It has been seven days since I have joined Logan. In those days I have learned that Chik and Logan have a long history together and are supposed to be good friends. That is what Chik often tells me, whilst Logan denying their friendship. The thought of that made the corners of my black lips tug up into a smile.
"What are ya grinning about?" A hoarse and annoyed sounding voice came my way. I quickly changed my expression as I glanced towards the big wolf in front of me. "We still have a long way to go. There is no time to slack off." Logan speaks in an annoyed tone, I can almost hear his growling escaping from his thick-looking throat. As he shook his enormous head he turned back around and started walking away from me. Logan recently took me in as his subordinate. Or something he likes to call me. He took it upon himself to teach me how to be a real wolf. Chik's teaching was effective, but ever since Logan showed me how, it only has been easier for me. I got used to being a wolf very quickly. Taught me how to survive this harsh winter. I knew winter is always freezing cold, but since I became a wolf. I haven't been cold. Mostly have been running around to hunt, and that burns a lot of heat. I haven't been able to get cold. If I was still a human, I would still be trembling like a leaf despite being dressed for the winter. Being a wolf sure has its perks. But being a wolf only keeps me being hungry. The success rate in hunting is not so high. That I have noticed when Logan taught me how to hunt on bigger prey other than the smaller animals. The thick snow makes my movements slower, and I am not that fast. But I am faster than Logan, his body is only made of muscles.
A wolf on steroids, I like to say. I snickered at the thought of that. But once we succeed… I never thought that eating an elk was so delicious. It took me a while to gain the courage to eat raw meat. It probably is because I'm a wolf now so my diet has changed. I shake my head when I dragged my legs in the path that Logan has made. Suddenly Logan stopped in front of me as my snout bumped into him. His tail has raised in the air, his ears pointed forward. "There's a herd close by." He said. Then lowering his head as he moved slowly, more like stalking towards a herd that isn't far from us. I followed his movements. When Logan stopped and laid low on the snow, I stood next to him watching the herd from afar.
"Can ya see which is weak or injured?" He asked me. I scanned my eyes over the herd. Watching like a hawk. Something looking weak or sick… As my eyes scanned over the herd, and finally it locked with a weak-looking elk. I can see it trembling, and with its trembling hoof scraping away the snow to get close to the grass that is under it. "I found one," I speak out softly. Logan let out a grunt in response.
"Good eye, ya got there, kiddo." He complimented me. Logan doesn't compliment me often. He always insults me while he is teaching me. Words like: useless, weak, and slow. Just the standard words. He's not really creative to think up something new to insult me. I think he's getting old. I noticed he is very grumpy with everything I do. Nothing is right and perfect in his eyes. Being a wolf is not that easy. I sometimes wonder who he was as a person. But every time I ask him about his previous life, he always seemed to avoid talking about himself. But if we're going to survive together, I at least want to know more about him. The thought of it made me sigh in my mind.
"Are you prepared to start off?" Logan asked me. My ear moved to the sound of his voice. I moved my head to look at him. A little surprised. "Me? I am not sure… if I am able to do that." I doubted myself and my strength. I am not the best at hunting and running after my prey. I am actually pretty slow, I know that since Logan won't stop scolding me about it. "I don't fucking care if you can do it. Get your ass out there and lead the herd towards me, make sure to separate the weak from its herd." He barked and growled at me. Making his point. I quickly jumped upfront when he wanted to bite me in the tail. I growled, pointing my ears in my neck as I glanced at him angrily. But he paid no mind to it.
"Asshole…" I mumbled as I crouched over the snow, and dragged myself to a spot out of the wind. I needed to focus. Don't mess it up. Despite my teacher is a total grumpy asshole, he's a good teacher. A good teacher who always bites in my tail whenever he has gotten the chance. I softly growled thinking about it. I shake my head. Focus Silver, you're here to hunt! Slowly I approached the herd, who are peacefully scrapping in the snow, searching for pieces of grass they can nibble on. My ears are focused on the sound of the herd. The crunchy sound of the snow once they replace their hooves. But my eyes are totally focused on the weak-looking herd member.
The elk have been scrapping in the snow to get to the patch of grass that is hiding underneath it. I scanned my eyes over the body of the weak-looking elk. Looking for easy soft spots to latch my fangs on. Despite the elk looked weak, it can still kick me and injure me dangerously if I don't watch out. If I break a paw, my chances of survival are very limited. I can't have that now. Not when I am determined to get out of this life. I waited for the perfect moment to pounce. I took the moment to sprint. Obviously, the herd noticed me and ran away from me in panic, including my target. As the herd run in groups, some are scattering away from the herd and running back to the herd moments later. I focused on leading my target away from the herd. Which I did with success. I heard barking from behind me. Logan followed me and the target. Quickly, I took the first strike. Using all of my power in my hinder legs to jump towards the elk and latch on the spot of its throat. My fangs sinking in its fur and flesh, trying to suffocate it. The elk slowed down its speed. Starting to make all kinds of noise. Calling for the herd, but the herd did not return to the elk or to save it.
I kept my fangs latching in the neck of the elk. Trying as hard as I can to suffocate it. I felt my body slightly pushed to the side by Logan who sank his enormous fangs into the elk's throat. "Let go. I'll do it." He told me as I let go watching the elk kick its hooves towards Logan. Slowly it stopped moving its hooves and stopped moving at all. Logan removed its fangs from the elk's throat. "Ya need to bite in harder, or ya will never kill it. Yer lucky it ain't that strong to give ya any dangerous injuries. If you get injured on a place that has no chance of recovery yer dead. Understand?" He gave me an expression that he's being serious. If I get dangerously injured now, I am done for. A wave of disappointment came over me. "We'll get there. Someday." He tried to make me feel better to not worry about it now, but I know that won't help. At least he tried.
The sounds of wings flapping in the air. I lifted my snout up seeing Chik landing perfectly on the elk we just hunted. "Good haul for today!" Chik seemed cheerful. "Now on the next step…" Logan moved forward, waving his paw at Chik. Chik cawed at Logan and hopped off the carcass on the snow, rustling his feathers to make himself bigger. I let out a chuckle in response of Chik pretty much looking quite funny. My eyes glanced back at Logan.
"So what is this whole deal? Can't we just eat already? I'm starving from all that running. This ain't easy to do. I really sympathize with those predators to hunt for their food and just starve if they fail their hunt." I scoffed.
"You're a real fool." Logan had to add that up. "You're a wolf now. Just like humans, they have their own culture. And we have to do the same as them in order to not look suspicious and out of respect. Animals don't trust each other. Except for that duck over there." Logan gave Chik a grin. Chik turned his back to Logan, feeling insulted for sure. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"So what is this culture you're talking about? Thought animals have no culture."
"That's because we as humans didn't understand animal language. Animals have their own culture that is only understood by animals. Meaning we have to pray before we take a chunk out of this meat." Logan looked at me with a serious look.
I tilted my head a little dumbfounded. Animals are religious?
"Nah, I am just joking." He chuckled.
"Ugh, I knew it."
"We do need to thank the animal for sacrificing its lives for us to feed on."
I sighed. He has bad humor, that is for sure. I bowed my head in front of the carcass and silently thanked the elk. After we all have thanked in front of the carcass we finally took a bite out of the meat. Filling out bellies full of the meat. We decided to rest before we continued our journey. I lifted my snout up in the air to take in some scents that are all over the place after we ran after a herd. I picked up a peculiar scent. A scent that doesn't smell comforting at all.
It actually scared me…