Adolfo

Adolfo didn't understand it...how could this happen...he walked along with the now bloodstained fields that he had hunted on and grown to love over the past year he had been in this pack.  A whine and a low growl escaped his muzzle as he thought about that traitor.  His best friend, no his own blood had killed over half of his pack. Nita, Rue....poppy and even his beautiful Scarlett.  She had murdered her very own puppies!  They were all gone.

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The night had brought an unexpected warm front showing that the winter was ending.  It had been a rough winter and the pack was weak from food shortage.  In the pain in his belly was no stranger to him as he had been starting to opt to eat after the pups and elders most nights.  Sure he could eat with The alpha, as he should of in second in command, but he loved the pack.  He met with Adolpha and the concerned look showed on her face.  "We lost a pup in the nursery today.  Bad omen after bad omen ever since Czarina took the Alpha position.  She is no Accalia." Adolfo ran his claws through the dirt.  His hunting team was on their break so no one found it odd he wasn't hunting. "She is becoming more and more secretive...both Kettu and Keegan have spotted her leaving and crossing back from the direction of the rouge border." Adolpha stood up and shook her head.  "Has anyone figured out that you share the blood of emperor with her."  He snarled "I have that blood, but it is vile and I will never be like those rogues.  I can feel something is wrong. How did she get the alpha spot."  "Kettu and Nita both said that the starry hill isn't always right.  In fact, it judges your inner thoughts which can be changed.  Nita said that the rightful Alpha shines like the heavens with a heart of gold.  True intentions will come from the blood of the pack."  Adolfo's hair bristled. "Something big is going to happen...I don't like the sound of it.  Do you think that you are the Alpha?" "Adolfo, I hated that den, my place is with the pup sitters.  Kettu has it so I do most of the work in delivery now.  I don't want it.  Come we must go back so your team can hunt.

Adolfo ran as fast as his paws could carry him.  He heard Todd and Fiona hard on his flank. He heard the delicate paw steps of Acelynn and Wysteria behind him.  They were awesome she-wolves and he loved hunting with them.  If it weren't for Poppy he would be all about Todd's daughter.  Aalee was in front of them.  He had escaped a surprise attack and was laden with fresh blood and cuts.  The hunting team sprung into action attacking and snapping at rogues as they entered the training clearing.  Adolfo could smell tons of block and the rush put furry into his muzzle as he bit and ripped the pelts of the intruders.  He flew through the clearing to check camp they had not made it here yet.  He was floored to hear the voice of Czarina's dad.  "well done, my daughter...you had taken over and tricked every one of those flea-bitten pack mutts.  The time of the rogue is rising. Once we shred them you will stay here with half our pack and I will go back to the hills anyone of those mutts who doesn't join you just rip em apart."  He felt his blood boil and watched as the elder aloha disappeared leaving the she-wolf by herself. "Czarina...what have you done...you trader...you brought them here!" These are your packmates!" he forced out in a half snarl, half whine. Czarina scoffed. "I gave them a chance...so many of them share our bloodline, but they won't swear alliance to the rogues...they will die for turning soft.  Adolfo, we can rule the plains and the hills and everything in between this pack was the last thing in the way.  All I had to do was fool that old senile wolf."  "You are never going to be half of the Alpha Accalia was! When I am done washing the clearing with your mangey pelt you won't even be alive enough to join sky pelt. He lunged at her digging his teeth hard into her flank.  "I will never be like you or the rogues.  Your bloodline doesn't define me. The pack knows that. 

The sun rose on the exhausted male and he was awoken by Kettu.  At his paws Czarina lay barely moving.  "Kettu I...." the fox interrupted. "Saved us all.  Czarina even if she lives will be paralyzed.  She will no longer be able to continue her bloodline. She killed her pups...."  Adolfo shook and then froze.  "The rest of the pack, where are they?" Kettu sighed "Follow me...we must make haste to the clearly.  The deaths are vast....anyone who had rogue blood was targeted. Nita, Rue, Poppy are all already passed along with Brayleigh, Milani, and Macy.  They are all dying...our numbers are close to 40 wolves total." 

Adolfo found himself in the clearing surrounded by adults and puppies snarling at him.  Todd stepped forward almost snapping at him.  "Adolfo, you filth where were you!! You did this didn't you. Don't think I don't notice when one of my team sneaks around.  You side with Czarina?"  Adolfo jumped back. "No! Todd pull yourself together...I was fighting Czarina and this battle with you guys.  She's mortally wounded. I got her!" Adolpha stepped in front of Adolfo lowering her head and growling at Todd. "He wasn't sneaking.  He was meeting with me as is his duty. We meet under the lone oak during your team's hunting break,"  Acelynn stepped out of the crowd and next to Adolpha facing her father.  She was covered in blood, but it pleased him to see she was not hurt. "Father, stop you know what kind of wolf Adolfo is.  He hunts well and commits himself to us.   It was him who got me on the hunters when Vixen got too hurt to continue.  He also allowed you to step down and be with Fiona.  He wants everyone to be happy. 

"She is not wrong..." a voice chided in and the sunlight bounced off the oddly blue coat of Astra from the opposite hunting team.  She was a quiet and careful wolf and no one really ever heard her talk.  She was well-liked and always working hard.  She was a friend to all the elders and a favorite mentor of the pups.  He had never heard anything negative about her. "We all know Adolfo works hard.  Todd, it is not fair to judge a wolf by the circumstances of his birth.  Not too long ago, you were an outsider. Accalia took a gamble on you and appointed you when Apollo died. The poison in Czarina's blood is strictly, Czarina...listen to your daughter....she is brilliant."  Todd relaxed and dipped his head to Adolfo respectfully "my daughter, Astra, and Adolpha are right.  I am just on edge with all the loss of pack life here.  Kettu tells me we are at close to 4 gone."  Astra finished "Let us honor these 40 tragically lost by keeping our pack ties strong.  We must tend to our wounded.  B team will hunt first if A team helps clean camp.  We can switch at high sun."  Adolfo caught Kettu's careful gaze and he too understood what was being thought. Astra was the light from the blood.