The First Best Friend

I smelled his presence, but I took my time to get up. He was on his own and posed no threat.

He edged closer and eyed the fire warily.

"It's okay, the two-legs have tamed the fire-devil."

"You eat burnt meat too now?"

"It's tasty!"

"They throw you scraps!"

A quiet whine escaped my throat. I knew he was hurting. We used to run together at the head of our pack. We were their alphas. We were brothers. Until that fateful hunt. It was supposed to be easy. I distract the mother ibex, while the pack snatches her newborn. But the desperate mother ibex landed a kick on my back leg. My pack carried the newborn away, but mother ibex gave chase. I was left behind. That's when the two-leg alpha found me. He bound sticks round my injured leg and carried me to their den. I didn't fight.

"They are good hunters!"

"We will come at dawn to snatch their whelp!"

I raised my head. "You will have to go through me!"

We stared at each other for a moment, then my brother turned away, but looked back. "No female will follow you to start your pack!"

My head sank. "I know."

Then he disappeared into the night.

I settled back at the entrance of the den and listened to the deep, regular breathing within. My new pack needed me. I would defend them with my life.