Alabaster

Chapter Three - Second-In-Command

Written while listening to Winterwolf by BrunuhVille. This chapter is dedicated to Pupsl3, for inspiring me to write again.

Their pace was flowing like the drifting snow that adorned the afternoon air. At the rear of the fluent Band, a mostly grey he-wolf snapped at the heels of those to his front, encouraging the speed. His ears flickered back and forth while they ran, listening to the world around them. Even on this deep winter's day, their Heartland chirped and whirred with an orchestra of life. Amongst this band, a ladder of communication could be heard, from sharp yaps of warning to kinder-sounding barks of direction. One would be a fool to think these canines were not as fluent in language as that of their Pack counterparts, although many Bands were perceived that way by their lack of want to be bound by Pack law.

"Halt!" White-and-grey, the leading she barked the instruction down to the three wolves behind her, who came to a stop. Gently, she turned and gripped the limp fawn carcass by the neck and lifted it, carrying it toward the stump of what was a wise tree. As a symbol of thanks, she placed her paw upon the deceased's head and touched her nose to its own, acknowledging the life it had led, albeit a short one. Although the young she was experienced enough in downing weakened prey, the smell of disease and famine from this carcass stung at her nostrils, threatening nausea in her stomach. "Young fawn," her voice broke out a silence amongst the The Glade. "We give thanks to you for the sustenance your body provides us with. May your soul climb higher than the skies, and rest again in another body." Turning to her side slightly, Fern stoked her tail over the fawn's face, closing its eyes. The three other Band-members lowered their heads in respect of the past soul, and in collective movement all members raised their noses to the sky and sang the soul a path to the heavens.

Fern felt it in her veins; an ethereal calm filled her every cell with purpose. With delicacy, she tore open their meal, residual warmth from the life of the now dead transcending into the air as steam. Her teeth were a set of fine cutting tools, and upon extracting the heart from the chest cavity, her blue eyes met those grey orbs of her father. "Father, the heart for you. Symbolic of your passionate chase of the deceased and leadership of our Band." Wise in this such ritual, Grey approached his daughter, and exchanged the heart resting in Fern's jaws to his own. His back partially ridged with age, he turned to slink away to the side of his younger second-in-command, where he lowered to sit and began tentatively eating. Once her father was down, Fern began to extract the portions for the remaining two wolves. A section of fine, well-exercised muscle came free from its host, and was laid at the feet of the one to dine on it. "Flint, fleet of foot, this piece is for you." Gracious for his ration of the kill, the young slate-grey-and-white male placed a kiss on Fern's nose, that was greeted by a returned gesture. He set himself aside Grey and began to tear his teeth into the fibrous material.

"Why is it that I always go last?" Impatience struck harsh notes on the voice of the last member to be fed. Standing tall with her tail at a half mast position, the younger she bore her teeth to Fern, letting go as rasping growl. "Because you act like this, Snow." Fern's growl came icy and unforgiving to her younger Band-member, her tail too positioned in one of defence. "Until you come to respect that this is the order of things, and take your role in the Band with some pride, your position in that order will never change." Males watched on as tension sparked between the two wolves, Fern bringing her tail to an almost upright position in warning. "Second-in-command, pfft..." Snow spat at her white-and-grey peer, prompting punishment from the eldest. Grey snapped upwards and placed his muzzle around Snow's, flicking his tail tail to and fro, with his bloodied teeth tantalisingly close to the thin layer of fur and skin covering the bone of her muzzle. A deep, open growl sounded from Grey's throat as he held the youngster's maw, allowing Fern to remove Snow's portion from the kill. Authority tense in her frame, Fern offered the choice cut to Snow, nodding for Grey to drop his hold on her. A silence rushed to filled that space which had previously been pregnant with aggression, and as Fern looked her younger she in the eyes, Snow extended her tongue to gesture an apology onto her face. "Remember," Fern spoke before she took her share. "You are not last aside from me through an inferior view, Snow. Any wolf to think of you like that would be a fool."

Having taken her share, Fern joined her fellows to a hearty meal. Not a sound but the joy of loyal companions could be heard from their resting place, as the tensions and snaps of the hunt were dissolved as snowflakes on the pelts of the canines. Peace was the grey winter sky, held by clouds of courteous white, where their joy rung throughout the Heartland for all beings to hear.

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Author's notes: It is 02:48am Greenwich Mean Time! Apologies for the short chapter, but after roleplaying as Fern on a great new app I found dedicated to just that, I got the urge to write. I don't, and seem to lack the ability to, plan my chapters, and as a result they often turn out short. You wouldn't believe the crap I get from planned chapters, though! I've taken about two to three hours writing just this chapter, but it is all worth it. I can feel Fern in the most connected reaches of my soul, and she is joyous; Happy and free as she should be. Since getting back into writing, I feel as if she's calmed down again. The start of the new term at college saw her spiritual energy tense up and become very unlike her. College stressed me out a lot, and so it is a relief to feel myself, and Fern, relax among the sprawl of words I put together here.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter, and please take your time to listen to the inspiration for this chapter, Winterwolf by BrunuhVille. I am also most obliged to mention a Wattpad user who has re-ignited my flame for writing through their praise of my works - Pupsl3. This chapter is dedicated to them. Go and read their works; I must admit I am occupied so much by college work that I am yet to read any of their literature. (Using gender-neutral pronouns as I am not aware of the user's gender)