the grey wolf's loyalty. If his alpha started losing the fight, would the beast interfere?
Before he could dwell on the answer, Otto turned to the beta's right, where the old grey she-wolf crouched. Her aged brown eyes shone with vigour, gleaming as they surveyed the scene. Despite her noticeable age, the beta female seemed ready to intervene at any moment, but not for the same reason as her cowardly male counterpart. She wants to help Winter, Otto realized.
Despite the white Direwolf's prolonged isolation from his pack, a handful of his former companions, such as this old grey she-wolf, remained loyal to him. The beta female had previously been one of Winter's primary caretakers in his youth, and undoubtedly recognized her former charge. If the situation demanded, perhaps she would assist her former protégé.
Standing near the old grey Direwolf were two other familiar faces; the golden twins, of whom Winter had grown up around. Both male and female watched apprehensively as the combatants circled. If Otto were to guess, he would say they favoured Winter over their ruthless black alpha. Their scrawny bodies, previously well-nourished under the reign of Winter's father, were now pockmarked with scars and sores. Judging by the abuse they had suffered since the demise of their previous alpha, neither of them was particularly fond of the black Direwolf.
Finally, Winter's older sister paced back and forth near the outskirts of the duel. The huge black she-wolf came from a previous litter, yet that didn't detract from her bond with Winter. She had always been kind and protective toward her younger sibling. Otto prayed that her kindness would carry through tonight. If so, it might be enough to make a difference in the final outcome of the fight.
Otto took some small degree of comfort from the knowledge that Winter still had potential allies within the pack. Traditionally, no interferences were allowed in a challenge for leadership. But customs be damned, would these Direwolves rush to Winter's aid if his situation took a turn for the worse?
Otto was abruptly jolted from his thoughts by a chorus of blood-curdling snarls. He glanced up, just in time to see Winter and his foe charging at one another with reckless abandon. In just a few swift bounds, the two Direwolves clashed. Winter was smaller than his opponent, but faster as well. He leapt onto his rival's immense back mere seconds before their collision. With his claws, he dug into the alpha's thick black coat. Blood sprayed across the hilltop as the black Direwolf howled in pain.
Winter attacked with a savage fury. His claws sought vengeance on their own, battering his opponent into oblivion. Every strike made the black Direwolf recoil with a pained snarl. Blow after blow landed down upon the alpha, driving him further and further into the blood-stained ground. Just when Otto thought the battle was over, the great black beast surged to his feet with an ear-shattering roar.
Mustering every free bit of his remaining strength, the black alpha lurched to his side, trying to shake his unwanted passenger off. Winter stubbornly clung to his opponent's blood-soaked coat, though his grip was tenuous at best. The alpha abruptly slammed himself onto the side and rolled over, crushing Winter beneath his heavy bulk. Before the white Direwolf could recover, his enemy sprang up with a ferocious growl. Winter tried to maintain his grip on the alpha's back, but the slippery blood and unexpected maneuver made it impossible.
Rather than clinging onto his opponent's pelt as intended, Winter rolled away and scrambled to regain his footing. The black alpha was relentless. Enraged by Winter's initial onslaught, he stormed forward in a blazing fury. The alpha lashed out with a great black paw, his muscular foreleg rippling with tremendous power.
Winter barely swerved away in time. Panting heavily, the white wolf attempted to retreat. Without a moment's respite, the black alpha pursued. He lashed out again. Winter lost his footing in the slick red snow and toppled into the ground, narrowly avoiding the bone-shattering swipe. Before the white Direwolf could recover, his aggressor closed in.
Winter tried to leap away, but exhaustion and poor timing resulted in his ultimate downfall. The black alpha lashed out, his claws gleaming in the moonlight. The vicious attack careened into Winter's scrawny frame with the power of a landslide. Winter went reeling backwards, rivers of blood running down his coat. The alpha was slow but overwhelmingly strong. Infuriated by Winter's earlier assault, the black Direwolf attacked with tremendous power.
Winter snarled in pain as he struggled to regain a steady stance. Emboldened by the sight of blood, his aggressor pursued relentlessly. The black Direwolf barreled into Winter like a boulder, dashing him against the frozen ground. With incomprehensible speed, the alpha darted toward the fallen wolf. His massive jaws were outstretched for Winter's exposed neck.
