Amorska's Quest

Chapter 1: Cursed by Birth

The Brunide pack used to consist of eighteen pack members. But that was before they had to leave their old home to find Vengres. Salgrief was a mountainous ridge, the only way to get to Vengres was to cross it. The Brunide pack had no choice, risk Salgrief's hell? Or stay in their husk of a home, where prey had all but disappeared.

 Remoir was Aro's mate, who gave birth to their daughter, Amorska. It was an unfortunate event, for her birth had a cost of Remoir's life. Aro raised Amorska since then, and ignored his pack mates, who swore the pup would bring death to them all. Aro was growing old, but his heart was still strong. He loved and cared for his daughter, and saw light in the curse she was born with.

A wolf born atop Salgrief, has ice for blood, goes the tale. And if they ever set foot upon Vengres, their paws will kill the very life of the land. Bleeding cold into the soil and spreading the unyielding frost of Salgrief into Vengres.

Aro believed the curse, but he tossed it to the wind. In his eyes he twisted her curse into a Gift. She could lead his pack to Vengres, since Salgrief's wrath only fed her soul, and made her stronger. Time was painfully slow on Salgrief, like a bite to the heart. Aro gazed down at the little ball of fur by his side, her stubby tail wagging with happy excitement. She looked up at him, the most innocent joy twinkling in her unusual eyes.  Amorska was unaware of the treacherous lands they stood on, her gaze drifting to look over  in awe, at the scenery below her. "Aro...I can't see the ground." She whispered. "Is that a cloud? how high up are we, father? Aunt Mildra has told me stories of your old home." Amorska rambled, creeping closer to the edge and squinting. "Hilecrem sounded like a really cool place." Amorska whined when Aro put a paw on her back, and pulled her away from the ledge.

"Indeed it was." Aro nosed Amorska with his muzzle. "Come, Amorska, let's join the others for the night." Aro waited until she took off towards their temporary den site, spraying him with little chips of ice and snow in her wake. He shook his fur and followed her more leisurely.

Amorska crashed into Mildra's flank when she skidded into the den. There was enough packed snow on Salgrief to build a small den to cover at least five wolves, out of the remaining ten. The other members of the pack made their own dens nearby. "Watch where you're stampeding, next time, dear little Amorska." Mildra growled, batting Amorska over the head.

"Mind your aunt's temper." Came the raspy voice of an older male wolf, farther back in the cave.  He was curled up in the corner, a bedraggled heap of fur. Amorska slid passed her aunt and approached him. "Hi, uncle Norbreg." Amorska bent down and waggled her back haunches, getting ready to pounce Norbreg's head. He opened a narrow, yellow eye at her, before closing it again sleepily. Aro peered into the den, nodding a greeting to Mildra. "Amorska," he called. Getting her attention. "Let your uncle sleep, please." He squeezed into the den and lay near the entrance. Amorska reluctantly padded over to Mildra and curled up in between her paws. "But father, I'm not sleepy."

She rolled over onto her back and gazed at Aro, upside down. Mildra glared down at her, burying her nose in Amorska's soft belly fur. "If you don't sleep, I'll just eat you, you little snow hare!" Mildra growled with amusement, as Amorska yelped and squirmed beneath her. "Okay, okay!" She whined. "I'll sleep, I'll sleep." Amorska batted at Mildra's muzzle with her hind paws, and scrabbled onto her belly, tail thumping the icy ground. Mildra licked Amorska's cheek before yawning. Aro felt warmth dance inside his chest like a tiny fire, watching Amorska curl up by Mildra's side. His eyelids were growing heavy, the sound of Norbreg's snoring was starting to lull him to sleep as well. He took one last glance out the den, to the sky and stars where Remoir watched over them from Fenrir's Pack. Before falling into sleep.