The Wolves of the Gems

Chapter 23

The Farm: Snow Pack Territory: Northern Border: Late Autumn

A wolf coloured dark brown and tan walked along the northern border of the pack territory, alone. He was the scout of the Snow Pack, completing his chore. A large mass of rocks and stones amongst a small amount of trees was one of many territory markers for the border. As the brute approached the rocks, a loud howl pierced the air.

The brute perked his ears at the howl as more and more joined, making the wolf widen his eyes. The only option he had was to run. Run deeper into the territory and hope he was in howling range of the pack if the wolves caught up.

He ran and ran and ran, forcing himself to lengthen his strides with each passing moment. He could hear the fast pawsteps behind him, the growls and snarls ever so close. His ears were flat against his head, fearing he would not be able to warn his pack in time.

Then he spotted it.

The old metal post rising up from the ground, covered in moss and ivy. One of the signs that lead directly to the Snow Pack den. He raced towards it, keeping the distance between him and the wolves.

The moment he reached it, he raised his head, releasing the loudest howl he could muster. The action slowed him down enough for the Rogue wolves. The lead wolf slammed into him, grabbing him by the neck, cutting his howl short.

The rest of the team closed in a matter of seconds, sinking their fangs in his shoulders, legs, flank and even his tail, tearing him apart as yelps echoed through the air. The brute tried to lash out, any wolf who came close to his jaws, he hoped to grab.

But it was all in vain as the air fell still. The yelps and cries ceased. The growling turned into silence.

The Rogue wolves stepped away from the dismembered body of the Snow Pack scout, slinking back into the bushes. The scout was completely limp as the red blood left his body and drenched the ground. One leg had been nearly torn off and his tail was gone. But what was more unnerving was his eyes, open wide as if the pain and fear still ran through his body.

The Rogues weren't finished yet. Now all they had to do was wait.

-----

The howl echoed across the territory, catching the ear of every wolf. And the moment it was cut short, they came running from every direction. They needed to aid their packmate as quickly as possible.

The first to reach the area the howl originated from was Tina, the pack beta. Tina looked around the area when her eyes landed on the still form of her packmate and her eyes widened.

"Coco?" She asked softly as she walked over to the body of her packmate. Tina gently nudged the body, but when she didn't get a response, she closed her eyes tightly, "brother, I'm so sorry."

The bushes rustled behind Tina. She snapped her head around to the rustling, her teeth bared as she got into a defensive position. A warning growl escaping her.

Two wolves, both coloured brown with black appeared from the bushes. Tina let out a soft sigh of relief, "Hazel, Caffee." The two walked up to their older and higher ranking sister, when their eyes landed on the limp form of their brother. Hazel lowered her head to her brother and closed her eyes.

Hazel's eyes snapped opened and the three siblings looked around as growls came from the bushes. The three wolves were surrounded by at least six Rogue wolves. The Snow Pack wolves stood back-to-back, snarling at the intruders.

The Rogue wolves snarled at the three, before one ran forward. Tina growled at the wolf before she snapped around, her jaws quickly clamping down on the Rogue wolf's neck. The Rogue wolf yelped in surprise at how quick Tina's reactions were. He let out a bark, ordering the others to attack!

The rest of the Rogue wolf team ran forward, charging at the two other members of the Snow Pack. Hazel and Caffee snarled at the wolves before running at them with no hesitation. The Rogue wolves slammed into the two Snow wolves. Although Hazel and Caffee were skilled fighters, the Rogue wolves had numbers on their sides.

Caffee was slammed to the ground while two Rogue wolves clamped their teeth in his neck and shoulders. Hazel wasn't going to go down as easily, even with two wolves biting in her shoulders and flanks and another circling around, getting ready to attack.

"Enough!"

A trail of ice ran across the ground, hitting the circling wolf, turning it to ice before it could blink. The Rogue wolves looked to their frozen companion and widened their eyes, before looking to the cause.

The white she-alpha stepped from the bushes, her eyes glowing a pale blue. Rissca appeared beside her, snarling at the Rogue wolves.

"Trespassers, leave my territory immediately!" Snowstorm ordered, her teeth bared slightly, tail raised.

"Take her down!" The lead Rogue wolf demanded. The rest looked to one another before charging at Snowstorm and Rissca.

Rissca quickly got into a defensive position while Snowstorm shook her head. The white she-wolf raised her head, a loud growl escaping before the ground under her paws froze, the ice heading directly to the Rogue wolves.

The Rogues only had time to stop in their tracks before they were frozen in place. The last surviving Rogue wolf looked to his frozen companions.

"Final chance, leave," Snowstorm ordered as she and Rissca walked over to the Rogue wolf still being held by Tina's jaws. "Now!"

"I will not leave until I have completed the task I have been given," the Rogue wolf said, his eyes narrowed at Snowstorm.

Tina bared her fangs before she clamped down even harder on the wolf's neck. The Snow Pack beta quickly pulled back, tearing the wolf's throat out. The Rogue wolf began choking on its own blood as it fell to the ground, falling limp in a matter of seconds.

Tina looked down at the dead Rogue wolf, "that was for my brother."

Snowstorm lowered her head, closing her eyes as they returned back to normal. "Unfortunately, this is not the end," she said, opening her now yellow eyes.

Rissca turned to look at her alpha and tilted her head, "what do you mean by that?"

Snowstorm looked to her packmates, "they're just going to continue to come back. It's time we take the fight to them."

One of the crows landed in one of the nearby trees. Snowstorm looked up to him, "Jazz, send the word out, if there are other packs who wish to fight, they are more then welcomed to join."

The crow nodded his head and spread his wings, taking to the skies.

Snowstorm turned to Tina, "you know your part." Tina nodded and turned around, disappearing through the bushes, heading to the pack den site. Snowstorm watched her go as Hazel, Caffee and Rissca laid down by their sibling's still form. The white she-wolf looked up to the sky, "let's hope you have the rest of the gems, brother, you and the others."