Silver City Lore/Pack Records [DNR]

Posted 2023-07-16 08:13:04

#1041327

Killed for Lore

Art or Additional Info

Tale of a Cataclysm

POV: Noct and Whole Pack.

The sun cast an eerie red orange sheen over the world as it slowly crept into the sky. The wolves of the Silver City pack slept soundly in their dens. None more the wiser of the calamity the world would unleash on them. It started with a low rumble throughout the coniferous forest as the earth slowly began to wake. Rocks and pebbles rattled around the Pupsitter den, creating a racket that began to stir the different wolves. Henna, the oldest Pupsitter, lifted his head and gazed around slowly. Cautiously, nervous he rose and walked to the mouth of the den. Peering around the clearing, he saw the morning hunting partings lingering in the clearing. Those 20 wolves shifted nervously from side to side with unease. Sniffing cautiously in the air, he tried to quell the unease gathering in his stomach. He felt the presence of another beside him, with a flick of the ear as a greeting he didn't break from his post.

"What is going on?" Noct, a blue grey wolf with a mask of red spoke softly.

"Nothing good." Henna replied curtly.

It took both wolves a minute to realize the soft rumbling had ceased, but the unease continued to grow. It was quiet, too quiet. Henna couldn't recall a time where there was no wind rustling the trees, small critters scurrying in the undergrowth, or even birds chirping. The silence was deafening. Henna opened his mouth to start speaking to the young pup beside him when it happened. The ground shifted completely out from under them. Both wolves fell, digging nails into the trembling earth in vain attempts to steady themselves. A doe burst through the pine forest, unfazed by the hunting party standing in awe in front of them. By now the Beta, Aphuch, and his mate, Eve, had stepped away from their hunting party. His ears were pinned flat as he dug his claws into the dirt fighting to stay upright while his mate braced against his body.

As if sensing the growing despair in the pack, a bright blue pelt streamed from the pine forest. The palpable relief was short lived, as the Alpha slid to a stop in front of Aphuch.

"The pack leave now!" He growled. Not a question, a demand. As if on queue, the hunters splintered off into the different dens to wake the sleeping wolves for them to gather. Henna spun around practically bumping Noct over. "Quick. Everyone awake. All adolescents pair up with a hunter. All pupsitters and bitches carry a pup." By now, most of the adult wolves had already begun stirring due to the shaking beneath them. A low whine from the back of the den caught Noct's ears. His eyes settled on Nifa, a young bitch who had just welped a litter of 3 pups the night before. She had one pup in her mouth, pacing in circles whining. It took Noct a moment to realize, that her other two pups were gone and where they laid was covered by the ceiling. A grey flash dipped into the back of the den as Minos, Nifa's mate, went to her side. He didn't even try to talk reason into her, just grabbed her scruff and started dragging her from the den. Noct locked eyes with Minos and froze. Fear flashed in the hunter's eyes. Flee. Instincts kicked in, as Noct wheeled around and exited the den. The clack and fracture of rocks dropping from the ceiling behind the wolves, as they exited the den.

By now the pack was gathered in the clearing, minus the current active scouts, Haniel and Sathanas, and the herbalist, Yael. Those three always started their days before the sun rose, in order to stay on top of pack needs. Unease and fear hung in the air, by now as the pack huddle together trying to remain upright.

"The earth is shaking and splitting open. Pack follow Aphuch as he leads you to safer ground. Adolescent remain with an adult, pupsitters carry pups, everyone in pairs unleash otherwise informed." Without a word, Aphuch, jumped forward with a brief stiff tail flick to signal the pack to follow him. The red wolf was taking a route, Lucifer, described to him.

"Camael you know the herbalist foraging grounds for this season so go find Yael. Scylla, Haniel was scouting in the Glacier please go see to him. Leyak, Sathanas was scouting in the rainforest please go see to her. Amenadiel, to me." The leads voice level, firm trying to instill some degree of reassurance to the pack.

The dark blue wolf ambled over to his lead, ducking his head in acknowledgement "Here Lucifer, how may I help?" He chuffed.

"We have another problem, Amenadiel. Not only is the earth splitting, but there are humans in our forest. We need to follow them to make sure they don't come near our home." The alpha whispered low, to keep from worrying the pack further. With a flick of his tail, the bright blue Alpha bounded off into the forest with Amenadiel hot on his heels.

