The alpha wolf escorted the young human cub to the very edge of the human dens, then stopped.
"I wish you would come meet Father. He thinks you are dangerous. Oh, if only he knew you saved me from spending the night in the forest, and maybe being eaten by a bear, or one of those big cats. You know, the ones with stripes? My cousin surprised one last summer, and was killed." he informed the massive wolf sadly.
"What is this cub waiting for? I can't understand a word it's saying." Moonrunner thought, frustrated.
Deciding to send a message any cub would understand, he butted Tukar with his head, towards the lights. Tukar went sprawling in the thick moss. Giggling, the young human got up.
"Alright... I get the message! Please come meet Father?" he asked, taking a step back, hand extended.
In reply, Moonrunner turned and disappeared into the forest. "Maybe another time?" Tukar called out softly.
Regarding the silence, he decided to go home. Moonrunner stayed hidden until he saw the stubborn cub enter the den, then ran towards home.
"Hello, Mother! What's for supper?" asked Tukar, sniffing the rich aroma which escaped the pot hanging over the fire.
"Nothing until Father comes home!" she informed him sharply, with her hands on her hips.
The tone and look of disapproval made him take a step back. "Where is Father?" Tukar asked in a low voice.
"Father and five of his best hunters are out looking for you! You have put them in danger, without reason. Why did you wait until after dark to come home?!?!" she asked angrily.
"I fell asleep in the sun, and only woke when it became cool..." he admitted, ashamed.
"We should keep you in the village. You aren't able to act like a hunter yet." said Mother, obviously disappointed.
"No, Mother! Please, it will never happen again!" pleaded Tukar.
The small, fierce woman's only reply was to turn her back, and check on the pot of food. Suddenly it didn't smell all that good to Tukar after all.
In the forest:
"Aspen, you will stay here at the den site, until you are able to leave without putting your entire pack in danger. Even now Father is risking his life because of what you did." snarled Mother, her teeth bared, ears pinned back.
Instinctively, Aspen exposed her belly and throat, whimpering "Yes, Mother." very softly. While never in any real danger, it was the way of her kind.
Satisfied, Mother casually pulled a piece of meat out of the cool earth, and left it there. She then retreated to her favorite lookout stump, and curled up.
"I'm not hungry any more..." Aspen thought to herself, looking at the especially tender piece Mother had pulled out.
In the meadow:
"Tukar! Where are you?!?! TUKAR!!!" echoed through the land, as Moonrunner swiftly entered his territory.
"They must be looking for the cub. I wish there was a way to let them know it's back home, but there isn't. They'll just have to keep looking until they figure out it's not here. I hope they don't come to our den site..." thought the alpha wolf.
As he turned to go to the den site, he heard a mighty roar, then shouts. "A striped one dares enter my territory?!?!" he snarled, then sat back on his haunches, and howled.
Soon his pack surrounded him. Last year's litter, as well as Mother, Uncle, and Old Sister all awaited instructions. The new pups, including Aspen, were the only ones absent.
"A striped one hunts on our land tonight. It attacked the humans who are out looking for the cub I just returned to them." said Moonrunner gravely.
"Well, no matter what we think of the humans, we must drive the cat away. It will stalk us one by one if we allow it to stay." Mother replied reasonably.
"Let's go!" agreed Moonrunner, as he streaked over the moss silently, his mate beside him, his pack at his heels.
When the wolves emerged into the meadow, the cat had four men treed. Two more were trying to drive it away with sticks, by jabbing the sharp metal points in its face. If it hadn't been for the sharp points, it would have lunged long ago.
"Flank it like a deer and stay hidden, but don't attack until I give the signal. I want to give it the chance to leave in peace first." whispered Moonrunner.
Once Moonrunner's pack was in position, he calmly trotted out. "Hello, Striped One. Welcome to my territory. Perhaps you did not know these lands have already been claimed?" the alpha wolf said in greeting.
"I thought I smelled wolf. But the stink isn't so bad, so perhaps you are alone..." the tiger replied, making the last word a purr.
The two human hunters slowly backed up, and signaled for their companions to climb down. Soon all six stood together. "Let's leave while the two distract each other. Maybe they will fight." Tukar's father said.
"This has been fun, but you will have to wait for another day to have the honor of filling my belly. Tonight, I will have human." said the big cat arrogantly, turning its back on Moonrunner to face the retreating humans.
The huge wolf gave his silent signal, and the pack closed in as one. The swiftest, most agile wolves darted in to slash. The rest boldly faced the monstrous cat, keeping it distracted.
"Let's run, while they're fighting. Keep low, and be quiet." said Tukar's father. The hunters got about twenty feet away before the tiger noticed.
It roared angrily, and leaped over the snapping, snarling wolves. Had the hunters not heard it coming, they would have been run down. Instead, they turned and faced the huge beast, spears ready.
Thinking better of those sharp points, it stopped to consider the best strategy. At that instant, the wolves caught up and swarmed over the tiger like angry wasps.
"Let's kill the cat. No other village has the hide of a striped one. Don't kill or injure a wolf, unless it attacks you. If you harm one, the rest will tear you apart." whispered Tukar's father.
"Yes, Chief." whispered another, and several nodded.
Whirling like a tornado, the cat forced the wolves to give it a little space. In the process, its back was turned to the humans. Considering them prey, it didn't think that was a huge concern.
Picking their moment carefully, the six hunters attacked as one. The spears found their mark, and went deep. When the huge cat turned to face them, they quickly backed off, now unarmed. The wolves closed in and finished the job.
Once the tiger stopped moving, Tukar's father and Moonrunner locked eyes.
To be continued
This is my second submission for the Dreemport / Scholar And Scribe serial Challenge.
Cover image made in Canva using their gallery
