To be around when his wolf would return, Turnipper lingered by the bridge to keep the fire going and catch crawfish, while the other two went out to hunt. Toshiba did not show up that night, however. A fact that made the fox increasingly nervous, now that the sun was coming up. In an unexpected bout of clemency, Chen had announced a break, once they had returned, to consume away the leftovers and gather some strength for the imminent travel. Though Turnipper knew that the alpha's patience was wearing thin. They wouldn't stay here for another day just so Toshi could finally make up his mind. It was now or never and Turnipper couldn't do anything about it. This was Toshi's move!
"Still nothing?" Reszet asked carefully as he settled beside the fox, who's eyes were trained on the decayed asphalt road that cut through the forest Toshi was hiding in.
Downcast, Turnipper shook his head. "He'll show up, though, I'm sure." He had to!
"Y-yeah..." For Turnipper's sake, he wanted to say something more encouraging, though Res knew how stubborn Toshi was and he didn't want to raise false hopes. This had to be hard enough for him as it was, which made Res' next words even more unpleasant to say. "Chen... wanted a moment to himself. He said, once he's back, we're leaving."
The fox sighed. "Alright..." The moment of truth was approaching fast. And still no sight of his love.
With a gentle nudge, Res pressed his nose to Turnipper's neck and puffed. "Big wolves are big trouble," he said compassionately and from experience. Even now, after their intimate moment last day, Chen was a mystery. He hadn't said a word about what happened, acted as though it didn't happen. Res hadn't pushed the matter, but he knew that this was something he had to work on, somehow. For now, though, they had more pressing concerns. "I'll douse the fire," he said, separating himself from his newly found friend. An uncommon friendship, though one Reszet had come to cherish. "You'll be alright?" he asked before he turned his back to the fox.
There was some doubt, but Turnipper nodded confidently. He would find a way. He's a fox, he always finds a way! By the time of departure, though, Toshiba still hadn't shown himself.
"The fox goes first, I'll be in the back," Chen announced resolutely.
Even though he wanted to, Turnipper didn't object the command. It was clear that the pack's leader wouldn't allow any further delays. In fact, the fox was even glad for Chen's wording. Even though his plan to re-engage Toshi seemed to fail, he was allowed to stay. The question now was: Would he? How should he react to Toshi's decision? Stay with his friend and an able leader to face the winter? Or leave to try his luck with the wolf he fell in love with? He would have to decide soon!
"We'll follow the road for now, see where it leads," Chen went on with his instructions, then pointed beyond the forest that lay before them. At the horizon, far in the distance, a row of large hills rose towards the sky. "I want to reach the mountains within three days. Cross them before the weather worsens, if necessary. It's a ways to go, so don't slack!"
With awe Turnipper looked at the way ahead. Three days sounded ambitious, even for a wolf, for a fox it would be a slog. He set out nevertheless, Reszet a good distance behind him, and tried to set a swift pace to adapt to the wolves. Not too swift, however. He wanted to give Toshi every possible chance to catch up to them. The dreary march and his restless mind set him in such a stupor, though, that he didn't noticed the big, red wolf, until he stood right in front of his nose. A short sprint down the road, in the shade of an oak, Toshiba leaned against the tree's trunk with crossed arms. He looked discontent, but determined.
Picking up his speed, Turnipper hurried towards his wolf and was about to jump in his arms, though settled for a loving hug, when he noticed that Toshi didn't seem that welcoming. He relaxed some, though didn't return the embrace. "You took your sweet time! I was afraid you wouldn't show up at all," he mumbled, happily pressed to his lover's shaggy fur. When he looked up, Toshi was stern. "What is it?"
Stoically the large wolf looked left, towards the gray figure that slowly approached them and the white dot that followed a distance behind him still. They would have a moment of privacy to settle this, before the others came here. Good.
With a resolute huff, Toshi peered down and put a hand on his fox's scrawny shoulder. "I don't really like this," he admitted grudgingly. Then, in a softer tone, added, "But for you - for us - I'll give it a try. But if this stupid idea of yours turns to shit, I'll leave the pack. For good! With, or without you!"
