The Blizzard (Stories Etched in Snow)

Chapter Fifteen

Malice's outstretched claws edged towards Squall's throat. His two companions blocked Nix's path.

A furious caterwaul echoed through the trees. At first, Nix thought that Skull had attacked Malice, but when her cobalt eyes met the situation, she suppressed a gasp. Val launched his cinnamon frame at Malice. Their bodies met and both rolled onto the frozen ground, scraping at each other's vitals.

The battle was silent. No wincing, no screeching, nothing after Val commenced the fight with a yowl. Hot, metallic blood seeped into the snow around them. Nix shook in terror. A dark chuckle escaped from Malice's jaws, a bone clutched in between his teeth. She looked down. Blood gushed from Val's throat.

Vera screamed, tears bubbling at her turquoise eyes. Maniacal shreiking erupted from her mouth. The small arctic wolf's gaze glowed with rage. She clawed at the three brutes, large clots of blood splattered at her feet with each slash. Amist the howling, pained barks and whining was emitted from all three of the members from the Pack of Silenced Souls.

They turned, tail between their hind legs, and dashed away. Vera collapsed down beside Val, unable to control her sobbing. "Is this my punishment for not showing you affection, Val?" Her voice was choked, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Come back..." With that, she dug her snout deep into his crumpled figure, not caring that her paws were sticky with blood.

A sense of failure drowned Nix. She leaned on Skull, slinging her paws around his neck and crying into his neck. He rested his chin on her shoulders. She was dimly aware of Gradient whispering softly to the pups, patting them on the spines, embracing them, his tail placed around them in hopes that he could soothe them.

Vera's weeping ceased suddenly and she rose from her postition, stumbling back towards the den. Skull and Nix followed, Gradient behind them, the two sobbing pups carried on his back. Val's body lay, silent, resting, in the snow behind them.