Wind's Coming

Tehila1

Tehila stalked grimly after her father. He glanced back at her, his amber eyes wide with worry. Tehila flicked her ears to show she appreciated his concern. But she told herself inside that she was fine. She wasn’t a pup anymore. She had turned two a month ago. Tehila spotted her littermate, Yen, speaking with her father.2

The moon was dazzlingly white that night. Stars winked cheerily, though to Tehila, this was no cheery occasion.3

Yen dropped back to walk with Tehila. “Nervous?” he taunted in that friendly way of his.4

Tehila widened her eyes. “What do you think?”5

Yen put on a fierce look. “Don’t worry sis. I’ll protect you.”6

Tehila laughed half-heartedly. “You know,” she told him for about the ten-thousandth time, “I’m older than you.”7

“Age doesn’t matter, Tehila,” Yen whispered. He gave her a quick lick on the ear with his pink tongue.8

Tehila whined nervously. “I really don’t want to be here.”9

Yen, always the warrior, replied, “Some things can only be resolved through fighting, sis.”10

Tehila doubted it. Although the River Pack and Mountain Pack had always been enemies, she wasn’t yet born in the last battle. The one where her father had picked up that scar that ran from the back of his ear all the way down to his ribcage. The fur had grown back, and Soro looked normal, but when he fully exerted himself, Tehila could tell it still hurt him.11

The River Pack reached their border with Mountain Pack. Soro stopped, and his pack halted behind him. Tehila’s gut twisted with nerves.12

Soro narrowed his eyes and whispered to his pack, “Keep quiet. We’ll slink in and attack when they’re not suspecting it.” Soro’s eyes displayed his excitement.13

Tehila gulped, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.14

A pale gray blur shot from a nearby bush, heading straight for Yen and knocking him to the ground. Yen struggled, but he was no match for the big she-wolf on top of him. She dug her teeth into his throat and ripped.15

Things seemed to be moving in slow motion. Tehila wished desperately that it was her blood spilling out onto the ground. That it was her white coat lying motionless in the grass. Yen deserved life so much more than she did. He had always been stronger, faster, braver, than Tehila.16

Just then something inside her snapped. Her face twisted up in rage and suddenly everything was moving at high speed. A ripping growl burst from inside Tehila’s small, lithe body. She flung herself at the big pale she-wolf.17

Soro howled viciously and Lara, Tehila and Yen’s mother, shrieked shrilly, “Yen!” like it would wake him up, make him stand up and wag his tail companionably.18

Tehila clamped her jaws onto the she-wolf’s ear. Then another wolf, a big brown one, took a powerful swipe at Tehila, and she was flung off the she-wolf’s back. She landed with a thud a few feet away, and when she looked back, the she-wolf was looking murderously at her. She leapt on top of Tehila, and Tehila could see the blood drip down from her wounded ear into her pale green eyes.19

Until then the packs had just been standing and eyeing each other cruelly. Soro took a tremendous leap, and landed himself on top of the pale gray wolf. She tumbled onto the ground with a hard thump. Then the procession of wolves pounced at each other, snarls bursting forth from both sides and flashing white teeth stained red. The pleasant clearing seemed to explode with harsh noise.20

Tehila thanked him silently and scrambled up, diving deeper into Mountain Pack territory. She thought she was safe until she heard heavy paws thudding behind her. Tehila risked a glance over her shoulder.21

The chocolate brown wolf was following, and gaining fast. Tehila took a sharp left and heard the alpha male crash through the undergrowth behind her, skidding to a halt before he could turn and follow again.22

Tehila’s breath was coming in sharp, painful gasps. She glanced around her for a place to hide. There was none. So she kept running, her heart thudding like a hammer. Suddenly the ground dropped beneath her. She spun in the air and clawed at the cliff. Miraculously, she was able to latch onto it. Tehila gritted her teeth and looked down. It was a dizzying drop. She couldn’t see the bottom. A white mist floated up from the depths.23

The night sounds seemed muted from her vantage point. Tehila looked up. The moon still had that jolly glow about it. Tehila groaned softly. Suddenly the light from the moon was blotted out. The alpha male’s head appeared.24

Despite her desperate situation, Tehila let out a growl. She could feel the ledge she was standing on start crack under her weight.25

“Please,” the alpha growled. “I can help.”26

“Why…” gasped Tehila, “why would you help me?” she snarled.27

The alpha paused. He shook his head. “That doesn’t matter right now! Just give me your paw and I’ll pull you up!”28

“Along with dislocating my shoulder and letting me drop?” Tehila snapped sarcastically. “Why couldn’t you help my brother then?” she howled.29

“Fine!” the alpha barked. “If you don’t want help, then die! See what I care.” His head disappeared from view.30

“Some things can only be solved through fighting…” Tehila whispered. “No…” she mumbled to herself. “No, that’s not true.” Tehila thought it odd to be wondering about this of all things in her last moments of life.31

Tehila could feel her strength draining; her muscles ached from keeping her rigid body locked against the cliff wall. Hope of ever leaving the dark bottomless pit shrank away, disappearing with her courage down into the swirling mist.32

Then two things happened at once. The ledge broke, and Tehila could feel her weight work against her, pulling her down, into the earth, and a long, tough branch was thrust down, with a muffled, “Grab hold!” shouted at her. Tehila took hold of the limb with her jaws, and was hauled up to safety.33

Tehila collapsed as soon as she felt the sturdy earth beneath her. Her muscles were shaking and her breathing was ragged. “Thank you…” she breathed.34

“That thing you said,” the alpha mumbled. “It… It’s not… true, is it?”35

Tehila looked up to see him standing uncertainly, his forest green eyes locked onto hers. Tehila’s mind whirred for a moment, wondering what he was talking about and said “No. There’s no way that’s true.”36

