Princess in the Rough

Amber

“What?” Green Paw sputtered, choking on the dirt he was digging up behind his ear.

“I know who we’re gonna take!” Echo said with wolfish confidence. We were rubbing off on her!

“Who?” I asked, eager for her to answer. I couldn’t decide who I was gonna pick; maybe Echo knows more wolves than I thought.

“This wolf I met, his name is Flea Breath, but I doubt that’s his real name.”

“There’s no wolf in our clan named Flea Breath, or given a nickname that horrid.” Green Paw said, then sneezed. Why can’t he take this seriously!

“Echo. Please don’t tell me this is one of the wolves from the Night Walker clan.” I sighed, already knowing the answer. She smiled sheepishly.

“He is, but he was the one who told me about their alpha, and I bet he knows the parts of the forest you don’t.” She pointed out.

“But he’s on the other side of the forest! And by getting him we risk getting captured, again! Didn’t you hear the alpha say he won’t hesitate to kill us next time he sees us? What do you think he’ll do when we tell him we want to take one of his pack members. What if he doesn’t want to go?” I snapped. I was tired of Echo’s irrational ideas. After only a day of knowing her, I felt like she was my sister! Like I was responsible for her. I couldn’t let her keep putting herself and others in danger.

“What if he does want to go? I doubt he likes seeing his own father being controlled by a werewolf! He helped me, now I have to help him!” She shouted back at me.

“How did he help you? I didn’t see him rushing into our territory with you on his back! I didn’t see him stay behind while they chased us out of theirs! How did he help you?”

“He told me what happened to his father, he told me things that would hurt a lot to say, he risked his life to tell me what was going on! If that isn’t helping, I don’t know what is.”

I sighed, my mind was exhausted. “Then tell me, Echo Kaya. How do you plan on doing this impossible feat?” I give up. I’ll let her do her idea and try my best to protect her.

“This is how.” She opened up her storybook, which she kept with her at all times now. There were markings on the page, but I couldn’t read them.

I need to make her a bag for that book. It looks heavy. “I’ll be back. You think.” I walked off to the den. I picked up the moose skin that wasn’t eaten or bloody and walked over to my favorite spot.

I sat down on a soft patch of grass, leaning against a large tree, surrounded by wildflowers. I had a small, sharp bone and very thin, but strong, vines. I did this with my clothes all the time so I had quite a bit of experience. I stitched together the skin, piece by piece, until about ten minutes later I had made a rudimentary bag for Echo’s book. It wouldn’t be permanent but it would hold together long enough.

I walked back to Echo to find her snacking on some small berries. “Those berries cause headaches.” I warned her.

“Oh.” She put the berries down.

“How many did you eat?”

“Not many, maybe like ten.” She answered, wiping her hands on the grass. “Are you mad at me?”

“No, I’m glad you didn’t eat that many. The headaches start after about seventeen. I know from experience.” I chuckled.

“That’s not what I meant.” She said quietly, staring down at the storybook on her lab. It was opened to the last page, which had some markings on it that I’m guessing are words.

“I made this for your book. So, what’s the plan?” I said and handed her the bag.

“There’s only one entrance to the den, and another entrance to the rock area where the den is located, right?” She asked, I nodded. “Then how did the werewolf get in to challenge the alpha?”

“You’re right.” I nodded and folded my arms. Will the strain on my mind ever end?

“What I’m thinking is that there’s a secret way into the den, that way we could get everyone out, not just Flea Breath. None of them deserve to live with that guy. I know it’s a little different than asking the wizard for help, but I think it’ll work.”

“How do we find out where this hidden entrance is without getting caught? Or without the alpha, or dad or whatever we’re calling him, noticing that his entire pack is gone! Not to mention his mate. What do we do about her?”

“What if you brought them to the Moon Claw clan, then your pack would be increased, and the wolves would be protected. Maybe we could bring his mate with us, depending on who’s mate it is, the father’s or the werewolf’s.”

“Again, finding trap door is near impossible, it could be anywhere in the forest.” What was I saying? Why don’t I have hope myself? All morning I’ve been a grouch to Echo. Why?

“When I was caught by the alpha on the beach, I noticed something hard under me, it could’ve been a trap door, but the real question is why does the den have a secret entrance?”

“Thats a good question. Maybe there’s something under there?”

“Exactly.”

“Echo Kaya, you’re a genius!”