Rouke’s Story: Chapter 6 - The Almost Happy Reunion

(Read the prologue and chapters 1 - 5 first)

Rouke woke up to a wolf’s snout in his face.

“Back up Jaz!” He snarled at his only remaining pack member, but when he opened his eyes fully, it was a different pack member who was standing in front of him.

“Hello Alpha.” Lok said, his tail dancing excitedly behind him. “And it’s just and insult to call me Jaz!” He joked.

Rouke studied Lok, holding back relief and happiness from being reunited with his packmate.

“We’ll it looks like you didn’t get dumped into and Argy’s nest for lunch anyways,” Rouke grinned.

Lok grimaced. “Thankfully,” he sighed. “I spent the first few minutes thinking of all they meal they might make me into,” he joked, “And Argy’s are terrible cooks! It’d totally be a waste.”

Rouke shook his head, ready to take matters more seriously now.

As the world suddenly came more focused around Rouke, he became aware of many wolf rushing past him, howling, barking, scratching at walls around him.

“Walls!” Rouke snarled, jumping to his paws. “Where are we, and where’s Jaz?”

Lok took a step back. “It’s a lot to comprehend Alpha. You know the trappers aren’t rumors now… and that’s where we are. In one of their trap-houses with so many other wolves. There’s no cages either, we just run where we chose in here, but it’s a trap room still and we can’t get out. I spent the whole night guarding you from getting crushed in this cramped place!”

“There’s no ceiling,” Rouke pointed out.

“We’ve tried jumping out…and forming big piles to climb out, but nothing works in here Alpha!” Lok sighed. “…They drop us in through the roof, except they put most of us to sleep during the ride so we don’t see the way.”

“How foolish of them!” Rouke snarled. “I could find my way back to out territory from anywhere in the Arctic!”

Lok nodded.

“Where’s Jaz,” Rouke asked, searching for his final packmate in the crowd.

“Not sure…” Lok said, studying the room. “Did he come here with you.”

Rouke’s eyes suddenly widened. “I think those trappers killed them when they shot him with the pointy sticks!”

“No,” Lok sighed, “That’s what they use to knock us out. I think he’ll be fine… He’s probably in the place where they heal wolves now.”

“Then we may only hope, and plan for an escape.” Rouke sighed shaking his head.