Dawnmist: Cliff of Shadows

Chapter 2

Luna woke with a start, her legs thrashing wildly. But the sight of her temporary den brought her back to reality, and she calmed a bit. The she-wolf was only a dream. Calm down, Luna. She shook the dirt from her pelt and headed back out, her eyes fixed on her surroundings. Her body was still jumpy, but a shake knocked most of it away.

Padding out the den and up the hill, she reentered the forest, an idea fixed into her mind. If the Alpha hates Lone Wolves, she'll just prove herself! Luna dashed around the trees, stopping occasionally to sniff the air. Only small clouds of fog drifted in the morning sunlight, barely reaching her knee. Surely a rabbit or a squirrel would be hopping about.

Birds twittered nearby as she stalked around, keeping low and quiet. Some usual scents drifted to her nose, such as fresh grass, wood and leaves, and even some animals that once walked along the grass. But none of the scents she needed were fresh. Her legs were begging for a run, and she decided to dash around for prey.

The leafy ground crunched under her large paws. She dodged trees and jumped over bushes, enjoying the rush of air through her fur. Another turn lead her to a dip in the ground, where she picked up a faint smell of rabbit. Hopes high, Luna followed the scent slowly, her body low.

Another wolf's smell intertwined with it. Her ears pricked up, catching approaching pawsteps. The smell didn't match anyone she knew, but she stood up and headed a bit closer. Three wolves came around a turn, instantly lowering their heads and baring their teeth when Luna came into sight.

Three wolves, one she-wolf in front of two he-wolves, stared at her with deep hatred. They had a similar smell to Blaze, likely they were her packmates.

"What are you doing on DawnPack soil?" The black-and-white she-wolf snarled. She placed her left paw in front of her, causing Luna's eye to notice her tangled right paw. It looked as if something raked its claws on it, causing part of it to dangle and look detached.

"I..." Luna started, but the gray he-wolf wolf to her right cut in, "You have no excuse for trespassing! Are you a spy? Are you working for MistPack?"

"Pebble!" The other he-wolf hissed, and the gray wolf lowered his gaze.

"I was searching for food, I didn't mean to trespass," Luna half-lied.

"Well, there's none here, so leave!" Pebble barked, despite the other two wolves' hostile stares.

She knew from their growls that friendliness wasn't an option, so she turned tail and dashed away. Her legs pushed her on, away from the wolves, who were starting to shout after her.

"Stay away!"

"Don't come back!"

"Keep your snout where it belongs, Lone Wolf."

Luna cringed at Lone Wolf being used as an insult, but she could say nothing back. Otherwise, they might report to their Alpha, and then Luna couldn't get in at all. Through the trees she dashed until another hint of rabbit drifted in the air, but its faint smell blended with the forest. Panting heavily, she stopped, observing the area. She turned her head to the side, staring at the trees. Some sort of invisible pull wanted her closer. Although resistant at first, she headed past the trees in a slow trot.

The branches and trunks scattered until she broke into another clearing, its leafy floor growing into a lush space of grass, which ended at a rocky cliff. She padded closer to the cliff's edge, staring with awe at the lapping waves and seemingly endless ocean. Sunlight shone bright lines of silver on the blue water. Luna sat and wrapped her tail around her hind legs. The scene calmed one part of her, but it only brought questions from a second.