Wash Out

The night raged on as rain hit all sides of the house thunder and lightning making it hard for everyone to sleep. This has to be the worst storm we have had all year. It might just be the worst storm I've seen my whole time as the Alpha of the Imperial Dawn Pack which has been a long time. Not that I am old just that I took over young and have had a healthy life. It has been storming for 3 consecutive days without showing and signs of letting up. Those located near the main pack has been accounted for thank god. But we lost the pack link to the rest of the wolves that wasn't within 50 miles. Something about the storm's electromagnetic pattern. All we could do was wait it out and try to remake contact when it let up or stopped. It was crazy how this storm came out of nowhere it had been bright and sunny and then we were hit so hard you couldn't even see 5 feet infront of you. There was a cry within the main pack den a cry that has been going on nonstop. It was making wolves go stir crazy. I sent out a link 

(L) Alpha: what is wrong with Davina

I felt bad for the little girl but if we didn't figure this out soon she wont last. And for once I had no clue what to do.

(L)Kira: she is crying for her mother again just like she has every single other time

(L) Alpha: it's been months

I groaned and she growled over the link. If it was anyone else I would tear them a new one but I knew Kira was beyond exhausted

(L) Kira: I know but she hasn't bonded to anyone. I can't even hold her. I don't think she will make it through the winter at this rate.

Her voice was filled with sadness. I knew she was right but it doesn't make any of this easier. If I could force a bond I would at this point anything to lessen the little girls pain

(L) Alpha: We still have months until the winter season. She will find an attachment by then I'm sure of it.

(L) Kira: You have been saying that since she lost her parents. If she doesn't pick soon thats the end of it.

When a pup loses their parents at a young age they have to find a replacement or they will die from abandonment or heart ache. And it has to be their wolf who chooses so it makes it harder for alphas to place them. In all my years of leading I have only ever had this happen one other time and he chose someone in the first week. A lovely couple with another pup. But this one has been set on not taking another set of parents. I wonder what type of wolf it would take to change her mind.

(L) Kira: I will try my best 

We originally gave Kira the pup because she is the only female wolf of age in the main pack without one in hopes Davina would bond. But I don't think that was the best choice. She has no experience and after this will never want children. But no one else can handle it so Davina will stay with Kira until she chooses someone.

(L) Alpha: you can't force the bond if it were to happen with you it would already have happened all you can do now is take care of her until her true one is found. 

If its found and lets hope to the moon goddess she does. I would hate to lose someone so young due to a tragic event. The rest of the night Davina cried and cried. The grumbling from pack members got louder until everyone was restless. The morning sun had risen and the storm died out to everyones relief. I called a meeting with the main pack which by the groans they were not happy about but no one outright spoke against it. Looking around at their faces so many had dark circles and bags under their eyes. But they were all safe warm and well taken care of. Which is more than I can say for the rest of my pack. The weight on my shoulders suddenly felt even more heavy.

Alpha: There is no telling what has happened in the three days we have been locked in here due to the storm. Or the dangers the storm has brought to our land so we will survey the area in teams. Before the vulnerable will be permitted to leave. The first team has sector 3-5 second team 7-9 and last 10-12. everyone knows what team they are on or if they are to remain. Lets get started.

Sectors 1 and 2 are the main pack, 6 is the training area, and 11 is where we grow food. Hopefully the crops made it and aren't drowned out. We could last a couple months without it but with winter approaching it would spread us very thin.

Alpha: Teams get together and leave right away. Remember safety first watch out for each other and dont put yourself in needless danger.

The teams began to spread out reinvigorated with new tasks to do and not having to be cooped up. What was left standing in front of me was my beta and delta and my son and his beta and delta. Of course he wouldn't go join a team. I let out a sigh

Beta: we can assume that the river is flooded. That is dangerous for wolves. You didn't assign anyone to survey it.

I nodded

Alpha: I figured the river would be flooded and our biggest problem in terms of sectors. It would be better to see it myself so we can make plans.

