The Dark Wood
Short story I wrote whilst I was still in school - thought I'd put it up here.
Steele has been an outcast of Nome for a few years now, but in that time he's met a lovely wolf and made a family with her. This is one of his outings with her, and their son.
Glancing up at his mother and father, Stephen shivered. The young malamute pup had followed his parents into the dark, snow-covered forest at his own will. But now he was beginning to regret his decision.
His mother, a grey she-wolf called Sakuya, gently nuzzled him as they moved on. _Crunch! Chrunch! Crunch! _The resounding noise of three sets of four paws walking through the snow was all they could hear.
Steele, a larger black and white malamute, (and the one Stephen takes the most after) glanced around a corner. They were alone, their only companions being the howling wind, and each other.
Stephen kept close to his mother as they walked, the branches on the trees looking more and more like criss-crossing limbs, preparing to swoop down and attack him.
Sakuya glanced at her mate. The grey wolf was beginning to have her own doubts about this trip.
It was his idea in the first place, she told herself.
Steele suddenly whipped around, baring his teeth at the sound of a twig snapping. He immediately calmed down upon seeing it was only Stephen. Shaking his head, Steele turned and walked on. His own paws sank in and made resounding _crunches _in the dense forest. There were trees on either side of them, along a seemingly unending pathway - a canopy of leaf-less trees and heat-stealing wind. Life was scarce in the area, save for the three canines.
"How much further?" Sakuya asked, making sure to let her boredom clear in her voice. As much as she loved the wildlife, wandering around it for long periods of time wasn't her thing, especially after she became a mother.
"Not far. I think..." Steele's reply wasn't filled with certainty.
"Well, that just makes me feel _so _much better," Sakuya answered sarcastically.
"You wanted to come along!" Steele retorted.
"Because I _worry _about you. Remember what happened last time you went for a walk on your own?" Sakuya asked.
Steele didn't answer, and just blushed. He knew what she was referring to; he'd never forget it, and she'd never let him.
"What happened?" The sound of their son made both parents look at him.
"Your father managed to get himself lost, and somehow stuck in a bush," was Sakuya's answer.
Stephen just laughed.
Steele growled, but fell silent under his mate's hard gaze.
"Steele, come on. Let's just go home. Stephen's getting cold, and I need to make sure his brothers and sisters are okay," Sakuya insisted.
"Please, Papa?" Stephen implored. He really wanted to go home - go back to their warm den, where he could rest, or probably play with his sister.
At the sound and sight of his young son pleading, Steele gave in.
"Oh, all right," he conceded.
Stephen _yipped _in joy, running up to his father and nuzzling him.
Steele could only chuckle and return the nuzzle.
Smiling, Sakuya picked Stephen up by the scruff of his neck, and carried him in her jaw as they made their way back.
The return journey was significantly quicker, since they knew where to go and didn't have someone slowing them down. After only fifteen minutes, they reached home - a large cave in a mountain. When within a few feet of the cave, Sakuya simply put Stephen on the floor and let him run inside, before following.
Steele lingered for a second, checking behind to make sure they weren't being followed. Sakuya would call it paranoia, but Steele called it precaution.
Satisfied that they were alone, Steele walked into the cave himself.