Obeisance

Before

My heart pounds in my chest as I run, hair steaming behind me as my legs carried me faster and faster. Please, Mother, help us. Tears stream down my face, as I glance back, instantly regretting my action. The massive fire that engulfed the pack house was now an inferno, the light sprinkle of rain doing nothing to dampen the hungry flames that illuminated the slaughter of my pack. The Ash pack spares no one, not even the children. Not even my brother. I sob, the memory of my brothers' unseeing eyes and grey skin burned into my memory. I quickly turn, driving my legs faster. The howls of victory that ring through the night turn my stomach, and I try to keep the images of earlier out of my head. Just a little farther. The edge of the forest is rushing at me, almost within my reach, and the comforting smell of pine and earth envelope me. As I reach there first couple of trees, I shift, the cracking of bones and the discomfort lasting a few seconds before I land on my paws, and take off. Faster, I have to go faster. I push myself harder, my paws barely touching the pine-straw covered group as I race through the trees. Suddenly, A howl turns my blood cold. The sound is distinctly male, the excitement and bloodlust clear. My black fur is damp from the now pouring rain, and I push myself foreword. I'm almost to the border, it's only a little further. The Eclipse pack has always been the allies of the BloodRose pack, and my only hope is them. Alpha Trey is a friend of my father, and he'd know what to do. I sprint into the field separating our packs, and hope flashes through me. Lightning flashes through the sky, and thunder cracks as I look one more time over my shoulder, before I ram head-first into a wall. No, not a wall, a male. I fall back, and bark in pain as my front paw smacks against the ground, the  audible crack sounding through the clearing. I growl, attempting to regain my footing on three paws as the silver male approaches. His eyes are the same color as his coat, and the amusement in his eyes is clear at my attempt to stand. A shudder goes through me, and exhaustion hits me a like a freight train. I crumple, my breathing labored. My eyes close, and a few seconds later I feel an electric shock go through me. I jerk back, opening my eyes to see the silver male looking down at me with surprises eyes. He stiffens, and pulls back before the pounding of paws approaches, and three other wolves appear next to the male, a silent conversation going on between them as I watch. The three newcomers are various shades of brown, and all dip their heads to the silver male after a couple of minutes, before disappearing back into the trees. The Silver male circles me slowly, and I try once more to pull myself up. I'm pushed back to the ground, a low growl coming from the male. Stay down. I growl back, but comply, too weak to hold my own. Then, darkness envelopes me as I sink into unconsciousness.