Astraea

Astraea

The young she-wolf was eagerly waiting for the hunting party so assemble. This was the day she proved herself. After much begging, whinning and generally annoying the rest of the pack she finally got the chance to acompany the hunters on an actual hunt.

The hunting party was led by a big dark male by the name of Agnar who was the party's finisher. Strong, big and agile Aganr was a capable hunter and a strict leader. Astraea wanted to impress him, show him that she could hunt like the rest of them. She would finally prove them.

Astraea was the Alphas' daughter. Loved and spoiled by all, she never had to lift a paw to have something. As time went by she grew up to hate it. She always travelled with an escort, never allowed to wander too far. Worst of all she was to pair bond with the current Beta male and take on her parents' role as an Alpha. She disliked her intended with a passion. Life in her birth pack wasn't necessary hard, but it felt like it was limiting her, constricting her. But now she had the chance to prove herself to her parents and the rest of the pack that she wasn't some spoiled princess.

As the party assembled Atraea was in a state of jitters, both excitement and anxiety welling up inside her. Finally all party members present and accounted for they moved out. Agnar threw Astraea a questioning look as though asking her if she was ready. The young she-wolf scoffed and nodded. Still they didn't trust her, still they expected that she backed up or got cold feet. She growled annoyed, a hard look of determination fell upon her muzzle. Her slow trot broke into a run as she chased after the stalker.

The hunting grounds were near a river and herds of all kinds of prey gathered there. The area was open - little to no trees - so they had to be careful. The stalker was following the scent of an old elk bull - their target this hunt. Astraea stopped next to the group. Watching as the stalker sniffed the area. Already the prey seemed to be at high alert at the presence of predators as they shifted nervously, they hooves dancing around. Finally the stalker returned to the group - a small, but agile female by the name of Roa. "It seems the bull got separated from his herd, probably couldn't keep up with them. I've tracked him at the far end of the north side of the river. He seemed to be resting. No scents of other predators or packs so far," she reported what she saw, her voice calm and even. She was an experienced stalker and rarely made mistakes. Agnar nodded and led the group to the location.

Astraea followed close by, her heart tudding madly. She had little to no experience with hunting big prey. Yes, she practiced with hares, squirrels, mice, boars, but an elk bull old as he may be was dangerous prey.

Finally they reached the bull who was now munching away at the grass. The chasers split up surrounding the elk. The bull, now aware of the predators, started running as the chasers followed him. They nipped at his legs, bit on his tights. The elk tried to kick them a few times, but they were experienced chasers and managed to avoid them. Finally they were stirring the elk bull to Agnar and Astraea - the finishers. Agnar broke into a run and so did the she-wolf.

Being quite reckless and brave Astraea passed Agnar and started bitting the elk at his legs.It was slowing down. Suddenly a brown mass started running directly at her. A big male brown bear was charging at the elk trying to steal their catch. Astraea growled and leaped at the bear trying to distract him. She could hear the angry shouts of her party mates, but she ignored them. The bear switched his attention to the she-wolf and swipped at her with his big paw. She barely dodged the swipe, her party mates now cornering the bear trying to force it away. The bear became angrier and swipped again this time hitting her in the chest and opening a wound. Astrea howled in pain and instantly became disoriented. The bear bit her back and she fell down. The big brute did not stop, he trashed and swipped at her party mates leaving deep gnashes. Astraea was whimpering on the ground unable to stand up. A large clawed paw fell on her exposed belly forcing all the air from her and nearly tearing her stomach open.

Finally the party managed to chase the bear away. They were all wounded and bleeding but still alive. Agnar let out a howl calling for the pack's herbalist. Astraea couldn't keep her eyes open any more and fell uncoscious.

When she woke up again her whole body ached. She felt something cool on her stomach - a healing salve. She was inside the pack den and alone. She assumed that the others' injuries were no that bad and that's why there were not here. She could hear voices that carried over in the den. Her parents and the herbalist.

"She will be fine. Probably won't be fit to hunt ever again. She got extremely lucky she isn't crippled or worse...dead," the herbalist's voiced reached her ears and she winced. She will never be able to hunt again. Tears gathered at the edge of her eyes. "Hunt?! She isn't leaving this den ever again! She is reckless and immature. She disobeyed an order from her superior and went after the bear. She has proven that she isn't fit to hunt. I want guards here day and night. She is not to be let out of sight. Am I clear?" her father growled out and then there was silence. Astraea broke down and cried. She failed. She acted like an eager pup trying to prove herself to her mentor. She will never be a hunter. And worst of all - she put her party mates in danger. She should've followed protocol and backed away. The young she-wolf cried herself to sleep.

