The Leader

This story I wrote called "The Leader" is a story I am going to enter into a school writing competition. (Power of the Pen) The theme was "Rights of Passage". Here it is. Enjoy. (Extra: The names of the wolves in the story are actual Native American names)

Chapter 0

“Palladin! Palladin!” A smoky, black wolf blinked open his eyes as he heard his own name being called by his mother, Tala. “Palladin, your father wants you out here. Now!” Tala barked. Palladin quickly got to his paws and ran out of his small cave in which he slept in.

“What is it?” he asked as he approached his parents. He wondered what they wanted with him.

“Palladin,” his father, Sakima, began. “Siwili, our previous Combat Leader, has retired. He feels that he isn't made for the job, and he isn't happy with it.” Palladin nodded.

“Why do you want me here, then?” Palladin asked. His father and mother smiled. “Palladin, I want you to be the new Combat Leader of my pack,” Sakima said. Palladin's eyes glowed. “R-Really?” he was in a state of disbelief. The Combat Leader was the second most important job in the pack, the leader being first. “Really,” Tala barked with delight. Tala and Sakima then licked their son. “Congratulations!”

Chapter 1

Palladin raced out of his cave as he heard his name being called by his father. He had to get accustomed to getting up early to perform the duties that the Combat Leader must do. His father looked like he was in a state of panic.

“Son, I need you to lead some of our pack members to check the edge of out territory; the edge by the Crow's Tree. Huslu just arrived back to base, and he said that he scented Tohan's warriors. I need you as the Combat Leader to round up a small group to see what is going on. If the group is small, one to six wolves, drive them out,”Sakima, Palladin's father and leader of his pack, growled as he mentioned Tohan's name. Tohan had been the enemy to every wolf in the Forests of Igashu. He lead an army of evil and bloodthirdy wolves, who have always attempted to over power any others but themselves. Tohan's army has taken countless lives from Sakima's, now very small, pack. Every wolf in the pack despised Tohan.

“What does Tohan want with us this time?” Palladin muttered as he went to round up some pack members. His paws tingled. This was his first real job.

“Nodin, Mika, Songan, and Yottako join me!” Palladin announced to his father's pack. Nodin arrived first, he was a grey wolf with piercing, green eyes, and was also very soft-spoken. Songan arrived next. He was a ferocious, white wolf with black markings and amber eyes. Mika was third. She was a beautiful and brave grey wolf with a tail that looked like a raccoon's. Last was Yottako. She was a grey/blue color with light-green eyes. All of the called wolves gathered in the middle of the forest.

“My father said that Huslu scented Tohan's wolves near the Crow's Tree,” Palladin said. “We need to be stealth so they don't spot us,” he lowered his voice. “Let's go see what they want.”

Chapter 2

The five wolves stalked through the tall grasses in the dark, mystical forest. Towering trees surrounded them as they approached the Crow's Tree.

“Are we going to attack them?” Songan asked with a low growl.

“No. We are just going to spy,” Palladin said as he kept his eyes on the land in front of him. “Stop!” he hissed.

The wolves halted. In front of them, about twenty feet, was Tohan and a fraction of his army.

“Tohan!” Mika growled, but she was quickly silenced by a flick of Palladin's tail. They listened at Tohan's faint, gruff voice as he addressed his army.

“We will not kill. We only wish to show that they should fear us, and give us their land. But,” he paused. “We shall kill if they do not cooperate by giving us the land by the end of three sunrises,” he snarled and showed his array of unpleasant, yellow teeth.

Nodin whispered. “He's going to attack us? Oh no...!”

“What do we do?” Mika asked. Palladin was at a loss for words. Palladin paused. Many loves could be at stake. “Stop them,” he said simply. “Let's go!”

Chapter 3

The small patrol raced through the forest after Tohan's group.

“Hurry!” Palladin yelled to his patrol. At the sound of Palladin's voice, Tohan and his wolves spun around as they looked at Palladin, Nodin, Songan, Mika, and Yottako.

“The leader's son!” Tohan growled. He was a huge wolf: black with abnormal red eyes. Palladin was frozen for a moment as he was caught Tohan's penetrating glare. Palladin's paws were driven towards the disgraceful wolf. Nodin and Yottako were frozen in place by fear, while Mika and Songen managed to still follow Palladin.

“You said we were not going to fight, remember?” Mika shouted over the thundering of runnning paws.

“They saw us. We might as well try to give them a taste of....” Palladin tailed off as he reached Tohan's small group. Mika and Songun looked at Palladin as if he grew an extra head.

Then, Palladin did something extraordinary. He jumped, claws stretched, his jaws open wide, and scratched Tohan across the stomach, powered by hate.The wolf howled in pain and surprise. This wolf was fast and dangerous. Palladin gave Mika and Songon the sign to attack, while he signaled Yottako and Nodin to report back to the base.

Palladin resumed attacking Tohan. He saw Mika and Songan attacking multiple minions at once, but doing a great job. Suddenly, Tohan squirmed out of Palladin's lock and swiped his forepaw across his snout. Palladin felt dizzy as the blood trickled out. Tohan then roared,”Retreat!” Tohan's pack turned around and followed their leader.

“I'll get you next time, runt!” Tohan spat at Palladin as he raced away.

Chapter 4

“Your mother and I are beyond proud of you,” Sakima barked. “You truly performed a noble deed for my pack. You used the leader priviledges of the Combat Leader well,” the dark grey wolf and his mate licked their son. The whole pack was gathered around to watch the Praising Ceremony for Palladin. “Well done, my sweet Palladin,” Tala whispered in his ear. He nuzzled his parents. Sakima the turned towards the pack.

“My beloved pack, I am proud to announce that Tohan will not be back for a while, due to Palladin, Mika, and Songan's fighting. He was truly surprised at the strength of these three, fine wolves,” he went on. “The forest is ours again!” Then, the happy roar of the victorious pack echoed through the trees of Igashu.