The Lunar Angel

        "P-please, have mercy..." The voice could barely be heard; stricken with terror and regret.
        "Why should I show mercy for you after you slaughtered so many of my kin!? You shall receive no mercy! The only thing you shall receive is the liberation from life!" And with that, a ring of smaller canid figures closed around the man. A bloodcurtling scream filled the forest, then silence... a long silence, tense and drawn out. The night did not contain a single sound, no frogs, no birds, no crickets. Nothing. However, a soft whimpering could be heard in certain parts of the forest, along with fear filled yelps echoing in the dark. In a nearby den, a man stood in the entrance. He wielded a club in his right hand, blood glistening on it in the moonlight. In front of him, a young wolf mother stood as best she could. A large wound on the side of her head stained her white fur red. Despite being so injured, she stood her ground as if protecting something. The man raised the club to strike. The wolf tried to move, but her body didn't budge. With a loud yelp, she fell to the ground, breathing heavily. As she looked past the man, a large wolf stood. The pack's leader. Giving a pitiful whimper, the wolfess stared at the pack leader, waiting for him to help. But he didn't, he just stood there. The pack followed close behind him, watching intently. A wolf spoke up to the pack leader.
        "Shouldn't we help her? I know I'm only a Beta, but this decision shouldn't be hard!" The Beta looked deep into the pack leader's eyes. He only received a cold reply.
        "Leave her. She's only the Omega." He turned and walked off into the forest, the rest of the pack following after him... but the Beta remained.
        "Survive... I know you can..." He quickly caught up with the pack. Unbeknownst to the Beta, the wolfess was already dead. Her pain and suffering... all for naught. The man stepped past the Omega's body and into the den.
         "Why was she so intent on protecting this place..? What's in h..." Hearing a soft yip, the man's attention turned to the back of the den.
Straining his eyes in the darkness, he raised his club. That was when he spotted something.
         "Aha... so this is what you were hiding..." A small pup sat in the back of the cave, her eyes barely open.
Even she knew fear, stumbling along the den floor desperately trying to escape. Feeling no remorse, the man picked the pup up by the back of her neck. Gazing up at the man, her tiny heart pounded in her chest. Lowering her ears and tucking her tail between her legs, she stared death in the face. Every second felt like an eternity. With a wry smile, the man gave one defiant blow to the side of the pup's head with the club. He tossed the limp pup away, laughing. Kneeling by the Omega's body, he picked it up.
         "What a fine fur coat you'll make..."

Awakening with a start, Leshiana looked about.
         "Ugh... what a nightmare..." Standing up, she licked a paw. Perking her ears, she turned toward the entrance of her den.
        "I see the Omega is awake. That was some thing you did last night."
        "Hmmn..?" Leshiana tried to remember, placing a paw upon her face.
For a reason she could not understand, a large scar inhabited the left side of her face. She had it for as long as she could remember. The fur that grew up always turned out red; even her eye's natural color had become red. Because of this, Leshiana had an easy way to be identified. Something mysterious surrounded it; but she would never question anyone about it. Being only 6 years old, and an Omega; there could be no possible way she would get answers anyway. Leshiana's "family", her pack; had brown fur coats. Leshiana's fur coat rivaled that of a polar bear's -- in color of course. She never understood why her fur differed from the pack's natural brown fur. Ever since the pack's formation, her ears were almost always being pressed down against her head along with her tail constantly being tucked between her legs. This of course gave her her submissive look. The timber wolf pack consisted of only 5 members. It began with the two Alphas, Valua and Kien. The lower rank structured of the Betas, Fenaca and Luwen. Leshiana, the Omega, made up the final and bottom tier of the pack.
         "Valua, if I may ask; why are you here? It's not everyday the Alpha gives the Omega a visit." Leshiana lowered her ears and whimpered. "Unless you're just here to smack me around!"
         "Leshiana... why would I do such a thing? Do you still fear those with more power than you..?" Valua secretly felt pity for the often submissive wolf. However, this secret would remain secret. If the Beta female Fenaca saw her giving pity to Leshiana, she would surely try and take her place in the pack. "I'm only here to thank you, that's all."
        "For what..?"
        "...You don't remember?" Valua gave Leshiana a puzzled look.
        "It would seem I don't..."
        "Well, I guess it's not my problem if you have short-term memory." Valua turned and ran off, leaving Leshiana behind.
        "What did I do last night to earn Valua's thanks..?" Leshiana shook her head and stepped out of her den, yawning. She stretched, gazing at her surroundings. Fall had set in a few weeks ago; leaves raining down from the trees. From brown to yellow, the trees shed their leaves; slowly preparing for winter. The sky contained a brilliant blue, not a cloud in the sky to diminish its beauty. Cold, brisk winds blew across the land, bringing the scent of snow along with it. Leshiana smiled and began to wander around her pack's territory, which ranged from the far away mountains to the edges of the forest. In all, the territory dominated all others, but came with a price. It often became hard to guard it all.
        As Leshiana patrolled through the forest, she came across a small clearing in the thick woods. Lying down in the center of it were the two Alphas, Kien and Valua. Kien seemed to be at rest, his eyes half closed. Valua nuzzled her mate, singing softly.
        ~Drift off to dream in sleep
        Lie down and rest your weary feet
        In your dreams you shall not weep
        For I shall protect you from any danger we meet.~
        By the time Valua finished the short lullaby, Kien had already curled up, asleep. Leshiana recognized the old lullaby, but she couldn't place where she had heard it...