The Pack

Blood trickled slowly from the lifeless creature. It was still warm, and the one that had taken the creature’s life looked up to the sky, thanking the Sister Moon and Great Warrior for his meal tonight. As he took the dead bird in his jaws and padded towards the Tribe camp, the stars twinkled silently and the warm breeze rustled the Pines in the still, quiet night.
                                                                                    --*--
    ‘Rustsnap,’ barked Moonlight, Beta of the pack. ‘Rustsnap, you’re on cub-sitting duty with Silver. Go after you’ve eaten. Silver’s already had her share of prey this morning.’
    Rustsnap nodded and trotted off to the kill pile, her rusty ginger fur glowing in the sunlight.
    Moonlight sat abruptly and sighed. He was exhausted from the battle last night with the Monsters. Giving orders helped to calm both him and the pack. When they were forced to fight the Monsters in order to defend the camp and the pack, they always paid for it later.
    Closing his eyes for a few moments rest, Moonlight reflected on the pack’s defences.
    The Guards, the defenders of the pack, best at scenting out the Monsters, and other enemies, were just that, the best. Swift and Blueheart were the fastest wolves in the pack, and even though Snowfur couldn’t quite match their stamina, in short distances, he was even faster than them.
    Then there were Heavystep and Yellow. Both large and strong, they were fearsome fighters, and because of this they were usually on hunting duty for Caribou Bulls. They were the only two who could take down a Bull, and in Cold Season, these were needed for they were the largest meal. However, if put on Guard duty alongside their friend Kestrel, all three would fight to the death in order to protect the pack.
    Then there was Night, Conna and Tinymuzzle. These three were the best of the Guards. Tinymuzzle was young but a brilliant defender, quickly ending territorial fights with other packs before they had begun, by giving warning wounds that would not be forgotten in a hurry. Conna had a calming voice and had on more than one occasion convinced enemy packs and even stupid bears to back down and leave the pack’s territory. Night was the leader of the Guards, sending Swift or Snowfur for help from the pack, or Blueheart, to inform Greyjaw and Snowstorm, the Alphas, if there were an emergency. She was the one who told the Guards where to patrol along the territory line and what to watch out for. Monsters fled when they saw the Guards, working together to protect the pack’s territory, with Night at the lead.
    Yes, the pack would be okay. They had never been driven down to less than ten before, and they never would. The pack had twenty-four wolves now, Snowstorm’s pups being born a moon ago. Only three had survived however. It was Snowstorm and Greyjaw’s first litter, both being quite new Alphas and they were both very protective of the cubs. Moonlight had been the old Alphas’ (Snowstorm’s parents) beta before they’d died seven moons ago. Moonlight had nearly been Alpha, but he stepped aside for Snowstorm because he had known how much she had wanted it.
    Moonlight opened his eyes and raised his head. He felt reassured that they would pull through this difficult time with the Monsters, and he lay down in the clearing to groom himself before he went to speak with Greyjaw and Snowstorm. After all, the day had just begun and there were many things to do.