The Wolves of Aringod: Boundaries

Chapter Two | Stranger

Chapter Two

Stranger

It took Aleanu only a few seconds to process what had just happened. Her only source of food was gone all because she stepped on a spare twig. But when she looked down, she noticed that there were no broken twigs under her paws. It had been something else.

Furious, Aleanu shouted into the woods. "Who did that? Who was so idiotic to do such a thing like that? Because of you, now I'll starve!" Aleanu didn't expect a response, assuming that a tree had fallen.

But there was a voice. "I did you a favor!" The voice sounded male, and it seemed a bit muffled. "You would've never got that mouse by yourself."

Aleanu growled. "Who are you?"

"Let me show you," the voice said. The voice slowly turned into a silhouette of a male wolf, his crystal blue eyes glowing in the dark. He stepped into the sliver of moonlight, revealing his fur, caked with blood. Wolf blood.

Aleanu gasped, startled. His fur was crimson because of the abundance of all the blood. But Aleanu noticed a small item in his mouth. The mouse. But before she could say anything, the wolf dropped it in between the two of them.

"You did half of the work, so you should get half of the mouse," he said. Without the mouse in his mouth, Aleanu noticed the purposeful charm in his voice.

But Aleanu was too hurt to love. Even though the wolf standing before her was covered in his own blood, she had been hurt far worse in the past, physically and emotionally.

Irritated, Aleanu replied. "You didn't have to intervene. I can hunt quite easily on my own."

The male wolf chuckled. "You're not the only wolf in the forest."

"I'm quite aware of that." Aleanu walked over to the mouse, held it down with her clawless paw, and took a few small nibbles off of the rodent. She was used to rationing, so she became full quickly. After finishing, Aleanu nuzzled the rest of the mouse towards the stranger. He ate it all in one mouthful, spitting out the occasional bone.

"If you want, I can take you to some water to wash that off," Aleanu said, gesturing to the blood.

"Thanks. It was getting awfully uncomfortable," he replied, adding in a smile.

Aleanu growled. "That meant nothing. I just don't like seeing all that blood." Before the wolf could have time to reply, Aleanu gestured to the leaf that she had been sitting under. "Get under that."

The wolf did as he was told, eager to get the blood off. Aleanu then gently took hold of the leaf with her teeth and poured the water that had been cupped in it. Once the blood washed off, Aleanu noticed that the wolf had blue and white fur.

Aleanu introduced herself. "My name is Aleanu. Who are you?"

"My name," the wolf replied, "is Faleon. And I am on a quest for justice."