The fox chuckled a bit fatigued. Another ultimatum to keep him on his toes? Who would have thought that living with wolves would be this arduous! "This isn't going to be a breeze," Turnipper acknowledged. "And it will take some effort from all of us, I hope you know that. But if this new situation will indeed make you unhappy, we'll find a solution. Together!"
"Hm," the wolf made with a nod. Then he returned his fox's dumb grin. "Just don't expect me to pay court to you, or anything!"
Grabbing the bigger canine tightly by the chest fluff, Turnipper mischievously stared up at him. "I'll show you who's boss!"
A little offside their besotted bickering, the third member of their pack had caught up to them, though held his distance. Both, to grant them some privacy, and to spare himself from having to face his aggressor. Entangled with his fox like this, Toshi looked like the big, dumb douche he'd always been, but Reszet knew by now that this wolf was not all bark and no bite. He hoped this feeling wouldn't stay forever, but right now he was intimidated by his companion.
When Chen eventually reached him and stopped by his side, Res flinched. Just a little bit, but the white wolf's sharp senses noticed his underling's anxiety. Collected and calculating his dark, brown eyes stared at him and found Reszet averting his gaze embarrassed.
Without a word Chen came closer and bumped his chin onto Res' shoulder. With his nose pressed to the back of his head, the bigger wolf sniffed twice, then blew his breath over the dark gray-tipped ears, before brushing his jawline along Reszet's unmoving skull. Done with the reassuring gesture, the alpha marched on to address their straggler.
A bit perplex, but with a warm and fuzzy feeling that tingled in his spine, Reszet dropped behind. The exact meaning of Chen's gesture was subject to his interpretation. Though it definitely expressed the leader's solicitude for his charge. A renewal of his vow to protect his packmate. With Chen's support and a slight wag in his tail, Res walked up to the others.
"I told you not to slack!" Chen admonished in Turnipper's direction. "Take your new responsibility in tow and get a move on!"
Toshiba acknowledged the rude command with a threatening growl, though held his tongue, mostly for Turnipper's sake, but also since Chen had the decency not to comment on his new standing beneath the fox. The new-fledged alpha held his stare with stoic poise and eventually won when Toshi averted his eyes with a dismissive huff. "Nip?" he asked, seeking approval by the only one he'd pledged his loyalty to. This seemed like a silly puppy game, but... he'd agreed to this. And now he owed Turnipper the trust to let his idea play out.
"You heard him," the fox announced, turning to continue his way down the road. "Stick to my tail and enjoy the view. I'll show you the way."
"Hmp." Ditching the other two, Toshi went straight after his fox.
And with him gone, Reszet slowly crept up to the alpha and tried to construe his deadpan face. "That... didn't go too bad. Did it?" he discerned. At least they didn't bark at each other. Though in all honesty, he'd expected Chen to be more insistent with asserting dominance. He usually was and Toshi's challenging growl gave him a valid reason to put his paw down.
Though again Chen had been more perceptive than one might give him credit for. He'd noticed Toshi's difficulty to swallow down his pride and return with a tucked tail. That alone took some guts, but it was also an explosive situation. "We'll see whether this power structure will work in the long run. I have my doubts." Toshiba was too conceited to submit to a low-rank. Then again, the fox had a way of handling things that might harness his rampancy.
"Turnipper will find a way, you'll see."
"Hm," made the white wolf, indecisively. Only time will tell. "Now get going."
Res was about to comply, though then hesitated a moment. Sheepishly he peered over to his noble alpha wolf and plucked up courage, before he tenderly brushed his forehead over Chen's throat. "No matter what, I'll always stand by your side, Baobei!" Res promised with conviction. He didn't know why he suddenly felt the need to, but it felt good and right to pledge his loyalty to Chen. To assure him that he had the pack's trust, or at least his. "You'll lead us well."
Chen accepted the vow with stoic grace and a single word, "Good," before he nudged the smaller wolf onward. "Now go."
And with a happy wag of his tail, Reszet did just that. Towards a new and exciting adventure, to be experienced, for better or for worse, together with his pack of oddities.
Yep, that's it, folks, the story of our struggling, little wolf pack is told. Thank you a lot for reading and (hopefully) enjoying it! Let me know in the comments what your thougts are and who your favorite 'wolf' is and why. Also, you can look forward to one more, final post to conclude this project.
