Alpha's Blood (Book One)

Lost

Sage felt soreness fill her legs as she tried keeping up with Arrow. They had been nonstop traveling for hours now, and the only thing on Sage's mind was Nova. She had asked Arrow why she wasn't with them and he had remained quiet, his only words were. "I'll take the blame." Sage felt weak now, lost and broken. She had lost her mother, father, her pack, and possibly her sister with in moments. Ever since asking her brother, she hadn't spoken, she had been silent the whole way and lost in her own thoughts. Why did this even happen? One thing was for sure, Sage wanted to fight to get her home back but she knew she'd have to grow up some. Even if it meant running from Arrow. Maybe another pack would take her in and train her and she could find her sense of self there. Whatever she did, she had to do it soon, she needed to practice so she could rip Krater apart for what he's done. She had been so lost in thought, she didn't notice her brother had stopped and she ran into his side. With a huff he looked back at her and sighed.
"I'm sorry this happened Sage, I promise we will get our home back." Wait, so his thoughts might have been the same as hers.
"We need to train so we can destroy that mutt." Her words were filled with anger and a snarl was hidden under layers of her speech.
Arrow nodded in agreement but for now he sat down and looked at her softly, "We should hunt and rest for the night. We're far enough away to be safe."
Sage hadn't even thought about how hungry she was until he mentioned food and her belly howled in protest. Sighing, she laid down and nodded towards him, letting him know he could go hunt. She watched him walk away, her ears pinning back as sadness struck her heart once more thinking of her mother. Placing her head on her paws, she gazed up at the stars with a heavy heart before giving a low howl on her laying state. She stayed laying there until she heard her brothers return and the scent of freshly killed rabbit and opossum. Her belly rumbled again, protesting its hungry state once more. Turned her head to look at Arrow, she watched him place the rabbit near her and like a flash she devoured the small creature, licking away the blood from her chomps as she finished. Her brother took longer to eat and soon he was joining her as they laid in the grass. He placed a leg over one of hers and sighed.
"It all get better. We'll find another pack until we can fight for our home." His voice was gentle as he spoke to her. 
   Sage didn't reply, she remained silent as she lifted her snout to the sky and stared at the stars. Somewhere up there was their mother and pack members. Was Nova up there too now? Arrow kept his head straight as he watched over, his protective side picking back up. Sage was grateful he was there, but she wished Arrow had truly listened to mom and had found Nova. She shook her head and laid it back down, her eyes closing as she thought of happy things before drifting off to sleep.

   The morning sun showed no mercy as it rose overhead and woke Sage from her dreams. She at least found peace in that moment of sleep she had, dreaming of when she was still just a milk suckling pup. Now as she lifted her head and adjusted her eyes to the bright day ahead of them, she could see Arrow grooming himself and getting ready to head off further in the journey. Reluctantly, Sage stood with a tired groan and started to groom her own fur. It didn't take her long since her fur wasn't as thick at Arrow's and soon she was following after her brother once more towards a new home. It seemed they hadn't been walking far when the sound of a strong river filled her ears and they had to stop at its edge to see if there was a way around. Nothing. There was a few stones they could leap from to get over and that was the best option for now. Sage decided she go first since she was faster than her older brother, and with nimble leaps she made it across safely. Now it was Arrow's turn, his large brute body clearly not fit for this kind of obstacle.
   "Come on, don't think about it, just jump!" The rush of the water seemed to dull Sage's words as she tried to guide him across, and when he leaped, he misjudged his step. Slipping on the smooth stone, he found himself in the river headed downstream faster than he could fight it. Sage rushed along the edge of the river trying to call out to him.
  "Arrow! Arrow!"
  "Don't worry about me! Keep going south! I'll meet you there." His words faded as he was pulled further and further away from Sage. Now she was totally alone, and lost. Her rump plopped to the ground as tears started to fall over her ginger face, her ears pinning back as she gave a long loud howl of sorrow, releasing her grief. As her song played from her chest, she remembered her mother's last words and sniffled before turned her head down and continuing south. The day dragged on, and soon the sun was setting over the earth, the moon giving a cold welcome to the night. Sage knew that if she was still no where near a pack soon, she'd have to stop for the night, and that may be sooner then she had thought due to how sore her paws and body were. Her mind was starting to search for a place to rest, when she caught scent of a packs territory border. She smiled at herself, proud she had made it but deep down she felt saddened. Should she wait for Arrow, or go ahead and enter the packs lands in hopes of a new home? She thought for a while before finally deciding she'd sleep outside the pack and wait for her brother, if he wasn't there by morning she'd ask for refuge among this pack. Pulling away from the border, she searched for a tree to sleep under, finally finding one just outside the border next to a steam. Under it was a small puddle, filled with minnows and frogs and the frogs would make a good little meal if she could catch enough. Like a pup, Sage started bounding after a few of them, catching and eating them, fighting through their slimy texture so she had a meal for that night before laying her head down to rest. When sleep finally found her she felt cold, and alone without her brothers pelt to keep her warm. Sadness filled her heart mixed with longing as she felt darkness overtake her.

"Daddy, she looked no bigger than me! She can't hurt us, and she looks so lonely. Please don't hurt her." A soft yipping of a pup made Sage gain consciousness but she dared not move, she waited to see what was about to happen. The scent of wolves filled her nose, the same scent that seemed to mark that border. Two males, one adult and one pup and then a female. She kept her eyes closed and waited for what was to come of her.
"Gabriel, hush. Let your father decide her fate." The female spoke with dominance. She was obviously of high rank. She heard the pup sigh and stomp his paw before the male opened his mouth to speak.
"Blackrosey, please take my son back to the den. I will speak to this female and make sure she is no spy or harm to my pack. Behave yourself Gabriel, or no dinner." The male held structure in his voice, and it was obvious he was alpha. Sage felt a lump form into her throat. Was she about to be killed and this father just didn't want his son to see?
"Of course, Alpha Carter." The female, Blackrosey, responded as she picked up a protesting pup and walked off. It was when she heard the steps fade away and the scent grow stale that Sage decided to introduce herself. With a snarl, she leapt up to her feet and faces the male, her eyes widened when she saw him. He was huge! His chest was larger than even her fathers and his body held more muscle than any wolf she had ever seen. She didn't let his size scare her away thought, she stood her ground and met his gaze, his silver eyes boring down onto her.
"Well, you're rather feisty for a pup." His eyes softened as she sat down and looked at her, his white fur shining in the sun. What seemed to be brows, were black against his white face and was his only color change on him. They rose in amusement, watching her closely to see her next move. "My names Carter. Why are you sleeping outside my border?"
"I-my home..it was destroyed. Me and my brother were trying to find a new place to live but he got separated from me.." Sage let herself ease up, seeing that the male wasn't going to harm her in any way. "My names Sage, sir."
The white male nodded and gave her a warm smile. "Why don't you come with me, we'll get you food and some rest. This is SleepyHallow."
Sage was confused, this male was just going to let her join the pack like that? With ease? No challenge or anything? No catch?
"Be warned though, pup. You'll have to prove you can fit in here. You will be challenged to fight one of my wolves tonight to prove you can survive."
Oh, there's the catch.