Two Wolf Pack

The First Grave

For about three sunrises, all we did was eat, sleep and walk. Nowhere seemed like a good place to stay.

And as we were up wind, I could still smell our old pack. Hopefully an old sent. But we could only hope that they aren't following us.

"Emerald," my sister whispered, "look.''

Jasmine points to my left slightly, to see something small shuffling through the taller grass in the field. Maybe a rabbit for lunch.

"I'll check it out," I stated.

I crouched beneath the grass and slowly made my way to the small object. Then I caught a whiff of what it was.

Slowly I stood up, and right in front of me was a small pup. A sandy colored, green eyed pup.

He looked up at me, and whimpered as he scooted back, tale beneath his legs.

"I'm not going to hurt you," I say.

He was still cowering backwards.

"Where is your mother?'

The pup closed his eyes tightly, and whimpered, "Sh... she.."

"Come on, where is your mother?" I say a little more sympathetically.

"On the top of the hill, by the dogwood tree! Please don't eat me!" He cried out.

"I'm not going to eat you. Will you show me your mother?" I almost laugh. He thought I would stoop down as to eating my own kind!

I look back to my sister and signaled her to follow. She caught up, and came along to follow the pup to the top of the hill, where a lone tree stood.

At the bottom of the trunk, was a female wolf. Dead, and by the looks, she collapsed from hunger.

"Poor pup..." I heard my sister whisper.

I kneel down, and soothingly talk to the pup, "I'm sorry, would you like us to burry her?"

Teary eyed, the pup slowly nodded.

So Jasmine and I dug a deep hole, and buried the female wolf. Even though she was a rouge, she deserved a good farewell to the stars.

All of us placed our paws on the grave, and I spoke, "May this wolf be granted a good life over the stars, her son wishes to say about.."

I pause, I am supposed to say her name but I didn't know it.

"Willow...." the pup says, tears falling on the grave.

"Willow," I repeat.

The pup breaks in and calls out, "Please know that I will always love you, even in the stars. I will remember everything you ever showed me, and all the things you taught me. All the time we spent together......"
The pup broke out into a burst of tears and leaned in my leg and cried.

I was shocked, and didn't move. What was I supposed to do? Shoo him off?

As he cried, a gentle breeze lifted upward, sky bound. As if saying, "Thank you."

We leave the grave and Jasmine asked the pup for his name.

"Erin," he sniffles.

I look off and sigh. "Would you like to be part of our pack?"

I could feel his eyes burning my fur as I said that. "Ya!" He states excitedly, "Where is everyone else?"

His tail was wagging really fast, until I looked back and said, "This is everyone."

"Oh. I guess you have to start somewhere.."