The Blizzard (Stories Etched in Snow)

Chapter Nineteen

It had been another half moon of hunting and sparring. There was always a suppressed hint of sorrow in Vera's eyes, but it quickly disappeared, either because she hid it or she was actually invested in what she was doing, when she instructed the training sessions.

Skull blinked, "We agreed to raid again today, right?" He yipped, his crimson eyes reflecting the dull sunlight that filtered through the entrance of the den. Nix nodded, not taking her eyes off of what she was doing. She appeared to be weaving together a flower wreath, for Val, perhaps. She did this once every moon to respect him, and Squall had 'inherited' this habit.

As she untangled herself from the roots outside, Vera focused her turquoise gaze upon the pack, so peaceful. The stoic she-wolf seemed to suppress a sigh and rounded the two pups up to the roots in preparation to go to the Pack of Silenced Souls.

"Hey, Auntie?" Squall chirruped, "If we're killing them because they killed Uncle Val, then aren't we just as bad as them?"

Vera pause for a second, and nodded. "We are wolves, Squall. We fight and we kill. That's our nature. We're apex predators. We don't have a sense of right and wrong." She flicked her tail in reassurance. Skull wasn't sure if she wanted to convince Squall more, or herself.

They'd ambushed another unsuspecting border patrol, leaving behind three dead bodies to prove a point. Skull was wary, now. They'd begun to think of the enemy as prey, rather than intelligent wolves. They would make a mistake, somewhere. He knew it. And yet, there was a part of him that wanted to keep killing, and he hoped that it was only his candid instincts. He prayed that it was only that. So he kept quiet and optimistic.

🐺 🐺 🐺

A soft blizzard raged outside. Inside, the pack sheltered themselves from the precipitation. Nix finished the squirrel that she'd been half-heartedly knawing at and swallowed back a huff of boredom. Today should have been the day that they raided once more, but she was doubtful of whether or not the patrol would show up in this weather.

"I've been in a patrol of theirs when it was pouring rain. Think all the rain washed away our scent, but we still marked it. I'm pretty sure that they'll show up." Skull seemed to read her mind, but quickly followed it up with, "But don't quote me on that." Nix nodded silently, studying her paws. The thought of her old pack haunted her. What if they hated her for leaving? She brushed it away from her mind and propped her slender figure up, leaning on the wall behind her as she waited for the rest to finish.

Vera had already situated herself by the entrance, seeming quite eager to draw blood. Nix flinched; Vera was a calm and collected wolf. She didn't know why avenging Val warped her sense of justice so much, but she could be sure that after today, there would be a few more dead wolves and a few less members in the Pack of Silenced Souls.

The blizzard tugged at their pelts, as if it was made out of billions of icy fangs. Nix grit her teeth and pressed her flank up against Skull's, surprised by his warmth. The pack crouched behind the normal, lichen-infested boulder and waited.

The border patrol's voices echoed through the densely pined forest as they approached. It was quite obvious where they were. Five bulky wolves seemed to fade out of the shadows, having blended into the darkness perfectly before they walked out of it.

When they were close enough, Skull lifted his tail slightly, signalling for a pounce. It was almost perfect. Almost. Skull landed first atop the brawniest of the patrol, and Vera found her footing seconds after Skull, biting deep into another wolf's scruff.

Squall landed short of his target, skidding across the leaves, the cold of the blizzard piercing into his skin. Amidst all the blood and snow, Gale had been pinned by a larger wolf. Squall screamed, propelling himself strongly towards his brother. Gradient and an enemy about his size, perhaps a little larger, were tussling on the ground, grappling at each other's vitals.

That was the last thing that Nix saw of the fight before she was dragged to the ground by one of the smaller wolves in the patrol. They'd been ready, she realised. They'd been prepared for the ambush. She writhed under the male's stronger grasp, he neck gripped by claws tightly. She felt herself lose oxygen and she fought for air wildly, her paws waving in all directions.

Skull tugged him off her with a loud snarl and the two tag-teamed him, dishing out blows, perfectly in matched. They'd driven him backwards about two wolf-lengths before the blizzard picked up. Their enemy was knocked off his paws, now on the ground, blood gushing from several deep cuts in his flank and neck.

Nix was frozen in place, gripping the ground tightly with her claws. The blizzard would drag her down, too, if she didn't cling on to the tussocks underpaw with all her might. Skull seemed to be paralysed, too, a grim look on his face. Nix followed his gaze curiously, only to be met with horror.

That bulkiest wolf, the one who Skull had targeted first, was still moving. He'd struggled towards Squall, claws outstretched, ready to kill. The darker patches of Squall's fur were blurred. His eyes were closed in defeat, prepared to die a horrible, pained death, and even though Nix had attempted to tear her eyes away from the scene, they were glued to the two figures.

A large, candid figure suddenly hurled through the wind, propelled by the blizzard's gusty winds. Gradient. He dragged the wolf away into the air, away from Squall, silently. The gentle wolf drew the enemy into a tight embrace, as if he could squeeze all of his insides out, and they flew for a few more heartbeats.

Then, there was a crash. Both collided into an ancient-looking pine. It shuddered under the sudden pressure, splintered, then, with a dull thump, it was on the ground, on top of Gradient and the wolf.

The enemy was dead, but so was Gradient. As if killing had been its intention, the blizzard died down. The three remaining wolves retreated, spitting insults at Skull, like "You freak!" and "Traitor!", but Nix could barely hear them at all.

The world spun around her, and her eyes were blank and glossy. It had all happened so fast. Like she would have missed it if she blinked. Her first friend, her brother and the only one who she had relied on for so many years, was gone. Gone and dead, just like Val and Salamander and Lowuri.

She collapsed onto the ground, hot tears dribbling down her cheeks. She screamed, and screamed until her throat was hoarse and burned like a million fires. Then, Nix crumpled into a small, loose ball on the ground, as if she could melt away into the snow that surrounded her and disappear to wherever Gradient was, now.