Wolfed
1885
*** My whole life I've lived away from humans. ***
*** An early offspring, cast away into the shadows by my parents. ***
*** I've gazed upon them, but they have not gazed upon me. ***
*** I never felt the need to go back to them, not until now. ***
Chapter 2: La Luna del cacciatore
Later that evening, when the other wolves were asleep, Grey-spirit rose from her position on the rocks and drifted away from the valley. She walked with her head down, her ears up, her claws ready. She wandered down the same path that she wandered down every 28 days. The night was dark and cold. Dew fell from wet leaves, dropping silently on the ground. Grey-spirit stopped, cocked her head, pricked her ears and watched an owl swoop through the night's sky. She sighed in awe, watching the owl fly above the trees. As soon as the owl was out of sight, Grey-spirit continued on her journey.
At last the path stopped over a high cliff that gave the very best view of the moon and the little river beneath its white glow, the silver fish jumping upstream. The river was too far away to wander to, alone. There were some ranches here and there, farms with cattle and animals that the wolves would sometimes be lucky to catch. But the farmers had guns, and would shot at any threat. If the wolves were really unlucky, there would be people that came into their home and kill their feed, and the wolves themselves. They would be shot at with weapons that shoot thunder and fire. There was no helping a downed wolf.
Tonight was a full moon, one of the biggest looking moons Grey-spirit had seen in her life time. A moon like that meant that something was going to change, that nature's balance would tip, just like the unusual large moon. 'La Luna del cacciatore,' swooned Grey-spirit, swaying in the summer breeze. 'The hunter's moon,' she whispered. The scene was breath taking. She sat on her hind legs and sucked in the cold air before letting out a low and loud howl. Grey-spirit sat all night, watching and listening to the forest life, the river and the homes of the peoples, the suns in their homes flicker on and off, the barking dogs and neighing horses, walking by their leaders through the dark, dark night.
As she lay on the cliff, her head rested gently on her paws, a horse, pulling a people cart, neighed to a stop. Two peoples crept out from the white sheeting. One was older and thicker, Grey-spirit thought he was the father or leader, and the other was tall but young and thin. In their hands, they both held guns. Her smile faded and her mind grew numb 'Hunter,' she cried. She let out another howl, but this one was a warning. They turned to look at her. The younger one raised his gun, his leader talking it through with him, a hunting lesson. BANG! It missed. Grey-spirit's fast instincts forced her to run. She ran all the way down the path, cuts and bruises took places on her legs, giving her great pain.
Lupa had heard the bang. It was distant but real, she could hear Grey-spirit running. It wasn't long after she had departed with Cerberus and walked out of her rocky den that Grey-spirit rushed in shouting, 'hunters! I saw a hunters head into the forest.' That woke the rest of the wolves. They scattered and skittered, jumping through the small valley like gazelle running from a lion. Another bang flooded the valley, birds rose from their trees and the pack whimpered of fear.
Cerberus came out and growled. 'Shut it everyone!' he shouted. The wolves stopped running around but they were scared and afraid.
'Thank you Cerberus,' Lupa murmured. 'Please my fellow wolves calm yourselves you will give away our position, the hunters have not found our valley, not yet. Mona, Grey-spirit, Jarz (a grey wolf), Cerberus, take watch everyone else take cover.' The wolves got into position, most just stuck to the sides of the valley to make themselves unnoticeable. If they were lucky none would get hurt. Jarz went out ahead, because he was small but fast, he was the one to scout ahead. He padded around trees and brushed against bushes. He could hear the peoples.
'Now when you see the next wolf, don't miss. Keep the gun up, your hands relaxed and both eyes open.'
'Yeah, yeah, it didn't even look like a wolf.'
'Did ya hear the thing? Of course it was a wolf. Whether it's an ugly duckling or a prancing unicorn, you shot.'
'Got it.'
'Wait.'
'What?'
'Shut your mouth boy, I think I hear one.'
Jarz froze, he was behind a tree and his heart was racing. The older man lined up his gun at Jarz. Jarz jumped at the last second, but he wasn't fast enough to avoid the silver bite that skimmed his side. He whimpered but had to warn the pack.