Transfixed on the fight until this moment, Otto launched himself forward with a startled cry. Before he could get anywhere close to the two combatants, a solid line of Direwolves intercepted his path with menacing snarls. Their message was perfectly clear; no interference.
Interspersed within the living barricade were a handful of the potential loyalists Otto had noticed earlier. Their desperation was evident, yet fear presided over all else. None of them had the courage to intervene. It was up to him alone.
Otto threw himself forward again but recoiled from the barrier. He cursed and prepared for a third attempt, but his brief struggle was drowned out by the sound of explosive snarling. The alpha converged on Winter's neck. Otto Weiss screamed.
Without a second to spare, Winter twisted away from the alpha's frothing maw. Instead of tearing his throat into a bloody pulp, the alpha sunk his teeth into Winter's shoulder. The night erupted into a chorus of grunts and snarls. Winter tried to roll away, but the alpha's grip was unremitting. The black Direwolf's iron jaws were tightly clamped shut around his battered shoulder. With a savage wrench of his head, the alpha plowed Winter into a rock. The white Direwolf slammed into the boulder head-first. He toppled over, golden eyes glazed over. Otto winced from the impact.
Winter struggled to rise. After a few seconds, he promptly collapsed into the ground.
Otto flung himself toward the wounded wolf, only to be repelled once more by the ring of onlookers. He cursed in frustration. There must be something I can do to help, he thought frantically. Winter won't last much longer on his own. But throwing himself into the fray was stupid, and pointless besides.
Just then, the ludicrous idea pummeled him from absolutely nowhere. Otto backed away from the Direwolf pack, who were too engrossed in the battle to notice. This is ridiculous, he rebuked himself. But at the same time, it was his only hope. Without him, Winter would perish like his family before him.
Otto felt a pang of rage at the thought. That monstrous black Direwolf murdered Winter's entire family. There was no one to help him before, but I'm here now. I won't let anyone harm him again. The black alpha padded forward with deliberately slow steps. In his arrogance, the beast thought he had already won. But not if I have anything to say about it.
Otto concentrated every free aspect of his mind and willpower on Winter. The Direwolf was bleeding heavily, heaped on the ground like a discarded rag. Come on, old friend. Winter didn't budge at all. The black alpha advanced another step. A deep rumble emerged from his throat. He was within lunging distance.
You murdered his family. Otto's hands clenched into fists. You murdered my family. His vision blurred. There was no reason for you to kill my father. But you did. Even after he surrendered. You violated an ancient custom. You decimated my pack. Otto's breathing slowed. You're a monster. The stinging sensation from his wounds faded until everything was numb.
You murdered my mother. Otto's hands trembled. You murdered my brother. His ears were ringing. You murdered my sisters. Black spots danced across his vision. Your greed tore my family apart. Otto's head swam. You murdered them all. His vision turned red. But you made one fatal mistake: you left me alive.
Otto Weiss collapsed. Everything went completely black.
And then he was blinking back to life an instant later. . . watching himself topple over. He growled in alarm, his snowy white fur bristling. What. . . one part of him, the human part, whispered. An instant later, the thought was followed by another. It worked!
Otto Weiss lurched forward, his eyes rolled back until only the whites were visible. Joseph rushed forward to catch his unconscious companion. The scene quickly receded as he turned to face his approaching assailant. The black Direwolf snarled in anticipation, an evil gleam in his eye. The beast hobbled toward him, a great black shadow of death.
Winter rose to meet his foe. His wounds, previously cumbersome, had melted away like late summer snows. Strength pulsed through his body, the combined strength of man and wolf. He felt immortal.
His opponent sensed the change as well. Immediately, the alpha's ears perked up and he growled in alarm. The black Direwolf hesitated for the briefest instance. It was enough. Winter pounced with the unremitting force of an avalanche. His rival went flying into the snow, paws splayed outward to catch the fall. Winter was already in pursuit before his enemy touched the ground.
His jaws clamped around a hind leg, heavy with muscle. Winter crunched down with all the strength he could muster. Months of suffering and loneliness were released in one titanic instant. The alpha's leg buckled with a deafening snap. Winter's rival howled in pain and retaliated by lunging for his throat.
Winter darted backward with extraordinary speed, easily avoiding the attack. All around him, the pack vocalized their approval with a chorus of howls and barks. The black alpha snarled in fury, enraged at their support for Winter. His eyes narrowed as he glared at every Direwolf in turn. Suddenly, those gleaming green orbs widened at the sight of an opportunity.
