The Reasoning of Butterflies-Prologue

The Reasoning of Butterflies

     

  Prologue

     "This ends, now! You have disgraced this family for the last time!" the dark grey wolf roared at the black puppy cowering at his paws. "Get out of my territory, now."

     The pup looked up at him, trembling. "B-b-but, Father! I can bring honor to you, I promise! Just give me another chance – please!"

     "NO!" The wolf's one remaining eye gleamed with disappointment and anger. "I said, get out, and I mean it!"

     All at once, the other wolves in the pack started to bay and howl. "Go away!" "Don't come back!" "We don't need weaklings like you!"

     The little wolf looked around him. His family and friends were snarling and snapping at his tail. He ran, tears streaming through his fur, away from his home and everything he had ever loved. He leaped over the border of his father's lands, leaving behind the lush forest and plentiful prey. He entered the barren moors, as silent, lifeless, and empty as ever.

     The young wolf stopped to catch his breath. As he looked back, he realized he could never go back, never see his sister again. Anger shot through his wild veins. The wolf began tearing thin twigs apart with his fangs and cursing at the sky. His rage was directed at his father, who had banished him, and his friends, who had turned against him and betrayed him. But most of his anger was fueled at himself. He knew he had yet again dishonored his father and his pack. And now he was paying the price for it.

     The pup became bored with his venting, so he curled up under a windblown shrub to wait out the night. He would move on to a better place tomorrow. Some where he could at least find some water and berries to eat.

     The sun slowly began to sink below the forest. To the little wolf, it seemed as though the jagged trees opened up and greedily swallowed it whole. The moon, his Great Creator, rose up to greet and comfort the poor wolf. He looked up at her cold white beauty and felt strong again. Under the moon, he made a promise.

     "From this day on, I have no pack or lineage. From now on, I am alone."