Bottomless Chasm

Fifth son of Crimson Maw

Chasm was chosen by the moon goddess to be the new leader of Aeternum. Weeping Willow, the third daughter, declared that as the future leader he would travel and learn of different pack cultures to help grow the pack.

Willow bestowed upon him the moon goddess's blessings, asking him to vow to never remove them so that the moon goddess could watch over him and guide him on his journey.
Coming back to the pack was hard, running with the hunting party feeling his brother's breath on his side as they all chased the deer down. Picking up his pace he runs to the side of the pack and takes off into the bushes. Panting he lays down in the brush and waits for the pack to flush the doe they had been chasing towards him. Hearing the pounding of a terrified doe Bottomless Chasm leaps out from his hiding spot stopping the doe in her tracks, she tries to turn but already Dragon Heart has taken her right-side drool dripping from his snarling fangs. To the doe's left Mountain Crusher's strong body crouched down and ready to attack, from behind Splattered Sky and Night Frost both stood beside each other snarling and yipping to the others. In a flash Bottomless Chasm lunged towards the doe's throat latching. He could taste the copper blood gush into his mouth, wiggling his body trying to tear into it more and finish the doe off faster so she wouldn't suffer he could see the rest of his pack begin to circle around lunging in fast and hard trying to bring her down to the ground.
THUD
The feeling of the doe's hoof to his side almost makes him break his hold but closing his eyes he tries to think of anything other than the pain in his side. Finally, the doe goes down and her fight leaves her, he lets go as soon as he knows the life has left her body and the pack let loose howls into the night sky, thanking the Moon Goddess for their success.
Dragging the carcass back was always the worst part of the hunt in his opinion, however he always volunteered to be one of the wolves to drag it back it was better than trotting in front and back keeping an ear and eye open for a thief to come and try to take what they had killed for the pack. Looking forward he can see Dragon Heart and Splattered Sky sneaking glances and whispering quietly to themselves instead of watching and listening like they were supposed to. Rolling his eyes Bottomless Chasm knows they will be mated before the next moon cycle is up. Mountain Crusher was dragging the carcass with him her dead eyes staring straight ahead, he didn't know how long her and her father would stay in the pack, after her mother had passed in a rockslide both wolves had seemed like nothing in the world mattered. Night Frost was taking the rear, she was adopted into the family as a pup, he hadn't had to the chance to really get to know her after he was sent away to travel for some time. Shuddering he tried to block out the memories of his past travels, he had ended up coming home before the first year battered, bruised and starved he hadn't fared well out by himself. He doubted he was right to be the next leader of Aeternum but he knew he couldn't let his family down especially since they had grown quite a bit since he had left. Once he had become a traveler the pack had opened its borders and allowed other travel wolves in many bringing pups into the pack and leaving them to continue their travels. He could never leave his pup he wanted what his father and mother had a strong bond with each other and a strong family tie with his pack.
Crimson Maw the alpha and his father calls for a pack meeting in the light of dawn. Finally dropping the carcass in the hoard both he and Mountain Crusher share a sigh of defeat, they both had wanted to just lay down after a long night of hunting, however no one refuses the call of the alpha. Slowly making his way to the middle of the grove he spots a she-wolf standing nervously beside the alphas three young pups laying underneath her. The she-wolf looked beautiful with the dawn light shining off her pelt, or at least in his opinion. Sitting himself down beside Dragon Heart he listens as the alpha begins to speak.
"This is Rainstorm, she was found wandering our borders by Dark Passenger and brought her here for sanctuary. Both her and her pups will live with us from now on. Since Husk's passing, we have been missing a link in our First Hunting party Rainstorm will take her place as one of the chasers."
Looking across the grove Bottomless Chasm could see both Mountain Crusher and Mo her father both look at each other and shake their heads. He knew it must be hard to see the place your mother and pair bond stood be replaced so suddenly, but the First Hunting Party needed a new chaser, and all the potential candidates were too old or too young to do the job. His father made the best decision he could for the packs continued success. Dragon Maw could only keep up both her role in the hunting party and Husk's for so long she was about to become a mentor for the pack in just two more moon cycles anyway, so they already needed a replacement for her. Bottomless Chasm could already feel the weight of leadership on his shoulders, and it was hopefully a few more years before he would actually be put in charge. Tuning back in her heard something about the pups being sick and needed Weeping Willow's care turning towards his older sister he could see the exhaustion on her face she had stayed up all night making a medicine for Night Frost's ear mites that had thankfully stayed with just her after she was quarantined to the sick den the night before.
Months had passed and just like he had thought Mountain Crusher and Mo had left surprisingly taking Night Frost with them. Losing pack members was never easy but it felt like a huge blow to the pack losing three hunters all in the same day. Bottomless Chasm could see his father pacing by the stream his mother consoling him. Letting a sigh out he decided he needed a break from all the stress of the pack and trotted over to the hunter's den where Rainstorm's Revenge resided. Her pups had died shortly after coming to the pack, sometimes when he would go and visit her, checking on her periodically and they had slowly become friends of a sort, every once in a while, he could see a faraway look in her eyes, and he knew she was thinking of her lost pups.
"Rainstorm, are you in here?" Bottomless Chasm yelled out into the den looking inside all he could see was a few dark forms of wolves napping. Wincing at having woke up a few of them he turned to look for her near the stream.
