Post by Phanomel on Jul 19, 2008 19:33:12 GMT -8
I
Falling Stars
Falling Stars
Many eyes were watching the skies that night as a single star flew through the heavens. Danaviel’s paws were burning from running back and forth, up and down the stone cliffs. He couldn’t believe that Lukor was dead. The old alpha had been a sort of father to him, and now his silver fur held no warmth.
Danaviel was brought back to the present where his sister’s lighter red fur was pressing into his own darker, blood red pelt. He knew he could offer her little comfort, as he could barely keep a lid on his own emotions.
“BloodFang, I…” Seu took a deep breath, and her body shuddered as she exhaled, “I just can’t call you by your new name, I’m sorry. Danaviel, I can’t believe how our lives are changing. We went from being considered pups, to adults with responsibilities in a single day, and he’s not even here to guide us.” Danaviel couldn’t help but focus on the dark patch on her nose while she spoke. It was an acquired habit from when they were still pups in the nursery. “Do you think the elders will make a decision by sunrise? Even though Gotda is our beta, I don’t think they’ll choose him to succeed Lukor.”
The thought of moving on so soon hurt, but it had to be faced before the pack fell apart from the lack of leadership. Letting his green eyes wander to the cliff above, he saw a pale blue tail curling over the rocky edge. “Well,” Danaviel sighed, “It looks like they’ve summoned Hiruva. I suppose we’ll have to refer to her as SilverDawn now. We need to show her more respect if they choose her.”
Seu batted him on the shoulder with one of her large paws. They never did seem to fit the rest of her body. “Lighten up a little, Dana. We only have to use those names when the senior wolves are around.”
“No!” Danaviel snapped, getting to his feet, “RedStream, we must show them that we are no longer pups. We must follow the laws and show respect by addressing our sister by her true name. Aren’t you on night duty? You’re group is leaving.”
Seu sprang to her paws with her fur bristling. “What makes you so certain that they’re choosing SilverDawn? She’s not exactly most eligible wolf here!” With that, he watched his sister storm off to join their friend, Veeta. He heard him make a comment that made Seu laugh.
Seu had looked hurt, and he knew he had been wrong to react so explosively, but for some reason he couldn’t bring himself to apologize to her.
The wolves began to gather on the nesting cliff, where most of the dens were located. They were all staring off into the distance, where the sun was just starting to climb over the trees. Normally, they would be howling to welcome the sun into the sky, but it was always led by the alpha. Did this mean the elders had yet to choose a new alpha?
Perhaps what Lukor had said on his dieing breath was true, “It will be many moons before this mountain feels the paws of an alpha.”
Danaviel had been the only one to hear it, and now he worried alone.
A single howl suddenly pierced the silence, sweet like honey, yet as sharp as the fangs of its creator. The reaction was slow, but the wolves around him eventually raised their voices to join Hiruva in her song. The meaning behind their howls were clear; A new era in their history was beginning, the stars of old had fallen, and now the night sky held new paterns.