Noct watched as the wolves singled out by the lead, dipped their heads and darted off. There was a reason they were singled out. All three significantly experienced in their skills to be mentors. A pange of jealousy overrode the fear, in Noct for a split second. To be that needed would be an honor. The young wolf turned to look at the apprenticed he was paired with. She was a ruddy auburn pup with black streaks over her rump and tail. Almost old enough to strike out on her own, but not quite old enough for the pack to allow her to be considered an adult. "Hey, I'm Noct." He quipped happily, flashing a small smile in an attempt to soothe the adolescent. The whites of her eyes flashed as she briefly side eyed him and nodded.

Fear. The scent of fear hung thick Noct mused to himself as they paced near the rear of the pack. Below their paws, the ground had settled no longer violently pitching from side to side. Even then, the pack had to pick their way around large fallen pines and cracks in the ground. Occasionally, they'd see critters like squirrels or a bundle of rabbit kits crouched terrified and unmoving. Everything in the forest was shattered.

Noct had been preoccupied by the plight of the critters he almost missed the yelp of the adolescent female that was supposed to be beside him. Fear gripped him as he turned to see the young pup scrambling to get the ground underneath her rear paws. The young female must have placed her paws on a weak portion of the ground, giving way underneath her. Without a thought, Noct dug his teeth into her nape. With a yank, the young adolescent was up and back with the pack. There was a sudden lurch as the ground beneath Noct's paws dipped lower. It took only moments for him to register the rushing brown around him was the remnants of the ground laying before him. By now the empty black abyss below was yanking him deeper. So this is how it feels to fall… Race through his mind as he tried to gather his wits about him. With what little strength and calmness the young wolf could muster, he released a soft sad howl. The sound and wolf were swallowed up by the earth.

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POV: Camael and Yael.

A rhythmic song echoed along the ground as the tri-colored male raced to the border of the coniferous forest and taiga. That border area was where Haniel had shown Yael a bearberry cluster. There was a bought of constipation going on amongst some of the pups, so Camael knew young Yael would be trying to stock up after depleting her supplies. By now the ground had quit shaking, but the male was having to leap over cracks and fallen trees. He felt his heart sink as he caught climaxes of the destruction around him. To his right an eagle sat stunned on the ground, beak wide with fright and to his left the destroyed burrow of likely a badger or other small mammal. None were spared. His grim thoughts pricked in the back of his mind. Shoving the negativity aside, he slowed to a trot as he neared the spot Haniel had showed him. His eyes searched for the frosted blue coat of the young herbalist. Ears pricked trying to catch any sound in the silent world. Finally, he heard a faint voice off to his right. Cautiously, the male inched forward until he caught a glimpse of Yael.

"There you are! " He yipped, Come on, Lucifer wants the pack to gather in a safer area. He watched the light blue head lift up and meet his eyes. The sight stopped him, she'd been crying. He could only see her head around the debris of trees and bushes, but as he climbed over the fallen pine tree he realized she wasn't alone. Crushed underneath the tall pine was a young mountain lion. The poor cat was so still, Camael thought it had already passed, but then the creature took a ragged gasp.

"I've tried to lift the tree myself, but....."Yael's exhausted voice trailed off.

There was evidence of healing salves applied to reachable areas of the cougar, but Camael could tell from here this was beyond the work of salve. Edging closer, Camael sized up the tree. Even with him here now both wolves would be unable to lift the debris off the cat. Even if they could, the poor animal would not last long.

"Yael, gather your supplies. I'll take care of her. " He looked at the younger she wolf and gave a faint smile. Something all hunters and leaders had to learn at some point was life rotated in a never ending cycle. The kindest thing Camael could offer the young cat now was a quick passing.

The young blue she wolf edged closed to the cougar giving the cat a comforting lick. I promised I would stay with her and that she wouldn't be alone. Softly she whispered not even glancing at Camael as he walked closer. He didn't respond, just moved quickly with his teeth to dispatch the young cat before them. Just another victim. Neither wolf spoke as Camael grabbed nearby debris to bury the fallen animal. Both wolves bowed their heads to say a small farewell/prayer over the cat. Life in the forest was valuable and fragile no matter which species was involved. Camael flicked his tail in the direction of Yael, to signal for her to follow him.

"I'll lead." He chuffed as he climbed back over the fallen pine. Slowly, the pair began their travel back to the meeting place of the pack.