The alpha looked relieved. “Good,” he murmured, slumping to the ground.37

“I’m Tehila,” Tehila said, rising and shaking off her coat nonchalantly, like she had not just suffered a life-death situation and was rescued by her worst enemy who had, moments before, killed her brother.38

“Farren,” the alpha said, smiling slightly.39

“I’d uh, better get back…” Tehila mumbled, but, truth be told, she wanted to stay. Farren was kind to her like no one in her pack was, not even her parents. Somehow she thought that they would not mind as much if she had fallen down that pit as much as Farren would have, even though they had just met.40

Farren rose too, stretching his back. He nodded slightly. “You know, you’re not very heavy...” he commented lightly.41

Tehila narrowed her eyes. “Yes. My brother got all the weight,” Tehila said coldly.42

“Look, Tehila, that wasn’t me, why are you—“43

Tehila cut him off. “Why am I holding a grudge against you for something your mate did? She killed my brother! You could have told her to stop, you could have held her back, you could have done something! Anything but let him die like that!” Tehila wailed sorrowfully. She was surprised to find herself on the ground again, paws pressed on top of her eyes, her body wracked with shaking sobs. She noticed distantly that blood oozed from one of her feet. But Tehila didn’t care. That wasn’t the problem now. The problem now was Yen.44

“I can’t do anything to stop Cari. She does what she wants. I-I’m just sorry she killed your brother,” Farren whispered.45

Tehila looked up. The words, spoken by Farren, stung like thousands of tiny needles, digging themselves into Tehila’s heart. “No!” she howled. “No! No! You’re not sorry! None of you are!” she roared.46

“Tehila!” Farren yelped as Tehila sprung up and leapt at him, her teeth slashing and her claws ripping.47

Tehila was filled with blind rage. Her brother was dead. Dead. He was her life. Yen had been kind to her; he had loved her and would protect her from a thousand bears if he could. Now he was gone, and Tehila had no one. Her parents, sure, but it was clear to Tehila that they had liked Yen better. Oh, how she wished it was her that died. Not Yen. Anyone but him.48

The moon was setting by the time Tehila woke. She didn’t see Farren at first, but he was there. Sitting next to her, giving her bleeding paw rhythmic licks. Tehila wondered how long she had slept and what had occurred at the battle after she left.49

“Oh,” Farren said, looking slightly embarrassed. “You’re awake.”50

“Yes,” Tehila grunted. Her throat was scratchy and sore. “Thank you, Farren,” she said sincerely, looking the big alpha wolf straight in the eye and swiping her tongue on his ear before loping off into the trees in the direction of her territory.51

Tehila looked back only once, to see Farren standing there on the edge of the cliff before he, too, melted into the trees.52

Kane53

Kane padded through the trees. Birdsong wound its way through his ears. Squirrels scolded him from the safety of their branches. A bee whizzed by his ear, and Kane made a half-hearted snap at it and missed.54

The trees were thinning, and he could tell that he was nearing the mountains. Kane had smelled the Mountain Pack’s territory markers, but he couldn’t help himself. The scent of rabbit was so strong that he couldn’t resist.55

Kane slunk from tree to rock, rock to bush, his nose low to the ground and eyes shifty. He brushed by ferns and clusters of clinging brambles, searching. His eyes suddenly flew wide open. A rabbit nest!56

Kane dropped into his hunting crouch, not thinking clear enough to check whether he was downwind or not. Kane was about spring forward, only to hear a ripping growl that stopped him mid-leap.57

Kane sat up, ears pivoting, nose twitching. Four wolves stepped out from the undergrowth.58

The largest one, a chocolate colored male with forest green eyes, snarled menacingly, “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a trespasser.”59

Kane took a step back, only to hear more growling behind him. Sharp teeth nipped at his heels, making him whirl around. A big pale gray she-wolf was baring her teeth at him, ears flattened.60

“Cari! Leave him be!” the alpha barked savagely.61

The she-wolf took a step back, but her hostile pose remained unchanged.62

“What should we do with him then, Farren?” asked one of the younger she-wolves, a tan one with amber eyes.63

The brown wolf narrowed his green eyes. “What do you think, Rya?”64

The she-wolf grinned maliciously. “Kill him.”65

Kane’s eyes widened. He whined quietly to himself, thinking fast. He picked out the weakest looking wolf. A small, uncertain looking one with dark blue eyes and a shaggy white coat that looked two sizes too big was probably the omega, Kane guessed.66

All the wolves had their eyes trained on him. A big hawk swooped overhead and screeched. The Mountain Pack glanced up in unison.67

Kane snatched the chance the hawk had granted him, thanking it silently. He sprang toward the little white wolf with a snarl on his lips. Startled, the wolf yipped and dropped to the ground in a submissive position.68

“Boan!” Cari snarled menacingly. But Kane paid no mind. He was already racing off into the undergrowth, his gray-black tail streaming behind him. “After him!” she shrieked. Kane guessed that she was the alpha’s mate. But he didn’t have time to think about that now. What he needed to think about was running.69

With a twinge of lament and fear, Kane noted that he was heading deeper into the Mountain Pack’s territory.70

Kane had had a head start. Maybe he could try circling back and getting out of their territory. The bubbling of a shallow stream reached his ears. Kane’s insides leaped. He headed toward it.71

The stream was only about a foot and a half deep, and when Kane stepped into it, the cold water stunned him for a moment. He lapped a couple mouthfuls to calm his scratchy, dry throat, and took off, his paws splashing in the water and his belly fur drenched.72

Kane could hear his nervous heart pounding in his ears. It raced along at the swift pace of his feet.73

Kane had no idea where the other wolves had gone. All his senses were alert for danger of any kind. The water that gurgled around his paws was subtly getting deeper. The change was so slight, however, that Kane did not notice it until his foot plunged into deep water and he went under.74

The stream had widened. It was about thirty feet across. The muddy green water had to be more than ten feet deep.75

