Roady's Story: Part 13
A continuation of Roady's Story.
Roady and Sooleawa were still resting together by the pond, when both of their ears perked up. The mournful howl from the Scajaquada pack echoed through the trees. They both noticed that Kachinahey's voice wasn't part of the howl. Nayati's voice seemed to be the loudest and strongest. Followed by Yuma's voice. Nodin, and Taima's voices were not part of the howl. Roady glanced at Sooleawa, but she just solemnly looked down at the edge of the pond to stare at her reflection.
Roady stood up and arched his neck up, and began to howl a mournful howl back in reply. Sooleawa perked, and glanced over at Roady for a moment, before doing the same, adding her voice to the chorus. For a moment, the wolves howled back and forth, but the missing voices of Nodin, Taima, and Kachinahey were clearly missing. Roady nuzzled Sooleawa, and Sooleawa placed her paw lovingly on Roady's good shoulder. Roady looked deep into her eyes, and saw that she was torn inside.
"Sooleawa, go and check on your family. I should stay here, I would just slow you down..."
Sooleawa sighed, "I am kinda afraid to find out what is going on... But I probably should."
Roady nuzzles her again, "I know, but I will be right here. Move quick, and keep an eye out for Nodin."
"What if he comes here, looking for you?"
"I would rather him come here, then go after you... But I shall wait in my little den."
Sooleawa grumbles and then huffs to herself, turning towards the trail, she looks back at Roady. "I won't be long... I shall be back soon!" Roady nods in response, as Sooleawa begins to race off towards the Scajaqauda's den site. Roady hobbles over to his small den, and slips into it. Having crudely dug out the den the previous day, the den was still dirty and not overly warm and inviting. But it did already begin to take on the scent of Roady, and more importantly, of Sooleawa. Roady closed his eyes and curled up in the confined space. The den seemed empty without Sooleawa in there with him, as cramped as it was for two wolves. Roady shivered for a moment before fluffing his fur up and laying his head down on his front paws to rest.
Sooleawa, meanwhile, raced through the woods towards the howling she had heard. It seemed to have come from towards the center of the Scajaquada's territory, possibly near the den. She followed familiar trails. While Sooleawa's pride had been hurt the day before, she was otherwise healthy and in peak physical condition. She kept on thinking to herself, that she was foolish to allow herself to be so distracted, as to get pounced by her packmate. It was more in that she was happy that she had found someone to have fun with, and play like a puppy again, but at the same time, that playing is what caused her to let her guard down. She was blaming herself for what happened to her, and now; she knew that whatever truth she discovered when she met up with her pack, may also be her fault.