Dire Reach: Outer Exile

Chapter 5

The Twilight Dawn camp was buzzing with gossip and news. most of the talk was of Laru's decision to let a half-dog stay in the camp for a while. Most were happy with the decision and excited to have fresh blood in the camp while others were not so happy at Cloud's arrival.

Near the Pack Wolves den talked Roark, Hailia and Balduk. The black Beta chuckled lightly as he watched Cloud chase a falling leaf with some of the other young wolves. He may not be all wolf but he sure does act like one.

"Roark, I need to speak with you in private" Hailia said "Sorry Balduk, but this is important"

"No need to apologize Hailia, I'll give you two a moment" he replied as he headed off to the prey pile.

"What is it Hailia? Something wrong?" Roark asked Haila looked at him excitedly before pointing her muzzle at the entrance. "You want us to head outside of camp?"

"Yeah, I found something you might be interested in" She boasts as she gets a head start, making a break for the entrance. Roark laughs as he runs after the beautiful cream colored she-wolf. While the black and white dog looks at them and decided to follow their trail.

After a while they stop at a huge human structure, fences surround the place and a small gate as well. Inside are strange black and white creatures who feasted on the green lush grass of the Outer Reach.

"This is what I wanted to show you! Isn't it amazing?" Hailia barked in amazement as she had finally gotten a closer look at the strange human den.

"I don't know what it is but that looks like food" Roark drooled as he takes a look at the giant beasts. Suddenly Cloud pops up in between the two surprising them.

"Ahh! Cloud what are you doing here?!" asked Roark and Hailia in unison. Cloud, being the excited young half-dog he was, told them.

"I saw you leave and I wondered where you were going" Cloud responded as he barged past them to see what they were looking at. Cloud's happy expression darkened as he looked at the human den.

"T-t-the farm..." Cloud yelped softly as Roark and Hailia look at him. Roark walks up to him and stands beside him.

"What's wrong and, on another note, what's a farm?" Roark asked as Hailia continued looking at the black and white animals.

"Farms are places where humans took care of and then slaughter animals, those down there are cows" Cloud said shivering as he looked at the farm.

"Why are you so scared of it? It looks pretty harmless to me" Hailia butted in as she too joined Roark next to Cloud.

"I escaped here months ago, the human here is very mean and angry" Cloud whined as he told them about the human.

"He used to hurt me a lot before I escaped, and I gave him a nasty bite after it got too much to take"

Roark's eyes darkened with sympathy for the young half-dog as he gave him a comforting lick. The dog brightened slightly as he looked at the two. "Would it be okay if we hunted a cow?" asked Hailia as she glared hungrily at one elderly looking cow.

"As long as we don't get caught, I don't want to go back to living in there" Cloud said as he pointed toward the large wooden den. The two agreed and Cloud gave a nod of approval and stood above to watch for any sign of the human.

The wolves stalked towards the farm looking for any sign of entrance. Roark catches a sign of weakness in the fence and moved over to it, silently. Careful not to make much noise. Roark began knocking into the fence a couple of times and finally it caves slightly leaving a hole big enough for a cougar to fit in. Roark heads in first followed by Hailia, the two dodged around the calves and they circled in on the elder cow that she had spotted earlier.

Haila launches on it, causing to let out a shriek as Roark leapt on its throat silencing it from making any more noise. The cow looked up at the wolves as its eyes began fading until it finally stopped struggling and laid still. Hailia tore two chunks out of it and placed it down while Roark just munched on the sweet tasting flesh of the fallen cattle. While they were feasting they looked back and heard Cloud's barking, they were confused until they looked ahead and saw the bright flash of light followed by the swing of a door.

"Hailia, Beta Run!" Cloud shouted as he got closer to them, Hailia picked up the chunk of cow and sprinted back and Roark followed her as a shot rang off. The projectile barely missed Roark's back legs as he yelped and ran faster. Hailia had already made it through, she still held the two chunks of cow in her mouth as she padded closer to Cloud. Roark finally hit the fence as well as another shot rang in the air. The fence next to him exploded with a burning hole in the side as Roark struggled to get through the wiring, until he finally popped through a ran to join his packmates.

With a heavy sigh, he walked over to Cloud and Hailia and drop to the floor in exhaustion.

The three finally make it back to camp and see all the pack around the Den Mother's resting area. Roark sees Laru approaching with an angry look as Hailia and Cloud both bolt leaving dust kicking behind them. Giving a nervous chuckle, he stepped forward as Laru swiped a paw over his ear lightly.

"Ouch, what was that for Alpha" Roark asked as he rubbed his ear with his paw. Laru let out a huff as he looked at his Beta.

"Where were you three? I had to organize the patrols why you went off on your little adventure?" Laru said as he looked at Roark, who brought his head down in shame.

"Haila said she found something of interest and I went to follow her, we found a farm filled with prey that never leaves the place" Roark told Laru as the Alpha's ears perk with interest.

"Well while you were gone, Narrock had her pups" Laru said excitedly as he wags his tail "Two females and one male"

"Well that's wonderful! I'll be sure to check on them after I take a rest, the trip back was exhausting" Roark decides as he headed over to the den. He stops for a second before looking back at his Alpha "You have to try the cow that Hailia dropped off at the prey pile, it's delicious"

Roark walked over to the Pack Wolves den his eyes tired and slightly shaken from his traumatic experience with the human's strange tool. Roark laid down on his bedding and began to fall asleep as he felt Hailia's warm pelt next to his. He smiled as his eyes finally dropped and his breathing finally slowed.