The brothers trotted to their den. They remained quiet the entire time. As they laid on the ground preparing for bed, Reggie asked Rex if he was feeling alright. Rex nodded and said it was a tiresome day.
“Butch and his pack are growing more blunt with their disregard to wolf law. I think this means we must be ready for any possible scenario, Reggie. I’m counting on you to be ready…”
Reggie laid his head down on his paws and curled up to go to sleep. He was worried that any possible scenario would lead to devastation. He glanced back at his brother getting into his unique sleeping position.
Rex was raised to be the pack’s leader. He was older. He was taught everything that a leader would need and was chosen by their father to carry their pack’s torch.
That was before the massacre. The deathly events that left him and Rex alone. It was a harsh day to remember. A day that did not have preparations against any possible scenario.
It had been a usual day, or at least Reggie thought so. He was playing with Rex’s tail. A game he often played when Rex had grown tired of playing with him and just wanted to keep Reggie busy.
Out of nowhere, a strange scent filled the atmosphere. Reggie, who was a cub at the time, was just old enough to be left alone without their mother’s watchful eye but still young enough to be kept away from adult conversations.
On that day, Rex stood sniffing the air. His face changed. The scent of fire intensified but there were no flames, no rushing woodland creatures, no birds flying away from the mayhem.
From behind the wolves playing near their pack’s den, an echoing howl beckoned. This scared Reggie as he knew howls were only used for long distance messages and were usually a warning but he could not decipher what he heard.
Rex, on the other hand, understood it perfectly. He jumped looking up towards the sky and demanded that Reggie get close to him. Rustling leaves crackled all around them. Then, charging with great speed, their mother jumped out of the blanket of trees and hopped over to the frightened pair.
She told Rex that an emergency had occurred and that the rest of the pack was needed.
She looked at Rex with a secret message in her eyes, one that he decoded immediately. With a faded twinkle in her glassy eyes, she promised to be back as soon as she could. The other wolves walked together into the thick cover of trees disregarding wolf law and leaving the two young wolves alone.
Rex remained at the den with his younger brother. Reggie knew that something bad had happened, something horrible.
A few hours later, it was dark. Rex and Reggie went into the den and stayed there until the following day. When dawn arrived, Rex went to find out what happened and took Reggie with him. He could not risk any harm coming to Reggie while he was away. They followed the unusual scent, creeping, slowly crossing the rumbling forest floor.
After a long walk, Rex told Reggie to climb a tree and wait for him to return. Wolves were not particularly known for climbing trees but they learned to do it in order to stay hidden and safe.
After some time, Rex returned. He was silent. He was emotionless. He was firm.
Reggie asked what had happened but his older brother said nothing. That evening before bed, Rex curled up next to his Reggie. An act usually done by their mother or father.
Rex shared the news that their pack was not coming home. He quietly told his baby brother that the strange scent was the reason they were gone. And with that, Rex and Reggie were the remaining two wolves of their pack.
By wolf law, Rex became the alpha male and Reggie took his side as the advisor. Reggie’s goal was to provide Rex with the detailed history their father taught him. Between the two wolves, the pack enforced the ancient laws and provided a safe territory.
Because of their past, Rex knew when not to push his younger brother to talk. He simply laid on the ground, looking out of the den entrance at the night sky.
“Hey Reggie?” Rex softly spoke.
Reggie lifted his head and looked at his brother.
“Tomorrow I’m going to practice with Elfie. I’m really gonna need my strength, training with a grizzly bear and all. Do you think a berry salad could be arranged with breakfast?”
Reggie hopped on all fours. He bounced with every step he took and finally reached his brother making a sound that was a mix between a purr and singing, “Oh really, Rex! Yes, oh yes, oh yes, oh yes! I will most definitely make berry salad.”
Rex laughed as the two faded away to sleep.