Homework completed story

The frozen air made my nose burn as I sniffed the ground for a scent. My grey fur kept me warm, though when the wind whipped it, or the rain pelted it, I grew cold, as did my pack.

My family.

I caught a whiff of elk and wagged my tail, signalling for my pack to hunt with me. My cubs were at my side already, and they were excited, as it was their first hunt. My luna was just behind me, keeping the cubs in check with short nips to their hind legs if they lagged.

I ran, following the scent, revelling in the feeling of running free with my pack through the bush. I felt invincible.

I screeched to a halt when the smell of elk was overpowering. The smell danced around my nostrils, luring me in, making me pad closer and closer… down on my stomach now, the cold winter frost freezing my belly; but I didn’t care.

I watched my mate crawl forward, awaiting the signal to join him, when, just as he lunged, I spotted a hunched figure sitting in behind a tree, wielding a gun.

A bright flash of light… A loud bang… a terrified scream… then silence.

My mate lay, sprawled across the ground, sunken into the snow in a puddle of his own blood. His eyes shadowed fear, confusion and pain.

My heart slowly got stomped on, shot at, punched, ripped, shredded, and then fell into little pieces on the floor. Tears streamed down my face, and I herd our cubs into the throng of the pack, ordering them to stay, before running out to him, anger and grief overwhelming my common sense.

I only had time to reach him before a searing pain runs through my chest, and I stumble, falling onto my mate. My blood starts to stain his fur, and the world starts to become darker. I close my eyes, making it easier to go. At least I’ll be free, with my mate, when I’m off the face of the earth. I smile. That’s my last thought before everything goes black.

A few years after my parents… died, I led the pack. My head held high, I ran through the deep snow, and avoided the white-topped trees.  The pack ran behind me, following my every movement, and my brothers and one sister ran at my shoulders. Their tongues lolled out of their mouths and their happiness entered my soul, as we ran, without a care, through the forest. I caught a whiff of rabbit and ran, gleefully, signalling with my tail for the pack to follow. I spotted the rabbit, quivering in fear, it’s leg tied to a tree.

Wait… what?

Yes, that’s right. He checked again. It’s leg was tied to the tree. He glanced around, making the pack stop. Under his breath he growled, his tail flicking in apprehension.

His eyes darted around the nearby forestry until his gaze found what he was looking for.

A dark figure sat, holding a gun that rested over a log.

My grow grew in intensity as I realised who this was, and what he had done.

I flicked my tail, and stormed over to the man. When I was a few feet away from him I sprinted, then jumped on him, pinning him down. I put my muzzle my his neck and just let myself breath in his scent, the one that would be all over the forest floor in just a few seconds, in the form of blood.

Just as I bring my head back, to deliver the killing bite, I notice how wide the man’s eyes are, how fear fills them. I falter, and have a thought. If I kill this man, am I just as bad as he is? I can’t bring myself to kill him, so I growl loudly in his face, showing him my sharp canines, my lips peeled back, before jumping off. I stalk over to his gun, and crush it between my teeth, reducing it to rubble.

I turn and give him a stare, before running over to the rabbit and snapping it’s neck. I trot back over to my pack, and start to howl. I think of my parents, and imagine they are watching over me, smiling, happy with my decisions.

That man won’t be killing any more wolves any time soon.