WolfLore: Vocatio Papilionis

Chapter 5

My paws stood within the sunlit hollow of the forest, carefully dodging low hanging branches and prickling thorns I padded forwards. Ahead of me a shimmering, brilliant blue flurry of wings stood out against the greens and browns of the trees and greenery.

I couldn't take my eyes off of the glowing butterfly before me, all of a sudden, I was chasing after it. My paws glided along the ground with the grace of a bounding deer. Luna appeared, running beside me as we gained on the mysterious insect.

Just as we seemed to catch up to the butterfly, it tipped its wings and thrusted forward, leaving us behind. But I couldn't stop chasing it, not yet, I wasn't going to give up.

"Wait!" I howled after it. "We just want to know what you're doing! Why are you leading us somewhere!"

"Papilio," Luna soothed, "Don't give up, you just need to keep following it-"

A loud crack sounded from above me. The tree branch was falling!

I looked around to check on Luna, I couldn't see her, instead a worn, white figure was running in her place, Flower. I abruptly stopped running, skidding in the dirt, dust flared all around me, blinding me.

"Flower?" I squeaked. "What happened to Luna? Where did the butterfly go!"

I squinted into the swirling storm of dust, still spinning around me, I could just make out my grandmother in the distance.

"Keep chasing it, Papilio. On the tip of the butterfly's wing all will change!" Flower's voice echoed. How? We're not even in a cave!?

"Keep chasing it! Never give up- you will get there! It will all become clear when you catch it..."

First her voice grew quiet, then she faded into the dust completely, leaving me alone in the centre of the storm as it closed around me.

I woke with a start. What was That! I wondered. It was clearly trying to tell me something. I'd heard stories of very few wolves in the past getting visions from the Starry Skies pack. Is that what it was? If so, what were they trying to tell me?

I looked to my side, Luna was lying on her back, her paws twitching in her sleep. She's cute when she sleeps like that. I thought, a smile spread across my face. For a moment, I was happy, then I wondered about my mother, Sparrow, and Squirrel, Mouse, and Juniper. Were they OK? Had they moved on from our exile without a second thought? Or were they missing us?

"Tune!" A loud, familiar, bellowing growl sounded from outside the den that we were staying in. "Where are they? Your messenger said that you found her! The one with the mark! Where is she!"

Oak's here?! Why? I prodded Luna's side. "Luna- Oak's here! Come on, wake up!" I whispered.

"No-no, Sparrow lemme sleep- it's cold and windy and I don't wanna hunt today!" Luna whined in her sleep.

"Luna!"

"Huh? Wha-" She woke up,

"Oak's here!" I growled. "He was talking to Tune! I saw him!"

"What!? Let me at him! I will flay that snail-brain alive!" She marched out before I could stop her.

I raced out the den behind her, the sunlight coming through the trees dazzled me at first, but when my eyes got used to the light, I was relieved to see that Luna had stopped outside the den entrance. She was staring at Oak, hatred glowed in her eyes.

"Why is he here!" She said, half to herself.

"Tune, you said that she was here! Let me see her! She could change everything! She could ruin all my plans!" Oak growled.

Tune looked like he was about to throw up as he winced, he pointed his paw towards us, staring at the butterfly-shaped mark I had had on my fur since I was born. Oak's broad head whipped around; his eyes glowed with fury.

"You!" He snarled. The way he leaped off that rock, let me tell you, it was like someone had just eaten the last bit of prey that he was saving for a snack later. He tore across the camp, almost running over Free.

He stopped when he was towering right above me. He took one look at the mark on my shoulder, and I swear his eyes would have caught fire if he got any angrier.

"So what? You think you can stop me? A simple mark doesn't mean that you can!" Oaks eyes glowed with paranoia and anger. "I will take over the forest, the meadow and the bay!"

"What?" I growled. Trying to work out what in the starry skies he was talking about.

"Are you scared that a pup could beat you?" Luna teased, she stood confident, but her eyes were as confused as I was.

"Tune! I want them placed in the den with a guard full time! I'm too angry to figure out what to do with them at the moment!"

Luna and I glared at Tune. "Tune... why?" I stammered.

"Dad! No, you can't do that, Wolf Lore prevents us from taking any prisoners that are no threat to us!" Petal stood up from where he was eating his morning prey. "The Starry Skies pack will punish us severely! Why are you even plotting with- that- that tyrant!" His head snapped towards Oak. "Luna and Papilio pose no threat to us, as far as I'm concerned, they are one of us."

Tune froze, his eyes dashing frantically between us, his son and Oak.

"Tune- I will punish you even more severely if you don't keep them prisoner! While you're at it- put your joke of a son in there with them as well!"

"Dad, come on! I know that you are a fair alpha! You don't have to do this!" Petal pleaded.

Oak stormed over to Petal, and rose his bloodstained claws, ready to strike. I don't know why I did what I did next. A sudden urge just came over me to protect the wolf who tried to protect us. I sped over to Petal, planted my paws in front of him and braced myself to take his blow. Oak's paw came down and a searing pain filled my right eye. I couldn't open my eye, I started to panic.

"I can't see!" I cried, Petal bent down and licked my wound, my eye met his for the first time and I was speechless. Luna bounded over to my side.

"How could you! You disgusting piece of dung!"

"She should know now not to try and mess with me," he growled to Luna. "Oh, and before you try, I could just as easily slash your throat and you could end up like your weak grandmother!"

Luna couldn't speak, her eyes filled with rage, and she looked like she was biting her tongue.

"Good pup," Oak sneered. "Now, Tune, I will be back to it. See to it that these three are kept in the den and are not fed any of the pack's kill to night.

He stared back at us with violence in his gaze.

"I will be back, tomorrow."