Howl At The Moon

Hunger

Waking up to the sounds of a growl the wolf hopped up ready to defend its burrow and its baby, after hopping up and all fours he looked around the darkness that surrounded them sniffing around for signs of an intruder. His nocturnal eyes searched around the steep dark burrow, yet there was no one there. Wolf in full-on protection mode on high alert as any new parent would be. Still, he found no one. And no signs of anyone or anything. he decided it was all in his head settling down curling around the tiny human once more. Trying to drift back to sleep when he heard it once more.. The growling sound came back only this time he realized it was coming from the tiny human's stomach. 

"Crap! what do they even eat," The wolf thought to himself. Panicked he hopped up and ran out of their warm den and proceeded to look for food. Stepping out of the den he pranced over to a nearby stream in hopes to find something he could bring home to his new baby. Still had no clue on what he could eat. He caught the scent of an animal. something much larger than himself crept down behind a bush and proceeded to watch. Lurking behind the bush he watched as a large bear ducked her head down into the stream and caught a huge fish in her mouth, lifting her head back with her catch between her teeth, the large bear then turned around and trotted off towards two tiny bear cubs waiting patiently on the other side of the stream. She tossed the fish on the ground before them and the two cubs began to sniff at it before she took a bite to show them it was food. The two cubs then began to rip the fish apart using their sharp claws and sharp teeth. Fighting over the fish as they ate. They stood on two feet like a human but his tiny human didn't have claws and sharp teeth like that so he knew a fish could not work for a tiny baby. The wolf watched the three animals enjoy their snack until the mother bear stopped and began to sniff around with her nose in the air on alert. Realizing she may have caught on to his scent in the wind. He cautiously began to slowly and quietly back out of the bushes he was lying in and move on. Once out of earshot he began to pick up the pace hauling as far away from the mama bear as possible and began to search for food elsewhere. He happened upon rabbit tracks in the snow letting his instincts take over, putting his snout to the ground he began to follow the tracks leading him to the rabbit's den. Popping his head down in the tiny well dug-out rabbit burrow, he could only see in but so far. But he could smell the rabbits hidden below too far for him to reach. the wolf began to dig into the burrow trying to get in further as the scent grew stronger. Halfway down into the tiny rabbit's burrow he reached his head deeper into the hole to get a better look. however, what he found wasn't what he had expected. There at the bottom of the small rabbit den was three baby rabbits alone and abandoned. Probably because he ate their mother earlier that evening. The wolf heard their hungry cries and immediately knew just what he had done. "What if something had feasted on me, then who'd take care of the tiny human" the wolf thought to himself realizing something he's never had to care about before. No predators ever had to make such a decision before. nor would most of them care. But that tiny human was changing him and he knew it. Backing out he lifted his head from the rabbit's den letting out a sad whimper at the thought of what he had done to the poor orphaned kits crying for a mother who would never return. And he regretted his actions no matter how good it tasted. For the first time ever a predator regretted his actions. Stepping back as if he was disgusted with what he had done. suddenly a voice from behind the wolf spoke. 

*Unknown voice*

"What no late-night snack?...(tisk tisk tisk)...And that is why we Don't play with our food wolf".

Looking back in the direction of the voice the wolf noticed it was none other than the fox. Sitting there watching him as he licked his paws. Probably licking himself clean from his last kill. 

"What are you going on about fox!" The wolf asked.

"The human child! you so foolishly kept all to yourself!" The fox responded. He stalked closer to the wolf. 

"Regretting it now huh?" The fox added with a snicker. 

"I regret nothing!" the wolf lied.

"Ahh, that's why you spared those kits?... If only you spared their mother's life too maybe they'd have a chance at making it" The Fox teased.

"Go on about your own business fox!" The wolf growled showing his sharp teeth.

"Oh, but I can help you foolish wolf!" The fox said.

" Help me?..ha! when has a fox ever helped anything but its self " The wolf responded. 

"Don't be like that old friend.. after all, we use to run these woods together as pups once upon a time.. Or do you not remember?" Fox said as he continued to lick his paw. 

"What do you want fox!" The wolf demanded. 

"Oh me? nothing old friend... Just thought you could use the knowledge of an old fox" The Fox declared.

"Why would I need your help!" the wolf huffed. 

"Well because I know more of the humans than you do wolf. As you tend to fear them and hide... I like to watch them from a distance... You know the saying the enemy of my enemy and such" Fox said.

The wolf sighed and regretfully asked.  "What do you know about the humans?".

"Well, I know a lot about the human's old friend." The fox said as he finished up his bath.

"Start talking fox!" the wolf warned. 

"Okay okay! don't have to be so hasty wolf" The fox said.

"So spit it out, fox! I don't have all night!" The wolf spat.

"Have to get home to your hungry baby?" fox teased. 

"Waste my time again fox and ill make a meal out of you!" the wolf threatened. 

"Oh calm down wolf, I'm here to help... we are friends arent we wolf?" The fox asked. 

"We were friends long ago. Before either of us knew the rules of the forest fox!" The wolf said harshly.

