"We made it…" Winter was standing a few feet away from Phantom. He was breathing heavily from lack of air but he growled sternly. "No...I made it." Winter took a step back from his tone. "Oh.. yes, you made it. Thank you...by the way, for saving my life…" He bared his teeth. "Just shut up and go already, that direction is your land. It's almost morning now, The nocturnal predators won't be around here till night ...." He paused and looked at her shoulder. "Wait a sec…."
Phantom sniffed around, and disappeared into the tall grass. Winter cocked her head. "Um...what are you doing?" "What does it look like? I'm keeping you alive." Phantom came out from tall grass with his mouth full of small plants. He dropped them in front of Winter, and he whipped his tongue with his paw, cleaning off the bitter aftertaste. Winter looked at it. "What am I supposed to do with these?"
Phantom looked at her, dumbstruck. "You've never seen one before? That's pathetic...it's herbs, a really good one. It'll help reduce the pain and provide the infection. Just eat it." Winter sniffed them, and touched them with her nose. She sighed. "Okay, I trust you. If you wanted to kill me you would've done it already…" She chewed it up, her face twisted because of it's bitter taste. She swallowed it down. "Ugh...that thing tastes disgusting. But it does start to feel better, you know so many things."
Phantom was looking far away. Staring his eyes to the direction where his pack was located. His eyes were cold and full of hate, but Winter didn't notice it at first. "Your father will blame us for the things we have done." Winter studied his face closer. "What do you mean?" Phantom's face turned to anger. He didn't hide it anymore. "Really? Oh for god sake. I know who you are. You're Winter, granddaughter of Nightlight!"
Winter peeled back her lips. "How do you know my grandfather?" Phantom looked at her. His eyes are cold and hard. "My pack took over his lands. He begged us not to kill him, his mate or any of his pack-mates. He told us his son, your father had left. My pack had a spy watch you guys for quite some time. Your grandfather's pack has many more young wolves than the adults. The young ones are your age. My pack has treated them as slaves. As long as they all "behave" we don't lay a paw on them."
Winter's fur puffed up. She snarled low and long. "Why haven't you let them go?" Phantom wasn't even intimidated. "They're too weak to rebel. They do their bidding's. As long as they do their jobs, they won't be killed…" Winter wanted to rip his throat out right there. Her grandfather was alive?
With these wolves? She had to get them back. Phantom stalked close to her. "Let me tell you this...you tell your father that we have his old pack, and we'll kill them all. You have my word on that. You're even lucky I didn't kill you...but I'm trusting you not to say anything. Now get out of here…"
Winter growled. "Can I know the name of my hero at least?" Phantom snarled. "It's Phantom...now get out of my sight…." Winter bolted off, Phantom watched her leave with his cold red eyes. You better not say anything to your precious pack Winter. Or I swear you'll never see the light of dawn. None of you will….
Winter limped slowly home, her injury still hurt despite the herbs, and running didn't make it easier. Her thoughts were focused on Phantom. "If he thinks I'm keeping something like that a secret, he's an idiot. I have to tell my family. Especially Daddy...and Uncle Kiba." Her paws were raw and cracked, she had been walking for a long time, and she couldn't smell her family's scent yet.
The sun was rising over the mountains, and the birds started chirping their morning songs. She sighed and laid down to rest. She licked her paws, and her shoulder. Out here, in unfamiliar land, she was vulnerable to any predators. She wished her brothers we're here to help her, or at least someone who could.
She had to think of something...to speed up this process. She thought hard, and long. "Well I'm a wolf, and like all wolves, we communicate through howling. I might as well give it a try…" She sat up, through her head back and let out a long mournful howl. She stopped and listened. The birds went quiet almost instantly. Another howl broke out, with a message in it. Who am I speaking to? The voice was familiar....it was Dagger! She howled a reply. Dagger! It's me...Winter. I need your help, please.
Of course...what do you need? I'm always here you know that.
