Opan Chapter III

Light. Bright sunlight, burning into Opan's eyes, though they were almost completely shut.


Opan stirred, and instantly, pain violently roared throughout his entire body.


Then there was a voice. "Opan?"

The pup tried to open his mouth to answer, only to feel soreness rip through his jaw. Realizing that speaking would only make his life more miserable, he simply opened his eyes.


"Opan! You are well!" shouted a familiar voice.

The injured wolf scanned his den to locate the speaker. When he located the wolf trying to speak to him, his mother, he winced in pain. Even moving his eyes hurt.

"Oh, Opan, I was afraid that you were...d-dead! I quickly saw the damage done to the den, and I saw you lying limp in this corner!" His mother sounded as though she had been through a lot of stress. It could have been the war, but Opan wasn't sure.

At that moment, memories and realizations filled the pup's mind. Where was the White Wolf? Was he lurking in the darkness, preparing to strike?

This new horror summoned Opan's adrenaline, washing away some of the weakness and pain.

"Mother! Beware of the White Wolf. It is likely that the beast is ready to come back for revenge against me," Opan managed to choke out.

"White Wolf? I know of no such creature," replied his mother, sounding very confused.

Had the thing retreated after discovering such a tough foe? Opan wasn't sure, but he was ready to reunite with his mother.

"Opan, what has happened here?" his mother questioned him, an edge of fear in her voice.

At that, Opan hastily explained the entire battle between the White Wolf and himself, describing every detail.

"White Wolf?" his mother repeated to herself. "This creature reminds me of something I heard in a fable long ago, when I was a pup like yourself, but I am not sure."

Opan nodded. Then he noticed something strange. He could hear the sounds of war anymore. "Mother, has the war ended?"

"No, the war has not ended, but the battle has. We managed to scare off the Sol Pack for the time being. They retreated into the woods hours ago. If you could hold off a beast as vicious as this White Wolf, then you could definitely fight in the war, though I do not like the idea of you battling. We couldn't afford another death in this family." The last sentence came out a choked sob, which worried Opan.

"What do you mean 'another death in this family' mother...?"

"Opan. I'm so sorry. He fought as hard as he could. You should be proud of him," Opan's mother said, obviously trying to hold back tears.

Mother? You don't mean.."

His mother nodded and immediately burst out in emotion.