A Lone Wolf

Chapter 1

Swiftclaw padded alongside the border of the forest. The dark night was threatening, only the dim rays of the moon provided light for him.

Unlike other wolves, he had no need to stay in Packs.

Its foolish for wolves to stay in Packs.

He lifted his snout, catching a whiff of prey scent.

Swiftclaw licked his muzzle, his muscles rippling under his white pelt.

Following the tasty scent, he swept his gaze over the clearing when he spotted a plump mouse.

In late hot-sun, he wasn't surprised to see such a fat mouse.

He crouched down, stalking the mouse, placing each paw carefully in front of each other.

Swiftclaw slinked along the ground, his amber eyes focused on the prey.

The mouse was unaware, nibbling on a seed.

He rocked his haunches from side to side, and pounced!

He dislodged the mouse with a swift bite.

Picking it up, a sudden weight bowled him over and caught him by surprise.

He dropped the prey. And when he had recovered, Swiftclaw glared at his attacker.

A fierce she-dog was standing before him, her upper lip curled back in a snarl.

"What are you doing in my territory?"

Swiftclaw was perplexed.

"What? I didn't smell any scent marks that bordered your territory!"

Maybe because I was too famished...

The tan she-dog swung her head from side to side, scenting the air.

She growled "There are very obvious scent marks."

Swiftclaw took a whiff for himself

She's right...

The white wolf puffed, wincing as he staggered up.

"Well I hate to admit it, but you're right. I'm sorry."

Once again, he picked up the piece of prey tightly, and stalked forward.

The she-dog barked, "Halt."

Swiftclaw whipped around with a  arrogant gleam in his eyes.

"What?"

The she-dog cocked her head to the side. "I haven't seen many white wolves like you. Where's your Pack?"

Swiftclaw replied, "I don't have a Pack. It's pointless having one. I don't belong anywhere. That's why I go wandering around." With a look at the she-dog, he added, "Into other animal's territories. But I get chased out anyway."

The she-dog gave a look of sympathy. "Well...You can stay in my territory, if you like?"

The white wolf shook his head.

"I stand alone. I can't be tempted to join even another animal."

The she-dog asked, "At least tell me your story, and then you can leave."

Swiftclaw tossed her a look, about to object but gave in anyways.

He knew it was dangerous and risky to trust any stranger in seconds, but something about this she-dog told him she wasn't hostile. At least at first.

Swiftclaw followed the she-dog, and arrived at a make-shift den. It was crafted with thin sticks and moss to cover any cracks. Strange stringy plants dangled at the entrance, blocking any wind.

He remarked, "Made this yourself?"

The she-dog replied, "It's better than nothing." She prodded it with a paw. "But it's sturdy."

Swiftclaw crept into the den, his neck fur prickling.

He settled onto some soft moss that was lined with feathers.

The she-dog ripped moss from the ceiling and layed it on the ground.

When she layed down, Swiftclaw sighed.

"Where should I start, dog?"

The she-dog retorted, "Yeah, my name is dog, are you seriously going to call me 'dog'?" With a look at the wolf she scoffed, "My name is Sandpelt."

Swiftclaw replied curtly, "Swiftclaw."

He stretched his lean muscles. Might as well make myself comfy. This is going to be a long story.

"When I was a young pup, my mother was murdered by a rogue, and my father was killed in a forest fire. He carried me to the farthest side of the forest where there was a lake. When the fire was rising too fast, he threw me in the lake, and sacrificed himself. He could've jumped in the lake with me, but my father said that he forgot something. I almost drowned. "

Swift took a deep breath while Sandpelt shuffled uneasily beside him.

"When I crawled out of the water, I couldn't bear to look at my father's scorched body. I gave him a proper burial and went out in search of a Pack to protect me while I was growing.

I found one, and they took very good care of me. It was almost like I had a second family. But they were all slain like prey when a much bigger Pack took over, trying to extend their territory. I barely survived, but the Alpha forced me to join his Pack, and they were cruel. They weren't bound together by love, they were bounded together by rules that they were forced to obey.

If one attempted to escape, they were killed by the Alpha or Beta themselves.

It was a big Pack, so they weren't worried about losing any Packmates because they were quickly replaced.

But I pretended that I was dead, and of course, they threw me into the river to rot, thinking that I was dead.

I caught a cold, but it was better than being in that awful..."

He spat out the word.

"Pack."

Swiftclaw continued, swallowing hard.

"I never joined another Pack. I was independent. I don't want to depend on anyone. And I don't want to be depended on by anyone."

Sandpelt gave Swiftclaw another one of those sympathy looks and opened her jaws, looking as if she wanted to say something, but closed it again.

"Can't you try one more time?"

Swiftclaw shook his head.

"I barely survived in that last Pack, and I don't want to risk being slain again."

Sandpelt argued "But we can watch each others back!"

Swiftclaw was reluctant to give in.

"Fine. Only this one time."

Sandpelt rested her head on her paws, sighing in satisfaction.

Swiftclaw creased his forehead in worry, but decided.

She's harmless.

The white wolf woke to a racous roaring.

Leaping to his paws and peering out of the cave, he came face to face with a giant creature.

A bear.

It opened its strong jaws, and bit down on Swiftclaw.