Warclaw

by Samantha McGivern

  “Yes Warclaw?” Winter said turning around to face Warclaw.

  “Thank you for listening. I know that this is hard for you, as it is your own life we are talking about but thank you.” Looking at Winter, Warclaw smiled and nodded his head, before turning his head back to the lake and looking out to the horizon. Winter slowly walked away with the other two wolves by her side, leaving Warclaw looking out to the horizon.

  ******************

  The sky had become dark with black rain clouds. The sun had since disappeared behind the clouds and the wind had gotten up, blowing more harshly against the leaves in the trees. The trees creaked and cracked in the harsh wind. Leaves started to litter the ground, making the ground become green. As clouds crashed together in the sky, it caused loud bangs and flashes of lightening. The bolts of lightning, lightened up the dark sky.

  The once smooth lake became unsettled and the ripples hit the land harshly. It created marks in the dirt from where it had hit the land. There was not song from the birds that sat in the trees. There was not a bird in sight in the sky. The sky was full of clouds and there were sudden bolts of lightning that flashed in the darkening sky. There were more and more ripples in the lake, as more and more rain fell from the havens. More clashes of thunder from the sky above. The wolves ran in search of places where they would be sheltered from the worst of the storm. The rain slowly got heavier and heavier until it thrashed down upon the earth. Each of the wolves coats were getting more and more drenched, until eventually, the water dripped down off of the coats and onto the already drenched ground.

  Soon it became night and the weather did not change. The thunder still crashed in the sky and there were still flashes of lightning in the darkened sky. The stars that had shinned so brightly the night before couldn’t be seen in this harsh weather. The thunder storm had taken over the day and the night. The wind was still harsh against the trees, making them scream as they hit the ground with a thud. Leaves still scattered the ground with the wind hitting the branches so hard. They tumbled to the ground whilst being assaulted by the harsh wind.

  Winter and Warclaw were sat in their cave looking out to the storm that had arrived that day. Warclaw felt like this proved that last night was going to be the last night that was going to as peaceful as it was. There was not going to be another night like that for a long time to come. Winter felt the same, but she wondered whom it would be that would strike her down. If it was not Waya than whom could it be? There was no-wolf in the pack that she knew off that would be willing to go to the lengths of killing their Luna. She suddenly remembered the other night when Wren had been outside of the cave, watching her and Warclaw sleep. Winter wondered whose side he was really on. Looking across to Warclaw, she smiled remembering all the good times that they had had together. Feeling eyes upon him, Warclaw looked to Winter whom he saw smiling. Smiling back, he heard another clash of thunder and another sudden bright light flash in the sky. Warclaw looked back to the entrance of the cave and saw Wilda standing there, slowly getting drenched from the rain. “Wilda come in here, in the dry. We don’t mind, do we Winter?”

  “No I don’t mind. Come on in. It’s a lot dryer in here than out there.” Winter smiled as she watched Wilda walk in. “Thank you Alpha, Luna. All the places of shelter from this storm have been taken up. There was no space left anywhere. I hope you don’t mind if Welt joins us? The pair of us couldn’t find anywhere.” Wilda asked, unsure of how the Alpha and Luna would react. “Sure bring him in. We need to keep every-wolf dry from this storm; it’s going to get a lot worse than this.” Warclaw smiled at Wilda, before watching her retrieve Welt. They both nodded at Warclaw and Winter before going and sitting to one side of the cave.

  As Warclaw had predicted, the storm got worse. There was the moaning of trees as they snapped in the harsh wind and came crashing down to the sodden ground. The wind battered against the leaves in the trees, making many of them fall to the ground, which made the ground at least an inch deep in leaves. The sky was still dark with rain clouds and flashes of lightening still sparked across the sky. Thunder still dominated the skies, making loud crashing noises as they collided with one another. Soon each shelter that the wolves were in was becoming destroyed by the harsh wind and the falling of branches and trees. Knowing that Wilda and Welt had been let into the Alpha’s and Luna’s cave, every-wolf soon gathered there trying to stay dry from this horrible storm. This was certainly going to be a restless night.

