Alone in a Busy World

Chapter Five

I slowly wake. Storm is curled up in my arms and day is seeping through some cracks in the walls. Spirit is sitting by a small opening. She's more alert than last night and I'm concerned with the sudden change of emotion. Spirit is different to Lupa, harsher and her fur is mostly black, but I can go and talk to her.

I place Storm in a little crevice and walk over to Spirit. We both sit in silence for a while until my curiosity gets the better of me.

What's going on Spirit? There's nothing out there. I've been wandering for ages out there and I never saw anyone.

Silence cub, you know nothing.

Please tell me. I can do something to help. Is there anything out there? I could go and see.

Another few minutes pass and I give up on the idea of pursuing an answer. The other wolves look so peaceful and yet so ready to wake at any moment. I run my fingers over the ring I was given. The dragon wolf glows a faint red. I sense Spirit's harshness waver and she speaks to me.

Sorry to snap, I've got to concentrate. I can smell humans. They're a way off but they're coming closer. I'm not sure if I can smell the rest of our pack near them, if they are then it's bad.

I'll fly over, I can see and smell really well and I've got this telepathy link with you.

We'll wake the others first, they should be alert in case you need help.

I jump up and rush over to Storm. I gently wake him by stroking his head and Spirit soon has the others standing on their feet. Lupa is quick to start organising the other wolves.

Spirit slinks into the shadows, quite literally. Her dark fur has red tints in some places and shadows seem to radiate around her. The red fur shows her temper, she's good at commanding but she wants no power.

I slip through the opening and fly high to watch as the wolves rush out, covering the mountain side like a cascading waterfall. It trickles to a stop as they rush to hide behind anything they can find.

I fly among the clouds, the mist hiding my progress. The wolf pack runs as one shadow below me. We soon reach the edge of a vast forest. The wolves hide easier here and I see them running at a swifter pace at the edge of the darkness.

I spot some tents a little way off. I slowly circle lower and hide in the shadow of the forest like the wolves. There isn't much activity at the camp, I can hear snoring and yet there's one person standing a little way in front of me. If I'm going to get anywhere with this I need him incapacitated.

I softly fly over the ground; my feet shoot up and crunch into the guy's back. He lands face first in the snow which stifles a groan. I quickly grab the pistols out his belt and heft the stun gun over my back.

Lupa soon has some wolves watching over him to make sure he doesn't go anywhere. Spirit snarls in his ear when he tries to sit up, he quickly decides otherwise and lies back down.

I leave him in their charge and swiftly soar through the camp, giving a quick inspection for anything out of order. The drab grey and green gives little cheer to the place and the musty smell of cigarettes enhances the bad feeling. Coffee wafts through the camp from a particular tent along with some food.

I rush quietly into the tent and I'm glad at the lack of presence here. I snatch up some food and coffee; the wolf pack hasn't been able to get much recently so anything will help. My ears prick up as I notice a crunching outside. I dive through the flap at the back of the crammed tent and rush to the front. Far from what I expected there isn't anyone coming but on closer inspection I almost scream with anger.

I see some young wolf cubs tethered to poles or in cages. Beyond them a man is beating a young cub that's chewed through the rope. I don't think twice as I throw the stun gun, knocking the stick out his grasp.

The next few moments are a blur as I quickly knock him unconscious and cut free the wolf cubs and I burst open their cages.

Lupa! You need to get here now. There are some cubs, they're really hurt. Just hurry please.

She must have heard the panic in my voice because seconds later the clearing is filled with wolves from the pack. I forget the bustle and rush to the small cub that is unconscious from the pain of being beaten. The poor girl still needs her mother but I can't see one anywhere.

I melt into the shadows of a first aid tent and hurriedly clean her wounds. Her brown and grey fur is wet with blood but thankfully I don't think anything is broken. I slip a warm blanket around her and slip her into my bag, she'll be safer there.

I can't wait any longer so I blatantly charge through the camp, making as much noise as possible. I soon have dazed men standing outside but at the sight of my pack they try to grab guns. I put an end to that with a warning shot using one of my pistols. I leave Lupa to take the cubs back to safety, along with the one I've wrapped in a blanket.

The men of the camp appear just as soon as the wolves disappear. They all have guns trained at me and I don't know why but I have a sudden urge to laugh. I don't bother to hide it, and they're stood waiting for me to finish being doubled-over with laughter.

I stop abruptly and look each one in the eye. I speak in their minds for extra effect and I see the panic wash through them all.

You don't stand a chance. I like your pathetic courage but you might as well be trying to run or hide. That would be a wise choice.

At that, many break the lines they formed and run screaming into the woods. I almost burst out laughing again but I need to get information from them. I casually sit on a wood block and stare at the remaining few. Moments of silence follow until someone sighs and just beckons me to follow.

I shoot from my spot so fast that I hear a lot of weapons being dropped in surrender. They're smart. I follow a burly grey haired bloke, who stinks of smoke, into the largest tent around. At the far end there is a large chair which I sit in whilst the camper sits on the floor. By the look in his eyes, I can tell he isn't used to being pushed from his seat of power. To save the ramblings I just have a conversation in his mind.