Ashen

The sky was heavy with clouds, casting a gray pall over the den site. Ashen lay alone at the edge of the pack's territory, her dark gray fur blending with the shadows of the trees. Her body ached from the labor she had endured days before, but the pain in her heart was far greater.

She had given birth to only one pup—a tiny, frail creature with fur as pale as mist. From the moment it was born, the pack's whispers had begun. "One pup? That's hardly worth celebrating." "It's too small. It'll never survive." The judgment hung in the air like a weight she couldn't escape.

Ashen had named the pup Cloud, for its pale fur and soft, delicate frame. From the moment it had entered the world, she had poured every ounce of her love and strength into it. But Cloud was weak, struggling to nurse, its breaths shallow and quick. Despite her efforts, the other wolves avoided her den, their silence a louder condemnation than any words could be.

The day of judgment came sooner than she had feared. Ray, the pack's leader, stood before her now, her red-and-white fur bristling, her olive-green eyes cold but resolute. Around her stood a small group of wolves—some who pitied Ashen, others who openly agreed with Ray.

"Ashen," Ray began, her voice calm but firm. "You know the rules of the pack. Weakness cannot be tolerated. Cloud is too frail to hunt, too fragile to survive. Keeping it here only endangers the rest of us."

Ashen rose to her paws, her body trembling. "Ray, please. Cloud is just small. It's still so young—there's time for it to grow stronger."

Ray's expression didn't waver. "And if it doesn't? How long do we wait, risking the pack's resources for a pup that may never contribute?"

Ashen's heart pounded in her chest. She turned to the others, her gaze pleading. "Please, give me more time. I can make Cloud stronger. I'll hunt for it myself if I have to. I'll do whatever it takes."

A wolf stepped forward—Kira, her sleek black coat gleaming as her silver eyes regarded Ashen with a mixture of pity and disdain. "You know it's not about you, Ashen. It's about the pack. One pup isn't worth jeopardizing all of us."

Ashen's throat tightened. She looked down at Cloud, who lay curled against her paw, its tiny body rising and falling with effort. It looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, and the sight nearly broke her.

"Ray," Ashen said, her voice cracking. "It's my pup. If it's weak, it's my responsibility. But please don't take it from me."

Ray's gaze softened, but only slightly. "I'm not taking it from you. I'm giving you a choice. You can stay, or you can leave with it. But Cloud can't stay here."

The words hit Ashen like a blow, stealing the air from her lungs. Around her, the pack watched silently, their gazes a mix of sympathy and indifference.

For a moment, she considered leaving—taking Cloud and starting fresh somewhere far away. But she knew the reality. Without the pack, she would struggle to feed herself, let alone her pup. Cloud wouldn't last long on its own, and she wouldn't either.

Her legs buckled, and she sank to the ground beside her pup. "I… I understand," she whispered, tears streaking her face. She nuzzled Cloud gently, her voice trembling as she spoke to it. "I love you, my little Cloud. Be strong. Be brave. No matter what happens, I'll always love you."

Ray stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "Ashen… I'm sorry."

With that, she signaled to a pair of wolves, who herded Cloud away from the den. The pup cried out weakly, its tiny voice breaking Ashen's heart all over again. She didn't move, didn't fight. She could only watch as her pup disappeared into the woods, its small form swallowed by the shadows.

The pack began to disperse, leaving Ashen alone in the clearing. She curled into herself, the emptiness inside her threatening to consume her.

From that day on, she carried the weight of loss like a stone in her chest. The other wolves avoided her, their gazes filled with unease or pity. And though she remained with the pack, a part of her had been lost forever, chasing after her pup in the shadows of the forest.