\n I Can't See The Forest For The Trees.
\n Written by, Wolfie Steel.
\n Part One.

\n Here come the usual rules, all characters used in this story belong to their owners and are used with their kind permission. There will be references to homosexual acts and violence, you have been warned!!!!

\n This one is for us Rion.

\n I lay on the cold rocky floor of my cave trying to get some much needed sleep, my eyes close and I'm just about to nod off when I hear an almighty commotion outside in the forest, the noise is quite distant, but still very recognisable, a pack of wild dogs is hunting something.

\n I stand on all fours and wearily make my way outside, I lift my nose into the air and sniff the scents around me, I smell the wild dogs otherwise known as the Anderson pack, I also smell a strange smell, the smell of a domestic dog, but this dog smells different in some way and I can't quite put my claw on it.

\n Normally I would just let them hunt their prey and not get involved, you see the Anderson pack and me have a love hate relationship, we love to hate each other, but this time I decide that I could have a little fun with my foes and maybe sow my seed into the butt of the domestic dog.

\n I hear the dog let out a yelp as he has probably been bitten by one of the pack. My pace quickens as I head towards the hunt, and then I see him, just ahead of me lying on his side with an injured rear paw, I then see the Anderson pack spread out, blocking off most of the dogs escape routes.

\n There is a brush line just to my right and leads almost all the way to where the dog is lying, I decide to use it as cover and make my way forward. I'm now just a few feet away from the injured dog and can now see him in all his glory. I knew there was something different about this guy, my nose never lies, this is not your average domestic pet dog he is a husky and looks to have some tiger blood in him too judging by the tiger stripes that run down his back and tail.

\n I call out to him in a whisper.

\n "Hey buddy, whatever you do, stay down, I'm going to have a little fun with your hunter friends, and then I will help you to safety"

\n I could tell that the dog didn't believe a word I said, and why would he? He's faced with either certain death from a pack of wild dogs or possible death from a silver furred timber wolf, so I decide that my actions are gonna speak louder than my words.

\n I stand clear of the brush line and then stand over the dog's body; one of the wild dogs steps forward and speaks.

\n "Hey arsehole, that is our prey and has nothing what so ever to do with you"

\n I giggle and reply.

\n "Whoa Jason, I see your vocabulary has improved, I'm impressed, not"

\n I stand with my back to a tree and Jason makes a dash for me, I step to my left and he hits the tree hard. I take my chance and lift the injured dog onto my back. I turn and take off back towards my cave, I know full well that the Anderson pack won't bother us in the cave, because they have tried, but each time I just move from cave to cave via a secret underground tunnel. Eventually the pack gives up and heads back inside their own borders.

\n I make it back to my cave with my guest still on my back and out cold; I gently lower him to the rocky floor. I then head back out and find some soft leaves and brush to act as soft bedding, I arrange the leaves and brush into a rudimentary bed and then I lift the husky and lower him back onto the bed.

\n I take a look at the wound on his hind leg; it is a bite mark and from experience I can tell that it was Jason that bit him; note to self; make sure that Jason pays for biting. I know that if the wound is not cleaned it will soon become infected; I begin to lick the wound clean of all the blood and small particles of dirt.

\n With the wound now clean I wrap a healing plant leaf around the wound like a bandage. With his wound now cleaned and wrapped I head to the entrance of the cave and lay down on the rocky floor resting my head on my forepaws.

\n I guess I must have been asleep for three maybe four hours when my ears catch the hint of my guest awakening. I slowly stand on all fours and watch as he raises his head. He sees my silhouette against the slithers of light flooding through the entranceway and he immediately recoils back as far as he can crawl, I see him quivering in fear and slowly make my way towards him, he sputters out a cry.

\n "P-please, stay away I'm hurt enough as it is"

\n I continue to approach him until I am just inches away and then I sit on my haunches, I bow my head to show a friendly posture and I make my reply.

\n "You see that healing herb around your hind leg, how do you think you got that? I will tell you, I have licked the wound clean and have wrapped it to stop any infection, if I were going to hurt or kill you, would I have gone to the trouble of trying to heal you?"

\n The dog looks at his injured leg and realises that it is indeed wrapped and protected, this seems to calm him slightly and he gets a little closer to me, I see that he is still a little nervous of me so I offer my paw in friendship and introduce myself.

