Chapter 1 Adventure awaits ---------------------------------------------------------------- You could hear the distant sound of the waves crashing along the sea-ridden shore, the sway of the trees, the whispering of the winds. It was quiet, but you could still hear it even tucked away in the den. Vines draped over the hidden space, sunlight shifting through the veil of green. Inside, a cream female wolf sniffed her only pup as it wriggled in the curl of her stomach. He was about three Howl Moons old, big enough to venture out of the safety of the den. The pup stood up, shaking his furry ears. “Mom! MOM!” He pounced on her side, falling back onto the den floor. “Rghhh…..What?” She growled, sitting up. He cocked his head and yipped excitedly. “Can I go outside today? Please?” He shuffled his paws as he eagerly waited for her response. The cream wolf flicked her tail nervously, then laid her head on the ground. “Not today. Maybe… tomorrow” The pup huffed in disagreement, but didn’t argue. The truth was she didn’t want him to ever leave her. The harsh winter… An image flashed in her mind, scarlet blood staining the snow. She knew she wouldn’t let anything happen to her only living pup, Dagger. She closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep. Dagger waited until he was sure she wouldn’t notice, then started creeping toward the den entrance. Light-pawed and stumbly, he was rather quiet as he slowly padded to freedom. Before he reached the entrance, he glanced back at his mother, sound asleep. Then he darted out of the den, only to stop dead in astonishment. Snow patches covered the ground, slowly melting, and glittered beautifully. The trees whistled in the wind as birds hopped from branch to branch, singing beautiful songs. Dagger’s tail flicked in excitement as he sniffed the ground. An unknown scent drifted among the clearing, one that puzzled him. He set off toward it, pausing in some grass blades as he heard something rustle in a nearby bush. Stepping forward, Dagger tilted his head as a creature with a round body and long ears zipped out of the bushes. His fur rose with anticipation as his instinct detected the scent: Rabbit. Dagger started to give chase, crashing through the bush. He sped toward the creature, his ears angling in the direction of its tiny pawsteps. Fumbling, he almost tripped over a ragged stone, but righted himself with just enough time to keep eyesight with the rabbit. Everything was a blur as he chased it, but finally it scrambled its way under a log. Dagger stood, panting, as he growled in frustration. It was taller than him, and sturdy, too. Must have fallen when one of the many storms appeared. How can I reach it? He thought, looking up at the log. His gaze swiveled to a nearby tree, and an idea sparked in him. Yes, he wasn’t tall enough to jump over the log from the ground, but….. Dagger backed up, from the log, his gaze aiming at the tree beside it. When he was a good distance away, he charged forward, sending falling sticks snapping as he rushed toward the log and the tree. And then he leaped. His paws slammed against the tree, sending bark flying and ricocheting off it and over the log. Wind grabbed at his fur as he soared over it, the free feeling giving him longing. But it only lasted a moment, and crashed down to the earth. Dagger yelped as he hit the sandy floor, dust puffed up in clouds around him. He licked his leg, which had fallen roughly first, and padded out of the clearing. Lilys dotted the sand, with raindrops slowly slipping off the petals. A small beetle scuttled across the sand a few feet away from Dagger, and leaping, he tried to pin it. But before Dagger could have a good look at it, it wriggled out of his paws and ran for its life to a blade of grass. Dagger sniffed, ready to follow in pursuit, when a new sound drifted into his ears. It was quick and smooth, and crashing, too. He followed the noise, curious of where it may lead him. The noise was getting louder, and Dagger picked up his pace. He made his way through a cluster of bushes, only to stop and gasp in astonishment once more. A glittering body of water rushed past, sending a beautiful roar through Dagger’s ears. Continued Below -
A River! He thought, wagging his sharp pointed tail. He knew of these, the many stories Mama would tell him. His favorite story was of one river that seemed to go on forever, never to be stopped, even by the strongest bear. The sunlight made it so he could see through it, to peer at the minnows wriggling through the current. Dagger stepped forward, leaning down to look at the beautiful sight. He reached in with a paw, only to tug in back right away. It was freezing! A piercing wave of coldness surged through the tip of his paw, a shock compared to the usual warmth of the den. He licked it, soothing the freezing feeling. Dagger dropped his gaze, closing his eyes. I’m a Sea Wolf! I should love the cold water! How could he not? To be a real Sea Wolf, he had to prove himself like all the other wolf pups before him. He had to! Squaring his shoulders, he placed his paw in, and then the other. "I’ll be brave. I’ll be a Sea Wolf!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go to the studio for the prolouge -