  Chapter 16: Leading a Double life

  Morning had come and the storm that had lasted throughout the day and night had finally come to stop. It had ceased with its harsh manner. The wind was a lot calmer and had become a gentle breeze that softly blew the leaves across the ground. Birds were now singing their merry morning songs in the fresh calm air and some even soared high in the bright blue sky. There were a few fluffy white clouds in the sky, compared with the darker meaner clouds that covered the sky last night.

  There were many trees littering the floor from the night before. The trees looked bare from all the leaves that had fallen in the vicious wind. Many of the shelters that the wolves had used to cover themselves from the storm had been obliterated from the falling trees and branches. Many of the wolves that had used those shelters had become trapped underneath them. After the storm had started to destroy many of the shelters, the majority of the wolves had gone to the cave where the Alpha and Luna were.

  Soon the wolves that were in the cave started to come out onto the beaten land. Two wolves lead the mass of wolves. Warclaw and Winter lead the group out onto the beaten land of theirs. Winter looked around and saw the mess that the storm had caused. Looking across at Warclaw, Winter sighed. “Well at least we’re safe. We better check around the other shelters just in case any of them didn’t manage to get out of their shelters before the wind started breaking down the trees around them.” Warclaw nodded in agreement and turned round to face the rest of the pack. “We need to go and search each of the shelters. We will split you into four groups. The first group will go to the north side of the den and look around there. The second group will go to the east side of the den and look there. The third group will go to the south of the den and look around there. When you guys go there, also check by the lake just in case any of them went there. The final group will go to the west side of the den. Check around the edge of the forest and the beach as well. For all of the groups if there is any damage where you cannot access anywhere then let Winter or myself know. If there is any trapped wolves in the shelters then dig them out or try your best to, if you cannot get them out then send for me or Winter. Has every-wolf got that?”

  “Yes Alpha.” The whole pack shouted in unison. Warclaw and Winter then went about splitting the group into four, making sure that they had all different types of wolves in them. They made sure that the groups had trackers, diggers, fighters and runners. Warclaw then spoke up “Now you have been put into your groups, you may leave.” Slowly each of the four groups left the area of the cave and went searching for other wolves. When the groups had left, Winter turned around to Warclaw. “And what are we going to do?”

  “We are going to talk about what we are going to do about Waya and this whole predicament. It will be easier to talk about it now whilst there is no-wolf here.” Warclaw sighed. “I know it’s the last thing you want to talk about Winter, but what choice do we have?”

  Winter sighed. “Fine but please once we sort this can we drop it for today. I don’t exactly want to talk about it now but I suppose it’s better to get it out of the way now than to let it drag.”

  “Well I think I will make it quick then.” Warclaw sighed and started walking back up to the entrance of the cave. When Warclaw had got to the entrance of the cave, he went in and checked to make sure that there was no-wolf in there before discussing the matter. When he came out of the cave he sat down at the entrance. “Winter we need to decide which wolf is going to protect you. I know full well that Wilda and Welt are doing a good jo
b, but by having two protecting you, it makes it more obvious. As you said, Waya could get some-wolf to do his dirty work for him. So we are going to need some-wolf we trust in order to protect you fully. Who do you think should protect you? Winter we need some-wolf that you trust and some-wolf who can fight. So who do you want Winter?”

  “Well Wilda and Welt are very good but as I have said three may be too many, if we are still considering Wren. I trust them all but Wilda and Welt work well together but not on their own. So that only leaves Wren. But then you don’t trust him do you?” Warclaw shook his head. “But then who else can we consider? Wren is smart; he is strong and is growing stronger with every day of training. He is trying to find out stuff from Waya so that surely makes him on our side, right?” Winter asked.

