One black-and-white paw after another, I stride carefully over the thick sun-dried grass. I'm slowly stalking towards a deer, and I don't want this hunt to go the way that rabbit did, so I'm being really careful.
The grass rustles ever so slightly -rude- and the deer abruptly looks up. For a nervous moment I think it's seen me, but with an ear flick, a glance around, and a snort, it settles back down into its quiet meal. Now's my chance! One more step, and I explode into action! The grass is streaming under my paws and the breezing is singing through my fur. The hunt is on!
I'm running full pelt out after the deer, and it's already going so well! Panic-stricken, the deer is propelled by its own terror, but that won't last forever. Its fur is already dappled in sweat and, by the shadowy light of the forest, I can see how quickly its flank rises and falls. Breathing quickly, I press hard with one paw and execute a flawless point turn, cutting the distance between me and my bounty in half. The deer tries to do the same, dodging around a mossy trunk at a sharp angle. But it's not sharp enough; I'm catching up! I'm taking this deer by my pains, making its coat redder with bloodstains. I can almost taste the meat already, and this will be so good for my pack! I've never caught anything alone before, not since-
Wait. My pack? I'm not a hunter, Limpet is.
...Limpet?Limpet?
"Holstin! Holstin, wake up!" Limpet's alarmed bark brings me out of sleep and back to reality. Ew.
"Ah!" The sunlight is way too bright to be opening your eyes. "What?" I can barely make out the blurry shape of Limpet, silhouetted against a clear blue sky. "What is it?" I'm instantly alert for danger, but sound and smell reassure me there's nothing to fear, and I'm relaxed again before I even have I chance to stand up. It's too early for that nonsense.
"What is it?" I ask again, looking back over to the small wolf. She's becoming clearer now; I can almost see those pale eyes, but a small spot in the corner of my vision still seems blocked, almost as if there's something in the way-
"There's a bug on your snout!" Oh Lupus! Suddenly, I feel this delicate, tickling sensation creeping up my muzzle.
"Ahh!" I jump up and shake my head around in a frenzy, feet dancing on the ground, sneezing heavily to dislodge the bug. "Isitgoneisitgone?" I try to look at my own nose. Limpet chuckles at my cross-eyes, and delicately smoothes down a piece of her tail fur. "Yep. It's gone."
"Phew." I flick my tail, as if flinging away the last trace of that nasty beast, and lie down again. "Bugs are the worst."
"Hey, wait a second." I squint my eyes and look up at Limpet in an extremely suspicious manner. She seems to be politely bewildered, but I can see right through her innocent face. "Why didn't you just reach over and flick it off? I was asleep!" Limpet looks like she's trying really hard to keep her mouth closed, but as I continue to squint she starts laughing.
"It was funny!" Limpet ducks, but I can still see her chuckling up a storm. "I thought there'd be more to you than that purposeful, serious wolf I met yesterday, and I was right, wasn't I?"
"No!" I saying, half-offended and clearly lying. "Well, maybe. It's too early in the morning for you to be right all the time!" Bluhh. I may have befriended an incurable prankster. What have I done?
Oh well, at least I'm awake now.
---
A/N: Hello everyone! I've missed Holstin and Limpet dearly for 11 months, and as it has been so long since the last update I figured it was time for another page. Posted on Tuesday, as normal, and I'm hoping there'll be another part next week, too. Exams are about to start happening, though, so we'll see how that goes. I definitely want to get some more pages up this summer. Happy reading! <3
YOU ARE READING
A Golden Hope (a wolf pack story)
AdventureDISCLAIMER: I know this story is subpar. Read if you want :P Holstin is an ordinary member of the Starl Woods Pack, until she up and decides to leave and start her own. She's tired of being treated like an omega, and so sets out on a glorious adven...