Author's note: This is the shortest chapter, but I hope it gives a little depth to my characters.
Chapter 4: Born in Pain
Blade awoke cradled in his mothers arms. A rather common occurrence for his younger years, but this day in particular would stay with him for the rest of his life. She was the only one he could trust, the only one that didn't despise him. She loved him and he loved her. The two were rather inseparable, if you didn't count when she had to leave to help hunt. And sadly Blade could tell that this was to be one of those days. Shard to slowly stirred until she awoke. "Good morning Blade"
"Good morning mom"
"You know what today is don't you?"
Blade looked sad and a hint of unhappiness entered his voice "Yeah, I know, you have to go hunt"
"I know it makes you sad, but I won't be long, promise!" Blade simply hugged her wishing she didn't have to leave. Shard gave him a kiss on the top of his head, "Just remember not to go near anyone else, you know how they are." Blade looked down, he knew all too well how they were. Shard slowly stood up petting Blade on the head. She strolled away leaving Blade alone. Blade quickly stood up and scurried away. As he walked along the outskirts of where his pack was currently staying. A small clearing with a large tree in the center. The tree itself was barren and dying, making it a perfect spot to stay where an ambush was next to impossible. And Blade was at the edge of the tree line, away from the other sneasel and weavile.
However, even though he was in the least safe place for them to be, it didn't stop the others from approaching him. "Well, look who it is," A weavile called to him "The boss's little mistake!"
"A runt like you has no business being alone and away from the rest of the pack." A larger sneasel said pushing Blade to the ground.
"Yeah, it's dangerous for a runt like you over here" the last of the three said, another Weavile.
"Leave me alone!" Blade shouted getting to his feet quickly.
"What's wrong, don't you want to be friends?" The sneasel asked, sadistically smiling as he did. Blade knew what came next whether he ran or not. They beat him, slashed him kicked him for nearly an hour and then left him beaten and bruised at the tree line. When Blade finally recovered roughly half an hour later he stumbled back toward the tree where the rest of his pack waited.
Within moments Shard returned from the hunt. The most successful hunt in weeks, considering the alpha and his mate were hunting together. "Blade, are you badly hurt?"
"No, just a little bruised is all." Shard was beside him in moments cleaning him up and hugging him close. The embrace lasted minutes, likely the best of Blade's life.
But then she let go "I'll be right back, I'm getting our food, see you in a bit Blade." Blade nodded as she stood and walked away.
Then the poor sneasel runt felt his body tense up. Without warning he was lifted by his throat and slammed into the tree. Blade didn't know what he had done this time to incur the alpha's wrath, but the larger male would soon punish him for it. "You disgust me, so weak, its pitiful! How could something as weak as you be born from my dna!?" Blade flinched and choke as his father strangled him, closing the distance between their faces "You should have ended up a stain on the grass, not the egg that formed in your mother"
"Cleave!" Shard had come back and pried Cleave's claws away from Blade giving the smaller male a chance to breathe "Alpha or not Cleave, if you ever lay your hands on our son like that again, I'll kill you myself."
"Fine, but only because I can't afford to lose you." Cleave simply walked away, not looking to kill his prized hunter and breeder, though after Blade he did question if she still held the latter title.
Shard pulled Blade close, hugging him tightly "It'll be okay Blade, I promise." He simply hugged back, not wanting to be alone.