Disclaimer: I don't own RK nor this entry

This was the only entry for NOV2010- Frosty.

There is no voting in this one, this is only for those interested in following the story.

Enjoy!

Title: Frosty trial
Author: JeniNeji
Prompt: Frost
Genre: Family, dark, drama
Rating: T
Character: Kaoru, Kaoru's mother, Gohei
Words: 1,089
Warnings: Language and violence
A/N: Part # 2 of Return to wildlife
Summary: The destiny of a litter of wolves is reduced to the destiny of merely one pup.

Kaoru cowered behind her brothers and sisters while the alpha, a term she had begun to fear with all her might, watched them and her mother with a frosty gaze while his mind swirled with indecision. He had to make a choice with them because they were impure…

"What will you have us do?" One of the elders, another term she had come to fear in her young age, asked. His eyes twitched with pity and anger at the same time.

Her mother, one of the few wolves with pristine white hair whimpered, "What do you mean? They are my pups and I work long and hard every day, just as the others, to get food for our pack."

Five pairs of eyes fell on her, but she resisted the urge to back a step or show any kind submission as she would have done had it been a different matter than her litter's life.

Out of the five wolves only one wolf, with a coat dressed in different tones of brown, snarled in disgust. "You lowly bitch! You rutted with a stray dog! You should be killed for your insolence!"

"Silence!" growled threateningly the alpha wolf.

He was by far the biggest wolf in the pack and his coat color was a mixture between grey and brown. His eyes, unlike many of them, were dark and full of wisdom. She had always believed in him, because she was certain he knew a kind of kindness born of hardship which very few obtained in their life. It was a pity she had been wrong about his never ending kindness.

"You were wrong in your doing Miho," declared the alpha wolf slowly, "We cannot feed mouths which will not help us in the future. There is a reason we, wild wolves, live by ourselves and stray dog, need to live with humans. Therefore—"

"I will leave and take them with me! Please, do not condemn my pups for my wrong doing," pleaded the white female dog and lay down in sign of servitude.

The alpha looked at her for a few moments, his dark eyes moving from her to her pups with a sad gaze. He knew there were few things he could do, and out of them, none would make the female happy. It was a hard moment; his decision would affect his whole pack and will also risk her life, his and their ranks.

"Your suggestion is denied."

Waiting for no other hint the four elders raced at blinding speed and each one of them caught a pup and moved to dismember it mercilessly. The white mother wined brokenly but also moved to her offspring and caught one, the one she believed to have the most chance at survival, and rushed out of the way of the others, leaving another two behind. The cries of her dying pups will forever be echoing in her memories and she was sure the guilt and sadness will never leave her.

"Hand that pup!" One of the elders demanded.

The mother placed her pup behind her front legs and snarled furiously in an unfamiliar show of defiance.

"Why you?" the brown wolf from before charged but the white wolf dodged and bit his neck without remorse. Blood splattered the snow underneath them as they tried to best the other.

"Stop!" the alpha ordered and the white wolf lowered the pressure on her assaulter's neck but didn't release him, "Miho, release him."

Miho reluctantly did as told and may down to hide her only pup left.

The alpha shook his head and jumped down from the rocks he had taken as residence. "It's a female…she better earn her food Miho," warned the alpha as he passed by her.

"Alpha, surely you jest," the brown injured wolf said hatefully.

"I do not. Females are scarce as it is, don't forget it Gohei."

Gohei turned to Miho, his hatred plain in his yellow gaze but the fear he thought he was going to find in her eyes was absent, instead blue eyes defied him. Knowing Miho's superior ability at fights he silently moved to an easier target. His yellow eyes turned down to the black pup with blue eyes cowering under her mother's fur, "Beware pup…accidents happen all the time."

Miho nipped threateningly and Gohei moved farther away from her and kicked one of the lifeless pups before following the route the alpha had previously taken.

Miho growled agitated with anger and despair, and little by little each elder left her to mourn her lost in peace. Miho howled her sadness and frustration to the white moon while her broken heart valiantly tried to find strength. She needed to be strong in order to save her remaining pup.

"Mother?" inquired the small pup from under her, "Is he going to hurt us?"

Miho looked down and licked her pup's muzzle reassuringly, "He will Kaoru."

Kaoru whimpered in fear and dug even deeper under her mother and tried to hide under the snow below them.

"Shh," reassured Miho, "I will keep you safe."

Kaoru looked up, startled for a moment, "Kaoru wants to be with you," the pup fervently professed.

Miho licked Kaoru's muzzle again. She knew she had made the right choice. Her daughter, although a hybrid, was the one who looked like a wolf the most. It had been a fast decision, but she knew how the lack of females in the pack was causing them all difficulties. She knew her alpha had been merciful, and she was glad he allowed her to have at least one pup from her past and unknown lover. It allowed her to remember him and the heroic way in which he saved her that fateful day. She would have to thank him one day.

"Kaoru, we depart."

Kaoru, who was almost asleep, looked up with sharp and focused blue eyes, "Where?"

"We will be by ourselves this winter. The storms will prevent them from finding us easily, and then, in the spring we will part ways. I return to the pack," instructed Miho, and when Kaoru was about to object, the older wolf growled. "You will do as I say."

Without any other warning, Miho stood and began to walk away, in the opposite direction her alpha had taken. Kaoru whimpered but her mother ignored her. She followed out of fear of the other wolves, and soon, both females disappeared behind a curtain of snowflakes.

Yes, I will protect the only living piece of you, my love.