Shadowmoon's Tale

Chapter One

Mist slide out of the human-made wolf den and tiptoed across the small fenced in yard. She sat down and tipped her muzzle towards the stars. She watched them twinkle between the clouds that danced across the sky, "I wish I could follow the clouds. Maybe I would find the Great Hunting Grounds." she whispered, "Don't be any more stupid than you can help, Mist!" a deep voice barked behind her. She looked over her should, blinking her pale blue eyes at her father, "But mother said if you follow the clouds you'll find the Great Hunting Grounds." she barked. Her father curled his lips back and tossed his scarred head, "Don't be ridiculous! Those are just pup tales!" he snarled. Mist bowed her head, "Yes, Scar." she whimpered. She knew better to argue with her father when he was in his moods. Mist stood up, "What are you doing out here?" she barked, hoping he would be friendlier. He sat down, "It's my job to watch over the human while the sleep." he barked, narrowing his eyes, "It'll be your job next, why don't you join me?" he suggested. Mist shook her head, "Maybe tomorrow night, I'm too tired tonight." she barked. Scar tossed his head, "Pups!" he snarled, "No stamina!" he stalked off, his dark gray pelt melting into the shadows. Mist got up and bounded over to the edge of the wrought-iron fence, rearing onto her hind paws she rested her forepaws on the top. She peered over the edge, looking into the forest that guarded the edge of the human denning area. She noticed three lithe shapes slipping along the bushes. As she watched they broke away and shot over towards the chicken fence, where the humans kept their pet birds. Mist flattened her ears and shot along the fence, gaining ground silently. Her black and pale gray pelt blended into the shadows perfectly. She slowed to a halt at the fence they shared with the chickens, watching the foxes as they slid along the fence in their search for an opening. One gave a high-pitched bark and slid under the fence, the other two following. She growled low in her throat and leaped into the chicken pen, stalking along the edge towards the foxes. They had paused at one of the low wooden dens the chickens lived in and were sniffing at the gap. The lead fox, a male of about half Mist's size, started to creep into the den. Mist gave a loud snarling bark and shot forward, crashing into a female fox and sinking her fangs into its side. The fox squealed and the other foxes whipped around to face Mist. She flattened her ears and snarled, shaking the fox and tossing it across the yard. Both male foxes leaped at her, teeth bared. She reared up and swiped the smaller one aside before pouncing at the other one. It rolled onto its back beneath her and clawed at her tender belly. Mist snarled and slammed her paws down on him, grabbing its tail in her jaws. She leaped back and faced the fox. The other two streaked up, blood dripping from their pelts. She glanced over her shoulder when she heard a snarl and saw both her parents streaking across the yard towards the fight. Mist turned back to the foxes, swiping a paw at them and knocking the female down. Scar shot past her, grabbing the biggest fox and pinning it down. Sky faced the female fox, pacing circles around it. Mist lunged at the other male and swiped at its muzzle. The lead fox shot away, yelping to the others to follow. Mist shook her fur as they retreated. Sky plodded over to Mist and licked her muzzle, "You did well, my daughter." she barked, eyes glittering happily. Scar nodded stiffly, "A real wolf would have stopped them from even getting in the fence." he growled. Mist squared her shoulders and faced him, "a real wolf would have been here to stop them." she snarled. Scar towered over her, "You don't know what a real wolf would do, you, your siblings and your mother were all born in human yards, not in the wild. You'll never know what a real wolf is!" he growled. He whisked his tail and streaked back over the fence, Sky following on his heels.

Mist trotted up to the porch, pawing at the door. The female human opened the door and smiled at her, "Hello Misty! Are you hungry?" Mist tossed her head and scratched the ground. The human patted her head and stood back, waving her paw for Mist to come in. Mist plodded in and sat by her bowl. The human filled it and wander into another room to talk to its mate. Mist ate the food quickly and stretched out on the floor, resting her head on her feet. She lifted her muzzle as the male human stomped past and outside. Mist trotted after him, slipping through the door before it closed. The human stopped in front of the wolf den and filled the bowls out there. Mist sniffed at the bowls and sat back, watching the stars. She pressed her head into the humans hand as her pet her and turned back towards the house. Mist barked in alarm as Scar shot out of the den and lunged at the human. He shrieked as Scar bowled him over and bit at his face. Sky stared out of the den in alarm, barking at Scar. Mist charged forward and shoved her father off the human, "What are you doing!?" she howled, standing between her father and the human. Scar paced back and forth, "He has kept me here long enough! He deserves to suffer like I have! Like I will!' he snarled, trying to dodge around her. Mist darted in front of him, barking wildly for the other humans. The human laid still behind her, cupping its face in its hands and whimpering. She weaved back and forth, snapping at Scar whenever he darted forward. The door swung open and the female human poked her head out. She screamed in horror when she was the other human on the ground and the wolves squaring off. Two other male humans, their pups, ran out with long sticks that shot pebbles hard enough to kill a wolf. One crouched beside its father while the other grabbed Scar by his heavy leather collar and drug him back. Scar flailed, snapping at the human's hand and managing to bite him. He yelped and jumped back, bringing the stick up to aim at Scar. Mist barked at Scar as her turned on the human. She flung herself forward and charged into his side, tipping him over and pinning him, "Stop! You'll get kill!" she howled. Sky was pacing in front of the den, the pups yipping in alarm behind her. The human drug her back by her collar and pressed the stick to Scar's head, placing its paw on his shoulder to hold him down. Scar glared up at him, snarling. The human growled something in return and a loud explosion came from the stick. Mist jumped and whimpered, clamping her tail to her flank as Scar fell still and silent. Sky began barking wildly, running back and forth. Mist edged away, and pressed into her mother's side. The female ran out, speaking quickly and holding a small white and red box. One of the other males took it and began rummaging through it, pulling out a cloth and wrapping it around the other human's wounds. The female walked over to Mist shakily and patted her head, "Thank you for defending him, Misty." she whispered. Mist whined and licked her cheek. One male ran forward and shoved Mist back, pointing a stick at her. Mist scrambled away, whimpering in alarm. The female pushed the stick down, "Put the gun down, idiot!" she snapped. Mist tipped her head, gun? That must be what they call the sticks, she thought. Sky nudged Mist into the den and curled around the pups. Mist sat just inside the door, watching the humans.