Hierarchy Updates

Anchorage stretched as he yawned and exited his cozy, humble den on the edge of Lake Heimta. He lifted his head into the gorgeous morning sun, enjoying the warmth. The lake smelled amazing this morning. The lake was a lovely fresh smell and the haze and fog that was starting to dissipate from the surface as a fish splashed. He smiled, knowing that one more animal would be able to survive for one more day. His own belly gave a low grumble and his ears perked at the sound.

The cream Felvarg stood up and began searching his den for yesterday’s berries and snacks for breakfast. He hummed as he found the beautiful red raspberries hidden away in a dug out space towards the back of his den. He ate the berries and snacks happily, his tail wagging as he did so.

Once his belly was full, Anchor backed out of his den and walked down to the water's edge to lap some cold water. He closed his eyes as he did so that the sun's reflection wouldn't harm his blue-grey eyes. He fluttered his eyelashes as a turtle came swimming up to his nose, clearly curious of him as Anchorage was of him. He huffed, his exhale rippled the water, the turtle ducked away as the ripple reached him. Anchorage laughed as the turtle swam away from him. He gulped the water down before lifting his head and walking away from the water.

Anchor went back to his den to check on his food supply and noticed that he must’ve eaten more than he thought. Oh dear, he thought. He scurried out of his den and he turned around, facing the lakeside. He darted over to the lakeshore, almost hoping some fish would just, y’know, not be in the water anymore. Surprise, no magical fish for Anchorage.

“Darn it,” he mumbled. He paused for a second, sat down, realizing he wanted a fish to just be on the lakeshore and he chuckled to himself. His request was so outlandish. Anchorage meandered over to his den, where he found his satchel on a nearby tree stump, and threw it over his shoulder. He sighed before getting back onto his paws and turning himself towards the lush forest that surrounded the beautiful blue lake. Although he loved his quaint living space, sometimes it was necessary to venture outside of his den to find what he desired.

Anchorage began his trek into the forest, leaving his den and lake behind him. He found himself enjoying the scents of the forest, the sounds of squirrels and rabbits squabbling back and forth was a surprisingly fun sound to hear again. He lifted his head up towards the canopy of trees that encompassed him. He smiled as he was shrouded in dark shadows and beams of golden sun. The cream roan wolf continued his journey into the forest until he found a raspberry bush. He pulled some berries off the leaves and twigs and made sure he only took what he needed at the time. Anchorage plopped the berries into his satchel before placing a token of gratitude for nature.

He continued down a pawpath that he noticed several days before. Anchorage heard a bird squawk in the distance and watched the black raven land on a nearby rock. His ears perked, his grew wide with joy, he felt his heart race, and the primal instinct that he had not learned to control. His kindness would seriously be tested in this forest, with all this prey that surrounded him. He so desperately wanted to chase a bird, tree a squirrel, or dig rabbit burrows. He wanted to be a wolf, a feral animal. Anchorage clenched his jaw and snarled to himself.

“You made a promise,” Anchorage growled, “you made a promise not to harm animals for fun and to give back to the world you live in.” In his mind, he could’ve sworn he heard a smaller voice whimper back, almost in distress?

He jerked his head up after he heard it again. Definitely not in his mind. The voice echoed off the nearby trees. He turned his ears, while searching for the much smaller sounding voice. Before he knew it, he was trotting further down the pawpath. Anchor felt his fur getting tugged at from growing thicket. He felt himself panting as his lazy lope turned into a more frantic canter as the whimpers became louder. His tongue hung out the side of his mouth, praying that whatever is in danger would still be okay. The pawpath became more narrow, almost like the forest was playing tricks on his mind.