  “Yes I suppose, but let’s see how he goes over the next day or so, that way we can see whether he is trustworthy enough and is suitable to be your protector. So I think we shall stick with Wilda and Welt for today and tomorrow and then I think we shall decide whether or not he is worthy to do it.” Warclaw smiled. “Does that sound fair to you?”

  “Yes I suppose it will have to do. I mean what else can we do?” Winter sighed. “Yes I know Winter...” Suddenly Warclaw was cut off before he could finish his sentence. “Warclaw we have found some wolves trapped in one of the shelters on the south side of the den. There are two trapped in there and we have tried to get them out but we can’t. They are stuck underneath one of the branches that have fallen.” Warclaw looked at Winter and smiled.

  “Okay we’ll come.”

  “Warclaw we will need some-wolf here just in case another wolf comes for help. I shall stay here, you go. I will be okay.” Winter smiled. “Fine, as long as you are sure. Remember if you need my help just howl, okay?” Warclaw asked making sure that Winter knew what to do if anything happened. “Yes I know.” Winter sighed at the constant reminder. Warclaw then turned around and started running alongside the wolf that had come to get his help. Watching Warclaw disappear into the trees heading towards the south side of the den, Winter heard some-wolf come up behind her. Turning around slowly, Winter saw Wren standing there. “What are you doing here Wren? I thought you were out helping the west group?”

  “I came for your help Winter. There are some wolves trapped on the west side of the den. There are some on the edge of the forest as well trapped between some trees. Our group got ambushed; I was one of the only to get away. Please can you come with me to see to those injured?”

  “Shouldn’t we wait for Warclaw? We need to tell Warclaw this. He needs to know Wren, especially with everything that is going on. Warclaw has told me that you are working for us and that you have told Waya about the protection I have and that Warclaw has asked you to be one of them.” Wren’s face was surprised. Winter carried on “I want you to be the main protector but I cannot make you that until you prove to Warclaw that you are worthy of it.”

  “You want me to be the main protector? What makes you trust me so much? And how am I supposed to gain Warclaw’s trust when I am supposed to gain Waya’s trust? I cannot do both.” Winter knew that Wren had a good point here. It was going to be hard but she knew he had to do both else she could not get Wren to be the protector. “You are going to have to do it Wren, there is no other way to get you to be the protector. If there was, I would have already told you. I know it is near impossible but you are going to have to find a way.”

  Wren sighed. “Fine but are you going to have to help me do this? I cannot gain Warclaw’s trust alone. I can deal with Waya but you have to help me with Warclaw. Now let’s go!” Wren said before racing off into the forest, in the direction of the wolves that were trapped. Winter was hot on his tail, following him to where the wolves were trapped. They ran through the forest with haste but the forest was unusually quiet. No birds were in the trees, or they were just being silent. Nothing moved on the ground making it seem lifeless. Looking around her, Winter shivered. She didn’t like the fact that it was silent. It made her uncomfortable. Winter liked the trees to be full of sound and the ground full of life, but this seemed to be quite different. Winter asked. “How much further?”

  “Not much. There are wolves trapped under this branch that has snapped down onto the shelter. I don’t know how we will get it off without the strong wolves.”

  Winter nodded. “When we get there I shall call for Warclaw. He’ll come then and help. How many are injured?”

  “Nine are injured. Six are in quiet a bad way. The other three are just scrapes and bruises. They should be okay for now.” Wren paused looking around him. “It should be this way.” Wren started running in a different direction. Winter decided that it would be best that when they got there that she would howl for Warclaw as that way he would know exactly where they were.

