Alpha of the Pack

The Runt

Deep inside a dark, warm den, the whimpers of newborn pups could be heard. There were four of them, curled up at their mothers belly, crying helplessly. Their eyes were still closed, being born only yesterday. All of them looked healthy and strong, all but one. It was a small male pup that had orangish fur. His breathing was shallow and he was not crying like the others. The mother brought this pup to the other corner of the den, leaving him alone in the darkness.
Watery morning light spilled into the den. The pups soon awoke, crying and whimpering once again. The mother licked each one of their noses, calming them down. She then went to see the orange pup, expecting him to be dead as she did not think he would make it through the nigh. But he did. His breathing was still shallow, but he was still alive. The mother picked him up and brought him back to the rest of the pups. Even though he was smaller than all of the others, the mother knew this pup had great strength within him.

   "Mom! Can we go look in the forest for some butterflies? We saw a couple in there!" a dark brown pup said, jumping around with excitement.
"Oh alright, but Fang, stay together. I don't want you to get lost like last time," the mother said. Fang, Misty, and Flash all bounced off into the woods. The little orange pup was about to dart off with them.
"Flame. Stop right there. You are too small to go into the woods. You know that," the mother said sternly. The little pup whimpered.
"But why not? We are all the same age! And I have Fang to look after me," the pup said. The mother growled.
"Don't argue with me. You are staying here, period." The mother stalked off.
"It's alright, you'll be big enough before you know it!" A voice came from behind the little pup that made him jump. Flame flattened his ears against his head.
"But I want to be big enough now, Dad. I can't do anything with the other pups because I'm 'too small'" Flame snorted angrily, trotting off. The father sighed, watching his pup go.