Heart of the Wolf

1- Scouting

Bonda lay lazily warming his gray dappled fur. I lay in a small clearing I found one day while scouting for Alpha Flair. The white lilies danced in the warminng spring winds reminding me of Lopana. Lopana is my mate and I felt a burst of love at every thought of her.

Before I could drift into a peacful sleep my best friend Flexno bounded over, "Flair and Nitedancer have requested an audience with you and I." A few years ago the title loner had fit the brown he-wolf, but Moon a fellow wolf had found him scrounging for food by the Crystal Lake and Flexno was allowed to join the pack, he and I just clicked.

Do you know why," he asked back.

"I think it," Flexno replied, "that it has something to do with the scent and footprints Ajan found by the Main River."

"Okay," I replied, " let's go."

A few meters into the Benthose forest the pair came into camp. After walking by the Nursery and Elder's den we found the Alpha's resting place which stood underneath a rock overhang. Alpha Flair stood at the front with his Beta, Nitedancer sitting next to him. The alpha had a commanding precense and stood tall with his pitch black pelt, Nitedancer was almost as intimadating with his gray fur wih a black tipped tail. The alpha and the beta did not rule alone they had to listen to the Elders and take their advice in.

I noticed that the other wolves here was Moon her small form complimenting her light gray fur, and Ajan with his powerful build and blonde pelt.

Flair was the first to speak with a voice you couldn't help but listen to, " You have been called here to discuss going on a patrol to further investigate Ajan's discovery. A report came from the Surda Desert Pack that they sent the yearly patrol into the Dark Forest and only two of the seven returned."

Nitedance continued the Alpha's sentence, " One was severly injured and may not survive but, the other was babbling about an army with a black Alpha. We think think the two may be connected."

Only a shocked silence followed this revalation. I turned my muzzle around to see expressions mirroring my own disbelief and horror on the other three faces.

"Does that mean we're facing war? Moon asked worriedly.

"I'm afraid it looks that was little one," Flair replied.

"But, why what's the army's purpose," Ajan said with a hint of nerves.

"We don't know, but it is certain that we will not give in without a fight." Nitedancer assured.

"So," continued Flair, " We specialy picked you four to take a patrol with Nitedancer and investigate this scent and keep an eye out for any attacks. This wolf may be a spy for the army. Nitedancer, the Elders and I felt feel a sense of forbidding, something is coming and we need to be prepared."

++++++++++

The warmth seeping through me did nothing to calm my racing thoughts. When the gathering was over Alpha Flair had pulled me asid for a few private worda and they greatly distrubed me.

'Something is coming and I think your going to be right in the middle of it. Savior or destroyer I don't know.'

"Bonda you and Flexno go to our left scout ahead." Nitedancer commanded.

I nodded and swerved to the left with Flexno at my heels and we quickly overtook the rest of the patrol.

Suddenly we burst into a meadow I had never seen with a small stream right ahead. Digging in my heels I barely stopped in time to not fall in, twas a close call though. The stream lay in the middle of the grassy meadow and was so clear I could see all of my reflection. 

Soundlessly I trotted ove and took in my gray fur with a black stripe going from my nose to the tip of my fur. 

I looked next to me to see Flexno examing a pair of purple glowing stones.

Warily I walked over and asked, "What do you think these are?"

"I don't know but, let's call the pack," he repled.

I nodded and tilted my head back a let on short howl rip through my throat. It was short but dance with melody. It was the call of the wolf.

We both picked up our paws at the same time and nudged the stones.

Then I feel my self being thrown through the air amy back hitting the hard bark of a tree and passing out.

++++++++++

The fog slowly lifted from my mind as I struggled my was to consiusness. I remeber scouting, the stream and rocks but what happened?

I pryed my eyelid open and gasped to see the rest of the patrol snarling at me with their fur fluffed up. Why? What did I do?

I stood up and noticed that a completely white wolf lay next to me with a vine around his neck but why was there a peice of the purple stone on the end.

"Who are you stranger and what are you doing here?" Beta NItedance asked.

"What do you mean, I'm not a stranger it's me Bonda," I exclaimed in disbelief that they couldn't reconize me.

"You can't be, Bonda's not pitch black with blue eyes," Ajan shot back.

"What do you mean," I ran over to the stream to see that I was indeed so black I was almost blue with striking blue eyes. Where did my gray fur and brown eyes go.

Before I could try to explain further the white wolf groaned and stirred. What if Flexno had changed to and that was him. I crawled towrd the stranger and warily asked. "Is that you Flexno?"

"Ya," he replied clearly puzzled.

"I think those stones did something to us," I explained. "We look different and I can see much easier."

Now that I thought about all the colors seemed so much brighter and I felt like I could run the whole border and not break a sweat. What are those rocks that they could change me so drastically. What if Alpha Flair was right and I end up destrying all I hold dear, I would be devasted.

"I don't know if I believe you but we should converse with the elders," NItedancer interuppted my thoughts.

Fleno and I nodded and followed Nitedancer with Moon and Ajan bringing up the rear and keeping a close eye on us.

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