Aspen Alba

Company

River: It's below freezing outside. I've tried for so long to find a new pack that would take me in as their family. I'm only a couple months old and I am probably going to die out here. My stomach starts growling loudly. I whimper while looking around for a meal. I've had nothing to eat but grass, sticks, and if I'm lucky I find a dead rabbit here and there with some meat left on it. Sometimes I think I won't survive. I can't take it anymore and realize if I'm going to live then I need to learn to hunt. While walking I smell something delicious. A squirrel. I look around for it and can't find a thing. I follow the scent for a while before I finally see it. I accidentally scare it off but I continue to follow it. My paws are so cold but I keep going. I'm also keeping a good look out for somewhere to lay down for the night. I find the squirrel again and we make eye contact. I lay low to the ground and keep my eyes targeted on it. He's only a couple feet in front of me and for some reason he's not running. I pounce right on it and sink my teeth into it. It's the first real meal I've ever had and I managed to get it all on my own. After I kill it I prance around so happily with my tail wagging. I lay down next to it and start chowing down. I hear something softly behind me. I perk my eyes up and turn my head. It's another wolf.

Unknown Wolf: What are you doing in my territory? He snarls loudly enough to startle me. This is Black Dawn territory.

River: I'm sorry sir. I'm alone. I don't have a family or a pack. I'm bowing down to him to show him I'm no threat. I may not have been in a pack before but I still know how to act around them.

Unknown Wolf: He doesn't seem nice at all. He snarls again asa warning.

River: I whimper. I ran as far as I could and as fast as I could. I didn't even think twice about the squirrel I had just caught. I forgot about the Black Dawn territory lines. They must've changed them. I ran into them before but it was a different wolf. I look around and smell the air once again. The air is very thin and almost hurts my nose coming in. I start trotting north. Maybe that's a better way to go. But for now I need some rest. I found a fallen tree nearby that I could sleep under.

The Next Week

River: It's a little warmer out today. I'm just glad it's winter because my fur is pure white and I blend in with the snow. It'll be a lot easier to hunt and to hide from other wolves that wouldn't like me around. Going north is a lot easier than I thought. There's more wood area and a lot of water. It's not frozen like the water south of here. It's time to hunt again. I start sniffing the air for any prey. I smell a rabbit nearby. I run towards it and kill it. Hunting is a lot easier after the first couple of times. I never would've thought it would be this easy. I take a pause and start eating. I hear a howl in the distance. It sounded like a cry for help. I perk up my ears and finish eating. I start running in the direction of the cry. I notice a pretty large wolf nearby. I don't think I've ever seen a wok this large before. Hello... I am cautious going near.

Unknown Wolf: Hello! Help me!

River: I finally realize this wolf is no threat and I run over to who I know is a female by her voice. Are you okay? How do I help? She looks like she's bleeding and in a lot of pain.

Unknown Wolf: I was attacked by my pack, they threw me out and left me here to die. Oh but you're just a pup. Are you alone? She whimpers and breathes loudly.

River: Yes I'm alone. I can help you. I have a warm place nearby. I can take you there. Can you stand? I don't know why but I was actually concerned for this wolf. She was loosing a lot of blood.

Unknown Wolf: She tries to stand. She falls down a couple of times but finally gets up on her feet and starts following me.

River: It's not far! Follow me! I start running to my underground hideout. It's pretty spacious and I'm lucky that I found it a couple of days ago. We finally make it and she lays down. Her leg has a bunch of cuts. I whimper because I don't know what to do.

Unknown Wolf: It's okay sweetheart. I was a healer wolf in my pack. All I need are a couple of things. She lists off a couple things that I need to find.

River: I go through the woods trying to find everything he needs. I find two out of three things. The only thing I can't find is a silver flower. I search for what feels like hours for this flower. I've never seen it but she told me it looks like a moon in flower form. I am a while away from home and finally find one. I grab it in my mouth and run back as fast as I can hoping she didn't bleed out while I was away. I make it home. I finally found a silver flower! Are you okay?

Unknown Wolf: Nothing I cant fix. She smiles and wags her tail. She appreciates my help and tells me a little about her. My name is Xena. Have you always been alone? She starts healing herself.

River: I've been alone as long as I can remember. I know I have a mom out there somewhere, she just left me. Or I got lost. I don't even know. But I'm trying to find a pack. I watch her as she heals herself. How long have you been in a pack for? I tilt my head.

Xena: My whole life. I was born into one. That's how I know how to heal. I basically healed the whole pack at one point. She chuckles. You can stay with me if you want. I don't know if I'll join a new pack but I can keep you company. She licks her fur with dirt on it.

River: I smile and lay down next to her. It'd be a new experience. I start to drift off to sleep.