The Pack

 You toss another stick onto the fire as it burns low. You’d prefer a bigger blaze — the night is cold and most of the skins you were able to grab in your flight from the raiding party have gone to your mate and children as they sleep. The fuel you were able to gather as the sun set is limited, and you dare not venture out of the circle of flickering light in search of more. There are worse dangers than men, howling from the darkness beyond the feeble illumination provided by the burning wood.

You struggle to stay awake, but someone must keep watch. Someone must be prepared to fight should a predator find you. You hold no illusions that you’d win, you’re too exhausted for that, and equipped with only a sharp rock and desperation. But the beasts  you face now are not men. You need not win, only delay as your family escapes.

A twig snaps nearby, and the chemical your descendants will one day know as adrenaline floods through you, wiping away your exhaustion. Your pitiful human ears strain to locate the source.

Your eyes sweep from side to side for a moment before locking on two glowing spots low to the ground, a short distance away. Eyes, but not eyes belonging to any human. Human eyes don’t reflect  firelight like that. You rise slowly, gripping the sharp rock that is your only weapon, the only thing between you and the rending claws and teeth of whatever predator this is that has decided you smell supremely edible tonight.

The moment seems to stretch for eternity, as your eyes remain fixed on the monster in the dark. You dare not break its gaze, even as you sense another beast approach from behind. It pads softly closer until it’s right beside you, so close you feel the brush of its shaggy fur. When its growl starts, it is felt much more than heard. A low vibration that could shame the smoking mountain far to the west. Without taking your eyes from those glowing specks, you know the beast’s lips have pulled back and bare fangs longer than some of your fingers.

You reach down and place your hand between its shoulders, the feel of its coarse hair washing away the fear those bright eyes brought. Now you have more than just a bit of sharp rock between you and the terrors of the night. You have a monster of your own. He stands beside you, rumbling like distant thunder, shoulders coming nearly to your waist, snarling a challenge into the darkness beyond the fire. He will fight at your side, spend his life if need be, to protect his pack. His family. Your family.

Slowly the bright orbs fade into the darkness, deciding to try for an easier meal. The growls of your companion fade as well, but his eyes and ears remain vigilant, making sure the threat is truly gone before relaxing.

As you come down from the adrenaline, a vision flashes before your eyes. More beasts like yours, yet different. All different sizes, shapes, and colors. Some smaller than your hand, some bigger than you. Glossy and sleek, or shaggy like your friend. Red, brow, black, white, gray as a storm, and golden as the gun. Leading familiar bands of fur clad hunters through a forest, at the head of strange men searching through smoke and rubble. Sitting proud and tall next to kings on gilded thrones, and curled up next to an emaciated master in a stinking gutter. Ripping with sharp teeth and razor claws at warriors during a bloody battle, and healing with soft fur and gentle licks on a crying child in a sterile room. As the vision fades, you crouch next to your best friend and quietly thank him and all his kind for giving your family the simple gift of another day. For protecting your ancestors ten thousand years ago, and your descendants for twenty thousand years to come. For standing firm in the face of the howling dark, and howling right back.

Your hand moves to just behind his ears, and begins a ritual as old as the bond between your kind. He finally relaxes, and his tongue lolls out as he gently pants with contentment. You utter a few sounds which your distant descendants, could they hear them through the mists of time, would hardly recognize as a language at all. But their meaning is clear. 

Good dog.