Night and Day: The Alpha Nomad

The Road Less Traveled

Night -

As soon as I left the Piney Woods Territory, I immediately felt the freedom I yearned for for years. I was still damaged, but I felt my heart heal with every step I took away from the pack. Initially when I left the pack my heart took me west, but I made the decision to go north towards the Choctaw territory. I realized shortly after leaving that I did not take any money, so I could not sleep in any hotels or other human facilities that had comfortable bed. I quickly learned to appreciate sleeping outdoors, especially with my wolf to keep me company.

It wasn’t long into my journey that I ran out of the food that I packed. The further I was from the pack territory the more plentiful the prey became. It was as if the Moon Goddess punished my pack by banishing the prey from our territory. My belly was seldom empty during my adventure and my hunting skills improved daily.

Word had spread about my departure from the pack. I encountered a patrol team from the Cross Timber pack north of my territory while passing through. I almost didn’t have time to repack my bag before being chased out of the area. I was able to outrun them but if I hadn’t I would have been caught and possibly returned to Uncle John. I shuttered to think about that close encounter.

I was approaching the border of the Lone Star state when I made camp for the night in a wood stand section near the Red River. That day I was nearly shot by a farmer who mistook me for a coyote, thankfully, so I was exhausted and had no energy to hunt, but my belly had no time to protest before sleep took hold.

I dreamt of a sunrise, which started out deep red like a fire then grew golden as the sun rose. It warmed me to the core. I felt happier than I had in years and wanted to embrace this feeling. Since living in the pack I had grown cold and aloof, but this sunrise thawed my frozen heart.

“I will protect you no matter what, my Nightingale.”

I woke broken hearted. Memories of my mother flooded in which made me hug my knees tightly. I quickly packed camp and continued my endless journey. I still had no idea where I was going to go, but I knew I was searching for something.

I traveled from territory to territory trying to find what was missing in my life, but nothing felt right so I continued to move on. It had been over a year since I left the pack and grew more weary of packs as I encountered them.

There was a pack in the Appalachian mountains that offered me meat but wanted me gone before the end of the week. That was the closest I came to a welcoming pack. Another pack near the Eastern seaboard fought me off their lands, I barely made it out alive. It took a week and a half to recover from my injuries. I continued to travel the country but lost hope that I would find the missing piece of me.

I made it to Maine, where I encountered another rogue male named Jake Longpaw. He let me share his camp for the night and we hunted together one evening. There was a moose cow that we stalked, I was skeptical we could down such a large mammal. He reassured me with my strength as an Alpha it shouldn’t be a challenge. We were close to taking the female down when a bull moose burst through the thicket and rammed his rack directly into my ribs. I heard one crack and I fell to the ground unable to catch my breath. The rogue male was able to push the moose back long enough for me to limp back to the camp.

“Night, I’m so sorry!” He apologized when he returned to camp.

He looked so guilty, so I tried to reply, “it’s fine, it happens,” but it came out a gasping croak from the pain.

Thankfully you’ll heal fast, but this is going to keep you quiet for at least a week if not longer, my wolf informed me.

The rogue was very kind and went hunting for smaller prey during my recovery. I appreciated having his company and kindness. No one has shown me this level of kindness since my parents passed away. I told him the reason why I became a rogue, and he balked at the idea that my uncle would treat me in such a disgusting manner.

“I would have killed him, personally,” Jake said seriously. “I don’t know how you refrained from at least decking him before you escaped.”

“I knew I wouldn’t be able to gain the ground I needed to escape, otherwise I would,” I admitted. “Trust me, my wolf wanted to hit him long before I left.” I giggled.

He smiled at me, “seems like you are feeling a little better, that is good news. Maybe we can start traveling again tomorrow.”

I blushed, how long did Jake want to travel together? I thought I was going to make this journey alone, but the company was enjoyable at least. I grew to like Jake during this week of recovery, but I was still partly skeptical of strangers.

“Where are you traveling to, Jake?” I asked. “I guess I never really found out.”

“Wherever my heart takes me, but I don’t mind keeping you company for as long as you need me to,” he grinned genuinely. “We should get some sleep if we want to start early in the morning.”

I turned away from Jake and tried to sleep on my good side. Sleep came easily out in the woods and cool air. The climate out here was much more agreeable than back in the Piney Woods territory of the Lone Star state. The crackling fire lulled me into a deep dreamy sleep.

The rising sun dream returned and warmed me again, but perhaps that was just the campfire Jake had started. I felt a warm embrace that sent sparks and a tingly sensation all over. The voice from the last dream spoke but I could not make out what it was trying to tell me.

A dark cloud crossed the fiery sunrise and a storm raged causing me to grow cold. Shots rang out during the storm and I screamed.

