Chapter 4

Chasing the Lions

That night I stood watching my sleeping pack. I waited until Feather's came to take over. Silverclaw and Blackclaw walked over and we rubbed coats. I pushed to the night skies and flew scanning the area. The forest was quiet expect for the night animals hunting. An owl flew next me carrying a dead mouse in its talons. It looked at me with its bright yellow eyes before flying to his nest.

I snorted and flew on. "Mama!" I looked down and saw a little boy holding a little teddy bear. I flew down-a few feet away from him, he looked about three years old. I walked and sat in the moonlight, he pushed his way from the bushes and his eyes were on me. I got up and walked over to him and pointed to the village.

"Can you help me?" He had a high-pitched voice that sounded sweet and small with a hint of fear. I nodded and wrapped my wing around him. I placed him on my back and walked to the village. He pointed to his house and I came to a stop. I sat and he slid off of me. I waited until he was safely in his house before flying back into the sky.

The stars shone along with moon. Howls of puppies dreaming could be heard from north to the south. CRACK-A-BOOM! Thunder crashed over my head and drips of water flew. I dove down and into a cave. Luckily water didn't get on my wings, at least not enough to keep me grounded. I waited out the storm before heading to the hot lands (that's what we call anyway). The heat was perfect to dry me off.

I landed upon the surface and walked, slowly, across the land. I kept walking and soon found myself in the mountains. I scanned the area and I felt as if I was being stalked. I kicked it to a gallop and raced to the lake. I turned and raced along the water. I waited for the feeling to disappear, but it stayed. I took shelter in the woods, but it grew to the peak where I felt panic. I bucked once and galloped off.

Lighting crashed in front of me, making me rear up. I looked up and the clouds were gone. It was weird, but I shrugged and walked off. I walked to a cliff on the east side and waited for my favorite time of day. Dawn. It was something that I have done since the first day I came, chase the sun. I've been chasing the sun ever since and it almost be like I'm pushing the sun to the highest point of the sky. I thought of it as a race. It had to be the first one to reach the sky.

The skies soon turned their purple and orange color, that's when the roar of the lion came. I looked up and jumped off the cliff and flew up to the darker part of the sky. The sun sprouted from the ground as I was half way through the forest. I turned up and took higher as the sun went higher into the sky.

When it was half way up, it stopped. I went under and pushed up by it. It moved with me as I went higher into the sky. I turned sideways and let the tip of my wing touch the clouds. I looked down and saw no one there. I landed down on the cliff and howled upon the sun rising. The early morning brought life to the waking world. The singing birds and the young dancing around like there wasn't a moment to waste.

Jay came up beside me and rested at my side. "Isn't it wonderful," I asked.

"Like every morning. You can even hear the music Dave plays after your howl. It's so quiet," he signed.

"Lets take this moment a fly around."

"Fine by me. Don't you need to sleep, you've been up all night."

"I'll sleep later. Come on."

We flew across the air and listen to the calming music Dave played while he rested on his porch. We soared in silence as I rested my head on his shoulder. One of our wings wrapped around each other as the others pushed with wind. Our tails twisted together as the sun gleamed against our coats. We flew back to the camp as we let go I jumped to my den and curled up in my nest.

"Gillian!" A voice made me jump out of my den. I looked at the sun and it was almost mid-day. I snorted and ran to the edge. It was Feather. The she-wolf signaled me down to where she was. I flew in front of her and out eyes met.

"What is it, Feather? You woke me up from the best dream ever," I snorted.

"What was it," she asked tipping her head a little.

"It was a hunting dream. It was the biggest bison I've ever saw."

"Cute. It's the illness, more wolves have gotten it."

"God, no. You have got to be kidding me."

"I wish I was. All the adults are fine, it's the pups that have it. What do you wan us to do?"

"We move them to Dave's house. You will need to check on them."

"What about Hawk and Snow's appreciates ceremony? They waited for six mouths to get this."

"Is every pup in and out of the nursery sick?"

"Yes."

"Then they'll have to wait until they are better."

Feather snorted and flew to her den. I hated doing this to pups, who have been waiting for they're chance to see outside of the camp. I hung my head and walked to the forest. I walked up to the stream and joined Stream and Sun, two she-wolves that are almost ready to have pups.

"Afternoon, girls," I said, lapping the water.

"Gillian," Sun said bowing her head.

"Is it true that every pup has that illness that's been going around," Stream asked.

"Sadly yes."

"What is going to happen to them," Sun asked.

"We are just going to move them to stop the illness from moving around. I was going to ask Dave to see if he'd be able to take them until they are better."

"What about Hawk's and Snow's ceremony? Rocky and Waterfall won't be very happy," Stream pointed out.

"How do think I feel? Waterfall was the one who showed me how to fly. She was like a mentor to me and I want her pups to be out there learning."

"The illness won't last long don't blame your self," Sun whispered.

"What Sun said," Stream agreed.

I bowed my head and flew to Dave's house. I landed on a branch afraid to be seen. Because I saw the lions next to his house. This is bad.