Chatterbox: Inkwell

Mist and Shadow

This is a short story I wrote for a writing group I'm in. It's eight pages, 4,793 words. (Note: The pages that are in italics are written in white type on black paper in the original document, but since I can't find a way to do that here, those sections will only be italicized. I thought it looked pretty cool on the black paper, so I felt the need to put that out there. XD) I'll be posting this in segments, one or two pages at a time. Critiques and constructive criticism are welcome, and any feedback is appreciated.

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Mist and Shadow

Taruk wolves were a harsh race of rough-mannered creatures, not having much in the way of intelligence, but making up for it in strength and brutality. The odd Taruk wolf could be found here and there, but the largest, most notorious pack was located far to the north, where the mountains rose up grey and looming on the horizon, and where the ground was rocky and bare. Their alpha, Rouli, was a half-insane, one-eyed tyrant who was infamous for his cruelty and intolerance for rebellion and challenges to his position.

Astra was a strong-willed, determined Taruk female who quickly earned Rouli’s approval and soon found herself at the position of a high-ranking hunter. She was one of Rouli’s most trusted and valuable hunters, always the one to strategize and give orders and bring down the biggest kills using the combined strength of the pack to its fullest extent. 

One day, while she was hunting with a small team of wolves, Astra stopped and sniffed the air. A storm was rising, and fast. She could see it rolling in on the horizon already. Soon the storm was upon them, and they were caught in the middle of a downpour. A fog settled on the plain as the rain came down, obstructing Astra’s vision. Before long, she found herself separated from the others. She wandered in the general direction that she assumed the camp to be in, but to no avail. She was lost, with the rain and fog confusing her nose and her sense of direction, as well as muddling her mind. Finally, the fog lifted, and the rain reduced to a drizzle. But Astra still had no indication of where she was. She wondered for days, trusting her instincts to take her back to her pack. But she only found herself farther and farther from home. 

Though discouraged, Astra refused to give up hope. She soon reached a river, and stopped to rest. As she was thirstily lapping up the clear water, she heard a rustle in the thicket a few paces away. She lifted her head, her ears pricking, but she smelled the wolf before she saw him. 

He stepped out of the brush, his silver coat a bit weathered, but despite his slightly disheveled appearance, he was quite a handsome creature. His blue eyes gleamed under the moonlight as he padded forward, seemingly unperturbed by Astra’s presence and her unwavering gaze. Astra spoke first.

“Who are you?”

She thought she saw him smirk. “I could ask the same.” There was a short silence, in which the other wolf’s nose twitched. “A Taruk wolf.”

Astra tensed slightly. “How did you know?”

“I would know the scent anywhere.” He came closer, and Astra stiffened, but he didn't seem to notice as he bent to drink. He lifted his head. “What brings you so far from Taruk territory?”

“What business is it of yours?”

He laughed. “If you're lost, you can just admit it.”

She felt a low growl making its way up her throat, but it fizzled when she caught his blue-eyed gaze. All sense of teasing had melted from his eyes, and she thought she detected something else. 

“I was hunting. Separated from my team by a storm.”

She wasn't sure why she was telling him this. She had no reason to trust him. But something about the way he was looking at her told her she could.

“I can help you find them,” he said. 

She hesitated. She wanted to let him help her, but she was not one to blindly trust. 

“You can trust me, you know,” he said, as if reading her mind. “Name’s Rigel.”

“They call me Astra.”