*The Diary of Black Frost* : A short story I wrote...

[Bratterratt]

Here it is!

*Diary of Black Frost*

-October 27th, 2009-
A large grey female wolf prowled the perimeter of her territory. She paused, growling softly at the piercing cold winter air. Her ice blue eyes searched the forest trees, but locked on nothing. She continued her circle, her paws landing softly, soundlessly on the hard, frozen ground. Suddenly, she whirled around, snarling, and clacking her jaws viciously. A plump, black rabbit stood petrified with fear, his eyes wide, frightened. Frost let out a hiss-like sound, then lept at the quivering creature. Her jaws clamped down hard, deadly on the rabbits throat, and with one final squeal, the animal stopped its struggling. Frost shook the dead animal, on last time, and then dropped it on the ground, not hungry, not needing to eat. The wolf pulled herself up straight, the once white fun on her face and paws now stained in red. She growled softly, then turned to once more start her circle of the area.

-October 28th, 2009-
The sun rose slowly over the hills, lighting vaguely on Frosts shaggy grey fur. The day was cloudy and the forest was filled with a thick, chilling fog. Frost rose from the ground where she slept, and shook herself violently, ridding her coat of loose brush. She stretched her well toned muscles, then stood still, eyeing her surroundings carefully. She scuffed slightly, then turned and slid silently between the trees, unseen. As the wolf slipped through the forest, she tracked, there were others of her kind in this forest, though she had never interacted with them. On any regular day, she would stay away from them, but she was starving, there was no prey, no hunt for her, she couldn't, not in her condition. The pack would have food, fresh meat, they always did. This would be her only chance to "hunt", and she would do it now.

-October 29th, 2009-
After a day and night of tracking, Frost stopped momentarily to lap up a few drinks of almost completely frozen water, before going on her way. She walked for an hour more, before she finally spotted the others. Frost stood on the rise of one hill, and as she looked down, she saw the pack, completed of several wolves. She growled softly, anxiously, then made up her mind to wait until night fall. As the sun began to hide itself beneath the horizon, Frost began to approach the wolf packs territory. She had been watching them throughout the day, and spotted several half eaten carcasses near several different dens. As the last beams of sun disappeared, Frost neared the dens. Most of the other wolves had already entered their dens to sleep, but a large, golden male was still standing out in the open. Frost stayed hidden, but circled the area, carefully hiding her scent. Despite her carefulness, she still left a scent, and male caught it quickly, narrowing his eyes, Frost seeing his suspicion. The female sighed, she had no choice now, and stepped out where the other wolf could see her. Their eyes locked for a moment, and Frost could see the other wolf was sizing her up for a fight. But he paused, obviously noticing her condition and the ribs that where showing through her white coat. The golden male sighed, then, as if knowing what she wanted, trotted to where a deer carcass lay. He locked his jaws around it's throat, and drug it over to where Frost stood. She quivered slightly, then quickly grabbed a large chunk of the meat, and loped away, as fast as she felt her strength could, never looking back.

-October 30th, 2009-
As morning dawned, Frost sighed, as she lay on the hill side, awakened. The last night had been exhausting for her, and the female's sleep barely gave Frost any energy back. She got up and finished the meat that she had gotten from the wolf pack, for she had not eaten any of it last night. She sat when she was done, and groomed, cleaning her white fur spotless, then turned to leave, going back to her own territory. As she left, she looked over her shoulder down at the wolf packs area. She could spot the large gold male among the others, and she smiled slightly to herself. Frost then took a breath, and disappeared over the ridge of the hill, as silently as she had come. She returned to her own part of the enclosure, where it was quiet and solitary. Frost sat down, underneath a large tree, and sighed, gathering her strength, for it was soon to be needed.

-February 12th, 2010-
Months have passed since this diary has been written in. Frost has grown heavy from pregnancy and her time is soon to come. This day passed peacefully, but as night came upon the earth, the stirring deep inside Frost became stronger, and she knew that it was time. Frost slowly, painfully made her way into the den she had created just days before. As she reached the back of the cave, Frost collapsed, sweating heavily, panting from the strain. Hours passed as the female lie on the covered ground, straining.

