The Pride of my Pack

The Pride of my Pack

                “This is your time to shine Shea,” Said my mother to my older sister as I hide behind her legs, “All you have to do to earn the pack’s trust is get one sheep. If you want more appreciation try to get one of the larger ones.”

                “Yes mother.”

                “And careful of the humans.”

                “Yes mother.”

                “I love you.”

                “I know mother,” Shea said, smiling back at mom and the rest of the pack.

                “We have faith in you child,” said my dad (the leader), Shan, “If you are to come back with a sheep of any kind in between your jaws, we will treat you as an adult.”

                “Thank you Shan… Dad.” Shea turned around about to leave then stopped turned around and faced me. She paused for a while. Mother nudged me with her paw and I realized I was supposed to say something to her for luck.

                “I wish you the best of luck sister,” I said walking out for behind mother’s legs, “Someday I hope to be hunting just like you will be and also be treated as an adult. Shea smiled at me and mother whispered ‘Very nice Sheik’. We all sat to watch as Shea turned around ready to be off to her hunt. There many sheep behind the fence. Mainly because they were a human’s sheep but we were too hungry to care. All of the adults in our pack had become adults by hunting a human’s sheep. Two in our pack had died trying… one being my brother.

                I prayed for my sister to be okay and hoped that she’d make it.

                The times for grey wolves are tough. Many of the packs are dying out. Most are dying from death by humans, when we try to steal their livestock. I’m just glad that I don’t have to hunt yet, humans terrify me.

                My sister creeped out into the field. It’s dark out so all the sheep are sleeping and the farmer is hopefully asleep.  

                We watched in complete silence as she tiptoed up to a large sheep. I could feel my heart beating unbelievably fast. I loved my sister so much; I couldn’t bear to see her die. Dad was smiling so I guess she was doing well but I’m not sure. Then again how would I know, dad hadn’t taught me how to hunt yet. Mom taught me how to gather, I’m good at that!

                She was about a foot away from one very large sheep. I heard my mom whisper something to my dad about going for smaller sheep, my dad just growled quietly saying Shea could handle any sheep in the field. My mother had a worried look on her face and it felt like my heart was about to pound outside of my chest.

                All of a sudden, Shea pounced. I jumped out of my fur, scared to death. Out of nowhere something that looked like us came out barking. It seemed to be protecting the sheep, pushing them toward a barn. Then as Shea started running toward us two more barking things came out, loud, and started attacking her. Scared, I bolted… but in the wrong direction. I went to save my sister. Then I heard my mother rushing after me.

                “Sheik come back there’s nothing we can do!” she yelled after me. I kept running. I couldn’t imagine life without my sister. Then something came from the building next to the barn. Everyone’s worst fear, the farmer and his shotgun.

                My mother dashed the other way hoping I would follow. My sister was dead. The things were closing in on me. I stopped in my tracks. The farmer was running and yelling. The dogs stopped.

                “I love you Shea,” I said as the farmer lifted his gun.