From the Ashes

Chapter 3: New Friends?

Ashia opened her eyes to find the bright sun had not even reached the peaks of the mountains. She stood up and padded toward the cliff’s edge.

The night before, Timber had shown her where she would sleep. Her nest was near the forest’s edge, but still on the smooth stone.

Ashia sat down as she reached the edge. Her amber eyes gleamed as the first rays of sun leaped over the mountain.

“Beautiful, isn’t it.”

Ashia jumped at Lupin’s voice.

“Yes, it is.”

Lupin sat beside the black wolf, his white fur shining with the sun’s rays.

“Would you like to leave now? I can show the border and I’ll begin your training afterwards. Timber and Indigo will head out toward the canyon when the sun rises over the mountains completely.”

Ashia nodded and flicked her ear. “I have a quick question.”

Lupin nodded in response, waiting for the question from the new warrior.

“I have never been apart of a pack before, so, can you possibly move up the line? I mean, how would a wolf become beta or alpha?”

Lupin stood up and began making his way toward the forest. “Come. I’ll tell you about pack life as we tour my territory.”

Ashia followed the white wolf quickly into the forest. Lupin slowed to a halt as he passed a tall oak tree.

“This is the northern border marker. It stretches all the way to a fairly large river that marks the border to Twilight Pack’s territory. There’s what you could call a sandbar with a section of the river, allowing them to come to the Lunar Council every full moon.”

Ashia cocked her head. “What’s the Lunar Council?”

“The Lunar Council is when the alphas and betas and, if available, deltas of each pack come to the Great Plateau and discuss what has recently occurred within their packs.”

Ashia nodded and sniffed the large oak.

“I’m guessing the weird scent I smell near the tree is Twilight Pack’s stench.”

Lupin nodded and made his way across the bank of the river.

“If there is a shortage of elk, we sometimes have to resort to eating the fish within the river. It’s gross, but filling.”

Ashia growled at the fast moving water and flattened her ears.

“Let’s keep going. Water like this makes my fur stand on end.”

Lupin nodded respectfully and continued across the territory. He stopped near a large grassland and smiled.

“This here is the southern border. There are no other packs that live off of this border, but we still have to patrol it in case of rogue wolf attacks,” Lupin barked.

Ashia nodded and flicked her torn ear.

“Have you ever had any issues with rogues?”

Lupin nodded and sighed deeply. “A few rogue wolves helped Storm, the leader of Sun Pack, defeat my pack and kill most of my packmates.”

Ashia looked down at her paws in shame. “I’m sorry for bringing it up.”

Lupin shook himself and trotted away from the border and deeper into the forest. He stopped when the floor began to become more rocky rather than flourishing with shrubs.

“This is the western border. Sun Pack lives on the other side of the line of stone after the grass.”

Ashia nodded. Her ears flew forward as a twig cracked in front of her.

Instinctively, Ashia crouched lower to the ground, her ears flattened against her head and teeth bared. Lupin glanced down at her and cocked his head.

“What?”

Ashia growled softly and stared straight ahead. A light grey female wolf emerged from the shadows of the stone. She had bright blue eyes and a white mark around her that spiraled around it in the shape of a leaf. Beside her, a smaller male red wolf stood. His yellow eyes glowed fearfully and his legs shaking.

Ashia leaped at the pair, snarling but making sure that she remained on Midnight Pack territory. The grey female growled and raised her tail. Lupin stepped toward Ashia and growled loudly.

“Stand down! They aren’t Sun Pack wolves. These are rogues.”

Ashia relaxed and stood back up to full height.

“Who are you and why are you on Pack territory?!” Ashia barked aggressively.

The red male stepped back in fear, whimpering. The grey female gave a compassionate glance at him but turned defiantly back toward Lupin and Ashia.

“I am Crescent and this is Alpine. We’re just passing through. Is this your territory?” Crescent asked.

Lupin shook his head. “No, that’s Sun Pack’s territory, I am Lupin, alpha male of Midnight Pack, and this is Ashia, a warrior of my pack. Come here so Sun Pack doesn’t try to hurt you. Ashia, don’t harm them, they're fine.”

Ashia glared at the pair but calmed down.

“Nice to meet you Crescent, Alpine. I’m Ashia. Sorry for the aggressive introduction. I’m new to pack life.”

Crescent cocked her head. ”What do you mean? If you’re a Pack wolf, wouldn’t you be used to Pack life?”

Ashia shook her head and sighed. “I just joined yesterday. You don’t need to know the details,” she trailed off.

Crescent flicked her tail toward Alpine.

“Lupin, could we join Midnight Pack? Alpine and I met each other awhile ago and ever since, we’ve been looking to join a Pack.”

Lupin raised his tail and head.

“It is not my decision alone. The rest of the Pack will have to agree as well. Come with us,” Lupin replied.

Lupin padded back toward the camp, Ashia followed close behind the newcomers.

I’m worried about this. I know they accepted me, but I’m not sure what I think about two new wolves joining the Pack. I guess I’ll have to figure it out quickly before the Pack makes their final decision.