Howler [[On Hold]]

Chapter five

Every second was torture to the poor pack as rain was thrown down at them.

Their pelts were drenched.

Every second they waited for the patrols to return was torture.

First it was the patrol sent out to collect the body. They came in slowly, backing in with Wheshor tenderly on their bodies.

Veku was the one in the middle, holding up the glaze-eyed form with his back.

The rest were just support. One wolf for all legs and paws and the rear--Wendash--to keep her tail from dragging on the dust-ridden ground.

Her body was upside down.

She had clearly been attacked on her stomach.

The dark gray she-wolf's eyes had been closed. They must have closed them earlier.

Her belly had been opened wide enough to where some stomach parts could be seen. The sight made the white wolf look away. Her breath caught in her throat.

Just this morning the beautiful wolf had been playing with the pups and the white wolf just before she had left on her task. And now...

The white wolf closed her eyes, feeling a lot of pain from this loss.

Why would that wolf do such a thing? Did she steal his fish too?

Or was there some other reason?

There just wasn't enough time to think when a beloved pack mate has died and Alpha was nowhere to be found.

Sorrow filled the camp as the wolves all bowed their heads. It didn't matter if she had enemies within her own pack. They were all mourning the loss of such a loyal, kind, and ambitious wolf. There was no doubt she was going to be missed by all the wolves.

Hoshka's head was dipped as pain shrouded her figure. She appeared to be deep in thought, like she was mourning her sister, but also thinking of something else.

The white wolf wondered what it could be, but she can't read minds.

Wheshor's body was gently placed on the ground. Omega sighed. "Burying another pack mate is always hard. Each time I wish it was the last one I would have to bury for a long time, but...this death has been the quickest since..."

Omega trailed off as he turned his head down in shame. He closed his eyes in pain.

He sighed as he lifted his head back up, eyes opened once more.

He didn't need to say any more. All the wolves knew that the last wolf to die had been one of Rakoshokch's victims. A young pup. But the white wolf didn't hear all the story. She just heard that he murdered a newborn pup and his mother. That's why he had been kicked out.

Of course he also had many more crimes.

Several wolves started to dig up a hole up on a hill behind the camp.

Sad wolf faces surrounded the body as it was dropped in the hole.

As the wolves stared at the wolves who were kicked back the dirt, they let out sorrowful howls for their dead pack mate. Several of them sniffled as well.

Once the dirt was placed on top the body, the body made the ground bulge up a bit; it made it easier to see where the female had been buried.