The Wolf

Chapter 7

Storm woke up to the farmer calling him for breakfast. The other two dogs, Rocky and Maks lifted their heads and barked. Storm joined them as they padded out of the barn and to the master's house.

Three bowls of meat and pieces of carrot lay at their feet. The three canines tucked into the food, tails wagging. The farmer patted them each roughly on the head before going back into the house.

The sheepdogs were taken into the field by a farmhand. Storm followed them and watched. He did not understand herding, even though he tried to learn. The young wolf was only good at hunting fish and forest creatures. Aleksi took him hunting and fishing a lot. The boys had taught Storm how to hunt and dig and tackle things.

The angry below of a bull brought him back to the present. The farm's breeder bull was charging towards him. Storm sprang to his paws and ran for the fence. Leaping over just in time.

He turned and growled as the bull snorted and wandered away. The young wolf relaxed and padded towards the pond. Beginning his daily patrols.

He walked a lap around the pond, counting the geese. One goose hissed at him when he came too close to her eggs, making Storm scurry away. The geese hissed and honked as they waddled out of the pond. Some bit the young wolf harshly, so Storm left them alone. Storm made his way past the chicken coup and other farm buildings. He went to the fence and slipped through. Heading towards the river. Rabbits and hares shot past him and he gave chase. Dodging trees and bushes before skidding to a halt at the river.

Storm walked along the bank before jumping in and swimming to the other side. A fish bumped into his leg and he tried to grab it. He splashed the water and made a racket. Before finally catching a fish and swimming proudly back to shore. Storm was not hungry, so he buried the fish for later and went back to the farm house.

Storm's fur dried as he rested outside the barn in the sun. Maks came over and woofed a greeting. Rocky brought a stick over and dropped it at Storm's feet. Storm looked up and grabbed the stick, walking away from them. The dogs barked and tried to grab the stick. But Storm twisted his head away and ran.

Maks bounded after him. While Rocky became distracted by strange smells on the ground. Storm growled playfully as he ducked his head away and continued running. Maks jumped up and grabbed the stick. Now both dogs began a game of tug-of-war. Rocky came over and barked, wanting to participate. Storm took the stick away and ran again. They repeated the game until the farmer called the dogs over. So Storm dropped the stick and walked away.

Few days later Aleksi arrived and ran over to hug him. Storm whined happily as he listed to the boy talk.

"We are going hunting," he said. "You get to ocme with us!"

Storm barked in excitement. Aleksi leashed the wolf and led him to the car. Alfred opened the door and both of them climbed in. Then they drove away towards the mountains.

When they got to the foot of the mountains they left the car. Alfred handed Aleksi his bag and they both began to climb. The hound dogs howled and barked in excitement. Storm was happy to be among them.

They reached a clearing in a forest of trees. So they made camp and went hunting. Storm followed the hounds as they tracked a deer. The hunter and Aleksi walked behind them carrying their guns. A twig snapped and a deer walked passed. The dogs bayed and chased after it. Storm was in the lead with Kuba. The wolf had only met Kuba and his pack once when he was a young pup. Now Storm was grown up and running with the pack.

Storm grabbed the deer's leg, Kuba shoved the prey animal fiercely. Then there was a gun shot and Aleksi ran to the deer.

"Well done son," said Alfred.

"We couldn't eat this whole deer, right dad?" Aleksi wondered, confused.

"No, it will lure the bears over instead. Bears are dangerous to people, if they are this far down the mountain then they can be a threat," Alfred explained.

"Alright," Aleksi stood up and left the kill.

The two hunters hid the bushes with the dogs. Waiting for the predators to arrive.

Storm nibbled at a flea in his pelt, feeling bored. He had been waiting for a while, and did not know why. Then suddenly he heard a growl and four heavy paws plodding through the forest. A great brown bear sniffed at the kill and began to rip it open with his teeth.

"A male bear, the most dangerous," Storm heard Alfred whisper.

The bear began to drag a piece of the kill away. Storm leaped out and growled, making the male brown bear stop and rear up.

Alfred aimed his gun at the bear and fired, hitting the beast in the chest. The bear fell and growled. Storm approached and got smacked by its paw. Storm growled and bit the paw, making the bear roar in fury.

The hunter approached the bear and shot it again, ending its life. Storm howled and Aleksi ran out and howled with him. The hounds began to lift their heads and raise their voices to the sun.

They went on two more hunts for bears before going back to their camp. The dogs were fed and watered at the tent. Storm kept watch while everyone went to sleep.