Wild Dogs: Run

Chapter Eight

I slowly blink my eyes open, slowly adjusting to the bright sunlight filtering in. It must be sunny out there. I glance over to see who's at my sides. Roseycheek and Tigerfur both lay, still unconscious, beside me. They both have some fresh wounds. I've been unconscious overnight only. That's good.

     I glance towards the entrance where Sundappled and Cinderclaw stand. The clearing is brightly lit causing me to squint. It must be sunhigh.

     I hear Roseycheek or Tigerfur stirring beside me. I drag my gaze back over to them. Roseycheek is slowly waking up, blinking against the bright light. "Huh?" She tries to sit up, but the sting from one of her wounds makes her wince. She lets herself fall back down, giving up. She stares at me, tears welling in her eyes.

     "I'm sorry. We should've left before we went to sleep last night."

     She dips her head. "So, it was only last night?"

     "Yes." I answer solemnly. "Who knows what would've happened if we slept any longer."

     "Probably would've been killed."

     I hate to say this, but I have to agree with her. No matter how bad that sounds, it's the truth.

     We sit there in silence, to upset and shocked to speak.

     The sound of paw steps approach the cave. "I did think either of you would be up."

     I lazily lift my head up to see who's at the entrance, my head heavy with exhaustion.

     King Snowfur stands there dainty and smug. "Come or there will be consequences."

     Roseycheek and I reluctantly haul ourselves up for our paws.

     "Knowing you, there's consequences either way." Roseycheek snaps at King Snowfur, shoving her muzzle towards him. He's muscles are very tense to the punt where she's vibrating.

     "True, but this time, I'm giving you two a chance." King Snowfur agrees with some glee. He steps out of the cave and gives us space to exit.

     Is he just leaving Tigerfur there?

     Roseycheek and I step out, waiting to follow his orders.

     "Sundappled, Cinderclaw. I want you two to keep an eye on these two while I wake up Tigerfur." King Snowfur orders before heading back into the cave.

     Once he disappears into the cave, Sundappled and  Cinderclaw turn towards us and give us distrustful looks.

     "I knew I couldn't trust you two. You never belonged in the pack anyways." Cinderclaw gloats.

     Belonged in the pack? We never wanted to stay! Who said that we wanted to stay? Stupid Plain Pack wolves, always jumping to conclusions!

     "Well, excuse me, but-!" I try retorting.

     A howl of pain from inside the cave cuts me off.

     What is he doing to her? I want to go in and help, but I can't!

     "GET OUT THERE!" King Snowfur howls at her.

     A heartbeat later, Tigerfur frightened, quickly dashes out of the cave. She's so terrified! There's already tears starting to run down her face.

     Tears starts welling in my own eyes seeing Tigerfur like that.

      King Snowfur emerges after her, herding us to his cave. Sundappled and Cinderclaw immediately help. We get to his cave, but he halts us a couple tail lengths away. He bounds onto his cave, nearly clearing the jump on. He catches himself from completely falling. He scrambles trying to get up, sending bits of rocks flying. After a moment of struggling, he makes it up. "Wolves of Plain Pack! Gather around my cave!"

      Wolves coming pouring out of the dens and the wolves already out come over. Before I know it, all the wolves have gathered, creating a huge barrier with no gaps.

     King Snowfur clears his throat. "Tell them! Tell them all what you three have done! Any hesitation will lead to immediate execution!" He orders Tigerfur, Roseycheek and I loud and clear.

     I turn to face the pack. As I take a deep breath, Roseycheek rests her tail on my shoulders. "Roseycheek, Tigerfur and I tried to leave; Roseycheek and I trying to go back to our pack which is not here."

     Hardly anyone reacts.

     A growl rises up from King Snowfur's throat. "More like running away from the pack all three of you swore allegiance to! The SUPREME LEADER!"

     Without thinking, I turn on him. "LIAR!" I blurt. "We never swore any allegiance to you and we never will!"

     I need to convince everyone to turn on him! He has manipulated them!

     I turn back to face the crowd. "All of you probably think that he's the best thing that has ever happened to this pack, but he has manipulated you all! Do you know anyone that has opposed him? Probably not because-"

     "You don't have any proof!" King Snowfur howls at me.

      I confidently turn to face him again. "Actually I do. I had an omen where Roseycheek and I were in this exact same situation and we were nearly killed!"

     "She's clearly making that up! If she wasn't, she would've said that they were killed!" King Snowfur gloated to the pack.

     Howls of agreement rise from the pack.

     "I had the same omen too!" Roseycheek joins in once the crowd goes silent again.

     King Snowfur snorts.

     "I received a prophecy!" Tigerfur shouts. " I was told 'the snow will fall, he will crush all'"

     "No evidence." King Snowfur retorts icily. "It has been decided!"

     Oh no!

      "All crimes against the pack are punishable by death." King Snowfur concludes icily.

     The pack starts closing in, Roseycheek, Tigerfur and I start panicking. We cower with fear as the pack gets closer.

"WAIT!" Tigerfur blurts.

Everyone halts, confused.

"Continue!" King Snowfur orders.

The pack starts closing in again.

"No! It's my fault! I'm the one that put that into their minds!" Tigerfur desperately and cleverly lies.

The pack halts again, angry.

"Really?" King Snowfur hisses disbelievingly. He crawls threateningly the the very edge of his cave. "I don't believe you."

"You shouldn't punish them for what I did. When I was giving them a tour, I told them that they should escape and I left them because they didn't want to escape." Tigerfur desperately explains.

That's actually really true, but she still made it seem like her fault. I can't believe she's sacrificing herself for Roseycheek and I.

King Snowfur suddenly flies off his cave and bolts straight for Tigerfur. He halts right in front of her face, fury blazing. "I won't punish them for something that is your fault. I'll punish you instead." He hisses at her, barley a whisper.

Not punishing us? Weird, but Tigerfur is actually sacrificing herself for us! I want to to stop her!

But it's too late. King Snowfur sinks his teeth into her throat and rips it out, sending blood flying, sending some drops onto Roseycheek and I. Tigerfur's dead body falls to the ground.

The entire crowd gasps in shock and starts murmuring.

"Anyone else involved in this?" King Snowfur demands, still furious.

Everyone went silent.

"Very well. Time to kill-"

"Forest Pack attack!" A familiar howl sounds from the bushes.