new day | ✔

ii

They left her.

It wasn't even a surprise, she was always left behind, but this time was unlike any other. No matter how badly the pack treated her and hurt her, a wolf is not a wolf without a pack. Even after all the dismay she's been through with her pack, she still carried a bit of hope in her instinct. This time, even that was gone. 

She was empty.

A hostile snarl and head lock from the alpha male was all she needed to understand her banishment. She had fled into the darkness of the tenebrous labyrinth of trees towards the outskirts of this dominion.

The sun had disappeared behind the horizon of mountains and forests, replaced with a pale moon. River prowled through the nebulous thicket, sensitive to every single sound, sight, and scent. Where was she going? If she wanted to survive she would have to keep moving. She would need to find food and water, perhaps a refuge. But first, she needs to leave this territory.

This part of Alaska was no longer her home, and her previous pack will kill her on sight if they were to encounter again.

Suddenly, the ears upon her crown perked into an acute stance. Her vigilant nares were clouded with such a familiar scent...bear. A huge male grizzly surged out of the darkness, and raised itself up on it's hind legs. He cackled and roared, lashing out ginormous fore-paws armed with five four-inch black claws. River let out a short whine, as she jerked around, tearing through the thick underbrush.

Low growing branches and needles whipped at her face as she sprinted though the compacted undergrowth, her claws grating against the jagged ice on the ground.

There was no way she could take on a bear, especially not on her own. She was so thin that you could count her ribs. The rogue could hear and feel the heavy steps of the grizzly bear not far behind. Every landing was like an earthquake, slowly coming closer and closer...

For her past three rotations, River was classified as a weakling - the runt of the litter. She wasn't built like all the other wolves relative to her species; broad, armed with brawny muscle and a thick hide. Instead, she was svelte and angular, starved to such an extent that even a single waft could knock her over. The bear would soon tear her apart, limb by limb.

Yet, that was only if he could catch her.

River was narrow and lightweight. Like a bird, she was built to take flight. Gifted with spectacular speed and agility, being able to elude branches and roots with general ease. The grunts and growls of the bear grew louder in sound, and with one hopeful burst of speed, River broke into the fastest saunter she's ever ran.

Because she knew exactly what to do.

She was heading towards the ravine, where the spruce and fir near were placed in gaunt rows, close together, giving her the obvious advantage. The racing heartbeat pounded in her ears, her paws aching with each impact upon the frozen forest floor. The bears loud grunts were getting closer, she would need to keep this speed for a bit longer...

Over the sound of her panting, River heard the trickling of water, weaving through the moss-covered rocks. All of a sudden she ducked in the close set trees as her lithe figure moved and twisted naturally, dodging the sharp branches and callous pillars of the pine trees. Behind her, there were struggled moans and cracks of branches signified the accomplishment of her little plan.

She had led the bear to a compacted area, where she knew that only she was able to fit through. The bear's momental structure would make it merely impossible to catch her. All she needed now was to wait until he had completely lost her.