Runt In The Wild

Chapter Twelve

I walked along the top of the cliffs, my ears pricked and alert. I lifted my muzzle into the air to smell for any intruders. I was on patrol along the borders of the pack territory after healing from my bruised rib, which took a month to fully heal.

The first and lowest rank of an Alpha is a patrol wolf. Then it was hunters, which hunted for the whole pack, to pack wolf, which did any duties that were available, then finally Captain. There could only be one Captain at a time, and the Captain is in charge of a lot of the activities in the pack with the Lead Alpha.

Suddenly, a familiar scent filled my nose. Rabbit.

I looked over the cliff to see a white and black rabbit sniffing along the ground. I knew I was on patrol, but I hadn't eaten much that day. So I bent down and jumped off the cliff edge. I stretched my pass wide and landed squarely on the rabbit.

It squeaked but only for a moment before I snapped its neck. I gulped it down as quickly as possible, so I could get back to patrolling the border. I could still taste the rabbit's warm blood in my mouth even after I finished it.

I climbed back up the cliff to continue my patrol, but when I started walking across the cliff tops once again a familiar scent drifted into my nose. I jumped around just in time to see a black shape leap at me. The creature landed on my, and I landed on my back with it on top on me, looking into my eyes.

Deep blue eyes stared at me, and the thing above me smiled. "Hey, Kate."

"Leo!" I yelled but gently and playfully.

He laughed. "It seems that you might not be the best patrol wolf I have ever seen after all."

At that I kicked my back legs into his stomach, and he flew backwards with a surprised yelp. He is a bit bigger and a lot heavier than me; a lot because he is pretty muscular.

"What the?! How did...what...huh?" He stammered.

I laughed at him. "I thought you knew better than to make fun of a runt, especially me." I smirked at him as he looked on disbelievingly.

I dropped into a crouch and growled playfully with my tail swinging from side-to-side. Leo finally returned to normal as he went into a similar position.

We leaped at each other and rolled as we wrestled on the ground.

After a little bit, we separated panting. Leo chucked as he said, "For such a small wolf you can really fight." I smiled sweetly at his words and sat down in front of him.

I stared and lost myself in his blue eyes with their hard intensity and wonder. I shook my head and looked away. I suddenly remembered what I was doing. I jumped up and yelled, "I have to finish my patrol! Bye, Leo. I'll see you later. Meet me at the Hot Springs."

The only thing I saw before I turned away and ran down the boundary line was Leo shaking his head as if he had forgotten about both of our duties, too.

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

After I finished my patrol, I met with Lucy and Molly at the Hot Springs. Molly was still a patrol wolf, but Lucy had already moved on to a hunter with Leonardo.

"Kate, you won't believe what we caught on the hunt today." Lucy ran up to me; she was jumping around like Molly did when she was extremely excited.