Hunted

Kahuna's Pack

Dakota led Night as they did their usual trail for patrol. The pack was much quieter. On the good side, the pack was plumper too. Dakota stopped and looked outside the territory on the second hill of the trail. Night sat next to him and did the same. They looked down the river.

"It's been a week now, right?" Dakota asked Night.

She nodded, "They should have a territory by now."

Why was Dakota looking for them? There wasn't anyone there he cared about, was there? Unless, he still has something for Diamond. "Would you care if I asked why you like Diamond?" Night shyly questioned him.

Dakota sighed, "When I grew up, I challenged Ari for his spot. Patrol wolf six. I guess trying to prove to myself I am more than some orphan. He had already had that scar, but I made it worse. I won, but when he got Patrol wolf one, he made sure to display his dominance. Diamond, unranked at the time, was the one to help me. When she became Patrol wolf five, we became really great friends. I see something in her more than a complaining, white wolf."

Night nodded. Well, that explains some things. Fox's words repeated in Night's head: "Dakota has a bad past with that wolf."

Night then added to the reasons to worry for the others, "Nadia and my pups are with them. I am sure they can fend for themselves, but I lost a mate. I've been paranoid since."

"When we have night patrol, I'll let you follow the river and find them, but once and once only." Dakota gave her a stern look.

Night nodded and tried to stop her wagging tail. 

                                                     ***

The hunters came back with three hares and a couple smaller rodents. Night looked among the wolves gathered. Sure, there wasn't as huge of a pack, but there was still at least 20 of them, what the hunters got wouldn't do. Night looked at the only other mother in the pack. Misty had become very attached to Flash since the seperation. She seemed much more worried than Night. Is it not like a mother to be feeling the way I am? By the time it was Night's turn to eat, there was a hare left. Night looked at the others who ate after her: Granite, Rose, and Claw. She sighed and at one bite, hoping the others would share fairly and remember Claw.

Night walked away, not wanting to see the results. She was approached by Beta Aspen.

He had his usual casual posture, but he looked around cautiously before he spoke quietly to her, "I'm coming to you for advise, Alpha Hawk hardly shares his."

Is he coming to me for leadership advise? Night slowly nodded, still thinking through the possibilities.

"The pack is still to large. We don't need eight patrol wolves, but there is no way they'll just leave, nor will Alpha Hawk let them do that." Beta Aspen sat in front of her with hopeful puppy-like eyes.

"Do the hunters need to hunt in two's? I had five  hunters in my pack. We could remove a hunter and two patrol." Night replied in the same quiet tone.

"I'll have to ask Flash, but like I said we can't just dismiss them. Alpha Hawk likes to see bright red on the green grass." Beta Aspen sniffed the air.

Why doesn't he see his own, I can help him with that. "I guess have wolves volunteer first, and then lowest rank fights someone to stay."

"Thank you." Beta Aspen nodded and left.

Just like that, he came and left. Beta Aspen seems to have more of a grip on things. Then Night realized why he helped Claw and Night. Why he gave advice to the unranked wolves. Why he askes for information. He wants to win the popularity game. Aspen is a cunning wolf indeed.