© 2001-2024 Detjen Haynes
Part 2

"His mother left a little while ago, and now the other is talking about leaving too."

"Are we going to leave too?"

"Probably, she promised not to leave till after the cub has come and we are ready to leave, but we must leave soon. We might find others somewhere." Wandering Leaf quickly ate the rest of the meal in silence and as soon as he Was done he gave his mother a hug and went outside. Laying down next to the tree was his mother's wolf.

"Hey there." he said as he scratched the wolf behind the ears. Looking around he spotted a figure going off into the forest.

"Hey !" he shouted out to Plantweaver, the herbalist of the holt, who

stopped to wave at him. He ran after her, following her to a tree where she was pulling up some small plants growing around it.

"Whatcha doin?" He asked her, leaning against the tree.

"Just gathering supplies. How is your mother?" She continued working

putting the plants

into a small pouch.

"She's doing good."

"That's good to hear, she is due anytime. Want to help me pick some of these?" He nodded and started pulling up the plants.

He spent the rest of the day searching for various plants or parts of others. As morning started approaching he returned to his den. After a quiet dinner he went to bed.

He had been asleep for several hours before he was suddenly awakened by something. Sitting up he realized it was his mom.

"Mother? something wrong?" he asked as he finished waking up.

She shook her head, "No I'm going into labor, go- go get help."

Wandering Leaf jumped to his feet and ran out of the den. Outside the sun was shining down on the holt. Unused to the bright light of day he stumbled half blindly through the forest for several moments until his eyes finally adjusted. Pausing to get his bearings he continued his run to Plantweaver's den.

"Wake up!" he shouted as he climbed inside.

"Huh? whats going on?" she asked as she was startled awake. "Wandering Leaf? Is your mother in labor?" she asked as she stood up.

"Ya, you better hurry." He replied. she grabbed some of her stuff and they headed for his den.

At the base of the den she paused.

"Why dont you go collect me more of these," she handed him several samples of a plant. "I might need them." He nodded and set off to collect them.

Snow had started falling and when he returned to the holt with the plants a light layer of white covered the ground.

"I'm back." He announced. Plantweaver stuck her head out of the den at his arrival, a look of worry on her face.

"Your mother.... she didn't make it through the labor. I-I'm sorry."

Wandering Leaf sat on the fallen tree his back on the holt, looking out at the sun that had started rising. Snow still covered everything, but he didn't seem to notice the cold. Tears ran unchecked down his cheek as the warm glow spread out over the land.

He had watched the sun rise before, and normally his mind raced with questions and ideas, but now his mind was empty except for the constant words that ran through his head.