Before Winter opened her eyes, all she could think was she was doomed. Fate had in the worst for her. Her mind was clouded, thoughts flying in her head like birds flying in circles. She even thought she heard voices in her head.
“Is she awake?” she heard one say.
'Wait a minute' she thought. This didn’t sound like in was in her head. She blinked her eyes open, and saw a wolf (female) staring at her, right in the face! She blinked again in disbelief. No, she wasn’t imagining things.
She finally opened her eyes all the way, but was cautious and jumped to her feet.
“She’s awake all right.” said the same female wolf as before.
The wolf was silver and white as the moon, her fur as silky and glistening like the waves, which gently crashed on the shore.
“Who are you?!” asked Winter.
“My name is Moonwatcher, and this is my sister, Luna.” she answered.
Sure enough, the two wolves evidently looked like sisters. Luna was a lighter shade than Moonwatcher, but was purple, kind of, in some places, on the tip of her ears and tail; the shade of purple that the sun makes in the sky when it sets in the evening.
“Where am I? And, ow, my leg really hurts!” “All I really can remember is.. I swam in the water.. And, something bit me. After that, my leg burned like fire.. When I reached shore, I felt dizzy and nauseous and weak.. then, everything went pitch black, like the night sky without the stars or moon." Winter explained.
Luna nodded with understanding, then looking at Moonwatcher.
“Do you remember anything else like your name or age? Something that can help us find your family?” asked Moonwatcher.
Winter’s head was spinning now. How could she not remember her own name or age?
“I...” said Winter, “Don’t remember..” “But there’s no way to find my parents..’’
The two sisters looked confused.
“Because they’re.. gone.” said Winter as she shed a tear.
“Oh, I’m so sorry you poor child.” said Moonwatcher.
As they walked through the forest, Moonwatcher insisting to make Winter apart of the pack, Luna looked worried in some way.
“How are you going to tell Fang you brought in another pup?” asked Luna. “I don’t think she’s going to be thrilled.” she said.
“It’s just Fang, Luna, we’ve known her forever.” Moonwatcher replied.
Amongst a few thick trees there was the place where the wolf pack Moonwatcher was talking about lived, where Winter would soon live too. It had dens (caves), a food storage area, even a river with flowing fresh water, and hunting grounds in the forest. Everything a wolf could ask for and more. Luna realized how silly she had been.
“You’re right, Moon, it’s just Fang.” Luna chuckled, and cleared her throat and made her voice deeper. Luna pretended to be Fang, “Oh, we don’t have enough food, We don’t have enough room, It’s too much..”
It looked like Luna’s face turned pale and red all at once. Winter wondered how this was possible. She was still as a statue and on her face was a look of pure fear and embarrassment.
“I think Fang might have heard you, Luna.” said Moonwatcher, looking like she was about to burst into laughter.
“Oh, um, hi Fang, we were just talking about you...” said Luna to another wolf, who was black and gray, and looked very angry at the moment. “Um, oh, look at the time, I-er, gotta go do something, somewhere else, now! So.. Bye!” and Luna bounded away.
“Moonwatcher...” said Fang as if she were about to explode with anger. “What have I talked to you about? I’m the main provider of food for this pack, and if you keep bringing in pups then I won’t be able to get enough food to feed everyone!” Fang said.
“Fang it’s okay, besides, you were a lost pup and I convinced my mother to let you into the pack!” Moonwatcher said, but right after she did say it, she looked like she regret it.
“I thought we were never to mention that, Moon...” Fang whispered.
She took a long sigh.
“But I guess you’re right. You’re the pack leader and I should trust you to make decisions, besides, I guess I’ll have to start training pups to hunt so there’s enough food to go around.” Fang said. “Take this pup to get some sleep, whatever happened she looks exhausted, and that leg needs some rest.”
“Yes, I was just about to take her to meet Moonbell. This pup here needs some friends, and, thanks, Fang.” Moonwatcher said with a smile, and led Winter to the Main Den. “Here we are.” said Moonwatcher as they walked in to a colossal cave.
Winter looked around, still walking, and almost ran into a wall, in awe of the amazing natural architecture of the den.
“Pup, this is Moonbell.” (Moonwatcher’s daughter)
In the corner of the den was a pup who looked about the same age as Winter but maybe a little younger. Her face was creamy pink and white, like the clouds and fresh, pink cotton candy, mixed together. The rest of her body was a consistent cream color, with some more pink at the tip of her tail. Winter had never seen a wolf, young or old, quite like the one she had her gaze upon right now; but to be fair, she really hadn’t seen any other wolves, besides her family up until now.