The alpha whirled around and limped toward some unseen destination, steadfast in his resolve to succeed. Every step jolted the Direwolf's injured paw, making him wince at the effort. Yet he persisted with a feverish zeal. Winter turned curiously, trying to discover the source of his opponent's excitement. His eyes locked on himself; the human part, Otto Weiss. . . who was heaped on the ground.
Unconscious and defenceless save for Joseph, who was injured, Otto's limp body presented an easy target. Before, the black alpha had cheated in his fight against Winter's father by harming spectators. Now he was ready to again. The alpha broke into a sprint. Winter started after his opponent, but he was too late. He would never make it in time.
Distantly, a part of him wondered what would happen if he died in his body. Would his two sides be conjoined together forever? Would Otto become a Direwolf? These thoughts flashed through his head as the black alpha charged forward.
Joseph raised his wooden bow, but the weapon would be practically useless without any arrows to shoot. Otto was piled by the large man's feet, completely helpless to fight or flee. Winter prepared for the worst.
But before the alpha could tear his human body into bloody ribbons, something surprising happened. A solid line of Direwolves advanced to intercept the alpha's charge. Among their ranks was the grey beta female, the golden twins, Winter's older sister, and others that he recognized from his youth. Together, they snarled and blocked the alpha's path, denying him access to his target.
The black Direwolf skidded to a halt. He snapped at the living barricade ferociously. The Direwolves were unrelenting. They held their ground. The display of unified resistance caused a brief delay. It was long enough for Winter to gain an advantage over his opponent. With an eager snarl, he pummeled the black alpha from behind.
The enemy Direwolf rolled away. Almost immediately, he sprang up with a snarl, unsteady on his feet. Before the alpha could regain his balance, Winter charged again. His startled opponent rushed to meet the attack.
The two Direwolves collided in the centre of the clearing. Fluffy clumps of snow scattered everywhere. Winter was surprised to find his scrawny frame overpowering the alpha's heavy bulk. Even with his enhanced strength, the accomplishment was incredible. Before his initial shock completely wore off, instinct took over. Winter lunged in for the kill while his opponent was still dazed.
He slammed the black alpha against the icy ground with a crack. His enemy snarled in pain. Winter lunged for the black Direwolf's exposed throat, his jaws slathering and vision engulfed in flames. At the very last instant, his opponent rolled over, narrowly avoiding the attack and exposing his underbelly in the process. The black alpha had surrendered.
Winter persisted his attack relentlessly.
He didn't care about the pack customs. Not anymore at least. Perhaps he would have spared his enemy in another world. One where his family was never massacred. But they were all dead, murdered at the paws of this demon. And Winter would never let the world forget it.
Rivers of blood opened under the fury of his claws. They sought vengeance with a mind of their own, slashing until the hilltop was drenched in crimson. Briefly, a faint image of Winter's brave grey sister flashed by, encompassing his vision. Winter's grey-furred sister had been mauled to death under the black alpha's orders. He would return the favour. As he tore his opponent into bloody ribbons, Winter felt a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders. His sister's image disappeared with one last satisfied bark.
Next, Winter was visited by visions of his deceased mother and timid black sister. Both had been murdered by the alpha. Both had been disemboweled by his claws. Winter snarled with months of pent-up rage as he charged. The alpha's underbelly was still exposed. His opponent mewled for mercy. Winter tore through flesh and fur relentlessly, dragging out long pink snakes from his enemy's insides. Blood erupted from the alpha's bowels as the images of his mother and sister vanished. Winter's soul felt lighter.
Finally, his brother and father emerged from the mists of his memory. Winter growled longingly for his brother's playful company, for his father's protective shadow looming over him. Both were long-dead, murdered by the black alpha. His brother's neck had been snapped, while his father's throat had been ripped out.
Winter roared with grief as he converged upon the black Direwolf's head. Throwing all his momentum into the attack, he slammed his paws on the alpha's neck until it snapped. The black Direwolf's eyes were glazed over, but there was still the slightest flicker of life within them. With monumental satisfaction, Winter clamped his jaws around the alpha's throat and wrenched his head back. A torrent of blood gushed out in vicious spurts, dark and heavy. Winter's brother vanished with a happy bark. His father stayed longer, casting a proud paternal glance on his son before disappearing forever.
