CUB: AN Orphan's Tale chp 8

Faadryn

I followed the river to the Giory Rock, trying not to listen to the snarls, shouts and yelps behind me. I ran swiftly at first; then slowing as the sounds diminished and the sounds of Ókashi's world took over. I stopped and caught my breath, watching the flowing water. It was crystal clear, rocky and looked cold. I walked to the riverbank and looked at my rippling reflection. I sighed. Why had I joined the Giory Wolves? What good could I do? When the Alpha's sister wants to slaughter the whole pack, what could I do to help? I had been told Pack Histories, tricked who could be the Future Alpha, and now caused blood to spill.
I closed my eyes and slowly raised my muzzle to the skies, thinking about my dark past. All mourn welled up in me, my breath grew shallow and rapid as the river I heard. I took a deep breath, and I let it go as a howl, but not just what you would expect. I felt my sorrow, the grief I had experienced when I was a cub.

My voice stopped.

I took another breath and let it go as another, this time thinking about my allies and the danger I put them in, being hunted by Yuas.

My voice stopped.

I took another breath, this time thinking about what I would do to stop it, howling for a third time.

My voice stopped.

I took in one more breath, and for a fourth time, howled, this time putting everything I had experienced throughout all my life – freedom of life, playfulness of fun, sorrow of death, hope of a new start, happiness of my kind, resent at my enemies, the whirlwind of love, torn by temper, glee of disobeying, shock at malice, broken by spirit, tempted by spite, worry of life ending, calm of Gods, peace at the water's edge.
The howl that echoed through the day, longer than the last three, caused spirits to stop and look at where the serene voice was coming from. But through my closed eyes I could only see flashes of my memory, of what I was living for.
I didn't see the Dark Spirits rise from the earth and surround me, waiting for instructions. I didn't see them waiting patiently for my orders, some sitting, some standing, but all their eyes on me. I didn't see two Spirits look at me with such utter amazement and shock, black tails wagging as they walked closer to me but staying at a distance in case I moved suddenly, resulting in my death, I just saw the bleak visions my mind was giving me. I stayed there, silently mourning everything I knew; until the Dark Spirits returned to His world upon realising I did not summon them purposely.

When I opened my eyes, a young, weasel-like creature was staring at me from the other side of the river. An otter. A baby. I cocked my head, whether to have it for a snack, or when- or if - I find Treeto later in my life, receive a very unwelcome welcome when he tells me I'd eaten his offspring. I decided the latter.
The little otter pup had a ring of white fur on his right ear and splashes of white on his belly. As he stood up on his hind legs, head cocked curiously, I saw his tail had a black tip. The dear little thing doesn't know what to make of me, I thought, smiling as I did so. But my smile didn't last for long. A rustling behind the little pup, and he scuttled off in the opposite direction running in little bounds, following the river. When he skidded to a halt, turned round and stood up on his hind legs again, a more sleek and beautiful female otter slinked out of the bush. And the baby ran once more towards the female and nuzzled her cheek. I just stood and watched the loving moment, unaware the natural predator instinct in me had diminished at the sight of the two peaceful animals. Until the female saw me and let out an angry squeal. "Vardan!"
"Ioshu!" I countered, both of us knowing the formal word for our different species. "I mean you no harm." I lowered my voice.
She sighed "Your kind disgusts me! We haz been tricked before; ze consequence was ze loss of a daughter, now my one and only little one is to be taken vrom me, once more? I don't think so, Vardan! Ve vill not be fooled by your slippery vays and so-called 'no-harm' promizes. No, ve shall valk avay and zere vill still be vree in our Holt tonight!"
I was impressed by the female's little speech, and a little muddled by her accent. "And I implore you; do not judge me just because I look like a Vardan that killed your daughter. We do have personality, and due to the Vardan cub's unknowing of predator and prey, it is possible for us to befriend Ioshu and other animals."
"How can you prove it?!" She demanded, her little brown eyes boring into my own green ones.
"I have a friend of your kind, he goes by the name of Treeto. He has white circles around his eyes and little black triangles on the outside sides. Do you know him?"
The female's eyes widened, and then returned to the angry glare. "I does not know such an Ioshu! True, zough, it iz an Ioshu name…" She looked towards her son, before turning back at me. "But do not zink zat is enough to make me change my mind!"
Despite her fury, I almost laughed. "Of course not, Ioshu, it would be wrong of you to rely on what could be a false statement."
"Vat is your name, Vardan?" she asked.
"I…don't remember my given name, but I am known as Cub," I answered. "And you?"
"I am Faadryn, and my son here is Dakaar." She seemed to be thinking, her little brown head tilted slightly to one side. "You are smart for Vardan, Cub. Ven you grow up, be part of your pack, be ze one to figure everyzing out Cub. You are good at it." She nodded.
"Thank you Faadryn, I appreciate it."
"Farevell, Cub, I am sure ve vill meet again." Faadryn and Dakaar gave a nod of their heads, and scurried away into the bushes. I turned my back on the two, and started my way to the Giory Rock.