Ol' Flint the Crow

The Runt's Tale pt. 5

We traveled south for a mile until we came across a tomato patch field. The Alpha crushed these plants mercilessly with his feet as he followed The Omega. I open my nostrils and sniffed at the air. There was not only the fresh smell of the sweet tomatoes permeating around us. I could pick up the sweet scent of carrots, citrus fruits, and other farm produce growing all around us.

As we passed underneath the branches of a tall orange tree, with some of the most delicious looking fruits dangling just above my ears, I became afraid. Humans! There had to be humans here. Was The Omega leading us into a trap? Why else would he bring us to a farmer's field? I yapped at The Alpha to warn him. However, he too was already worried that The Omega was taking us on the wrong path.

"Where are you leading us?" barked my mate causing the skittish wolf to turn around in fear. "Is the bird living amongst humans? Speak! If you're keeping us in the dark, I'll rip you in two!"

"No! No! NO!!!" whined The Omega. "No bad humans here. This is a haven... for animals. It is. It is!"

"Haven?" The Alpha prodded the wolf for more answers.

"Yes! A safe place for abused animals... Mother Bear watches over everyone. Keeps animals from hurting one another. Keeps them fed... and free. This land's good land. Mother Bear is... kind animal."

"And what of the crow?" growled The Alpha. "Why is this Mother Bear protecting a child killer."

Nervously tapping the ground with his paw, The Omega whined, "Err... Cruel crow brings animals to Mother Bear. H-he brought poor me there. But I was sent away! I did not know about you... wolf brethren! Didn't know Flint was a killer. Terrible, evil bird. I-if I had known, I'd have never gone to Mother Bear's haven. I would have come straight to you... my new wolf friends!"

The Omega was clearly struggling to keep himself on our side, even spouting lies that he somehow convinced himself were true.

"I will have this crow's head!" declared The Alpha. "If this Mother Bear will not give him to me, I will not hesitate to slaughter all who get in my way!"

The other wolves barked in agreement. They barred their teeth, ready to snap at the first thing they saw. However, I was apprehensive about the situation. Killing animals just for the sake of one bird didn't feel right. I did know what was awaiting us at this bear's haven, but we couldn't risk our lives even more than we had been doing since we started this endless hunt.

But I was only one wolf in the pack. Everyone else was blood thirsty for revenge or at least willing to do anything just to kill the crow that had brought them miles away from their last place of rest. The wolves were tired. They wanted the hunt to end. And I couldn't blame them. I wanted it to end as well.

"Yes! Yes!" The Omega agreed without hesitation. "Anyone who keeps evil bird away from good wolf is an enemy to me too! They are! They are! I am loyal to you. I will help... wolf brethren. Kind wolf will remember my aid? Huh? Take poor me with you? Become part of... wolf pack? Please?!"

The Alpha said, "Take us! Then we shall see."

Nodding his head while he giddily smiled, The Omega led us through the crops. When we neared an area with tall corn stocks shaking in the evening wind, the wolf lowered himself to his belly and gestured with his nose for us to do the same.

The Alpha crept on his stomach, making sure not to step on any dry leaves that would make sounds and let our presences known. He stood side by side with The Omega. They halted just at the edge of where the corn maze ended so they could peek out.