The New Moon

Alpha Solar stared in horror at the hole in the celestial sky, hardly acknowledging his wife's howls of anguish from behind. It was the cursed night, the day of Shadow Moon, and his precious successor was coming faster than dawn. He thought first he could hide it from the pack, but the yowls of his queen were unmistakable. He couldn't stop his exile, or his pup from a life with no pack.

"YYYOOOOOOWWWWWLLLLLLL!!!!" the sound stunned him for a second but sent him skidding into the den.

"I'M COMING!" He rounded the corner to find his beautiful Sirus lying in a heep of exhaustion, and to his horror, a sodden black lump lay next to her.

"Solar!" Sirus gasped, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you never could have delayed it till dawn. " It wasn't her fault, after all he was the one who mated too late. He turned his head to the whimpering pup beside him. Carefully, he grabbed it by the scruff and set it by Sirus' belly to suckle.

"It's a girl." Solar spoke softly.

"Then we shall name her Luna." Sirus smiled. Luna was the perfect name for his cursed pup, blackened by the same shadow that covered the goddess Luna that night. Solar shuffled next to his mate, dreading the next morning of his exile.

Dawn's light filtered through the vines drapped across the den's wide entrance. The clean yellow light trailed across the cool stone floor of the den, shining over the Alpha's eyes.

Solar turned away, covering his face with a huge shaggy paw.

"Dear. It's time to get up." Sirus nipped his folded ear affectionately.

"It is time to face the pack." Solar rose to his paws, standing tall and proud he gently lifted Luna by the scruff and passed through the entrance vines. The pack grew instantly alert as their Alpha stood before them. They all knew what was about to happen but still seemed to have hope that the pup was pure. But this sliver of hope, like the moon from the night before, was devoured by the hungry shadow that everyone saw dangling from their Alpha's jaws.

Angry howling erupted from the clearing but Solar held his tail high. He gently set his fragile pup aside for him to howl his orders one last time.

"My pack! As you can see the curse has not made an exception for my daughter. So as per tradition I will leave the Eastern pack to become a lone wolf." Solar paused for a minute, contemplating what to say next.

"But I am aloud one final decree before my beta takes my place. You will not drive Sirus and Luna away until Luna is able to walk and open her eyes." Many wolves turned away, publicly disapproving of Solar's decre, but he went on with the courage of a fa.

"You will not harm a hair on their boddies during this time period. With that I say goodbye. Solar walked out with pride, tail held high, as he knew his mate and daughter would be safe, that's all that matters.

Once out of view he quickened his pace, knowing he had to get to the border as he was now tresspassing. The cool northern wind carried his every bound, whisping gracefully through his shaggy white pelt. The suttle crunch of spruce needles under paw, and rhythmic bounds soothed his unsettled nerves. Solar closed his eyes and let his other sences guide him through the forest. He swerved through the endless scents of trees and located the eastern border with the north wind blowing South on his pelt. He lept over rocks when he felt a break in the wind. He took a deep breathe of his packs distinct scent before dashing through the scent markers. What stood before him was now unmarked territory, home to the mountains most savage loners, ferocious cats, and thunderous grizzlies