The Bloodwing Pack: The Journey of Souls

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Chapter 2 The Journey of Warriors Dancer watches as the large group of Nightbanes start to depart the great valley of the Wolf Fang Mountains. Sighing to himself his mind remembers what Niko said to him during the last day of the Festival. He shakes his head, "From now on....I shall be named Satchel. I will have nothing more to deal with the name of Niko's brother." With a huff to himself, he nods his head with satisfaction. He watches as Kiba, a white pelt male stands by Shadowmist. Then watches as he bows his head then turns to leave. Upon his leaving, Satchel starts to walk over to Shadowmist but stops as Sol Kais walks over to her. His large frame carried Haven and Nya within his silk like grey fur. Haven was pure black, suckling on his tail while his twin sister was trying to nibble his ear. Her grey pelt was obvious against her brother but was camouflaged against her fathers pelt. Sol Kais looks over at Satchel and tilts his head against his mate's. "Your friend approaches my love. Don't be too long, for we must journey soon." Satchel lowers his head respectfully. "Where do you head m'lady?" he asks. "Towards the north, where I heard good hunting is, Dancer." she replied. "Please.....call me Satchel now. I don't want any name that brings up memories of Niko." His ears flattened sadly at the mention of his brothers name. She notices, "I take it that things didn't turn out like you hoped when you saw him....?" Satchel nods his head. "He has turned so cruel....him and Icefire. They are running with Nicaisis, Cain, and Baca now." Her hackles raised at the mention of Nicaisis and his pack. Sol Kais nuzzles her lovingly to help calm her down. Shadowfire, Deca, and Moonshadow sit down, waiting on their mother and her old beta to finish talking. "Why don't you join us Dan.......Satchel? It won't be a burden on us to have another in our ranks. You can help teach Haven, Nya, Moonshadow, and Deca to hunt, and defend themselves. Sol and I hardly have time to train them...and I can use the help." Satchel tilts his head. "What about that white pelted male who just left?" "He is our scout. And he has a task that he was just sent on. But I must hurry your response as we must get going." she rushes in. "Oh...sorry...I forgot. I would not mind if I tag along. I could use the company again as it has been so long since I ran with a pack. If you don't mind me asking.....what is your packs name.....as I remember....Niko's pack was called the Wings of Fate Pack?" She couldn't help but wince at the name. "I thought about calling it the Bloodwing Pack....but it is not quite a large pack. As it consists of my children; Shadowfire, Deca, Moonshadow, Haven, and Nya....my mate; Sol Kais, myself, and Kiba; our scout." she replied. Satchel nods his head as he listened. Sol Kais nuzzles his mate, "It is time to go my love, time is going against us to reach our winter hunting grounds. We cannot be late." Shadowfire, Deca, and Moonshadow rise to their paws and stretch, ready to get moving. Already they were almost the last of what remained of many packs that had managed to make it to the Festival of the Moon. Shadowmist nods, "I am ready to go. Come......let us head to our winter pack lands." With that being said, Shadowmist and her family, along with Satchel began their ascent up the Wolf Fang Mountain cliffs. The pine trees were thick and full as they grew along the mountainside, their heavy scent rose along the warm air currents. Along the ground, several tracks of rabbit, squirrel, and deer lay scattered around the forest. Shadowmist glances back towards the glen, having a bad feeling that something dark was following them. She shrugs it off as she didn't see any threat yet so she held no reason to remain uneasy. However, she did remain alert as they continue to climb. After about an hour of walking, they started to reach the snowy cliff tops of the mountains. Shadowmist leads them along the thin crevasses of the path carefully. Occasionally, hers or Sol Kais's paws would slip on loose rubble, but they regain their footing swiftly. Satchel followed at the rear of the pack, making sure Moonshadow or Deca didn't fall behind. He was taking his new position very seriously, and he didn't want his new students getting lost. Deca looks back at him, wondering what their new teacher is going to teach them. Her and Moonshadow were three years old....and yet they still didn't know how to hunt. They tried to practice on hunting mice for snacks but they still were not really good at it. Deca sighs quietly to herself. After around two hours of climbing carefully, they finally reached the summit of the mountainside. Deca still wondered how going up the mountain was a lot harder than going down....but she shrugs the thought away. Sol Kais catches up to Shadowmist's side and studies