章 15: Chapter 15
Eight weeks pass, and the pups are old enough to be out of the den. Storm had one light-blue eye, and one golden eye. Shasta had dark blue eyes, Koda had green eyes. Winter had light-blue eyes like her mother. The pups loved to explore, which would usually get themselves into trouble.
Winter like the outdoors, and she loved hanging out with her uncle Kiba. When the boys were out and she didn't want to go, Kiba taught her some of his hunting tricks. She loved her family, and of course she would venture out on her own. And one day…"I'm gonna get ya sis!"
Koda growled playfully as he chased her. Winter giggled. "You can try! But you're too slow!!!" They chased each other and laughed, Koda pounced on her and pinned her. "Ha! Pinned ya! Now you owe me an apology." Winter growled and pushed him off. "Fine...I'm sorry." she says sarcastically.
Koda laughed. "Don't worry about it Winter, you'll get me one of these days." Winter giggled. "I'm sure I will." She looked out across their territory. "Hey Koda...you think that there are other packs out there?
Well besides the south tundra pack?" Koda shrugged. "I'm pretty sure there is...it's not like that pack is the only one around." Winter looked at him. "Well...what about us?" Koda sighed. "We're not big enough to be considered a pack yet. Honestly, I'm surprised that Mom, Dad and Uncle Kiba have kept this land for so long. Since there's only seven of us, we're not big enough."
There was a familiar howl that cut their conversation. Koda turned his ears to the sound. "That's Mom. She's calling us back. Come on sis! I'll race ya!" He nudged her playfully and ran away laughing. "Hey!" Winter called as she sped after him. But something made her stop. She paused and sniffed the air.
Was that...blood? She followed her nose to a crevice in the ground about a few feet from her pack's territory boundary. She looked down and saw an injured pup. He was black and had a bite mark on his shoulder. "Hello?" she called down. To her surprise, the pup opened his eyes immediately and looked up at her. His eyes made her jump and she took a step back. He had dark, blood red eyes. She had never seen a wolf with that color eyes before. Let alone a pup. "Wait! Don't be afraid!" He called.
Winter slowly walked back to the edge and peered down at him. He tried to sit up, but his wound got the better of him. He looked up at her. "Can you help me? Please?" Winter looked over her shoulder. She couldn't leave him alone. He'd die without her help.
Slowly and carefully, she slid down until she was inches away from the stranger. "I know you're scared...but I won't hurt you. I promise." Winter had her tail between her legs. Her ears were pressed back at the sight of his eyes. It's like he could read her mind, because he said. "It's my eyes isn't it? Well...I don't blame you. They scare everyone I run into." Winter settled a little bit. "How long have you been down here? And how did you get hurt?" she asks.
The black pup sighed, and said. "From my brother. I don't know how long I've been down here, but I gave up in trying to get out." he looked up and saw that the sun was almost setting. "You think you could help me out?" He looked at her with a soft expression. "I don't know how I would." she says a bit sadly. He smiled. "It shouldn't be hard. You could carry me. I'm not as heavy as I look. Come on. Give it a try." He lifted his head so that Winter could pick him up.
She hesitated for a minute, yet she couldn't bring herself to run. She slowly stepped forward and pushed him up onto her back. He was surprisingly light. She took a deep breath and began climbing up the slope. Using her claws, he climbed and climbed. When her paws touched the surface, she heaved up and got herself over. Breathing heavily, she set him down and sat on her haunches. He smiled. "See I told you! It wasn't that hard. Oh, I'm Dagger by the way. And you are?"
Winter looked at him. "I'm Winter." She looked at him. He looked odd for a wolf. His fur was thick and long. He had a long snout, long pointed ears and his tail was fluffier than his body. Even at dusk he looked like a shadow because of his black fur. "What kind of wolf are you? If you don't mind me asking you." He tilted his head at her. "You're very curious. Well, I'm a dire wolf. You know what that is right?" Winter shuddered. "I know about them all too well…" Dagger could smell fear from her. "Why's that?"
Winter sighed. "My mother's half dire. She told me that their most aggressive wolf species out here. They are strong and powerful. Kill for the sake of killing." "Oh…" Dagger looked at her closely. "I know that too, but just so you know I'm not like the others. I'm more gentle and kind than most. My pack hates me because of it." Winter tilted her head. "Really? Huh...well, maybe that's why your brother hurt you." Dagger shrugged. "You could say that…" They looked at each other in a moment of silence.
Dagger gave her a smile. "I have to get going, maybe...maybe we can hang out some more? I'd love to know you more. It'd be nice to have a friend…" Winter thought about it. Sure, he was a dire wolf, but he was being friendly and so kind to her. She smiled back at him. "I'd like that. Meet here tomorrow?" Dagger wagged his tail. "Done. Bye Winter." He turned and ran off. To her surprise, he was running like that bite didn't bother him.
But he was dire, and they were supposed to be tough. She turned and ran home. Her family would be worried, she knew that. But She at ;east had someone to talk to other than her brothers. As she ran home, she thought about how her family would react to her speaking to him. She'd find out sooner than later….
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