Unknown

Prologue

  I drag my body across the cold, snowy ground.

Our time has come to an end. The humans have come now, and taken our pelts, claws, teeth and our powers. The time has come for wolves to fall.

The voice rumbles. I've had this voice in my head for over 8 years now, and it's almost company for me.

"Yes but, those that are still alive, what will happen to them?"

I say.

They will fall, just like you are now. One by one.

"Not if I can help it."

You sound so certain.

"At least Twig and Lumi will live."

My voice trembles as I wait for it's answer.

...

"Hello?"

I question. I know it is still there. I pick myself up, aiming to find my pups and bring them to safety.

You're not going to make it. Not without half your body. I've seen what happens.

I've barely noticed the dull pain in my backside. The whole reason I can't run, and possibly won't make it to the farlands. I look back, and I see the snow is soaked with my blood. It makes me woozy and I collapse, gasping. Suddenly, I feel a powerful punch on my left shoulder. Wheezing, I pull myself up as far as I can, and I get a good look at my attacker. He is a pasty, grey wolf with a jet black muzzle and feet. Oh no! That's the hellhound of the underworld!! I think to myself. He is staring at me with such hatred, I almost think I'm going to burn under his gaze. He strikes me again, and I fall face first to the ground, choking. When I open my bleary eyes, he is walking towards me. All the snow is melting around him as he walks, and the grass underneath is dead. I avert my gaze back to his face. He isn't looking at me anymore, he is walking right past me. I continue to watch him as he trots away, killing everything in his path. Then he turns around and looks at me again. He starts dragging my mangled body towards the cliff edge.

"H-help.. m..me!"

I scream, panicking.

I can't. I'm a mere spirit of my former self.

I hear a slight rustling sound behind me. I glance over my shoulder, out of instinct, and I see a small, black, wolf pup. I look at the hellhound, to see his reaction to this new joiner. He is looking at the pup with such affection I start to wonder if the two of them are related in some way? I look back at the pup, and it's still staring at me. As I watch it walk up to me, it nuzzles into my wet, bloody fur.

"No, n-no!" I try to warn it. "N-no! The hellhound will hurt you!"

But it just pushes closer to me. I can feel it's tiny, beating heart as I leave this world, into the intoxicating, dark void.