I'm injured and can't get home. I need some help getting there. My family's probably worried sick right now.
Well how long have you been gone?
Three days…
Well then I guess so. Where are you? I'll come to you…
I'm in the forest right now...in a clearing with trees circling.
Got it...I'm on my way.
Thank you Dagger…
Of course…
Winter sat down and waited. She continued to lick her wounds, to stop them from getting infected. After about an hour, a low bark made her look up. Dagger was there, and had a smile on his face. She limped up to him and licked his face. He looked at her. "What the hell happened?"
Winter sighed. "A wolf named Phantom attacked me." Dagger growled. "You said Phantom? I know him all too well…" Winter studied his face. He had a mix of emotions: Anger, pain and something else she couldn't place. Dagger went on: "His pack destroyed our lands...but we're bigger in numbers. They may be like us, but they're always scared of us. We have reasons. His species is worse than dires, but they're always scared of us."
Winter whined, her ears pressed against her skull. Dagger instantly relaxed his face. "Don't worry Winter, I would never hurt you...I won't let anyone else hurt you either. I should've been there, to protect you...I…."
Winter nuzzled him. "It's alright Dagger...Can you help me home?" Dagger leaned next to her. "Of course. Which way?" She smelled the air. She couldn't smell anything, but then a small breeze blew by her nose, and she caught a familiar scent. Koda was nearby! He must be hunting. "One of my brothers is west, follow his scent. Dagger sniffed the air. "Got it. Come on."
They walked silently along, Dagger stopped briefly to make sure they were going the right way. Koda was close now, his scent was getting stronger. Dagger stopped. "Is that him?" he whispered down to Winter. She looked ahead. A wolf was eating a mule deer, minding his own business. "Koda?" She called.
The wolf spun around immediately, and his eyes sparked with happiness. "Winter!!" He bounded up to his litter-sister, but stopped when he got closer to Dagger. "Why is he here?" He looked at her, and peeled back his lips. "Did he do this to you?"
Winter whined in shock. "No! He helped me Koda. Listen, where is everyone? Are they okay?" Koda scratched his stomach. "We've all been worried sick about you. Mom had her pups. Six of them, three boys and three girls. Dad had us hunt more frequently. I went on some patrols to see if I could find you, but I never could." He nuzzled her between her ears. "I've missed you sis, I never stopped thinking about you." He looked at Dagger. "What brings you here dire wolf?"
Dagger stepped forward. "My name is Dagger. You're sister and I met when we were pups. I'm not like my kind, and I love your sister." he lowered his head respectfully. "I will do anything to keep her safe. Her family included." Koda studied him. "Well… I'll see what Father has to say about you. Come on."
Dagger helped Winter back to her family. When they got to the den, her family was sitting around a carcass, but her mother wasn't in sight. She must be nursing. "Daddy?" They all looked up, and Akela rushed up to her. Ignoring Dagger, he nuzzled her and licked her face. "Winter...you're okay. I thought you were dead...or hurt. I couldn't lose you." He sniffed her wounds. He looked at Dagger, who was standing a few steps away. Akela peeled back his lips. "You did this...didn't you?" Dagger lowered his head submissively. "N-no sir, it wasn't me. I was helping her home."
Akela continued to snarl. Despite Dagger being twice his size, Akela puffed up his fur. "How do I know that? I can smell your stink all over her." Winter limped up to her father. "Dad wait! It wasn't him. Please hear me out." Akela looked at her, then back to Dagger. "Dad listen to me. A wolf named Phantom did this to me. He has Grandpa and his pack." Akela spun around and looked at her. "What?"
He looked surprised. Winter looked into her dad's eyes. "It's true...he said they've been treating them like slaves. There's a few younger wolves in his pack too, my age. One of Phantom's pack-mates has been spying on us. But Dad, they're alive! We have to get them back."
