My eyes open to the bright and warm morning light. I feel relaxed and want to go back to sleep or at minimum stay laying in the sun, but i wont be able to. I have tracking to do this morning and i had better be up before shay gets up. I stretch out my relaxed body and roll onto all fours. The forest below the cliff our den sits on is beautiful this morning. I stand up and stretch my front paws out then my back ones. Then I look into the den, everyone else in the pack is asleep. We all havent eaten in nine days and I especially feel awful hungry as I wake up more and more. It doesnt take much to persuade me to leave without Shay, she doesnt really help me with hunting anyway. Quietly I walk down the path to the forest below the cliff and sniff the ground as I walk. There are no new scent trails nearby and hunger is going to gnaw at me until I eat the bark off a tree again. After a while of searching through the woods and on the trails there are still no new scents. The freshest scent is the scent of the bear we hunted and successfully killed nine days ago. Then I hear a small crack behind me and I quickly spin around, I barely see the teeth of my attacker before its teeth sink into my shoulder.
Shay (angrily): How dare you leave the den without me?!
Shay gives an angry shake to my shoulder and draws blood. I start whimpering and put my tail in between my legs.
Nilo: Im sorry Shay, I was hungry.
Shay gives me another hard shake and drops me.
Shay (smiling, snarling): Well, face it omega, you wont get any of the prey that I catch.
I look away from her and dont say anything.
Shay: Now, if youre done being useless lets go find me some food.
I get up and lick my wound. Then look at her.
Shay: Follow me.
Shay starts walking and I follow behind her. Shay looks at me.
Shay: You know, you should feel honored that you get the privilege to hunt with me. I mean, almost no one else gets the chance.
We both know the only reason she offers to hunt with me is to get a chance at beating me while the alpha isnt looking. I know he doesnt care eather way, but, she tries to get me alone anyway.
Shay: He-llo! Im talking to you Nilo!
I look at Shay
Shay (prideful): Arent you honored that you get to hunt with not just any wolf, but me?
I just bow my head to her.
Shay (annoyed): Speak Nilo!
Nilo (confused): I... am?
Shay (snarling): Watch it Omega.
Nilo (worried): I meant I am, very.... honored.
Shay: Good, now I command you to find us some food.
I lick my wound again and get to work. We take another complete walk around the territory and find nothing. The territory seems completely barren We then hear a howl in the distance.
Shay (annoyed): Ugh, the alphas calling.
I nod and wait for her to lead. She heads back to the den and i follow behind her. The others are sitting in a circle waiting for us. We sit down in the circle but i stay back a little bit.
Rhonin: Its about time we got together and talked about our situation.
We all watch him intently
Rhonin: Leaving the territory is out of the question, so what can we do to survive?
We all look at each other. I look down at the ground.
Nilo (quietly): Maybe we can learn to fish?
Rhonin: Hmmm
Shay snarls angrily at me and i shrink back.
Uno: Thats a great idea Nilo.
Nilo (quietly): Thanks.
Rhonin (considering): That may be a good idea.
Shay snarls louder
Nilo: Or not.
Uno: Sir, i think Nilo has a good idea, besides, we cant keep eating bark from the trees. The pack needs meat.
Shay: I think we should leave the territory. We have no food here and theres no such thing as grade A meat in a tree!
Rhonin (growling): I said that wasnt an option Shay.
Shay (Growling): Im done eating bark because of youre sick attachment to this place! I say we leave!
Rhonin stands up and so does Shay. I back up.
Rhonin (growling): Back off Shay.
Shay (angrily): We are going to leave if we want to survive!
Rhonin: IS THAT A CHALLENGE SHAY?!
Shay (snarling): Damn right.
Shay and Rhonin snarl angrily and cirlce each other. Uno walks over to me and sits by me as they stick their tails straight up. Rhonin takes the first jump and Shay dodges it easily, then she aims for the back of his neck and nails him there. She bites down hard and he yelps. Then he bites her leg and she lets him go yelping. He knocks Shay dpwn to the ground and snarls angrily. He bites her body in many different places and shakes her hard. After a few moments she is given an opportunity and takes it. She bites down on the side of his head and the end of her snout is on his muzzle. She draws blood snarling and after a few minutes he stops struggling.
Shay (snarling): We are moving whether you like it or not. Im starving, so therefore, we are leaving.
