Chương 2: Chapter 2
The next morning, as the sun was starting to peak over the horizon, Nightlight awoke to the sound of a long deep howl. He knew that howl all to well; and so he stretched, yawned and made his way to Bandit and Ava's sleeping place. When he got there, the whole pack was there with all of their eyes focused on their leaders. The hunters, including his brothers, were sitting in their place at the end of the other groups.
The omegas were in their group on the other side of the hunters. The patrols, including Pandora and Hope were in the middle of the group. The other betas were beside Bandit and Ava on their rock that overlooked the pack.
Nightlight didn't hesitate but made his way up the rock to join Cinder, Dangerous and the alphas. "Thank you all for coming. I know this is early for you all, but we have a major problem with the neighboring packs." Bandit began. Nightlight looked at Pandora from above. She looked worried but stern among the others.
Bandit continued, "Apparently, The Haven Field Pack has made an alliance with the Death Keep Pack. Both packs have agreed to make an alliance so powerful to overthrow us and our land. However, they still need the other two pack's to come to an agreement. If we're going to stop this war, we must put a stop to it. Nightlight?"
Startled, Nightlight looked to his leader. "Yes Alpha?" "I need you to take most of our pack to the hidden forest to claim the collar." Nightlight looked stunned. "Why?" Bandit growled. "The collar you're going to get is the lost collar of Zeus. Our legend says the collar gave Zeus the power to control all of the Yellowstone animals. I need that collar, and you are going to go retrieve it."
Nightlight looked stunned, but he had to accept. "As you wish Alpha. Who should I take to help me with the journey?" Bandit looked at the pack. "I want Pandora, Hope, Crow, Ashton, Mulch, Sunny, Jasmine and Dagger from the patrol group to go with Nightlight. And from the hunters I want Atlas, Solar, Lucky, Vince, Moon, Spring, Violet and Sky. You will all treat him with the respect you treat me and the other betas. Any questions?" Nightlight tensed. Bandit was making Solar go even though he was sick. You shouldn't make him go...he's very ill. He thought. Nightlight looked at Atlas from the rock, and it looked like he was thinking the exact same thing.
Bandit wasn't expecting any questions, and none came. "Good, you will go now while you still have the chance. You will follow the path outside our territory boundary and follow the stars that form a wolf head at night to the place you need to go. You will find land markers to help lead you. Now go!" Nightlight howled, and the others that were going with him joined in. He jumped off the rock and began to run in the direction of the forest.
He could hear the footsteps of the sixteen pack-mates behind him. His main concern was that Pandora and Hope were going with him, and he knew something would happen on the trip; he could feel it. They got to the boundary, Nightlight stopped and looked at the long path that led into the mountains.
"That's where we have to go, this is going to be a tough journey; but we can do this," He turned to his pack-mates. "Are you guys up for it?" They all howled in response. He nodded, and they all started the long journey ahead of them. The scents of different animals filled Nightlight's nose, and gave him a feeling that he didn't have in a long time. He felt like a pup again, getting to know the new scents in his nose, his mother and litter-mates by his side.
The thought of his mother brought him comfort, but he knew that he wouldn't see her again. He couldn't think of her for too long, he had Pandora to protect, along with his brothers. They were the closest to him, and he couldn't let them down. If something wants to hurt my brothers and mate, they'll have to go through me first.
The pack stopped running and were now walking; they needed to save their energy incase they needed to do hunts or protect each other. Nightlight was in front; after all the beta was second in command of a pack, so the wolves had to treat him like an alpha. "So...Nightlight, I know that this journey will be painstaking, but how will we know if the collar is even real like Bandit says?" Atlas calls. Nightlight looked over his shoulder. You wouldn't call me Nightlight if Bandit was around. He thought.
"I don't know Atlas, but I trust Bandit...and you all should too; after all, he is your alpha. Make sure you don't forget that." "That's true, but to be honest I'd rather have you as my leader than Bandit. Nightlight, you're not as harsh as he is, and he doesn't talk to us like he does Ava. All he has in his voice is rudeness and a boring tone. Not only that, he's making Solar come with us." Atlas says.
Nightlight turned his head back around to look at the landscape. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His brother would rather have him as his leader than Bandit? If only Bandit had heard that come from his mouth. The pack all gazed at Solar, who was traveling in the back. "Wait...so Bandit is making Solar come with us? Didn't he know that you were sick?" Sunny asks. Solar just nodded.
"Honestly, I agree with your brother Nightlight. Bandit is harsh and sometimes downright cruel." Mulch says. "And he makes sure we hardly leave any food for the omegas of our pack. We all know that." Ashton says. "I think we all agree with Atlas, Nightlight. Bandit doesn't care about anyone...but Ava. In fact, if it wasn't for Ava, Bandit would be treating us all like dirt. Including you." Moon says. Everyone around him was murmuring agreements, it was like Nightlight was dreaming.
"What I don't understand is that he made Solar come with us...and we all know that he's very very ill." Vince says. "I'll be fine you guys...you don't have to worry about me." Solar called in a raspy voice. Nightlight tensed with anger and sadness. How could Bandit make him come? He shouldn't have to. But he couldn't turn back now, or else it would make Bandit mad.
"Well, I don't know what to say to you guys, all I know is that I try to be the best at being beta; I didn't think I could've lasted this long, but I have. Anyway, let's not focus on that, we need to get to that hidden forest, and retrieve that collar." Nightlight says.
