1 Run

Ok so I grew up with a love of wolves that naturally developed into my intrest in werewolves. The idea of being a wolf intrigues me. Plus the metaphor of each of us having a beast within. Base instincts that influence our behavior. Anyway... this first bit has true information about how a wolf pack operates. Of course it is fantasized somewhat but the way pups are fed is true and wolves are one of the only wild animals that will adopt another's offspring. Usually they are younger than pictured here but still. Just a couple facts I thought you might find interesting... on with the story!

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RUN!

That's all I can think. My paws move without me even trying. The voice just keeps ringing in my ears "RUN!" the command moves me. "RUN UNTILL YOU'RE SAFE!" That's all I know I need to run!

I look around and see no one I slow a little. Where is safe? Where should I go? I whine to myself. I don't know what to do!

Out of the corner of my eye I see movement. I try to run again when teeth snatch me up by my scruff. I feel my tale go between my legs as I dangle from the mouth of a grey wolf.

He walks through a group of wolves into his den. Another grey wolf is curled up with four pups. I am dropped with the pups and the wolf turns to leave. I get up and follow him. I need to run I need to be safe! At the mouth of the cave he turns back to me and with a growl picks me up again and plops me down with his pups.

The female wolf pulls me in and begins licking my neck and ears cleaning me up. The male wolf lays at the mouth of the cave like a guard. I take a step towards him and his growl echoes through the cave. He is protecting me. I am safe. The urge to run lessens. I bow to the male and return to the pups. I soon fall asleep in the pile. I guess this is my home. My family.

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When I wake up the cave is empty. Where are the wolves? They took me in and then left me! I am alone. I whine. It sounds ten times louder in this cave. A few seconds later the female wolf runs in. She looks me over. Seeing I am unharmed she pushes me with her snout urging me forward out of the cave.

The light is bright. I want to go back to bed! I go to turn around when the female stops me. In a flash one of the pups tackles me and we roll a few feet.

Once my paws hit dirt I ready myself to fight. He comes at me again and I dodge him and jump on his back. I can see the adult wolves lazily watch us. He throws me off. As soon as my paws hit I charge him knocking him over and pinning him. I give a playful growl and he submits. This is fun! I push my nose into my brother wolf's neck and then jump off. He stands up and walks away.

Soon many of the wolves begin to leave and the pups walk to the den. The four boys I slept with and a few others all tucked in with two adult wolves. I look around and find the male wolf from last night. He claimed me as his own. My poppa wolf. I find him and run up to him. He huffs and nudges me back towards the den. I follow him again. With a growl he scoops me up and tosses me in with the other pups. What are they doing!

No matter how hard I try the adult wolves won't let me by them. I try to maneuver past them but the opening is to small for my trickery. I am stuck. The wolves seem to enjoy my efforts to escape. I guess I amuse them. Eventually I give up and play with the other pups. What else is there to do if I can't get out?

Just before nightfall howling signals the pack's return. The two guards join the howl and I take my opportunity to escape. I quickly find poppa wolf and jump at him. I lick his muzzle trying to get his attention. Where did they go? As soon as I grab him he spits up meat into my mouth. A part of me says gross but I am hungry. I grab at him again but his growl warns me away.

The other pups seem to follow my lead attacking the adults and getting food. I guess that answers the question of where they went. The hunt must  have been good.

This became routine. We would wake early and play a couple times a week the adults would hunt and we would eat.

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Brother wolves are growing up. I've been here a few months and they are growing much faster than me! It isn't fair! soon they will be able to hunt with the pack and I am still treated like a baby pup.

Why am I so different?

I don't like it but its true. Poppa wolf and momma wolf seem to get irritated with me. I don't want to be stuck with the pups! Momma had another litter and needs the den to care for them. I'd guess brother wolves are a full cycle old now.

Hay I'm older than them I'm... I'm... poppa said I was six? No! That can't be! If I were six I'd be a full grown wolf! I think poppa wolf is probably seven or eight! No I must be wrong! I just wish I grew as fast as brother wolves.

They let me out more now. Mostly I catch mice. I don't want to take food from the younger pups but the adults still won't let me hunt so mice, and grasshoppers, moles, and once I even caught a rabbit! That is dinner.It may not be big game but I am a hunter if only for myself.

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Good morning. I wake up in the clearing with the other wolves. I'm still treated like a pup but today I've decided to change that. Brother wolves are full grown. Momma wolfs new litter are growing up quick. I need to prove myself!

I hide myself in the bushes when the adults head off to hunt. The babysitters round up the pups and I stay hidden. The hunting party leaves. I wait in my spot a few minutes before venturing out on my own little hunt.

I jump around in the creek splashing and making way too much noise. It was fun tho. I crouch in the underbrush stalking around looking for my prey. I can't find anything! Maybe I'm not such a good hunter. I sadly flop on top of a bolder. This sucks! I huff in annoyance at my rotten luck. I can't even find a little deer. I need something to prove I can hunt.

As I mope on my rock movement catches my eye. A little black creature pops out of the woods. It is fat and actually bigger than me but I've seen the adults and they are massive. Bigger than poppa wolf. This could work. I don't see any big ones around. The little one could provide us a bit of meat.

