The Great Migration Event | a Clan v Clan Competition

Posted 2021-06-27 08:21:34 (edited)

#485269

For R&C 15 points

Chased Stomps Paw (#2510628). 2021-06-27 08:17:46

OneStick a tale for R&C for 12 points? = 625 words

My name, as I said before, is Bounder. And if you are back scenting this tale, you know that I was born to the Wanders Pack that follows the Great Migration. I am a mid-sized normal grey wolf that has always felt that there was nothing special about myself. As a sickly pup, but as stated before, no wolf is left alone, therefore I was often carried in an aunt or uncles’ jaws until I was able to keep up.

Enough about me, let me tell you of the herds in the Great Migration. Mostly there was caribou, with the occasional muskox tribe. Muskox do not seem to wander as much as the great herds of caribou. Anyhow, let me tell you the tale of the most Honorable Cow I have ever known.

Like all caribou, she was round of body, stick like legs with sharp cloven hooves, and for some reason or other in all the seasons I can remember she only grew one sharp, multi-tinded shorthorn. She was a reddish brown, even when she took on the markings of her herd in the winter, with the white neck and rump mark.

Her herd knew her as OneStick, to me she was known as my friend’s mother.

Normally wolves and Caribou are not friends, afterall we are predator and prey. Why OneStick allowed LichenThunder and I to become friends I never knew until I learned to hunt myself. Our mothers, although predatory enemies, allowed us to be friends so we would learn what to do and not do as adults. I learned how it was easiest to take down my prey and Thunder how to evade sharp teeth and slapping paws.

Both our mothers would watch us from different sides, allowing us to romp and enjoy our brief childhood.

Back to OneStick and why she was the most Honorable and Brave Cow I have ever known. Many seasons after growing out of my sickliness and into a slack hunter, Thunder and I were still tentative friends, OneStick became sick, her lungs filling with liquid she could not cough up. How do I know this, my Pack kept an eye out for such in the older members of the Great Herd. We only feed on the sick, weak and the young born to early in the season.

One day as the Pack lay about enjoying the late winter sun, OneStick separated herself from the great herd and slowly made her way to the packs position, Thunder and another young cow following. Grunting softly, between her cough, “Great Hunter’s of the Wandering Tribe, I ask for a quick death. I am old and weak, my herd should not have to surround me for protection.”

Leader cocked his head at her, as did several others in the Pack. Never before had one of the great herd come seeking death. My mother and I stood, going to OneStick. I lay down before her, Mother bowed her head to the brave cow, “OneStick you honor us with your bravery, we accept your gift, may your young know of your sacrifice.”

Leader made the others stay back, only he and mother relieved the old cow of her pain and suffering, as one they rose their muzzles to the sky and paid tribute. Howling to the Sky Father of the great cow’s many years of evading the Pack, how she taught her young to be strong and true to her herd. Nor did they allow any of us to take from OneStick’s gift to the pack until Thunder and her cow calf pay their own respect to their mother and rejoined their herd.

That was the day I came to truly understand, as no wolf is alone, neither is their prey.