“Night! Wake up, you’re alright,” Jake shook me awake.

It was first light when he woke me. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as he handed me a piece of the ptarmigan he caught yesterday. It was warm and charred from the fire. I enjoyed his cooking, which was much better than eating prey raw.

He packed up and doused the fire before we set out. We traveled west along the border for about another day. Our travel was slower than it had been due to my still aching ribs. He was very patient with my slow pace and kept me entertained with his cheesy jokes.

“What’s the cow’s mountain cousin?” He asked grinning childishly.

“Uhh, idk?” I responded.

“The MOO-se” he mimicked the sound of a cow and laughed at his own joke.

“Oh my gosh, you’re a dork!” I laughed loudly.

“What is a ninja’s favorite beverage?” He continued.

“Punch?” I asked.

“Wah-tah!” He jump kicked. “But that was a good answer!”

He was ten years older than me, but acted so youthful and playful like a pup. It made me glad to see that he could still act so jovial as a rogue. Maybe he was happier by himself, maybe he didn’t need that pack connection many of us crave. I wished I could be happy like that.

“One more I promise, then you can tell me to shut up,” he promised. “What is a pirate’s favorite letter?”

I stopped hearing something following us.

“Come on you have to answer this one, it’s a good one. I saved the best for-“

He was cut off by a gunshot. I watched him fall to the ground and my eyes grew wide. I wasn’t even aware humans lived this far in the wilderness. I rushed to his side and tried to stop the bleeding while trying to lift him.

“Go, Night,” he urged. “Run, leave me I’ll be okay.”

“No you won’t! Let me shift and carry you!” I ordered. “You can’t stay here! How did they even know we were here?” I whispered so only he could hear me,”how did they know we were wolves?!”

“There’s no time, please save yourself,” he gasped for air.

The bullet must have punctured his lung, and I was still trying to hold off the bleeding. He tried to push me away but I could tell he grew weaker. His tan face paled and sweat poured but he complained of being cold. Tears poured from my eyes for the first time in years because I was about to lose the only friend I’ve ever had.

“Goodbye, Night, I promise to tell your parents you are safe,” he whispered weakly. “Now go, don’t make me a liar.”

“Goodbye, Jake,” I whimpered. “Go to the Moon Goddess in peace.”

He let out one last ragged breath as his eyes dimmed. I shook and cried even more. How could this happen to me again? I heard the footsteps approaching so I dropped my bag and shifted quickly. I ran as fast and I could muster and it must have been hours before I slowed down. When I was sure I was safe I stopped to catch my breath and find some small prey to satisfy my growing hunger, even though I was sick to my stomach with grief.

First my parents, now my only friend, why does the Moon Goddess hate me so much? I cried internally.

She has her reasons, just trust her even if her methods are unorthodox, my wolf tried to reassure me.

The sun was setting early at this time of year, I knew I needed to find a safe place to make camp. I looked around but my pack was no where to be seen. I swore under my breath and shivered in the chilly night.

You should just shift, you’ll be warmer in your fur, my wolf advised.

I obeyed her advisement and felt warmer in my pitch-black coat. I curled up in a willow thicket to take cover and to escape the blowing wind. I was certain snow would be falling soon, so I decided to make my way back south to avoid freezing to death out in the open.

It took nearly a month before I made it to a warmer climate. I found myself stuck in a few snowstorms which buried me in snowdrifts. I was surprised it was not colder under the snow. The snow was fairly insulating and felt warm.

I wouldn’t mind living in a place with snow, I played with the idea. Better than unbearable heat and humidity.

I decided to make the trek out west finally, which for some unknown reason made my heart soar. The closer I traveled to the Rockies, the better I felt.

A couple months passed before I caught sight of the grand peaks that made up the Rockies. I traveled a rugged landscape towards the peaks that called to me. Several days were difficult to travel due to the extreme gale force winds and blowing snow that drifted and left piles five feet deep. I found a small cave that I could sleep in until the storm passed.

I ended up staying longer than anticipated out of sheer comfort. I felt the hole in my heart healing, and wasn’t sure how much farther I would need to go until I found what I was searching for. The prey was sparse during this season so laying low and conserving energy was probably for the best.

A month of intermittent gale force winds and blowing snow made me wonder how early human settlers managed to travel through this landscape in wagons without much shelter. The views were gorgeous and seemingly endless so I could see the appeal to the humans who coveted beautiful landscapes.

I survived on the occasional wild hate that took shelter in my cave, and what ever else I could find between the bouts of severe weather for another month. I was losing weight, and determined it would be best to move on before I died of starvation in this cave.

I must have lost my way during one of the storms that ravaged the land. I nearly walked right into a human town as a wolf. It was a very small town I didn’t want to stick around to find out how many human hunters dwelled in these parts. I was lucky to make it out without any confrontation, at least with humans.