"Ah yes, the rules... Never befriend someone you may have to eat right?" ... "So tell me how's that rule working out for you, wolf?" the fox snickered. 

"Fox I'm warning you! You're really starting to test my patience." The wolf shot back.

"Relax wolf I'm here as a friend, I just want to help." the fox said.

"You only help yourself" the wolf roared back. 

"It's time things change around here don't you think wolf? that human pup could prove useful to us all," the fox said. 

The wolf tilted his head slightly to the right in confusion at the wolf's words. 

"Anyway... wolf, if its food you seek allow me to inform you the human pup needs milk, and that's something you a male couldn't possibly provide". Fox said.

The wolf grew angry at his words his patience growing thin.

"Although I do have an idea that should help if interested". The fox added.

"Spit it out, fox!" The wolf demanded.

"Relax old friend I'm only here to help you! you want my help..do you not?" The Fox said. 

The wolf muttered something under his breath.

"What do you have in mind fox!" The wolf asked. 

"There is a mother wolf of your kind just out by the bank at the end of that stream over there. She lost her pup to a bear no more than three moons ago". Fox informed.

"lies! there are no other wolves in the forest, I'd know if there were!" wolf responded angrily.

"I tell no lies wolf, that you know. She's been here months hidden in plain sight... Sad what happened to her pup...Really, I saw the whole thing."... "Poor pup wandered off into the forest alone and walked right into the paths of a mama bear and her two cubs". Fox said. 

"Why haven't I seen this wolf! or even smelled her scent!" The wolf asked. 

"Because she isn't like you and me, she keeps away from this part of the woods. Only hunting in familiar territory.. picking off the human's cattle drawing the hunters in the forest after her. Foolish if I do say so myself" The fox said.

"So why are you telling me of her now!? Fox what is your game here!" The wolf asked. 

"That she-wolf can cause trouble for us if she keeps it up, we don't need hunters this deep in the forest.. It'll cause trouble for all of us forest dwellers." The fox said.

And he was right. If the she-wolf kept it up the hunters wouldn't stop until they found her and bring her head back on a stick. killing any animal they stumbled upon during their search. It was only a matter of time before they came into the forest tracking her and killing off all our food. The wolf knew the humans were ruthless that's why he kept himself hidden and undetected at all times. Never venturing out too far. And never intervened with human affairs. 

"Lead me to this wolf fox!" the wolf demanded. 

The fox took off through the trees leading him down the stream following the water to the end of its path. Passed a beavers dam to A big cave in the mountains stopping just at the entrance of the cave. He turned to the wolf nodding his head for him to take the lead. The wolf walked ahead of him stopping to sniff the gave for any signs of danger still not sure if he was being led into a trap. He sniffed the ground in front of the entrance of the cave and caught her scent. The fox was telling the truth there was another wolf out there. And from the smell of it, she had just gone in recently. suddenly there was movement inside of the cave. the wolf could hear the sound of footsteps approaching them fast. Stepping back to brace for an attack the wolf and the fox waited for the she-wolf to appear. and she did. A large Brown wolf with shiny fur and blue eyes came charging out at them, ready to defend her home. The wolf was so taken aback by her beauty he almost forgot he was supposed to be preparing for a fight. 

"What are you doing wolf Fight!" The fox howled. Waking him from his trance just in time. the brown she-wolf rushed at his neck as he moved to the side allowing her to fall crashing face-first to the ground beside him. She regained her balance hopping back to her feet as the grey wolf hopped on her knocking her on her back beneath him. she was no match for the male wolf's strength and she knew it. The she-wolf submitted under him giving showing that her fight was over. The wolf rolled off her allowing her to climb back onto her feet. 

"What the hell do you two want?" The brown wolf demanded.

"We have come for you" fox spoke. 

"What do you want fox," The brown wolf asked again. 

"Not me him" fox clarified. 

The brown wolf turned to the grey male with a puzzled look. She must have thought she was the last of the wolves too. 

"I've heard you have been stirring up trouble for us" the grey wolf stated.

"I have done no such thing!" the brown wolf shouted back.

"So you call hunters in the woods nothing?" The grey wolf asked.

"Well, I didn't ask them to follow me here if that's what you mean" The brown wolf replied.

"Might as well!" said the fox.

"What do you want" The brown wolf demanded again.

"You'll be coming with me!" The grey wolf roared.

"No the hell I won't!" The brown wolf answered back.

(Grrrrrrrr) The grey wolf growls back showing teeth this time. 

"Okay okay!" the brown wolf submitted. giving up her argument. 

"I have a pup in need of a mother and you will just have to do, that way I can keep an eye on you as well," the grey wolf said as he started to walk off. 

The brown wolf followed behind her new alpha wolf with fox trailing cautiously a few steps behind. making their way upstream and through the woods together. fox ran up to the grey wolf walking side by side with him. 

"That went easier than I thought," The fox said.

"It is the way of the wolf to obey their alpha" The grey wolf informed. 

