Hurt
Luz had a very strange dream when she went to sleep that night.
She was sitting underneath a tall, thin and scraggly tree, out of place in the large open field. It seemed like a forest clearing. Behind her, a long way off, was a bunch of densely packed trees were standing; while to her left was a gently slanting slope that led downhill. Everywhere else was open land. Luz could make out more trees in the distance and… was that a mountain? Just how big was this fucking place? Luz sighed.
She had no idea where… but more importantly…
She was alone.
She looked up at the sky—it was twilight and there in the sky, more pink-colored than red, was a crimson moon. Luz finally began to understand, even if it was only a piece of this huge puzzle she had found herself in.
She got to her feet and was vaguely surprised to realize that she was a human again… she stood up on her normal two legs and started walking along the winding dirt road. What she was looking for, she had no idea.
Suddenly a figure appears before her, standing on a cliff features finally became clear in the moonlight. Standing before her was a large, battle-scarred brown lupus wolf with striking brown eyes she shared.
Luz glanced at him once more, but this time she didn’t stop looking. She slowed, and Oswald did as well, until they both stopped. Suddenly, luz smiled.
Dad what’s happening? Is this a lupus dream power or something?
I’m very sorry for everything luz, me and your mother wanted to tell you sooner about your heritage.
I’m sorry too, but That’s not a excuse for keeping me in the dark! She glared.
Oswald arched an eyebrow. “That gaze of yours…”
“‘Gaze’? What about it, dad?”
“Your eyes have a fire like your mother that inspires me, to keep protecting this forest Luz .” Oswald stated, finally turning and looking away, as if embarrassed. “I find myself swept away by her eyes sometimes.”
“Dad…” Luz stared at him in astonishment, and the two lupus stood in a contemplative silence for a while.
“Be careful with your wolf pack, follow your instincts, and I’ll be back with reinforcements, luz.” Oswald said softly, feeling a warmth swelling in his chest.
Luz gave one last look at him, smiling sweetly, before she took off towards the mist.
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It’s been a week since she answered the 'call of the wild'. She had finally gotten used to the fur, the four legs, and tail… as well as now able to sleep on the cold stone with flapjack curled up with her. She had gotten accustomed to her new life of running, tracking, and hunting… which scared her more than anything else.
It was like she had become a wolf… inside and out…
She still felt terrible for the animals that they had to kill, but she quickly discovered that the usually went for the sick or old ones. They only killed to eat and live—hunters killed for sport.
Luz had accepted that, even if she didn't like it. She now had a family to help feed, and that helped to ease her conscience. Luckily for her, that amity’s prediction had been right, luz had proved to be more graceful and faster than the rest of them.
She often raced amity and hunter across the high cliffs, which she enjoyed immensely. It was great to get out of that chilly cave and run with the wind rushing pass her. The wind whipped around her, making her brown fur flap around her. She let herself enjoy the moment, feeling free with the air around her, making her weightless. She slanted her eyes in defense of her sigh, tasting the sea upon her tongue. A smile spread out about her face, making the corners of her mouth tug upwards.
It had snowed several feet of snow during the last few days… and food was getting scarcer by the day. Luz usually stayed behind with flapjack and Ava while the others would go out and try to find something edible for them. But as winter started to come in a stronger force, the game was very little. They would be lucky to come back with little rodents or birds… Ava and the pups was given most of it for she had to eat for more than just herself…
Oh, that was the best news of all… Ava was close to having her pups. Now that they were safe, she had been able to rest and focus on getting ready to become a mother.
'It shouldn't be much longer,' Emira said to luz as the two of them sat in front of the cave early one morning and watched flapjack and honey play and wrestle. This time Emira sent the other boys out to do the hunting today so that they could spend some time together. '
Amity questions. I'm guessing that she's gonna have least three pups… maybe four.'
'Great,' luz said, trying to sound happy; but inside she was worried. They already had trouble feeding everyone already. Luz only had a few mouthfuls of food since she'd been here and her belly just ached with hunger sometimes. And now they were going to have more mouths to feed… amity must've guessed what she was thinking.
'I know it's tough,' she told her as honey had flapjack pinned—the two of them laughing up a storm. 'But we're still smaller than belos’s pack. They have to kill several times a day to keep everyone fed. It's a wonder that there's anything left to eat.'
'They sound so horrid,' luz said. With every day that passed, she heard more and more about the other two wolf packs in these parts.
