Forbidden Wolf Song (working version)

4

Rooks pov

I walk slowly so that I don't hurt the small black pup in my jaws, Broach and Ivory are silent behind me but I can feel their discomfort and smell their fear. We finally break through the trees and step out into the den's meadow, the pups are still fast asleep but Willow, Cyclone and Zera look up at us with worry and relief,

"Where have you been Broa... why are you covered in blood Rook!? And is that a pup!?"

Willow hurries towards me but I growl lowly and she stops. I set the pup down and look back up at her,

"I'm alright, it's not my blood, and yes it is a pup. I will be taking him in as my own."

Broach fidgets slightly, "Are you sure you are up for it Rook? I mean you don't look like you have been a mother before."

I give him a smirk and sit down licking the pup from head to tail, the pup recognizing the feeling of being cleaned tries to crawl closer to me, "Shhh, it's alright little one, you are safe I will take care of you."

The pup yips softly and snuggles into my chest falling asleep instantly.

"Broach is right you don't look like a mother so how do you know what to do?" Willow stares at me curiously with her head tilted to the side,

"I raised all of the young in my old pack, the mothers were always too young so I took the responsibility on myself."

I look back in the direction that we had come and sigh sadly, "I know that one day they will all come looking for me, to drag me back and force me to stay. It's only a matter of time, when that time comes I will be as far away from here as possible."

Ivory glares quizzically, "Why? Are you afraid of them? Do you not want to go back?"

I look at her my face emotionless, "Your pack would be in deep danger, I raised them all to be great warriors. My pack will do anything to get me back, that is why I am constantly on the move."

Ivory steps forward slowly, "Why would they want you back so badly?"

I stare at her silently then I turn my head away and pick up the pup gently without waking it and carry it under a tree where I lay down and place it back into my chest,

"You do not need to know that." I say softly before I close my eyes.

I wake up to someone gnawing on my ears, slowly I open one of my eyes to see the little black pup standing on my paw and reaching as high as he can on his back legs, his tail wagging. I remain still so that I don't frighten him and just silently laugh at his struggles, suddenly one of his back paws slips off of mine and he tumbles over into a heap of fur, I lick his head softly with a chuckle,

"Are you alright?"

The pup slowly looks up at me and nods his head,

"Good. Do you have a name?"

The pup looks around worriedly and stutters,"M...my n...name is N...Noir."

I smile warmly and lick his head again, "What a perfect name for you. Did you know that Noir means black?"

The pups eyes widen and he shakes his head,

"Well now you do. My name is Rook and I will be taking care of you."

I stand up and stretch, my muscles rippling under my skin. I look around and spot Ivory on one of the rocks beside the den and trot up to her with my ears perked and my tail raised, Noir follows me never letting himself get two steps behind, when we reach her Ivory looks up surprised and then suspicious,

"Morning Ivory." I say in my most polite voice, I almost laugh out loud at the look on her face obviously taken aback at my sudden attention,

"M...morning." She replies hesitantly,

"I would like you to meet my pup, Noir. Noir, this is one of the Betas, Ivory."

Noir steps forward slowly to stand right between my paws and look up at Ivory with dark orange eyes, "Hello, Ivory." He smiles shyly and looks down,

"Hello, Noir." Ivory smiles down at him

Why doesn't she smile at me like that?

I shake my head and move away,"Noir stay with Ivory while I go hunt for a bit, okay?"

Noir smiles at me and rubs himself up against my leg, "Okay."

With one last lick on his head I bound of into the woods sniffing the air for breakfast.