Unknown Blood: Robin's Story Prologue

Prologue


A chilly wind blew across the snow covered camp as the dawn sun rose; the way the reddish-orange sunlight beamed down on the white snow made it look like blood.

Deep within the Eagles’ camp, Rose, a female wolf, was snuggled up inside the Birth Den. Oak, a dark-furred male and Rose’s mate, was sitting next to the she-wolf, gazing proudly at the two tiny lives squirming at Rose’s belly.

Just moments ago, Rose, fragile and timid, had given birth to two tiny, healthy pups. The male had Rose’s reddish-brown pelt and the female had a black pelt.

“Probably got that from my mother.” Rose had commented, referring to the now deceased night-black wolf, Lavender, named after her lavender-violet eyes.

Rose gently nudged both pups to her stomach to nurse. They both latched on and started to suckle. Ember, the pack’s healer, came into the den with herbs in her jaws, followed by her apprentice, Daisy, who had a wad of soaked moss in her mouth. Daisy set the wet moss down in front of Rose, allowing the tired wolf to drink.

Ember set the herbs down in front of the newly made mother. “You’ll want to eat those to keep up your strength and make sure your pups get plenty of milk.” Before she finished speaking, Rose started lapping up the herbs, their sour juices squirting in her mouth. But Rose pushed away the horrid taste and forced herself to swallow the herbs, for the sake of her pups.

Oak gently licked the top of his mate’s head. “Well…should we give them names, dear?” He asked.

“There will be plenty of time for that.” Ember said. “For now, Rose needs to rest.”

“Oh, nonsense.” Rose scoffed. “We can name them now if we please.” Rose paused for a moment to gently lick the newborn pups’ soft pelts. The tiny female squeaked quietly as Rose’s tongue rasped over her tiny, black pelt, making the mother chuckle lightly. “Why don’t we call this one Midnight?”

“That’s a perfect name for her.” Oak said, looking as if he were ready to burst with pride. “And this one,” Oak lowered her head and sniffed at the little male, who was still peacefully nursing at his mother’s stomach. Oak noticed that his pelt looked like a robin’s stomach feathers. “How about we call him Robin?”

Love shined in Rose’s eyes. “That’s perfect.” She said. “Robin and Midnight, welcome to the world my little ones.”

“Come, Daisy.” Ember said, beckoning to her apprentice. “We have to go collect some more herbs.” Daisy padded to her mentor and exited the den with her. The warmth and the scent of milk instantly vanished as the two wolves left the Birth Den.

Daisy and Ember had spent the whole afternoon collecting herbs. The finally returned to camp to find Fizz, the Alphas’ only pup, trying to organize patrols, as if she were pack leader herself.

“Fizz, I’ve told you that you’re not allowed to organize that pack’s patrols unless you are either one of the alphas or the pack’s second-in-command.” Star, Fizz’s father and the Alpha Male of the pack, scolded her. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Star.” Fizz muttered, disappointment haunting her tone. With that, Star turned back to Raven and Thunder, two young wolves, recently apprenticed to become full pack-members, just as every pack member had done.

Fizz turned and started walking away from the Alpha’s den. The young she-wolf stopped when she turned her head and saw her best friend. “Daisy!” Fizz exclaimed before rushing over to the healer-in-training. The two had been friends ever since a few days after Fizz’s birth, when Daisy was merely two moons old. Fizz had hoped that they would grow up as full pack members together, but Daisy had chosen a different path as a healer.

The peanut-color wolf stopped when she was in front of the snowy-white apprentice. Daisy couldn’t help but smile at the little younger female. “Hi, Fizz.” She greeted warmly. Daisy quickly changed the subject. “Hey, did you see the new pups? Rose just gave birth today.”

“Really?” Fizz squealed with excitement. “Why didn’t anyone tell me? I’ve always wanted to see newborn pups!” Without waiting for a response, Fizz turned and bolted towards the Birth Den, which was where she and Moon, Fizz’s mother and the Alpha Female, were still staying.

Daisy followed the curious young wolf at a steady pace. She poked her head in to see Fizz right next to Rose, sniffing curiously at Robin and Midnight. Moon watched from the other side of the Birth Den as her pup continued sniffing at the two newborns.

