Hunter or Hunted, a fictional story in the POV of a wolf

[Catlover]

I decided to begin my own story, and this idea came to mind. 

The story follows a young female wolf, and her brother trying to get through the harsh winter. 

Many things stand in the way of their survival. Starvation, dehydration, other wolves and even the few humans stranded on Great Bear after multiple plane crashes, or just those who refused to leave after the geomagnetic storm occured. 

The odds are certainly not in their favour, but the two young wolves will do their best. But the question is:

Will it be enough?

[Catlover]

Prologue

The Aurora shimmered overhead, lighting the dark night in an explosion of colour. 

This was usually a good time, for the Northern Pack, but few even noticed the rare occurrence. The food was scarce in the winter of Great Bear, and the starving wolves had little time for the beautiful lights. 

Only one wolf payed good attention, aware of how something didn't seem right about it. 

The she-wolf got to her feet, falling down as a sharp pain ignited suddenly in her belly. No! Not now! 

"The pups!" The wolf cried, calling for her mate. "They're coming!"

The male whirled around, running to the she-wolf, even though she was only a few metres away from his current position.

 

Time passed, and seven pups had entered the world. None of which were expected to survive.

To try not feel the sorrow, all seven went unnamed, simply being called Pup 1, Pup 2, and so on.

 

A month passed and all but two had been lost to the famine. A male and a female, still going strong despite everything.

"We should name them." The male spoke, watching the pair with a rarely visible fondness.

"I already had two in mind. Aurora and Borealis, like the lights on the night when they were born."

"Great names." The male wolf replied, warmly. "For great pups." 

 

 

[Catlover]

Chapter 1

A pair of yearlings stalked the forest, searching desperately for a hare, or basically anything edible. The larger of the duo, Borealis, glanced to his sibling, his emerald optics full of worry as they moved closer to Mystery Lake. Not only did another pack live there, but a few of the human inhabitants still remained. 

"You sure that you actually want to come here? The Lake Pack doesn't take to visitors kindly." 

"I know that, but with our pack growing weaker, we must head here." Aurora appeared to have a plan in her mind, but her brother still appeared on edge as they moved nearer to the large lake.

"What, so we will stroll on in, and drag a human back?" Borealis struggled to keep the snarl out of his voice. "What are you, suicidal?"

"No. You must be, for not caring about the near death that we are facing and wanting to stay away from the land with the most deer." Aurora snapped, her amber gaze locking onto a nearby doe. 

Borealis saw it too, and giving a sigh, he followed his sister to the deer, into the infamous pack's territory. We're all gonna die.Borealis thought to himself, If the deer doesn't kick our heads in, the pack will gladly do so.

But he couldn't stay moody once the thrill of a hunt took over, running after his sibling, latching onto a hind leg to try make the doe stumble and finish the hunt as quickly as he could.

Eventually, the doe staggered, Aurora wasting no time grabbing onto its neck and bringing it down. With her brother helping, it soon lay still, unmoving.

"Now what? We just going to drag it back?" Borealis glared at his sibling, surprised when she appeared to have an answer.

"Just rip a chunk off. Honestly, you're so thick sometimes." 

Borealis just rolled his eyes, a common movement when he had no answer.

The pair grabbed as much as they could, running as fast as possible to the Northern Pack.

Unaware that they weren't alone.

[Catlover]

Chapter 2-The Lake Pack's POV

Cavern observed the two yearlings, calling the pack - or what remained of the pack - over with a silent gesture.

Cavern was intelligent, especially for a wolf who was also facing starvation. 

The deer could wait. First, these wolves had to go. If not, then they would be back. 

His mate, Polaris, didn't seem to understand his logic, at first. A hushed explanation solved that. 

The pack followed after Cavern, Polaris included, though she appeared reluctant to leave the carcass. 

The den of the Northern Pack came into view. 

If Cavern thought his pack were doing bad, then he'd have to think again. The Northern Pack, once full of members, only included the male alpha and the two yearlings. God knows how the young ones survived. 

"Now!" The male let out a bark, shattering the silence. His pack rushed forward. This wasn't a simple battle; anyone could tell that. 

Cavern wanted to stop these wolves for good. Polaris nudged him, nodding to the fleeing yearlings.

"They will die soon. If the snow doesn't get to them, the packs sure will." 

"I still think we should at least get them." Polaris muttered, turning away to join the pack at fighting the alpha. It only required a couple to take down the weakened male, but the Lake Pack did it together, or not at all. 

Cavern got to kill the male, something the pack grumbled about, but accepted. 

The younger alpha was not a murderous wolf, but killing rival wolves was one of the rare things that gave him joy. 

He was going to do this slowly. Everything was a game, and Cavern liked to win.

Clamping his jaws around the other alpha's neck, he slowly put on pressure, stepping away only when the male grew still and lifeless. 

"Now, we can feast like we did back in the warm season." Cavern invited his pack towards the alpha. Tough times had brought them to occasional cannibalism, and Cavern had to admit that the flesh of his own kind didn't taste that bad.

After eating their fill, the wolves dragged back the remains, at Cavern's order. Polaris rushed on ahead towards the deer, mercifully unclaimed. 

Things were going great for the Lake Pack, and Cavern was going to enjoy it whilst it lasted.

 

[Catlover]

Chapter 3

The two yearlings raced through the forests, taking in no account of their current surroundings. 

All that mattered was the previous events, and survival. 

“Are they following us?” Borealis broke the silence, panting heavily and looking at Aurora.

The young she-wolf looked behind, shaking her head. A look of relief was obvious, before progressing into worry once again.

”Do you think that Father..made it?” Aurora asked, in a quiet voice. Normally, it was Borealis who asked questions, but she needed to know what her brother expected.

”No.” That was all the male said, walking away into the forest. Aurora caught up almost instantly, though no more words were spoken, the duo lapsing into subdued silence. 

Both seemed to be searching for positive words to say, but all they could think of was that they were alone, in unfamiliar territory, during an elongated winter. 

 

The sun slipped below the horizon, and they finally stopped moving, finding shelter below a tree. 

Borealis slipped into sleep, whilst Aurora just kept guard, unable to rest. 

Just the day before, everything was fine. They were alive and well. 

Now they were alone in a world that seemed intent on causing their demise.

Edited April 23, 2020 by Catlover