He groaned not one for field work 

Beta: are you sure it can be very dangerous alpha you should probably stay

of course he would try and use me as an excuse when we all know he just doesn't want to go trudging through the mud

Alpha: i'm old who cares if i get injured my son will be taking over soon anyway

Beta: But sir, it's still a job. And you want to live to see your grand pups right

guilt tripping an old man he is good 

Alpha: I'm as tough as nails i'm sure i will fine

Beta: first sign of danger and your gonna- 

Alpha: you act like a babysitter

Delta: You act as a child that needs to be babysat

he laughed definitely one for the schemes

Alpha: we will leave now go get ready

I looked to my son

Alpha: go to the general pack house and check on everyone

Elias: yes sir

Atleast he listens without causing problems. Then again he is actively trying to push me out of the Alpha position.

Alpha: bring them all back to the main pack den and to the infirmary. I want everyone to have a check up including you when you get back.

Elias: we may need more people

we do have quite a few more at general housing then we do here

Beta: the rule of odds most will be healthy and can get here by themselves. But if not just pull from a couple teams after you find out

Elias: alright and what of the dead

The dead. I sighed sending up a silent prayer. 

Alpha: gather them in one spot out of sight and we will have a ceremony to send them off 

Elias: how many do you think we will lose

something he knows he shouldn't asking but he is still young

Alpha: In all my years I have not lost a single wolf to a storm. I hope my last year stays that way

i glared at him and he nodded understanding 

Elias: we will leave now to make sure it is father

Alpha: be quick 

He ran off. So eager to grow up so much to still learn

Beta: we will need to assess damages and rebuild it could take a few months you may want to push back handing over your position

so i can hear more complaining from my Beta and son. I shook my head

Alpha: all three of us are old men. It's time for the young people to take over. The pack will be in good hands. We have taught our sons right.

Delta: That's right, I believe in mine. So full gear no telling the hazards

of course he wants full gear. always worrying

Alpha: can't we go like half maybe even ¼ 

he glared at me. I should have known

Delta: you don't want to push it your lucky we are letting you come at all

i laughed 

Alpha: i'm still in charge you can't make me stay

We went to the door but I was called out. 

Kira: sir

She ran to us. I was hoping I would leave without having to deal with her and Davina for once. Most my day consists of those two. But getting a look at how peaceful Davina is sleep in her arms makes it worth all the trouble.

Kira: you are heading out 

it was a statement not a question. for someone not on my staff she is the one who keeps track of my movements the most. mostly because my late luna but also because my recklessness has ended my up in her infirmary more times than i would have liked.

Alpha: yes I am to check the river

she looked me up and down before looking over the beta and delta who just shook their heads. them taking my side is unexpected but I will take the win if it means going against Kira

Kira: is there anything i can do 

Alpha: stay here and run the infirmary like always. I had Elias go to the other den so he should be coming back with all the wolves in the pack. Everyone needs a check up, main and general. We also need a place for the general to stay if you could set that up

she nodded looking serious which fits her

Kira: I will get all the rooms set up and the meeting hall to hold them until it's all ready.

Alpha: don't forget to take care of Davina no matter how busy it gets. 

I smiled at the pup and Kira bounced her very lightly to keep her sleeping 

Alpha: If she is left to long she can enter into the despair and after that there is no getting her back and we want her to have every fighting chance

Kira: yes sir

With arrangements now in her hands we left the pack house. I for one felt a little lighter having my duties spread out and being able to breath the fresh air. The walk to the river was uneventful besides falls trees and branches. although someone almost lost a boot and the made my morning even better. But one look at the river wiped the smile from my face It had truly flooded. The bank was barely even visible nothing like this has happened ever. dread made its way into my gut as I tried to make sense of the damage. I wonder how other packs are doing with all this water. One paw in this and you are sure to be swept away with the current. I am not even sure the best swimmers could survive this.

Beta: Even more debris is coming down stream. Lots of rocks and stones more than what should be coming even with a storm of that size. It will probably be a couple of days before it calms and we can really assess. It makes no sense how a storm that lasted 3 days quadrupled the river.

it has grown even bigger than that. I can still see it climbing up the bank

Alpha: something else must have happened

I bent down at the edge of the river and ran my hands through the water.

Delta: sir 

He grabbed my shoulder

Alpha: don't worry I'm not gonna go for a swim. I just wanted to see the speed and assess how long until it would calm.

I stood and took a deep look. But what I saw scared me.

Alpha: that in the river looks like...

