Chapters of a Life (Complete)

1

I was a runt, no one in the pack wanted to deal with me. My parents did what they saw as their duty to me, by making sure I was able to have access to food and shelter. Otherwise, I was on my own. None of this concerned me because I had found my place, the archives, and my family, the Elders. I remember the morning I rolled down the steps that lead to the archives. I had been chased out of the kitchen for eating the "good" food and not waiting for the scraps that my station demanded. As I maneuvered through the halls trying not to get stepped on I saw an open door and stopped to see what room it lead to. Cook, having caught me, thought a proper punishment was to push me through the door and down the stairs, I remember her saying she 'hoped the fall would kill me, no pack needed a runt'. As I laid at the bottom of the steps, trying to catch my breath, I suddenly saw several sets of eyes. Wanting to jump up and run but due to the fall, I was unable, as the eyes got closer I began to think that cook may just get her wish.

"What do we have here?" the wispiest softest voice I had ever heard asked from my right.

"It's a baby." said someone on my left.

"Babies can't walk and obviously this one was walking and there is no swaddling present." yet another spoke.

Terrified, lying there frozen I unexpectedly felt myself being lifted by soft gentle hands. Quickly turning my head I saw the oldest male I had ever seen, he seemed to be all wrinkles and tufts of hair. Not knowing what else to do, I attempted to curl up into a ball. Only to, burst into tears as I felt each and every bruise I had gained during my fall.

"There there now no need for all that noise." the old man said. "Let's take a look at you. We don't get many youngsters down here. How did you fall?"

What to do? Tell the truth and maybe get another punishment or stay quiet and let them think what they may. "I was pushed by cook for eating the Alpha's food and not waiting on the scraps I deserve". What had made me say that?

The room erupted, "what's, in my day's, and preposterous" could be heard from all around. The next question was a dreaded one, "Who are you". Oh, how to answer?