Large rocks jutted out of the river. Kane regretted straying so far into the mountainous territory; the river was starting to speed downhill.76

Trees, bushes, and rocks whooshed by and Kane was swept downriver. The cheerful sounds of the forest were slurred to Kane’s waterlogged ears.77

Kane was putting all this strength into keeping his head above the water, and it wasn’t easy; wolves weren’t meant to swim.78

Kane felt his head slip under, his mouth and lungs filling with icy water. Silver darting fish flashed in the murky water and Kane paddled his feet feebly. His last conscious thought was that he was going to die.79

Kane was a pup again. His gray pelt glimmered in the hot afternoon sun. He was playing with his sisters. Kane snapped at a butterfly that fluttered overhead. It landed on a blade of grass, opening and closing its delicate yellow wings. Kane crouched, his rump in the air. He leaped, landing only inches short. The thin black body rose into the sunny sky, and Kane sped after it, only sparing a slight glance back to where his sisters were clambering over the babysitter wolf. With that he disappeared into the brush. He turned back to call for his sister, Minnow.80

Her dark gray-black head peeped around a tree. “Kane!” she shrieked happily. Just then her happiness turned to fear. “Kane!” she yelped. Her tiny body disappeared.81

The sound of heavy breathing and snuffling reached Kane’s ears. He turned and started to make his way back toward the den. His young heart thudded loudly in his chest. Kane heard the babysitter wolf snarl, but Kane could tell it would be no use against the bear.82

In a mad attempt to save himself Kane scrambled for the den. He slipped inside, unnoticed by the big grizzly. Kane bolted to the back of the tunnel. 83

He knew the bear wouldn’t be able to fit inside; the entrance hole barely fit a full-grown she-wolf. Through the opening he could see the bear’s broad, furry back. 84

Kane gulped, thinking in the back of his mind that his sisters and the other wolf were already dead. The thought poured icy black water over his heart, making it skip a beat. Still, he hoped that they weren’t.85

The bear turned, its hungry black eyes staring right down the hole to where Kane was cowering. It lumbered toward him, long, red-stained teeth glaring menacingly. Kane pressed himself into the wall, wishing desperately for his mother.86

Kane let out a pitiful howl. The bear had forced its head into the den and its black nose was a mere foot from Kane’s quivering body. The big black nose snuffled hungrily. Kane could feel its hot breath. The smell from the bear made Kane wrinkle up his nose and growl slightly. The bear gaped its jaws and roared, making Kane howl with fear and lie down, clamping his tiny paws over his eyes.87

Jadyn88

Jadyn lay flat on her side, enjoying the warm sun in the early months of leaf fall. She cast her eyes about the clearing, spotting her father, Soro, rise from his slumber and stretch.89

“Jadyn!” he called. “We’re going hunting! Get up!”90

Jadyn flipped onto her stomach and stood, shaking the little bits of grass and dirt of her jet-black pelt. She followed her father out of the clearing, taking her place at the back of the pack’s procession, followed only by the omega, Quinn.91

Jadyn padded behind her sister. Jadyn sped up and turned to her sister, giving her a quick, respectful lick as she did.92

“Jadyn,” Tehila said softly, her yellow eyes meeting Jadyn’s golden ones. Jadyn noted distantly how much bigger she was than her small, slinky, sister. Tehila shook off her white coat and whined quietly. “What?” she asked, a little annoyed.93

“Nothing,” Jadyn replied. “I just… I don’t feel like hunting with the pack today.”94

Tehila’s eyes stretched wide, and then she narrowed them to slits. “Why not?”95

Jadyn didn’t answer at once. “I don’t know,” she sighed. “This is going to sound weird, but…”96

“What?” Tehila prompted gently.97

“I feel like… like I’m needed somewhere…” Jadyn mumbled.98

“Then go,” Tehila whispered, very un-Tehila-like.99

“You’ll tell father?” Tehila nodded. “Thanks, Tehila,” Jadyn breathed. With one last look over her shoulder, Jadyn raced off, feeling Tehila’s gaze follow her through the trees.100

The sun was just falling down below the treetops as Jadyn trotted through the undergrowth with her nose to the ground, ears erect. Suddenly she stood stock-still, nose twitching rapidly. She raced off after the startled pheasant.101

Jadyn’s paws thudded the earth. She was gaining. She leaped and the bird gave out a little cry as Jadyn’s teeth found their mark.102

Jadyn padded toward the river for a drink of water, the dead bird swinging loosely in her jaws. She dropped the bird once she reached the river and crouched down, lapping up a mouthful of the frigid, deep water. 103

Yawning, Jadyn was about to turn away and leave when she saw a dark gray coat whisk through the waves, the wolf’s dark blue eyes wide with fear.104

Jadyn dropped the pheasant again and without thinking twice, leaped into the churning waves. The cold water was like a physical blow in the early autumn temperatures. It stunned her only for a moment. The limp gray pelt was smashed against a rock; the wolf’s blue eyes were squeezed shut. Jadyn’s mind wasn’t clogged with worry about being swept downstream; she was a strong swimmer.105

Jadyn kicked out in the direction of the wolf’s lifeless body, struggling only slightly to keep her head above the water and keep her swimming straight.106

Jadyn reached the rock and grabbed the scruff of the wolf. She turned back toward her side of the shore. Turning her head slightly, she could tell that the opposite side was closer. She pushed herself off the rock in that direction, into territory that belonged neither to her pack, River Pack, or Mountain Pack.107

The wolf was deadweight; he was unconscious. Jadyn was surprised how skinny he was. Too skinny to be Mountain Pack, though he smelled faintly of them. Mountain Pack wolves were smart enough to stop before the drop of the stream into the full-fledged river. Jadyn suspected he was a loner and remembered what her father had said about lone wolves. They search all over for a mate, and they will probably never find one, his voice growled in her head. That’s why they’ll snatch a she-wolf away any chance they get.108