Finally I found a flat area of land and the snow seemed to be ending. I caught sight of a wolf in the distance, and it appeared to be running straight for me. I stood my ground too exhausted from battling the elements for the last week.

The wolf was closing in and I could tell it was a female from a nearby pack. I lowered my head out of respect and crouched low to the ground. She barred her fangs briefly then nodded at me.

“Where do you hail from, stranger?” She questioned me. “You look weary.”

“I have been traveling for a very long time, I am very hungry and tried. I would not stay very long, but would appreciate a camp to recuperate,” I admitted wearily.

“We can house you at our pack house,” she offered. “We don’t get many travelers, but we would be happy to offer you a roof and a bed.”

I gladly accepted the offer and followed her for several miles before a small log home appeared near the foot of a mountain. I could smell the intoxicating smell of cooking meat. I drooled as we entered the home.

“Alpha, I have returned with a traveler in need of help,” the young she-wolf announced.

The male who appeared to be the Alpha came to greet us. The she-wolf retreated to a bedroom to shift and change into some clothes. I remained shifted as a wolf, embarrassed that I didn’t have any clothing. Another she-wolf, I assumed the Luna, set some generic cloths on the bench in another bedroom so I could get dressed.

Once I was changed I emerged from the room to join the pack for a meal. “You stick out like a sore thumb out there on the snowy range,” the previous patrol wolf pointed out.

“I never considered that, but I guess that would make it difficult to hunt effectively,” I realized.

“Where did you come from?” The Alpha male questioned.

I hesitated to answer but eventually explained, “I have been traveling after leaving my pack.”

“Why would you leave your pack?” The Luna questioned. “Wolves are stronger when they are with their pack.”

I wasn’t ready to answer this question, especially to a complete stranger so I just answered, “I was traveling to see the country, I’ve never seen so many beautiful areas of the country. I’m really glad I got the opportunity to explore.”

The small pack seemed weary of my skirting around their questions. They allowed me to stay in their spare room for as long as I needed and agreed that a longer stay would probably do me some good. I stayed with the Medicine Bow pack for the spring and most of the summer while I recovered from the lean winter.

For the most part they were friendly, but there was a skittishness about them that made me nervous. I did my best to be a good house guest and help with chores or hunting excursions whenever able. They appreciated my help around the pack house, but one day something seemed to change.

“You never said anything about being an Alpha,” the Luna called out with a voice filled with venom.

“I didn’t think it was relevant since I’m not an Alpha anymore,” I replied quite confused by the Luna’s sudden attitude change.

“Are you here to take my mate?” He hissed.

“No! I have no intention of that at all,” I defended holding my hands up.

“We don’t need another Alpha b***h in this pack,” she growled.

I wasn’t sure where this was coming from or how she figured out I was an Alpha. I backed away from the laundry I had been hanging up and saw her charge at me shifting when she was nearly on top of me.

I shifted and held my ground, waiting for this crazed Luna to attack me. After being on the run for so long I wasn’t going to turn like a scared rabbit any longer. I bared my fangs and sunk my claws into the sandy soil. She pounced on me and I flung her off my back with little effort. She may have been a Luna but she was weak.

I pinned her to the ground and growled at her, trying to avoid a major fight. If she knew I was stronger than her maybe she would back off. I jumped off her and turned to return to my chores when she bit the back of my neck and shook. I yowled in pain before I pinned her again. She was insane, and I wasn’t going to be attacked for no reason. I grabbed her throat lightly at first just to prove I had the upper hand. I had no intentions of killing her.

“Get off her you mangy mutt!” The Alpha stormed over to me and knocked me off his Luna.

I rolled off her and onto my feet before he could deliver another blow. He was snarling at me and circled around me trying to find my weak spot. I followed him so he could not jump me from behind. I let my guard down and didn’t expect the female to jump on my back from behind. I howled and snarled and tried to dislodge her, but her mate ran at me and grabbed my throat.

I couldn’t breathe and began to panic. How could I have forgotten the female? Neither of them would let up despite my whimpering cries. I felt faint and started to see stars dance around my head like in the old cartoons. Then everything went black.

I woke and it was already after dark. I was nowhere near the pack house, so I assumed they dumped me outside of their territory. The pain radiated all over my body but I was glad to be alive and far away from that crazy pack.

That’s the last time I trust a pack, I told myself.

Before me I could see the peaks of the Rockies clearly. They rose into the sky like nothing I had ever seen before and I was hypnotized by their snowy peaks. Something felt natural about these mountains, something drew me to them.

Well as they say, ‘the mountains are calling and I must go,’” I winced as I stood up and began my journey to the foothills.