Fallen Wolves #1: Dark Stars - Katie Radgowski (top non fiction books of all time TXT) 📗

gave you up. I took you in and found out my heart wasn't devoted to her. But to Snowflake. I couldn't believe Snowflake took you in. It was like she was the mother. I was happy. But until she died... I didn't know what I could say to you who was you real mother without hurting you. Snowflake would've made it much easier to explain it with me. I wasn't worried then until after she died. I'm so sorry. I betrayed my Pack in many ways by picking another wolf from a rival Pack as a mate. I-I don't know who I am anymore." 

 Fang felt sadness gulf his chest. He was half-Blood? He had Pack blood, but not pure Bright Lightning. Only half, one with his Pack and one with a rival. 

 Then, anger rose inside him. He met his father's gaze with sharp, cruel green eyes as his claws dug into the dry sand underpaw. 

 "You know what! I hate you! You lied to your Pack, me and Snowflake! How could you do this? I thought you were loyal to the Fallen Law! I've been raised in a lie! The only one who I can trust was Snowflake, but she's gone. I devoted to be like you, Father. But not anymore. Your a big, fat, ugly liar who shouldn't meet Lupus! I will never like you, Storm! I HATE you forever!" 

Fang turned and bursted out of the clearing, running to the valley. Storm's voice echoed behind him as he tried to call him back.  

 Fang felt his paws ache as he ran forever. He fianlly reached the valley, it's smooth, green appreance calming him down. He couldn't go back to Storm. Not to the hollow. Or until he calmed down, he would. 

 Fang padded down the slope and to the valley. It was quiet and breezey. 

 A perfect place to devote dark thoughts. 

Chapter 17: Panther VS. Wolf

Fang felt his pads cool down as they hit the soft grass underneath. The sky was covered in clouds now. Fang wasn't worried about rain. Not anymore, actually. 

 Fang didn't see any elk herds. Not any rabbits. No prey. It was unusual but he was too furious to think about it. Storm betrayed him, and never told him his darkest secret for years. How could any wolf still have a heart to a big, fat liar? Fang wasn't that kind of wolf. He would never be that kind of wolf. Not ever, in a billion years he wouldn't. 

 Fang stopped walking. He still saw the forest's trees outlined against the sky. He didn't want to stray too far, in case he got lost in the endless wilderness. 

 Fang lowered himself on the grass. It felt cool against his sweaty skin. He closed his eyes as he tried to tune out the dark, dangerous thoughts from his mind. Snowflake wouldn't accept if he tried to get bloody revenge on Storm, since she liked Storm before and didn't think 'revenge' was good to solve any bad, typical problem that one wolf had to face alone. 

 Fang raised his muzzle. He saw the gray, pale outline of a sharp point in the way distance. 

 The mountains. 

 Fang was always interrested in the mountains. It seemed different up there. Wind told him that it was freezing, with rocky cliffs and scarce prey. Fang wouldn't mind living up there for once. Or to at least get away from Storm. 

 But enemies, bigger then forest enemies, lived up there. Bears, mountain lions, snow leopards, other or lots of other wolves, eagles, hawks, rams, Beings, winter coyotes and traveling creatures. Fang could fight them off easily, with a flick of a claw. But he loved the green of the forest and valley suddenly. 

 Going away seemed harder enough. 

 Fang could smell rain on the breeze. It was pale but still rain. It rained a lot this fall. Clouds covered the sky in low, slow movements as the sun was covered up. 

 Fang ignored it. A shallow, sad day was enough until it got covered with endless sheets of pouring rain. Icy, cold, wet rain. 

 Fang suddenly heard a low snarl in the distance. He raised his muzzle and looked around. Nothing. Was this some kind of joke from the Pups or Trainees? 

 Fang froze as he saw a sandy pelt below the slope. It had long, white fangs and glinting amber eyes. Fang swalllowed. 

 Panther. 

 Fang felt his claws slide out as he bared his teeth. He tasted the air. Oh no.The panther now prowled over the slope and stalked toward's him, it's long tail swishing as it let out a roar. Fang knew that panthers were huge, deadly creatures. He growled back in response. 

 He wouldn't show cowardness. Fang would fight to the last breath. Wolves were strong creatures and powerful. They could kill a panther with a tooth in minutes. 

 The panther lunged forward, roaring. Fang jumped back. But the panther was smart. It landed on it's paws as it flew past. It turned again and leaped, black claws curved as it sliced his flesh. Fang barked in pain as he stumbled backwards.

 Fang wouldn't let the panther have victory for long. Gaining his posture in seconds, he hurled himself forward, digging his fangs into the panther's fur. Blood spattered on his muzzle as the panther tried to shake him off, yowling in pain and anger for it's helpless, weak protests. 

