Tales of the Wolf: Born Wild and Free

Chapter 2: "Stay and Wait"

The pair waited as the battle around them surged. "Why can't we fight?" Snow Shadow asked her sister, Stone Ash. "Autumn Watcher must've had a good reason for keeping us here." She responded quietly. Snow Shadow huffed. "Just because she's your alpha doesn't mean that she's mine." She retorted. Stone Ash gave her a glare. "Well, I mean-" Snow Shadow heard something and shushed her sister. Sniffing the air, she smelled an unfamiliar scent, but it seemed dangerous. "What is it?" Stone Ash whispered. Snow Shadow nodded her head and her sister's ears pricked forward. After sniffing the air like her sister did, she tensed up, getting ready in case a fight broke out. A soft padding noise was heard from outside the den, and a shadow of a creature by the entrance. It had a head with rounded ears, a stout body, and a long, swishing tail. A cat! Both of the wolves pressed themselves against opposite walls, so that the cat wouldn't see them. They saw the beige fur and the amber eyes. The mouth was open, as if it was tasting something. It stopped right in front of the den. The creature turned its head to that it could see if there was anything worthwhile inside the skywatcher's den. The wolves held their breath. This was it.

Both the cat and the wolves waited, most likely for the other one to make a move that would signal their play. Then the cat turned its head to face in the direction of the battle, which had gotten very quiet. A long howl sounded and then cat ran back the way it came, Maple Jay chasing after it, yelling things that no wolf should ever say.

Autumn Watcher walked up to the den, but stopped and watched the reddish brown wolf for a moment before shaking her head and walking into her den. Stone Ash and Snow Shadow stepped out of their hiding places and approached the female. "That was a smart move. You two will make fine wolves when you get older." She praised them. They beamed with pride, but that all went away when River Shadow rushed in. "Autumn Watcher!" All three turned to look at the gray male. His eyes were wide with fear and panic. "It's Deer." He said, and all three were struck with a feeling of worry. Autumn Watcher went to gather some herbs to be used to heal him, but River Shadow interrupted her with the words, "He doesn't want them." She stopped, and turned. "What?" She growled. "He just requests the presence of you three." They nodded and walked out of the den together.

The entire area was bloodstained, and Deer was lying down on the ground, bleeding from a wound in his neck. River Stone was lying down next to him, gently licking his head and had a paw on his chest. "Autumn... Watcher..." He weakly managed to say. She padded up to him, and he opened his eyes as he started to whisper things to the skywatcher. Snow Shadow and Stone Ash couldn't make it out, but River Stone had apparently been told to move away, since she came to stand next to her daughters. Autumn Watcher nodded sadly and then stood up and walked back to her den, head hung sadly. Stone Ash was next, and she padded up to her father. She didn't even lie down, for he only said a few things. Then it was Snow Shadow's turn. She walked up to the leader, who was almost ready to go to Moon. "Snow Shadow," he started. She looked down as he opened his eyes to look at her.