© 2001-2024 Detjen Haynes
Part 3

"Your mother.... she didn't make it through the labor. I-I'm sorry." Those words ran constantly through his mind, over and over, till he couldn't think of anything else.

Plantweaver watched from several feet away, holding the newborn elf in her arms. She wasn't sure what to do, she hadn't dealt with cubs much, other

than mixing medicines when one was sick. She shook her head and turned away. The wolf that was once bond to Wandering Leaf's mother stood in a clearing watching her approach. She patted the wolf. "I must go hunting, watch over the children." She sat the baby down inthe den before she picked up a knife and set off.

Wandering Leaf woke with a start, realizing he had fallen asleep. The sun had set, and night had returned. He shivered, more snow had fallen and his hands were now numb. He moved slowly back towards then den. He felt like he was moving slowly, he was feeling emotionally and physically drained from the last two days.

Reaching his den, he paused. Something didn't seem right. Slowly entering the den he looked around. It was empty. No sign of anyone there. Leaving the den again he decided to check Plantweaver's den. Stumbling through the snow he paused short of her den, noticing a small trail of something red in the snow. Curious, he started following it. It led him away from her den and to a tree. At the base of the tree was a lump that started taking on shape as he closed in. Kneeling down he gasped and noticed it was Plantweaver. she was holding her side, it was red, where she had been bleeding. Reaching out he gently touched her arm, finding it pale and cold to the touch. He swallowed and gently moved her hand out of the way. He stumbled backward, a wave of nausea washing over him. The wound was ghastly, he turned away feeling sick.

The sun came back up as it always had, and once again Wandering Leaf was watching from his spot. Somewhere in the night his mother's wolf had taken his baby sister and after stopping here, probably looking for him, had started off into the woods. He had followed but the trail quickly disappeared. He felt different this morning however. He was able to think again, and right now he was wondering what to do.

Standing up he pulled a blanket around him and picked up a pack which he had filled with food and other supplies. He turned and looked back at the holt, tears forming in his eyes as he thought about his mother, then quickly turned away and started walking quickly away.