Tiva

You're making a midday trip to the Roaring River, tailing Tiva. He said it was something about knowing your territory now that you're a part of the pack. By the time the two of you had left, the summer heat took no time in cranking it to the MAX. Yet the massive guide sauntered ahead with a bounce in his step. He's very friendly, you think to yourself--pausing to shake a bug away, almost paling in comparison to the others...

The river is nearby, that familiar sound of rushing water calling to you from the outskirts of the forest. Tiva would check on you from time to time as if to make sure you're still there. "I know you're dying back there, but it won't be long now." He finally spoke, breaking the silence. "Dying is an understatement." You huff, mostly musing to yourself. Without replying, he hopped over a series of unearthed tree roots.

The rest of the way there was primarily uneventful, sparing some raucous crows hiding in the trees. Finally, you could see the water lying below a steep slope. Tiva stopped a couple of feet away from the edge of the sharp decline. He turned to face you—a doggish grin spread on his snout. ''You ready?'' he said, brimming with excitement. ''Ready for what?'' you respond, confused. What did you need to be ready for at a river? Without giving a reason, Tiva whirled back towards the water and launched himself at the drop. His body disappeared underneath the clear blue. Out of alarm, you follow, hesitance seizing you once you're at the edge. You expect to see him bobbing up at the surface, but he's not there. Where on earth did he go? A few more moments tick by, and he still hasn't resurfaced. You begin to worry. Without giving it further thought, you reel back—legs taught—and run towards the river as Tiva had done.

The water hits you like a boulder, and all your muscles begin to burn. Everything is black. For a moment, you wonder if you've died. What the hell? What's happening? Panic chews at your gut. You thrash in despair but to no avail.

Somewhere in the darkness, you can hear a faint noise. Like a voice! All your senses strain to listen, but you can't make out what it is. You try to move again, pushing your body harder than before. When it feels like you've gone nowhere, you go limp. The beating of your heart fills your eardrums.

…

TIVA! You feel a presence where there was not one before. The voice is frail now, but you can hear it.

WAKE UP!

Your lungs spasm hard, making you dry heave. Light explodes from everywhere—blinding you in a terrible white. The rebirthing lasted for only a few seconds, though it felt like it would go on forever. The sensation of solid ground on your belly and paws was comforting.

Tears stream down your damp fur, and you try to blink away a milky film laid over your eyes. The world around you had changed. It wasn't the river or the woods. Rocky hills stretched on for miles, lush with snow. The sky above was lilac and stained with clouds. Where the hell am I?

Suddenly you remember Tiva. Frantically you look around, struggling to stand. But he's gone like he was before. In defeat, you fall into a sit. Dread collapsed into your stomach, like a heavy pile of rotten meat. What am I going to do? How am I supposed to figure out where I am?

You were alone in a strange place with no one to comfort you. Wherever you were, what you feared most was that Tiva took you here.

*Pack's first second in command to the lead/partner.

*One of the first pack hunters.