To Dress a Pig: Chapter 2: A Momentary Lapse of Reason
#2 of To Dress a Pig
Chapter 2
Heavy thoughts tormented Garth's mind that night as he slipped so cautiously out of his den, treading on paws as light and as quick as a hummingbird's wing beat. Into the blue moonlight he stepped, taking a moment to pause and breathe for a spell as he had disallowed such actions while he had been creeping so as to minimize noise, but did not dare linger long on the chance that Lilly might wake up.
Like a wraith he moved through the somber shadows of the night, moving across the land as a spirit moves, quickly, yet so quietly that no name can be made for itself as it disappears once more into the shadows just as quickly as it steps forth into the light. Only a black silhouette symbolized his presence as he crept across the land, one that none could detect, a derelict being, one whose presence can only be recognized by a certain vibe that there is something hidden in the void of the night.
His trek led him to the area marked by the Western Precinct of the Central Pack as its Northern Border, the border that separates civility from savagery, the scent marked line that divides the packs united under the Union from the Badlands of the Canadian Wilderness where the outcasts and criminals lived. For a moment, he paused, hidden by the cover of the night and the shrubs before him then peeked his head through the branches. Cautious and deliberate eyes scanned the darkness before him and to either side of him and keen ears, erect and open, carefully picked through the sounds of the spring night, listening for any sound at all that would signal the presence of the patrol that was assigned to hinder any who may try to enter. But after a few moments, he stepped out once more into the night, satisfied that he was indeed under the radar.
Wasting no time, he quickly crossed over the borer and into the unclaimed territories, disappearing promptly into a cluster of shrubs. He did not know, though, that these actions had indeed been seen by the patrol, who, to Garth, were silhouetted against the night, and that they would soon investigate the situation, as it was common for them to apprehend those attempting to enter, but never had they witnessed one who would venture forth willingly into the Badlands, unless he was returning to them.
Such a possibility was quite disturbing to the two, as they knew the consequences of failure to carry out their duties as border guards and they were not going to be responsible for allowing a rouge to enter their territory and possibly scout for advantages that could be utilized for an invasion or an attempted assassination of one of their leaders.
Quickly they approached, fully on alert, and while one stood guard, the other put his nose to the ground in search for a scent that could possibly help to identify the culprit. He swept his nose back and forth above the ground, snorting as dirt was sucked in, and then finally he found what it was that he was looking for. Though... it was funny... to him, for it almost smelled like...
"Garth?" he asked in surprise, lifting his head slightly.
His compatriot turned to him, as his first impression was that Garth was there for a status update, but promptly discovered that they were alone.
"What do you mean, Cole?" he asked perturbed.
Cole lifted his head, but his eyes remained fixed upon the spot where the scent trail ran.
"I think that was Garth," he said slowly, quizzically.
His counterpart scowled.
"Couldn't've been," he replied, "why would he go out there?"
"I don't know," Cole replied, "but the scent is definitely his."
The brown wolf's scowl deepened and he stepped forward so as to double check and make absolutely certain that the scent did indeed belong to the one in question, and as he sniffed, he snorted in displeasure.
"Well I'll be a son of a bitch," he muttered under his breath.
"What should we do?" Cole asked him.
The brown wolf lifted his head and turned to him.
"We investigate."
Garth walked slowly into the den only to find her sleeping like a rock, but he was not entirely surprised. After all, he knew that he was later than usual, so she must have figured that he wasn't going to come. He stared down upon her, his thoughts now more conflicted than ever, for he knew what he had to do, but he just didn't know if he could bring himself to do it.
How could he wake her if only to break her heart?
With a sigh, he stepped closer then began to lower his muzzle toward hers, but about half way down, he paused, thought better of it, then resolved to simply stay here for the night. After all, tomorrow her entire world was going to be ripped away, so he decided that he would allow her just one more night of happiness before tearing her heart out. He at least owed her that. Carefully, he laid himself down beside her and began to wrap his body around hers, but his efforts not to rouse her were futile as he heard a murr from her and felt her body begin to stir under his.
"Garth?" she asked groggily, lifting her head.
"Yes, love, it's me," he replied in a soft, almost sad whisper, "I'm here."
She smiled drearily.
"You're late," she said with a chuckle.
"Sorry," he replied, "got a bit caught up, go back to sleep."
She nodded, yawned, and laid her head down once again, folding her ears flat against her skull.
Garth waited for her to get settled then gently deposited his head on top of hers and allowed his eyes to fall closed, but sleep would not take him. His mind was far too active for his body to rest.
Four months ago. "Dad, have you seen Rain?" Garth asked, looking through the many faces of the crowd, "she said she would be here waiting when I came back."
Tony, though conspicuously, stiffened for a moment, as he was not yet prepared for this question, but relaxed in the blink of an eye and looked at Garth with the best expression of sadness that he could muster.
"Garth," he said morosely, "follow me. We need to talk."
Garth was perturbed by his sadness and this in turn brought about a burning sensation to his stomach, almost as though he should expect bad news.
What was wrong? Did something happen to Rain while he was gone?
He swallowed at a lump that began to form at the base of his esophagus and felt the burn in his stomach begin to intensify and churn about, almost making him sick. He sensed calamity and his imagination began to wander into the darker regions of his mind, bringing to him the worst possibilities that he could think of, but each one, though different, drew to the same conclusion. Somehow he knew that whatever it was that his father had to tell him, it would flow along the lines of never seeing Rain again. Tony led him into their den and turned to Garth.
"Sit down," he said flatly.
Garth did as he was told and eased himself back onto his haunches.
"What's going on?" he asked, though he feared that he already knew.
"Garth," Tony began slowly, "Rain is dead."
Garth rose to his feet quickly, but stood still, though he stood upon shaky legs. He couldn't breathe, and he could not control the tears that began to sting his eyes.
"No," he said softly, "it's not true."
"Garth I wish it wasn't," Tony said softly, stepping closer.
But Garth retreated a few steps.
"What happened?" he asked shakily, trying to prevent himself from breaking down completely.
"If I told you it would only make this worse," Tony replied, a veil of his own tears beginning to form, for he hated having to lie to his son, especially about something like this, but it was for his own good.
"Tell me," Garth demanded, sniffling.
"Garth, I-"
"Tell me, dammit!"
Tony closed his mouth and lowered his head.
"She was trapped and shot by hunters," he said to him softly.
Garth took a few steps back and collapsed to his haunches.
"No," he whispered in disbelief.
"Garth, I'm sorry," Tony said to him.
Tears began to sting Garth's eyes.
"Were you at least able to recover the body?" he asked, "tell me she isn't going to become a trophy.
"I'm sorry, son, but there was nothing we could do."
"Is he in there?" Cole asked, his voice barely a whisper.
His friend turned around and nodded.
"Yes," he replied, "sound asleep, but he's not alone."
Cole cocked his head.
"Not alone?" he asked, "well... then... who is it?"
The wolf turned, sniffed the den one final time, then turned toward Cole once more.
"It's Rain."
Cole's eyes widened and he turned.
"We have to tell Eve right now," he said urgently, "come on."
**A bit shorter than the last chapter, but now at least some questions have been answered. Anyway, tell me what you think.
MTOW out.**