Unwanted Stranger

Why the Child?

Snow shined bright on the forest floor as Alpha walked toward the destination of the mission. Her fur, blending in the winter snow, was thick and glossy with streaks of dark brown so small, the human eye could not see them. She loved running through snow for it gave her a hiding spot only she could use. She stopped and climbed on top of a high rock to gaze over the bare trees in the forest and the prey that decided to take risk at night. With her ears she listened to the night owls make the music of darkness as she waited for company to arrive. She was about to lie down when she heard the soft sound of paws behind her, and turned to greet the pack.

You have come late with those chosen, Beta. Is Master ill? Alpha said calmly. A wolf as black as coal lowered his head for he could feel anger from Alpha as she stared in his amber eyes.

My apologies, Alpha, I protested against Master's choice of participants in the mission. Beta replied. Alpha's eyes widened and barked at him in pure rage, the rest of the group backed away in fear.

How dare you! To think your choice is better than Master's Alpha growled, He is King, he--

But Master chose Omega, Omega, to be apart of the mission. Beta yelled. The other wolves were shaking as Alpha grew to her full height. Beta still held his ground strongly, but Alpha could tell he'd rather be someone else right now.

I do not care whom Master chose, only that his choice has and always will be the right one. She said with a snarl. and you would do well to remember never to talk back to authority. Alpha then turned to another wolf who was smaller than most and yellow as the sand on the beaches of their lonely island. This wolf dared not to look at Alpha in the eyes for that always meant challenge.

Omega...Omega! Alpha called, but the wolf was not listening for he was busy looking around.

The snow is as cold as frozen water, and it surrounds our paws, surely the mission could wait until morning.The wolf said, his voice shaking.

No, this cannot wait, for Master's plans have foretold it to be tonight. Alpha growled strictly. Seeing Omega's frightened face, she calmed down a little and lowered her head so it could be level with his.

Do you have any skill that would enhance Master's decision to bring you on one of the most important missions we have carried through? She asked with curiosity. He was frightened as well as everyone else for an alpha never becomes equal to the Omega, but he knew he had to speak.

I am good at hiding in the shadows where humans cannot see, He stuttered, afraid to say he was better than he pack mates, but they laughed. They thought the skill useless.

Then hiding and messing with humans you shall, Omega. She chuckled, then lifted her head as high as she could, relaxing the entire pack.

We head north, She said looking around at her group of canines, If I hear a single noise from any of you, you will be sent to the island immediately. She turned toward the location again and the pack followed silently, knowing their alpha was serious. If they return home without their pack they will lose honor.

The wolves trekked quietly, The moon rising in the night until a lake was spotted by Alpha and she ordered all to hunch in the snow. The lake was frozen for it was the middle of winter and it had curved lines on the surface as if a creature much larger than any in the pack had scraped its claws on the hard water.

Across the lake was a large den used to shelter humans from harsh weather, but it must not protect from dangers for there was many humans with sticks surrounding it. Behind the mighty den was the forest which held more frightening creatures then the appearance of the pack. Alpha growled, they have anticipated our arrival. This will create difficulties to the plan. Alpha turned to face the pack.

Beta, go around to the back side of the den, see if there is an opening. Beta nodded and crawled to the forest, disappearing in the shadows. Alpha and the rest of the pack waited upon Beta's return in silence, many keeping an eye on the enemies. After a full hour, Beta returned facing Alpha with the expression of delight.

Puun has wished us luck, a vacant tunnel's force field is open on the back side. You will have to jump but you can make it. He answered in a quiet voice. Relief spread through Alpha as she looked around for the smallest of her pack. She found him in the spotlight of the moon making him almost invisible against the snow and then she had an idea.

Omega, you are to go and get as close as you can to the enemies by blending into the snow. You are to remain there until I tell you otherwise. Alpha instructed. Omega nodded and walked low to the ground toward den never looking back but concentrating on the task he was given. Once Alpha was sure no human had seen him, she turned to further instruct her pack.

The rest of us shall surround the den from the forest. She commanded and they headed off. It would be a long journey for a human to go around the entire lake but it only took them a few minutes to reach the side of the den. When they halted, Alpha glanced toward the edge of the lake to see if Omega had completed his task and found him fully hidden from human eyes.

Delta, lead the best fighters to other side and signal when you are there. A light grey wolf almost as muscular as Beta bowed and ran through the forest with half the pack behind him. Alpha watched them disappear and turned to Beta with a sense of pride, she loved having someone to count on.

Beta you are in charge of the rest of the pack, when the guards are fully distracted, attack and buy me as much time as possible in case things go wrong. Beta held his head high and smiled in answer and with that, Alpha moved to the back of the den.

When Alpha crouched in shadows of the forest, she searched for the tunnel, praying that force field was still gone. When she located the opening, she sniffed the air for the scent of the victim and smiled when she found it for it was right next to the resting place she would enter.

We Are ready, Alpha heard, it was the voice of Delta.

Omega, reveal yourself to the humans and lead them toward Delta Alpha commanded, knowing full well the rest of the pack could hear. Soon she heard barks and yells from the humans as they loaded their sticks with sharp, fast rocks. The sounds as the sticks fired were deafening, but Alpha knew the skills of her pack and knew they would make it out because they were quicker than the sharp stones.

Alpha turned to the guards at the back, hoping they would fall into her trap and she could sneak by to capture the victim. They did not move. They did not even flinch. Alpha suspected as much, so as fast as a feline, Alpha ran to the den and leaped at the opening. Finding that the force field was indeed not there, she crawled inside to search for a larger opening for a larger tunnel.

Once found, she sniffed the house for the scent of the unwise, but only to find the scent of the wise and the young. Perplexed, she did something she never had to do, she sniffed for the individual scent and was surprised to find that it was among the young and not the wise.

She quickly followed the scent down the dark narrow tunnel and turned to an opening that was almost closed. Pushing the force field away she walked into the young's den and froze where she stood. It was a female child no more than seven months of age in her world, not even eligible to learn how to defend herself.

Outside the door there were humans rushing down the tunnel toward the bright knight, but she did not move for she was still frozen in shock. Master would never allow this, she would never survive, Alpha desperately cried. The humans were at the door loading their sticks and still she did not move, only stared at the small pup. Then she heard a laugh, a human laugh, in the back of her mind, of course he would do this, it said as the stick raised to meet her head, why would he care about her when he hasn't even given you a name? And the human with the stick pulled the trigger.

A/N: Puun is a word made up by me. If it is similar to or exactly spelled like any other existing word, it was unintentional.