by Forest Wells
I must have stepped on something, for the fox turned my way, ears straight up. Before I could decide whether to hide or lunge, it vanished into the mist faster than I’d ever match. My growl came with a sigh as I watched another meal slip through my jaws. Should have known I wouldn’t be that lucky today.
Then a voice sent my fur on end. “Next time, try attacking before it hears you. That is the only way to catch a fox.”
I jerked as the voice seemed to come out of the rocks. A deep, echoing sound that had my heart pounding like I was sprinting. Once that faded, I perked my ears forward as curiosity grew out of the shock.
"Who’s in there?” I said. “Who, or rather what, are you?”
“I am old, I am wise,” the voice replied. “I am the wise one. I am like you, young wolf: a loner.”
I ruffed at him more because of his tone than his words. “Right. A rock pile is like me. I ask again: who’s in there? Show yourself.”
A figure walked out slowly. The mist made it a large shadow at first. Then it cleared into an old, mostly dark gray wolf, with brown touching his back, tail, and ears. Scars on his head and shoulders spoke of protracted experience, though it didn’t say how good he’d been.
“Call me ‘the wise one,’” the wolf said.
“Wise one?” I said. “Yeah, right. You’re just an old wolf finding fun in tormenting younger ones. You don’t know anything about me.”
“Are you sure? I have lived for eleven years. I know much more than you do. Like how to catch a fox and suffer very little.”
Yeah. This conversation is going nowhere.
“Oh, well, good for you. I’m only three years old, and I’ve felt the pain of losing everything I have. My home, my family, my heart. I know what it feels like to be shunned by everyone I once knew. You don't know anything about that.”
The old wolf’s ears flashed back, too quick for me to read. “Actually, I do.”
I snarled at him with a glare to match. “You can't. I was falsely accused of killing my brother. For that, I was kicked out of my pack. Every wolf in these woods knows of me, and they shun me more than my own. I am cursed to live alone, forever. What do you have to say about that?"
The old wolf looked right at me. It was an odd stare that somehow silenced my snarl and forced my ears to listen. It reminded me of the many times, as a pup, I sat and listened to Lonate when he wanted to teach us something. He looked a lot like Lonate too, though that wasn’t enough to drop my guard.
“I was banished as well,” the old wolf said. “My life was a lonely one until a female showed her support for me. We mated and started our own pack. I was happy even though I thought it impossible. I made a difference in her life. No one else would have her but me.”
I may have been listening, but I wasn’t enjoying. “Get to the point, old one.”
The old wolf didn’t react. I almost wish he had. “Lone wolf or not, you can make a difference. It may be small, or it may be big, but you can make a difference. Just as I did.”
My attention span had reached an end. This old wolf didn’t know me. He had a happy end to his life. A mate, a litter or two no doubt, a life. I never would. My little rock pile would always be mine alone, of that I no longer had any doubt. The best I hoped for was to be left in peace for the remainder of my days.
If only the forest would let me.
“Whatever ‘wise one,’” I said. “You old wolves are stubborn, so I won't argue. I’ll leave you alone with your small difference.”
The old wolf growled for the first time. I think I’d rather have Toltan’s death stance. “I'm not done with you yet.”
“Yes, you are!”
I ran off without another word. I’d grown tired of that old wolf. He obviously had nothing to offer that would help me, not to mention the fact that he scared me in so many ways. By Wolfor, what a snarl.
I still had to find a meal, and the mist was thickening. At this rate, I soon wouldn’t be able to see anything, and my nose fared little better. Worse than lost trails, now I couldn’t find any. It’s as if all the animals of the forest had vanished. I spent hours hunting and found little more than enough mice to quiet my stomach for the time being. Even that took digging in fields, chasing around bushes, and more than a couple of thorns in my paws. More than once, I’d chase one right into a tree or bush hidden in the mist. I returned to my den when I could find nothing else, already having more than enough bruises for one day.
