User blog:Rhulasunwave101/Black Star of Dumnharu

Chapter One
The snow was blinding, the wind howling through the tall pine trees of the Northern Lands. The sky, a light, powder blue merely an hour before, was unable to be seen in the storm. There were no signs of life to be seen, save for one lone back wolf struggling to walk in the harsh conditions. Her deep, sapphire blue eyes sparkled as they darted around, hastily looking for shelter. The storm was strengthening every second, and she had no intention of freezing out in the white-washed field. Bending against the force of the wind, she pulled the hood of her tunic up to cover her eyes, and she smelled it.

There, inside a small grove of trees, was a small, abandoned cave. Smiling to herself, the young wolf strode through the piling snow toward the trees. Just as she had guessed, a small, rocky cavern revealed itself, warm and inviting in the driving wind and snow. Setting her pack down on the rocky floor of the cave, the exhausted wolf sat down, relieved for some protection from the turbulent blizzard outside. She closed her blue eyes, hoping to rest until the storm calmed.

Suddenly, her keen nose caught yet another scent. The black wolf's eyes snapped open, and her bow and arrows were drawn in a heartbeat. She growled as the scent registered. They were following her.

Of course, she thought angrily. There's no way they'd let me go after all that.

She thought back for a split second about her escape from Castle Dumnharu. The wolverine, Jukorr, a seemingly rabid animal, had stormed the castle late one night, taking King Heran and Queen Rosalie hostage. It was their fault for letting the "weather worn traveler" inside their gates. Jukorr had brought in his horde after taking hostage the King and Queen's little daughter, Cara, forcing them to open the gates. Her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Dumnharu, were cast out of the kingdom, but she had been kept prisoner, along with the Royal Majesties and various other beasts. In an elaborate strain of events that the wolf was too tired to remember, she had escaped, and no doubt those were Jukorr's scouts looking for her.

"Alistar!" They would call. "Alistar! Please come with us back home! The King promises he won't hurt you!"

She scoffed at the thought. "Won't hurt me, eh?" She said in a whisper. "Well even so, he'll never get the chance.

Though her fur color could give her away immediately, Alistar was a master of camouflage. Darting here and there amongst the trees, ears pricked and eyes scanning the blizzard-worn woods, she left the cave and continued heading south, an arrow notched at the bow, ready and waiting.