"Blood, Waves, and Farewell"**
đ Cargo Hold â Mid-ocean, Third Watch of the Night
Darkness breathed within the ship's metal ribs.
The scent of salt and rust hung in the air. Above, on the deck, the ocean waves crashed against the iron hull, sounding like a giant beast growling.
The pack, hidden amongst the containers, was now somewhat recovered.
Their hunger was partially sated, their throats no longer dry, but the woundsâŠ
The wounds still spoke.
Bloodfang lay in a corner.
His breathing was heavy, each breath a struggle.
The makeshift bandage on his leg was still damp with blood.
Lunara sat beside him, tightening the bandage with her paws.
Her face was calm, but a storm raged within.
Nightshade licked the dripping water from a nearby pipe.
Ironclaw stood guard at the corner of a container.
Rageclaw's eyes gleamed in the darkness.
And ShadowâŠ
Shadow stood a little distance away.
Alone.
His red eyes were fixed in the darkness, as if he were watching not the shipâ
but fate itself.
The silver bullet lodged in his shoulder still burned.
But the pain of something else was greaterâ
the pain of responsibility.
SHADOW (in a low voice):
"This place won't be safe for much longer."
Lunara looks at him.
LUNARA:
"You should sit down. You've lost too much blood."
He simply lowers his head.
SHADOW:
"If the Alpha sits downâŠ
the pack will lie down."
At that momentâ
a tremor runs through the ship's veins.
đš SFX: Slow beeping⊠then accelerating
Red emergency lights flash on.
The red light spreads throughout the hold like flowing blood. Ironclaw grinds his teeth.
IRONCLAW:
"Alarm."
Footsteps from above.
The whisper of a radio.
GUARD (above):
"Movement detected in the cargo hold."
Shadow's body tenses.
He glances at the pack.
SHADOW (whispering):
"No sound.
The first strikeâwill be the last."
đ„ ATTACK â Darkness answers darkness
The first guard descends the ladder.
A flashlight in his hand.
The light moves forwardâ
And behind that lightâ
Shadow.
He emerges from the darkness as if the night itself has attacked.
Teethâneckâa swift strike.
The guard falls to the ground, without a sound.
The second guard tries to yell.
BANG!
A bullet ricochets off a container.
Sparks fly.
Rageclaw leaps.
Ironclaw attacks from behind.
SFX: Muffled cry
But thenâ
Three more guards.
Silver-tipped rifles.
LUNARA (shouting):
"Shadow! To your right!"
Shadow turns.
BANG!
A bullet flies straight towards Lunara.
Time stops.
Shadow leapsâ
Becoming a shield.
THUD!
The bullet lodges in his shoulder.
He slams against a container and falls to the ground.
đ©ž ALPHA DOWN
His blood looks black in the red light.
LUNARA (in panic):
"SHADOW!"
She runs to him.
She cradles his head in her lap.
The guards advance.
Lunara lifts her headâ
There is no fear in her eyes now.
Only a mother's fury.
And the madness of love.
LUNARA (roaring):
"One more stepâŠ
And I will erase you from this sea."
She attacks. Clawsâteethâbrutality.
One guard falls.
Another runs.
A third is crushed beneath Ironclaw.
In a few minutesâ
Silence.
The alarm fades away.
Perhaps the control room mistook it for a false signal.
Darkness returns.
đ LOVE MOMENT â When the Alpha is just a man
Lunara is holding Shadow's face.
Her claws are trembling.
LUNARA (in a broken voice):
"You always stand in front of everyoneâŠ
Have you ever thoughtâŠ
that if you fallâŠ
how will I live?"
Shadow's eyes open.
Weak, but alive.
SHADOW (in a low voice):
"If I don't fallâŠ
the pack will die."
Tears fall from Lunara's eyes.
LUNARA:
"I am the pack, Shadow.
And I love youâ
that's why I'm afraid."
For the first timeâ
Shadow is silent.
He rests his forehead against hers.
SHADOW:
"After this warâŠ
if we surviveâŠ
stay with me.
Don't run away."
Lunara cries with a soft laugh.
LUNARA:
"I'm not going anywhere,
you foolish Alpha."
đ Silent Farewell â BLOODFANG
A heavy breath comes from that corner.
Bloodfang.
His eyes are half-open.
A faint smile on his lips.
Shadow crawls to him.
Lunara too.
BLOODFANG (weak laugh):
"AlphaâŠ
TodayâŠ
you were the wallâŠ
It felt goodâŠ"
Shadow holds his head.
SHADOW:
"Be quiet.
We'll see in the morning."
Bloodfang slowly shakes his head.
BLOODFANG:
"MorningâŠ
is not for meâŠ"
Lunara gasps. BLOODFANG (weakly):
"My legâŠ
The silver is too deepâŠ
IâŠ
I can't run anymoreâŠ"
He looks towards Shadow.
BLOODFANG:
"Leading the packâŠ
That's how an Alpha wins."
His breathing slows.
BLOODFANG (final words):
"Bring NixaraâŠ
homeâŠ"
Andâ
His breath stops.
Silence falls over the entire hold.
Shadow closes his eyes.
For a momentâ
not an Alpha,
just a broken friend.
Lunara bows her head.
Nightshade lets out a low whimper.
Ironclaw looks away.
Shadow gently touches Bloodfang's forehead.
SHADOW (voice choked with emotion):
"You will run onâŠ
in every battle we fight."
đ END
The ship sails on, cutting through the sea.
A faint line of dawn appears on the horizon.
One warrior is left behind.
But his oath lives on.
â Chapter 4 Ends â