Weeks went by her wounds slowly healing up. As per order she wasn't allowed out of the den. Food and water was brought to her and the Herbalist made frequent visits to make sure she was ok. Her parents did not visit and it hurt her. She assumed they were still angry at her, ashamed of her. She couldn't hold her tears no more.

Months passed by and she became a prisonor. Her wounds were nearly all healed up and she was anxious to get out. They did not allow her. Finally she had enough and tried to force her way out. They stopped her. Angry, confused and tired she backed away farther into the cave. She plopped down staring at the cave walls. Why were they doing this? Is this her punishment? Something cought her attention - a spot of light coming from a crack between the rocks. Ears perked she got up and started removing the rock with her paws. Finally she made a who big enough to escape through. And she did so.

She broke into a run. There is no turning back now. She can never return there. As she ran she was reminded of her injuries, the pain on her belly and chest was hindering her run. She felt faint, but kept running. Finally she was out of the pack's territory. Still she did not stop. Astraea did not know where she was going, she knew little of the outside world. She ran and ran until the pain worsened and she was forced to stop. The sun was setting, painting the sky a beaitiful shade of red and orange. The she-wolf looked around there was nothing here. Just trees. It appears to be a forest. She sniffed the air. Wolves. Her heart rate spiked and fear started gripping her. She had to move. She did not know this pack, she did not know if they are friendly or hostile towards loners. It was a great risk being here. She cursed herself for not noticing sooner. The young she-wolf was so focused on running away that she did not consider the dangers of the open world.

Her muscles burned as she pushed her body to the limit. Her stomach growled, but she ignored it. Astraea had slowed down from her run, she simply could not run anymore. The pain was worsening and her eyes were droopy. She tried to sniff her way out of the forest, but her brain couldn't make sense of all the scents. There were wolves, bears, coyotes, foxes, boars. Finally the pain and exhaustion got the better of her and she colapsed. The last thing she saw was piercing blue eyes of a dark figure looking down at her. "are...okay?" she heard before she fainted.

The pale she-wolf woke up in a cave. Panic gripped her. Her parents found her and now she is back to being a prisoner. As she came to her senses she saw that it wasn't her home cave. It was bigger and there were things stored here: bones, feathers, cones. Astraea forced herself up, her body swaying for a moment until she stood steady on her feet. She heard voiced comming from the cave entrance and her fur bristled. Her lips pulled back showing razor sharp teeth as she growled in hopes of scaring them away. They were wolves, she could smell them. She heard the soft clinking of claws against stone and saw a tall, dark figure approaching her. The she wolf growled again, tail up high trying to intimidate the other wolf.

A deep chuckled vibrated through the cave as the wolf stopped a few feet away from her. It was a large, dark male. When he spoke his voice carried over the whole cave and ringed inside her ears "Calm down. I mean no harm to you. You strained yourself too far and fainted. Me and my pack found you near our territory and took you in. You should be fine in the next few days."

Astraea did not lose her battle stance and eyed the male with distrust. He held her gaze - determined and piercing. A minute passed between them in complete silence and the female relented. She slumped down already, tail between her legs as she submitted herself to the dominant male.

"There that's better. We truly mean you no harm. Please, rest up and then I will explain everything to you," he said turning back to leave then pausing and turning his head towards her again. "I'm Deimos by the way. The current Alpha of the Luna Luceat Pack," he winked at her and promptly left the cave.

Astraea shook her head in anger. What was wrong with her? She has never, ever submitted herself to another wolf without a fight. There was something in the large, dark male that told her he meant her no harm and his dominance over her nearly paralyzed her. The she wolf huffed and plopped down and began plotting her escape.

They brough her food and cared for her. She was now staying with them until she decided what she wanted to do - find another pack or stay. Astraea hated to admit it, but she actually liked it here. She has gotten quite close with the local Herbalist Kara and the two often went out to forage herbs. She didn't see much of Deimos as he was busy handling his daily tasks as an Alpha. When she did see him, he was nothing, but pleasant if not a bit flirty with her. She also hated to admit that she liked him.