The white wolf looked upon the sleeping pup with heartache. She had know knowledge of his past troubles, but she could feel the sadness wafting off of him. His aura was dark blue and gray, never good colors. She nuzzled him, tucking his small body into hers. As her tongue ran over Garret's fur, she transferred her happiness to him.
She gave him the wonderful feeling she'd had when the alphas gave her her name, Cloud. Cloud shared the memory of swimming with her pack, tracking a moose, and singing with them. She told him of the wind ruffling her fur and the warm sun on her back. Slowly, Garret's agitated sleep became peaceful. Cloud sighed happily, resting her head over his spine. In effort of calming her new pup, the sadness that had plagued her for years drifted away. The old wolf had a new purpose.
Of course, Cloud only gave Garret happiness. Why should he know why she was a lone wolf? Why should the weight of her exsistance be balanced on his shoulders? Cloud herself couldn't handle looking back, back to when her pack was slaughtered.
It was a terrible memory. They were all sunning by the lake. It was Green-Grow, but too early in the season for humans, so they thought it would be safe. Pups swam in shallow waters with worried mothers hovering close. Cloud had been with her two on shore, since they were newborn. The alphas gazed upon their flourishing pack in pride. Prey ran well, and everyone's pelts were gleaming with health. The yips and barks covered up the sound of approaching humans. They came from downwind, so the pups were scooped up too late. Gun shots filled the air. The golden atmosphere turned red. The poor leaders of the pack died first, leaving confused wolves running around as perfect targets. The fight was over quickly, just as the government had wished. Less time meant less witnessess to their genocide.
As they cleared the lakeshore of dead wolves, Cloud was left, huddling with her mate. They were the only to survive. Cloud had a bullet in her left eye, however, and Spark had two to the stomach. The licked each other's wounds, eyeing the crimson-stained grass mornfully. At night, they howled their sorrow away. Unfortunately, Spark's voice died away too soon, along with his soul.
Cloud, a she-wolf who had never been alone before, was. She didn't bother searching for a new pack. No one would take a cripple. So she wandered alone, barely keeping herself above starvation. Then Garret arrived, and she gained the will to flourish.
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Sorry for not moving the story along, but I just had to write Cloud's backstory! She's important, you'll see!
xoxo
Luna T
