We left nothing, but our paw prints in the snow

Chapter 7

Chapter 7:

The next time I opened my eyes, I was completely disorientated. I had no idea what time of light it was, or even if it was dark. I just couldn't tell. I had no idea where I was, or how I got here. I didn't even remember going to sleep. And I never slept so deeply. I knew that that was dangerous. Anything could happen if you sleep so deeply.

I opened my eyes, but everything was blurry, and when I tried to focus on something it stung most uncomfortably, so I just shut them again.

I tried smelling out where I was, but my nose was itchy, and I couldn't tell one smell from another. Instead I tried to here if there was any kind of wolf I could ask. Alas, there was a constant humming noise in my ears, so I couldn't tell a thing.

I was, in other words, blind.

I just lay there. Not knowing whether I should try to stay awake, in case something attacked me. But then again, if something did attack me, I would be incapable to do anything against it. I doubt I would even notice. I was sore all over, and found it hard to move. I doubt that anything could cause me more pain.

I just let my senses slip away into the pleasant nothingness.

When I next came around, the humming had stopped. I could here the birds singing to each other. I could here a river not to far off.

I don't remember a river.

My nose still stung, and though I could sort of tell one smell from another, they all seemed like they were in mist. Unclear and blurred.

I tried opening my eyes, but instantly felt dizzy and my head started to burn.

What were these pains?

What did they mean?

I opened my eyes again. I ignored the dizziness and pushed past the burning headache. I had to find out where I was. I looked at the blurry picture and tried to make sense of what I was seeing. I was in a forest, but it wasn't the type of forest that I was used to. It was more like a.... I don't know what it was like. I'd never seen anything like it before. The trees were very far apart.

I turned my head to get to see more of my surroundings, and instantly wished I hadn't. I head hurt even more than before. I couldn't move my head without causing it to burn. Great!

I thought about calling. Maybe some wolf or other animal would come to my aid. Right now, I would be grateful if a human came along, even if they shot their death-stick and caused me to go to sleep. Sleep must be better than this.

Well, I had nothing to lose.

I howled as best I could. As always, the howl reflects the wolves inner, and sometimes outer state. Mine was quiet, because I couldn’t lift my head, meaning I was kind of howling into the ground. My howl was weak, and kept stopping. Great. Anything that heard it would know I needed help. Even those poor, witless humans that couldn't hear or smell very well.

I howled again, but this time it was even quieter. I wouldn't manage another howl. Not that what I was doing right now was very howl like. It was more of a pathetic whimper that was trying to fulfil the normal job of a howl. That would kind of describe my 'howl' better.

I couldn't do another one. Not for the life of me. Currently I rather just give up my life than have to go through this. It would be so much easier. I think that now I understand why my mum said that I shouldn't pity the dead. They had it easy. The living, on the other hand, are left behind to deal with everything. Just being alive is a deed worth giving credit for. I think that she was right.

But wouldn't that mean that I would be weak to die? And wouldn't that be selfish of me? All my friends and family would have to cope with yet another pain, only because I was too weak to deal with mine. No. I couldn't do that again.

From somewhere in me I found the strength to do another howl. This one was louder, but it also sounded more urgent. I tried lifting my head so the sound would travel better. If this didn't work, I would have absolutely no strength left to do another one.

I laid my head back down on the floor. If only it wasn't so snowy. Then my head wouldn't feel so cold.

I shuffled my body into a better position for getting up, but I never got any further than that, because as soon as I moved my legs, everything went black.

When I next woke up, I felt hungry. That had to be a good sign. I wanted to get up, when I noticed a very warm something next to me. That warm something was about my size. Was moving very slowly, as if it were breathing, and...

It smelt like pine-needles and earth.

It couldn't be.

What about the fire?

I completely forgot about being hungry. Now I was only curious. How on earth did he manage to get me away from the fire.

Did something happen, and I just couldn't remember? Or was it that I was out-cold while everything happened. I think the latter is probably the true version.

So, he must have by some miracle found me, and by yet another miracle and more, gotten me away from the fire.

What about the rest of the pack? Were they safe? Where were they if they were safe? What would become of me, if they were all alive? Would I still have to become alpha? Chances are, yes.

I turned around, and saw that Pine-needles-Earth was staring at me. He was awake. And he looked happy. Happy to see me awake.

I leaned in and licked his nose, before I moved my head under his chin. He nuzzled me affectionately. I was complete. I was safe. Was this what it felt like to be with your mate?

I wanted answers, and the only wolf who could answer them, was my alpha. I could of course have asked my mum, but the chances of me seeing her again were amazingly low.

“Mate?”

His gaze grazed mine, so I knew that he was listening.

“Could I speak to the alpha, do you think?”

He nuzzled me once, and something about the way he did it made me scared.

“There is no alpha.”