Hey there... I'm posting another chapter...
I just want to dedicate this chapter to a dear friend of mine, who died recently of a severe form of leukemia at the age of 24...
A young man full of energies, ready to shake up the whole world in order to help his friends... A simple and humble guy...
some of these episodes really make me lose faith in everything that I believe... However, I know that you're finally in a better place, far away
from earthly sufferings that have plagued you...Rest in peace, M.
Chapter 14: Dark Gap
Jasper Park United Pack P.O.V.
Another splendid day shone on the broad valley…Few days passed since snow melt on the ground, leaving here and there wet spaces…Air was cold, but it was quite heated with the passing of days, producing a crisp morning shroud that enveloped the environment.
As first rays of the day hit closed eyes of Alpha Leader, they opened them widely and got ready to face another day of offices.
The leading duo, after opening their tired and weary eyes, after stretching their limbs and yawning loudly, left their nest, in order to inhale a breath of fresh air, with which they would clear their minds.
But, inside the den remained to sleep two elements, who were snoring loudly, one of them talking in its sleep.
Alpha leader sighed happily while watching them from outside, a smile imprinted on their faces, and the male one began to speak: "I bet they're going to be fantastic and fun-loving omegas… I hope at least almost as much as me!" He finished with a smirk.
The female one rolled her eyes, and punched the male on his shoulder, letting him squeal lightly in pain… and then she laughed, saying: "I hope they have not taken intelligence from you… because if they have, they're gonna have serious troubles!"
"Ah…ah…ah… really funny…tell me, do you have any omega ancestors in you family…?"He said, shaking his head.
She began to think, saying: "Hmm…maybe…but, according to me, your influence had had an heavy impact on me…" She nudged him with her nose, and he reciprocated.
"Oh…now that I remember…" He began to say, his eyes went wide for the emotion, "…She is going to finally come back home!"
"Yes, my dear…I can't wait to hug her again!"She spoke, tears of joy forming in her eyes.
"We cannot help but waiting until this late evening… She'll surely be came back home by then" He said, embracing her in a tight hug, and then looking directly into her hazel eyes with his calming, relaxing cerulean eyes.
"I bet they're gonna be crazy to see her again…I mean, after all, their sister was missing them for a whole winter…" She spoke.
"Yeah, I bet they will, too…" He added.
GRIN's P.O.V.
A week has passed since that tragic day. Things were slowly returning to normal, but sometimes the discomfort of such a loss came back to flog our hearts, making us powerless to do anything but cry bitterly on his grave.
It was time to make a change, and today seemed a perfect time to do so. Today I felt full of energies, ready to go to the ends of the world.
"Someone's feeling really better, today, uh?..."I perceived to come from a familiar voice. "…But, I bet that after eating you will feel even better,right?" She annexed.
My mouth began istantly to stain…rivulest of saliva were escaping profusely from my mouth, almost going to digest the land on which they fell. I was almost jumping in joy, the pain in my side almost entirely disappeared.
I pretty much launched on the piece of meat that Oya has placed before me, almost voraciously struggling against it,in a fight that I would have definitely won. While I was acting so, I could hear her giggles fill den's air, she was barely trying to hold back laughter, but without success. Obviously the way I acted had aroused in her hilarity, and I was quite satisfied. After all that period of shadows, bring a bit of light on someone's face looked like a really difficult task… But I had done it… and, man, it felt so good to help someone in need…it made me feel so good about myself…
I devoured that piece of meat, gnawing part of the bone and appreciating its bone marrow…Mine was pretty much a never-ending hunger… I could still eat another entire elk without problems…
"Thank you for the meal, ma'am!" I said, bowing slightly my head in esteem.
"No problem, kid… but, from now on, since your health is restored, and you trained hard with…" Her face saddened a bit pronouncing his name "…Valen… we are going to establish shifts for hunting and, when we're going to move, naming one of us in search for a shelter…Understand?"
I nodded, understanding loudly and clearly my possible tasks, I've been trained to perform them in a manner as possible tending to perfection.
"Ok, boy… I think it's time to move…northwards" She said, approaching rapidly the space outside their burrow, and I followed her quickly.
After I've reached her, we stopped a moment before Valen's grave, showing him our respects one last time, giving him a moment of silence and prayer before moving forward with our lives… As he surely would have wanted us to do…
"Never let ghost of the past invade your present…Set them aside carefully…Be always able to continue on your way, no matter how heavy the burden is, face the reality with your sparkling simplicity… and never dismiss your vital smile…" Valen's word reverberated in my mind, certain that they will remain imprinted forever.
After giving their final farewells, Oya said "Let's go" and began to run quickly, moving north, as if she was being chased by something, and I immediately followed her in her sprint.
Unknown P.O.V.
"BURTON, I SAID…STOP IT!" A woman's voice growled loudly.
Three female wolves were surrounded and almost cornered, driven by their assilants to a tall rocky wall, foreclosing them any possible escape route.
"Ahahah…Why resist so much, Maya?" He said looking firstly at his fellow, and then turning his gaze to a magnificent female wolf, whose fur was really distinguishing: her fur was like a dark ormolu colour, with silvery-white reflections scattered everywhere, except for her belly and her facial mask,fully decorated with a silver-white shade; but hes fur did nothing but highlight her eyes, her pure light cerulean eyes.
