Dominance: Betrayal

2

"LittlePaw!!!"

I turned and saw Twitchtip running my way, he knocked me over and we tumbled through the the fresh green grass as we giggled hysterically.

"Hey Twitchtip!"

His black and white fur shone in the sun, and his playful green eyes stared me down along with a his sly smile. His history was a little complicated, but thanks to mom's mini lesson I understood it better. His father was full Nighthowler, and his mother was full Alliance. They were both sentenced to death after breaking the oath to Fauna.

"Hey LittlePaw, are you ready for the ceremony?" He asked as he stared into my icy blue eyes and his tail wagged excitedly.

The Naming Ceremony was for wolves ready to take the Journey. Pups would receive their permanent names and be sent off on their own for one firemoon. 

"Of course I'm ready." I said proudly as I puffed out my chest.

"I wonder what my name will be, maybe something awesome like Balto, or... Or White Fang!! I'll be the bravest wolf around!" He said with a triumphant howl.

"I bet mine will be something beautiful like Princess or Snowflake!" We both are thrown into a fit of laughter, and howl until our throats are dry and sore.

"Littlepaw! The pack caught some dinner!" My mom called from the den.

"Oh, gotta go! I'll be back later with some food!" I bound off towards my den with a howl.

"Bye." He whispered as he runs off to scavenge for food.

Preparing for the Ceremony

"Its okay, mom, I'll be fine." I sighed as she paces around the den nervously.

"Do you remember the oath?" she questioned with a burning intensity in her eyes, "This is life or death, Littlepaw!"

"I solemnly swear to abide by the pack rules and serve The Creator throughout my life. I will not not break the oath and will complete my service to Fauna with integrity. See? You don't have to worry." I sighed with relief, I thought I had forgotten the oath but it remained embedded in the dusty files of my brain.

She peeked out the den and looked at the long shadows the trees cast upon the forest floor, "We have to leave before we're late! Come on Littlepaw lets go!"

I trotted alongside mom until we reached the Arena and scoped out Twitchtip. Most of the pups were already positioned inside the circle they used for the ceremony. I slumped down next to him as my tongue lolled out. I was nervous wreck, and my paws twitched nervously.

"You good?" he asked with a giggle.

"Fine." I snarled. The elders followed Alpha Kovu out to the circle as the pups lowered themselves to the ground. It was a sign of respect and dominance.

Alpha Kovus's deep voice rang through the crowd, "Are all the pups accounted for?"

Elder Lupe stepped out of line and begun attendance, "Scarsnout?" Each name was followed by a shrill bark to show the pup was here.

"YellowEye? Stripsniff? GrayStripe? Twitchtip?" Twitchtip stepped forward and barked.

"LittlePaw?" I did the same as all four cubs then got back into line.

"All the cubs are accounted for, Alpha Kovu." Elder Lupe stepped back into line as the Alpha stepped forward.

"LET THE CEREMONY BEGIN!" The crowd of wolves howled in delight. I wasn't paying attention to the wall of fire that rose from the ground and circled around us. One by one, the pups were called up, given their permanent names, sworn into the pack, and returned to the line.

When Twitchtip was called up, he was christened Koda.

"LittlePaw." I willed my legs forward as my knees wobbled, "You will now be known as Kiara." The crowd roared and I admired my new name, "Do you accept the Oath of Fauna?"

My mouth went dry and my knees buckled, "I-I solemnly swear... to abide by the p-pack rules ser-serve The Creator... throughout my-throughout my life. I will not... bre-break the oath and will complete my service... to Fauna w-with integrity." I sighed with relief, but not long after, a searing pain went through my upper thigh and I yelped in pain. I had completely forgotten that each cub was branded with the pack sign: a crescent moon and sun entwined. I practically skipped back to line as the pain was replaced with relief and joy.

"Send them off!" The wall of fire dropped and before I knew it I was running through the trees with the blur of the other cubs rushing past.