Dire Reach: Outer Exile

Chapter 14

Roark quietly stalked through the tall grass of the Outer Reach. His patrol following behind him. The patrol consisted of the Alpha himself, Tarla , Balduk , Gallos, and Kaili. The five wolves stuck close as the black wolf caught wind of something.

"Stay upwind my pack, I sense prey" Roark called quietly the wolves passing it around to each other. Roark was the first exit the grass, catching sight of a lone calf. Roark just growled in annoyance before letting out a sharp bark. The calf turned it's head quickly before letting out a yelp and running off.

"It'd feed the pack none if we slaughter the young before they can grow.," Roark told Gallos as the others already knew this. The hunting patrol then continued on their way passing through the small territory of the Twilight Dawn. Roark was about to turn around when caught yet another lone animal.

A large brown bison stood munching on grass, oblivious to the wolves behind it. Roark motioned Balduk and Kaili to its flanks. While Tarla carefully sneaked in front of it still remaining in the grass. However, Gallos was the one chosen to stay with the Alpha.

"Alright Gallos just stick by me, when I take strike him first you follow up," Roark commanded as Gallos nodded in acknowledgment. The two hunters quickly began moving ahead. The bison still ignorant of the fate that awaits it. Soon Roark began a light jog, Gallos watching closely trying to mimic his Alpha's movements. Roark then broke into a full sprint and tossed himself at the bison's throat. The big brown animal reeled in surprised before Gallos locked his jaw's into the jugular of the animal. Soon the other's joined in all of them sinking their teeth into the lone prey.

After a bit of struggling the bison finally accepted it's fate and fell limp under the Twilight Dawn's fierce fangs. The four all took heavy breaths as they looked at the fallen prey. Roark after catching his own breath let out a long howl, and then his howl was met with other's coming from the direction of the camp. The hunting party laid on the ground still panting as they all looked at the brown beast.

"I haven't seen a bison in years! Do you think the Reach is finally starting to heal?" Tarla asked Balduk who just shrugged as he stared at the animal with hunger.

"Well, what about you Roark? Have you seen one lately?" Tarla re-asked her question to the Alpha who merely shook his head before chuckling. Gallos sat there playing with the bison tail, yanking and pulling on the small piece of fur. Soon Cloud, Waru, and Erevar arrived, they all had looks of surprise and excitement as they looked upon the bison.

"So this is what you howled for! I knew you had to be bringing something big back to us!" Erevar howled as he and the others began biting into the dead animal's fur, slow and steadily they began dragging the carcass home.

The hunting party returned home to barks of celebration and rejoicing as they heaved the bison into the middle of camp. All the pack began crowding the brown carcass eagerly waiting to dig into the prey.

"Mother, what's the animal? How could wolves be able to take it down?" Balar asked as he stood in between his mother's legs like the rest of his siblings.

"Well young one, any wolf can take down a bison so long as they have their pack with them. Without a pack, things like these would be near impossible." Narrock replied as she gave the wolf pup a gentle lick.

"Tonight, we shall all eat well! Due to the skill of our hunter's, and the grace of the Ancestors. Every wolf shall go to sleep with a full belly!" Roark said as the wolves around him cheered as he gave them permission to starting eating. The wolves began tearing chunks out of the large bison and

going off to eat their meals.

Roark quickly snatched a nice chunk of meat off the carcass himself and padded over to Hailia. The cream she-wolf smiled brightly as Roark came over and dropped the prey at her feet. He then sat beside her and took a medium sized portion out of the chunk.

"So Roark, when do you think the pups will be born?" Hailia asked as the Alpha of the Twilight Dawn swallowed a piece of the bison before looking at her.

"I really don't know in all honesty Hailia, I guess they will come when the time is right? Roark guessed as she nuzzled up against her mate as he gladly returned her affections.

"I bet they'll be as strong and brave as their father," Hailia commented as she gazed down at her swollen belly. Roark chuckled at this before giving her a soft graze with his tongue.

"And I bet they'll be just as beautiful as their mother," Roark replied as she too chuckled. That night the wolves of the Twilight Dawn slept carefree. Without the worry of the Outlanders, without worry of cougar attacks, and without worry of going hungry.

Roark had broken from Hailia's grasp and wandered off towards the direction of Laru's Grave, aside from the dark-colored Alpha's journey.

Today was a good day for the pack, and no wolf know's what tomorrow will bring for Roark's Pack. Meanwhile the Call to Reach still beckons to the black Alpha. Roark can still hear it as he thinks about his old territory and all of the things he's left behind.

"But things are different now, I am different now. I'm not so foolhardy, so war hungry as I use to be. I feel like I am becoming as noble as my father by the seasons. Maybe..just maybe even as wise, but that is a thought for another day." Roark told himself as he took off from Laru's grave. The wind in his fur as he ran throughout the night. His heart racing, the sound of his paw steps hitting the ground as he glided step by step. Roark truly felt alive as he the stars shined on him. He leaped on top of a rock, his eyes shining almost as bright as the stars. With great ferocity, the Twilight Dawn Leader let out a howl to the Eternal Pack. His voice carried like an echo through a deep cave. His voice sounding as if the Eternal Pack had blessed it himself as he continued his howl.

He could feel his Ancestors and his father with him as he looked down from the sky. With that, the black wolf began his long trudge back to camp. Where he'd finally found his footing, found his drive.

"To protect the pack, at all costs."