I laid outside my rock pile, fuming about my rotten luck. Poor day of hunting, an encounter with a stuffy old wolf, a mist that matches my emotions—OW!—thorns still stuck in my paws. What else does the day have in store for me?
“There you are!”
I jerked to my paws so fast, I swear I left fur behind. My heart was racing a mile a second as a snarl formed on instinct. I expected to find the old wolf had snuck up on me, but my snarl dwindled to a low growl when I found a beautiful female almost as big as I was instead. Her fur was a darker gray on her back that lightened down her flanks. Her legs, ears, and the top of her muzzle were a strong brown, while her underside was a soft off-white. She looked at me with a playfulness that seemed familiar, as did her scent.
I growled at her in challenge once my insides settled down. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
The female tilted her head at me. “Luna. Don’t you remember me? I’m Estrella. One of the ‘younger pups.’”
Oh yeah, her. Should have known.
“Ah yes, the pup that won her litter in the den. I thought I told you once, I don’t like surprises.”
She turned her ears back at me. “Still the same stuffy thorn-in-the-paw. Well, I don’t care. I’ve finally found you. Had me worried for a while there. All I could find were your scent marks.”
Wolfor, kill me now. Her body had grown up, but it didn’t sound like she had. She wiggled like a pup waiting for her first hunt. Her tail wagged from side to side, and for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why. Worse yet, I had a strange feeling she wouldn’t be easy to chase off.
“And now you found their maker,” I said. “Good for you. Say hi to the pack for me. Now if you don’t mind, I’ve had a rough day.”
I laid back down, choosing to ignore her. That is until she moved to lie beside me. I growled at her, ruffled my hackles, made it very clear how not welcome she was. It didn’t seem to faze her. If anything, she grew bolder. She wiggled herself close and gave no attention to my growing snarl.
"Luna,” she said, almost scolding. “Cut that out. Don't you want to talk? You know, catch up, swap stories, anything?"
Being left alone would be nice.
"You want a story? Okay. I was kicked out of my pack, I found a den shortly after, I learned to hunt on my own, I learned about the humans, I just met an old wolf who I’m not so sure hasn’t lost his touch on reality, I can’t find much prey in this stupid mist, that is my story, good night!"
I flopped my head on my paws, hoping that would end it.
Estrella instead gave a gentle, annoyed growl. “Very funny. I want to talk to you in a serious manner. I want to know how you have been faring.”
"Just fine. Now leave me alone.”
I went into my den and curled up to sleep, except Estrella still wouldn’t give up. She followed me in, pushing at me until I growled at her.
“Keep pushing your luck and you’ll get a good look at your own insides,” I said.
“Luna!” she said. “I want to talk to you. I want to know if you are okay out here. I want you to come back.” Realizing she wouldn't leave until she wanted to, I lifted my head and stretched out. Estrella laid down beside me with a satisfied huff. “That's better. Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“If you say so," I growled. “I just want to get this over with so you will want to leave. Then I can be left in peace again.”
“Not going to happen. I am not leaving until I get you to come back.”
“Did you miss Toltan’s lecture on pack law?
I can’t come back. I’m a lone wolf.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re coming back if I have to drag you back by your tail.”
You stupid pup. You don’t get it. I left the den, trying to put an end to it. When Estrella followed again, I turned around and snarled with my hackles standing straight up. Never mind the annoyance, now she was causing pain.
Did she think I was out here by choice? Of course I’d prefer to be with a pack, but desire and ability rarely coincide. I couldn’t go back. The sooner Estrella realized that, the better off we’d both be. Besides, going back would mean facing my parents. After what they did to me, I wasn’t sure I’d even want to go back. Another lie? Maybe, but it was reason enough to ignore the whole idea.
“Did you forget what happened?” I said through my growl. “I was kicked out, banished, forced to leave forever. If I return, I'll be killed. That’s assuming I wanted to, which I don’t. They don’t care for me. They never have.”
Estrella barely even growled as she remained firm. “I care. You’re the only one that’s ever beat Rajor.”