The pack exchanged glances, but kept silent. As the sun reached the middle of the sky, they reached the mountains. Nightlight found a cave in one of the mountain sides; it smelled like nothing had claimed it. "We can use this as a base for now, and continue our journey later. I need a few of the patrols to go scout out some food and water for us. Anyone up to the task?" Crow stepped forward. "I will go."
Ashton and Mulch stepped forward. "We'll also go with him, that way he's not alone; and we can protect each other." Mulch says. Nightlight nodded and they left. A few days had passed, Nightlight and the pack, were lying down and resting while Ashton, Mulch and Crow were out patrolling; Hope got up from the patrols and padded up to Nightlight.
"Hey Nightlight? Can you and I talk alone? I need to talk to you." Nightlight looked confused. "Uh...sure Hope. We can talk in the cave." Hope smiled and walked past him. Pandora looked sad and concerned as he walked inside with her. They sat down together, and Hope began to speak, "Nightlight, you're a great wolf with an even greater heart. I have never met anyone like you before. I...I...uh, care about you alot, Nightlight.
Nightlight just smiled at her. " I care about you too, Hope. You're a good friend." he says. Hope smiled more. "No, I mean...more than just a friend." Nightlight's smile faltered. "...Oh…" Hope looked at him with soft eyes now. "I don't think I've cared more about anyone as much as I do for you." Nightlight just sat there, lost for words. "Hope, I don't know what to say..." he says. Hope started nuzzling his chest. "Say you feel the same and I'll be happy."
Nightlight backed away and came to his senses. "Hope, I do care about you. But...not like that." Hope looked sad. "What?" " You've always been a wonderful pack-mate to me and everyone else, and I love you for that, but Pandora is my mate now.... I'm sorry but I don't love you." Nightlight looked at her with a sad expression. Hope looked hurt. Then her face turned into an enraged snarl.
"I see…" she growls. Nightlight looked at her startled, but before he could say anything Hope ran out of the cave and pounced head on with Pandora. Nightlight was shocked at what he just witnessed but anger flooded over him as he charged out of the cave. Pandora was on her back, trying to defend herself. Sunny and Dagger managed to pull Hope off of Pandora, and were struggling to pin her down. "How could you?! You stole him from me you arrogant mutt!!" Hope howled.
Nightlight rushed to Pandora's side. He licked her cheek to comfort her. "Are you okay Pandora?" She nodded and stood up. Nightlight turned to Hope, "What is wrong with you Hope?! That wasn't necessary!!" He snarled. Hope managed to break free from under Sunny and Dagger. "I did it because she doesn't deserve anyone! Not even you. I'm better than her, and you know that as well as I do.
Besides, I know you're lying to me. You don't love her! She is useless, and doesn't do anything right. She's pathetic!" she snarled. Nightlight couldn't control himself. With an enraged snarl, and drool spilling from his open jaws, he pounced on Hope and began biting and scratching at her ears and face. Hope howled in pain and shock as she tried and struggled to get out from under him. Everyone watched with their tails tightly tucked between their legs.
Hopes howl's began to be a series of agonizing yelps. Pandora wanted to cover her ears. Stop, she wanted to say. It wasn't that big of a deal love. Nightlight grabbed Hope's left ear in his teeth and ripped it clean from her head. Blood came pouring from her wound. Pandora couldn't believe what she was watching. She never saw Nightlight this furious, and seeing him this enraged was scary.
Nightlight grabbed Hope's right front paw and twisted it in his jaws until a loud snap! Came from his mouth. Hope continued to howl in pain as she tried and failed to defend herself. Nightlight then grabbed Hope's throat in his jaws, got a good grip and began shaking her back and forth like a rat. Blood flew everywhere from Hope's body as the pack all watched this, making no movement to stop him.
Pandora however, couldn't stand seeing Hope struggle anymore. Afraid that Nightlight was going to kill her, she bounded toward her struggling packmate, but when Atlas from the other side barked at her and gave her a warning glare, she came to a shocking halt. She was sure she didn't imagine the softness in his eyes. He doesn't want me to get hurt. He's protecting me! Trembling, Pandora stepped back and watched. It felt like a full turn of the moon when Nightlight finally clouded Hope on the head and backed away snarling softly. He had blood dripping from his muzzle and his teeth were bloodstained.
Hope rolled onto her belly, and tried to crawl away but she could only flopp as a high pitched whimper came from her mouth, and with a broken paw, it didn't make it any easier. Everyone watched Hope struggle, but none of them moved to help her. Her fur was cut and torn with multiple wounds, and the smell of blood mixed with her usual sweet flowery scent.
"You…" growled Nightlight at the cringing wounded wolf. "Are lucky I didn't do anything more than that. You are also not allowed to talk or come near Pandora or me." "But Nightlight…" Hope's whisper was barely audible. "And sense you feel inclined to argue with me, you are not allowed to come on the trip with us anymore. You can stay here at this cave until you heal, and then make your way back to our pack's territory. And don't even think about following us either Hope."
Hope struggled to lift her haunches, visibly submissive with her only good paw. Nightlight turned to the pack, licking his muzzle that was stained and dripping from Hope's blood. "Let's go." he walked past Hope and the other's followed. Dagger stopped and turned to Hope. "You did this to yourself. You shouldn't have talked back like that or attacked Pandora. We'll be better off without you." he snarled quietly and continued to join the others.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực