The next part of this intriuging saga!

A New Danger

By: Kennon Aarnes

Part 2

Chapter 1

        Zarf and Sara stood, with a look of horror and confusion on their faces. Bears, they had taken their home and family. Now they and to find why the bears and taken them in the first place. Sara followed the bears scent until she saw that it went out of the territory. She called to Zarf who came running to find Sara. When reunited, the two started on their perilous journey to bring back their friends and family. The journey had begun.

        They crossed broken trees and raging rivers, following the scent of the bears. Soon, Zarf made a miraculous discovery, wolf blood. It was Shine’s blood. Sara could picture it now, Shine, trudging along, trying to keep up with her two ever tiring pups struggling to keep up. Then, one of the bears comes up behind her and whacks her to keep up. She saw the blood land in front of her. Her vision blurred out until Sara came back into reality. Horrified at what she just saw, they quickened their pace and hurried down the trail.

        The scent of fear, exhaustion and bears became closer. They soon entered bear territory. Cautious because they were entering territory that was not theirs, they crouched and looked between the brushes outside of the bear tribe’s camp to see what horrors would await them. All the wolves were tired and drained from spirit. Either from that, they looked fine. Shine recognized the scent of her parents and jerked her head up to see two pairs of eyes peeking between the brush. She had a look of joy in her eyes but she knew to keep quiet and act normal. The quest to free the pack began.

Chapter 2

        The bear tribe leader and his mate were in a discussion. Shine walked over to the bush very carefully and put her back to the bush to cover the eyes and shape of her parents. “Why have the bears captured the wolves?” Zarf asked. Shine answered quietly, “Because we had too much territory and they did not have much food for the winter, they said they almost starved!” “What liars! Lupus and Ursus (The bear god) divided out the territories seasons ago!” Zarf exclaimed quietly. That was all about to change.

        Kapi, the bear tribe leader, heard a whisper and rustle in the brush at the back of the camp. He strutted over to investigate and growled, “Wolf, who are you talking to?” “Oh nobody.” Shine answered back fearfully. “Nonsense! I heard talking over here!” With a growl and a snarl, Zarf and Sara burst out of the bushes and pounced on Kapi. With a roar of surprise, Kapi fell onto the ground and tried to force the two raging parents away, but two was too much and Kapi bled to death right in front of their eyes. What the two wolves don’t know, is that they have just declared war on the other bears.

        With Kapi’s bloody body right in front of them, they took the rest of the pack home as well as Shine’s pups. That night, Sara made two of the male wolves guard the perimeter of camp. That night, nobody could fall asleep. Even the pups were shaken up. Sara knew that she had made trouble between the wolves and bears, but she knew that they had the element of surprise and stealth. Unlike a bear who rampages through the forest like a human monster (car). The next morning, nobody was talking, it was all calm and nobody mingled. Zarf took out a hunting party to get fresh meat to prepare for battle. Everybody was hoping there was not going to be one. As quick as they went out, Zarf came in running into camp and yelled will pure alarm in his voice, “The bears are coming! Quick secure Shine and the pups!”

Chapter 3

        At that moment, everyone was running around will shear fear in their in their eyes. Shine and Lully ran into the forest to hide the pups. That was when horror struck, the bears came bursting into camp, madness showed in their eyes. They wanted more than just prey; they wanted revenge on their dead chief. All the wolves went into pairs. Two wolves against one bear. The fight went on until nightfall. Everyone including the bear’s, had wounds. Each side had lost something, the wolves lost one female. The bears lost two males. The wolves still had a faint flicker of energy left; they gave a snarl that drove the bears back into the forest and into their territory.

        By nightfall, Lully and Shine had returned, they were untouched. Lully promised Sara that he and Shine would go hunting for the pack. Zarf said “Thank you Lully, we are very grateful.” Sara could see that there was victory in his eyes, but there was also sorrow and exhaustion. “We need some sleep.” Sara finally told him. “I agree.” Zarf answered back tiredly. By the time the crickets started singing, everyone was asleep. The next morning, the whole pack woke up very sore and stiff. Only Shine, Lully and the pups were able to move without pain. So, the couple hunted for the very tired pack. All they could find were 10 rabbits a few squirrels, and seven trout.

        It had been one week since the battle with the bears. Some of them still had wounds that were healing. Some others could hunt again. With the whole pack recovering, they were very vulnerable. Sara had very stiff joints. With the cold weather and her age, her joints very stiff and she could not flex them. Zarf, being a very loving mate, brought her food and coaxed her out to walk her around camp. The pups were back to their happy go lucky selves. They had totally forgotten about their experience with the bears. The two pups had been named. The little female wad named Redd, after her color, and her brother was named Spike, for the spike of fur that was always sticking up on his big head. The pups were just learning their new names with their mother when one of the bears strutted into camp.

Chapter 4

        All of the wolves, tired and weary, rose immediately with a look of anger and confusion on their faces. The whole pack started to growl and snarl at the unwelcomed guest. Sara recognized this bear to be Eris, a young male. “I have come in peace.” He said in a clear tone. “The bears want peace, but you will have to accept the peace offering.” “Is this a joke?” Zarf asked cautiously. “I would not of entered your camp if it was a joke.” He answered back calmly. Sara could see that there was impatience in his eyes. “We must work out the territories.” Eris said. “Why? They are already fine as they are.” Zully asked suspiciously. “The bears do not have enough food to sustain the whole tribe, the tribe is growing and the food is decreasing.” Eris said, his voice rising into a wail. “You bears are so big and fat, that you should just go solitary.”

        “Why for Ursus sake would we do that?” Eris answered back confused and shocked. “Because bears are big and need a lot of food in one day. Bears also can’t hunt as a group like wolves can.” Eris looked like he was about to consider when he suddenly changed his mind. “No way.” He answered back. “I will talk about this with the dominate female.” Eris said. “She will not agree, nor will the other bears.” Then, he stomped out of camp.

        “Follow him out of camp and make sure he ends up back in his territory.” Sara demanded to Shine and her mate Lully. “What is he sees us?” Shine asked. “He won’t” Zarf said. “Bears are clumsy” Lully said also wanting in on the conversation. The pair went out and that was when Sara collapsed in her den. Exhaustion had taken over her. Sara drifted off into a blissful sleep. All she can remember is Zarf curling up right next to her. The next morning, Zarf and Lully organized a hunting party. The pack had not eaten for days and Shine was running out of milk for her pups. Just as they were walking out, little Spike tried to sneak out with them. Shine picked him up by the scruff and Sara heard him whine, “Why can’t I go hunting with the rest of the pack?” “Because you are too little.” Shine said back with amusement.

Chapter 5

        Sara was very worried about the bears uprising and the pack. She had told Zarf, “I hope that the alpha female bear, Nadia, will agree.” “I am sure she will consider it. We sure do not want to have another battle. I do not want to lose you.” Zarf said to Sara, his breath warm on her ear. The pups were asking their mother questions, “That bear was huge!” Spike said with awe. “Yeah, but he smelled funny.” Redd said while crinkling her nose. The pup’s questions and such inexperience made Sara’s spirits rise.

        The next morning, neither Sara nor Zarf had gotten any word from the bears. It was a calm day in camp, but that calmness and serenity ended when Nadia came strolling in. “Do you think your kind can just come strolling in whenever you want?” Zarf asked. “We are bigger and stronger.” Nadia said back smugly. Nadia said, “You killed my mate, so why can’t I kill yours?” Sara looked at her in horror. “There was a reason to kill Kapi.” Lully said. “You stole us from our own dens, you-.” Before he could finish, Nadia lunged at Zarf.

        Zarf was ready and alert. He swung aside with a look of triumph in his eyes. Nadia roared in fury and got ready to strike again. “You think you can kill me as easily as you killed Kapi, well think again.” “Well you just messed with us, so you can count on that you will not get out of camp alive.” Sara said with a snarl. With a swish of her tail, six wolves blocked the battered entrance and made a barrier. With a roar of surprise and fear, Nadia turned around to find four more wolves right behind her. With a battle howl, the whole pack lunged and attacked Nadia. Nadia let out a Fearful rumble and then fell dead to the ground. There was a hush in camp.

        “Take out the body and throw it to the edge of the territory.” Zarf ordered. At once 10 wolves dragged the battered and broken body out of camp. “I hope now, with no leader or guidance, the bears will go solitary.” Zarf said. “The females can take their cubs, and the males will get their own territories.” Sara added. “The bears will fear us and never bother us again.” Shine said. “Were you eavesdropping?” Sara asked. “I could not help but overhear.” Shine said sheepishly. “Well, I think the times of the tribes are over.” Zarf said. That was how bears became solitary.

Chapter 6

        Once again, Sara felt a pull. She wandered into the woods and ended up in the clearing. The burning ball of light rose up in front of her. She lifted her whitening muzzle and howled a raspy song. Sara was getting old and she could not howl songs like she used to, but her songs were still as smooth as honey and from the heart. On her way back she met Zarf in the woods, he was sniffing in the leaves. “What on earth are you doing?” Sara asked with amusement. “Oh Sara, I did not see you there.” He said while looking at her “I was looking for Salmon.” Zarf said with sorrow. “You know that mad wolf killed her.” Sara said mournfully. “You saw her body?” Zarf asked. “I saw her crumpled body on the forest floor.” Sara said mournfully. Before Zarf could respond, Sara added, “We are living a happy life you silly fur ball.” Sara said playfully.

        The next morning, was a calm morning. Nobody was stirring and the pups were whining for milk. Sara and Zarf were just waking up when a lone bear walked into camp. Like it had been walking from a far away place, the bear collapsed. The pups, now curious, scampered to the crumpled bear on the camp ground. Redd was unsure so she stayed back. On the other paw, her brother Spike was very brave. He ran up to the fallen bear and poked his big wet nose. The bear sneezed, which got snott all over Spikes face. “Oh yuck!” Spike exclaimed. Redd bursted out laughing and fell down.

        Sara and Zarf ran out at the reek of bear. She ushered the pups away and shook the exhausted bear. It was a lone female. “Thank goodness I got here before they did.” The bear breathed. “Before who got here?” Zarf asked. “The bears!” she breathed heavily “My name is Hani, and the bears are coming to raid your camp, drive you out, and kill your pups!” Hani exclaimed. There was stomping in the distance. “Their coming! Quick you have got to get everybody up.” Zarf said quickly. The bears broke through the barrier and let out a raged roar.