Jadyn could feel the current pulling her. The trees flew by, but she made progress. She reached the shore, but couldn’t find a way to get up. Her claws scrabbled on the foot of rock that separated land from the rushing water. Giving a huge heave with all her strength, Jadyn locked one paw out of the water, on the safety of land. Still holding onto the wolf, she threw her other paw up and with a mighty pull, lifted her top half out of the water. The unconscious wolf’s feet still trailed in the river. Jadyn’s strength was draining fast. Before Jadyn could justify herself for giving up, she yanked him out of the river, and crawled out herself.109

Wearily, she pulled him out of sight of the River Pack’s bank. Her stomach growled hungrily and Jadyn scolded herself for leaving her kill on the other side of the river.110

Once Jadyn had dragged the wolf behind a patch of brambles, she collapsed on the ground. Clambering over to him, she put her ear next to his chest. His heart bumped weakly as his chest rose and fell shakily.111

Good, he’s alive, Jadyn thought blearily. But for how long?112

Farren113

Farren stared after the spot where the loner had disappeared. Next to him, Cari howled triumphantly. “Shh.” Farren hushed her, nipping her nose. Cari looked startled.114

“Why so sad, Farren?” she murmured, her eyes looking suspicious.115

“Nothing,” Farren replied. There was no way he was telling Cari that he was planning to ask the loner to join the pack. Farren shook his head.116

Just then Boan sidled up. “Sorry I let him get away,” Boan whimpered, his tail between his legs and ears flat. He glanced up at Farren and Cari and then averted his eyes to the ground.117

“You should be!” Cari snarled viciously. She was moments away from lashing out when Farren interjected.118

“It’s okay Boan. Let’s go back to the den,” he said. Farren put up his muzzle and howled. “Back to the den!” he called to his pack members.119

Farren cocked his head as he heard them answer back. Bren and Tren, Nila and Rya. With that Farren trotted off toward the den.120

Farren gave a sideways glance at Cari. She was seething. “Cari, let’s leave this be. Dwell on it no more,” Farren muttered to her.121

Cari turned her head to glare hard at Farren. “You’re too soft,” she growled quietly, glancing back at Boan, who followed a few paces behind them.122

“Maybe it’s you that’s too hard…” Farren said to himself.123

Boan’s voice piped up from behind the two wolves. “I really am sorry,” he mumbled.124

Farren was about to say that it was okay, when Cari suddenly stopped and turned on him.125

“I have had just about enough of your groveling!” she snarled. This time Farren had no time to interrupt her; Cari’s fangs had already cut through Boan’s trembling white ear.126

Boan whimpered and lay on his back, flashing his white belly.127

Cari stared at him one hard moment more before turning away disgustedly. Boan remained there, in that pose until Cari disappeared into the trees. Farren remained, subtly aware of Boan’s whimpering.128

At last Boan stood and shook off his coat.129

Farren turned to him. “What makes and omega an omega, Boan?”130

Boan looked startled. “I… I don’t know…” Boan stammered.131

“Why do you think you’re an omega then?” Farren asked, only slightly aware of his rude bluntness.132

Boan studied his feet like they were an undiscovered species. “Because I’m small. I let other wolves tell me what to do…” he looked up. “Why me, Farren? Why not someone else?”133

Farren sighed. “It has to be someone, Boan… and you’re the lucky wolf.”134

“Doesn’t seem lucky to me! You don’t know what it’s like!” Boan snapped, suddenly fierce. He then looked taken aback and ashamed at his outburst.135

“Oh don’t I?” Farren asked, not all fazed. Boan stayed silent, studying his paws once again. Farren laughed heartlessly. “Boan let me tell you something. Do you remember when I joined this pack? Only a little older than a pup?”136

Boan shook his head. “I wasn’t born yet.”137

“Well I was the omega for about a week before I cracked. I couldn’t stand it.”138

Boan looked up at Farren and studied him intently for a moment before realizing he was being disrespectful. Averting his gaze again, Boan said quietly, “I think that’s how I feel now… like something inside me doesn’t want to do this any more…” Suddenly Boan looked up again. “How did you get to be alpha then?” he asked directly.139

“I fought,” Farren said grimly. “I, of course, had size on my side. You don’t. But you’ll find a way, Boan. Don’t worry.”140

Boan shook his head dejectedly. “I hope so, Farren, I hope so…”141

“Let’s go,” Farren said as he heard Cari’s angry howl echo through the trees. “Where are you?” it shrieked.142

Boan rose, and he and Farren took off in the direction of the den.143

As soon as they reached the rocky clearing, Cari’s angry growls pressed in from all sides. Bren and Tren, the twins, stood side by side, their black pelts blending into the darkening, shadowy rocks.144

Suddenly Cari’s pale gray form was before them. “We’re going hunting,” she snapped.145

“You go,” Farren said. “I’d rather not right now…”146

Cari’s pastel green eyes narrowed as she slipped out of the clearing, followed by the rest of the pack.147

Farren sat in the clearing for a few moments, making sure that they were gone, before racing off into the forest toward the river. Farren was late; he would have to run fast to get there in time.148

Once he reached the river, he took a sharp right and almost collided with a small, slinky, white form. Tehila’s pelt glowed in the darkness.149

Farren’s tail started to wag gently. “Tehila,” he rumbled.150

Tehila swiped her tongue over his muzzle. “Hello to you too,” she murmured.151

Kane152

Kane’s eyes shot open. He attempted to sit up, but his body screamed in protest. He lay back down. His muscles ached and his stomach growled hungrily. Kane gave another try at sitting up and succeeded. His head spun wildly at the sudden change in height.153

Kane thrust out his back legs and stood, wobbling fiercely.154

“You’re up,” a voice behind him said.155

Kane stiffened, at the sound and growled quietly. He turned slowly, wincing at every move his throbbing muscles made.156