the terrain....looking for a hidden path amongst the fauna. Finding it, he nuzzles his mates attention and leads them to the path. Moonshadow pants a little a little exhausted from the climb but recovers swiftly as they went downhill. Satchel glances over at Moonshadow worried slightly, but when he recovered, his mind calmed down. Sol Kais lead his pack along the riverside. The river gurgled and spewed as it flowed over rocks and dirt, polishing the rocks smooth. Fish swam with the current heading towards the lake that lay waiting at the bottom of the mountain in a valley. Haven and Nya watch the fish in awe, amazed at how they moved and the fact that their scales shimmered in the sunlight. Meanwhile, Deca and Moonshadow keep pace with Satchel. "So you are gonna be our new mentor?" Deca asked. "Yes Youngling. I am," Satchel replied. Moonshadow asks, "What are you gonna teach us, Mentor Satchel?" "Hunting techniques, defensive maneuvers, and offensive positions." Satchel replied. "Yay, we will be great warriors and hunters like mom and dad." Deca and Moonshadow said together. Satchel chuckles softly. "You two and your little siblings will learn together. As long as you listen to my directions you will go far." Satchel looks over to Nya and Haven who were being transferred from their father's back to the ground. They ran around their mother with youthful glee. Their heads could be seen over the grass. Shadowmist watches them with love in her eyes as they played around her. Nya giggled as Haven chased her. Satchel watched his new apprentices carefully as they ran by the river. Shadowfire follows after his stepfather as they went to go hunting. Sol Kais and Shadowfire crouch low to the grass as they started to sneak up on a herd of deer. They head behind a log to plan. While they start to plan, the herd was grazing away. Occasionally a buck would lift his head to keep a lookout for any trouble. Not seeing any the buck went back to grazing. Whispering Sol Kais watches the herd, "Alright, what I want you to do Shadowfire is to sneak around to the other side and flank them. I am going to drive them your way. Are you ready?" Shadowfire nodded his head understanding. "I understand sir. Mother will enjoy this meal. Hopefully Nya and Haven will eat meat for their first time." Shadowfire whispered back. Shuffling back towards the river, Shadowfire made his way to the other side of the deer herd. He stayed behind a hill just so that his scent could not be detected. He waits for Sol to start the hunt. While Shadowfire was getting in position, Sol Kais was starting to sneak up closer to the herd of deer. Once he felt confidant that he was close enough, he howls loudly, spooking the deer towards Shadowfire, then started running after them. As the herd got closer towards Shadowfire, he runs out from behind the hill and in front of them spooking them further. Then Sol Kais and Shadowfire rush into the herd causing them to scatter. After ten minutes of running through the herd, they spot an elder doe starting to fall behind. They herd her away from the scattering herd. Once they separated her from the herd, they feint attacks, causing her to make mistakes. Circling her they make their move. Shadowfire leaps for her throat while Sol Kais leaps onto her back. She bucks desperately, trying to remove them from her. They held on not wanting to let go. After about five minutes, she starts to slow down, desperate for air but unable to get a lot of air due to Shadowfire. Soon she collapses. Sol Kais releases her while Shadowfire snaps her neck. They pick up the carcass and start to carry it back to Shadowmist and the others. While this was happening, Satchel was trying to begin his first lesson to his pupils. He was able to keep Deca's and Moonshadow's attention but Nya and Haven couldn't pay attention for very long. Satchel sighs for the fact that he could only keep the attention of half his apprentices. Shadowmist sighs and shakes her head subtlety as her two youngest children started to roam about, playing. Satchel had just gotten Deca to crouch so she could try to pounce onto a field mouse when Sol Kais and Shadowfire return with lunch. When they set down the deer carcass, Nya and Haven run over and sniff at the carcass, unable to understand what it was. They look at their mother and father while they talked. "How did Shadowfire do on his official first hunt?" Sol Kais replied, "He did well my love, he maneuvered with ease and power. He even did the final kill." Shadowmist smiles, "Congratulations my son. This will be Nya and Havens first time to eat meat....as I no longer give out milk. They will have to accept that factor now and learn to thrive on meat. Come, let us feast on this fine meal, that Shadowfire has presented to us." She starts the feast by taking the first bite. Shadowfire waits on Sol Kais to join her, then joins in on the feast. Satchel