-February 13th, 2010-
The day was half over, and the sun was out. This was a rare day, one that didnt happen but once in several hundred years. The moon, usually hidden by the day, made its way and for what was only a second, hid the bright, flourishing sun behind its large form. For those seconds, as the sun was hidden, and the moon shone bright, a fragile female pup slipped silently into the world. Frost heaved a great sigh, and closed her eyes, falling into a heavy sleep.

-February 14th, 2010-
The morning came, a cloudy day. The ground was covered with a fresh layer of snow, making the world seem completely white. Frost opened her eyes slowly, coming to her senses. A whimper sounded from beside her, and Frost turned to examine her pup. It was a female, delicately built, with large, expressive, blue eyes, like her own. The pups coat was a brighter gold than Frost had ever seen, and around the pups eyes and muzzle, the hair was the purest of white, giving the pup a masked look. Frost smiled, content. Her pup was beautiful, as she had expected. She called the pup *Moonshines Frost*, because she was born at the time when the moon shone as the sun. Frost gently nuzzled the pup close to her, and it began to nurse for the first time. Frost sighed once more, and watched proudly as her young daughter feasted.

-April 3rd, 2010-
More months have passed and this diary has gone on unwritten. Frosts daughter, Moon, has grown quickly, changing her appearance to that of a young adult wolf. This morning, Frost is prowling through the deep forest, followed closely behind by Moon. The mother pauses for a moment and then turns to follow a scent, the scent of a young buck. The two female wolves followed the scent, then stopped suddenly as they came upon the source. Frost and Moon stayed hidden for a moment longer, then leapt at the creature, the weight of them both bringing it down withing seconds. They feasted on the bloody carcass for a while, licking the bones clean, leaving nothing that could be eaten. Then they groomed their coats, cleaning themselves of the staining blood. Without warning, Frosts ears shot up, her long fur stood on end, and her lips rose, exposing her fangs. She pulled herself into a threatening position and let out a deep, throaty, menacing growl. Moon looked about confused, then followed her mothers lead, snarling viciously. Seconds passed, then a ebony black female wolf stepped from the undergrowth. Frost lept at the female, her fangs bared, her mouth foaming. Her aim struck true and she knocked the opposing female to the ground. Moon followed, her mouth ajar, and clamped her strong jaws down viciously on the females haunches. Frost went for the females throat, a deadly move for the stranger female. Frosts jaws locked on the females throat and she shook her head, viciously. The female cried out, but in vane. Moon tore viciously at the females flesh as her mother continued to work on the throat. A moment later, the female stopped her struggling and her cries ceased. Frost released her hold and then stepped away from the lifeless body, still growling, but softly now. Moon followed her mother, and stepped away, her own golden fur covered in the females blood. Frost took one last look at the females form, then turned and disappeared into the trees. Moon stayed a moment longer, unable to tear her gaze from the dead female, then sighed and slowly turned, slipping into the thick forest.

-April 4th, 2010-
Deep into the night, or early into the morning, sad, mournful howls filled the enclosures air. Frost and Moon sat, unmoving by the entrance to their den, listening. A wolf had been found dead, by the wolf pack, and they were mourning the loss of a loved one. Frost stared, unfeeling, into the forest, while Moon sat, overwhelmed with feelings that she didnt know how to comprehend. Frost turned, unexpectedly, and entered the cave, followed by her daughter. For Frost had heard the message embedded in the howls. The pack was coming, vowing death on the one who took the life of the female. The killer would not go on living, if it was the last thing the pack was to do.

-April 5th, 2010-
Frost did not sleep much that night, and was up before the sun. She was not hungry, her appetite was not a large one. Frost knew that she would need to be careful now, with the pack searching for her. She sniffed the air, and then sighed, not catching any wolf scent. This meant they were no where near by. The rest of her day, went as usual. She hunted, Moon right behind her as always. They rested in the shade, and waited, for fate to come their way.

