Wolf Paws and Fox Tails
By: Bay, 6th grade
If you were floating above the land of Kundiar, you would see many things. Black, sharp mountains with veils of mist hiding their snowy tops. Lush, green forests full of energy and life. But one of the most majestic things you would see in all of Kundiar would be the wolf pack Kartia. If you were to see these wolves running through the valleys in between the Spine, the surrounding mountain range, you would be overwhelmed with respect for them. With over 30 members, Kartia was not to be trifled with. The wolves came from far and wide, some from the lonesome desert, Sunaga, with their survival skills and red and brown fur. Others came from the snowy Spine mountains, bringing with them their white pelts and hunting expertise. And the rest from the woods of Konoi, with black fur that blended perfectly into the dark, wooded environment where their sharp hearing aided them in hunting. Despite their many different origins, the wolves worked together; none more powerful than the other. But their leader, Keiron, was the best they could ask for. His mother, Liyla, was a forest wolf, and his father, Surokan, was a mountain wolf. Combined, he had obtained excellent hearing and hunting expertise. But his former pack, Excellion, had one dark secret. Their ancestors had formed a great rivalry with the fox clan, Nantior. The leader of the foxes, Kyuka, was vicious yet beautiful. She was blessed with nine tails, a sign of utmost respect and fear. Whenever a fox is born with nine tails, that is a sign of power. The container is given extreme strength and stamina. And with Kyuka as a container, the other animals were in trouble. Deep trouble.
The leader of Kartia stood on a snowy hilltop, his brown and black fur contrasted against the blue-grey sky. His sharp ears were pricked to the sky, and his wet, black nose was gently sniffing the air. “Where could that pup be…?” He thought aloud. His pup, Kutaira, had run off again. Kids… he thought sadly. They were always running off to explore. He ran down the hill, keeping his nose out for his daughter.
Meanwhile, Kutaira was having fun in the woods. She had found a cripnar, and was having fun batting it around with her paws. The little creature was terrified, it’s bushy white tail between it’s legs. The little wolf pup gave one last snap at it before letting the cripnar run back into a bush. Kutaira gave a giggle, and began to wander through the woods. As she looked around, a familiar scent hit her nostrils. “Oh, no… papa’s around.” She whispered. If her dad found out that she had run off to play in the woods, she would get chewed out for sure. Almost as soon as she said it, a dark shape emerged from up ahead. With a small yelp, she tried to run away. But a large paw had pinned her to the ground. “Kutaira…” Her father scolded. “You know you aren’t allowed to play in these woods.” The paw receded, and her father stepped out of the shadows. “I’m sorry, papa..” The pup apologized, her ears flattened on her head. “Come on, let’s get back to the pack.” Keiron said, and began to walk off. His daughter followed.
As they walked, Kutaira saw strange shapes in the darkness. And once, she saw a bushy orange tail disappear into a tree. “Papa, why can’t I play in these woods?” She asked. Her father continued to stare straight ahead. “It’s dangerous in here, there are creatures that don’t want you here.” The young wolf looked around, the shadows constantly shifting. “What kind of creatures, papa?” Her father stiffened slightly, but only slightly. “I think that’s enough out of you for now…” Keiron said quietly. His daughter sighed, and they continued their return to the pack.
“Oh, thank goodness!” Kutaira was greeted by her mother. “Oh, thank goodness you’re alright!” She repeated, and gently nuzzled her daughter. “Mama…” Kutaira attempted to interrupt, but her mother didn’t respond. “Now, never, ever play in that part of the forest again.” She warned her. “Yes, mama.” Yura eyed her daughter carefully. “Understand?” “Yes, mama.” “Alright, then!” Yura said happily. “It’s time for you to have some dinner!” Kutaira gave a small howl of joy. She was starving after romping around in the forest. Keiron brought over some elk meat and dropped it in front of his daughter. The pup happily chomped into the red leg meat, her tail wagging. Her mother gave a sigh. “It’s so cold here, I miss the desert…” She murmured. Yura was a desert wolf, born and bred, and thought the weather in the valley and forests was too cold. “Maybe some hunting will warm me up…” She muttered, and walked off to go catch some elk. Kutaira licked her lips as she finished the elk. “That was yummy!” She said happily. Her father nuzzled her affectionately. “Good pup, you ate it all. Now it’s time for you to go to bed.” Kutaira gave a yawn. “Alright, goodnight papa.” She said, and curled up in a ball on the snow, and began snoring softly. Keiron sat down and looked at his sleeping daughter. She was a good pup, just a little too curious. He gave a quiet chuckle. She reminded him of when he was a pup. Always sticking his nose in business other than that of the pack. And that had led him into trouble. But now it was his daughter that was getting chewed out.