\n "My name is Wolfie Steel, I will admit here and now that when I first picked up your scent I was ready to have my own fun with you, I too was going to hunt you down, but when I saw you I realised that you were already very frightened and there wouldn't have been much sport to be had in chasing you down. So I decided to change my game plan, if I couldn't hunt you then that left me with two options, I could have turned around and come back to the safety of my cave and not got involved or I could have some fun with the Anderson's with the possibility that I would have been caught and mauled. So I chose the second of the two options luckily for you, fortunately Jason is the pack alpha and when he hit the tree his pack felt duty bound to help him, allowing me time to lift you onto my back and get you to safety"

\n The dog shakily takes my paw; I feel such warmth and softness in his paw and my heart begins to melt. It is then his turn to introduce himself.

\n "My name is Rion Kagemon; I kind of ran away from my home, you see my mom and dad don't understand what I'm going through. I love them dearly but I couldn't stay in a home where I was being watched every minute of the day, the thing is that well they kinda found out that I am bi leaning towards males and with that knowledge they started making my life a misery. Unfortunately I ran straight into this forest and into trouble with those wild hounds. Now I can't find my way back because these trees all look the same"

\n I look at my new friend and give a weak smile as I remember my own puppyhood, how my pack reacted when they found out that I was gay.

\n "Well Rion, it seems that you and I have two things in common, first we both hate the Anderson's and the second is the fact that I too am a pack outcast, like you nearly ten summers ago I fled my pack, they found out that I was gay and they beat me bad every chance they got, I still have some of the scars to prove it. Like you I ran into the forest and crossed into the Anderson's territory and gained a few more scars, I managed to escape them and that is when I found this place, sure it doesn't look like much but it keeps my fur dry, and gives me a place to rest and although it doesn't seem like it the place is real secure. I know that you are a domestic dog but I willingly offer you a place under my roof, a safe haven where there is plenty of water to drink and food to eat, and who knows when the cold of the night becomes too much, maybe we could snuggle up and keep warm"

\n A blush appears on Rion's muzzle and he seems to consider my offer carefully and then gives his answer.

\n "A gay wolf and a bi husger together, you know that sounds as though it could actually work, I mean let's face facts here, my choices are fairly limited and you are not exactly what I would consider as ugly, and I certainly don't like the idea of trying to find my way home and risk running into the Anderson's again, but I warn you now, being a domestic dog I don't have the first clue about hunting"

\n I lay a gentle paw on his shoulder.

\n "For now, leave the hunting to me, you can fetch the water as and when we need it. I will eventually teach you how to hunt and I guarantee that we will have many more skirmishes with the Anderson's but soon we will be able to take care of them, you see before being kicked from my pack I was taught how to hunt and how to defend myself whereas Jason was born into his pack but before he could be taught anything his parents, the alpha and beta of the pack, were slaughtered by a human pack. In actual fact the human pack and I have a very strong relationship; one of their pups I mean infants was attacked by Tolan who is Jason's younger brother, I despatched Tolan and tended to the infants injuries in much the same way that I tended to yours. From that day to this whenever food is scarce or water is not available the human pack provide for me. Now if you are staying here with me I need to show you the rest of the cave system"

\n I stand and offer my paw to help Rion to stand. With Rion now on his feet I lead the way into the secret cave tunnel system explaining each room as we walk.

\n "Ok Rion, the first room on your right is where I keep a stock of food that won't perish or rot; unfortunately this food is in very short supply so is only to be used in emergencies. The room off to the left is somehow kept at a really chilled temperature so this is where I keep the excess food from a hunt; it's also where I keep a good stock of water. The second room on the left you will see is currently empty, that is where I usually keep a stock of dry bedding obviously I need to forage for more and rebuild my stock. The second room on the right is the most important room; it is what I like to call a bolt hole, somewhere to hide in times of danger, inside there is a rock just big enough to use as a cover for the room entrance. Then we come out into cave number two, oh the fun I have had with those wild dogs running from one cave to another and confusing the hell out of them, hence the reason why they don't come here anymore. On the outside left face of this cave is a series of rocks that can be used for climbing on to the top of the caves giving a fantastic view for miles around, it's also a lovely spot for catching some rays"

\n I suddenly hear Rion's stomach rumble and I let out a giggle.

\n "Somebody is hungry"

\n Rion just nods and blushes again, so I lead him back through the tunnel to cave one picking up some food and water on the way. We sit at the entrance to the cave eating and drinking whilst watching as the sun begins to fade. It seems strange to me, for ten summers I have been alone, at first I felt lost and empty, but I guess one gets used to the feeling, now I have to get used to another feeling, the feeling of being with someone again, maybe as a mate? Who knows where our paths will lead?

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