The Elemental Wolves *ON HOLD*

The Escape *unedited*

Okatte curled in a ball and whined. He had opened his eyes a while ago, but only recently was he able to perceive forms, like Mom and the cell bars. Experiencing the world he was born into with this new sense was overwhelming, and he hated it. He preferred his first two weeks of life not knowing the world and trusting entirely on Mom. He missed only being able to feel her warmth, smell her sweet scent, and taste her milk. There were the brief moments she would leave, and he wouldn't have her with him, but they were only brief. Now with the ability to see, he watched her walk off for an unknown reason, and his curiosity and long to be by her rocketed. It seemed she would be gone for ages instead now, besides a brief moment, and he felt so alone and cold. He tried to find something else to distract him, but there was nothing comforting about the dull stone walls around him and the cold bars blocking him in. It wouldn't be as painstaking of a wait if he could leave his hiding spot. Whenever he asked Mom if he could leave his refuge between the two logs of the bed, she refused. He was stuck in this single spot, not allowed to view where Mom went, or what was outside his cell. She always told him it was for his safety, but he wasn't sure what she was protecting him from. However, he was allowed to emerge from his hiding spot and suckle when she got back, so he didn't complain. Okatte sighed, sight was such a burden to him. He perked his ears as a wolf approached, whoever it was was scurrying, not casually walking.

Suddenly, Mom quickly turned into the cell. She stopped, chest heaving and panting, and glanced behind her to the unknown. Her tail was glued between her back legs, which were bent slightly and quivering. Okatte rose and tilted his head at her. He slowly and cautiously neared towards her, glancing out the cell.

Her eyes bulged as he walked out from the shadow; she shook her head and quickly muttered, "Cxof."

Okatte nodded and hurriedly dashed back to the protection of the shadow under the bed. He sat and wagged his tail. See, I listen! I won't move, and I'll stay, I promise. There were howls and loud footsteps outside the cell; they grew louder and louder.

Suddenly, a large, black coated wolf barged into Mom's cell. His ears were flat and his tail straight out. "You took my food, Utuun," he snarled.

Mom cowered and fell to her stomach, "I didn't know it was yours."

Okatte sneered at the sight of his mom submitting. Get up and fight! He wished he could run out there and bite the large wolf's foot off. The black wolf pounced forward teasingly with a bark, causing Utuun to shrink back farther.

A muscular red-brown wolf then jumped into Mom's cell with a snarl, blocking the black wolf's path. His hackles were raised, giving him a large appearance.

"Back off, Krim." He peeled his lips back, exposing pearly fangs.

Krim lifted his head up with a thunderous laugh, "You're a strange one, Xohdur."

Xohdur growled deep in his throat. The black wolf turned his back away from Mom and Xohdur with a chuckle. No one dares to defy Xohdur. Okatte thought with a grin.

The large wolf stopped halfway out the doorway, "Watch it, Utuun."

Mom eyed Krim then lowered her head and glanced at Xohdur. The black wolf laughed again, scraped the ground with one paw, then spit at his feet. He stalked away slowly, shoulders bouncing as he laughed to himself. Xohdur spit at his own feet and stood tall, chest puffed out; his tail raised into a curl. Okatte nearly ran out and to the wolf to thank him, but he quickly ducked back under the bed.

Utuun approached him with her head still lowered, "Than-"

Xohdur turned to her with an expression of disdain, "This never happened."