"Glad to be a fox," the fox said. stopping to let the brown wolf walk ahead once more. 

"Sorry about your pup" fox said as he walked behind her. 

The brown wolf hung her head low as she followed the grey wolf home. She was hoping to have a pup in need of her. Hoping to fill that void of the pup she lost. It is a mother's maternal instinct after all to want to mother a child when one has lost her own child. 

Reaching wolfs burrow the fox and the wolves parted ways, daylight was shining as the two ducked into the wolf's burrow. The brown wolf began sniffing around as they crawled in. He lead her to his sleeping pup as she grew closer She realized it was not a wolf at all.

"What the hell is this! some sort of joke!" the brown wolf snarled. 

"That is my pup! have some respects Mutt!" The grey wolf Snarled at her.

"But, but it's human!" The she-wolf pointed out.

"Smell for yourself she is of the wolf blood too! royalty at that!" The grey wolf added.

The brown wolf began sniffing at the tiny human pup confirming his words to be true. 

"what am I supposed to do with it?" the brown wolf asked. 

"That's what I've been trying to figure out myself ... But she has no one else" He responded. 

"Where did you find it?" The she-wolf asked.

"In the woods hidden in a log," He answered.

"Where is its mother?" She asked him.

"Don't know" he responded. 

Just then Helena woke up popping her little head up looking right at the strange brown wolf. She looked at her with those wide blue eyes and smiled brightly. Reaching out her tiny little hands she stroked the brown wolf's fur igniting tingles up the wolf's spine giving her a warm feeling she hadn't had since her own pup touched her, and she liked it. The brown wolf nudged the baby's small hand with the tip of her nose as the baby stroked her snout grabbing onto the fur around her head pulling her head closer. 

"See, that is why she must be protected at all costs," the grey wolf said to her.

"Okay ill admit it is cute, but it is human after all" the brown wolf reminded.

"She's more wolf than you know" he assured. 

The little one began to coo at the brown wolf's touch as she kicked her feet in the air reaching up to touch her fur with her tiny hands. 

"She sure is something special" the she-wolf agreed. 

"Yeah, she is" the grey wolf replied.

Just then the pup's tummy began to growl once more.

"Aww, it's hungry," the brown wolf said.

"What do you think I brought you here for?!" He responded smugly. 

The she-wolf plopped down next to her new pup and began trying to nurse her cuddling her to her warm furry belly. 

"I'll go get us some food while you do that" The grey wolf informed her before dipping out of his den leaving her to it. 

The brown wolf and the tiny human were now left alone to bond. As she fed her, the brown wolf began to speak to the baby of her own pup she once had as the baby touch reminded her of what used to be. 

"You know little wolf I had a pup just like you before, only it was hairier and wasn't as quiet or small as you are," she said.

"I lost her one day and it has been tough ever since but now that I've met you I feel whole again" she continued as the baby drank. 

The brown wolf licked her head to clean the dirt out of her silver curls as she cuddled the tiny pup. "I wonder what ill call you," she thought to herself. 

"Helena," said a voice in her head. 

Spooked out of her thoughts she hopped up leaving the baby detached and lying on the floor. "Who said that" She growled. But no one was there as far as she could see. she sniffed the air but no other scent could be picked up, Besides the tiny human and her own. After waiting a few seconds on alert she laid back down deciding it was all in her head. 

"I must be losing it," she thought." pulling the tiny pup close again.

"My mama called me Helena" the voice in her head spoke again. 

She looked down at the tiny pup as the pup's glowing eyes looked right back at her own.

"Did you just speak?" she said out loud.

"Yes," the voice in her head responded. 

"Oh my goddess the child can speak wolf!" she cheered.

"Wait. how are you doing that," she asked the baby.

"Not sure...No ones ever heard me before"

The grey wolf returned with an elk as he dragged the large elk through the hole and into the burrow. 

"The baby speaks! it speaks!" she shouted.

"What?.. are you feeling okay?" he asked her.

"No..well yea I'm fine, but the baby speaks she said her name is Helena," she told him. 

"Hmm. Helena that's a nice name... but the baby is just a baby it cannot speak... especially speak wolf tongue" he said making her feel as if she's crazy.

"I'm telling you that baby speaks! she speaks well too!" she assured him.

"You're sure you arent crazy?.." he replied.

"I'm not! watch speak! baby! show him!" she said.

They both sat there looking at Helena but she didn't make a sound. she just looked at them with those big beautiful blue eyes.

"I swear she talked to me! you'll see" the brown wolf swore to him.

still, nothing happened. it was almost like it was all in her head. the two of them shared an elk dinner together in silence as the she-wolf went over just how to prove Helena could speak to her, and how come she didn't do it again when the grey wolf came home. she couldn't shake the thoughts running ragged in her head. 

"How did she do it?"..."Why can't he believe me?"..."Am I losing my mind?" .."Noo! I couldn't be. I know what I heard! that baby talked to me. I know it did..."

"Ugh, maybe I am losing it...Pull yourself together girl... We will get to the bottom of it"