Napica Zhero's Story

"Why was I sent to a empty hill?" Napica thought she decided to walk around and explore the area she saw a group of wolves near each other annd crept into the cave behind them without making a sound at all and searched it when she found Jessica who jumped at her and got caught Jessica was snapping and snarling so Napica Ran Carrying Jessica running faster than most people could back to the hill.

Shadow saw a human running out from the den with Jessica held in her arms. He howled to warn Death of the escapee and quickly gave chase.
Star Light whipped around at the sound of a pup snarling. The young human seemed to be heading for the hill...The hill! She hadn't failed Wolf Tribe. She was still in with a chance. Star Light quickly made after them, tailing Shadow. She had to protect Jessica. And the human, she thought, If Jessica chooses her she could be the next Sacred Wolf Master! She sped up catching up to Shadow and grabbing his tail in her jaw with a snarl. Shadow yelped and spun around.
"There will be a time and a place to settle our differences," he snarled, "Now we BOTH need that cub!"
"No!" hissed Star Light, "She needs to reach the hill, and so does the young girl!"
Show growled low at her, but was cut short as the realisation of what Star Lights words actually meant dawned on him, NO!
"Death, get Jessica! Hurry!!!"

Napica heard the bark of a wolf from behind her the pup having settled down she rolled forward under a broken tree and got up and jumped onto a tree and climbed well out of the wolf's reach the pup calmed down Napica stuck her tongue out at the wolf on the ground and began jumping from tree to tree as agile as a cat she quickly got to bthe hill and sat on a high tree branch.

Star Light opened her eyes a fraction. She was in too much pain to show any emotion, but was surprised to find it was Death dressing her wounds. Shadow couldn't believe it either. After a few moments he managed a quiet, "...She's my sister." He instantly started trying to think of something more to say, "She...She...lived with a human...She tried to take Jessica from us." He looked at Nouvell, hoping he would do something to distract Death from his obvious, current, stupidity.
Star Light swivelled her eyes to focus on him. She didn't have the strength to think much about him. Where's Jessica? She had to ask, "Whe-w..." She screwed her eyes shut, opened then and tried again, "Je-Jessica?" Her eyes closed again and she moaned slightly.
Shadow slunk off towards the hill. He would find Jessica, but not for Death, for himself. He liked her, and he did feel a sort of responsibility for that pup. If it wasn't for me, Death wouldn't have found her, he thought, and then Beninca wouldn't have chosen her for a Sacred Wolf. He stopped when he came to the hill and looked up at the human with Jessica. This person looked young almost young enough to be a new Sacred Wolf Master herself...and Jessica's tail was wagging, "No," breathed Shadow, "Please no," he started to whimper as he slunk up the hill, watching their interactions closely. "Please-Please no," he kept on repeating to himself.

Shadow watched the human with wide scared eyes. Death raced passed him and bowed. He blinked and shook his head. But...Death said she hated humans. She didn't trust any of them! He couldn't understand this she-wolf. Every day she seemed to change her mind about something else. Firsts she hates Star Light, then she helps her. She will do anything to keep Jessica away from humans, and now she was giving her the chance to choose this one as her Sacred Wolf Master! Shadow turned back down the hill, standing up now. Where had Death gone. He scanned the woods below and started padding back down the slope, casting the occasional glance back up at Jessica.

Star Light opened her eyes as Nouvell returned and whimpered. "Why would Death help me?" she asked him weakly. She strained to raise her head, but almost instantly flopped back down. Moving her eyes to try and see around her she asked again, "Where's Jessica?" before beginning to drift to sleep induced by the loss of blood and pain.

Shadow followed Death out of the tunnel, his tail dragging in the dust, Why did I do it? It had felt odd, Death trying to comfort him just then. He wondered if he would ever understand this she wolf.

"Come on," Star Light started up the hill indicating with her ears for Nouvell to follow her. She was eager to see Jessica, to know she was okay, and to meet this human who had helped her. As she cleared the trees she started to make out the Silhouette of a young girl sitting next to Jessica. "Do you know who that is?" she asked raising her paw slightly. Twitching her ears with interest, she moved forward a few more paces.

