The wolves stopped at the top of the hill where they could take in a broader view of their land. This was a part of Rex’s daily routine. His duties also included going around their territory to make sure no foreign scent was detected nor any trouble was stirring with neighboring territories. Rex fully enjoyed his brother’s company, but kept his official duties limited to the daily hike and a weekly parameter check. It was in this schedule that Rex would show his brother the skills needed to run a pack but also keep his quirky brother out of trouble.
The majestic and purely breathtaking view at the top of the hill held the wolves attention for a moment. The two wolf brothers stood proudly as they surveyed their land, allowing all animals in their territory to know who watched over it and who kept it safe.
“Reggie,” Rex abruptly said, sniffing the air around him. “Do you smell that?”
Reggie joined the small sniffing party and agreed that an unusual scent was in the air. He turned to the back side of the hill that opened up to a grassy plain.
“Rex,” Reggie whispered, “Look over there. Some of the smaller trees are disrupted on the outskirts of the territory. I think that’s where this foul smelling thing is…”
Rex walked in a calculated manner gesturing with his snout for his brother to follow. If he had suspected the presence of a hostile pack, he would have sent Reggie away; but since this unknown animal was treading close to their land, he may need his brother’s help in establishing their pack’s boundaries.
As the brothers came closer to the edge of their land, the scent grew stronger. Rex and Reggie hid in bushes near the territory line. Reggie remained still under cover while Rex slowly crept closer.
“Rex, stop!” Reggie shouted then he thrusted his body into his brother’s.
After the two rolled in the dirt and managed to get up, Rex angrily grumbled, “Reggie, that hurt! What…”
“It’s a trap, Rex.” Reggie pointed his paw to a trap set in between the leaves and dirt.
“I didn’t see that… Oh, Reggie thanks, that would have been a serious problem.”
“Rex, that’s a human trap.”
“What?” Rex sniffed as he approached the metal monstrosity.
“It’s not a hunter’s trap, like dad showed us. That’s a new one.” Fear evident in Reggie’s tone.
“Humans, here? In the forest?” Rex murmured quietly as he looked around.
“Yeah, it looks like it.”
“That’s impossible. Humans have been domesticated. They are an affront to anything that is good and decent.”
“Rex, I think they plan on coming closer.”
“A human hasn’t been seen here for years, and that’s probably why things have been so peaceful. Those menaces are diabolical.”
“Gee, I wonder if you have any strong feelings about humans, Rex.” Reggie smirked, “Would you like to talk about it?”
Ignoring his brother’s comment, “Do you know what they did to the wolves they caught centuries ago? Those low lives domesticated them, and ugh, it almost triggers a gag reflex to even utter the words, they made them do, uh tricks.” Rex then made what Reggie found to be a disgusting gagging sound.
“Reggie, they bred wolves to mingle with them, and then they desecrated our way of life by teaching them how to catch ridiculous items that they deliberately throw away.” Rex rolled his eyes with a sigh, “Oh, to think about the horrors and torture those poor original wolves went through. Then, if one of those domesticated wolves ever dared to do what was natural, like defend itself, they killed it! Those beasts will not be allowed on this territory. There may only be two of us, but they’ll be in for a fight!”
“Um, Rex, I’m not too keen on fighting the humans…”
Rex swiftly turned towards his brother with a stern look.
“Rex, really. The ancient humans kidnapped wolves, broke their spirits, cross-bred them, and brainwashed them into thinking a stick was worthy enough to get up for! They continued to breed them to use as living toys they could hold, leading them to be riddled with diseases and incapable of even breathing right.” Reggie shivered looking out to the broken trees, “They abandoned them when they no longer wanted to care for them after removing the natural instinct those poor creatures had rendering them defenseless.” The horror in Reggie’s tone grew more intense, “They murdered the ones they thought were too rebellious… Rex, humans have these new weapons and traps, they aim to kill. I don’t think we have a chance.”
Rex turned away from his brother and toward the territory line, “Reggie it’s our job to protect this land, our land. The humans have taken enough, they have ruined enough. The one thing they rely on is our fear! Those bright lights at night and these flesh ripping tools won’t stop me. If you want, you can stay here. But I’m the alpha, I can’t allow them to get any closer.”
Rex walked on. Reggie knew he couldn’t let his brother get hurt. He searched within him for the courage to silence his fear and followed his older brother.
“Rex,” Reggie called out. “I’m coming with you…”
The brothers swiftly maneuvered the traps, cleverly avoiding the gravel of bait set in each one.
“I’ve always wondered why anyone would eat that. I mean it looks like deer droppings and smells like meat that’s been decaying for a month.” Reggie said watching his brother study their surroundings.
“Reggie, I need your help moving the traps once the sun sets. Can you do that? We will need to be very quiet and very gentle.”
Reggie nodded agreeing with his brother. Not only was Rex right about the humans, but he was the alpha wolf and there was no disagreeing with the alpha wolf.
When the humans slept, the two wolves crept along the mud to reach the pointed portable caves where the unusual creatures slumbered.
“Oh, Rex. The humans smell even worse up-close. I think it’s from that defective white slime they rub all over in the water. Uh, I may barf.” Reggie whined.
“Yeah, they’re an unholy sort. What’s sad is that they think they’re the superior animal…”
Struggling to move the traps, Reggie asked quietly, “Do we have to put them by all the pointed caves?”
“No, just in the one that has the loud human. I think it left the cave open, too.”
“What do we do if they wake up?”
“Leave that to me, just follow the plan, Reggie.”
“Rex, don’t let them take me. Don’t let them feed the deer poo.”
“Oh my goodness, Reggie are you seriously going to whine the entire time?!”
“It’s a coping mechanism, Rex! This is me coping.”
“Oh, you big baby. Be quiet around the caves.” Rex whispered.
The brothers placed a trap near a large loud human.
As they left, the two snickered,“I’ve heard animals beg for death that weren’t as loud as him.” Rex chuckled.
“How do you know it’s a he?” Reggie pondered.
“Hm, you know I never really know with humans. They hide their furless body all the time. I bet mating season is difficult.”
“Oh, hi there little miss, would you like to chase me before we mate, oh no you’re a guy!” Reggie added bursting with laughter.
“Shhh! Reggie!”
“What? You said we can be loud when we leave?”
“No, I said I can be loud. I’ll wake them, go into the trees and take cover.”
Reggie did as his older brother said and snuck into a bush. Rex stood in the light of the dying flame and then stretched his snout to the sky and howled. It woke one of the smaller humans that emerged from the oddly shaped cave that was barely able to provide shelter from the wind.
The small human let out an unbearable sound seemingly out of sorts.
“Uh, these puny humans, losing their heads at the sign of any danger. A opossum has more instinctual common sense.” Reggie comically huffed.
The screech woke up the loud large human and he, she, it emerged startled from its flimsy cave.
“My goodness, the larger one is worse than the baby. How is that the alpha!” Rex shouted in laughter joining his brother in hiding.
The large human ran into the cave and within seconds, another ear piercing shrill ripped through the night’s silent darkness. The wolf brothers then disappeared into the cover of the forest laughing as they hiked through the trees, victoriously gloating that they defeated the humans.