joins them, then Deca and Moonshadow. Nya and Haven watched as their elders ate, then mimicked them, biting into the carcass for their first time. Their tiny sharp teeth pull at the meat, struggling to pull it off slightly. They growl as they pulled, Nya finally pulls free a small chunk away from the carcass. Haven follows suit and starts to chew on the meat. They both lick their lips as they finished chewing their portions. Once everyone finished eating, Shadowmist, Sol Kais, Shadowfire, and Satchel cleaned themselves off. After Shadowmist cleaned herself off, she started to clean off Deca, Moonshadow, Nya, and Haven. Nya and Haven yawns as the blood and meat scraps was being licked off their fur. Shadowmist smiles as they yawn. She starts to hum the Lunar Praise song. After Nya and Haven were cleaned off, Shadowmist starts to sing the ancient words of the song. "Te no vie shinen (In the night I run) Lunar vocainran (Lunar praise i sung) Illunir tair Shiven, de Luna (To the Goddess of Light, Luna) Ich shinen duben (Howling loudly at night) La travenaseckia vocairi (to the skies i sing) Vocainrani sequin Shenen taoven (Singing praisal to our nightly Queen) Ki'ranah, sevah (Hunting, playing) Took eva donaar (fur and fang shining) tookan shinen vocairi taoven (through the night i sing to our Queen) Duben noki shiram (Howling clearly and strong) Da shinen seckia vocairi (to the night skies i sing) Ich shinen duben (howling loudly at night) La travenseckia vocairi (to the skies I sing) Illunir tair Shiven, de Luna (to the Goddess of Light, Luna)" Soon Nya and Haven were asleep on their mothers back as the song ended. Sol Kais nuzzles his mate lovingly against her cheek lightly...then started to lead his pack through the valley heading north. Little did they know that Nicaisis, Baca, Cain, Niko, and Icefire were following their scent about a mile away. Nicaisis chuckles to himself. "Soon we will have pups for dinner." his deep voice breaks their silent gazes as they watch their alpha pace on the hilltop. Niko smiles darkly, "Good. Soon that bitch will pay for what she did to my pack and my heart." his icy voice sent chills down Baca's spine. "Do we have to go after her? She is a strong warrior....and I don't want to get hurt by her again." Baca said. "Don't be such a pup brother. If you didn't go want to go after her now, why did you sign up at the Festival during trails? You know she is still the champion of the arena. So stop your sniveling and wolf up." Cain said. Baca lowered his head shamed. Nicaisis snaps at them, "Stop your chattering!" He adds quietly, "We don't want our victims becoming alerted of our presence. They are still a mile ahead of us." Nicaisis glares at Baca and Cain then nearly closes his eyes at the thought of bringing his sister, Shadowmist down. He had hated his sister for how his life turned out to be. He was her twin brother...but she always had the glory and he was always getting in trouble when they were pups. He wanted to see her beg for mercy...begging him to take her life instead of her children. But he knew that she would go down fighting instead. And he knew the risks of fighting his sister. Her dark nature subdued by constant training. Her most dangerous side, her Hell-Varg form....the darker side of her mind and soul. Her destructive warrior mindset unleashed without care on who she attacked...especially during a bloodlust. His ears flattened against his skull at the thought of seeing that side of her. He needed a plan. He had to get Sol Kais and Satchel away from his sister. He snaps at the air as nothing came to mind. He turns his red eyes back to Baca, Cain, Niko, and Icefire. Icefire stood next to her mate, her white with blue paws, tail tips, and underbelly fur stood out against her mates pitch black fur. Baca stood next to her, his grey fur matched his brothers, who stood next to him. Nicaisis flicks his red tipped tails as he thought. "I think I have an idea." Nicaisis said. "Baca. Cain. You two will scout ahead, stay to their west side and remain undetected. Niko, Icefire, do the same except on their east side. I will bring up the rear. When you four get ahead of them, I will come up from behind and we will attack all together. We will have them boxed in!" Nicaisis laughs darkly to himself at his plan, while the others nod their heads in understanding. Baca licks his lips, "I can't wait to have pups for dinner, Alpha." Nicaisis stops laughing abruptly and stares down Baca. "You do not have the say so on what you get to eat, Omega!" Baca slinks down to the ground, his belly barely brushing up against the dirt. "Sorry Alpha." Baca didn't even look up at his Alpha while he spoke. Nicaisis smacks Baca's head with his tails hard as he turns back towards Shadowmist's direction. His black shoulder fur sways in the warm wind as it caught the warm air currents. He huffs silently. "Go. Now. And don't you dare