We left nothing, but our paw prints in the snow

Chapter 11

For making my book-cover!

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Chapter 11:

Nothing, and I mean nothing, smelled of nothing!

It just isn't possible! There is no such thing as nothing, so nothing can smell of nothing! It's that simple, but for some reason, I'm the only one who has a problem about that. Okay, that's not fully true. My pack was pretty agitated about it, but I think they were only agitated because I was. My Mate was trying in vain to calm me down. I was some great alpha, huh?

I had told them I wasn't right for the job! Why had they insisted? But then, I had also stepped up, and taken the job, I reminded myself. When it came down to it, I was the only one ready to step up. Not because of age, or wisdom or anything, but because I had a mate, which most of my wolves didn't have because they hadn't yet left the pack. It felt odd to be the alpha of some who were older than me. I mean, how can I be the parent of some one older than me? It's so bizarre, that I think it kind of scary, and try not to think of it that way.

I was so lost in my thoughts (a wolf should never be lost in their thoughts! What kind of a wolf was I anyway?) that I was completely and utterly surprised when My Mate touched my nose with his.

I calmed down, and almost immediately, the rest of the pack calmed down. What would I do without My Mate?

“Lead a very chaotic life and never be able to be the alpha of a pack, and probably die very young,” said a small voice at the back of my head.

“Thanks,” I told it, “really needed that.”

Then I looked at My Mate and looked him directly in the eye. Did I mention that only mates were allowed to do that? I used my eyes to say sorry and thanks.

“Sorry for what?” he asked back.

“Sorry for being over dramatic and panicky,” I answered.

“Pff, females!” was all he had to say, like males were no problem what-so-ever, and usually perfect, where I myself could think of countless occasions where I was more than glad to be a female wolf.

“Look who's talking!”

He didn't answer that one, but turned around.

I thought he was merely acting upset, but then I got a mouthful of snow and noticed that he had dug it onto me, if that makes any sense?

I play growled and jumped on him.

I heard one of my pack laugh-bark, “And they are supposed to be our alpha?”

That was enough to get the whole pack playing together. He turned on each other, bit each others' ears, and other such stuff. I remembered the old pack. The pack this used to be, under two alphas that were about to die. It was so much more serious. This was fun and, well, young! I liked it much better.

We rolled around and on top of each other. Everyone had forgotten the moose, until I got thrown onto it. I yelped at the impact, and alarm sent me ten feet into the air.

My spirits, however, were not to be dampened. All I could say was, the hunter had not yet come back for his kill, and it's not like we had been very quiet or anything. I though it safe to eat.

I barked at everyone to come and join to meal. Once they were all assembled, and I was sure everyone had a decent eating spot, I stepped back. I was the alpha now, and it was my job to make sure that every member of my pack was healthy. Right now that meant that I wouldn't get first pick on the food. Later in spring, when other males or females (which was rarer) might come and try and take my pack off me, I had to be strong for my family, it all the food we had stuffed in there. I looked at my pack members. They all had the slightly big tummy. It looked similar to if we all were at the beginning of a pregnancy, which kind of amused me. Nothing really amusing about being pregnant, but the thought of the males being pregnant amused me.

I rolled onto by back, displaying my swollen belly, and being in total peace with the world. In the distance there was a weird noise that sometimes accompanied human hunts, but I was so content with the situation, that I barely really took note of it. I guess that was the biggest mistake of all.

I jumped up. I hadn't even realised that I was asleep. There, in the sky, was the source of the sound. I don't know what it was. It didn't even look remotely like a bird. It had a weird circle on top of it that looked like it was spinning fast. Then there was a body, and there were humans leaning out of it with... I squinted and used my nose, but the smell of metal was so strong it could have only come from the unbird-like bird. No use using my nose.

I squinted harder, knowing my other senses would be of no use now. When I realised what it was that the humans were holding, I felt like I had had a heart attack.

“RUN!!!” I howl-growled at my pack. They had also been woken up by the racket the humans' bird was making, but they had been waiting for my command. Now I had practically freed them. Some unspoken agreement passed between My mate and me. He lead the pack away, leaving me to take the rear, making sure nobody got left behind.

This time I didn't hear the usual bang that accompanied the death-sticks just before some animal would fall. It was a different noise. One I can't quite describe.

Normally being at the back, meant you would probably get killed, but this time it didn't matter. Wolves were falling left right and centre, although from my point of view, they were all falling in front of me. If My Mate got shot, I would have to take over at the front, because the wolves would need some one to lead them.

Luckily, or not, he didn't get shot, but almost all the other wolves were. I was beginning to wonder why we were still running. This was a lost battle. Why hadn't I started moving us away when I had first heard the noise We wouldn't have been fast then, nor nimble, but we would have gotten somewhere. Now we were nimble and fast, but that wasn't going to save us.

I Barked a command at the remaining wolves, telling them to hide in the nearest trees and bushes and other such plants. It was immediately followed. I saw wolves diving behind, under and into things. Last My Mate hid himself.

Now that I knew the rest of us were safe, I looked for a remaining hiding place.

I spotted one.

I started at a run towards it. I had to reach it.

I felt something sting my right haunch.

Something entered my blood. I could feel it coursing through my veins.

My eye-lids felt heavy.

My muscles started to ache, and I felt myself slow down.

My eyes were closing.

I fought sleep.

I wasn't going to win this one.

At least I knew that my pack was safe, and in hiding.

My eyes closed.

I felt myself stumbling, and I never even got to feel the impact, before everything went black.