Winter had never felt happier in his entire life.
He threw his head to the heavens and howled, long and mournful. Yet it was a cheerful song as well, one that reflected inspiration and opportunity. Opportunities to grow stronger, to recover from his hardships. Opportunities for a brighter future.
The sun was slowly rising from the east, casting a brilliant golden glare on the land. Winter craned his neck to the west, where the final shadows of night were disappearing. He saw a miniature constellation of stars twinkling in the light of dawn.
One star, largest and brightest of them all, beckoned the others to its side. Five more joined the first, ranging in colour and size; a radiant silver star emerged beside the large white one; another silver star, smallest of the constellation, blinked to life; two glaring grey stars appeared with a flash; finally, a dim dark star emerged beside the others. One by one, the stars disappeared until only the first remained. The huge white star twinkled before vanishing into the remnants of night.
Winter howled again. Finally, it felt as if his burden was gone. His family was happy and free, somewhere in the vast expanse of the heavens. Someday he would join them. But that day was far away. He still had a purpose in life.
A mighty chorus of howls joined his own. Winter glanced around in amazement to witness the other Direwolves lifting their heads. Together, they created a mighty song that encompassed the entire island.
After the last howls died away, Winter found himself surrounded by the pack. At first, nobody moved. Then, Direwolves began bowing down before him. It was only a few individuals at first, the ones that Winter recognized from his youth. Then, miraculously, the strangers joined in. Even the former alpha's circle of lackeys, surrounded by a sea of faithful worshippers, were reluctantly forced into complying.
Finally, Winter found himself encircled by kneeling Direwolves. He was their new alpha. The pack was his.
Author's Note:
Happy New Years everybody! I hope everyone had a wonderful year in 2017. Here's to a great 2018!
Alright, so there around 20 Direwolves in the pack, not including Winter. I'll need your help to name most of them (however, not every single one will be named, just the important ones). For now, we'll name 6 every chapter. You can suggest multiple names for every wolf. There is no limit.
Comment using brackets around the selected number. Ex: [1]
Direwolf 1
Gender: Male
Position: Beta male (demoted to omega in the next chapter)
Appearance: Slate grey fur. Only has one ear, the other was torn off. Chubby and overfed.
Personality: Cowardly, deceitful, untrustworthy, traitorous, sullen.
Status under the reign of Winter's father: Omega male. He was the lowest ranking wolf in the pack. Nobody trusted him. Nobody treated him kindly.
Status under the reign of the black Direwolf: Beta male. He jumped positions from bottom to top by converting sides right after the black Direwolf won. He was despised by all the other wolves (except the new alpha and their circle of companions) for his deceitful maneuver.
Relationship to Winter: Hated by Winter for his betrayal to Winter's father.
Direwolf 2
Gender: Female
Position: Beta female
Appearance: Cloudy grey fur. Oldest wolf in the pack. Largest of all females and larger than most males.
Personality: Calm, wise, patient, protective, trustworthy, loyal.
Status under the reign of Winter's father: Beta female. She was one of the most trusted wolves. She often took care for Winter and his siblings.
Status under the reign of the black Direwolf: She maintained her position as beta female, but the new alpha didn't trust her as much as Winter's father did. She resented her new alpha for murdering Winter's family.
Relationship to Winter: Former caretaker and guardian. A close companion to his deceased parents.
Direwolf 3
Gender: Male
Position: Low-ranking male
Appearance: Albino Direwolf. White fur. Red eyes. Much smaller than all the other wolves.
Personality: Intelligent, ingenuitive, loyal, dedicated, hardworking, quiet, reserved.
Status under the reign of Winter's father: Was not in the pack.
Status under the reign of the black Direwolf: He was incorporated into the pack by the black alpha. His small stature prevented him from achieving a high rank. He had to rely on his intelligence and cunning to thrive.
Relationship to Winter: None
Direwolf 4
Gender: Female
Position: Mid-ranking female
Appearance: Pure black fur. Larger than most males and females.
Personality: Quiet, reserved, calm, thoughtful, protective, loyal.
Status under the reign of Winter's father: A mid-ranking female from a previous litter. She chose to stay with her birth pack rather than find a new one, which most Direwolves are supposed to do. Due to her parent's disapproval, she maintained a relatively low-ranking position.
