Ash: The Wolves of the World's End

Chapter 13

Nothing was more infuriating than letting Ash slip from his grasp.

     The wind began to howl louder, like a wolf separated from the pack, hoping to find its way back. Looking into the sky, Samson could easily tell bad weather was approaching, maybe snow feet deep. But no matter how thick the blizzard might get, Samson wouldn't feel any sympathy for Ash and his new pack.

     "The borders have been secured, alpha." He snarled. If they had been secured before this, his enemy would not have escaped at all. Even with the snow he had agreed to let Arget apply to the burns on his chest, they still stung even hotter than the fire itself when he moved. No big problem. I'll find a way to live. Turning to Gale, who had brought the news, his pain was soon soothed by the fear the dog seemed to emit. Samson decided to choose his words and scents well, to give the mongrel the right picture. "Tell me, " he said, bearing down Gale, " I assigned you to not let any wolf out of the haven, and to kill any who did. And the wolves who have escaped already killed one of us." Gale began to tremble, looking away. "So then, was the border truly secured?"

     "N...no, alpha, " Gale stammered, almost nervous enough to wet his fur with his own urine. Samson chuckled; your pack-mates had to know who was leader before they could lead under him. "I want you to keep the border secure this time, " Samson whispered, his muzzle inches away from Gale's ear. "Do you understand, beta?"

     Gale's expression immediately changed. "Beta, sir? It would be an honor. Of course, I will personally check it this moment." He ran off towards the fringes of the forest as if to inspect something, but Samson knew enough about dogs to see how easy it was to manipulate them. Just like hunting a herd of deer, all you had to do was get one of them alone and weakened, and then it was only a matter of time before its will bended to your's.

     "Be careful Samson, " Arget warned him as she approached. "Don't push them too far, or they will become enemies." Samson turned to greet his mate, wincing as his burns bit into his skin. That wolf will suffer for what he's done. "I don't have to be part dog to know when I go too far," he defended. "Remember who the alpha is."

     "Me as well as you," she shot back, "and I was alpha before you came."

     Arget did have a point. Samson was only able to lead them because of the anger at the hunters she had stirred up in her pack-mates. After Wyrden's death, Samson had known that the Selena would never accept him as a mate. For the next few nights, he had foraged near the camp as the hunters began to recuperate from the attack.

     It had been Arget who had found him there, alone and friendless, and since then, they had plotted the demise of the hunters by their own dogs. He had been surprised at her fierce hate of the humans and her desire for the freedom she had lost. He could promise all those things to her, and he had. The haven was theirs, a hidden cache of the wild that would keep them and their pack safe.

     "Remember who knew of the haven first. Without this, you would be scavenging for food and shelter from rotting carrion. But now, our pack will blossom and replenish itself many times over."

     A smile crept to her face. "The pack will grow much stronger in spring, I can assure you that." Sighing, Samson looked towards the forest, where Ash's trail led into the mountains. The wind didn't lie; a northern blizzard was on the way. "When I fought Ash, I could have killed him. But something let him escape. It was bright like your former masters' fire-" She snarled at their mention. "- and somehow, it chose to protect Ash. You know that; you saw it for yourself. And somewhere in those mountains, him and his protecting fire are still there-"

     Arget was already one step ahead of him. "-But with the snow, it will hide his scent, even if he does die. So, do we follow or stay?"

     "We'll send scouts out to track him. He'll have to stop for the blizzard, and the moment it slows, he'll be ours." Pacing slowly, to keep the pain from growing unbearable, he said, "Let the pack know of the plans. Our scouts leave as soon as possible, and are to report back before the storms are on us. I can only hope they haven't strayed too far yet."