Shadow nodded and slowly turned to head towards the hill, "Are you coming or will I go alone?" he asked starting to walk anyway.

Star Light cocked her head, looking intently at this human who may well have just saved Wolf Tribe from Death and Shadow. Jessica was sniffing hungrily at the rabbits over the fire. Star Light called quietly to her, "Jessica, are you okay?" She did want to go up and comfort Jessica, but Nouvell would not be able to join her at the top of the hill being only an Ordinary Wolf, so she stayed where she was.

Star Light climbed the next few meters, "Jessica," she said quietly, "Are you okay? Were You hurt?" after a moment she added, "Who is this?" flicking her ears at the human who had rescued her.

Shadow continued till he got to the hill and stopped at the track that wound round the top, just before the crest. Unlike Star Light, he wasn't allowed to go any further. Star Light turned and growled at him, unsure. She became even less at ease when she noticed Death was with him. Shadow acted as if she had made no comment and simply dipped his head to her and Jessica. "Greetings," he tried to sound calm and formal, after all, he was addressing the Sacred Wolves, "I wish to apologise for my past actions. There was little to provoke me into harming you sister, Star Light, and the reasons that I gave were minor," The words to his sister weren't exactly true, but he hung his head and sorrow could be heard as he directed his attention to Jessica, "I am sorry for any harm I may have caused you, Jessica because of my hostility or unkindness that I have shown at times during the past few days," the formality was lost in the next sentence, "I wish things could have been different. I just feel terrible about how I treated you. I never meant for you to come to any harm. You treated me as a friend. I know that now and I'm sorry," He began to whine collapsing onto his side> Star Light was completely taken aback by this outburst. The stories her parents had told her about her brother as a cub, led her to believe his heart was capable of no kindness, but here he was , crying over a young cub, begging for her forgiveness and friendship!

Star Light nodded slightly, "You were chosen to be the next Sacred Wolf. That's a big responsibility, especially for one so young. I do try to be kind, but you must face up to the duties Beninca gave you before she died by choosing you," She lifted her paw to indicate Napica, "You said this human was a friend. Is she to be your Sacred Wolf Master?"

Shadow howled at his sister's words and turned away, "I tried to be friendly sometimes," he mumbled, "I brought you fish, I kept you warm, I talked to you," He turned back, "I know I wasn't nice when you were in the tunnel the whole time, but...You were friends with Star Light. My feelings towards my sister overtook my liking to you. I'm sorry." He turned to go, deciding there was nothing left for him on the hill.

Jessica was napping again but Napica was furiously sharpening more and more arrows.

Napica was running on empty as she slowly fell asleep making arrows.

"Death," called Shadow, "Wait. I-I...I maybe like you?" It didn't even make sense to him. But he wasn't sure what else to say. He started to pad after her and when he caught up said, "I mean...I think I like you, but I-" he stopped, took a deep breath and tried again, "I do like you. I know that. Maybe in that way, but I'm not sure. Does that make any sense?" he stared at the ground feeling more embarrassed than he knew was possible. He shuffled his paws waiting for an answer.

Star Light shook her head, not believing the scene before her. It was true. Death did like Shadow, and even more surprising, Shadow liked Death! Shaking her head again Star Light retreated back into the den. She wanted to sleep and wake up and find it was all a really weird dream. Either that or it somehow all made sense suddenly. She thought of Jessica on the hill with Napica. She would never believe this. It brought a smile to her face when she thought of telling her that her former vicious captors with no feelings at all were now in love with one another. Shaking her head again she curled back up and tried to sleep.

Shadow had only just started to enlarge the sleeping space when Death returned. He came over and sat by her, "Good catch," he commented sniffing the two animals.

Star Light smiled at Nouvell, "I know," she replied, "I suppose all mothers worry. Being the Sacred Wolf for so long I'm not used to others cruelty, but now Jessica and Napica are there. Knowing what those two are like probably makes it worse." Perhaps, she hoped their love will change their cruel nature, but she knew it to be false. "Want to come hunting?"

Napica sat making a small snare and other traps that could keep her and Jessica safe While Jessica chased a rabbit around the hill.