Tanuk the Warrior pup

By: Erin Rae Coleman

One night on a full moon shaded by clouds a yelp could be heard out of a chorus of crickets. “Hold still” His mother barks and pulls the splinter out of his paw. She then breaks out in another coughing fit and falls to the floor. “Ma!” yelps the pup and runs to get his pa. “Papa” He comes through the crowd and stop horrified.

On a little piece of deer fur lay Makana the elder, looking more fragile than ever. He looks up at his pa and gives a silent whine. He then scoots closer and nuzzles Makana’s barley breathing chest. Then inch’s back at the stench of death. “Dawnak” He breaths “Tell the others to leave let the boy stay” The others go back to their dens reluctantly. He looks up at him amber eyes glazing. “A plague has come to the land and your mother she….” He pauses and takes a breath. “She has it… Make sure NO ONE goes near her!” He sneezes loudly and a spark of magic falls to the floor. “The cure for this disease is the flower from the lily pad.” His eyes close and his head falls to the matted fur of the deer skin. “Makana?” He whispers “Makana!” he says again in a more urgent and scared voice making him sound like one of his younger brothers. He awakens and says “Go to the river 100 paws away from the hollow tree of souls.” He whispers hoarsely