Chapter 8 - I'm Looking For Answers From The Great Beyond
Aleu sat on a small ledge, and looked around to make sure she was alone. She exhaled and looked to the sky. "Muru … if you can hear me … I need your help …"
Aleu waited as the wind rushed around her. At her paws appeared a small, brown, field mouse.
"Hello Aleu!" Muru greeted with a small smile. He frowned when he saw Aleu's expression. "Is something wrong?"
Aleu sighed and lowered her head. "I … I don't know if I'm doing a good job leading the pack …"
"What do you mean?" Muru asked. "They're happy, and they have food. All because you lead them here!"
"I know but … what if that's not enough? What if I'm just not the right leader." She asked.
"What's this about?" Muru asked.
"I … I found some others … they were alone and it looked like they needed help, so I … I said they could stay with the pack. I'm just worried it was the wrong choice." She sighed.
Muru thought for a moment. "Do you think you did?"
"What?"
"Do you think you made the wrong choice?" Muru asked.
"No, of course not." Aleu said.
"I think you have your answer then." Muru said.
"But the rest of the pack …"
"You need to have faith in your choices, Aleu. Trust yourself." Then he faded away.
"Muru! Muru!" Aleu called out. Why does he always leave when I need him the most?
She started her way back to the pack grounds. I still don't know if I'm a good leader or not.
Her stomach growled harshly and she let out a small groan. … Maybe I should have brought home food instead … Maybe I did make a mistake ….
Another growl.
… Maybe if I bring something back now ….
More growling.
I can't really hunt now, I'm too hungry to even think straight!
She groaned and laid on the ground. What am I going to do?
Aleu rested her head on her paws and closed her eyes tightly.
…..
Aleu jolted awake as her eyes glowed brightly.
Dakota took a step forward, grinning at Oswald.
The rabbit glared him down, standing protectively in front of Ortensia and Kyle.
The wolf licked his lips as he got closer.
"Get back!" Oswald snarled.
"And why should I?" He asked, showing his teeth. "Aleu isn't here, ain't she? What's stopping me from telling her you ran off?"
"I am!" Matsu snarled, intercepting him.
He smirked and stepped away. "Oh right, I forgot our leader's little girlfriend is still here."
Dakota walked over to the nursing wolf mothers and stood in front of Fanny and her babies. "This one's half dead. Why can't this one be a mercy kill?"
"You stay away from her!" Oswald yelled, rushing over.
"Or what?" Dakota grinned.
Oswald put his fists up again, like he had when he first met Aleu.
Dakota nudged him with his paw, making him stumble. He let out a laugh. "Nice try bunny, but you wouldn't stand a chance, even with Matsu and your little friends protecting you!"
Oswald thumped his foot angrily. "I'm warning you! You stay away from my honey bun!?"
"Honey bun?" Dakota asked, in a mockingly sweet voice. "Isn't that just precious!"
He laughed before getting closer to Fanny. "Let's just see how sweet this honey bun tastes…"
Aleu snapped out of her trance and quickly got up to her feet. I need to get back there!
She forced herself to run back to the pack grounds, where the nursing wolves stood protectively in front of Fanny, snarling him down.
"Dakota! Stop!" Aleu barked.
Dakota put himself into a faux pose of submission as he slunk away from the nursing wolves. "Oh, of course dear leader….how foolish of me to even consider hurting a member of the pack…. "
Aleu sighed and turned to Matsu. "What am I going to do?"
"Why don't you just banish him?" Matsu asked, nuzzling her.
"I...I don't know." Aleu said, returning the nuzzle. "What if he stops? What if it's just hunger making him act like this….I'll...I'll just keep an eye on him for now."
"If you say so.." Matsu frowned. "..Hey uh, I got you dinner, it's in the den…"
"Thanks.." Aleu said, giving her cheek a lick before heading into the den, but not before looking back at Dakota one last time.