Standing there was a big black she-wolf. Her body was lean and muscled, but she couldn’t be older than three years.157

“M-Minnow?” Kane whispered softly.158

The she-wolf took a step forward. “What did you call me?” she murmured.159

Kane shook his head, which he instantly regretted on account of it making his mind spin and head ache even more. “N-nothing…” he sighed shakily.160

The two wolves fell into silence, Kane studying his paws and the black she-wolf staring absentmindedly in the direction of the river.161

“Thanks,” Kane said, looking up. He met her golden gaze.162

“You’re welcome,” she said warmly. After another short pause, she continued, “I’m Jadyn.”163

Kane narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking listlessly of Minnow. “Kane,” he declared softly. Then, without taking time to breathe or think twice, Kane said stiffly, “Where’s the rest of your pack?”164

Jadyn’s shoulders sagged slightly. She jerked her head toward the river. “On the other side.”165

Kane didn’t know what to feel. Sorry that she had saved his life and stranded herself on the other side of the river? Happy that she had chosen him, a total stranger, over her own pack? Kane just glanced around the clearing. “Well,” he started uneasily. “I can watch over myself now. You can go back to them. I suppose they miss you,” he said, not totally sure that he could care for himself, seeing as his muscles throbbed with every move he made.166

Jadyn shook her head sadly. “I can’t manage another swim right now,” she said. “And besides, I don’t know how far I was swept downstream. For all I know, I could be twenty miles downriver from my pack.”167

“Okay,” Kane said uncertainly. His stomach growled loudly.168

“Hungry?” Jadyn asked. “Here, I have food—“169

“I can catch my own prey, thank you!” Kane snapped savagely. He stalked off into the trees.170

Kane padded through the undergrowth, acutely aware that Jadyn was following a few tail-lengths behind him. Kane turned his head and stared hard at her until she averted her gaze. Satisfied, Kane picked up his pace to a trot.171

“Wait,” Jadyn said softly, nose in the air. “Deer.” She flicked her ears to Kane’s left, where snags of fur were left behind on branches.172

Kane looked back at her before heading off in the direction the deer had been. Jadyn sped up to run beside Kane.173

Kane gave her a sideways glance, but halted suddenly when a strange smell hit his nose like a punch. Jadyn stopped, too, nose in the air and eyes puzzled.174

“It smells like a pack,” Jadyn said nervously, her voice unusually high.175

Kane shivered and glanced up at the trees. In the weak autumn sunlight, the leaves were painted blood red, gold, and purple. A withered brown leaf fluttered down to land in front of Kane. He could feel the wind picking up. “Let’s keep moving,” he murmured. Jadyn whined nervously and took off after Kane into the bushes.176

It wasn’t long before Kane caught sight of the doe. She was browsing through the leaves on a withered looking bush. Kane threw Jadyn a glance and he slunk off through trees, followed closely by Jadyn’s shadowy black pelt.177

The sun was setting, streaking orange-red and light blue across the sky, dyeing the clouds a rosy pink.178

Kane checked to make sure that they were downwind before setting up the kill. It was just the one doe, but she was healthy, and Kane was afraid that she could outrun the two wolves in their battered state.179

Kane flicked his tail toward some bushes on the other side of the deer and grunted quietly, “Ambush.”180

Jadyn nodded, her golden eyes set as she padded off to take cover. Kane tracked the black pelt through the undergrowth until Jadyn had reached the other side.181

Suddenly the doe’s nostrils flared and her deep brown eyes widened in fear as Jadyn exploded from the bracken, snarling and chasing the doe right into Kane’s jaws.182

Kane leapt and locked his teeth into the doe’s neck and it was dead before it hit the ground.183

Kane dug in to the much welcome meat, but Jadyn sat back on her haunches, whining slightly. Kane glanced up at her and licked his lips. “What is it?”184

Jadyn shifted uncomfortably. “We’re on another pack’s territory,” she said.185

“You can eat, you know,” Kane said. “This prey is as much yours as it is mine.”186

Jadyn shook her head. “I already ate,” she said distractedly.187

Kane was aware of Jadyn watching him. He also felt the eyes of a dozen crows perched on a branch above his head, cawing raucously and flapping their raven black wings restlessly.188

Once Kane was finished, he stepped back and left the carcass to the crows, whom he knew would pick it dry. His body felt replenished now that it had had nourishment. Kane shook off his pelt and trotted over, sitting down next to Jadyn.189

Kane was acutely aware of his gray fur brushing Jadyn’s so he lay down nervously, propping up his head on his paws and yawning widely.190

“Now’s not the time for sleeping,” growled a voice behind them. Kane leapt up and whirled around, baring his teeth, next to him, Jadyn doing the same.191

A grisly gray wolf stood before them, ears and tail erect. His cold golden eyes were nothing like the kind warmth of Jadyn’s. Kane was about to leap forward and attack when he noticed other eyes watching him. Wolves of all colors and sizes – most of them bigger than him – emerged from the shadowy tree trunks and undergrowth. There must have been at least fifteen of them.192

“Back down, trespassers, or you will pay,” the big gray wolf snarled. He was easily the biggest of the lot, 120 pounds at least.193

Kane was thinking fast. There was no way that any one of the wolves that surrounded them would fall the like omega of Mountain Pack did. He had no choice.194

Kane let his ears lie flat and shamefully lowered his tail. Jadyn stared at him, mouth agape and ears jammed forward. “Kane!” she yipped.195

“Quiet!” the alpha rumbled.196

The circle tightened, each impatient wolf scooting closer a few inches. Jadyn hurriedly dropped her hostile pose, shooting a puzzled glance at Kane, who was staring at the ground in front of him.197

“Let’s go, intruders,” the big wolf growled, turning and leading the two off into the forest. The circle of wolves hovered around them, nipping at their heels when they plodded along too slow or veered off course.198

