A Golden Hope (a wolf pack story)

Day 1: Part 4

     I think I must've dozed off, smelling this lovely green forest, but I open my eyes when I hear pawsteps. Luckily, it's Limpet, and double-luckily, she's dragging a leg of caribou! It's been so long since I was allowed to eat such meat. So far down in the ranks and all, only little rabbits and squirrels and things for me. I slowly stand up and stride over to greet her.

     "Wow, thanks! You shouldn't have." And I mean it. 

     She drops the leg with a dull thud. "Here."Limpet licks a splash of blood off her muzzle. "It's all for you."

     "What? No way." I sit down beside the caribou leg, sniff it. "I insist you share this with me. It's the least I can do." It's the least I can do to share your food with you? Social skills to the max. "I mean-"

     "Okay, sure." And she crouches down, takes a bite. Huh. Well, whatever works.

     We strike up a bit of a conversation as we eat; I think we're getting along pretty well.

     "So, what are you doing out here, anyway?" Limpet asks me. Uh oh.

     "It's kind of a long story."

     "I've got time." Great. Let me weave an intricate, thrilling tale about my journey.

     "Well, I've been thinking for a while now about leaving my pack." Intricate.

     "Mm hmm?" Limpet looks at me. It's funny; I thought any wolf would be very surprised. Most couldn't imagine leaving their packs. Betrayal, leaving their families, and so on. Limpet just seems politely curious.

     "Yeah, and today I left. Left my pack." Now she seems surprised.

     "Really? You just... and up and left? Just like that?"

     "Yeah," I say, sitting back. "I decided it was time. I don't need them, and I think I can be happy somewhere else."

     Limpet sits up too, done eating. "Wow. That's brave."

     I duck my head. "More like betrayal." Limpet shakes her head. "No, really. I could never leave by myself."

     This comment strikes me as odd. "You want to leave?" 

  Limpet's looking thoughtful. "Could I...could I come with you? Wait, what did you say?"

     "Why would you want to leave?" I ask. "You're the alpha's pup!"

     She shakes her head. "I know. And I can't handle it. The pressure, to constantly be better. And all those decisions. 'Where should we hunt today, Limpet, the shoreside or the cliffs?' I don't know, it's not my decision! But it is."

     She's lost me, a bit. But I get it. Whereas I'm ignored, she's in the spotlight, and she hates it.

     "I-" You know what? Some long-winded response of sympathy isn't necessary here. I understand. "Sure, you can come with me."

     Limpet lights up. "Really?"

     I nod, standing up. "Really. If you want. And if we're going, we should go. I'm seriously worried about your pack." Limpet's been away for hours. If they aren't looking for her already, they will be soon.

     Limpet bounces up excitedly. "Not my pack anymore, are they? Where are we headed?" I'm about to tell her, but something stops me. I can't help but feel she's rushed this decision.

     "Limpet, are you sure you want to leave? You've decided awful fast." Limpet pauses, and looks at me. I can see her excitement, still, but she's walled it off to speak true.

     "I'm sure. I think this has been coming on for a while now, but I never had the courage, so I ignored it." She pauses, glances back at where her pack's dens must be. "They will miss me, and I'll miss them. But I'm happy to go. I've been happy to go."

     I look at her for a moment, see the determination in her eyes. This isn't some spur-of-the-moment thing. It's been in her for a while, but I think it took me, another leaving wolf, to convince her. "Okay, Limpet. Let's go." Let's.

     "So, where are we headed?" Limpet steps forward and looks about the forest.

     "Just south of Limpter, I think." Turns out I'd given this journey some forethought, even though I forgot to eat. "There's no pack there."

     "I'll flank you." Limpet takes up a position just behind me, and chuckles. "An alpha, flanking. Strange world out here."

     I grin. "You know it. Follow me."

     We set off into the woods, away from Limpter. Over a boulder, around a bush. It's interesting, how different a journey is when you're not alone. Every noise is less scary, every obstacle surmountable, because how bad could it be in company, when you have some to depend on besides yourself?

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A/N: Is it long, or is it just dialogue-heavy? Why can't it be both?

I think the next page will be paragraphy and descriptive. A bit of a change of pace. See the sights.