Pack book 1: A new Dawn

Prolouge

Dew ran on the stone floor to the nursery. Howls of panic echoed across the cave. They were her of her daughter Orchard. Tears filled Dew's eyes as she thought of what might of happened. As she brushed passed the thin barrier of twigs and vines she saw a horrific scene that made her question if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Her daughter lay on her side bleeding, her furry stomach soaked red. Her mate Koi was bent over her crying, his tears hitting the stone ground. Two of their three wolf pups who had just been born the day before lay limp, the third was missing.

It was horrible that the lives of such innocent souls had been taken. Before they were even named. Dew walked over to her daughter horrified at her body racking with pain and sobs.

"Koi! What happened?" Dew asked the silver, black, and brown wolf. He didn't respond continuing to cry, eyes filled with horror. Soon more of the pack started to gather around the nursery. It wasn't long till their Alpha Mockingbird came charging in.

"What happened?" She yelped shaking. Dew looked at her with sorrowful eyes. She motioned towards the dead pups and saw the realization fill Mockingbird. Tears soon filled her eyes as well along with the rest of the pack right outside the entrance.

Mockingbird tried to calm down and looked at Koi and Orchard seriously. "What did this? Please tell us." Orchard lay silent but Koi looked up at her shaking, eyes bloodshot from tears.

"Ba-ba-ba-badger." He stuttered. Mockingbird seemed like she was trying not to sound offensive while saying. "Badgers? We can eat Badgers."

"I know." He said. His breaths short and shallow. "But it attacked the pups when Orchard was asleep, and when she woke up it attacked her. But I'm so glad she could fight it off." He nuzzled his mates head.

"Oh." Dew heard Mockingbird whisper under her breath. Dew sat down trying to keep her composure as much as possible, but it wasn't working. She looked around the nursery again, seeing once again the two pups on the floor.Then she realized what she should've before. They had three pups and only two were here. She had noticed one was missing before, the only she-wolf, but hadn't thought the information would help at all. Now she realized it might be crucial.

Dew turned to Mockingbird and said "They had three pups!" Immediately Mockingbird realized what she was trying to say.

"Koi!" Mockingbird called. "One of your pups might still be alive! Koi turned to her with a look shock and a tiny bit of scepticism. "You had three pups right? Well, there are only two here." Mockingbird finished.

A slight bit of hope filled Koi's eyes. He turned to Orchard. "Honey! One of the pups might still be alive!" Orchard looked up at him trying to make a smile her silver fur shining. "Really?" She asked him. "Yes" he said overwhelmed with joy. Orchard lay her head back down on the ground. "I really hope they are."

Koi howled. Dew looked at him wondering why. "Get her help!" He howled "Someone who knows how to stop bleeding help!" Dew then realized how big of idiots they had been. This whole time they were trying to figure out what killed the pups while Orchard was dying. Wolves came in through the entrance with piles of leaves and moss. Koi frantically pushed the material against Orchards wound trying to find something to seal it with. He sighed with relief when someone came with cobwebs.

He pressed them against her, the moss and leaves safely clogging the wound. He bent over Orchard telling her it would be alright.

"Come on" Mockingbird said to Dew. "We need to find that pup" They started searching through the nursery in dark corners and everywhere else. They last looked under the pile of grass and moss that had been Orchard's bed for the last moon.

As Dew scrambled through the pile she heard a small whimper. She felt around till she found a small bit of fur. She pulled it out to find a little pup with yellow and amber eyes and a sleek grey pelt. As she sat the pup on the ground next to her parents she smiled a little.

When Koi turned and saw the pup he howled with joy. When Orchard saw her a wide happy grin spread on her face. She reached out to the pup with a forepaw and pulled her close. Dew could tell they were absolutely overjoyed.

Dew poked her head out of the nursery and told the rest of the pack everything was fine. They looked very happy as well.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

The following sunrise the pack was gathered near the entrance of the cave. Now that Orchard was starting to heal she was able to leave the nursery, which meant it was time to name the pup.

The sun had not yet risen and many wolves waited with anticipation. Dew watched as Mockingbird walked over to Koi and Orchard.

"Are you ready to name her?" She said eyeing the little pup. "No." Said Orchard with a sigh. "We don't know what to name her."

The sun began to reach over the horizon filling the surrounding area with a bright radiant light.

The dawn was beautiful. Glowing bright and bold over the mountain landscape. The little pup opened her eyes and they reflected the dawn gorgeously.

Orchard looked at Koi and he back at her. The pack knew they had chosen a name.

Mockingbird smiled,nodded and backed away so everyone could see the pup. "We'll name her......Dawn!" Orchard announced happily. A smile mixed of relief, hope, and grief on her face. Tears of joy welling in her eyes, as Koi curled his tail around hers.

The cave filled with howls of pride and joy welcoming the knew the pup into the pack. Dew looked at the pup with hope. The little one looked around at her new friends and family.

She opened her maw and let out a little howl of her own. As if she knew how happy everyone was that she was here.