-April 10th, 2010-
Several days have passed, and Frost had still caught so sign of the wolf pack. Perhaps they had given up, she thought to herself, and then pushed away the remains of her worries. Moon sat nearby watching a small beetle scamper by, her ears up and alert, watching its every move, curious. Frost gently lowered herself to the ground, and rested her large, grey head on her fore paws. She let out a great sigh, then closed her eyes, resting.

-April 11th, 2010-
Battle cries split the forest air, piercing sharply into the depth of Frost and Moons cave. Frost was awake immediately, and gently, but sternly nudged Moon, in an attempt to waken her. Her daughter, caught her mothers anxiety quickly, and lept up, ready to follow her mother. Frost growled softly, then stalked from the cave, met by more wolf cries, growing closer and closer. Frost pulled herself back on her haunches, then started in a long, ground covering lop, followed by Moon. They ran, but in vain, as Frost could hear the bone-chilling howls behind them, gaining quickly. Frost continued to run, her breathing growing shallow and quick, her heart beating hard against her chest. Moon was growing tired more quickly though, with her being much younger, and not as well built as her mother. Frost knew that they could not run forever, but her thoughts were interrupted as she pulled to a stop, in front of a large natural rock wall. It was too high and steep to climb. They were cornered. Frost whirled around, tensed, ready to fight, as it was all she had a chance to do now. Moon did the same, she bared her teeth, and snarled, though eyeing her mother, frightened. Frost stared straight ahead, her cold eyes searching, her muscles taunt and ready. Suddenly, they emerged. There were a dozen or less of them, not the entire pack. Frosts eyes moved from one to another, sizing up each wolf carefully. She knew with a sickening reality that there was a slight chance of her or Moon surviving the night. But this did not shake her. Frost crouched low, in a threatening position, her lip pulled back and exposed her fangs. The wolves advanced, each one snarling menacing. Frost and Moon stood their ground, waiting until the attack came. They didnt have to wait long. A large golden male wolf came forward from the back, and lept, his mouth agape, at the females. Frost froze, recognizing the male, but immediately overcame her shock when his large, strong body knocked her to her knees. She snarled and grabbed his front left leg in her jaws, snapping them, followed by a sickening crack. The male whimpered softly, but continued to attack, tearing viciously at Frosts shoulders. Frost moved from the males now limp and useless leg, to his under belly, ripping the flesh with her sharp fangs. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Moon, being attacked by several wolves. Moon was young, and smaller then all the others, though she was strong, she could not withstand this attack. She yelped in pain, and fought back as well she could, but Frost could see, it was to be a losing battle. Frost snarled angrily, then with renewed strength, shook the large male from her, and lept towards her daughters attackers. Frost clamped her jaws on the neck of one, and flung the wolf a distance, then turned to fight another. But it was too late by then. A large rust colored wolf held Moon by the throat, and she struggled, gasping for breath, her blood covering the ground. The attacker shook his jaws and Moon ceased to struggle, her head hanging, lifeless. Frost felt paralyzed, as a wave of grief swept over her. Moon was gone, her only treasure. Frost whimpered softly, then turned back with a fierceness that only comes from love. She attacked the wolves back, her mercy for them vanished. Several wolves were left now, the golden one among them. The battle paused, every wolf stood, panting, covered, stained in anothers blood. Frosts eyes locked on those of the males and him looking back, he nodded ever so slightly. Frost let out a deep breath, then turned and slipped into the forest, silently, disappearing.

-April 12th, 2010-
As morning came, Frost did not, her spirit having left her torn and bloody body silently during the night. When darkness fell, there was not a chorus of mourning cries, as there had been after the death of the black female. Instead there was only silence, the forest stood still, except for the occasional howl of a lone male wolf, grieving over a loss, other would never know.

-Today-
The pack lives on, strong and healthy. Pups are born, old ones pass away. Life goes on, and the past is forgotten. The forest has become a quiet one, always filled with fog, strange and mysterious. It is said, Frost and Moon still walk the soft, forest floor, calling mournfully to the one who still lives, the one who tied the mother and daughter together. He answers them, his cries deep, and full of grief, and hoarse from the repetition. Some day soon, he will join them, and perhaps then their calls will cease, but for now, the howls continue...

I would love some critique! Please comment, I'll take anything!

Bratterratt