Delta: like what

They all looked as it bobbed under water then came back up

Beta: it's a person... is it human

we all took a deep whiff

Delta: the water can't hide the faint scent of wolf

Beta: what do we do we can't leave her in the water

Alpha: we must get her

I took a step forward and my delta grabbed my hand

Delta: we couldn't reach her in this strong current and even if we could why risk our life for a girl who is surely dead

even though he is casting a vote for leaving her he looks torn up inside.

Alpha: even if she is dead she is in our territory and we have a responsibility to return her to the rightful pack so they can properly mourn their loss. 

Beta: but if we lose one of us then that will only add to the sorrow. One life is enough. She belonged to the river the moment she fell in.

i shook my head

Alpha: you may not understand but as alpha I am responsible for every wolf in my territory not just in my pack. And I mourn the loss of that child as I would my own. If it was one of our sons you would hope someone would return him even if he was dead to have peace of mind or would you rather they leave him and you always wonder what could have happened.

I took off my gear and stepped forward but my delta grabbed me

Delta: It's a very dangerous task. I can't let you do that so I will go. But if I don't make it tell Nolan that I did this for him and I love him

He took off his gear. Assessing the water he took a deep breath and then jumped in after the girl. The current washed over him as he pushed forward. It sent them further downstream as we ran the bank to keep up. But he has always been a strong swimmer so I wasn't worried so much. Eventually he was able to reach her. He secured her over his shoulder and fought his way back to shore. We meet him and helped drag him out of the water so he could rest faster. once fully on land and as far away from the river he could crawl he laid her on her back and proceeded to cough up water. He had done more work in that 20 minutes than in the last 5 years. I patted him on his back for a job well done

Alpha: you did good Nolan would be very proud

Once I was sure he hadn't drowned I gazed at the girl, her skin was pale, lips blue, cold to the touch, her features were very soft, and the clothes were of good quality. She must have been ranked very high

alpha: what a sad loss so young

 What was she doing caught in the storm? How could she have landed in the river? How are her parents feeling now with her missing? I have never seen her clothes before but i will do my best to get you home I promise.

Beta: shall we take her back to the den

Alpha: yes we shall

My heart ached think about the panic she must have felt in her last minutes maybe hours. Just as I went to pick up her seemingly lifeless body it had taken a shallow breath. If you weren't paying close attention one would miss it. Or maybe I am seeing things

beta: what is it. why have you stopped

alpha: she breathed 

he glared at her scrutinizing everything

beta: i see nothing... holy hell

she took another breath

Delta: it can't be 

He was still on the ground catching his breath but had seemed to catch it as well. The girl didn't move again, not even to take a breath.

Beta: I wasn't the only one who saw that 

We watched her body and after a few seconds another breath but less visible. 

Alpha: she is barely breathing. Her lungs probably filled with water she needs medical 

Beta: she may die before we get there

Delta: stand back 

We all stepped back. He picked himself up and leaned over the girl and began giving her mouth to mouth. Water soon dribbled from her mouth. He had kept at it until she let out a huge cough. Water poured out in a vast amount which was nerve wracking. When she settled she was still lifeless again. But then she gulped for air, her eyes opening momentarily before closing like it never happened. I let out a sigh of relief. thanking the goddess

alpha: your a fighter I see

Delta: a warrior spirit that's a good girl

Beta: let's hope she keeps the spirit let's get her to medical

I picked her up and my beta helped my delta up and we rushed to the infirmary. We got there and the pack house was almost full. Seems elias made quick work

Alpha: where is Kira at 

Aiden: she is in the infirmary. She had those not injured wait here in the meeting room while she worked on the ones that needed help

Alpha: where is Elias and his team

Aiden: they are still bringing wolves back.A lot more were injured than we had expected since the storm hit out of no where

Beta: rules of odds has failed 

he shook his head.

Alpha: I want to know the moment he is back 

Just then Kira walked in 

Kira: who is this what happened

she looked freaked out. I prepared myself to get yelled at 

Alpha: she was caught in the river we saved her

she looked shocked 

Kira: her put her on the gurney 

I put her down as Kira checked her pulse and breathing 

Kira: how bad was the river? how did you get her?

Alpha: Bad worse than you could even imagine... Delta jumped in

She looked at him hanging off my beta before glaring at me

Kira: put him in room 3 there should be an open bed alpha help me roll her to 1

We rolled her into the room where she continued to take vitals. 

