Midnight's Dream

Midnight's Dream: Chapter Two

Two dark ear tips poked over the grass, and Dream had to shove her muzzle to the ground and slap her paws over it to keep from bursting into laughter. She doubted that Shadow would forgive her easily for ruining his catch, or that her father would forgive her at all. Once she had tried to scare her brother, unknowing that he had a pheasant in his sights. So when the catch was lost, her father had not let her hunt, and barely let her eat, for what must have been months. Dream was still sure that Mama was the only reason she had eaten at all. It was stupid now that she thought about it. Why would Papa want to keep her from hunting, when food was already scarce when all four of them were in motion. A sharp scent caught Dream's nose, bringing her attention back to the hunt. It was musty, a scent Dream had never encountered before. It was very faint, and she thought it must be the scent of a sick bear, or another passing pack. The scent wafted away with the wind, and for a few moments Dream figured she must have imagined it. A little frightened by this ghost smell, Dream started scenting for her mother, and she picked up the strange scent again. This time it was stronger, less like a sick animal and more like a moose, but still much different. Something strange prickled the scent, making the whole thing oddly familiar. What is this...? Already a bit unsettled, Dream started searching for her mother more frantically.

"Mama," she called softly. A moment later her mother was at her side, nose to the air.

"It can't be..." She murmured.

"Can't be what?" Dream demanded. A strange light shone in Mama's eyes. Dream shrunk back a little bit, almost frightened, then she shook her head fiercely. Why should she be afraid of her own mother?

"Deer."

Dream cocked her head. It couldn't be. Deer were gone, there were none left to hunt. Crouching down, Mama stalked towards the scent, Dream following suite. As they got closer, Dream noticed another scent mixing with the deer. It scented unnatural. No, Dream thought. It must just be deer, I've never scented one before, anyways. Or seen one.

"Hold there, Dream," Mama warned. "Deer can be dangerous creatures." But Dream had different plans. If she could catch a deer, quite possibly the last in the world, then Papa couldn't ignore her anymore! He would have to notice her. Rushing forward, Dream leapt into a small clearing just as Mama gave a startled yelp. Suddenly life was just a blur. One moment Dream was soaring through the air, mere seconds from making her father love her, or at least notice her as more than a nuisance. The next her breath was being knocked from her chest as she was shoved sideways, followed by a yelp, all too familiar. Hitting the hard ground like a rock, Dream lay there for a few moments, stunned. Then she realized. That yelp. Something had knocked her from the air, then her mother had cried out in pain. Struggling to stand up, Dream saw the scene that she was sure would be engraved in her mind for the rest of her life. Mama, Summer, the wolf who had helped Dream grow up and most likely held the small family that called themselves Treasure Pack together, was lying on the ground, a strange silvery vine wrapped around her neck.

"Mama!" Dream cried out in despair and shock, rushing to her mother's side. There was no blood yet, and Dream was immediately thankful for her mother's thick fur, but she could see how tightly the vine was wrapped around her neck, and she knew it wouldn't be long before blood started to flow. Or before Mama couldn't breath...

"Heu-heu-" Mama attempted to choke out, starting to pant.

"No, Mama. Don't talk, please," Dream breathed, her voice breaking. "Papa! Shadow! Help!" She cried.

"No," Mama struggled back a little ways, giving her airway a little more room, but her voice sounded much too harsh, much too husky. Her voice sounded even worse than the time she had gotten sick last winter. "They're coming. To hunt us," she rasped.

"What is? Who?" Dream sobbed, scrabbling helplessly at the grass thin vine clutching her mother's throat.

"Humans," just the name sent a shiver down Dream's spine. She had heard about humans. Tall, ugly creatures that walked on two legs, like a bear, but all the time, lacking fur everywhere but the tops of their heads.

"I won't leave you," Dream whispered, her voice cracking.

"Ye-yes. You must." Mama whispered, struggling backwards again. The strange vine around her neck was too short for her to be able to escape, but as she crawled back farther, she could breath more easily. "I'll escape."

"I will come find you," Dream promised, tears filling in her eyes as she turned away.

Not looking where she was going, Dream tried to start running, but it was more of a stumbling trot. Suddenly Papa and Shadow where there, so suddenly that Dream's nose collided with Shadow's.

"Where is your mother?" Papa demanded, staring straight at Dream, for what must be the first time in ages. Dream mumbled something incoherent, only speaking louder when Papa growled threateningly at her.

"Caught," she croaked, her voice still shaky.

"Where?" Papa snapped, but for once it sounded like there was fear behind the snap, rather than anger. Dream beckoned with her nose to where she had left her mother. Papa started forward, and Shadow tried to follow behind him, but Papa stopped him.

"Go back to camp, both of you, I'll take care of your mother,"

Dream could only nod, a sob threatening to break through if she tried to speak. Shadow nudged her in the direction of the camp, and they walked together, leaning against each other for support. The same scene kept playing in Dream's mind, over and over, with a different factor each time. What if I'd listened to Mama? What if I'd recognized that scent meant danger? What if Mama had recognized that scent meant danger? All these thoughts and more ran through Dream's head as they walked back. What if I'd refused to leave her? Dream instantly felt so guilty she literally could not stand it, and she stumbled over her guilt. Shadow caught her, but just barely.
"I shouldn't have left her," Dream croaked, barely audible.
"There was nothing more you could have done," Shadow's voice shook, and Dream realized he was panicking just as much as she was, but doing his best to hide it. Another flood of guilt rushed through Dream. She had to pull herself together.
"Let's get back to camp," Dream said, forcing her voice to be strong. "We should be there to greet Mama and Papa when they get back."