I crouch watching the black blob of fur. What are these things called? I can't remember... I watch carefully waiting for my opportunity to strike. I think this may be my chance. I move in close and leap at its throat. I rip and slash at the beast until it goes limp in my jaws. I jump around happily. I did it! Big game all mine!

A roar breaks my party. What was that? I look around for the source of the sound. No! Run! An adult fur blob chases after me its jaw snapping at my tale. I howl running away. Oh crap! Oh crap! Oh crap! The beast is hot on my heels. In a flash a wolf jumps over me attacking the beast..beast..bear! That's what it is a bear!

The entire pack descends on the bear circling it and lunging. It swipes its massive claws at one of my brother wolves tearing open his flesh. No! I run toward him. Poppa wolf breaks from the fight to pull me away. He growls at me to stay put and I obey. I don't want to but I know I will only distract poppa wolf. A few minutes later the bear is down. The hunters eat the bear and poppa wolf comes over to me.

I don't know but he seems to want to know what happened. I run back to my kill and he follows. He examines the little bear and takes a bite. He nods for me to come over and we eat together. A few other wolves join us and they drag the little bear back to our camp.

The babysitters seem happy with their dinner. They dig in and the older pups join them. The younger get food from the adults. After everyone eats we curl up together and sleep.

The next morning poppa wolf takes me away from the pack. I don't know where we're going I just obediently follow. The other wolves definently have realized that I am different. He leads me away from the pack. We walk for a long time. Finally he turns to me.

In a clearing I see a deer. Poppa wolf crouches down facing the deer he looks at me. I follow his example keeping low to the ground. In a second he is off after the deer me along side him. He bites its leg crippling it and I go for the kill. He looks down at me. I think he is proud. Who knows he is hard to read. He howls and the pack joins in the meal.

After that I was accepted with the adults. I am still smaller than my brother wolves but I'm growing. Poppa wolf keeps a close eye on me.

This is my life. This is my pack. I am a wolf.

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It's been twelve winter cycles since poppa wolf took me in. He and momma wolf died a long time ago. I grew more slowly than my pack mates but now I am twice as large as any other wolf. My light sandy brown color makes me stand out from the sea of grey too. I have become Alpha of our pack. Many males have tried to become Alpha male but I'm not interested in that. I rule alone.

My size demands respect. No one even challenges me any more. I am ancient to them but I feel so young. We have lived here so long. It all looks the same as it did when I was little.

I love playing with the pups. They jump on me and I'll roll around with them. In less than a cycle they will be grown. Many leave after two cycles but the pack stays strong. It is hard watching them grow up. They grow so quickly and I can't help but become attached. Every adult wolf is like a parent to each pup. We raise them together. The others don't seem emotional when it comes time for them to leave but I am. I love each one like my own. I guess that is another difference between us.

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Another good hunt. The adults head back to the pups but I decide to take a run alone. I do this on occasion. I feel so out of place with them sometimes. It's like they don't think beyond their instincts. No matter how hard I try to communicate with them they don't seem to understand. I drink from the creek and wander around a bit.

What the? I see something on a tree. It's not natural someone made this. Hmmm... it has symbols on it... wait I've seen these before a....it was... poppa... a book... reading.... what? I am a wolf! What was that thought? No crazy!? That wasn't real. But I know what the symbols mean and it's not good.

I take the paper in my teeth and run back to the pack. I place it in front of some adults. They just look at me confused. How can they not understand?! This is important.

"REWARD

Hunters wanted to take down murderous wolf.

A wild wolf has killed a young child.

$1,000 Reward per wolf pelt."

I can't understand all of it but I know what hunters are. Two leggers with exploding sticks. If we stay here they will kill us! We need to leave but no one understands that.

The next morning I get up and get the pack moving. They are shocked when I have the pups come with us. We are moving. The birds fly south so we will do the same. South must be safer.

Once they realized we were moving many wolves broke off. They don't want to move. I don't blame them but I will keep the pups safe and any wolf that chooses to follow me. We travel for a few days. We have to rest frequently. The pups need to rest along with the pregnant females two are nearly ready to deliver so we'll need a new den soon.

Eventually we find a place. We are a long way from home but it should be enough to keep us safe. We tuck one sister wolf away in a small cave just as she was about to deliver. I guess this is our new home. I take a hunting party out to see what game this new land has to offer. We find a couple deer and eat taking some meat back to the mother. We should have some new pups by now. We are a small pack considering many left but maybe it is for the best in this new area.

I take a walk. I want to see what is around here. A large lake is where I stop. It is beautiful. I just might like it here. I bolt through the woods. I love to run full speed. I can't do it often because I am so much faster than my pack. Feeling the wind in my fur is the most freeing thing in the world.

Suddenly I see a wolf. He is larger than me... no wolf is larger than me! Who is this guy!? He tackles me and I throw him off growling. His dark brown fur tells me he is not like my wolves. He growls back and I shake.

What is going on!? Pain shoots through my body. I fall to the ground panting. When I look up to where the wolf was I  now see a two legger.

"I'm so sorry!" He says running to me. "I'm not used to being able to comand people I'm so sorry! Are you ok?!"

"What?!" I hear a voice. It came from me?! Not a whine or a growl. A voice.

Something takes over me. In a moment I am on all four paws again running through the woods away from the two legger.