The War on Wildlife is free for everyone, but donations are always welcome! The War on Wildlife is the third in the wildlife series with these characters. If you enjoy this novel, the prequels, Spirit of the Wolf and Thundering Hooves are available in paperback! Click here to see all the episodes plus background information and the introduction! If you’ve joined the novel late, please click here to start with Episode One!
Episode Seven - Terror in the Sky
Ember and Shadow were blissfully unaware of the plight of Colorado’s wild horse population. The new partners were enjoying their new lives together, and filled with joy at finding a life long partner They had moved several miles from Ember’s natal pack and were busy marking a home range for themselves in the rugged Oregon wilderness. They would most likely have pups to raise the next spring, and would need space to hunt for sustenance and room to train their young to be important assets for a future pack
Their new life together was not without peril though. Their small parcel of land was part of the territory formerly claimed by Ember’s natal pack, and numerous encounters with her siblings required careful diplomacy. On the other side of their domain lurked hostile packs continually seeking an advantage for themselves.. Fortunately for the time being, the outside packs were unaware of the new arrangement in the Aspen Butte family, and continued to respect old boundaries largely leaving the new mates alone.
Without a full pack to assist them, Ember and Shadow were content to avoid larger prey. There were plenty of rabbits and other rodents in their home range to support two wolves, and the pair spent their days leisurely snatching small prey from their grassy hiding places. This day was like any other, and the two canines had full bellies from a good day of rabbit hunting. The nights were getting colder though, and on this chilly evening Ember busied herself digging a shallow bed under a rock outcropping, where they could snuggle and keep warm and dry until the warm sunshine began to penetrate the pine canopy in the morning.
When the bed was ready, Ember approached Shadow and licked his face affectionately. She did not resist his loving kisses in return, and beckoned for him to join her in their temporary den. Their winter coats were already coming in to keep them warm, and the couple quickly drifted off to sleep to the eerie howls of the Aspen Butte Pack in the distance.
As the first rays of light streamed into their den, Shadow was awakened by a strange sound. It was a noise he had never heard before, and it was growing louder by the second. He perked up his ears in curiosity and trotted out into a clearing to investigate the possible threat. Suddenly a deafening roar overhead terrified the young wolf into flight. Soon the black monster filled the sky directly overhead and he was unable to outrun the beast. Realizing that he would be unable to escape, he courageously turned to fight. With a blast from the untouchable foe overhead, Shadow suddenly found himself trapped inside the jaws of an enemy he had never experienced in his brief lifetime.
An equally traumatized Ember chased her mate and desperately bit at the ropes that had entrapped him. Soon another loud boom sounded and Ember also found herself entangled in the weapon launched by the rumbling predator overhead. Suddenly a pack of two legged intruders burst out of the forest and approached the terrified animals. Ember watched in fear as her mate suddenly lay motionless on the ground. She felt a sharp sting and soon her world also blurred and went black.
A groggy Ember slowly regained consciousness only to become aware of the steel jaws of a tiny prison preventing her urgent need to escape to the wilderness and only home she had ever known. A muffled woof drew her attention and she discovered her beloved mate in a similar steel prison next to her. The cages had been placed close enough for the two wolves to touch each other, and Shadow licked her face incessantly as he attempted to fully revive her.
There was no light in their dungeon, only an unfamiliar deafening and unrelenting roar that was intolerable to their sensitive ears.. With nothing but each other to provide consolation, the two remained in close contact throughout their flight to a new land. They were unaware of their future, but they were on their way to the mountains of Colorado to begin what was hoped to be a new and thriving wolf population demanded by the voters of that state.
Ember’s ears perked up at a change in pitch in the terrible noise that continued to punish their aching eardrums. Both animals leaped to their feet as a violent shaking invaded their new dark world. Suddenly both wolves lost their balance as a unseen force propelled them to the front of their cages. As they regained their feet, their world stopped moving and the terrible noise finally diminished. Then there was complete silence for a moment before light streamed in from above. Strange voices accompanied the two legged enemies that had confronted them in the forest, and their cages lurched violently upward. Shadow howled in dismay as his mate disappeared through the point of light in their dark sky.
He lost his balance as his cage also careened upward toward the point of light in the sky, and he cried in terror at the unknown scene that appeared before him. A familiar scent soon comforted him and became stronger as he cage was rolled forward. Finally he was once again reunited with his mate who yipped with joy at the sight of him.
Ember sensed a welcome change in the hospitality of their new unfamiliar and cruel world, as the two cages were handed off to a new set of two legged caretakers. A soft voice spoke softly to them in a language they did not comprehend, but understood to be kind and caring. Ember began to understand that their two legged benefactors were not going to harm them, and turned to lick the face of her distressed partner.
Suddenly their cages moved upward again and they were thrust back into darkness. The ground beneath them began once again to jostle their cages, but this time they were spared the terrifying din of jet engines. Ember and Shadow squeezed as closely as they could to each other for what little comfort and warmth was available to them.. They eventually grew accustomed to the constant growl of the truck’s diesel engine, and fell asleep in the knowledge of each other’s presence.
Finally the big door flew open and the light of a full moon spilled into the back of the truck. Once again the humans appeared, and their cages were gently lifted down and placed together on rollers. Ember waited with quiet optimism, but Shadow lunged and snapped his jaws at his unwelcome captors.. Once again Ember watched as her mate yelped and suddenly lay down as though dead. She too felt the painful sting of a tranquilizer dart and joined her mate in deep sleep.
Shadow was the first to awaken as he took a deep breath of fresh mountain air. For the first time in two days the familiar light of a full moon overhead provided comfort and hope that his terrible ordeal was finally over. Ember began to stir as well and Shadow went to her immediately, once again licking her face to show that she was safe and that her powerful mate was still watching over her.
Once fully awake, the pair explored the perimeter of their new domain. They were not able to run to freedom as they would have liked, but their new surroundings were much more like the wilderness they were so rudely snatched from two days prior. Ember was the first to discover the shelter that had been provided for them, and went inside to investigate. Shadow followed her inside, and it wasn’t long before Colorado’s new exhausted wolves were snuggled together and sound asleep.
Episode Six - Daring Rescue ←- —> Episode Eight - Thanksgiving Surprise
