The 53rd Pack

9 (GORE WARNING)

The bones were yellowed with age, like a treasure map that had been hidden for centuries. Scraps of fur had clung on. Below the skeletons a puddle of rancid, brownish-colored, melted flesh gathered. It seemed to have combined with the melted snow. 

Shuichi retched, turning away from the agape mouths of his parents' skulls. 

This was their fate? He knew this could've always been a possibility, but it didn't make him feel any better. 

He wanted to get up, to run far, far away. But, the pulsing pain in the wolf's leg prevented him from doing so. 

He stayed turned, trying his best to avoid what was behind him. 

Tears burned in his eyes, cries escaping his maw. 

He was so wrapped up in his misery, that he didn't even notice the shadows, crawling up against the tree trunks.. 

His ears shot up, eyes widening as a drift of air wafted in front of his nose. The scent that came with it was sulfurous, rotten. It was unlike anything he had ever smelt. 

Underneath the thick scent, he could smell something almost.. familiar. 

Wolf. 

As soon as he came to this realization, a voice hissed past his ear, like a bullet that had gotten too close. 

"What a pretty boyyyy~" 

He jumped, letting out a yelp as he put pressure on his leg. 

The wolf sidled up to him, letting out a giggle. The stench was overpowering. 

Another came to approach his other side, bumping him with his shoulder. "Your parents, ehhhh?" 

Shuichi made the mistake of looking straight into the wolf's mouth. He was hit with the scent full-force, his nose wrinkling with disgust and puke filling his mouth. This one's teeth were yellowed like the sun, little shreds of flesh still hanging from his jaws. 

His ahoge drooped as he got a whiff of the remnants of what seemed to be a slightly recent meal. 

Again.. 

Wolf. 

His eyes grew as large as they could possibly go, ears set back and teeth bared. 

He was fucking terrified. 

This wasn't an ordinary band of loners; they were cannibals, and they had eaten his parents. 

He needed to get out NOW. 

The alpha felt a shiver crawl down his spine as another one came up behind him, earthen-colored hackles raised. 

"T-this guy l-looks delicious!" she said, and he could hear her licking her lips in anticipation. His tail went between his legs, ears still laid back and lip still curled. 

He was cornered. 

With a nervous chuckle, he said, "H-hey now, guys! No need to do that.. I can show you where plenty of deer is!" 

They seemed to take offense to the offer, ears shooting up and growls reverberating through the air. The wolves closed in, slowly advancing. 

While Shuichi could fight, he would never win against three other wolves. They would tear him from limb to limb if he tried. His only option was to run. 

Ignoring the pain, he bolted, tail remaining stuck between his legs. Because of his injury, he was slower, which put him at a significant disadvantage. If he stumbled, even once, they would be upon him. 

Behind him, the grey and black-furred wolf could hear the cannibals giving chase. 

Shit. 

He attempted to pick up the pace, traveling over the hills he had prior to this incident. But, there was one problem- these hills had plenty of rocks littering the tops and sides. Without looking, he moved his legs forward once more and almost stumbled over one, staggering. 

And.. down he went, tumbling over the grass.

Shuichi groaned in pain as crimson blood slowly trickled from his nose. Then he remembered- he was still being chased! 

It was too late, though. The rustles in the grass grew closer and closer, and he could tell the cannibal wolves had slowed to a brisk trot. 

He felt too weak to jump up, too weak to do much of anything except let out a faint whimper. They surrounded him silently. 

Since there were three of them, there were significant gaps in their circle, but it wasn't like he could just stand up and run away. They could simply just reach over and bite him. 

"Why...?" He choked out. "I have a pack to return t-" 

"Too bad," one of them interjected. "We are hungry, and accordingly, have decided to feast on your tender, tender  flesh..." 

"DIG IN!!" One reared up and bellowed, the others quickly agreeing. 

Suddenly a pair of teeth snapped right in his face. Luckily, he recoiled before it could make its mark, but now his heart was a-racin'. If this wasn't bad before, it certainly was now. 

He rolled as another went for his stomach, just barely missing the most vulnerable spot. 

His hackles raised as he stood. Because they had now become aggressive, he would need to defend himself somehow, and fast. 

Before he could move, though, he felt something slice through the fur on his sprained paw. Shuichi yelped loudly as he felt the hot, stinging pain. One had bitten him! 

It was a small nick, but nevertheless, it hurt like hell. Now he was bleeding from both his nose and paw... the wolves around him got visibly excited at the blood spill, barking and yipping. 

The next one made an attempt to lunge in. Whether it was to lap the blood up or go for the neck, it didn't matter, because he found himself met with a waiting, open jaw. Shuichi tore into his ear, ripping it off in one clean piece. 

The cannibal yelped and jumped back, eyes full of shock. The other two took a step backwards, barking and yipping in fear. 

But Shuichi knew not to get too confident with his victory. 

The alpha spit out his prize, swiveling to look at each and every one of them. His grey eyes shone with malice. "Don't come near me ever again, and don't you even THINK about trying to harass my pack later." 

His tail stood straight out, truly showcasing his abilities as a leader. The wolves now cowered together; one had even rolled over, showing his stomach. Clearly they hadn't expected their prey to wound one of their own. 

Without a word, Shuichi turned away and continued on. 

If you saw me publish and then unpublish this chapter, no you didn't☺Sorry it's been so long. I haven't been inspired to write, but now I certainly am. Maybe expect the next chapter sometime soon? I hope you all are well!~ Mia 🔱