The real problem seemed to be belos and his wolves. So far, luz hadn't seen or heard them… however she sometimes smelt the scent of different wolves about when she and amity went off to practice—or when she raced Hunter.
Edric had told her that they usually only come out at night… but there was a good chance that they were going to confront them sooner or later.
With the hunters here… it's making things so complicated. Hunter frowns. We have no choice but to move up here during the cold to where the humans can't get us. The downside is that we have to deal with that beast belos.'
'Is he really that dangerous?' Luz asked as she panted for breath after another race. 'So far, we haven't seen anyone.
I mean, I've been catching a few whiffs of other wolves but… we haven't been having any trouble other than the lack of food.' Amity sighs.
'It's what they do,' Hunter grunted as he lowered his head to have some of the snow. With the tiny waterfalls and pools around here frozen over, eating the snow was the only way they could get water. 'They'll wait until we're not expecting it, and then they'll attack.'
Luz gulped as the three of them both headed back towards the cave. Which had become unbelievably freezing—it often dropped to below zero at night. Thankfully, she had so many furry bodies here to keep warm… 'Will they try to… ah… kill us?'
'If they can…' Hunter answered gruffly and Luz’s heart sank and stopped dead. ' belos doesn't give a damn about anyone… not even for his pack. They're all the same to him… expendable.'
When amity noticed that she wasn't moving she looked back at her. It was then she noticed that she was shivering… but not from cold. Amity’s expression softened, and she walked back to her and nuzzled her snout into her neck. 'Don't worry,' she reassured her. 'I won't let him anywhere near you.'
Luz closed her eyes and breathed in her comforting smell. 'I appreciate that… thank you, Amity.'
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*The next day*
They all woke up the unusually warm day. After everyone was up, the boys were starting to go stir crazy like they did every morning and wanted some way to get rid of some of their energy.
Edric suggested that they should go and hunt again… hopefully they would find an elk or goat again… that was all they had to go on at the moment.
Viney, Owen and Ava would stay here while they would all go to the river. After swearing that they would bring back plenty of food for them. Luz , Amity, hunter , and the rest all took off. Luz was a little worried that belos would be lurking around and watching them all, but she tried hard not to spoil the chance of food and fun for the pups. They all trotted across the snowy rocks, and through the blistering cold wind as they explored the cliffs—wondering what they could find.
So far… nothing. Aside from a few mice and birds, there wasn't anything that could even be remotely filling. But she did her best to cheer everyone up as they continued their search through caves, over boulders, and under ledges… hoping for the tiniest morsel.
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After about 3 hours later they reached a HUGE clearing, with a tiny dribbling pool on the far side and to Luz’s relief, she could see a small herd of goats drinking from there.
'Oh, thank you wolf gods!' Hunter said as he came up next to her and they all watched them from the shadows. 'A real meal! Everyone know what to do now?'
Everyone nodded as amity and the others all crouched down low. Luz copied them… knowing her part well.
Amity , Hunter , and edric crept one way and Luz took flapjack and honey —almost the opposite direction—and kept so low that she could feel her bellow along the smooth stone. They made it to one side of the goats… quietly telling the pups which way to go so that they could time this perfectly. She waited until she could see the others far side of them ready to charge… it was her call now. She nodded to them, feeling nervous. If she timed this wrong, then they were sure to go hungry tonight. She shook her head and waited another few minutes before she felt that the time was right. She and the pups were to only ambush the goats—their job was to howl and cause the herd to panic and scatter… they would leave the killing to the professionals.
'NOW!' she howls to the others and a second later all three of them charged at the herd. The poor goats never saw them coming. They howled and snarled—trying to scare them—then flapjack went right and honey went left, forming a wall. If they wanted to escape they would have to go through them…
The oldest goat went barreling right at her however, his horns pointing directly at her. If something wasn't done, then she would be run through with those things…
A few seconds later, Amity and hunter sprang out of their hiding place in the thicket and pelted forward towards the charging goat. Hunter had jumped onto it's back and was biting it all over. Edric ran out and helped him along with viney and amity ; while Luz and the pups circled it. The rest of the herd went running off—that was ok. They got what they wanted.
Every way that the poor thing would turn, it would be faced with howling jaws and claws. 'I'm sorry,' luz said quietly as Hunter and amity finally bit into its neck and brought it down, edric and viney had bitten it's legs and caused it to collapse and die. Luz sniffed the dead goat's scent and felt her stomach roar with hunger, she smiled at how well amity had taken that deer down, the other day and for she could never had done something like that.