“Kane!” Jadyn repeated, more quietly this time.199

Kane stared hard at her. “What part of lone wolf do you not understand, Jadyn? I’m used to these kind of things,” he sighed sadly. “It’s in my nature,” he said morosely, more to himself than Jadyn.200

“No, it’s not,” Jadyn replied softly. “You’re just looking at what happens to you. I can look on the inside. You should too.”201

“Keep it down, you two!” barked a harsh looking dark gray wolf padding behind them. Jadyn looked over her shoulder and glared hard at him before turning back to Kane.202

“You know what I see inside you?” Jadyn whispered.203

Kane didn’t reply. He was trying to tune her out, focus on the argument of two wolves to his left. “No, eagles is definitely more adept at hunting than bears,” one of them was saying.204

“I see a courageous and loyal wolf that has no one to be brave for and no one to be loyal to.”205

Kane looked at Jadyn. Here was this wolf that he had known for less than a day, and yet she could already almost see through his pelt, straight to his heart. Kane met her smiling warm golden gaze before giving her a swift lick and turning back to the path ahead.206

Jadyn207

It wasn’t long before Jadyn and Kane had reached what could only be described as a camp. Scruffy looking wolves lay scattered about the big clearing. This was a big pack.208

When they reached the camp, the wolves surrounding them disbanded, except for an older white she-wolf named Freya.209

Freya led them through camp, occasionally taking a sharp turn and eventually leading them to the base of the mountain. A large cave yawned wide and black. “In,” she said gruffly.210

Jadyn obeyed, but Kane hesitated before reluctantly entering in response to Freya’s rumbling growl. Jadyn stopped suddenly. “What are those?” she said in horror, motioning to the rows of metal boxes that contained all sorts of things.211

“Cages,” Freya said as she led them along the rows. Some of the cages were big and some were small.212

“Where did you get them?” Kane asked, his voice high and squeaky.213

Freya glanced back, a malicious smile on her lips. “Nicked them from humans.”214

Jadyn shuddered. Jadyn counted seven wolves already in cages. They also padded past strange smelling animals that seemed to act like wolves, but definitely weren’t wolves.215

“Dogs,” Freya said, noticing Jadyn’s curiosity. “Human pets.”216

Did everything that wandered into this pack’s territory end up like this?217

Freya reached the end of the line. “In,” she growled.218

Jadyn slunk in and Freya rolled a big rock over, setting it firmly in front of the door of her cage. She did the same with Kane’s cage.219

Jadyn asked a question that had been on her mind. “Are there… pups in here?” She could hear quiet whining and pathetic whimpering that could only be one thing. Wolf pups.220

Freya turned and met Jadyn’s gaze. Her amber eyes were tired, but still alert. “Every wolf in this pack starts here,” she sighed.221

“So you did too?”222

“Back when I was still young, still beautiful, back when wolves actually paid attention to me…” she murmured sadly.223

“But not any more?” Jadyn prompted gently.224

Freya shook her head before lying down and heaving a great sigh. “I’m supposed to watch you during the night,” she said, her grumpy manner returning. “You’ll get fed tomorrow afternoon.”225

Jadyn tried to get comfortable, but the metal bars provided no coziness. Jadyn curled up and flicked her tail on top of her nose, sighing and slowing her breathing, trying to forget the whole thing in her sleep.226

Jadyn was in the cage. Kane was standing on the other side of the bars.227

“Kane!” Jadyn yipped. “Quick, move the boulder and let me out so we can leave!”228

Kane didn’t move. He looked strange. His big glassy eyes were looking straight at Jadyn, but Jadyn could tell that he didn’t see her.229

Suddenly there was a thundering rumble, and Freya’s voice shouted, “In!” And in walked a grizzly. It didn’t matter that Jadyn knew this could never happen.230

The big bear was heading straight for Kane; his heavy paws booming on the cave floor. The bear lifted a giant paw and swept it in a giant arc. The claws caught Kane on his side and he flew across the room and lay slumped against the wall, as limp and motionless as a rag doll.231

Jadyn howled. The bear turned to her. Unexpectedly, the cage around her vanished, and there was nothing to protect her from the unquenchable rage of the bear.232

Jadyn bolted. But the floor seemed to hold no traction; she was running in place on the frictionless ground. The bear’s paw rose in slow motion, and Jadyn closed her eyes, waiting for the claws to gouge into her fur.233

Suddenly time sped up again and Jadyn shot like a bullet toward the entrance. The paw crashed with the force of a head on train collision behind her.234

Outside, the haunted clearing was giving off an orange glow. “No…” Jadyn whispered.235

Smoke clogged her lungs and made her cough. The bear was at the entrance. Jadyn ran, but she knew it was no use. The fire was everywhere, and there was no where to run…236

“Jadyn! Jadyn, wake up!” Kane’s voice yelled from somewhere nearby.237

Jadyn’s eyes flew open. She felt as if she had not slept a wink. “What?” she asked groggily, looking for Kane in the cage next to hers. His cage was empty. “Kane?” she said worriedly, sitting up and wondering where on earth he could be.238

“Get up!” he grunted. Kane was standing right in front of her cage, straining to push the boulder out of the way of the door.239

“How did you get out?” Jadyn asked. A pungent odor smacked her nose. Smoke. “Oh, no…” she whispered.240

“Freya,” he gasped as the boulder came loose and the door sprung open. Jadyn leapt out and spotted the old white wolf at the end of the line, opening the smaller cages. Jadyn saw the little pups creeping out. “Quick, open the other cages.”241

Jadyn and Kane made their way down the line, opening every cage that held and animal, pushing aside countless boulders, straining their tired muscles and breathing hard.242

The dogs shot the two wolves frightened wolves and scampered out of the cave in the direction of the human camp. Of the seven wolves, four said thank you and one, a mother, collected her pups and left, carrying the smallest one to safety.243

