The Alpha and The Stray

Chapter 2: The Alpha's Accident

It's been two moons since Alpha Dust Fur mated with Jasmine. She's due any day now, Dust Fur thought, barely listening to Beta Black Stripe,who was giving him the end of day report. Dust Fur thought about his life in the Pack. He was Alpha, but loney. His mother, Dust Cloud, died the moon before from sickness. His siblings, Canyon and Sand Storm, were younger and had their whole lives ahead of them. Sand Storm has pups and amate, and his brother didn't need him, really. Dust Fur tried to pay attention to what Black Stripe was saying, but he couldn't. Dust Fur stood up and, with his neck fur standing on end, interrupted Black Stripe,

"I want to leave the Pack." Dust Fur winced a bit when Black Stripe snapped back,

"What!? What are you talking about!?" Black Stripe's lip showed the tips of his canines.

"I fell in love, " Dust Fur admitted, "with a dog." Dust Fur looked at his paws as the word 'dog' left his mouth. He licked his nose, uncertain how his Beta would respond. After a moment of silence, Dust Fur met Black Stripe's eyes, surprised to find a soft look of understanding.

"I understand, " Black Stripe started, "I know how hard it can be to put your duties to the Pack above them. I couldn't imagine how hard it must've been for you to hide this." Taken aback by his Beta's understanding, Dust Fur let out a huff of relief, the fur on his neck laying flat again.

"I've tried to be present, but she's due with our pups any day now, and I can't stand not being there to protect her."

"You'll have to tell the Pack. Even if they don't understand, you have to relinquish Alpha status in order to leave." Black Stripe was right, it would be even more disgraceful to run away like a scared pup.

"I will announce it tonight, after night patrol." Dust Fur exited his den with a swish of his tail, Black Stripe close behind. The patrol had been picked earlier that day, all the Packs senior warriors. Alpha Dust Fur let out a howl, the signal to head out into the forest. The warriors, Black Stripe, Black Star, Winter, River, Canyon, Sand Storm, Mountain Peak and Storm, followed behind. They yipped and growled in excitement as they sprinted through the forest to the border. Down the ravine to the river, across the open field and towards the edge of the territory, close to where Dust Fur sneaks away. Dust Fur slowed as Winter and Black Stripe marked the trees on the border. Dust Fur felt off. There was something wrong. Dust Fur sniffed the air deeply, Humans.. he thought. Dust Fur stood on alert, ears and tail high in the direction of the scent. They shared these woods with humans during human hunting season, but no humans hunt during cold-season. Dust Fur sniffed the air again, following the scent. Black Stripe fell in behind his Alpha, signaling to the rest to keep low. The Pack moved forward slowly, until Dust Fur came to a halt. He lowered his tail, signaling to the Pack to stay low and out of sight. Black Stripe flicked each ear, signaling the pack to split up left and right. Winter, River, and Canyon went left, keeping low and carful not to tread on any sticks. Black Star, Mountain Peak and Storm went right, disappearing into the bush. Black Stripe and Sand Storm stayed right behind their leader, ready to attack at a moments notice. Dust Fur continued tracking the scent, stepping carefully through the under bush, nose to the ground. The scent was stronger, and overlaid with a hint of a metallic smell, something he's never smelled before. Suddenly there was a loud SNAP, searing white pain shot through Dust Fur's neck as he yelped and tried to writhe away from the source. His vision darked for a second, then brightened again. Jasmine was standing in front of him, her beautiful hazel eyes, round face and ears, her white fluffy coat, her curling tail that draped perfectly down her back, her round belly hanging low. Dust Fur tried to go to her, but he was being pulled back. Jasmine tilted her head in confusion as he disappeared. Jasmine, I will protect you and our pups! Dust Furs thoughts rang in his head, until silence. His body was numb as his Pack tried desperately to save him. Dust Fur closed his eyes and drifted away, the image of Jasmine the last thing he ever saw.

Black Stripe stared in horror at his Alpha. Dust Fur's neck was caught in some human trap.

"Alpha?" Black Stripes voice came out a whimper. Alpha Dust Fur was dead. Black Stripe shook his head, not wanting to believe it,

"Alpha!" Black Stripe growled loudly, prodding the Alpha's body with his paw.

"He's gone." River whimpered, she pressed herself into Black Star, knowing how much he looked up to Alpha Dust Fur. River and Black Stripe had gotten pretty close the last season and had mated. She was going to be due in just a moon.

"We have to figure out how to get him out so we can bury him." Black Stripe looked away from his Alpha's torn body. Winter and Black Star used their teeth to pry the metal from around Alpha Dust Fur's neck, while Storm pulled him free. Alpha's blood pooled on the ground under-paw, staining the whole parties paw pads red. Black Star pulled the Alpha up onto Canyon's back, and they started the walk home. The entire Pack awoke at the warriors returning home, sensing something was very wrong. Shocked murmurs and whining spread through the Pack at the sight of their Alpha dead. Canyon carefully laid Alpha Dust Fur to the ground. Black Stripe stood in the front of the Pack, his white Fur stained with the blood of his predecessor.

"Sun Pack, " He started, his normally strong voice quivering,

"Alpha Dust Fur was struck down by a human trap. We must be vigilant and keep watch for these deadly traps. Any found must be disabled by triggering it with a reported back to me. Please take your time to pay your respects, Alpha Dust Fur will be buried in the morning." As Black Stripe finished, he walked over to the body of his Alpha and bent his head close to Alpha's face,

"I will take care of the pack," He whispered softly, "and your secret is safe with me." The rest of the Pack gathered to pay their respects, some whispering and others licking Dust Fur's pelt. River followed Black Stripe to the Alpha's den.

"I can't believe he's gone," Black Stripe whimpered, not looking at his mate, "He taught me so much."

"I know." River pressed her body to her mate's and licked his ear. A new chapter would soon be beginning.

"Wait! Come back!" Jasmine whimpered and kicked her feet as she tried to chase after the fading image of her mate. She awoke with a jump, hyperventilating at the stress of the dream. She whimpered and licked her belly, That was a weird dream, she thought, Something feels wrong. Why was Dust Fur fading away in my dream, and why does my chest hurt. Jasmine shook her head and stood up, stretching her legs awake. She steeped out into the early dawn when a sad, mornful howl filled the air. Followed by another and another until the woods echoed with the sad howls of the Sun Pack. Jasmine strained her ears, trying to listen for her mate. She had always been able to pick him out before, but this time she couldn't hear him. Suddenly, her heart began to pound, and it was hard to breathe. Jasmine's dream replayed in her head, and she let out a wail as she realized. My mate is dead.