A rush of blood hit Dust inside his frontal bone. His battling was inferior. Lesser, Dust’s friend, pushed his large paws on the white boar’s shoulders. “Dust. You have to learn to knock the opponent’s weight off before yours.” Lesser groaned vexed. Dust tried rolling Lesser, but the sand-colored boar was to heavy. Weezer in the meantime was sleeping on his back. Lesser awkwardly leaped backwards. Dust felt a trickle of blood spill from his mouth. He gazed up at the sunlight. It shined very vividly. Dust shifted his gaze toward the Great Sequoia. Blue jays made piercing trills all around. “Get up, dog-breath.” Lesser barked darkly. Dust heaved himself up quickly. “How’d my Dusty do in that battle session you made up, Lesser?” Weezer serenely asked Lesser. The humongous boar didn’t reply. All he said was, “Like always.” Dust apologetically gave Lesser a quick lick on his forehead. The big boar didn’t accept it. “You need to get better. Or you’ll get beat every time,” Lesser beckoned. “Or die.” Dust widened his eyes with fear. Do you sincerely doubt I’ll survive? Dust cowardly backed away.
Dust was far away from his friends. He was in the darker parts of the forest. He always wanted to seek farther away. Dust’s paws trembled. His face lightened. Sycamores surrounded this portion of the forest. But before he stepped furthermore, a smaller body plunged his breath out. Then, the mysterious creature did a familiar move. The Twisted Reverse! The body used it’s hooked claws to hold him down, and rolled Dust to a lock. “Trespasser!” The creature insisted. Dust widened his eyes with tender shock. Was this those wolves who kill the farm dogs? “S-sorry!” He pleaded meekly. The creature hesitated for a moment, then released him. “What should we do? Take him to Alpha Mockingbird?” A second voice whispered grimly. The creature that pinned Dust must have been a Mexican wolf. His claws were enormously long and hooked. “Let’s introduce ourselves,” Dust suggested, “I’m Dust. I live on a farm over there.” The brown boar flicked his tail toward the eastern parts. “I’m Whirlpool,” the second voice said. “I’m ThistleClaw.” The creature that pinned Dust snapped. “We are from the ForestPack,” Whirlpool explained. “I think you might enjoy it.” ThistleClaw turned to glare at the plum-colored she-wolf. Dust’s eyes began to brighten up. He always wanted to be apart of something.
The rivers the three wolves crossed splashed vigorously. Fish swarmed its surface. It separated to lands, Dust’s and the ForestPack. He gazed at the beautiful trees that covered this mysterious portion. Vines connected on all the trees. “This territory could easily be stolen. Look at how much land you guys have,” Dust remarked. No one replied. “Wait here,” ThistleClaw ordered gruffly. Dust winced at the small boar’s tone. “O-okay.” The brown boar obeyed. “No need to show fear,” Whirlpool coaxed. Her voice extremely soft.
“Alright, here he is,” ThistleClaw said.
“Puny looking wolf.” Another voice crossly spoke.
Dust tried to stand straight, but his paws were trembling. “Dust, meet WitheredSoul. WitheredSoul, meet Dust. He, uhm, desperately wants to be apart of us.” Whirlpool stammered. The ‘withered’ looking boar narrowed his eyes. “Y’know he has to earn much more then joining.” WitheredSoul firmly spoke. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” Dust protested. This will be my one and only opportunity. “Yeah. Do what you want.” WitheredSoul smirked darkly. Dust then looked toward crushed gravel. It slanted down like a hillside. “There. Try galloping on those gravel,” WitheredSoul barked challengingly. Dust leaped on the crushed, slippery gravel. His paws scrambled weakly. Dust slowly slid down. “Failure. This is an easy task. All you need to do is dig your claws into the biggest rocks,” ThistleClaw added.
At sunset Dust has been working on being a battler. He completed marking territory, hunting, and Raven Giving. “Shouldn’t you get sleep? You have been working since daylight.” Whirlpool suggested in concern. She had been laying with Dust at the entrance of the Campsite. “I desperately want to be involved in something, Whirlpool. At least my worthy,” Dust murmured. This is all he wanted.
I hope Weezer and Lesser aren’t worrying about me… Dust felt shameful all of a sudden. Why did he leave his friends behind just for this? His dream came true, but his feelings had not. Whirlpool noticed his expressions, and gave his cheek a quick lick. “Look. I.. I have friends I left behind. I thought this was.. worth it,” Dust stammered. “And if WitheredSoul finds them.. I hope that this sacrifice I made was intentional.” Whirlpool scooted away and glared at him in confusion. “You do know that you can’t go back. What’s done is done.” Whirlpool made a low growl. Dust understood. But he couldn’t help worrying. He heaved himself up hastily, and exhaled.
“Where is my den?” Whirlpool scoffed and looked at a bush. There was a rabbit hole five pit bull-lengths away. “There. You are not welcomed inside the campsite until you made your decision.” She firmly ordered. Dust winced. He took offense to those words. He then shrugged and trotted toward the rabbit hole. Then, he started digging his claws into the earth. Last, he kicked the dirt back between his legs. Whirlpool, go ahead. Hold your grudges toward me. But I’ll be more worthy than you think.
