Hunted

Absent Alpha

Night approached her den quietly, not wanting to wake the pups. She peered around the entrance, only to see two of her pups tumbling and playing and the other, the runt, being scorned by Omega.

Night growled, "Omega, you may not be allowed much privileges, but you should know when my pups need to sleep."

The playful pups froze and then laid down pretending to already be asleep. The runt ran to Night, who licked his forehead and patted him towards his "sleeping" siblings. Night walked with a strong posture towards Omega.

Omega submitted, "Sorry, Alpha."

"It's really not that big of a deal, I'm just in a bad mood. Now, be gone." Night replied.

Omega looked around and realized Alpha Eclipse was absent from the scene. She ran out the cave, tail drooping.

Night laid down next to her pups. They slowly drifted off into a deep sleep. She licked each one, motheringly and walked out the cave. She sat, looking over her territory. She glanced into the direction of the Strange Creatures' territory. There was a faint glow. Only a night before she was looking over the same territory, but with her mate next to her. She let out a mournful howl.

Night woke up in the same spot she was howling. The sun was rising, this was the time the hunters left. I should have warned them about the creatures. There was a whimper behind her.

"Mommy?" Her male pup shyly asked for her attention.

Night turned to her pup, "What's wrong?" She pulled him closer.

"Um...." He pawed at the grass, " I heard you howling last night."

Night froze and looked away.

"Daddy's not coming back is he?"  He looked up sorrowfully at her.

Night paused. My pup is too young for this. "No, Daddy is not coming back, but he's watching over us. He's in a good place."

The pup snuggled closer to her.

"Go play with your siblings." Night licked him.

He ran off, tail wagging. What a smart pup, hiding his emotions being careful not to make his siblings worried.

                                     ***

Night looked out over her territory. She looked closer. Someone is running this way. What more can go wrong? Night called for Nadia.

Nadia, the pup watcher, came.

Night nodded at the pups and took off.

She ran towards where she last saw someone running and ran into Delta.

"Alpha Night, just who I'm looking for." He panted.

"I noticed." She replied calmly.

"Something's got Claw and we can't get it off him." He motioned for her to follow.

 Not the Lead hunter. Night followed Delta, they were moving at an extremely fast pace. They were coming close to the plains just outside her territory. Delta quickly turned and slowed pace.

"Almost there, Alpha" He called back.

He stopped and sniffed, as if he forgot where he was going, then picked up at a walk and turned. There was Claw, a shiney jaw-like object on his ankle.

"Claw!" Night ran to him and studied his ankle, "Does it hurt really bad?"

He didn't even reply, just nodded.

This must be work of the Strange Creatures. I don't want to lose another wolf. I don't want to tell him that he may not make it, what do I do? "Claw, I don't want to scare you, but I think I know who, well what, did this. Yesterday, as you guys probably have heard by now, I left to find Alpha Eclispse. I had found strange tracks near Eclipse's, it turned out they weren't from an animal, but by a thing controlled by strange creatures. They walked on two legs and are definitely not friendly. Alpha Eclipse did not return with me... because he is dead. Claw, I believe these same Strange Creatures have placed this here to get one of us. Which they succeeded." Night turned her back to the confused, and sad wolves.

Delta broke the silence, "Well, now we know to be careful, thank you, Alpha. May I have permission to lead the hunt, we have yet to get food for everyone."

Night looked at Claw, other wolves only took another's place if they won a battle or the previous wolf died. They have neither fought, nor has Claw died. Of course, he is in no state to hunt. Claw nodded at Night, and she nodded at Delta.

After the wolves left, Claw spoke, "I know I'm not going to make it, honestly it's pretty obvious. Don't let it bother you, I have lived a good life."

"Well let's not be so hasty to consider your death." Night replied against her own thoughts.

Night studied the trap more. The teeth were clamped hard on his foot. She guessed that when he stepped on the part in the middle, they were triggered to close. We would have to hold the jaws open, and he would have to lift his foot quickly. "Is it heavy, or do you think maybe you could walk back to the den with it?" Night asked him studying the chain, poorly pushed into the ground.

"It's very heavy, but maybe if I leaned against you and limped I could eventually get back." Claw said, but didn't seem to eager to do so.

Night flattened an ear and tilted her head at the trap.

"I don't want to be a burden to the pack..." Claw began.

"Don't even start with a silly speech like that." Night dug at where the chain was pushed into the ground.

Soon, she was able to lift the end of the chain out of the ground. She told Claw he could move now. He slowly lifted his leg, barely off the ground, but then quickly dropped his foot back to were it was with a whimper.

"I need to rest it somewhere, I can't lift my foot. It feels like this thing is going to rip it off in its jaws." Claw said then licked his ankle.

He wasnt kidding when he said its heavy. "Does this hurt?" She put her paw under the jaws and pretended to walk, as if she was walking for him.

"Not really." He leaned against her.

"Were going to get back no matter how long it takes." She comforted him.