Tulip had made it Africa. It was beautiful. And the wildlife was amazing. There were animals that she hadn't seen in her birthplace. It was wonderful.
Tulip started down to the waterhole. It was small, but it quenched the thirsty animals there. She kept going. There were so many animals! Giraffes, lions, wild dogs, and so many others.
Tulip was somewhere deep in the savanna when she spotted a very particular African wild dog. He was skinny and looked very weak. His legs shook as if he was going to fall over any minute. His fur was matted. His eyes. His eyes were bright green. Full of pride and faith, but no hope lurked within them. This intrigued Tulip. WHy didn't have hope? She got closer to look.
As she got closer the dog began to notice her. He turned his head to face Tulip. The dog started to snarl, showing his teeth. He started to crouch, ready to pounce. As he crept closer he shook more. Not of fear or excitement, but of weakness.
The dog closed his eyes and fell over. Tulip heard his heart beating, slow and spacious. His breath was the same. He was dying! He had to be for this to happen, Tulip thought. She raced over and pressed her hand against his shoulder. A spark of life came from under her hand and into his matted fur, through his skin, and into his heart.
The dog heart quicken to a healthy pace, as did his breath. He opened his eyes and jump onto his feet. He just stared at Tulip wide-eyed and frightened.
"Why? Why did you do that? What did you do?" he said. He looked at himself. He appeared stronger, and a little more hopeful than before. But his hope was just barely there. But it was still sprouting. Growing.
"I saved you. You were dying and now you shall live for another week."
"You spared me death? Why?"
"It was instinct. I couldn't let one with your potential just die!"
The dog looked at her sideways. "Can you hunt?"
Tulip straightened her pastor at the question. She sat straightening her spine while resting on her knees. "I don't know. Maybe. But I've never tried."
"If you can keep me strong enough to hunt, I'll save my pack. But I will need to know whether I can trust you to help me hunt," His eyes were brighter than before. Hope was sprouting fast. Tulip couldn't resist.
" Okay! I'll help!" Tulip was beaming. She was going to hunt for the first time.
As the sunset, that afternoon, Tulip and the dog sat on a hill watching the sun go down.
"It's been years since I watched the sunset."
"You're odd. You know that right Tulip?"
"It's not that I odd, it's that I'm different."
"You're different alright."
"You know, you haven't told me your name. What is it?"
"Noah. My name is Noah. I'm the son of an omega, wishing to be the alpha," he gave a sigh, "But one can't become alpha when you're sick and can faint while doing nothing. It's miserable."
"Huh. You know you can be like this all the time. You know healthy and strong if you want."
"Really how?" Noah quickly looked at Tulip like she was crazy, but he wanted to know more.
"Simple. Stay my friend and make me part of your pack, and I will not only make you better, and I'll make you alpha. And no one will take that position away from you. Deal?" Tulip stuck her hand to Noah. Palm up.
"Deal," Noah placed his paw on Tulip's hand. A spark of life shot from Tulip's hand into Noah's paw, and into his heart. Like the first time, but the spark was brighter than the before. Noah was better now than he was in all his life. He was alive for once.
And Tulip had found what she was looking for.