Her appearence seemed to marry perfectly her spirit: a valuable fighter was hidden behind all that precious fashion, she was awarded as the best Alpha student of that year…But it was an unequal struggle…they were seven against three…Their only remaining option was to flee in the direction of their pack, hoping to overcome their attackers in speed…
Burton was a kind of leader of his group,the most muscular, yet the most arrogant and pompous among his gang of vicious wolves…
"WHEN MY FATHER WILL KNOW ABOUT THAT...HE'LL-" She started to say, but she was quickly silenced by him, with the imposition of a paw over her muzzle, he said, almost continuing her sentence "Or your father…what? He's only an omega wimp, a pathetic excuse of a wolf…" He said, almost turning his back on her "What could ever that nothingness make me suffer…Make me laugh to death?" with an obvious sarcastic streak, which resulted in a big laughter unleashed among his poor fellows, which, due to their too many laughs, could barely breathe.
Her blood was boiling inside of her…Her anger was visibily rising in her, igniting a new spark in her eyes, a spark of hatred and vengeance, a low growl coming from her inner throat… But she thought it was better run away rather than deal with them in an open combat, and saw that was the best chance to escape from them, using the time in which they were bent double with laughter.
She turned her head to face her other two companions in misfortune, seeing the fear painted on their faces, stir them both lightly, trying to make them come to their senses, and she had success. When Maya nodded, they began their desperate get-away
Attacking wolves were almost all belly-laughter, but one of them noticed their escape, and said loudly, trying to get their attention:
"Guys…guys!" They all looked at him, with a confused face, and Burton said with arrogance: "How dare you interrupt a moment of such extreme fun…", advancing towards him slowly. The wolf began to cower in fear, with his tail tucked in between his legs, stuttering "Ehm..I-i didn't m-mean to… but-"
"SHUT UP!" Burton said, stomping strongly with his paw in front of the cowering wolf, making him almost startled for the awe.
Burton now wanted to focus again on their trapped she-wolves, so while he was turning to face them he started to say "Where were we…" And then he found himself staring into nil. His eyes widened in extreme rage toward his fellows.
"JUMBLE OF DOGS GOOD FOR NOTHING! YOU'RE NOT EVEN ABLE TO KEEP AN EYE A BUNCH OF MAIDENS WITH WHOM WE COULD HAVE SOME FUN! I'M SURROUNDED BY A BUNCH OF INCOMPETENTS!"
Frightened about possible consequences of their inattentions, the wolves began to run toward the she-wolves. But they began to run even faster when they heard what Burton screamed behind them:
"IF YOU COME BACK EMPTY-HANDED, I'M GONNA TEAR YOUR LIMBS OFF, AND WITH THOSE I'M GONNA TEAR EVERY SINGLE SHRED OF YOUR PATHETIC BODIES, UNTIL THEY WILL BE CASTING THE LAST DROP OF BLOOD!"
And then they further accelerate the pace.
"What a waste of oxygen…" He hissed, shooking his head...But knowing their incompetence, he decided to follow them.
GRIN's P.O.V.
"Wow, she is fast" I thought, almost toiling to keep up her pace. She was able to change her direction quickly, almost traveling zigzag among various obstacles, knowing exactly the way to overcome them and not slow down the pace. I tried ,as much as possible, to imitate her not only not to slow down march's speed , but also to try to learn something from her. The result was a combination of grace , quickness, elegance and softness: sometimes I just discovered myself staring at her , astonished by her shuntings.
We came to an halt, after a whole morning of trip, and it was now early afternoon. We were panting lighly, due to our traveling stress, but somehow she happily said: "Well, I did not expect that you could keep up the pace of my run…At this rate, we're gonna get there by tonight…I didn't expect that, Valen has done a really good job with you…" and gave me a pat on my back "…not everyone can follow an Alpha Leader at full speed, I can assure you…".
In the immediate vicinity I could hear a water splashing, sign that some stream flowed in those parts.
"I think…" I managed to say, trying to catch my breath "…I'm gonna drink some water…you made me sweat all over!", and then she giggled.
"Okay, boy… so I guess the first hunting round is mine…stay close to that watercourse… I'll meet you there… got it?"
I nodded, almost exhausted, and went to that watercourse, with the aim to fill my throat with that sweet acquatic nectar. I greedily lapped water, feeling my throat gradually refreshing.
I also noticed another thing: the forest around me was strangely too quiet…not a sound could be perceived among the trees… silence crept between tree's bark…an eerie air seemed plunged into that piece of forest…
When suddenly I heard faint sounds of quick steps from behind my back…I turned back in time to see three wolves move at a high speed, almost sweeping me away…Fortunately, I had time to roll on my right side, placing myself outside of their trajectory, not bothering about watercourse's presence… and eventually I fell in.
Current was not very strong, but enough to allow me to not swim properly and be able to reach the shore.
The trio of wolves, having noticed what they had caused, curb their race and decided to help the hapless wolf.
I was tossed here and there by the current, looking around for something to insert firmly my claws into, but without success. I could see the trio run in parallel with my rapid descent over water, hoping to pull me out in some way, perhaps hoping in a narrowing of river bed, or finding a branch long enough to make me cling onto. But while all those thoughts crossed my mind, I saw one bronze-gilt of those wolves take a leap towards me, taking advantage of a shrinking of river bed, in such a way to use the momentary force of the jump and its weight to move both to a margin of the water course, and and he/she would make it, if a rapid increase had not been in current's strenght, thwarting his/her efforts…
Suddenly I heard some feminine voices screaming something, definitely belonging to other two wolves still on the shore: "WATERFALL!"
My and other wolf's eyes went wide in fear…the current was dragging us wildly, leaving us no escape routes, condemning us inexorably to a leap in the dark and at a tremendous impact…if not on the rocks, on the water surface…
I could not help but close my eyes and prepare myself for the inevitable.