Uralian Legends Secrets # 1- Loyal- On Hold

Rise and fall

  This is the right place for me. Wingbeat thought drowsily after a good hunt- true it was part of his training but it had been worth it, in his opinion. The sun was setting to the west and the mountain was lit by fiery ropes of gold. It was beautiful and Wingbeat suddenly couldn't understand his reluctance to be here- he still missed Snowfly but not enough to hurt very much.  He placed a paw on the mountain goat he and his pack had caught, tore off a strip of flesh and retired a few paces to eat the meat. He was chewing contently when Blackfire of Snarepack darted forward, grabbed the goat in his jaw and lifted into the sky- back to the others from Snarepack. 

  Wingbeat let out a roar and sprang to his paws, his hackles springing up. The others in Starpack sprang up angrily. "Prey stealers!" Fiercetalon hissed at them. Wingbeat glowered at Skyclaws who looked at them smugly. "Go catch a fish, fish breath," She sneered at Fiercetalon. "You wish your breath smelled that good!" Fourstreak retorted. Skyclaws shrugged elegantly and tore off a strip of the goat. She chewed much wider than necessary and somehow managed to smirk at them at the same time.

  Wingbeat curled his claws in the dirt willing himself not to lunge for Skyclaws' throat. He wanted to claw something- preferably Skyclaws' face. Instead he found himself Charging forward until he was lunging in Skyclaws general direction. The snowy wolf let out a strangled howl as she dove aside, but Wingbeat wasn't aiming for her- he was aiming for the mountain goat. He landed cleanly on top of it and whirled to face the other Snarepack wolves. Blue padded toward him and he bared his teeth threateningly. Blue gazed at him calmly for a moment before shouldering Blackfire, Skyclaws, and Nighthawk away from him. 

  "Knock it off you guys- this is not hunting, its stealing, so let him go," Blue growled fiercely. They did as he said, still shooting looks of hatred at Wingbeat. Gathering up the mountain goat in his jaws Wingbeat lifted off and nodded to Blue. He then flew back to his pack and dropped the goat at their paws. Skystripe bounded up to him looking like she was about to start her usual non stop chattering.

  He raised a paw to silence her, paced away to the shelter of an over hanging, leafy shrub and fell into its shade. In his minds eye he could see Snowfly curled up against his side- he could almost feel her pelt brushing his. Wingbeat imaged he could hear her soft breathing. Wingbeat felt his rage at the Snarepack snowy wolves beginning to cool and sighed softly. The strength drained from his limbs and Wingbeat dozed deeply... 

  A snout nudged his side and Wingbeat blinked slowly- he felt his eyes close again. "Wingbeat! Come on we have to go!" The snowy wolf yipped. Wingbeat groaned and let his paw flop heavily over his muzzle. The snowy wolf nudged his paw off his snout and gave him a hardy shove in the middle. He was far too tired to get up- why were they bothering? "Wingbeat!" The snowy wolf barked- louder this time. Wingbeat tried to get up and only managed to twitch a paw. He felt the snowy wolf try to nudge him up one more time before they gave up and left him alone...

  The chill of the wind awoke him and he blinked drowsily- and let out a startled yelp. I'm flying! Without using my wings! He thought. "About time!" A voice snarled- the snowy wolf hurled him off her back and Wingbeat howled in fright before flaring his wings to bring himself to a jerky halt. "SKYCLAWS!" Another voice roared an earth shattering roar. Turning around in the sky Wingbeat say Blue flying toward him. Blue? He wondered, What does he want with me? 

  The snowy wolf caught up, looking concerned but calm. "Your awake," He murmured. Wingbeat ducked his head in response. Awake isn't how I feel. Wingbeat thought swiping a paw over his muzzle. I feel like I'm going to fall asleep and fall out of the sky!  "Wingbeat!" It was Skystripes. "Wingbeat listen- you have to stay awake!" Skystripes yipped urgently. 

  "Its the Frost-doze Wingbeat," Blue explained. "Frost-doze?" Wingbeat asked blinking at him. "The Frost-doze only occurs in some snowy wolves but those who do have it will sleep until the end of noleaf," Blue elaborated. "Until the end of NOLEAF?" Wingbeat roared starting to panic. 

  I have to fight this...!