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Posted 2022-07-31 23:37:02 (edited)
It took months, even years, but she had finally done it! She had built up her pack. However, It was still small, and the fear of everything coming crumbling down was all to real. Winters were bitterly hard, leaving countless pups dead and wolves starving; Deserters leaving the pack when they needed them most; Tensions high with the former loners learning how to live with and for others now; everyone needing to learn to work together for the sake of survival, any less could mean death for them all. There was also the unexpected issues with being in a pack, sicknesses could and would run rampant now with so many wolves in close proximity; hunting another struggle, all of them being used to catching an occasional rabbit or stoat for themselves, now needing to learn to work with others to hunt larger prey, something they needed to learn from the ground up, all hunters sporting at least one or two wounds from failed attempts. Sunrise constantly struggling trying to keep everyone together; learning how to lead, something none of them had experience with; she was now faced with making decision that affected her pack, not just her now. But this would not be the final blow for the struggling group. That came in a much smaller form…. Countless infected, right when their herbalist had died, leaving her unsure and very inexperienced adopted daughter their only hope. A hope that didn't deliver. With most of the pack infected, wolves could only watch as each of them slowly succumbed to the sickness, knowing it was too late for themselves, they would be joining them in only a matter of time. All they could do is wait it out, for the virus to burn itself out. It eventually did, but now her pack was left in ragged pieces. She knew now, it wasn't a matter of if the rest would disband, it was a matter of when. She was about to lose years of constant work and care for each and every member. Her pleading and persuading them to just hold on a little longer; they were almost to that paradise all loners sought in pack life, she just knew it! Sadly they had learned not to put too much faith in hope. She was left with just a skeleton of what her home once was, but at least they were alive. The only ones left being the handful of former loners. That's when she realized, the only ones who would understand what she was trying to do, the only ones who appreciate her work and pull their weight were the ones who understood the hardships of having to live alone, and the constant fear that one wrong move meant death being alone. They were never the strongest wolves, but they had the most unbridled potential to be truly great. No more of the pampered pups that were raised with full bellies and caretakers; who tucked tail and ran when times got hard. Only ones who fought to survive every day, and even thrive under the harshest conditions could guarantee their future as a pack in this world. She knew she made the right call. Years later, seeing her last born pup now full grown, in a pack no longer surviving, but thriving! It was smaller than the others in the area, but there was no doubt, they weren't going anywhere! Many strange things had happened over her life. The sudden explosion of packs appearing all over the lands, still leaving her curious and worried; These new dream lands that seemed to happen occasionally and their effect on her family; wolves now being born with never before seen coats in all sorts of very rare colors; and even mutations showing up now, something she never even heard about until recently. Still, no matter, she was confident her pack would make it through and continue thriving under her daughters leadership. —WIP— |
AngryTiger-[Item_Hoarder] #10140 |