Destiny of the Forest Wolves || A Destiny Series || Book 1

- CHAPTER ELEVEN: Things Happen -

They had gotten up long before midnight, continuing their travels through the dark. It was now near morning, and the sun was just peeking through. The others were seated down and having a small chat, so Amax decided to hunt for a little bit. He hadn't done a good hunt for a long while.

He tasted the air, remembering what he was taught. He could smell rabbit, but that was stale and wolves didn't usually eat smaller prey unless it was a last resort, or if they were hunting alone like he was. Not long after moving on, he caught the scent of a deer, a young one.
Scouting out for any tracks, he finally came upon small hoof prints left over in the dirt.

He followed the track before stopping short, the scent getting stronger, and he could then view it through the bushes. 

A small deer! But it smelt different than the previous smell. Should he risk it? Risk hunting a deer when it was safer to do so in a pack?

Loud hoof stomps got his attention, a large buck running at him with full speed.

"Curse it!" He muttered, panicking.

Amax wouldn't win this fight with the size of those antlers. It could cause serious injury, or worse, death.

He gasped in alarm and ran.

His paws pounded on the earth's floor as he scampered around the place, looking for somewhere to veer off too.
The buck was close behind him, he could hear his bellowing breath and the stamp of his hooves. Should he try and face it? Or keep running? He couldn't make up his mind.

Well, my pack can't do with a dead Amax.

He scrambled off to the side as he heard a snarl behind him, a snarl that certainly did not belong to a buck. He looked over to see what was happening.
Star, Sky, Bescona and Ash were circling the giant animal. No, this wasn't a good idea! They'd make it furious, and it'd go rogue and attack at random! He had to get in there and warn them, he knows the behaviour of a buck.

Bolie shot down from a tree, knocking the deer sideways. It staggered briefly, then turned and aimed towards Sky.

Star yelped a warning, and Sky whipped around, only to be knocked off his paws and flung straight to the ground.
Star cried, racing over to her brother.

Bolie made a catlike scream in the deer's face, chasing it off with a violent scratch to the head.

Star's brother lay still on the dusty ground, his eyes closed.

Amax realized his breathing was still on, but it was getting slower and slower the longer they didn't do something.

Amax came over to examine the damage that was done.

"This is all your fault!" Star cried as he leaned down next to her.

"If you hadn't left where we stayed, this wouldn't have happened!" She looked overwhelmed, her eyes darting here and there as if she was trying to process where she was and what was happening. When Amax tried to speak, she swung her head around and staggered out of the clearing.

He wanted to race after her, but he knew he would just make things worse. She'd come back when the time was right.

"Actually, it's not his fault. Star was the one that wanted to keep going on this journey!" Ash said, his face showing pity.

It's no ones fault except that damn buck....

No one answered, they just rushed to Sky's side.

Amax looked at the still body. His breathing was still going, thank goodness. Marcus was carefully treating his wounds.

"How can you do that?" Amax asked.

"Healing powers!" He joked. "No, my family always took care of each other and learned the basics of nature and whatever." He muttered, honestly more focused on the wolf before him, not behind him. 

His limp friend didn't look well, that was a nasty gash on his side.

"I'm going to go look for Star," Amax decided at last.

"We don't want her running off." Bescona added. "We don't want her going missing like Millie."

Amax jumped into the bushes where he last saw her leave. His tailed wagged as he picked up her trace right away.

"Where has she gone?" He asked himself. He followed her scent through the bushes. She couldn't of gone far, and he didn't want her to either if that buck was still around. He exited out of the bushes, shaking away a thorn tendril attached to his hind leg. He saw Star pacing the ground, looking up sharply as Amax stood nervously in front of her.

Her fur bristled instantly, her eyes wild.

"You nearly scared me out of my skin!" She gasped.

"Sorry." He mumbled in response.

They looked at each other, then looked away. She sat herself down, her eyes pointed toward the dusty floor.

He gazed at his paws, then glanced at the sky. It was nearing the afternoon, and the sun was hot and scorching. It would probably be best to take some shelter from this heat.

"Before we go, I need to talk to you." Star brought up, looking overly embarrassed.

They took shelter under a few thick trees.

"I'm sorry, I know it wasn't your fault, I-"

Amax stopped her.

"Let's just forget this, it was none of our faults, it just happened unannounced, something we weren't aware would occur, like. . .like. . ." He closed his eyes, stopping himself from talking about his sister he once never even knew.

Star seemed to agree in silence, walking back with him to where they had left the others after they shared a few more moments of quietness.

It was just Bolie there, dragging a big bird that looked like an eagle, or a hawk maybe.
She looked up at them when they walked up to her.

"Where is everyone?" Amax asked.

"Oh, good, you have Star with you. That was quick." Bolie said, narrowing her eyes as she looked the wolf up and down. "And they all went to a more sheltered spot, Colaro and Ash helped carry Sky. I stayed here, waiting for you to come back." She paused before picking up the bird. "I tried to hunt down that stupid buck, but I think he's long gone, so I caught this bird instead." She muffled the last part through a mouthful of feathers as she clutched it tightly in her jaws.
With no time, they found their other packmates crowded around each other, looking pleased then utterly overjoyed as they spotted Star.

They stepped aside, revealing a breathing, healing and healthy looking Sky.

- Back At The Southern Territory -

Darksie fled out of her father's den and scurried over to the looming cave before her.

She poked her head in.

Morgensi was there, thankfully.

"Is everything alright, or do you need more assistance?" Darksie asked her quietly.

"I think we might need more assistance." Morgensi got to her paws, her face showing no emotion. "Just get me Lovren. I think everything will turn out just fine, and the way it was before."

I hope so, she thought.

"Yes." Darksie sighed, and headed back outside again. Where are you, Amax? We need you and your friends more than ever right now.