"Bottomless Chasm! Wait!" Hearing the voice of the new chaser for the hunting party two he stopped and waited for the younger wolf to catch up. Looking towards the steps coming towards him he could see Moon Shame right behind Epsilon Capricorni. Bottomless Chasm had mixed feelings about Moon Shame has she was his cousin, her father Gaping Shame was technically his older brother, but they had different mothers, and he couldn't imagine his father being with anyone other than Dragon Tongue, but he was always able to push those feelings aside they were pack therefor no matter what they were family.
"Yes? Is everything okay with you two?" Nodding their heads, they both look sheepish as Epsilon begins to explain.
"Well...You see..We wanted some help in chasing because we know we are both new and we don't want to hold you guys back?" Looking at the two wolves in confusion Bottomless Chasm asks in the calmest voice he could muster feeling his frustration start to boil over.
"I'm the finisher in the pack not the chaser, why are you asking me? Dragon Heart is the chaser of our hunting party?" Both of the young wolves looked at each other and proceeded to speak at the same time.
"But we can never find him!"
"He is always with Splattered Sky and won't talk to us!" Swallowing back his harsh words he could feel his ears pin themselves to his head and his fur start to bristle.
"Come with me then, I was looking for Rainstorm's revenge, she is a chaser, she will be willing to teach you." Finding the she-wolf wasn't difficult she had a routine and he seemed to have a knack at sniffing her out. Leaving the two young wolves under her care and tutelage Bottomless Chasm began his search for his wayward future beta. He knew he couldn't bother the alpha with this matter, already stressed he knew his father needed the break and this was his beta, therefor his responsibility. The longer it took for him to find his two packmates the more he could feel the tension in his body. Did Dragon Heart not take his duties to their pack seriously? He knew his brother was in love with the young she-wolf and vice-versa, but the pack came before love, or at least that is what he believed. Bottomless Chasm knew he loved Rainstorm, but he put the packs need above his own and didn't let it get in the way. Hearing a few quiet giggles in the bushes, he let a few long breathes out before walking through to confront his brother and his pair bond.
"Dragon Heart! Splattered Sky! I need to have a few words with you please." Waiting for the shock to receded and for them to give him their full attention. Finally having it he started lecturing them on pack duties. By the time he was finished both wolves look downtrodden, But Bottomless Chasm knew it needed to be said especially considering they broke one of the pack laws about having pups before the age of two.
"I know you two are trying, and you work hard on the hunting team. This pack appreciates everything you do, but Dragon Heart they will look up to you as beta in a little over a year. You must start acting like it." Seeing his brother nod his head Bottomless Chasm started to groom both wolves to comfort them. As the two love wolves took their leave Bottomless Chasm let a sigh of relief out.
"Thank you, you will make a fine leader." Jumping in shock Bottomless Chasm let's out a small yelp and turns to face his father the alpha.
"Thank you alpha, I only wish to make this pack great just like you." Feeling bashful about what he just admitted to, Bottomless Chasm looked towards the sky.
"You have proven time after time that you are ready for the next step in your training. In the next week the moon will be full and the veil between this world and the dream world will open. I want you to meet me at the river. We will traverse the dreamscape together." Bottomless Chasm looked back down towards his alpha in confusion. Dreamscape? Veil? What was the alpha talking about?
The weeks that followed were one of the more exhausting times Bottomless Chasm had ever endured. Between traveling between worlds with the alpha and keeping up with his pack duties, he honestly felt like his legs would fall off. There was so much to learn about this new world and soon he would be the one to travel it alone after he was made alpha. Lost in thought he almost jumped out of his skin when a soft voice interrupted his train of thought.
"You haven't been visiting me anymore. Have I done something wrong?" Feeling a lump in his throat and his exhaustion leave him, Bottomless Chasm whirled around exclaiming,
"NO! You could never do something wrong! You're perfect!" Feeling his body heat in embarrassment he feels his ears drop and he glances up at Rainstorm's Revenge from his lowered position. He could see the shock in her eyes from what he had just blurted out and let out a quiet sorry.
"No! Don't apologize! Do you really mean that? You think I'm perfect? Why?" Swallowing his pride, He raised his head, and looked her in the eyes for a long moment.
"I love you. I think you are the most beautiful she-wolf I have ever seen. I have been training with the alpha and that's why I haven't been able to see you as often here lately." The shock in Rainstorm's Revenge's eyes receded and was replaced with joy. Running from her position a few steps away she began to rub her head underneath his.
"I feel the same way! I love you too. I was just scared to say anything first. I was really sad when you stopped visiting me on your off time. I haven't seen you at all for the past few weeks and I got worried." With both of their tails wagging the two wolves wondered into the Alpha den and spent the rest of the night cuddled together.

Watching the pups play in the water Bottomless Chasm sighs in contentment, his first-born son was almost old enough to start doing apprenticeships. Feeling the alpha and beta both come on either side of him his feeling of happiness was like a giant ball inside his chest.
"You have about five more moon cycles before you fully take over the pack as alpha." Looking towards Alpha Crimson Maw he could see the scars from hard fought battles all over the old alpha's body. Both of his eyes had been taken by antlered animals and was now spending his twilight years in the pack grounds with his pair-bonded, the beta had taken to guiding him to different places where scent alone could not lead him.
"I'm ready to lead this pack, Father." leaning into his parents the three wolves continued to gaze out at the new generation, enjoying the sounds of play and laughter.