The Legend of Roan: Chapter 2

Rustles in the undergrowth added to the superstition that Roan felt he was being watched. The silver light of the moon shone on his pelt, and turned everything in the forest to silver. He pricked his ears, searching for more evidence that someone had joined him on his small excursion through the woods. The noise didn't come anymore, so Roan started walking again.
His pawsteps were silent as he crept through the undergrowth. Whether or not he would reach the spring he did not know, only that he wanted to take some time that night to say goodbye to the forest that had raised him since he was a pup.
Soon he could see the calm waters of the spring ahead, and he quickened his steps in order to get there faster. He laid down by the pool and put a paw into the unnaturally warm water.
Wind broke the barrier of leaves that hung on the trees and blew into the spring, putting a chill through Roan.
Two old leaves fell from the branch that hung suspended over the water. Two identical rings rippled on the surface of the water, fanning out and colliding into each other.
"I must be a sign..." He murmered softly into the wind.
Suddenly, loud bangs sounded from far away. Roan immediately stood up and looked into the distance. Smoke rose from the trees a distance away. Fire could also be seen flaring up from the burnt trees on which in laid.
"The village!" Roan exclaimed, dashing out of the spring in an adrenaline rush.
When he walked out, small fires were already springing up everywhere. He dodged the burning grasses and hurried for the wall of leaves that masked the hollow that led to the village.
Fire had already burned down the wall of leaves, so Roan quickly crept through the hole that could only fit wolves and animals smaller than him. Roan could feel the warm earth signaling that he was getting closer to his village.
After stepping out of the tunnel, Roan gasped and his eyes widened in disbelief.
The fire and spread everywhere, and all the hollows that housed the villagers were caved in and burnt. Wolves of all ages lay scattered around the clearing, not moving at all. Their leader's hollow was nowhere to be seen, covered in dense earth.
Then Roan realized that he wasn't breathing and breathed in air in huge gulps.
His father, Groye, was seen lying next to the leader's hollow, and his whole front leg was covered in the landslide that masked the cave. It looked as if he was trying to save the leader, but he wasn't moving.
Roan dashed over to where Groye lay still, instantly putting an ear to his chest. The heartbeat was faint.
Then Roan started as his father's voice suddenly sounded.
He spoke in a low, raspy voice, seeing Roan look at the leader's covered den anxiously, "I c-couldn't save h-h-him...The landslide was t-too fast..."
He grasped his son's shoulder, "G-get out of here..Roan...leave before they tr-try to get you too.." Groye's voice trailed off, and he sunk slowly back to the ground.
"Father...no! Don't leave me! No! Please..." He buried his muzzle in Groye's now unmoving side.
Then a fierce tug from his tail brought him away from his father. A strong grip on his chin made him blink his eyes open. Before him was a sleek, ebony wolf with eyes the color of the sky. The wolf's low voice indicated that the wolf before him was a male.
"You going to stay here like a crybaby or are you going to come with me before both our hides are tanned?! Oh, and the name's Ravu..Now, come on!"
The black wolf, named Ravu, took Roan by the paw and, leading him towards the tunnel to the outside, spoke in a voice so quiet Roan had to strain his ears to hear.
"The creatures your father was talking about are the Rashas, a type of rare leopard that's made for being stealthy and able to kill in an instant. They're very strong, and your too weak to fight them."
They reached the tunnel, and Ravu went in quickly. Roan turned around to look at his home one last time.
Gazing at the still form of his father many yards away, he said firmly, "I will avenge you father...I will avenge you..."
Turning away, he left his home of flying brothers and crept into the tunnel, knowing he would never see his father again.