Akela shook his head. "How? They won't just hand them over. We have to think of something." "I think I can help." Dagger called. He slowly walked over to Akela and his daughter. "Phantoms pack is scared of mine. They may be worse than my kind, but they know better than to fight us. If I make my pack understand, they can help get your family back." Dagger lowered himself on his front paws, visibly submissive. "I would like you to have your pack back sir. No one deserves to lose their whole pack."
Akela studied him for a long, cool moment. He looked at his family, then back to Dagger. "Very well. I will trust you for now, and if you break that trust, you'll have to answer to me, killing you. Understood?" Dagger replied by rolling over on his back, showing his stomach. Akela put his paw on his stomach.
Akela turned to his daughter. "You've missed seeing your new siblings. The boys are Night, August and Cobra. Your sisters are Dawn, Daisy and Rose." Winter wagged her tail. "It's nice having more sisters. I always wanted to have younger siblings." She winced at her injury, it started to sting. Akela sniffed it. "You need to rest, and keep that clean. Tomorrow, I'll have Dagger go talk to his pack."
Winter licked his muzzle and limped away. When she was out of earshot, Akela turned to Dagger. "You listen to me carefully...if you ever hurt my daughter, I will personally tear your body open after I rip out your eyes. Do you understand?"
Dagger nodded. "You have my word...Alpha." Alpha. Akela shuddered at the word. He turned and walked into the den. Dagger got up, shook himself, and walked over to wear Winter was laying down. He laid down beside her, and licked her shoulder gently.
Winter sighed. "You really don't have to do that you know." Dagger chuckled. "I kinda do, it's my job to protect you. Winter...if I ever lost you, I'd never forgive myself." He paused and nuzzled her face. "I love you." She licked his neck. "I love you too." She buried her face into his chest, his heart beat against her ears. Soon she was in a rhythm of deep sleep. Shasta, Storm and Koda came up to them.
Dagger looked up at them. "What is it boys?" Shasta cleared his throat. "We're making sure you don't harm our sister. If you ever lay a claw or tooth on her, you'll have to answer us." Storm growled an agreement while Koda stayed quiet.
Dagger lowered his ears. "You guys really think I'd harm your sister?" Storm growled. "Just because you're saying you won't...doesn't mean that you ever will. You are a dire wolf, and our family hates them." Koda lowered his head. "You guys have to remember that just because he's a dire wolf, doesn't mean he acts like one. I mean...look at sis."
Winter's ear flicked, but she continued to sleep. "We all know that she would never fall in love with a bad wolf, dire or not. So just...give him a chance." Shasta looked at him, dumbfounded. "Are you nuts? How can we ever trust his kind? They're bad wolves." Dagger cleared his throat. "You guys have never met the phantom pack yet then…" The boys looked at him. "What do you mean?" Storm asked.
Dagger sighed. "The wolf who attacked your sister is part of that pack. They're way worse than dires. They are aggressive twenty-four seven, kill for sport if they're not hungry, and they're greedy. They're always taking more land from different packs everyday. The only reason why they haven't taken over mine is because we're bigger than them. They're only a bit bigger than you guys, but my pack is vicious to threats, especially them…"
He growled in his throat. "I'm going to talk to my pack tomorrow, and see if they can help. I won't risk taking one of you along, so I'll go alone. It'll be safer that way." He looked at the boys. "You three need to stay here and protect your pack, in case something goes wrong." Shasta scoffed and walked away. Storm flicked his ear and turned away to join his brother. Only Koda stayed put.
"It seems I'm the only one who's at ease with you huh?" Dagger chuckled. "Yeah...I guess so." Koda smiled. "I trust you, even if my brothers or father does not. Honestly I'm closer to Winter than the other two. They only care about each other. So if you need me...I'm around." Dagger smiled back. "Thank you Koda." Koda dipped his head in acknowledgment, before turning and walking to his sleeping place. Dagger laid his head down over his mate. He stayed alert before drifting off to sleep. Tomorrow, he'd convince his pack to help Winter's. Even if he had to fight to try, he'd take that risk….