Zeika's backstory

A sheet of deep snow settled under skeletal, frost-bitten trees beneath a round, winter moon. The frost lay silent, save for the soft crunch of paws on frozen ground. A brawny wolf padded silently, always keeping his head low and glancing about. His dull, tawny fur rippled over a lean, athletic frame, and his mustard eyes glowed like tiny fireflies in the night.

Suddenly, a scent drifted through the chilly air. There, a hare, its tiny nose twitching and its ears turning to any sound. The wolf’s ears perked up. A chance. He slid into the shadows, almost melting into it, his eyes no longer carrying the cautious gaze, but one of predatory focus. His paws barely made a sound as he crept, almost like he was a ghost. His lithe body shifted and twisted to the hare’s every subtle movement. His eyes locked onto his target’s neck, calculated and calm.

The hare snapped its head towards the shadow that followed it, and locked eyes with that deadly gaze. It then bolted for the undergrowth, eyes wide and alert. The wolf lunged after his quarry, his jaws wide open, and snapped his teeth around his prey’s throat. Metallic blood filled his mouth as he clamped down. To make sure the hare was dead, he vigorously shook the limp body.

He ran through the trees until they opened up to a tiny, snowy clearing with a cave in the centre. The cave was really small, really just an opening in the earth that didn't go that deep or had many sharp edges. The entrance was covered by a thick layer of ivy. A patch of plump cavemoss made for a soft nest without the hassle of making one. A pool deeper down with a small waterfall glowed a soft blue, making for a secluded, relaxing corner. On the moss, lay a she-wolf with stormy-grey fur and icy-blue eyes. Her belly was visibly swollen due to the tiny pups still growing in them.

“Varin,” she smiled. “You're back.”

“Soyrin,” Varin replied, as he dropped down the hare. “Here.”

“Thanks,” Soyrin said gratefully.

A musky smell flowed in the air. There came the Omega, a young she-wolf with light-grey fur and emerald-green eyes. She was covered in healing injuries, most likely caused by how the Alphas handled her.

“Rhyra,” snarled Varin. “Nobody asked you to come in. GET. OUT.”

“I-I'm sorry Alpha,” trembled Rhyra, her voice wavering. She tucked her tail between her legs and flattened her ears, backing away slowly. “I was only hungry. I wondered if there were any scraps left for me, Alpha.”

“We’ve been through this, Rhyra!” Varin stormed. He puffed out his fur, and stuck his tail straight in the air as a display of dominance, a reminder that he was higher than the Omega. He edged closer to the Omega. “You can't have anything until you leave us alone! Can't you see that the Alpha Female is heavily pregnant? She could give birth any moment now!”

Varin swiped a paw right on Rhyra’s left eye, leaving a visible mark. “Ouch!” Rhyra yelped. “Alpha, please–”

“NO! You're not a cub anymore! Get out of my sight before I kick you out!” Varin yelled.

A whine broke his attention from the omega. Soyrin was in labour.

It took the rest of the night for all six pups to be birthed out, but only half survived. One was a she-pup, the smallest of the three, white as snow. The other a male, black as midnight, huddled near another she-pup with fur as golden as summer grains.

“Varin… look at them…” Soyrin whispered, exhausted but joyful.

“Yes, Soyrin. They're so tiny,” Varin muttered, resting his head on his mate.

The pack gathered around the alphas. Rhyra, cowering in the corner. Garren, the beta wolf, his bluish-black fur almost hiding him if it were not for his yellow eyes. Kaldor, the young male, only 8 months old, his fur russet fur always blazing, yet the amber fire in his eyes dampened as he stared down at his siblings, the white one in particular.

The pack was dwindling, but the new arrivals would forge new bonds as the months wore on.