Alpha: where is Davina 

Kira: in the room. I have been working out of room 1 since the office has been taken over a hub for the general pack house medical. They brought over their nurses so I was able to focus on those really hurt one at a time.

We got into the room Davina was just sitting on the bed eating jello one thing that makes her stop crying

Alpha: take good care of them I need to go check on delta 

Fern pov 

I woke up in pain and confused. What had happened… where am I… why am I not drowning in a river… Why does everything hurt from my head to my toes? But what hurt most was my ear. It feels like someone was screaming right into them. Against me will I opened my eyes. the bright white light was blinding. I groaned closing them praying to the moon goddess to make everything stop. But the crying only seemed to get louder. Giving it another chance I slowly opened my eyes again. I looked to my left and there was a child. No older than 2 so really a pup sitting on the bed crying her head off. I looked around the rest of the room and it was empty. Is this a form of torture. Take a half dead wolf and leave them in a room with a crying baby and see how long before they go crazy. Because I will snap. Slowly I sat up while holding my side. The pup narrowed her eyes at me but didn't stop. I pushed off the bed almost face planting before shuffling to the bed she was on. The pain was unbearable as I dropped down next to her. I took a deep breath to keep from crying myself before smiling at her.

Fern: hi there. What's wrong hmmm.

i started coughing unable to breath before catching it again

fern: What's wrong little one

I talk in a hushed baby voice. She still cried but it was less audible becoming just sniffles. By how bright red she was she had been crying for a while. I shook my head who just leaves a kid in a room with an unconscious person. And a crying one at that. she must be so scared

Fern: it looks like we are all alone here… but I'm awake so you don't have to cry anymore. you aren't alone I promise is it okay if I pick you up just until we find someone to help

She thought for a moment then reached up for me. The fact that she understood meant she was a very smart girl. When I picked her up, it was even more painful. I felt black spots begin to fill me vision. I wouldn't last much longer expending so much energy. But i didn't want to leave this sweet little girl. so get help first then welcome the relief that comes with passing out.

Fern: you are so cute do you know that.

she smiled up at me

Fern: Do you know what happened to me hmm? Or what about where we are?

she looked confused

Fern: how about and easier one what happened to you? Why are you crying like that all alone? 

She started to purr when I pet her head running my fingers through her matted hair. It was cute… if only I had a child as cute as her.

You: you like that yeah. What a cutie. Yes you are 

?: what are you doing

I looked behind me. An older female wolf stood with a tray of jello. She looked panicked maybe exhausted she had dark circles that seem out of place

You: I didn't mean to over step she was crying and I had to do something... it was ear piercing 

She must be her mother. Explains why she was alone the mom went to do rounds and was now coming back to a stranger holding her baby. My mom would have freaked over someone she didn't know holding her child. She even growled at my father the first time he held me. So I was told 

?: why are you out of bed you're injured. Considering your condition you shouldn't even be able to stand let alone walk and hold a child.

You: she was upset i couldn't let her just cry...

?: so you don't feel any pain

I almost laughed at how bad i was hurting

You: it hurts like a lot worse than any training I have ever done.

she nodded she didn't look like she would be taking the child from me. which gave me a weird feeling

?: so you risked all that pain to stop her crying

fern: a child should always be put first. Especially one so young

?: interesting

You: do you want your child back 

i was hoping she would say yes but that also made me feel a little sad

?: oh she is not mine 

She took the child from my arms and immediately the child cried. The same ear piercing screech that made me happy I dont have kids again. She reached out for me causing me to look at the lady in shook.

?: you don't mind holding her right

she gently placed her back in my arms bringing back the pain. i had to suck in a breath

You: i guess not 

The lady seemed almost relieved which added another layer to an already confusing situation 

You: where are her parents if you could go get them

so someone can take her without bringing back the screeching and I can pass out  

?: died a few months ago

She shrugged her shoulders while organizing the tray she carried but you could hear the pain in her voice. she must have been close to them.

You: how

?: attacked by an enemy pack. They were on a scouting mission and crossed the wrong border and was killed on sight

I looked down at the little girl who seemed content. If she doesn't find someone to substitute her parents she could die. I hope they can find that person soon. No child should have to go through that pain.