“Daisy.” The healer-apprentice twitched her ears at the sound of her mentor calling for her. Daisy turned to see Ember at the entrance to the Healer’s den. “Come on, we’ve had a long day, and it’s time we both got some rest.”

“Coming, Ember.” Daisy barked before padding towards her mentor. Daisy and Ember entered the Healer’s den, which was getting darker with the sky; the strong scent of herbs covered the den. The two wolves stopped once they reached their nests, Ember snuggled up in hers and Daisy adjusted her position in hers.

Finally, the olive-green-eyed apprentice had snuggled up in a comfortable position in her nest. Ember was already fast asleep in her nest, snoring very lightly. Daisy closed her eyes and fell asleep within seconds.
…
Daisy was walking through the dark, snowy forest; the pale moonlight reflecting off of the bright snow. Daisy sniffed the air and caught a scent of prey, a rabbit most likely. Quickly and silently as possible, Daisy got into the hunting position that Ember had taught her. The white she-wolf crept upon the rabbit, which was munching on a blackberry, unaware of the wolf behind it. Without so much as a warning, Daisy leaped out of the shadows which she was hiding in.

Daisy pounced on the rabbit and killed it with one bite to the neck, a few drops of blood seeping out from the bite marks and on to the pure-white snow. Daisy released the now dead prey and looked at her catch proudly.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the entire white snow turned to a blood-red; the horrible scent of blood, rotting flesh and bones suddenly rippled across the air. Daisy’s eyes widened with pure terror and shock. Suddenly, a distant noise caught the apprentice-healer’s ears…barking, howling and roaring, all coming from wolves.

Daisy ran as fast as her legs could carry her to the sound. She passed some bushes and trees until finally stumbling upon the horrifying and gruesome scene upon her.

There, within the middle of a large, blood-snow filled clearing, several different wolves were fighting one another. All of different pelt colors and sizes; blood spilling on the ground, fur being ripped off and flesh started to show from the violent wolves all around.

Daisy gasped. The young female was no more than six moons old and the wolves were a lot bigger and stronger than her, but she didn’t care or remember at the moment. Daisy ran as fast as possible to the fighting wolves. “Stop it! Please! Stop!” She shrieked, but the wolves seemed to ignore her pleads. One large wolf grabbed another wolf by sinking his teeth into the other wolf’s neck and forcing him to the ground. Daisy ran towards them and tried to tackle to wolf, but she went straight through him, as if one of them was a ghost.

Suddenly, all the wolves vanished into thin air. Except for two of them; a muscular, broad-shouldered reddish-brown male with amber colored eyes and a large, long-furred black-furred male with ruby eyes. The two stared at one another, locking their gazes before the black male ran towards the reddish-brown male and started attack. The two male wolves wrestled violently, clawing and biting as hard as possible; Daisy could only watch in absolute shock.

“A disaster is coming to the forest.” A distorted, demonic sounding male voice said as the two wolves continued the bloody battle. “Blood will be split on the pure snow, taking an eagle down in the process. A robin must stand up to the disaster and face it alone, no matter what happens.” As the voice said the last sentence, the reddish-brown male sank his teeth into the black male’s neck and bit down hard, the crack of a bone echoing throughout the entire forest. The black male dropped dead to the ground, ruby eyes filled with nothing but dull cloudiness.

Everything started slipping away into total blackness, causing Daisy to open her eyes and jolt her head up. She was back in the Healer’s den, Ember still fast asleep, but Daisy was still terrified by the sudden dream she had.

It was nearing dawn and the sun was barely peeking out; the sky still very dark. Daisy stood up in her nest and exited the den; she couldn’t get that nightmare off of her mind, no matter what she thought of.

Daisy suddenly remembered something. That reddish-brown male…he looked exactly like…Daisy quietly rushed to the Birth Den. She peeked her head inside to see Moon and Rose both fast asleep with their pups; Fizz snoring at Moon’s belly and both Midnight and Robin were peacefully asleep next to their mother.

Daisy looked carefully at Robin; the tiny newborn pup was fast asleep, his reddish-brown pelt rising and falling as he breathed.

That wolf from her dream…Was it…No, it couldn’t be! ...Could it…?


To be continued…