Chapter 15- A Close Ending

James lay in a patch of dead grass. His heart was heavy and his spirits low. Terrible losses had faced him in every direction. All that was left now was to lead the wolves to the sierra and self banish himself for his inability to keep the pack safe. “We continue till nightfall”. He stood up. His packs long sorrow filled faces made James sick. He almost wanted to shout at them but what good would that do. The group walked out from under the canopies and found they were staring over a large cliff. James looked out over high rock mountains and stretching forests of trees. Was this the so called paradise the sierra or were their hopes spoiled again? “We are close”. Sapientia said. “How do you know”? James stared over at her. “I’ve been there; I told Arnoue all about it”. James cocked his head. “I never knew you had been to the Sierra. Why did you assume it was the Sierra back at the desert canyons”? Sapientia pointed over the mountains. “It looked like this; I assumed we were at least close. James looked over the rocky landscape. Waterfalls dropped over the canyons feeding winding rivers, it was manifest. Their new home was so close and yet so far. James could smell the cool air above the rivers, hear the crashes of waterfalls, and taste the fresh water and food awaiting them. He pawed the ground anxiously. “Then let’s get going we have much ground to cover”. The other wolves followed in step and walked along with James across the rock edge.

 

Shadow yawned and continued walking. He kept wondering what the Sierra was like, what did it have to offer? Was it all just a lie? Crystal stopped. “Shadow do you hear that”? Shadow stopped too. “No, I don’t hear anything but the birds overhead”. Crystal shook her head. “Not that was something else”. Suddenly, Crystal started running. She bolted passes Shadow in a quick dash. Shadow blinked. “What are you doing”? He called out to her but Crystal was off into the trees. Shadow shook his head. “Sometimes I don’t understand that female”. He began to chase after her. He could hear her padding her feet up ahead brushing passed the branches. “Crystal where are you going”? He yelled. She apparently didn’t hear him and continued running. Shadow slapped into a branch that smacked him in the lip. It began to bleed but he ignored it. He caught sight of Crystal walking overhead on a high collection of branches. “Crystal what are you doing? Stop”! She didn’t listen nor look at him. Shadow slipped and dropped into the dirt. He quickly stood back up and started running again. Shadow ran up along the branch following behind Crystal who he saw stopped up ahead. Shadow ran up to her breathing heavily. “Why… why…” Shadow stopped to breath. “Why did you take off like that”? Crystal looked back at Shadow. “I heard a noise and well, look”. Crystal extended her paw pointing to a small human water craft that had apparently crashed into the river bank. Shadow stared down at it. “Well let’s take a look”. Shadow jumped down onto the boat and watched as Crystal followed. Shadow sniffed around; he smelt a fresh sent of blood. The sent carried over from a small corner on the right. Shadow crept closer and peeked over several small crates. Lying in a large pool of blood were two humans. Both were torn and shredded. Shadow jumped back. “Oh jeez”! Crystal’s ears flicked. “What is it”? Shadow pointed over to the crates. “Two humans, dead humans”. Crystal slid her gaze over the crates and made a noise of disgust. “Yeah, those are two dead humans alright, but what about that noise I heard”. Shadow listened; no sound but the creaking of wood touched his ears. Crystal sniffed about the cabin before stopping at a crate. She tucked her nose over a small opening on the side and pushed the top over allowing the lid to slide off. She gasped and Shadow turned. “What did you find”? Crystal lifted her head out of crate holding a human pup by its cloths in her teeth. Shadow stared amazed. “A human”? Crystal nodded. “Well isn’t that a find”? A heavy voice said behind Shadow. Shadow turned his head to face a brown and black wolf. He narrowed his eyes and smiled at Shadow’s surprised face. “I thought I got them all when I killed those two, thanks for helping me finish the job”. Crystal lowered the baby back into the crate. “And you think we were going to help you”? The dark colored wolf chuckled. “I was hoping but I suppose this makes it more entertaining”. Shadow growled. “Get out of here you beast”. The wolf lifted his paw to his chest and stepped back as though offended. “Why that’s no way to treat guests, you should watch your manners”. Shadow got down lower growling loudly at the wolf. “I don’t enjoy human killers like you”. The wolf chuckled again. “Such a drastic accusation, but it does not matter; hand me the child, now”. Crystal barred her teeth. “No, now get out”. The brown wolf snorted. “No I don’t think so”. He jumped and bit Shadow’s leg and rammed him into several crates. Shadow jumped back and locked his teeth into the wolf’s muzzle. He barked and retreated by swinging his arm smacking Shadow off. Crystal joined and shoved a crate into the wolf. He slipped backwards and Shadow pushed the crate hard into the wolf. He howled angrily. “Crystal bite his neck, now”! Crystal jumped over the crate and bit hard into the brown wolf’s neck. “No! Chanoue will kill you all”! “You’re working with Chanoue”? Shadow asked and he released the crate. The brown wolf stumbled down to the ground bleeding. “Yes, he will eliminate you all when we all reach salvation”. Shadow stared at him confused. “Yes salvation for us all, or those who have followed the code of honor”. Shadow felt heavily confused. “What is this code of honor you’re talking about”? The brown wolf simply chuckled and spat blood out his mouth. A smile spread across his face. “The code of honor is the code we and Chanoue follow by, to destroy Mother Nature’s most disgusting and pathetic creation”. Shadow spoke quietly. “Humans”. The brown wolf nodded. “And now I join many others in salvation”. The wolf choked and his rolled into his head. With one last choke the wolf’s eyelids shut. Shadow looked up at Crystal. “Is the child alright”? Crystal turned. A faint crying was coming from the box. “Yes, shaken but he’s ok”. Shadow walked over. “So what do we do with him”? Crystal shrugged. “We should care for him”. she said. Shadow looked at her in surprise. “You’re not serious are you”? Crystal smiled “Of coarse I am”. Shadow groaned. “There’s no way to keep him”. Crystal shook her head. “I’m not leaving him here”. Shadow frowned. “Well I suppose we shouldn’t just leave him but I don’t see how we are to care for him”. The child wailed from inside the box. “We will figure it out”. Crystal said and she reached into the box and picked up the child again. Shadow rolled his eyes and spoke quietly to himself. “Parenthood already? I would have hoped not to have this experience till later”.