 The panther turned and snapped it's fangs at him. Fang loosened his grip and jumped back. The taste of blood was covered on his teeth and tongue. But he didn't mind. 

 "I will never fall down!" Fang snarled to the panther, even though it didn't understand him. "Coward!" 

 The panther roared as it threw it's paw in the air. Fang grabbed the paw by his powerful jaws and crushed it until he heard a bone crack. The panther roared in pain as it jumped back. 

 Blood dropped to the grass, flowing some strands red. Rain was pouring down softly, making his fur wet. His back hurt, clawed by the panther deeply. 

 The panther looked around and then ran back up the slope. It left bloody pawprints in it's wake. Fang stood there, gasping for breath. Blood trikkled into his eyes from a scar on his brow. 

 He won. 

Again. 

 

 

Chapter 18: The Dream

Fang lay in the Healer's cave, listening to the pattering of rain on the roof. He came back to the hollow after the fight, bloody and weak. Misty, Feather, Twig and his Packmates helped him to Acorn's cave out in the territory, where she patched his wounds up. Acorn left a moment ago to find Moon Leader as she left Fang in a nest in the middle of the Healer cave, listening to the soft rain outside and seeing the endless white in front of the entrance. 

 Fang sighed. He missed the Hunter's den and Seed, Misty, Feather, Twig and Maple right now. He may even missed Frostpaw and Muddy, who stayed at the hollow. Fang didn't know if they were staying forever or if they were leaving to their own long, quiet lives. 

 His back stung as he rose to his paws. The panther clawed pretty deep into his flesh, as Acorn described, and it wouldn't heal for a while. Fang bitterly thought that it was Storm's fault for the scar. It meant a scar of a battle, but it also opened because of the emptiness that weighed inside him. His skin easily was ripped because of loneliness. 

 Fang sniffed around. There were grasswraps, herbs and water all around the cave, also with some puddles and other nests. It was interesting. Acorn said to him once when he was a Pup that it wasn't lonely in the cave, because Edge's, the last Healer of the Pack, Spirit still wandered around in there, giving her endless company and friendship. 

 Fang bit into a mouse that Acorn gave him before she left. It was small but tasty and sweet. His belly rumbled for more. After he finished the mouse, Fang padded to the entrance. Rain still poured outside while the wind was cold against his body. 

 Fang felt old and weak. He never felt like this before. Never. 

Fang padded back to his nest as he laid down. He closed his eyes, trying to pitcure endless prey and sunshine. His ears flattened to the sides of his head to block out of noises of rain and wind. 

 He then lolled into dark, misty sleep. 

 .. 

 Fang woke up. He was lying on a soft patch of green ferns. He was in a forest. It wasn't raining, though. It was dry and warm. The green of the forest was back, with green, dappled leaves and curling vines and undergrowth. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, washing the forest floor gold. He saw mice and squirrels running into the undergrowth as birds flew ahead, chirping a song. 

 Where was he? Not in his territory. The pain in his back was gone and when he turned his head, his back was healed. No scar or grasswrap.  

What was happening? 

 "Fang." A soft voice murmured from the trees. 

 Fang jumped to his paws from the fern bed and looked around. Snowflake's voice! It was clear, soft and smooth as it passed through the branches. The wind gently blew through his fur, carrying her lovely scent with it. 

 She was around. Fang had to find her and see her lively blue gaze and long, pretty fur blow in the breeze. He had too! 

 He suddenly ran in the direction of the voice. It kept calling his name, sweeter and sweeter everytime. Fang jumped over large tree roots, streams and bushes. The scent of her along the breeze was his ticket. He tasted the air as he followed the wind. She was around here somewhere! 

 Suddenly, the green forest, blue streams, fresh wind and golden sky was gone. Blank. 

 He was in a black forest. A gloomy one, by the looks of it. The trees were moldy and shrunk with age. When he stepped, the crackle of dead leaves rose into the still air. The streams had black, oily water. The undergrowth was dead with brittle grass and brown plants. He saw dead birds, rotten and spoiled, in branches and on the ground. There was no moonlight or sunlight. Only darkness. The only alive things he saw were ravens, crows and vultures. Picking on animal's dead remains. 

 Fang shivered. Where was he? 

 "Faaang." The voice sung again. "Come to me." 

 Fang heard Snowflake's voice. Her howl came from the top of a brown slope with brittle covered plants. Fang raced up it, feeling slower now. 

 The voice stopped. Fang looked around, his gaze searching. "Snowflake?" He called. 

 No answer. He looked around. 

 Suddenly, his veins turned