Pluto

"One of Petal's first litter of pups was born with an anomaly. Yes, all puppies have short snouts and big heads, but this one... it is very wrinkled and visually deformed. The little one is audibly gasping for air, but he is alive, and he seems healthy for now, but I fear for him...", these were the news Nocturna - the herbalist of the Noname Pack - brought to the leader's den. Iceborn had just woken up and looked a little confused, but she caught herself quickly, got up and followed the wise melanistic to the herbalists maternity ward.

There it was... a little pup in the middle of them all - at first glance, looking just like the others - heavily breathing and searching for milk. Even though it looked a little different, the mother was laying there with love in her eyes, looking at her pups. As long as she cares well for them, it might go out well, Iceborn thinks. She could hear Petal mumble:"Pluto... That is gonna be your name. And you will be very strong one day - just like your father is. You already have his spikes."

About half a month later, Nocturna entered Iceborn's den:"I have bad news... Pluto's breathing is laboured. His tongue barely fits within his mouth and he makes lots of gasping and snorting noises every day. Even his eyes already opened and something does not seem right..." Starting to get worried, Iceborn asked her to check on him even more regularly and to ask other packs' herbalists about the uncommon illness and if there are possibilities to cure it.

Another half month had passed. Nocturna entered the leader's den and told her:"Pluto is having serious issues with breathing. There's not a quiet day in the cave - the puppy's snoring and snorting is a constant, worrisome noise. Even though they don't admit it, a lot of the wolves sharing the cave with them are annoyed at the noise. Also, I have tried everything I could, but nothing seemed to help the little boy. It might soon be his time to leave and join our ancestors..." Iceborn nodded and thanked the herbalist. Saddened, she went on with her day and duties.

When another 15 days had passed, the whole den became quiet. The poor pup Pluto had succumbed to his breathing difficulties and had taken his last breath early in the morning. Petal mourned his death and snuggled with the deceased, not wanting to let him go. Maneka - another pup from the pack who he became friends with - cried out next to his body. It was a very sad day.

But, what all of the members of the pack did not know was, that Pluto had a dream. Right after his last breath, he dreamed of a far land dipped in deep blue: The dreamlands. He didn't know that he was there, though. Confused, he wandered around, noticing that his legs could carry him far easier than before and that his chest didn't feel so heavy anymore. "Am I dead?", he wondered, thinking about his mother and late friend. He saw many mysterious beasts, but there was no uneasy feeling. In front of him, there was a big lake with many shining blue lights mirrored in it - he was drawn towards it. Moving his head down, he could see his own reflection, realizing that he still looked the same. A slight feeling of dissappointment overcame him and his thoughts wandered to his home, his family and his friend.

After a while - he had dozen off in the tall grass - he was woken up by a warm feeling in his face. Opening his eyes, he saw the head of a horse directly in front of him. It was white and very big. It made him a little scared, but then the mare spoke:"You are Pluto. The unfortunate pup from the Noname Pack, cursed with a disease called Brachycephaly, which unavoidably leads to death in a young age. But, I am here to give you a chance. The possibility to stay withhin your pack and loved ones and to save your pack. It must be saved. You will return, as it is your destiny. Your illness will not bother you anymore and you will not age as the others. Farewell." She lowered her head again and touched Pluto's head. His eyesight got confused, just as his brain, overwhelmed with what he just heard.A bright source of light made him unable to see, until he could smell the soft warmth of his cave and his mother.

Gasping for air, after being gone for so long, he struggled and moved and whined. Completely shooked, his mother jumped up, realizing that her boy was still alive, jumping and howling cheerfully. Maneka was also confused but overjoyed, rushed towards him and hugged him.

He told those two that he had a weird dream and needed to see Iceborn. The eyes of the two widened as they realized that he suddenly could talk fluently without a problem, his chest moving normally when breathing and hearing no struggle. The leader rushed over when she was called. The small pup told all witnesses - the mother, the friend, the leader and the herbalist - what he had dreamed of.
Iceborn was shocked about the information she got - but relieved to have Pluto back. She reassured Pluto that he can rest easy now and should not think about these things, as the adults will handle it. If he should have similar dreams, he should let her know though.

From this day on, Pluto could live in the pack as the other wolves. The only difference was that he - in fact - did not age. He would always stay a pup. He felt, deep inside, that there will be the time where he has to do something very important but, until then, he will live his life and try to help the pack in any other way possible.

The time went by, Iceborn had retired, the pack had moved to the Taiga, wolves had aged and Pluto had become used to his fate. Some members of the pack still thought of him as the one who was sent do fulfill a duty, while others just saw him as the same pup he was born as. He had found a few small ways to help others in the pack, just as helping the herbalist with sorting herbs and mixing medicine, or taking some of the work off of the pupsitters by entertaining the pups.
When he had nothing to do though, he went on little adventures with his friend Maneka. She had also aged and was now close to half a year old, but they were still very close friends.

One day, they decided to sneak out and explore the still unknown area around their new den. They found a beatiful clearing in the forest with a small pond. They decided to stay a bit and played in a hollow log, when they heard something. Peeking out of the wooden structure, they realized that they had been surrounded by a group of coyotes while the pups were busy playing. Scared for their lives, they cowered in the middle of the log, where the coyotes could not reach them. But it was just a question of time, when hunger, thirst or something else would draw them out.
The night came quick and the poor puppies started to loose hope, when they heard a snarl. Through a litte gap in the wood, they could see something white, jumping from one coyote to another, making them squel and try to get away. Most of them got killed in a brutal way. Even more scared now, Maneka and Pluto moved even closer to each other, hoping for it all to end well, when it became quiet.

They could here steps coming closer and suddenly a low voice:"Are you okay?"
Surprised, the two looked out and saw a white wolf, face covered in scars and blood. They answered yes and slowly came out of their hiding spot.
When their savior saw Pluto's face, he gsaped:"It is you..." Pluto tilted his head, confused.

Then the warrior spoke:"I am Sirmiq. I travelled here from near the Glacier after I abandoned my pack. The reason fot it is you. I have dreamt of you and the ancestor spoke to me about you. I have never been anything but a warrior in my pack, much less a seer or anything like that, but that one night, I dreamt of you. This... vision showed me you and your pack, how you are important for something that is not known yet. It called me to protect you. The last second of my vision showed me a very bright star, which I had never seen before. And the following night the exact same star was visible in the sky, so I knew that I had to follow it. It led me here, to this clearing where a group of coyotes was waiting around this log. I guessed, it could be a sign, so I got rid of them and... here you are. Please, allow me to follow you, to join your pack and let me protect you."

Pluto was stunned. He nodded and explained:"This i a little much for me, but we have to talk to the leader. Please come with us."

They went back home, where the mothers of the two were already sick of fear for their young. Secptically they watched Sirmiq and his wounds. Pluto called for Apollo, as he was the new leader, and explained everything. Sirmiq was allowed to stay.

After less than a week, he had gotten a quite remarkable reputation as very helpful, protective and friendly - despite his fierce looks. He also made friends with Pluto who was glad to have his - and Maneka's company.