A Drizzle of Home

8 | A Drizzle of Progress

Cloud let me settle in the right-most spot before heading to the other side. She sat down beside the pups, and the four of us formed a sort of crescent shape as we waited in the moonlit clearing. The alpha stood across from us, and in the middle lay a pile of small prey.

The four had gone hunting under the twilight skies while I stayed in the den. I knew it took more time and energy to pursue the frivolous chase of squirrels, but plenty of their limp forms lay among the rest of the rodents and morsel-sized creatures. From hares to chipmunks, it wasn't a lot for five wolves, and there'd be hardly anything, if anything, by the time it was my turn to eat.

I couldn't join them on a normal hunt like the average wolf. I would never contribute anything to the chase of deer or elk––a normal pack's prey. That sort of hunt would take all night, would feed a group of this size for days, but not a single bite would've made it to me. I was stranded here, and they had to change their ways to accommodate. A heavy stone sank in my stomach, and I reminded myself it would all be over soon. I'd take my few free meals and be done with them, a problem only to myself.

Silently, I trained my eyes on the alpha as their meal-customs began. My only instruction from Cloud had been to watch and wait.

First, Mist stepped up to the mass of prey and selected a small portion. A hare and a measly rat hung from her muzzle, and she backed to her place. She didn't eat first or as much as she pleased. The alpha had only taken a perfect fifth of the prey, and set it down in front of her, nodding toward Cloud.

The short-bodied wolf did as instructed, coming forward and closing her jaws around the same amount of food as her leader. The alpha's children went next, first Spruce and then Pine, each choosing an equal share with everyone else before sitting back down. Both of their gazes traveled to me.

It was my turn now.

Spruce's narrowed glare darted to me, a look of defiance flashing in his pupils before he tore them away, focusing on his paws with a blank expression. He wouldn't let his mother see it or have her sharp yip reprimand him. It was a clear message for me. You don't deserve anything.

My ears sank in agreement. What had I done to earn any food? Nothing. But it lit a small spark in my belly, my own blaze of defiance burning softly. If he wanted me to prove something, I would.

The remaining prey was several steps from where I sat. Not far, but more than I'd taken on my own––still none. I caught a glimpse of Cloud in the corner of my eye, striding toward me. I turned my muzzle to her, shaking it softly. She stopped and cocked her head. I had to do this on my own. I could at least walk for a meal.

I slowly raised my hindquarters into the air. My back legs felt steady, but my foreleg was sore and strained from the trek here. Its shattered counterpart ached gently from its useless place hovering in front of me. If I wanted my body to grow stronger, it meant feeding myself and being able to. Walking was the first step.

Sucking in a breath of air, I positioned my back legs like every time before. Anxiety trembled through them, as if I'd never used my feet at all, and I kept my eyes from meeting the audience. Judging gazes wouldn't help my confidence. Closing my jaws tightly together, I bent my foreleg very slightly in the elbow, giving my muscles a little slack to spring my paw forward. When it hit the ground, my leg held strong. The joint didn't buckle, and my body only swayed slightly before coming to rest on my center. I grinned to myself. One step on my own.

But now came another.

With a sigh of relief, the next step went smoothly as well, and I kept going until I'd taken four or five limping strides and reached the prey that remained. There were three bushy-tailed rodents with reddish-gray fur. I reached forward with an apprehensive glance at Mist. No snarl curled her lip, only a patient and approving gaze. The food was mine. I tenderly slipped my teeth around the slim and prickly-haired corpses before tackling the tricky backward steps.