“So what? What does that have to do with me?”
“He’s our alpha now.”
My snarl ended in favor of a ruff, and a backward turn of my ears. That didn’t take long. Toltan finally let the whelp push him aside. I couldn’t imagine what life with him on top was like. Well, at least life for the others. I knew what life would be like for me if I were still there, assuming I’d ever let Rajor beat me.
When I didn’t respond, Estrella continued. “It happened last summer. He was finally able to take the position from Toltan. He and Martol are still alive, but Rajor now leads the pack.”
So what? “My condolences. Doesn’t change anything. I’m still a lone wolf.”
Estrella whined, and my snarl was buried for good. “But I need you. Rajor is insisting I be his mate. He says since he is the leader, I have to be his. I don't want to be his, or anyone else's, but yours.”
My growl was laced with a sigh. No wonder she’s so determined. She’s lost her mind. “I’m flattered, really, but in case you’ve forgotten, I'm an outcast. Why would you, or anyone, want me?"
Estrella growled for the first time. Much like that old wolf, it was a strong rumble that impressed me enough to drop my hackles. “I saw your strength when you stood up to Toltan and Rajor. I saw your justice when you punished Rajor. I saw your heart when you risked death to bring us a pup in need of a pack. Finally, to bind it all together, I have always had a thing for you.”
All hostility vanished in place of perked ears. Me? This crazed female has a thing for me? I’d be touched if I wasn’t trying to swallow a laugh. Or so I told myself when, in fact, I knew I was touched. Estrella had come out here, alone, in defiance of Rajor, to pursue an interest in me. It wasn’t pure puppy love either. She noted things in me that any female would like in a mate. Young as she acted, hearing all that did breed a little warmth within me.
I hid that behind the ruffs as I turned my ears back at her. Flattery, while appealing, didn’t change my status or my feelings.
“You have a thing for me?” I said. “Oh, well, that changes everything. Of course I’ll risk my neck to come with you. Hey, maybe Rajor and I will even get to like each other.”
Estrella’s growl left no doubt about her feelings. “Luna! I don’t deserve that.”
Those words froze me. With them came the memory of Martol, shunned by me. Hurt, by me. I’d played that day over in my mind a few times recently, wondering if I’d been wrong to act so harsh. Just like then, I had someone who appeared to care standing before me. I’d cried that night. It felt like my heart had broken in two. I didn’t want to feel that way again. Not ever.
“I’m sorry,” I said, my ears back and my growl silent. “I didn’t mean to offend you. But I can’t go back. Rajor would kill me if I did. If not him, Toltan, to uphold the law.”
Estrella stopped her growl, though she was far from backing down. “You don’t know that.”
“I won’t risk it. My life is at least livable out here. That’s a lot better than being dead. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to find something to eat.”
I walked off and started tracking as best I could through the mist. I needed to think, and hunting was the best distraction I could come up with. What could I say? She had feelings I didn’t share. Even if I did, if Rajor was the new alpha, what would he do if he found her with me?
What am I thinking? I thought with a huff. Like I really feared Rajor. His pack maybe, but him? No. Estrella was right. I had beaten him several times as pups. I can’t imagine he’d gotten much better.
“Luna wolf has two tails, Luna wolf has two tails.”
I grumbled at my mockingbird, but it came with an amused tick of my ears. Can’t figure out why he is still hanging around, or how he’s avoiding trees in the mist. It was thinning, but not much.
I looked behind me and, sure enough, Estrella was there, again refusing to leave.
I huffed in frustration while resigning myself to more of her badgering. “You don’t give up, do you?”
She trotted to my side like she belonged there. “No. Nor should you. Come on, Luna, let me hunt with you. If you still want me gone afterward, then I’ll leave.”
“Promise?”
“In Wolfor’s name.”
Another growl escaped my control. “Careful how you use that. The last time I heard it, my life ended.”
Estrella’s ears flashed apology for the first time. “I understand. I’m sorry.”
