Prologue
A single howl silenced the chattering of the dog pack, forcing a silence upon them. Growling, one black-as-midnight wolf gingerly padded into the clearing, coughing slightly to clear his throat before beginning
“Why, I see such an efficient pack before me. All mongrels in this pack, of course, but what else could I expect from a dog? Well, I could expect nothing, but that would be a little high, wouldn’t it?”
His grunts and betas chuckled nervously behind him, a high, whining sound. One wolf stepped forward from behind the dogs, perfectly white, like a snowflake falling from earth. Her blue eyes twinkled in the half-light of the moon, causing her to look like an angel to the onlookers. Her calm voice made the black wolf falter as she spoke
“I see you have gathered your army of pure-bred wolves, excellent fighters with an eye for trouble. How do you know they trust you, Shade? Why have you gathered them out of fear for this battle of good and evil? My wolves are pure of heart, the righteous that defended the weak long before our silly feud. Why not end it now, while there’s still a chance for the humans to come back? While there’s still a chance to let them live in harmony with us?”
A couple of wolves stuck their heads out of the shadows, showing their muzzles. The mongrels in the middle quivered, their leader not backing down. He stood as high as he could for a Shih Tzu, his ears trembling with excitement as he woofed slightly
“I will not back down. The humans have humiliated us, made us their slaves. We were nothing but toys to them, and that will take many generations to defeat the gene of playing, of taking nothing serious. You understand what will happen if we don’t defeat the humans in this battle, do you not? Their disease will spread to us, killing our people and pups. We will have lost more than our pride. They will use their machines to kill us off, if they can. I warn you, this battle will be tremendous. All will be decided. If you do not fight by mere choice, you will be called to treason under the Wolf Court. Ones expecting pups and those too young, sick, or old, may stay here. One final thing- are we all ready?”
Nods surrounded him as he turned around, for one last glimpse of his wife.
“I bid those here good luck in all their endeavors, and those left behind the best of wishes. Let us be off, to decide the fate of all wolves, of all humans, and of this earth. We cannot let them hold the earth in their grasp much longer!”
He looked over his troops quickly, at the Great Danes and Pomeranians, at the Boxers and Pit Bulls, at the Chihuahuas and Sheepdogs. He was pleased at their numbers, and his chest filled with pride. His black and white markings shone in the darkness, as a single bark was called out
“Let us begin!”
The dog’s bodies slithered through the rough landscape, their tongues panting with excitement. There had been barracks posted outside the city, some of the only ones left of humankind. The occasional bark and howl were heard; after all, a wolf pack cannot stay quiet. They howl on their way to the hunt, to the kill. They communicate as fast as possible, their cries heard over long distances. The leader is the loudest, most inspiring one of all. It is not always the alpha of the pack that decides the fate, for occasionally it all comes down to one dog or wolf, one single animal that makes all the difference.
And that’s how the humans lost.
It was a long battle, and afterwards the wolves’ fur was singed, from the bonfires the people made. But, deep in their hearts, the wolves knew; this was the first battle of many.
The first battle of a war may not decide the outcome, but it sure can try to.
And sometimes, it can change everything.
