Hidden by the Mountain

Chapter 12, Starry Tears

Chapter 12, Starry Tears.

             Kamatz watched as two other wolves, both black, left the den and went towards the forest. He suddenly wondered something and woke Senka before telling her, “Go ask Kahoko or your mother how many wolves are in the Starry Tears pack. Only ask the one that is awake, although they may not be awake. If they aren’t, wake up your mother and ask. Then return to me and give me the answer.”

             The pup raced around the mountain to the cave den to ask. She soon came racing back and said, “Mother was asleep so I asked Kahoko and she said that there were about 27 members in the pack, and explained that she knew because when she left the Moonlight Shadows pack she looked at the other ones, hoping to find a suitable home. Lastly she asked if you wanted to know how many the others had.”

             “No that’s good enough. You can go back to sleep if you want,” Kamatz replied. The pup nodded and curled up next to him once more.

             Kamatz thought to his self, So if the Moonlight Shadows pack can get the Starry Tears pack to help them, we would be up to 51 opponents!

             He suddenly saw the peacemakers of the Moonlight Shadows pack return with three other wolves and they met with the alphas in the middle of the valley. The two black peacemakers returned to their den, leaving the alphas of the Moonlight Shadows pack and the peacemakers of the Starry Tears pack to try and strike a deal.

             “Your Peacemakers told our alphas that you were having trouble with a neighboring rogue and his family. Of which is made up a number of wolves unknown to you,” one of the peacemakers, a white female, explained.

             “Yes, Pacifica,” the alpha female began gloomily as she addressed the wolf. “And I assume they also told you that we need your help finding them, finding out how many there are, and battling them.”

             Another one, a russet female, nodded and added, “Our alphas are unsure of whether to accept. These past few moons have been very prosperous for us in nearly every way. We have healthy pups, plenty of herbs and healing concoctions, a surplus of prey, and enough territory to roam to our hearts content.”

             The alpha male smiled at the proud wolf and said, “But, Mirirti, I’m guessing these past few moons have been boring playing stupid pup games, having to deal with the awful smell of rotting prey and herbs that haven’t been used for a long while, and so much space that you have to patrol for so long and tire your limbs when you probably won’t see any action. We offer you a chance to taste an enemy’s blood, tear through its fur, and get out of that routine, not to mention, eliminate someone that could become your future enemy if we managed to drive them off with another pack’s help.”

             The last peacemaker, a male wolf with gray fur, replied, “You make a valid point. We could share the stories with our pups, fill up on our surplus of food after a hard day’s work, and use our herbs on injured wolves so we won’t have to deal with their hideous smell, and have an excuse to miss out on border patrols, but you would still gain so much from this, and we wouldn’t gain anything worthwhile. Why should we get our fur shredded up so you can sit high and pretty on your little rock?”

             The alpha male growled and said, “Hume, you know that each of our wolves is stronger than the usual wolf, such as your pack. Plus we have 15 pups that survived out of 18, that are just starting battle training. If you refuse our offer, you will have to speak to us in one moon, after we have rid ourselves of that rogue with the help of another pack and can take revenge on your refusal.”