  After about ten minutes, Wren stopped running and started looking around him. Starting to walk towards to the shelter, he looked back at Winter. Nodding his head to indicate that it was safe for Winter to come with him, she followed. Soon they reached the shelter and the injured wolves. Winter rushed to one of the wolf’s side. It was badly injured and had a massive gash to the side of him. “It’s okay, I am here.” Before tending to the wolf, Winter howled calling for Warclaw. She then looked back down to the wolf below her. “Wren, come here.” Winter asked. Wren walked towards her. “I need you to bring all the wolves that can move to me here. If they aren’t able to move, leave them and I shall go back to them. Okay?” Wren nodded his head in agreement, and started to bring the injured wolves to Winter. Winter pressed down on the wound on the wolf that lay below her.

  As Winter tended to the injured wolves, Warclaw came charging in. “Winter? What’s wrong? Are you alright?” Warclaw fussed.

  “Please stop fussing Warclaw. I am fine. I called you because there was an ambush here and the wolves in the shelter are still stuck. I am tending to the wolves that have been attacked and that are severely injured. I need you to get those branches off of the shelter before they all starve to death!” Winter said agitated.

  “Alright.” Warclaw looked around to the shelter and observed the branches that had fallen. Working out how to get the wolves out of the shelter, Warclaw got the Atlas Crystal and started to focus on cutting the branches in two. Soon there was snapping and cracking sounds as the branch broke into two. As time went on, all of the branches were cut into two, allowing the wolves to come out of the shelter that they had been hiding in. Unbeknown to Warclaw, Wren had been watching Warclaw using the crystal to get the wolves out and relished in the power that it possessed. Warclaw walked towards the wolves as they came out of the shelter. He greeted them and asked if any of them were hurt, then pointed in the direction of Winter with his paw, if they were injured. Warclaw counted how many wolves came out of the shelter and realised that it was quite a large number. Fifteen wolves came out of the shelter. Six of them were injured.

  As the wolves came out of the shelter, Warclaw heard a rustle in the bush behind him. Warclaw waited until all of the wolves had come out of the shelter before turning around to look behind the bush. Warclaw looked back to the other wolves and told them to quieten down. Warclaw walked silently over towards the bush and when he was close enough he pounced over the bush. When he had reached the other side there was no sign of any-wolf. Searching around the area, Warclaw looked for what could have made that noise but there was nothing there. ‘Whatever it was has gone now, but it could’ve just been the wind.’ Warclaw thought, unsure what had made the noise. Walking back around the bush, he looked across to Winter and shook his head indicating that there was nothing there and there was nothing to worry about. But still Warclaw was unsure of what had made that noise and he knew that if he did know what had made that noise, he would feel a lot safer than what he did right now. Walking back towards Winter, Warclaw could feel eyes stare deep into his back, but when he looked back there was no sign of any-wolf. He decided to dismiss it and to get these wolves back to the centre of the den before deciding what t
o do. “Winter we need to get every-wolf back to the centre of the den now! This place is not safe, there was no-wolf there when I checked but some-wolf is watching us. I can feel it. We need to get out of here.”

  “I agree, there is something about this area that creeps me out and I can see that it creeps the other wolves out as well. Let’s get going.” Warclaw nodded in agreement. “Right every-wolf, we need to get moving back to the centre of the den. For those that are severely injured, we shall help you back. Try to get back as soon as possible.” Seeing the alarm on their faces, Winter knew she needed to talk comfort to the wolves. “It’s nothing to worry about. We just need to get back and make sure no other wolves are injured. Alright?”

  “Right, let’s move out of here.” Warclaw ordered. Slowly one by one the wolves moved out of the area and headed back to the centre of the den. Warclaw and Winter kept some of the stronger wolves back to help the injured get back to the centre. Winter asked Wren to help one of the severely injured wolves back to the centre and she went to help another of the injured wolves, putting him across her back and carrying him back. Warclaw helped two of the wolves back to the den, carrying them upon his back. Other wolves did the same, carrying who they could on their backs. There were eight severely injured wolves and four that were less injured. When they got back to the centre of the den, Winter did a head count and made sure that there were all there and no-wolf was missing. “Right every-wolf is here Warclaw.”