A Wolf's Story

Rufus's Story

Escape... he wanted to escape it all. He wanted to escape his parents, the other pups in the tribe. He wanted to escape the stares. Was there something wrong with him? Did he do something bad? But to everyone else, he was always something bad.

Even running through the forest. He felt their eyes peering through him. Feeding off of him. Consuming him. He burst into a clearing deeper into the forest than he had ever gone. Not caring enough to stop, he simply tumbled forward onto the dirt. He felt tears come, but he tried to keep them back.

"H-Hey...? Are you okay?" A soft voice came from behind him. He turned to see four pups, each staring at him.

"D-Don't look at me!" he shouted, trying his best to hide his face as the tears started to flow. He felt a hand touch his shoulder and he tensed up instinctively.

"We're not going to hurt you... My name is Maple." he turned to look at the girl. She looked back at him with kind, hazelnut eyes. He felt somehow relieved. These eyes were not filled with hate, but wonder and a certain gentleness.

He willed himself to slow down and take deep breaths. They weren't like the others. They wouldn't be. He looked back to see the girl, Maple, had offered out her hand. He hesitated for only a split second before taking it and heaving himself off of the ground.

And with that, Rufus had made some of his first friends. A future alpha, healer, hunter, and warrior.

Rufus grew and nothing much happened. He left the house before his parents had the chance to fight. He suffered through the stares of wolves and pups alike. He then would go into the forest, into the clearing that he usually met his friends. Often anxious to get out of the tribe, he would end up getting to the clearing early. He would think, he would play, he would nap while waiting for his friends. It seemed to be a simple life for him.

Happy and content with his life, he lived his life one day at a time. Why make plans for anything when there's a chance it will all have been for nothing. Instead, he worked on his skills as a jokester with his friends, playing small pranks and taking nothing too seriously unless forced to. He enjoyed his life in the woods. And he wouldn't let that stop.

Then it had started to happen.

At first, it was just Liam who started coming a little less. He kept complaining about how he was being chastised for his studying for becoming the alpha. He wanted to spend more time with the group then he already was, but his father had been very demanding. It took awhile, but Rufus and the rest of the group eventually learned to not always expect him, though they could still hope.

Next, it was Julius. One day he seemed fine. Then he went missing for a little while. While the group was worried about him, he eventually found his way back to the clearing. But something seemed... different. He was more edgy and jumpy. He also had this air about him. A powerful feeling that made you want to back away. He stopped coming as often as well and, even though the air seemed a little lighter when he wasn't around, Rufus missed him.

And then Abigail started coming less. She said she had to do some work with her father. We were happy for her though. She seemed happy to be doing it, and it was only every few moons. Nothing really changed much about that, except for maybe more meetings as time went on, but they hardly noticed.

And life continued in this staggering pattern. Soon enough, his eleventh birthday went by and everyone seemed so absorbed in their lives, he didn't want to bother them. It seemed that most days at least one person was missing. Maple was the only constant, not including himself. Sure, she may show up a little late sometimes due to her work with herbs, but she always made a point to even just drop by and say she couldn't stay.

Finally, she stopped coming all together. No warning. No goodbye. Just gone. Not even a note or an explanation. The day before she left, she had dark circles under her eyes and seemed tired. The group tried to persuade her to go home and rest, but she resisted, even though she eventually obeyed.

Things went on in its staggering pattern, just without Maple as a constant. But, eventually, things changed. He soon found himself with only one or two of his friends at a time, Maple still not having shown up since she disappeared. Every few days, he would find himself alone, he would wait a while, but the afternoon always ended with him realizing no one would be coming. He would reluctantly walk home and spend the rest of the day at home, though not all of his time was wasted.

And finally, it all stopped. Most recently, it was just Rufus and Liam, Liam preferring to talk about his problems, having grown out of his playful stage in life. He was excited and nervous about something. Some decision that would determine his future. Having it just be Liam, Rufus gave his best attention, though he was sure his mind wandered a few times. The next day, no one showed up. He reluctantly began his walk home and waited for the next day... Only to be just as disappointed as the previous day... again... and again... eventually, a whole moon passed. Two Moons. Halfway to three. He finally decided it was no use and headed home. He realized how hopeless it was. How hopeless he was. He thought things would stay the same. Well, the others had done well to break him out of that dreamlike state. Now he understood.

Then the moment came. He was just within the woods' boundaries when he heard a conversation between two wolves.

"It's their first decision at a young age... still not matured. Are we sure this is the right thing to do?"

"This family has had it coming to them. Just leeches in our society. We'd do better to rid ourselves of them quick."

And then the bright light. Orange. And hot. Without realizing what he was doing, he was rushing into the home wrapped in the orange light, heat melting off of it, two wolves shouting out behind him. He had turned to face them. Then darkness rushed over him.

A/N

Hey, guys! I know this is late, but I worked on it like I promised and here it is! Thanks for being here. TK