Lost Soul

 

PROLOGUE

 

He stretched his long, brown-spotted legs as a hot ray of sunlight pierced the underground. His muscles ached from yesterday.

I should never, never have seen that.

The dark spotted painted wolf though, a cold shiver running down along his spine.

Relishing the feeling of warm light on his fur, he slowly came out of the dark den.

Now the sun wasn’t as hot as it would become when it reached it’s highest point, the Hunters already left to search for prey. 
‘Kwame!’ A small female ran toward him, a pup dangling in her jaws.

’She’s here!’

A male followed her closely.

’We want her to become a Hunter.’ He huffed, his chest swollen from pride.

Kwame inspected the small newborn. Though she was young, she had a slender and musculair building.

He lifted his tail in acceptance, and bit a small part of her ear off.

The pup yelped, yet her parents didn’t move.

It was tradition for every pup that was preordered to become a Hunter.

As blood dripped from the wound, Kwame put his paw on her ear before gently pushing a green mass on it.

Herbs that will make it heal faster.

This kind of work made him happy, yet he couldn’t shake off his memories of the day before.

Yawning, he pushed the pup aside, back to it’s mother.

’What’s her name?’ He asked, forcing himself to think of something else.

’Zuri.’ Her mother said. She didn’t look up from the small pup, love for her shining in her eyes.

Her mate pushed against her, his gaze also on the small wild dog.

I’ll just leave them alone now.

Kwame though, turning away from the new parents.

He had only set a few pawsteps, or a terrible feeling enclosed him.

Something’s gonna happen.

Kwame shivered, suddenly feeling cold despite the hot sun.

And there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

 

The next few days, nothing actually happened. Sure, Zuri and here siblings opened their eyes and came out of the den to explore. Once, he even had to drive the preordered hunter out of the den.

She obviously didn’t feel guilty at all. Her golden eyes were shining with joy while she squealed with excitement as Kwame briskly forced her out.

Her small tail wagged as she ran after her other siblings again, causing their mother to be unable to catch them.

He sighed, suddenly feeling lonely while he walked further across the savanne.

No one ever saw his soft side. Not that it mattered. All he was here for, was to see the dead, heal some wounds and officially make pups a Hunter, Leader, Protector or Ghostspeaker. He was the last one.

He walked underneath an acacia, the tree making his pelt darker, drenching him in blue shadows. He relished the feeling of shadow, the sun was reaching it’s highest point now.

Suddenly, he became aware of someone watching him. Sharply turning, he looked into the shadows. Grass gently swished in the soft breeze, but nothing else moved.

I know too much.

He looked another time around.

Secrets that better could have stayed hidden.

’Can you please help me?’ Someone asked. 
Kwame pricked his ears. ‘Who are you?’ 
The voice was somewhat familiar, yet he could not place it.

’Whoever you are, show yourself!’ He barked, looking around.

I should have stayed home.

Worry wormed a way into his belly as he realized how far away the others where. Deep in his thoughts, he had not known where he was.

Eyes glittered in the grass ahead of him.

’I said, show yourself!’ 
He tried again, unable to stop his voice from shaking.

There are enough reasons someone would want me dead.

‘I c-can’t.’ The owner of the glittering eyes replayed. ‘My leg is broken. Could you help me?’ 
Flattening his ears, Kwame crept forward. His fur was standing on it’s end, yet he couldn’t ignore someone that needed help.

’I’m c-coming!’ He yipped, still unsteady of fear.

He felt his muscles harden as he came closer, his breath coming in shallow gasps now.
Grass swept in his face, and he narrowed his eyes against the stinging stems.

Suddenly, the stranger was gone.

The place he had laid was empty, but the grass was drenched from his smell.

Oh no… I knew I know him!

He tried to turn around and face the other painted wolf, but it was already too late.

Paws pushed his muzzle against the earth, knocking all the breath out of him.

While he struggled to get air, the stranger wrapped his jaws around his spine.

‘You knew I was it, didn’t you?’ The voice rasped.

’Have mercy! M-mercy!’ Kwame yowled, feeling the other’s grip grow tighter.

’But you know very well you know too much to stay alive now.’ The wild dog growled. His warm breath stirred his fur as he slowly closed his jaws.

A loud screech sounded across the savanne, echoing on every stone and acacia it met. 
Suddenly it broke off with a loud snap.

After that, no one saw Kwame again.

Yet his body was never found.