“Oh, come on!” He snapped, the cries growing more distressed. He wanted to shrug off his satchel, but whoever needed his help may need these berries more than he does. He can find more if he needs to. “Hang in there! I’m coming to help you!” He yelped. Anchorage leapt over the narrowed pathway as the cries became more frantic. He felt his soft underbelly fur get jerked and pulled at by brambles. He let out a groan due to the sudden and sharp pain in his belly. Anchorage glanced over his shoulder to see a soft, fluffy clump of his creamy white fur. He sighed, shook his head and continued his gallop towards the distressed calls. His satchel was incredibly heavy around his neck. Anchorage regretted bringing the bag with him.

Anchorage continued to run until he saw a trap that had been tied to a tree branch, where a blonde bear cub was stuck by his foot. The cub yelped in surprise as the cream wolf approached him. Anchorage noticed how deep the rope was in the cub’s foot, how infected it was. The cub had to have been trapped for a lot longer than Anchorage originally thought. He walked slower to the scared cub and slung his satchel off of his shoulder before finding a twig with the red berries on it. Anchor offered the cub the berries and the scared bear quietly took them.

“Can I sit with you?” Anchorage asked, and the bear whimpered, almost like he gave Anchorage permission to sit with him. “How long have you been here?” He asked as he sat down next to the cub. “Where’s your momma? Your siblings?” The cub hummed when he asked the questions. “It’s okay, I’ll be here for you.” Anchorage comforted the cub, wrapping his tail over the small cub. Anchorage sniffed the cub’s wound, where the rope made a rough gash. The wound smelled like an infection had already set in and the cub wouldn’t be alive much longer. He gave the cub a gentle and caring lick across the top of his head.

Minutes turned to hours and the pair were still next to the tree. The cub was limping more now, not wanting to stand for any length of time at all. Anchorage hummed quietly to himself. The cub laid down, his body growing tired from the trap, the rope digging itself into his flesh. The sun had begun to set, the yellow light that illuminated turned to a deep, brilliant orange. Anchorage knew now the cub may only live for a couple hours longer. He knew the best thing was to stay with the cub, keep him warm and ward off any predators that come by for a quick and easy snack tonight.

The cub stood up and pulled harder on the trap, the rope getting tighter around his back leg. The cub screamed in pain and Anchorage’s heart pulled for this cub. He put his paw on the cub’s back, trying his best to comfort the cub. “I know you’re scared. It’s okay.” Anchorage pulled more berries out of his satchel, offering more berries for the scared cub. The cub took them, chomping on them. Anchorage smiled at the cub, who looked up at the cream wolf. The cub stumbled over to Anchorage and buried his face into the wolf’s chest. The wolf was shocked at the cub’s sudden cuddliness. Anchorage licked the top of the cub’s head. The cub curled up into him at the gesture.

Anchorage felt safe with the cub and the cub felt safe with the cream wolf. The warm sun beamed down on the cream pair, the cub looked up at the sun, let out a chuff, and began to drift off to sleep. The felvarg felt the fur on his neck stand up on end. He knew what was happening. He knew the cub was dying. He licked the cub’s fur softly, a gentle reminder to him that Anchorage was still there and would be until he was gone. The cub’s chest heaved heavily and finally came to a rest with a slow exhale.

Anchorage hadn’t realized that the sun had also disappeared, leaving him and his cub covered in thousands of stars that were beginning to show themselves. Anchorage looked up, as the sky was covered in stunning greens and blues. The sky seemed to be alive, dancing in front of his eyes. Images of what seemed to be animals danced and played happily in front of him in the sky. Elk and deer and mountain lions and bears all played with one another. He smiled as he realized that the blonde bear cub was playing with other cubs and would be happy. Reunited with others of his kind and age. Anchorage felt his heart ache, he hoped that was able to give this cub the best last couple of hours on earth before being reunited with family.

Anchorage found a way the trap could be taken down and was frustrated. The trap wasn't meant to trap a young cub with a whole life left to live. He shook his head, arose shortly after the cub had passed from his infection, dug a hole and placed the cold cub inside it. He left the cub with a gift, a token of showing him how precious life can be.