Alla Champuli

Name means "sweet child"

10/06/2020

There was a loud ruckus in the hollow as Apisitkeli and his following of young pups played. The squeals and barks of the pups mixed with the guardians booming voice created a sound that was not uncommon to be heard throughout the pack's forest. It was this sound that drew in a small brown and gray puppy, separated from her family. She was fearful, but the hunger pains in her stomach brought her closer and closer to the pack's den.

Falatoni, the other pupsitter, was the first to notice the presence of an outsider. The dark-colored female lifted her nose, taking in deep breaths as she attempted to make out whether this intruder was a danger to the pack. Apistikeli noticed her alert stance and stopped his play immediately. The pups continued to tumble around, unaware of the intrusion.

The little gray pup stumbled closer to the Two Trees den. Falatoni, hackles lifting, went towards the sound. When met with the sight of a small, half-starved pup, the dark female calmed. The pup froze upon seeing the pack wolf, her tail quickly tucking between her legs. She crouched in a submissive posture as Falatoni advanced towards her. 

"You seem to be lost, little one," the she-wolf's smooth voice came.

"I'm hungry," the pup squeaked.

Falatoni inspected the young wolf, sniffing her flanks. The scent of milk and her birth pack was fading from her, so she must've been wandering for a while.

With a snort, Falatoni grabbed the pup by the scruff and carried her to the densite. By this time, Apistikeli had rounded up the rest of the pups and they were all sitting around him, their eyes wide as they watched their other sitter bring a stranger into their home. The pup was limp in Falatoni's grasp, too weak to fight in any way. The she-wolf padded over to a shallow hole in the ground and gently placed the pup down. The dirt of the den was cool on the pup's paws.

Falatoni then trotted off into the undergrowth outside the clearing, disappearing for a moment. Apistikeli and his gang of youngsters decided to investigate the newcomer at that point. The pup once again crouched as the pack wolves came near. Her ears flattened against her head as the pups touched their noses to her flanks. They were about the same age as her, but they all lifted their tails, signaling that they were not being submissive. Apistikeli himself sniffed her head, his large black nose twitching. He was a very large wolf, although for some reason, the pup did not feel intimidated by him.

Falatoni returned. As she approached, the pups filed out of her way and ran off into the center of the clearing, forgetting about the newcomer and beginning a new game. Apistikeli watched them, but stayed near as Falatoni dropped something in front of the pup. It was the carcass of a weasel.

The pup hesitated, dipping her head low. She crawled closer to the carcass, her mouth watering as the smell of food filled her nose.

"Eat, little one. I give you permission," Falatoni instructed.

The pup waited no longer. She began to eat. Apistikeli, watching, chuckled and looked to Falatoni.

"Are we keeping her, then?" he asked, stifling a laugh.

"I won't leave her to starve. Talako would agree," the dark-furred female huffed.

"Are you going to name her, then?"

Falatoni was quiet for a moment, considering his question. "She's very sweet. It seems to me that her name is Champuli."

Apistikeli smiled and flicked his white tail. "I would agree," he said good-naturedly.