The mockingbird swooped over us, chirping like it was the first day of spring. “Luna, Luna, not alone. Luna, Luna, love has shown. Luna, Luna, good be known.”
Estrella watched him with straight ears. “Friend of yours?”
I chuckled at the thought. If only. “Pay him no mind. He likes to run his beak off. Come on. Let’s see if we can find a trail.”
“Then follow me. I thought I heard moose earlier.”
“Forget it. We’d never take one down alone.”
“Humor me. Please?”
I knew better by now than to argue, so I agreed.
Estrella led me toward the river, looking toward Toltan’s... Rajor’s territory often. Be it for my sake or hers, I had to admit, the attention to her surroundings impressed me. Maybe she had some sense after all. I let her lead, noticing that she appeared to stop and check her ears rather than her nose. A rather strange thing for a wolf to do, but then, my nose had failed me so far.
When Estrella froze with perked ears again, I did the same to see if it bore any fruit. In the distance, I found the high bleats of moose, but something else I couldn’t quite make out. Not birds, too steady for that, yet very familiar. We moved toward the sounds in spurts, checking our ears each time we stopped. We were getting closer, we just didn’t know to what.
The sound trail led to where we could see the river despite the mist. It was still running strong like always, but even over the rush, I thought I heard a bear downstream, barking. Wait. Bears don’t bark. I held my breath a moment to let my ears catch the sound more fully. Once I realized it was another pack I was hearing, I barked at Estrella before she moved ahead.
“Forget it. Whatever moose is out there is already being hunted. I’m not about to face a pack defending their kill.”
“Have a little faith,” Estrella said. “The river is closer than they are.”
“And this is grounds for faith?”
“Wolfor is always watching. If we let him, he just might... there, you see? Check the river.”
I rolled my eyes while doing as she asked. Maybe it’ll satisfy her enough to make her leave.
I looked again, not believing what I saw. I could see figures on the other bank, the herd and their hunters no doubt, but in the river itself, struggling to stay above water, came a moose so young its antlers were mere stubs on his head.
“Have a little faith,” Estrella repeated.
I turned my ears back while stalking for
ward. Darn female was still annoying, but she was right. We had ourselves a good chance at an easy kill.
I kept low and slow, taking great care to avoid the slightest sound. Estrella came close behind, not faring quite as well, forcing me to swallow a growl lest it give us away. She’s only a few moons younger, but she acts like it’s years.
I hunkered down behind a tree a short leap from the river’s edge. I watched and waited as the moose dragged itself onto the shore. It rumbled and stumbled, drained by the swim, and perhaps injury or illness. Whatever the reason, he was a kill too easy to pass up.
When the moose thumped against a tree to stay on its hooves, I exploded into a sprint toward my prey, my jaws open and ready to strike. The moose heard me, but it was so tired that when it tried to run, it only stumbled more. When it turned to face me, it made the mistake of leaving its head up, allowing me to leap right into its jugular and sink my fangs in deep. The force of my lunge knocked the beast down, but I never lost my hold. Blood seeped past my teeth as my bite cut veins. The moose struggled, but it was too tired and too late. I held my bite, waiting for it to go limp in my jaws before I let it go.
“Not bad,” Estrella said, “for a thorn-in-the-paw.”
I think I’d rather have the bird. He at least was something I could pretend to ignore.
I tried anyway as I dug into the moose, thrilled to have a proper kill. Mice silenced the pains but never worked the same as a full meal. Estrella joined me for her share, and since she did lead me to it, I didn’t stop her. Though I made a point of going for the best meat. The kill was mine, and Estrella was, at best, a lower pack member. A fact I had to remind her of when she tried to sneak away with a kidney. I snarled and bit at her until she dropped it with tail tucked and whined apology. She gave me a very dirty look, but praise Wolfor, she said nothing.
Craack! cshoo-shoo sho
Estrella hugged the ground with her ears searching for the sound. I flicked mine up until I realized they were nowhere close.