Chapter 3 - Part 9: The Logging Road

Posted by Roadwolf on November 1, 2011

He recognizes the scent from the night before, it is Sooleawa. Following the scent through the underbrush, avoiding some thorny bushes, he noses out to a small clearing. Downwind, his scent is hidden from her. She lays in the short grass, with her front legs extended over the body of a small rabbit. Carefully, she picks out the meaty chunks, chewing on them and licking her lips. Roady approaches quietly from behind her, startling her as she hears his paws brush the small blades of grass behind her. Growling she turns to look.

“Oh it is you.” She says as she sees Roady creeping up on her. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, I am fine, a little sore though.” Roady nods, “I do not remember anything except being pounced. What happened?” Roady asks as he sniffs at the bunny.

“Oh, my kin decided to show up.” She said bluntly, Nosing some of the food over to Roady, “I guess they didn't like you associating with me.”

Nibbling on bits of rabbit, Roady nods, “Well at least Taima and Nodin don't.”

“How...? How do you know their names?” Sooleawa asks blushing a little.

“I have learned a lot today.” Roady says, looking up, a bit of rabbit gut hanging from his lip.

Giggling Sooleawa licks the gut from Roadys lip casually, causing Roady to blush a little. “I am surprised you are venturing into our territory actually.”

“I have been here much of the morning,” Roady says, still blushing a little, “I just met with your Alpha, 'Catch-a-hay-he'.” Struggling to pronounce the name.

“Really?” Sooleawa asks, genuinely surprised.

“Yeah, I met Chitsa too.” Roady continues, “They both seemed to like me, I think.”

“What about Taima and his crew?” Sooleawa asks. Noticing the bump on Roadys head.

“Luckily they were not around.” Roady says as he eats another bit of rabbit.

Sooleawa softly rubs her muzzle against the side of Roadys head as he leans down to eat. “While I am glad you are alright,” blushes Sooleawa, “I was worried.”

“No need to worry about me,” Roady mumbles, his mouth full.

“I was going to come see if you were alright, but...” Sooleawa pauses, “... I didn't really want to be followed again.”

“Ah it is alright, I understand.” Roady says. “Thanks for sharing your food,” As he chews, “I was getting very hungry.”

Smiling, Sooleawa nods, “No problem Roady. So where are you off to now?”

Roady grins slightly feeling playful, and looks around “Well, I guess you gotta catch me to find out.” as he darts off, sticking his tongue out while looking back at Sooleawa.

Sooleawa chases him, kicking up the autumn leaves as she runs. “Oh really?” She exclaims, grinning.

Roady finds the power lines again, and turns, following them, with Sooleawa several paces behind him. Growling at each other, and giggling as well, the pair race up along the hydro lines, and find a small logging road. Roady quickly looks either way and decides to dart right, heading North. Sooleawa follows, right on his tail.

The road, a simple pair of mud ruts with green grass on either side, appears mostly unused. Roady had never seen the road before. The trees hang low over the road, and in some spots fallen trees are brushed aside just enough to allow clearance for a vehicle. It is evident as they explore up the road that it has been used in the past few months.

Still kicking up dirt with his paws as he runs, Roady is having a blast, his tongue hanging to one side of his muzzle. Sooleawa who is catching up to him is panting hard, but also appears to be having fun. The pair round a curve in the road. There is a flash of movement and Roady turns to look as he watches Nodin jump out from the brush at the side of the road, and pounce towards Sooleawa.

Almost tumbling as he tries to turn and stop to help Sooleawa, Roady doesn't even notice Taima in front of him, and runs right into him causing both of them to stumble and hit the ground. Sooleawa, unable to avoid Nodin, gets pounced on and is pinned to the ground. She growls fiercely at Nodin, who begins to bite her neck firmly. Gaging, Sooleawa still fights, strugling with Nodin, making it difficult for him to get a good grip on her.

Roady gets up to his feet at the same time that Taima does, and begins to go to help Sooleawa, but Taima cuts him off. The two wolves circle each other slowly, at a stand off. Each growling and bearing their teeth.

“Let her go!” Roady screams out at Nodin.

“Sooleawa is destined to be mine, you fool.” Nodin replies, still pinning her down, but having released his grip on her neck for now.

Snarling, Taima takes the opportunity to charge at Roady. Roady barely dodges his charge, but gets swiped at on his hind. As he turns to counter, Roady jumps up and grabs onto Taimas shoulder, latching onto it with his teeth, he clamps down hard, breaking skin. Roady feels Taimas blood trickle out into his mouth.

Taima turns, his shoulder in searing pain, as he swats Roadys underbelly with one of his paws. Roady lets go of Taima, his jaw dripping with Taima's blood, as he looks over at Sooleawa and Nodin. Taima is however not finished yet, and jumps up on Roady biting his upper shoulder blade on his back. Tearing into his skin Taima bites hard, Roady howls in pain,but Taima is not able to get a good grip on Roady. Swinging himself around, Roady uses centrifugal force to get Taima off of him. “Get off me you scum.”

Nodin mounts Sooleawa and begins to violate her. Sooleawa yelps loudly, and crys out. “No! Don't!”

“Shut up bitch.” Nodin says, pushing down on her shoulder. Shoving her front half harder into the ground.

Roady watches in horror as he is still trying to fend off Taima, who prowls around him looking for a weakness.

Growling Nodin nips at Yuma, and Yuma gets off of him, letting him up. “Its better we get her, then that new wolf scum.”

Sooleawa gets up and runs off, her tail between her legs. Roady is able to dodge Taima and run off after Sooleawa.  Taima stands and watches Roady run off, his shoulder dripping blood down his leg.

Nodin, in slight pain as well, is not running anywhere fast. Sitting down he tends to himself. “What the hell Yuma? Why did you do that?”

“Nodin, do you know how much trouble we would be in if word got back to Chitsa about what you were going to do?” Yuma says.

Nodin mumbles something under his breath.

Taima remains silent, knowing that what Nodin did was wrong, but refusing to get involved. He turns and notices how bad he is bleeding. “Yuma, could you help me for a bit? This kinda hurts.”

“Sure Taima.” Yuma says, as he approaches Taima and begins to clean his wounds. “You know I am always there for my kin.”