disappoint me this time!" Nicaisis growls as he spoke, deepening his voice even louder. Baca and Cain rush off towards the west while Niko and Icefire run off towards the east. Nicaisis takes his time shadowing Shadowmist's pack. Meanwhile Satchel was trying to train Deca and Moonshadow while they walked the fundamentals of a warrior. "Alright my apprentices, the first rule to being a warrior is to use your head and remain calm. Anger doesn't help when fighting, due to you fighting blindly." Deca and Moonshadow nod their heads as they listened. "The second rule to being a warrior is to know your surroundings. Watch for something along the trail that you will remember and recognize." Satchel said. "Like Wolf Fang Mountain?" Deca asked. "Yes. Like Wolf Fang Mountain. Good job Deca." Satchel said smiling. Moonshadow pouts, "I was gonna say that." "What else can you recognize?" Satchel asked. Moonshadow jumps about, "Ooh ooh....I know, Wolf Fang River!" He holds his head up proudly. "Great job, Moonshadow," Satchel replied. Shadowmist smiles as her pups were being so good. She glances back at Satchel, Deca, and Moonshadow, then returns her gaze back to Sol Kais. Sol Kais looks back at his pack, then stops, feeling like something is wrong. He scans the terrain, following his instints. Shadowmist notices and signals Satchel, Deca, and Moonshadow to remain silent. She starts to hide Nya and Haven, who were still asleep on her back, with her wings. She too scans the area, watching the shadows. Manipulating them to her will, she lightened up the darkness and saw Niko and Icefire. Sol Kais saw Baca and Cain. Shadowmist growls low, warningly while signaling Satchel to keep the children in the middle. Shadowfire, Shadowmist, Sol Kais, and Satchel formed a protective circle around Deca and Moonshadow. Shadowmist places Nya and Haven inbetween Deca and Moonshadow. Nuzzling her children , she whispers, "Keep each other safe....and stay in the middle. Do not leave the middle my little ones." "Mother! Another approaches from the south!" Shadowfire called out. Shadowmist lifts her head up and looked towards the south. Seeing Nicaisis approaching, her hackles raised as she growled low. "Brother." she growls in fury. Nicaisis chuckles out loud, "Why sister.....is that anyway to treat your twin?" Nicaisis fakes a pout. "After all this way, I came to see you....this is how you welcome me?" Shadowmists ears laid flat against her head as she bared her teeth. She knew he was up to something....and she knew his tactics. "What do you want Nicaisis?" she growls. Nicaisis narrows his eyes. He knew that this would be a challenge but now she was trying his patience. He signals Baca, Cain, Niko, and Icefire to move in. They rush at Shadowmist, Satchel, Sol Kais, and Shadowfire. Shadowmist and her pack holds steady....not daring to leave Deca, Moonshadow, Nya, and Haven out in the open. With teeth bared, they clash together. Shadowmist held off Niko, Sol Kais held off Icefire, Satchel held off Baca, and Shadowfire held off Cain. Nicaisis circles the fighting adults, looking for a chance to snatch one of Shadowmists children. After what seemed like hours of fighting, after thirty minutes, Baca, Cain, and Icefire were backing away with serious injuries. Nicaisis growls low with frustration and lunges at Shadowmist. She lunges at her brother with equal fury. They bat at each other with their wings while snapping at each others mouths and front paws with sharp teeth. Both Nicaisis and Shadowmist fought fiercely. They break apart and circle each other, both snapping at the air towards each other. Nicaisis feints a right, but Shadowmist didn't fall for it. She feints a right lunge and Nicaisis fell for it. She lunges at his left open side and bit down on his scruff, shaking her head harshly. His blood fills her mouth as he tore free from her teeth and he counterattacks, biting her scruff and lifts her off the ground. She scratches at his chest with her paws, tearing deep gouges in his flesh. He howls in pain, releasing her and runs off. Furious that he lost, he glares at Shadowmist and her family, and runs off towards the south with Cain, Niko, Baca, and Icefire limping after him. Shadowmist sits down exhausted from her battle and looks back at her pack. "We held them off for now. However.....they will be back with a vengence. Knowing my twin brother." She lowers her gaze and sees Haven and Nya stumbling over to her. She smiles softly at her youngest son and daughter, then looks over to Sol Kais, Satchel, and Shadowfire. "We will recover here tonight, my love." Sol Kais said. "I agree with Father, Mother. You need to rest." Shadowfire added. Satchel nods his head. Shadowmist looks at them, sighs, and nods her head. "I must agree with your decision," Shadowmist replied. With that, they retired for the night. Shadowmist looks up at the night sky and basks in the moonlight.