Raising a Wolf | A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter 14: Understanding the Anger

It's been a few weeks since Snowball and Everest started the training. Snowball slowly but surely began getting better at hunting. Now besides birds he catches little mammals and even a little bigger ones. Also he is displaying better self control when hungry. So now it's time for the next level. Everest arrived at the spot they meet up. On her way there she heard bear noises. This made the young Husky feel uneasy. She knew if that murderous bear is in the proximity then Snowball might want to fight it. This unease got worse when she noticed that the young wolf was nowhere to be found. "Snowball! Where are you!?" She yelled but no response. She sat down under the shade of a huge rock and looked around waiting for her student. "I hope he didn't tried something reckless." Everest taught. As the minutes passed she called out one more time but once again she received no response. She did it a third time that ended up the same.

The time passed and he didn't showed up. Everest went from worrying to panicking so now she entered the woods in search for Snowball. "Snowball! Where are you!?" She called out. She walked all the paths available and searched every hunting spot they ever went to but with no luck. She was ready to call Ryder and the pups to inform them about what is happening but before that she wanted to check the training ground once again. As she reached the place she saw Snowball sitting under the same rock. "There you are." She said approaching Snowball. "Oh hey. You've been here before?" He asked. "About an hour ago. I have been looking around for you." She explained. "Oh sorry, I had things going on." He said. "No problem. We will only talk today anyway." She said sitting down. Snowball looked surprised but he sat down with her. "Am I good enough at hunting now?" He asked. "Sure. If you don't starve to death then that's more than enough." She said smiling. "And what are we going to talk about?" Snowball asked. "Answer me this: Why are you so angry?" Everest asked. The wolf turned his head to the side. "What do you mean?" He asked. "See. I've been talking with your parents for a few days to understand your behavior better. It seems to me that you're especially angry when Chase is around or the topic of the conversation. Is that so?" Snowball took a deep breather and responded. "Well that's right. He makes me angry sometimes." Snowball said. "Why? He is a nice pup." Everest said. Snowball stood up and started walking up and down. Everest also stood up not knowing what to expect. "I used to love him. He was always so nice to me. Sometimes a bit distant but at least I know he loved me. But ever since I learned to speak English he became even more distant and showed little to no emotion towards me. It felt like I wasn't even wanted by him." Snowball said a bit agitated as he finally stopped moving around. "I see he hit you with tuff love." She said. "Funny how is it called that. I never felt loved by him since he started it. That's why I loved mom more. How is she doing by the way?" Everest sat down in front of him and this made the wolf do the same. "Skye is fine. Excluding the fact that she is using a wheelchair. But she had some surgeries last week. She might be soon able to walk again. That is why I wanted to rush the training a bit. She would love to see you there to see." She said. Snowball felt joyful but this feeling got overshadowed by a sense of shame. This sudden mood change was clearly visible on his face. "You still feel bad for that day aren't you?" She asked. "I will never forgive myself for that." The wolf replied. "And what about what you did to Chase? Do you regret that too?" The Husky asked. Snowball stood up and started walking around again. "I wish I could say I do. But I don't. It felt good until I saw mom's expression. I think he might deserved that beatdown. In my defense I wasn't in control of my actions at that moment." He said. "You think so?" She asked disappointed in his response. "Why are you taking his side? He always acted bossy around me. I was supposed to follow his commands even though I'm bigger and stronger than him." Snowball asked her. "I see you are familiar with the hierarchy in a wolf pack. But you are missing something. We are a family. Thus this does not apply here. You see it's normal for sons to think the father is bossing around only to show dominance, and surely that is the case a lot of times, but let me tell you something. Chase wanted you to be his successor." She revealed. Snowball was shocked. "Me? I always thought Marshall will be his successor. I never thought he would choose me of all the others." He said. "Your anger towards him comes from the love you never felt for a long time from him. But surely you remember the times he showed love towards you in recent times." She said. Snowball started thinking. Indeed there were and not even a few. He remembered the talk they did after they stopped the Ruff-Ruff pack, and the way up the mountain and all the times he felt his anger and hatred towards Chase was unjustified. Everest continued: "I asked him if he resents you in any way. He said he loves you just the same." She said. Snowball's heart dropped. "And how is he?" He asked. "Well he had a few broken bones but he is better now. His eyes is missing sadly. Now he has a glass eye." She responded. Snowball sat down tearing up. "This is...my fault." He said. "I asked him if he could have defended himself. He said that he could. But he didn't wanted to. Chase had no intention of hurting you." She finished. Snowball couldn't hold it anymore, he started crying. Everest put her paw on his back. She let him let everything out. After a few minutes he calmed down enough to speak. "I'm terrible." He came to this conclusion. Everest hugged him. "You are not. Just growing. Do you still hate him?" She asked. Snowball shook his head. "No. I wish to speak with him." He said. "We have to finish the training first. Then I promise we will go that very moment." She said. Snowball whipped his tears. "Do you wish me to stay here tonight?" Everest asked. "Nope. I will have things going on tonight." He said. "Oh you!" She yelled smiling. She knew what that was.