Keiron stood and walked away from the sleeping form of his daughter, and gave a sigh. Soon, not only Kutaira would be in trouble. The whole pack would be. 3 moons ago, Keiron had gotten a message from the fox clan, Nantior. Their leader, Kyuka, had declared a war against Kartia. They said that their first attack would come soon. Kieron was nervous and angry. Why did the foxes wage a war now? Their rivalry had always been apparent, but they had never attacked each other. The foxes were powerful, he had to admit. Kyuka was the container of nine tails. That made the already vicious vixen stronger, and more angry. Their clan was cunning, and were able to climb the trees. They were known for their tricks. Keiron stomped his paw. The whole pack would have to fight. Blood would be shed, some would die, but there would only be one victor. And he prayed it would be Kartia.
“Kutaira, Kutaira, wake up!!” The pup awoke to her mother’s voice. She snapped her eyes open, and jumped up. “What is it, mama??” Her mother coughed heavily, the air was ridden with smoke and stunk of blood. “We must get out of here!” Yura managed to yell. She began to run, and her daughter followed. Howls of pain, anger, and insane cackles resounded through the air. “Mama, what’s going on?!” Kutaira coughed. “The fox clan, Nantior, is attacking us! Your father told us to escape!” Yura shouted. They leapt over a small fire, which was then extinguished by the body of a fox that a wolf was attacking. The two wolves hid in the forest, coughing heavily, trying to get the taste of smoke off their tongues and out of their lungs. “But what about papa?” Kutaira asked. “Will he be alright?” “I’m not sure, honey…” “What?!” Her daughter shouted. “But what if something happens to him?!” “Kutaira-” her mother attempted to say, but was interrupted. “We’ve got to help him!” She said, and ran back into the flame-filled battlefield. “KUTAIRA!” Yura screamed.
Keiron gave a cry of pain as a fox bit into his shoulder, and another at his back left ankle. Drops of blood were splattered on the snow, and chunks of his ear were missing, now residing in the stomach of a now dead fox that was burning in the surrounding fire. Gritting his teeth, he flipped over onto his back, crushing the fox on his back. The other jumped out of the way, landing nimbly on the ground. Keiron snarled, and clamped his teeth on the fox’s neck, hearing a satisfying ‘snap’. He released the body, and leapt back into action. As he ran through the flaming area, he heard pained cries of anguish, howls of anger. It was terrible. Then, he stopped. In front of him, not a foot away, was Kyuka. Her nine orange tails flowed freely in the night. “So, Keiron. We meet at last.” Keiron gave a loud snarl, crouching into a position that would allow him to spring into action at any moment. Kyuka gave a smirk. “I have been waiting for this moment for many moons. At last, the so-called ‘great’ Kartia will fall, and the reign of foxes will prevail!” Keiron gave a loud growl, digging his claws into the bloody ground. “You’re wrong, Kyuka. The foxes will never win!” He shouted. “Kartia will live on, and you and your group of monsters are all going to die!” Kyuka smirked. “We’ll see about that!”
Suddenly, she jumped on top of Keiron, clamping her strangely powerful jaws on the wolf’s neck. He gave a short cry of pain, before quickly twisting his head around and grabbing Kyuka with his sharp fangs. The vixen gasped, her nine tails writhing in agony. Keiron smiled grimly, and tossed the fox to the ground. She groaned as her small legs buckled under her. The wolf pinned her to the ground with his paws. “So, who’s going to win, now?” He said. Kyuka gave an evil smile, and Keiron gasped. “Not you!” She said, and then shouted, “Attack him!” Many other foxes leapt on top of the alpha male, gnawing and biting. Keiron screamed in pain, collapsing to the ground.
Kutaira ran through the battlefield, panting. “Papa!” She screamed. “PAPA!” She gasped as she saw her father lying on the ground, many foxes attacking him. She rushed over, but stopped as she saw her father stop struggling, his body laying limp. She saw Kyuka stand over him, laughing. “You murderer!” She shouted, leaping at the vixen. The fox gasped, closing her eyes tight as the pup’s sharp teeth sunk into her neck. Her nine tails wriggled in extreme pain. How could this pup, much younger than her, cause this much pain?? Kutaira eagerly attacked, her ears pinned to her head. Then, the nine tails ceased to move. Blood leaked onto the ground, staining it red. The pup jumped off, her muzzle maroon. She gasped as she saw red droplets fall to the dirt. Had she… just killed that fox? What had she done?! She walked over to her father’s body, and collapsed on top of it. “Papa… I’m so sorry…” She said. Then, she felt a body land on top of her, the great weight of the wolf causing her to black out…
Kutaira opened her eyes, looking around. Her head hurt a great deal, and she was lying on the ground, the dirt stained red with blood. She gasped and stood up. The entire area was scorched and black. Bodies of wolves and foxes lay everywhere. But she was the only living thing in the area. She looked around, and gasped. “Mama!” Her mother lay dead at her feet. Her father lay next to her, his green eyes cloudy and empty. She sat down in the dirt and began to cry.
The wolves had won, but she was the only wolf left.