Cascade sniffed, burying her head in the cold snow. How could this day have gone any worse? Her brother dead, her trial tomorrow, and it was just too cold for her liking. How was she going to survive in this cruel, cruel world?
“How’s it goin’ down there?” a muffled voice called from the entrance of the SmallPaw den.
Cascade popped her head from out of her snow pile.
“What do you want, Renegade?” she grunted.
“Nothing, nothing. Just checking in,” the male gave a cheesy grin.
“I’m fine, thank you very much.” Cascade shoved her head back into the mound of snow.
“Yeah, I’ll go right ahead and believe that like a gullible newborn,” Renegade snorted, swiping a paw that ruined the snow mound.
“Wow, that was nice of you,” the she-wolf grunted. “It was my way of drowning out the world and never coming back.”
“Perfectly fine, huh?”
“Shut your muzzle.”
“You might want to have some friends for the Trial tomorrow.” Renegade pointed out. “So maybe think about being less depressing,” the SmallPaw chuckled, nudging her in the side.
Cascade rolled her eyes. “Mhm, because our lives are all about having friends, rainbows and sunshine.”
“There you go! Happy thoughts.” he grinned.
“You’re annoying. Go away now,” Cascade rumbled, trying to hide a grin.
“Suit yourself.” Renegade wagged his tail before racing out of the den.
☉ ☉ ☉
Cascade woke to the morning sun directly in her face. She blinked sleepily, looking around to see no other SmallPaws in the den. Stretching and getting to her paws, she padded out of the den into the clearing filled with crowded wolves. Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. It’s Trial day. Everyone’s saying goodbye to their families. As she thought about the word “family”, her heart dropped. Ferdinand was dead. The older brother and only wolf she could count on. Her mind in sorrowful thought, she jumped when her father brushed up against her side.
He had a gaze of mixed feelings. Sorrow, fear, pride and much more. “You’re going to do great,” the Alpha murmured.
“Yes, of course, because I’m the ‘Alpha’s daughter’. I know,” Cascade sniffed.
Berry, her mother, came up from behind him. “He’s right. You’re going to do wonderful, and not just because you’re kin of the Alpha.” she gave Cascade a warm smile, which somehow made Cascade feel better every time.
Cascade sighed. What if I never see them again? She pushed the thoughts away, and as the Alpha began padding to the front to dismiss the SmallPaws, touched noses with both of them.
She padded into the crowd of SmallPaws and Renegade quickly bounded up to her.
“And how angry are you today?” he greeted cheerily.
“You better watch out, I might bite,” she chuckled, snapping her teeth for effect.
“Ah, you’ll definitely get past your Trial with those teeth!” Renegade flashed a grin.
Cascade was about to reply when the Alpha howled as a call for silence. The crowd of SmallPaws immediately became silent, with the occasional anxious shuffling of paws.
“This group of SmallPaws that you see before your eyes will either return with pride and strength or return among the stars,” the Alpha began. “Each of these pups have worked hard to learn the way of the Pack. Out of honor, I will state each of the pups and what their role is.
“Xeno, Fjord, Renegade, and Ashen trained to be a Guards.” Renegade puffed out his chest in pride when his name was called. The Alpha continued, “Cascade, Jupiter, Starling and Cirrus trained to be Hunters. Savvy and Hexa trained to be Builders. And of course, we can’t forget Equinox, training to be the next Healer.”
Parents cheered from behind the crowd for each of the pups. Young newborns looked on at the SmallPaws in awe.
The Alpha seemed to drone on with millions of words, causing Cascade to become sleepy again.
“Hey, wake up, lazy-wolf,” Renegade half-whispered, nudging her shoulder.
Cascade grunted in response. She slowly became back to normal as the Alpha began to touch noses with each of the SmallPaws, wishing them well.
When it came her turn, the Alpha licked her cheek. “I believe in you,” he murmured.
After touching noses with Renegade, he padded back up to the front of the group.
“I wish you all luck for the last time. May the wolves of the past be with you.”
And with that, The Trial began.
End of Chapter 3
YOU ARE READING
Soulfire
Fantasy// The Storytellers have told many stories of the past...Including those of ancient wolves who held powerful talismans in their possession. It has been told that one day, those lost talismans will be found by a new generation of wolves and will ei...