All of the cages were empty. “Thank you, Freya,” Jadyn said to her as they left the cave.244

“Mm,” Freya grunted. “Bane won’t be happy about this, let me tell you that.”245

Jadyn had opened her mouth and was about to say something when she saw the clearing. It was a circle of fire. She could almost hear the trees screaming for mercy. The last of the caged animals had disappeared; it was just Freya, Jadyn, and Kane. “Where’s the pack?” Jadyn asked.246

“Those cowards left as soon as they smelled smoke!” the alpha snarled from behind them.247

“Bane!” Freya yelped in alarm.248

“Freya…” he began, a malevolent grin playing about his lips. “You didn’t do your job, Freya.”249

Freya stayed silent, staring at her paws.250

“And you know the punishment…”251

“Please!” Jadyn implored. “Don’t hurt her—“252

“Don’t get involved!” Freya snarled. “You go. I’ll hold him off.”253

Kane was already halfway out of the clearing before he stopped and called to Jadyn. Jadyn hesitated a moment more, but with a whispered, “Thank you,” and a swish of her black tail, she too, was gone.254

Jadyn caught a glimpse of Freya over her shoulder. She looked away quickly, the picture of Freya’s yellowed teeth bared and snarling at her master frozen in her mind like a snapshot.255

“Let’s go,” Kane said softly in her ear, before gently leading her away from the fire. Once they were clear of it, the two wolves heard a triumphant howl echo through the forest. Jadyn stopped.256

Was it Freya?257

‘Where are you now, black wolf? I am coming!’ Bane’s menacing and ghostly howl shook through the already trembling trees.258

Jadyn’s eyes widened. Freya was dead, and Bane was coming after them. “Run!” she yowled. She took off in the direction of what she thought was the river, Kane sprinting beside her.259

It seemed like behind every bush a huge gray wolf lurked, calling softly, “Little black wolf… come over here…”260

Jadyn jumped at every sharp sound. She skidded to a halt when she reached the churning black water of the river.261

“No way,” Kane said, backing up. “No way am I ever going in there.”262

“Fine then! Let’s go back up to where the stream is. It’ll be easier to cross.” Ominous clouds rolled over the moon, and thunder rumbled, sending long spidery limbs of lightning scattering across the sky.263

Then it started rain. The rain was cold and stinging, like little needles pouring down from the sky in torrents.264

Jadyn took off upstream. The river was widening fast, and she was afraid that Bane would have caught up to them by now.265

They reached the stream. It was flowing fast, but it was only two feet deep. The two wolves could wade across. The only problem was, so could Bane.266

Kane stepped into the icy cold water and withdrew his paw, shivering. He took a step back and jumped as far as he could out into the current.267

“There you are. My boss has told me to come and collect you. So now let’s go.” Jadyn whirled around. There was Bane, his blind right eye cloudy and glassy, swiveling uselessly in its socket.268

“Boss?” Jadyn said, confused. But she had no time to spare for thinking. She jumped into the stream that was quickly becoming a river, feeling the tug of teeth on her hind paw a millisecond too late.269

Jadyn screeched in pain as her back leg was viciously yanked out of its socket. But Jadyn’s momentum was too much for Bane, no matter how strong he was. He was pulled into the stream, and, since he was not ready for it, he let go of Jadyn’s paw and was swept downriver and out of sight, into the real and overflowing, roaring water. Jadyn could be sure of never seeing him again.270

She was struggling the hold herself up in the current when she felt a body pushing her toward the shore. Kane was shoving hard on her left flank, making sure that she didn’t speed off downstream as she made her way across.271

It seemed like a year had passed before Jadyn and Kane made it to the other shore. Another clap of thunder seemed to shake the ground and a crack of lightning split the sky in two.272

“Go find your pack, Jadyn,” Kane’s voice said close to her ear.273

“Where will you go?”274

“Don’t worry, I’ll be close,” he said as he vanished into the trees.275

“But… you’re my friend…” Jadyn sighed quietly to empty air.276

“Jadyn? Is that you?” Tehila’s voice whispered.277

Jadyn mumbled incoherently and winced, letting out a small yelp when Tehila helped her to stand.278

“Let’s get back to the pack,” Tehila murmured, glancing over her shoulder wistfully at someone Jadyn couldn’t see.279

The pain of her leg was throbbing, growing with each second as Jadyn nodded breathlessly.280

“Here, lean on me, sister,” Tehila said, offering a slim shoulder. Jadyn put half her weight on Tehila. She could tell it was almost too much for the little wolf, but Tehila didn’t complain.281

When they reached the camp, Jadyn’s vision was hazy and her mind was spinning wildly. Her leg burned and ached more than ever as she collapsed on the ground and her pack leapt up and gathered around her, whining and licking her, telling her how they had wondered where she was and how much they had missed her.282

On the edge of the clearing, through the pounding rain, Jadyn could just make out a pair of dark blue eyes belonging to a soggy gray pelt and she smiled to herself.283

Tehila284

The rain let up to a drizzle about an hour after Jadyn returned. Tehila wondered what had become of the wolf she was with, but she didn’t dwell on it.285

Telling her mother she just wanted to be alone for a while, Tehila slipped off into the forest. She headed straight for the river. When she reached it, she took a sharp left and continued on her way.286

She reached their meeting spot, the spot where she had seen Jadyn cross the stream the night before.287

Tehila searched the trees for the form she longed to see. And there he was, his big strong body shifting through the tree trunks. Tehila thought she saw a pale gray shadow flit from tree to tree but she dismissed the idea.288

“Farren!” Tehila yipped.289

“Hello, Tehila,” Farren said, his voice low and caring.290

They greeted each other and Tehila was about to apologize for what had occurred last night when she was tackled by a pale gray blur. The big wolf’s weight on her was like a punch in the chest that knocked the wind out of her.291

