Alone in a Busy World

Chapter Six

I fly with some exhaustion back to the den. I didn't find out much but I got a lot of food.

I slip quietly into the den; I couldn't exactly expect to arrive without being noticed though. It's more crowded than before because the rest of the pack is here. I have a few expectant eyes look at me but I just shake my head slightly. I'll let Lupa or Storm give the others the information.

Storm fills me in on the details of what happened. The smallest portion of the pack was ambushed. The she-wolf standing guard had been shot with an arrow from behind and hadn't been able to alert anyone. The young cubs rescued are alright, just getting over bruises or small wounds but no breaks. Spirit places the young cub I rescued in my lap. She's conscious now and she looks better than earlier. I slowly extend my mind.

Hey little one. What's your name?

Misty, my mother's dead. I've not got anyone, she's dead. Dead and gone.

I cuddle her gently murmuring loving words to her. She's such a beautiful thing, I don't want to ever murder anyone but those people don't exactly deserve life right now. With my anger boiling away with every stroke of Misty, I eventually watch her fall asleep.

Storm gently jumps in my lap and snuggles up to Misty and soon I have two very sleepy cubs in my arms. Lupa watches from the other side of the cavern a distant smile on her face. When I look up again she's standing next to me. I'm not sure if it's because I'm tired but at that moment I feel nothing but love for her, she brought me here, she gave me a family. I close my eyes for a second and the next thing I know is that I'm asleep with Lupa's head across my legs.

For a while I feel a probing force in my brain, I'm so tired I don't think anything of it. My brain is scrambled with sleep anyway. I feel the mist receding slightly from my memory and I'm worried that the dreams will come. I know they will. I hear Lupa's voice growling softly, I think she discovered the information I gleaned from that man at the camp.

I feel the dreams coming but there's something holding them back, I can feel something in my head now that I'm sure wasn't there before. I explore a little and discover that there's a person controlling my memories. This person is stopping me from getting anything. A sudden anger fills me and flows through my veins. I feel the volcano building in my bones. I lash out and channel all my strength into the strike.

The force recedes a little but it won't go. I sense Lupa's mind entering mine. Storm and Misty must also be awake because their minds are suddenly part of mine. I gather my waning strength for one last push but I can't control my mind. I feel like a battle ground as the force battles the three wolves.

I feel more wolves join the battle, Spirit is among them. I realise now what it might feel like to be a battlefield with a living mind. I'm unable to do anything but watch as I feel the pain of the fight, the strength of each attack draining the life from me. I feel like a watching force or a barricade being bombarded from either side. The pain is becoming unbearable, I feel on the verge of collapse. I'm afraid, I don't think I've ever fainted when I'm awake, but I'm not sure I could wake up again if I black-out during my sleep.

The darkness engulfs me and I suddenly want to be free, free of life, free of this constraining body that can be so easily pained. My head is hurting so much and I want to tear everything from my mind.

I become conscious of the pain dulling slightly and when I open my eyes I can feel where I've clawed at my head trying to rid myself of the pain. I try to sit up but I black-out and this time I know I'm fine.