“Hello.” said Moonbell. Her voice was small, quiet, sweet and charming.
“Yup. This is Moonbell.” said Moonwatcher.
Later that evening, on the brink of nightfall: “All the pups need to go to bed in the main den please, to get rest.” Announced Luna as the sun set on the plant covered horizon, making beams of red and orange and purple paint the sky. The sky looked like a piece of art.
Before going into the main den, for, Winter was exhausted, she climbed on top of a high rock and examined the darkening sky. There! She spotted the first, twinkling star of the night. She made a wish, that, much to her surprise, came true later that night.
“Star light, star bright, the first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight. I wish to make a friend.”
Once she went back to the den, Winter bashfully looked around the gaping space for a place to sleep, but all the sleeping spots were taken. ‘So many wolves’ she thought, still looking around, tossing her head this way and that. Moonbell saw her, before going to the corner where she slept.
“Hey.” Moonbell said to Winter.
Moonbell had caught her by surprise, and startled, Winter jumped.
“Phew.” sighed Winter, relieved it was only Moonbell. “Hi.”
“I saw you were looking around for a place to sleep.”
“Um, what makes you think that?” replied Winter.
“It’s okay. You can sleep with me.” said Moonbell.
Winter thought this was so nice of her. She felt a warm feeling inside as if she finally was at home again. Moonbell led her to the same corner, in the same spot as before; but this time there were leaves, soft pines, and some hay and moss on the top, at the head of her “bed”, like a pillow. This time, Winter looked around more, and noticed the corner had a removable curtain, made of huge leaves almost bigger than herself.
Now she remembered seeing a type of tree with leaves on it like that when she had been outside. She went past the curtain, along with Moonbell and she lay down.
“Ahhhh.. This is so comfortable.”
Moonbell laughed a little. “Glad you like it here.” Moonbell said with a smile.
She then closed the curtains, making the “room” dim and mysterious.
“Wow.” Winter said.
“You haven’t seen the least of it!” exclaimed Moonbell. Winter’s attention drifted to another set of huge leaves a little higher, and there were only two leaves, so it was probably a small window. Moonbell pushed the two leaves aside, and moonlight shone through the opening in the cave wall. The “room” lit up with beautiful white moonlight, in a single ray, that shone on Winter’s completely white fur like a spotlight.
Moonbell smiled and looked a Winter, who was beaming. Winter’s jaw dropped as she looked out the window from where she was standing. Even from a distance, the many constellations and stars looked like they were dancing, shimmering, looking even brighter because of the darkness surrounding them.
“It’s a full moon tonight.” Moonbell said, hushed, admiring the sky. “Gasp!” “I know!” said Moonbell like she had an idea, which, she did. Moonbell went right up close to the window, peeking out. “Come on!” she urged Winter. She didn’t have the slightest idea why, but Winter went to Moonbell.
On her way to the window, she tripped on a small stone and slipped on a leaf that was out of place, falling on the spot where the killer whale had bitten her, making her yip and then whimper in pain.
“Gasp! Are you okay? You have to get that bandaged up!” Moonbell took a leaf and a strand of rope that looked like it used to be a human’s, wrapped the leaf around Winer’s wound, and knotted it with the rope (Which is very hard to do when you have paws).
“Ow!” said Winter.
“Be still.” Moonbell said.
She gave one last tug at the rope with her teeth to make sure the leaf stayed in place.
“There.” she said, finally. She was done. “My mom taught me how to do that.” Moonbell said proudly. “This is a type of special leaf from the healer’s tree that has special fluids and vitamins in it, so it can heal your bite faster and more efficiently.” “Now, come on so I can show you something!”
Winter followed her, and was careful not to trip or slip this time. She looked out the window with Moonbell.
“Howl at the moon with me.”
Winter looked puzzled. Moonbell lifted her head high, pointing at the Moon, then closed her eyes, and howled. It looked fun to Winter.
“Now you try.” Moonbell said.
So she did try. She held her chin high at the moon, closed her eyes, and howled. About half as good as Moonbell did, but she howled. And it was fun! So that night, Moonbell helped Winter get better at howling, and they howled together. Winter thought she had made a friend. ‘Wishes do come true.’ she thought.
Original work by Riley Holt
(with no help from Daddy this time)