Shay bites down a little harder and causes Rhonin to whimper.
Shay (Snarling): Got it?
Rhonin (hate filled voice): Fine.
Shay (Snarling): We leave now.
Rhonin (Defeated): Fine.
Shay throws him down onto the ground and he shakes his head. I observe both of their wounds. The one on Rhonins head will scar up but other then that he seems fine. Shays wont scar at all. She sticks her tail straight up.
Shay: Lets go.
Rhonin gets to his feet
Rhonin: Very well, follow me.
Nilo: Hold on a moment.
Everyone looks at Nilo.
Nilo: We should make sure that passage is safe right now.
Rhonin (Angrily): THEN GET YOURE ASS MOVING!!!
I bolt ahead quickly. I know how mean the alpha can get when hes pissed. In all honesty i am not worried about how safe the trek is. Im worried about Dane not knowing where we went. I run as fast as i can and sniff the ground as i go looking for his scent. When i find it i follow it. His scent leads me to a small valley. I look up and scan my surroundings and i find him laying down watching me. He sits up and watches me as i approach. I run up to him.
Dane (Worriedly): Slow down Nilo youre going to give yourself a heart attack!
Nilo (panting): I came.... to tell you.... that... were moving..... territory.
Dane (suprised): Oh? He finally decided to move?
Nilo (panting): Yeah... after he got... beat by Shay.
Dane: Oh, i see. Where are you guys headed?
Nilo: Im not sure.
Dane: Oh well, ill follow youre scents and catch up with you. Oh. By the way.
Dane grabs the leg of an elk and puts it in front of me.
Dane: I know youte starving, so eat
Im drooling.
Nilo: Are you sure Dane?
Dane nods and thats all it takes for me to begin eating it. I eat all i can from the leg.
Nilo: Thankyou very much Dane. It tasted great.
Dane: Youre welcome.
Nilo: Dane, can you come with us? Are you ready to introduce yourself to the pack?
Dane; No, not yet. But ill follow youre scent.
Nilo: Thanks again Fane but i have to go now. I dont want my alpha to find out about you.
Dane bows his head.
Dane: Alright. See you later.
Nilo: Bye Dane.
Dane: Bye
I turn around and leave quickly. I meet the others on the path i took to meet up with Dane.
Nilo: No, its not safe this way, I saw a hunters coat hanging on a tree.
Rhonin: Scout another path.
I bow my head and walk in the opposite direction of Danes territory. The rest of the pack follows me and after a while we decide to take a break. We all sit down in a circle exausted. Shay starts growling angrily.
Shay (snarling): How long does it take to find an unoccupied territory?!
Rhonin: That could take days fool, did you honestly think finding a new territory would be easy?!
Shay: Maybe because a damn omega was allowed to lead the pack!
I shrink back a little
Rhonin: That may be the case Shay, (baring his teeth) But i suggest you shut youre mouth before it gets you into trouble.
Shay (snarling): Puh lease, I beat you once and i can do it again!
Rhonin starts snarling
Nilo: Um, why doesnt Shay lead the pack to the new territory?
Rhonin and Shay both look at me
Shay: Its about time you let me lead, damn omega.
Rhonin walks away from Shay and Lays down. I walk ober to Rhonin and sit down.
Rhonin (baring his teeth): What do you want omega?
Nilo: I wanted to come over and apologize.
Rhonin (suprised): Why?
Nilo: For youre wounds, and because i couldnt find a very good territory.
Rhonin: Its fine.
Nilo: ... and im also sorry about my sisters actions.
Rhonin: Its not youre fault Nilo. (Baring his teeth) Now leave, if you couldnt already tell im tryong to get some sleep. We start out again at first light tomorrow.
I bow my head and leave quietly feeling Rhonins gaze on me. I then go over and sit by Uno. He seems deep in thought.
Nilo: Hey Uno, the alpha says we leave at first light tomorrow.
Uno: Alright. Are you feeling ok Nilo?
Nilo: Yeah, but i am hungry.
Uno: Yeah, so am i.
Nilo: Can you go another day without food?
Uno (sleepily): I dont know. But, id advise you to get some rest. Everyone else but you is asleep.
I nod and walk away from him and he shuts his eyes. I lay down and watch the stars above us.
Nilo: Aniu save us...
I fall asleep soon after.