They all sat back and let out a loud howl—letting Owen and Ava know that the hunt was successful. Amity looked at luz and said with a bloody muzzle, 'Nice. We make a good team.'
'Thanks,' luz answered as she joined the feast and felt her own muzzle become stained with blood as she had gotten used to eating like this… not that she ever enjoyed it though. But hunger always won over in the end. It tasted sweet and sour… and of course bloody but nonetheless it wasn't half bad. 'But I still don't see why you let me in charge of the attack like that.'
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'You need to get used to this, luz ,' amity told her. 'You can't sit back at the cave and wait for your parents forever. I think you still have a ways to go before you're ready to hunt like us. But you are improving quickly. When the cold is finally over and we go back to the forest, I think we can start to let you hunt deer…'
They all continued to eat until they were full and there was still plenty left for Ava and Owen. So while Luz , Amity , edric , and hunter decided to go to the tiny pool to drink; viney, Emira and the pups were in charge of taking the rest of the kill back to the cave. They were all told to take it straight back to Ava and Owen —and not to stop for anything.
'A feast like that is bound to be good for any scavengers,' Hunter told them. 'But hurry back as fast as you can.'
The pups and the other two nodded and with a great effort were able to drag the meat away from the pool and down the path that they came in a great hurry. Luz watched them go until they were out of her sighs before she joined the others. It was a little warmer today than it had been for the last two weeks so there was enough water melted for them to all drink from. Luz quickly lapped up some water then she put her whole muzzle into the pool. She kept dipping her muzzle in and out of the water until she had been able to wash off all the blood.
'What are you doing?' Hunter asked her when he looked up.
I believe she’s bathing ,hunter? Amity remarked. Ever heard of it.
'I'm washing off all the blood. When it hardens, it's hard to get off. I hate that. You guys should try it,' said luz as she looked up, her mouth dripping wet.
Emira didn't need to be told twice she loved trying new things so she stuck her whole head into water and did exactly what Luz had done. Once Emira was done she smiled, 'Oh, that feels so good! Why didn't we think of this before?' Amity happily as she shook the water out of her fur.
Everyone else repeated the process. 'Luz , you are something else! I feel great! Especially now that we had a full meal!' said edric running over to her and rubbing his snout against hers in thanks. Luz smiled when Amity smiled at her, she looked like she was about to say something—but she didn't get the chance to. Because at that moment they all heard the sounds of paws running towards them…
They all jumped and turned in the direction of the sounds; Hunter standing in front of them all, and they all started growling.
'What is it?' Luz gasped in fear as Amity stood directly in front of her.
‘It’s belos ,' said Hunter in disgust. 'No matter what, luz , stay behind us.
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Not a second later, about three wolves appeared before them; one male and two female wolves came trotting over to them. But not close enough for them to leap up and attack though. Luz stuck her head out to look at them… the smallest one kikimora was completely white with black, almost dead looking eyes that sent shivers down her spine. The second female , terra, looked much older, graceful and scruffier green fur. Like she was used to walking on plants.
The last wolf, and only male, was black, the black fur looked almost metallic—like it couldn't be real. But the scariest part were his damaged eye and his only good one eye … cold, blue eye looking at them all… as if calculating what he should do next…
'Well, well, well. If it isn't my good nephew hunter,' the male said as he lazily walked over to them, the girls right behind him. He looked over them all—his one eye lingering on hunter , Edric and amity … and then his sight landed on her. He looked surprised as his gaze found hers and Luz took a few steps backwards. He seemed to grin at her evilly… Luz felt sick as he looked at her that way.
'And what do we have here? Another female to take Lilith’s place? Now, Hunter where did you get her? Tell me, I don't think I've seen her around before but smells familiar?” Belos asked silkily as he took a few more steps towards her.
'why would I tell you anything asshole?!' Hunter spat furiously, putting himself directly in front of belos , hiding luz from his view.
Belos shook his head. 'You haven't changed at all since the last time we met. Now then, whatever happened to our agreement made by Lilith herself? The cliffs here belong to me do they not? Why are you all in my territory?'
'You know why!' Edric snapped back. 'We wouldn't be here if we didn't have any other choice. You keep to yourself, and we keep to ours. We'll leave as soon as the humans clear out.'
'You will be in my sight or where I hunt. Or I will kill each and every one of you,' belos said. 'The food here is ours. Now you do what we say… or you can hand over your pretty new friend…' luz thought that she was going to be sick as he looked at her.
'She's a strong young wolf… much like yourself, amity,' belos said as he looked to amity who seemed to be fighting the urge to attack. 'I see that you aren't willing to take up my offer?'
'What offer? It’s your fault that my parents are dead!' Amity snarled. 'To become part of your pack? I rather die than go anywhere near you!'
'Well, that was rude,' belos said as he looked back to luz. 'A simple, no would've been well.'
Luz didn't know where her anger was coming from, but she suddenly felt rage coming up from inside her. She barred her teeth and began to growl at him. 'Go away!' she barked, sounding braver than she felt. She didn't know much about this guy, but she knew that she didn't like him.
'Oh?' Belos said as he looked at her with new interest. 'A fighter with lupus blood as well? Well, I wasn't offering you to join me my dear… at least… not yet.'
'If you're going to try and take her you're going to have to get through me first,' snarled Amity , and before anyone else could do anything, she charged. Both wolves were circling each other, snapping and biting at the other. The two fought and fought, they both were bleeding all over, that was when the other that were with belos also came running forward and edric and hunter went after them. (Edric fighting the older female and hunter —the white one.)
Luz nervously leapt back, not knowing what to do as the battle took place—little did she know was that the plant crazy wolf had slipped away while hunter turned to help edric , and crept behind luz. Luz was too late when she finally realized she was in danger, she spun around only to get clawed in the side by the older female wolf.
She cried out in pain and fell to the ground, the wolf smiled and walked slowly towards her, she looked up and her with fear. Just as she lifted up her paw to finish her off… suddenly, a golden blur flew at her crying, 'No!'
Hunter had appeared; edric and amity circling luz and shielding her from the enemy. Laying on the cold ground luz heard belos , rather than saw him. 'Not bad! Not bad at all! We'll let you all live for now… but be warned, rebels. This is our territory. Soon, you will have to pay the price for coming here.'
And then they were gone.
Amity , gasping for air, raced back to Luz’s side. 'Luz ? Are you alright?'
'I… I think so,' she gasped as she looked up into her worried face. 'I'm sorry that I wasn't more help… I just.'
'Just shut up and relax. Look, we have to get you back to the cave or else you're an open target for them. Think you can walk?' Luz looked up and nodded, and then they all helped her to pushed herself up so she was standing. Hunter walked her back by walking on the one side of her body where she was injured, so she could lean on him. Amity walked on the other, telling her words of comfort and promised that they would take care of her when they got back.
When they did, the pups came running out to meet them, ready to tell them that they got the food back. At least until they saw them. All of them were injured… hunter had a bad scratch across his face, edric’s leg was bleeding as he limped, and Amity’s green fur was just matted in blood.
Luz’s side felt like it was on fire, and knew that the claws that raked her were deep. But she gritted her teeth as she allowed them all to lead them back to the safety of stone opening. When they entered, Owen and Ava both gasped and Owen went over to see what had happened. Edric quickly told them of their encounter with belos , and Owen said that he would keep watch tonight.
While they talked about what they were going to do, Amity walked her over a spot on the cave floor that was covered in dead leaves and bent down so she could lie down.
She didn't argue, she just breathed deeply and whimpered as the blood continued to soak her side. Amity sat down next to her and looked at her with sad eyes. She turned her head and tried to lick her wound but couldn't quite reach it so Amity lied down next to her and licked it for her. 'But Amity , you're injured to,' she told her worriedly.
'Nah. She said. 'I've had far worse injuries. This is nothing. It's you who's in trouble.'
She smiled at him then said, 'Thank You,' the best that she could.
'For what?' She asked between licks.
'For saving me, I could have been killed,' she answered as she rolled her eyes. Wasn't it obvious?
'But I wasn't quick enough, you were still hurt because I wasn't paying attention,' she said stopping and looking at her full in the face.
Luz looked at her for a moment rubbed her snout against her and smiled, 'I don't blame you. Thank you saving me.' After she said that she bent her head down and licked her bleeding paw and she smiled. Flapjack and honey then ran over to them to see what they could do to help her.
After she had assured them several hundred times that she would be fine, they both went to sleep. But Hunter stayed awake for a long time. He waited to see the others, aside from Owen —who would constantly stare at the entrance, as if expecting Belos to appear. He, too, looked up at the cave opening and he could see that it was snowing again. This would most likely be the last warm day for awhile and they were to expect nothing but cold from now on. Amity could feel luz shivering so she scooted closer to her so her body was right up against hers.