Chapter 7 - They Are Not One Of Us
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The sun was nearly set by the time Aleu and the others made it down to the valley. The wolves that were settling down for the night and were brought to attention when Aleu was near. One of the wolves who was pacing anxiously looked up, and let out a sigh of relief.
"Aleu!" She exclaimed excitedly as she bounded over and nuzzled her.
"Hey Matsu." Aleu said, returning the nuzzle and giving her a lick on the cheek.
"Where were you!? We were so worried!" Matsu whimpered sadly.
"I'm sorry. I just got a little … uh … distracted …" Aleu said, looking back at the motley crew gathered behind her.
One of the other wolves stepped forward. "Who do you have with you?"
The wolf was much larger and tougher looking than Aleu.
This must be the pack leader. Oswald gulped as he tried to crouch lower.
"They needed help." Aleu said. "So I told them they could stay with the pack."
"So you went hunting for food for the clan, and instead you come back with more mouths to feed instead?"
"No, it's not like that!" Aleu protested.
"And we managed to get enough food for the pack!" Matsu interjected.
"What was I supposed to do? Leave them there!?" Aleu asked.
"Maybe you shouldn't argue with him." Oswald whispered to Aleu.
"I know what I'm doing." Aleu said.
"What if he attacks us?" Oswald asked.
"He won't. He's all bark and no bite. " Aleu reassured before turning back to the wolf. "And you're going to respect them as long as they're here."
The wolf snarled slightly. Aleu snarled back and he took a step back submissively.
Whoa. She's fearless isn't she? Oswald thought.
Aleu headed over to a group of wolves, nursing their young. She gently got Fanny off of her back and put her down next to them.
The mother wolves looked at her curiously, before going back to their pups. Ortensia and Oswald placed the twins next to her. Fanny pulled Floyd and Lloyd close, snuggling them tightly.
Matsu came over and nuzzled Aleu again. "You hungry?"
"Yeah, I'm starving." Aleu said.
"Well come on." Matsu giggled. "I got us a nice, big, elk."
"Why don't we just eat the food our alpha brought back." The wolf from earlier huffed.
Wait? He's not the Alpha? Oswald thought.
"Stop it!" Aleu growled.
"Why?" He asked.
"Dakota! She said stop it!" Matsu said.
Dakota stepped towards her. "I just think it's odd for her to go out hunting and not come back with any food, but with more members." He looked around at the others. "Surely I'm not the only one who thinks so."
Is … is Aleu the pack leader?
The other wolves muttered to each other. Aleu's ears folded down as she backed away.
"Aleu?" Matsu asked.
"I … I need to … I … I … I'll be right back …" Aleu said, before running off.