Status under the reign of the black Direwolf: She maintained her mid-ranking position by lying low and avoiding the new alpha. Secretly, she remained loyal to her family and everyone that the black Direwolf murdered. She despised her new alpha for his actions, though she kept her disapproval hidden.
Relationship to Winter: Older sister from a previous litter.
Direwolf 5
Gender: Male
Position: Mid-ranking male
Appearance: Golden fur, green eyes, average size. Twin to the golden female.
Personality: Adventurous, jovial, cheerful, playful, loyal.
Status under the reign of Winter's father: Although relatively young, he was a respected Direwolf who was entrusted with care taking for Winter and his siblings. He often led them on adventures into the wilderness.
Status under the reign of the black Direwolf: Previously mid-ranking, he dropped a few positions until he was lower than most others. This was because he was one of the last Direwolves to convert sides, and therefore one of the last to receive benefits for doing so. His hatred for the new alpha rapidly swelled because of his maltreatment. He secretly remained loyal to Winter's family.
Relationship to Winter: A former caretaker and playmate from Winter's childhood.
Direwolf 6
Gender: Female
Position: Mid-ranking female
Appearance: Golden fur, green eyes, average size. Twin to the golden male.
Personality: Calm, collected, reserved, intelligent, loyal.
Status under the reign of Winter's father: Although relatively young, she was a respected Direwolf who was entrusted with care taking for Winter and his siblings. She often followed them along for adventures into the wilderness.
Status under the reign of the black Direwolf: Previously mid-ranking, she dropped a few positions until she was lower than most others. This was because she was one of the last Direwolves to convert sides, and therefore one of the last to receive benefits for doing so. She secretly remained loyal to Winter's familly.
Relationship to Winter: A former caretaker and playmate from Winter's childhood.
6f5e4d, Thanks for the support on the series! Your suspicions about Argentum are definitely correct :)
SoulEater841, I feel honoured that you think my story is great! Thank you :)
DevoutRelic, I hope I answered your questions about Argentum in the second half of last chapter. He is, in fact, a Giga. Anyways, bummer about your tribe getting wiped. Anyways, thanks for the continued support :)
Tall-Gothic-Guy, Sorry that the chapters are taking so long, but there's not much I can do to help it :( Glad that you're enjoying what I have so far though!
TheJaiganticBridge, They might never meet a fully grown Giga, but we can still watch Argentum grow!
ItsJustCrow, Thanks for the name suggestion and the continued support! Glad you're enjoying how I've rewritten this video game into a story!
DefendIce, I'm not taking tame suggestions. Thanks for the Otter name though!
IAmNotBacon, Glad that you're enjoying the story! As for my steam, for anyone that wants to know, its the exact same account name as the one here (DaRumpyBurr) I probably won't have much time to play though :( PS, ignore my messy/fake profile info
xPuppeteer, I'm glad that I have inspired you to write a story! My map is set on the original island, with a few minor modifications. The map was described in chapter 2 when Otto found the dossier. Perhaps it might not have been clear enough, sorry for any confusion!
Yeet boi7, Thanks for the support on my story!
Guest, I will too! Thanks for the kind praise!
Chompking55, Your predictions came true! Thanks for the name suggestions and support as well :)
IAmNotFood, Thank you for the wonderful variety of names. I might even use some one day, if that would be fine with you. Steam is DaRumpyBurr, though I won't have much time to play :(
saucegod, Glad you like it!
Jeremy, Sorry not taking tame suggestions.
Tomahawk24, I'm glad you love the story so much!
Col. William 'Ghost' Defender, I also enjoyed writing the story without the implants and such. Really does make you wonder about the true intentions too!
Re Lupa, Thanks for the supportive comments and name suggestions :)
Peej94, Thank you for the kind praise. It makes me happy to know that some people consider my story one of the best on this site :)
The Last Z Fighter, Tricky situations are what make every story good! Your theory is also (I believe) canon. Helena mentioned something about that in her survivor notes, I believe. Although I could be mistaken.
Grillsyguy, Thanks for the supportive comment! Your wish is granted!
The Dweeb 4252, Thank you for the support! It has been updated as well!
Thanks for taking the time to check out my first fanfiction, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I will try my best to upload as regularly as possible. Feel free to comment, ask question or criticize my story, review is always welcome. And if you like what you saw, make sure to check out the other ARK: Survival Evolved fanfictions out there. Have a great rest of your day or night.
-DaRumpyBurr