The Legendary Red Wolf

Chapter 16

I wake up the next morning to find Sapphire's head resting on my neck and Thorn curled up on my other side. I lift my head a little and Sapphire wakes at the movement, she lifts her head off my neck and I stand, stretching. My ears pin back as I yawn and I wag my tail in anticipation, Sapphire snorts beside me as she gets to her feet.

"Morning, Ruby. Excited are we?" Sapphire says stretching beside me

"How could you tell?" I reply, cocking my head in mock askance.

"Your tail is cutting the air thinner than a knife" she barks at me and I just offer her a wolf grin.

I look over my shoulder at Thorn and see he's still asleep, I kick him lightly with my back leg and he jolts a little, waking up and looking around in confusion before his eyes land on me and he bares his teeth at me.

"What was that for?!" he snarls, he really isn't a morning person.

"We're leaving. We have another hundred and fifty miles to travel and I'd like to get there by four, it's seven now so let's go" I growl back at him.

"Alright, sorry" he replies on the edge of a whimper, he bows his head to me.

I roll my eyes and he's supposed to be the strongest Alpha. I turn back to the river and walk to its edge before crouching low, coiling my muscles before leaping across it and landing easily on the other side. I look back at Thorn and Sapphire and the pair of them look astonished.

"Come on, Saph, you can make it."

A determined look appears in her eyes and she takes a few steps back, then sprints towards the river and leaps at the edge. I follow her flight and she just makes it to the bank although her back end gets a little wet. Thorn follows suit but I know he won't make it, he jumps but only makes it half way and I bark in laughter.

"Shut up!" he growls as he reaches the bank.

"Come on"

I set off at a steady run, Sapphire comes up beside me her tongue hanging out of her mouth and her eyes are wide with excitement. I look back to Thorn and see a determined and fierce look in his eyes, I roll my eyes at him and focus back on running.

At about four I pause to scent the air, opening my jaw slightly to intensify my sense of smell. The scent of pine trees flows into my nose and I look around me, I spot the pine forest to the right of me and I move in a lope as I go through it. Ten minutes later and I'm sat in front of a tree, looking at it. In the bark there is a carving, it depicts a wolf and a little girl playing, underneath the carving are words:

I will always love you, Red

DAD

I stand and place my paws on the trees before placing one over the wolf, a whimper escapes my throat. I shift back to my skin and tears stream down my face, Thorn steps forward to come over to me but Sapphire steps in front of him and nudges him back. She trots over to me, shifting as she reaches me and wraps me in her arms, I squeeze her tightly to me and cry into her shoulder. She pets my hair, whispering soothingly to me, trying to help calm me and stop me crying. After a few minutes I do eventually calm down and I breathe in sharply before pulling away and wiping my eyes and cheeks dry.

"Thank you Sapphire, I'm alright now" I assure her smiling slightly.

"You're welcome Ruby" Sapphire says, she looks at the carving "Is that your dad?"

"Yeah, he carved that a week before he was killed, I haven't seen it since" I speak quietly.

"It's beautiful" she says speaking just as quietly.