The Bloody Howl - Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Ruepup waddled slowly behind the massive tan canine in front of him that he knew simply as ‘mother’, leaping to try and follow in the large pawprints, giggling happily as he batted at the massive tail dangling in front of him until suddenly he felt teeth softly grasping him and watched his mother leap onto a large boulder, The wolf who had grabbed him placed him onto the stone, a brown and white wolf he knew as Orchid.
He saw his mother call out to the gathered wolves. “I’ve called everyone here because it is time for one of ours to begin learning the secrets of the pack and ways of the moon.” Ice’moon began, the gathered wolves all glanced at a large and short haired white pup, large for his age and staring at the ground with a twitching tail. “Yarrowpup, step forward” as the wolf followed the order, taking tentative steps until he was under the boulder. “You are now old enough to begin learning the way of the moon. As is tradition your training will be overseen by an adult, I have decided Cinder will take this role. From now on your name will be Yarrowpaw”
Ruepup looked up at Orchid, noticing the wolf visibly relaxed and his frame seemed to ease. Ruepup didn’t understand it but shrugged it off and started wondering about his own young claw ceremony and he couldn’t wait. He felt his claws dig into the dirt as his tail wagged, he’d get out soon and prove he was a great wolf just like his mother was. Ice’Moon leapt from the boulder and began walking off, Ruepup began to wander as the canines padded away to congratulate Yarrowpaw.
Stumbling over his paws as he moved, Ruepup ended up going up to an old black wolf who seemed to look away from him as he approached. “Hi Newt!” He chirped cheerily but the old wolf just grumbled something to himself, unbothered Ruepup continued “Do you remember your young claw ceremony!?” Newt sighed and nodded, laying down. “I do, it was many, many seasons ago and I was in a litter of three, we all became Young Claws together as is tradition, the alpha at the time was…” Newt trailed off, glancing at Ice’moon who was talking to Cinder. “It’s not important, anyway. It was raining outside and prey was plentiful, the pack had full bellies but extra young claws are always helpful.” He explained “I was so excited but make sure you enjoy your time as a pup, being a young claw can be tiring”
Ruepup just nodded and padded off, calling over his shoulder “Thanks Newt!” He was about to pad over to Ice'moon until he saw her snarling at Orchid, while the reddish brown coyote known as Gold was between them, Growling. Scared Ruepup watched in fear as he heard Orchid yell out “He's too young Ice'Moon!” Ice'moon, Ruepup's only parent, just stared coldly at the concerned father “He's large enough to go out, no sea hawks would go near him.”
“Maybe the Seahawks won't, but there's more than just them! He's inexperienced, he could wander out too far and a shark could get him! Or a bear!” Orchid snapped back, snarling. “If he does that then he proves he won't be strong enough, this is tradition” Ice'moon spoke calmly, her tail twitching “Tradition for a wolf who has seen six seasons, Yarrowpaw has only seen three” Cinder interjected, as he walked over to the fighting wolves.
“He is as large as a six season pup, he will be doing the lone wander and that is final.” Ice'moon said, leaving no room for argument as she turned to leave. When Ice'moon turned, Orchid lunged at her, shouting “You're sentencing him to death!” Orchid was intercepted by Gold who lunged and the two began wrestling on the ground, exchanging swipes and bites. Cinder had to grab Gold by the scruff while Snowpup and Yarrowpup both grabbed Orchid and they pulled the fighting wolves apart. They were still snarling at each other but stopped fighting.
Ice’moon had walked off into a crevice behind the boulder where she had given the announcement earlier while Hazel came over and began examining their wounds, all shallow thankfully. Ruepup ran off to follow his mother, pushing through to her and whining as he nuzzled up to her. “Why were you yelling at Orchid?” He asked, curling up beside her. “Because” She began “Orchid doesn't realise sometimes that I'm the alpha and I know what's best” Ice’moon said, nuzzling Ruepup. “Oh, alright..” he mumbled, closing his eyes and resting his head on his paws as he began to sleep.
Ruepup woke up to the sound of loud chatter in the cave, he glanced at Ice’moon but she was still asleep so he ran out to see what was up, stumbling over his paws and falling before picking himself back up. When he looked up he saw Yarrowpaw looking terrified as Snowpaw and Orchid consoled him. Ruepup padded over curiously, but was stopped by Gold, who simply picked him up and brought him back over to Ice’Moon’s den again, despite Ruepup’s protests and squirming. But as soon as Gold dropped him and padded away again Ruepup slowly padded forward again, this time crouching and hiding behind a rock.
Ruepup watched quietly from the shadows, Yarrowpaw was curled up, his father curled around him and Snowpaw, who had seen seven seasons, was sitting in front of him, whispering softly and resting his head on his. Hazel was sitting just outside a large den which is where she stayed and stored herbs, while Newt and Cinder were lounging together, having a conversation with Gold, thankfully no one seen Ruepup so he slowly staked to the three in the center, until Orchid glanced up and growled quietly at Ruepup. This close he could see the healing wounds on his pelt and felt bad.
Sadly Ruepup padded away again, his tail drooping as he went over to Hazel instead. “Hello there Ruepup” She greeted “Is everything alright?” she questioned, gesturing for him to sit beside her. Ruepup spoke quietly “Everyone’s sad and I don’t know what to do…” Hazel sighed, curling her tail around the pup “It’s a sad day, but all you can do is keep being yourself. That’s all everyone can do” She lay down, “-Why is it a sad day?..” Ruepup asked, frowning. Hazel was taken off guard by the question, pausing to think of how to explain it. “Yarrowpup has to do something scary, and everyone’s worried. But don’t worry, he’ll be fine, he’s strong.”
Ruepup sat there for a long moment, then he saw his mother pad out of her den and jump onto the same boulder as yesterday, letting out a loud howl. “Everyone who can race the ocean gather for a meeting!” The canines all padded up to the boulder, Yarrowpaw slowly stood up and was last to reach the boulder as Hazel brought Ruepup over
Ice’moon scanned the canines before speaking “As everyone knows, it is tradition that a Young claw spends a full night on a lone wander, to contemplate their place in this pack. As have we all.” She spoke, glancing at Orchid with a small growl in her voice. “I have decided that Yarrowpaw will undergo this ritual today. He is large enough to protect himself, he may have only seen three seasons but he is as large as Snowpaw who went on his lone wander last season. So, Yarrowpaw you may have a piece of prey, but then you have to go and stay gone until the next rise of the sun.” Ice’moon spoke clinically, then turned and leaped off the rock.
Ruepup ran up to Yarrowpaw as the young claw moved to grab a fresh piece of salmon Orchid had caught. “Good luck Yarrowpaw!” He chirped, sitting down beside him. “So you’re going to go outside the cave! That’s so cool!” Yarrowpaw didn’t seem to share Ruepup’s excitement, the young claw just frowned, slowly eating his salmon. “Yeah… super exciting…” Ruepup watched as Yarrowpaw walked off, the salmon now just bones. He watched the older wolf leave, frowning softly.