BrokenShards

Chapter 3

"I cant wait to meet the others! Rain's exited bark echoed around the cave his grayish blue eyes shinning brightly, Do you think there like me?" He said tilting his head. "I wonder what there do.." Paint muttered quietly to herself  Shard smiled, it was the pups first time out of the cave and they were happy to see the world around them Shard thought to himself, while Misty gently licked her son's head after sitting down, "Of course there like you, every ones waiting for all of you already want to see them? Arrow was all ready racing up the slope of there cave. Shard padded more slowly after him with Misty by his side, smiling as they caught up to the bouncing ball of light gray fur. Shard watch as the pups stared around amazed at the tall pine trees casting over the small cave, the sound of birds singing sounded from the distance and clouds floated below, making a thick fog around them.

Rain, started to pad around more slowly turning his head as he stared at the tall pine trees then, he stopped suddenly, and Shard glanced at him, but then saw what Rain's narrowed eyes were fixed on. Small beady black eyes, large front teeth, brownish gray fur, the squirrel, of course Rain never seen this animal alive before, Shard usually hunted bigger things such as rabbits. Rain was still use to his milk.

Rain's ears shot up in alarm,  the squirrel found its way to its hind legs its small fore paws in front of his chest, as it watched Rain making sure he didn't attack. Arrow suddenly darted up beside Rain, his fangs bared in a snarl. Paint was cuddled up to Misty, staring in wonder. Rain yelped as the small animal gave an alarm chirp and then fled through a near by thicket, tail held high. "What was that?" Rain gasp, still in slight shock Shard saw that Misty was trying to hold in a yip of laughter, i'd better explain this one. "That was only a squirrel, there harmless and the dogs of the packs sometimes hunts them, Shard flattened his ears then added, if we can find them that is". Arrow let out a yelp of laughter his blue eyes shining brightly. "Next your be chased by a scary rabbit!" Arrow yelped. Rain swatted him with a fore paw, causing Arrow to tumble back in surprise "Hey!" Arrow whined, In the blink of an eye the two were carelessly rolling around on the ground, in a play fight.

Rain managed to pin his brother down with two fore paws, his eyes brightened  "Ha!" Rain barked. Arrow squirmed around, unable to shake him off he finally gave up "Get off!" Arrow growled. His growl quickly turned into a yelp of laughter again "I wont be able to protect you from the squirrels if dont move! Arrow snickered, Hmm what will I say? Sorry Scourch there were three of us but Rain got eaten by a squirrel.. sorry.."  Rain Stumbled off, his ears flattened in embarrassment. "Lets hurry now we dont want to keep the pack waiting now." Shard barked

They padded calmly towards camp, passing over a small puddle, where they got a drink although, Rain being his self, manged to splash them with the puddle water, Making Paint join him in his little splash fight. The five of them walked along a narrowed path, soon coming across a log, Arrow made the best of it, balancing on it as long as he could. A shiver ran through, Shard's spine as they reached a marshy path, a narrowed path covered in mud, undergrowth surrounded it, thorns hidden deep with in it. Shard knew they had to pass to get to camp the shortest way, the shortest way there was..they had already gone this far and Shard wasn't going to turn back. 

As they got closer, Shard notices a deep growl rise coming from, Paint "Yuck!, What is that smell? It reeks of it!" Shard knew what she was talking about, the mud of the marshy path. flies buzzed around it, Shard had to shake his muzzle when one of them landed on his nose. Shard started to speak, but Misty said it for him "This is the marshy path, we must cross it to reach the camp the fastest way." Rain's grayish blue eyes widen in disbelieve "You mean we have to walk in that?!" Shard let out a sign then a faint smile formed on his muzzle. "I can carry you if you want, the mud's too deep for  pups your size anyways" Rain relaxed his body "Oh, in that case..what are we waiting for!?"  

Shard griped, Rains scruff gently in his jaws and lifted him up, Arrow was clinging to his back he turned to Misty who was holding Paint in her jaws,  he nodded, then padded forward with Rain dangling in jaws. Shard gently placed a paw on the mud, that made up the path, it quickly sunk downward, making a squelching sound, Shard shuttered he hated crossing this path it always made his paws covered in the stuff and it always seemed as if he would sink in too deep and get stuck, but he needed to get  across and that's what he was going to do. 

Shard Slowly padded along the mud, Misty's paw steps coming from behind him. A faint caw of a crow sounded from behind, after what seemed like forever, Shard finally reached the end of the path. He gently set down, Rain Arrow leaped down from his back to sit beside Rain. Misty had finish just after him and she gently set down Paint. Misty started to shake clumps of mud of her paws, Shard smirked she looked so funny twitching her back leg to get the mud off, but Shard started to do the same, until the worst of the mud was off his paws. 

Shard grumbled, his white paws were stained, darkened by the mud. "Well lets keep heading towards camp, were almost there" Misty gave a bark of encouragement. The narrowed path broke into a large clearing. Most of the battles happen here, Shard remembered. Rain padded behind him staring around in amusement, Arrow was bouncing around a little ahead of the group. large pine trees surround the area, small shoots peaked through the long grass, pine cones scattered carelessly around. 

Rain's tail wagged as he spotted a rather big pine cone. He leaped up in joy and grabbed the pine cone in his small jaws, but quickly dropped it, the pines hurting his mouth. Rain rolled out his tongue and staring in shock. Shard smiled "Yeah, its not the best idea to pick pine cones up that way, Shard said while lowering his head to point out a pine cone with his muzzle, You have to grip it lightly in your fangs, so the pines don't sting your mouth like this". Shard griped the pine cone carefully between his teeth, making sure only his fangs touched it. Misty's eyes glowed "why don't you try it now, Rain?" Rain nodded, his tail still wagging. He scanned the long grass, having to stretch his neck to look over the long grass, he spotted his large pine cone and padded around it slowly, pushing grass away with his muzzle, he finally bounded over to his pine cone and griped it lightly with his tiny fangs. Arrow and Paint exchanged a excited glance and searched around for pine cones of their own.

Rains white chest puffed out, his eyes glowing with pride as he lifted his pine cone high up, dusk light shown brightly on his pine cone, turning it a lighter brown. Misty padded over to her son eyes shinning brightly, Shard dropped his own pine cone and was quickly behind her, his ice blue eyes showing the same love. "That's wonderful, you have so much courage!" Misty joined in his praise "Why don't you show Arrow and Paint how do to do it as well since you did such a good job of it" That was enough to make the small pup's tail wave from side to side "Okay!" Rain barked Arrow snorted "Heh anyone could of done that!" He said racing over to a pine cone near by, Paint and Rain following beside, their faces bright with laughter.

~

They brushed through the tall grass, Misty carrying, Rain by his scruff so that he wouldn't get lost in the tall grass. Arrow who had refused to be carried simply followed his mother carefully behind her, Shard padding ahead with Paint in his jaws who had only grown tired. Misty let her pup down once the grass shortened out, the family sped down a slope, making sure to avoid trees and thorn bushes. "Ah, there it is" Shard barked his eyes fixed on the entrance to the camp, "All we have to do is go through there and your be welcomed in" Shard said as he padded forward and shoved his black and white muzzle through the bushes, Misty, and Rain behind him. 

It opend up into a clearing, thickets were twisted into the shapes of small dens, trees towering ahead offering shade for hot days ahead. A small hill near the edge of the clearing was covered by smooth rocks, a few dogs resting on them. The camp was full of dogs, padding up to greet them all. The five stood there, eyes shinning, and there was the pack happily waiting.