Sweet Rebellion

Chapter 5

When he was sure that there was no threat to be found, he relaxed, and made his way though the trees and into the clearing slowly. Lucian was amazed at the scene before him. Never in all his years of life had he seen anything so horrible. He found a female grey wolf caught in a very odd-looking trap hanging in the air. It had a rope that had caught her by the leg and pulled so fast and tight that flesh was pulled from the bone, leaving her leg a bloody, torn up mess.

When the young wolf noticed him, she tried to guard herself from being harmed any further. "It's alright. I promise that I won't hurt you." He said as he slowly stepped towards her, pulling his knife from its sheath. The wolf noticed it and began to squirm to break free and get away from the coming threat. "Please don't do that. I simply wish to free you. Please don't fight." He said.

The wolf actually stopped moving but watched his every move. "I don't understand how anyone could do this to you animals. There is no point in trapping you just to make you suffer like this." Lucian said as he lifted her and cradled her weight in one arm and against his body, while cutting the rope, freeing her.

The wolf never took her eyes from him. She tried to hide her weakness, but, Lucian saw right through it all. Despite the injury, the wolf was still a magnificent animal. She was a bright grey with splashes of dark grey and tan freckled into her pelt. Lucian could only guess by the way she showed her strength that this wolf was the alpha female of some nearby pack.

The Dark Elf had always had a soft spot in his heart for animals and was nearly in tears as he knelt on the ground laying her gently down and backing away a foot or so.

The wolf couldn't move. She simply looked over to the bushes near where Lucian had entered the clearing. She let out a small, weak bark and then the bushes began to rustle. Lucian reached around and once again wrapped his fingers around the handle of his knife should he need to defend himself.

The he saw a tiny white head pop out of the brush. Lucian then realized that this wolf was a mother. She whined and it came out slowly then suddenly bolted over to its mother. Lucian quickly relaxed his knife and smiled. "Well, hello there little one." He said smiling. The pup couldn't be more than a month old, and it was very nervous, but more worried about its mother.

Lucian could see it in the mother's eyes. She had lost too much blood already. She might make it through the day, but the night was another thing entirely. Lucian's heart broke. He knew he had no way of helping her, other than to keep her comfortable.

The mother wolf then reached over with her muzzle and gently grabbed ahold of Lucian's wrist and brought his hand to a rest on the young pup's head. Lucian gently rubbed the soft fur, then pulled his hand back, not fully understanding what the young mother was wanting him to do. Apparently, she could see the Dark Elf's confliction because the female used her muzzle to push the pup towards him.

"What do you want from me?" Lucian asked. The wolf motioned first to him, and then to the pup. "Are you saying that you want me to take him?" the mother responded with a nod of her head.

Lucian fell backwards off his knees and onto his rear. He knew there was no way that he would be able to take care of the pup. He wouldn't be able to take it home. That would show kindness, and would lead to his death. Then it came to him.

"My deepest apologies, but I won't be able to care for your little one. However, I know of one that could not only care for him, but she will do it better than I ever could." Lucian said with a warm sympathetic smile. Even though he didn't know for sure if it was true, he wanted the young mother to know that her child would be cared for in the time that could very well be her last moments. She seemed to calm and rested her head on her paws once again.

But she didn't get to rest long, when suddenly, the small group heard a small snap in the brush. The group, including the little pup jumped into high alert. Both the mother and the pup calmed as the noise of the cracking leaves grew louder. Then, a large wolf came into the clearing. Judging by the size and the way the wolf carried itself, Lucian guessed that this was the alpha male. The mate to the dying female and father to the young pup. He was nearly all black with bright blue eyes, just like Lucian's.

The male slowly made his way over to his mate, never taking his eyes away from the potential predator near her. She whined, and he turned his attention back to her. Lucian decided best to step back and let the family be together while they could.

The male looked at Lucian again. This time however, there was no anger in his eyes. Instead, his eyes were filled with sorrow. Lucian couldn't tell for sure, but, he was thought he way a tear fall from the alpha's eye. The male curled up with his mate.

The young pup then tried to join in the cuddling. The female looked to her mate and then to Lucian. The male stood, picked up the pup and carried it to Lucian.

Just as the pup's feet hit the ground, the sound of a snapping twig filled the clearing. All four heads turned towards the sound. The male ran to his mate protect her. The pup tried to run after his father, but Lucian grabbed ahold of it to keep it with him. The pup turned and hid between Lucian's legs. Lucian drew back his bow in the direction.