“Farren!” it thundered. “I can’t believe you!”292

Teeth were at Tehila’s neck, and no matter how she struggled, Cari’s strength kept her pinned to the ground.293

“Don’t you hurt her!” Farren snarled, suddenly fierce.294

The teeth left her neck. “Oh, my apologies, Farren,” Cari snarled.295

Cari growled and bared her fangs, slashing Tehila’s muzzle. Blood dripped from the tip of her nose, staining her white coat an ugly shade of red.296

Farren made a ragged rumbling noise in his chest before launching himself on top of Cari, knocking her to the ground and freeing Tehila from her grasp. Tehila scrambled to her feet, gasping for breath.297

Suddenly all the wolves of the Mountain Pack stepped out from the shadows, their searching eyes solemn and expressions grave.298

Cari and Farren sprung apart and Farren took his place by Tehila’s side.299

“So that’s it, is it Farren?” Cari asked. “You’d chose this, this,” Cari gestured to Tehila, “this sorry excuse for a wolf over me?”300

Tehila hated herself for putting Farren through this. He was a good wolf. As much as Tehila wanted him not to, she whispered, “Go on, Farren. Your life is much better there.”301

“Not without you it’s not,” he said quietly. To the other wolves he said, “I’m sorry. My heart belongs with Tehila.”302

Cari looked stunned for a moment. “Get out,” she said softly. Then louder, “Get out!” She was screaming now. “Both of you! Go! Out of our territory! And don’t come back!”303

Farren and Tehila slowly made their way between the two twins, Bren and Tren. As they padded away, neither Farren nor Tehila looked back.304

“He no longer rules this pack! I do!” Cari was shrieking. “And what I say goes! He is no longer a part of our pack! Treat him like an outsider!” With that, Cari pummeled toward them, growling and snarling savagely, spit flying from her mouth.305

Tehila glanced at Farren, who continued making his slow way toward the edge of the territory. “Farren, run!” Tehila screamed before she had the chance to feel Cari’s jaws close on her neck.306

The click of Cari’s teeth behind her told Tehila that she had attempted to bite her and thankfully, missed.307

Tehila pumped her legs beneath her, almost flying over the ground. Meanwhile, Farren was right beside her and as silent as stone.308

The rest of the pack had apparently followed Cari’s orders. More yips and yowls came from behind the two wolves as they raced for their lives.309

They reached the edge of the border but continued running for a good five miles more or so. Finally, they stopped, gasping for breath.310

Cari’s howl echoed over the treetops. ‘Go ahead and run! I will find you, both of you! Someday!’ Her howl was bounced back and forth by the mountain that loomed before them. It died down completely, and Tehila was glad. Cari’s crazed and angry voice made her pelt shiver and fear rise in her brain.311

“You didn’t have to do that,” Tehila wheezed after a minute’s rest.312

“Yes, I did.” Farren shook his head. “I knew somehow, she would find out someday, and I knew I would choose you.”313

Tehila’s heart swelled up with pride. “Come on, let’s go find something to eat,” she murmured.314

Jadyn315

It didn’t take long for the news to spread to her pack.316

‘Tehila is a traitor!’ Cari’s voice screeched. ‘Come to the river! My pack comes in peace to converse!’317

“Her pack?” Lara said skeptically. “What do you think, Soro?”318

Soro stared off toward the river. He was silent for a while before saying, “We’ll go. But we’ll be ready for a fight if Cari wants one.”319

‘At sunhigh,’ Soro howled back.320

The Mountain Pack howled together.321

The River Pack wolves did, too. Soro’s strong voice stood out, all the other howls weaving respectfully around it. After the howling stopped, the forest seemed awed into silence for a moment before picking up again at its usual raucous.322

Jadyn was shocked. That definitely didn’t sound like Tehila.323

Time seemed to creep by. All this time, when Jadyn was waiting for sunhigh, she felt numb. Like her emotions was a pond of still, untouched water with no life at all. The sun crawled higher and higher until it was almost directly overhead.324

Soro called his pack to him.325

“I’m coming,” Jadyn said, struggling to stand. When she was unconscious last night, someone had popped her leg back in. But it still throbbed and pained her with every move she made.326

Soro looked back and waited for Jadyn to take her place in the procession. Right before the omega, Quen, but after Vita and Myen, both beta wolves.327

Jadyn hobbled along, acutely aware that Soro had slowed the pace so she could keep up. Jadyn tried not to dwell on it.328

Glancing around, Jadyn noticed a far away gray shadow flitting from tree to tree, tracking the pack at a distance. Jadyn’s heart warmed up to know that Kane was so close, despite the chilling wind and crackling leaves.329

A hawk swooped above the treetops, circling its territory and screeching shrilly. Bustling squirrels chattered at each other in trees, expanding their collection of nuts and burying them safely underground.330

Finally, after what seemed like an hour, the wolves reached the spot on the river where the River Pack’s territory ended and the Mountain Pack’s territory began.331

“Ah, so you did come,” Cari said softly.332

“Yes. And we want to know what this is all about,” Lara said fiercely, stepping forward.333

Soro pushed her back. “Please share with us,” Soro said with a quiet calm that frightened Jadyn immensely, “what is going on here?”334

“Well, if you must know,” Cari sneered, “that little brat white wolf of yours ran off with Farren. Apparently they had been meeting for some time. I have no idea what they planned to accomplish with this, but I believe that they were spies, one eye in each pack. Makes sense, does it not?”335

“That’s ridiculous!” Lara exclaimed. “Tehila is our daughter! She wouldn’t do something like that!”336

“Wouldn’t she? She’s been sneaking around behind your back for ages and never told you. If I hadn’t found them today, they would have continued to do so,” Cari growled.337

“Tehila would do no such thing!” Jadyn snarled, stepping forward and defending her sister. “I know Tehila. She would never spy on us!”338

“You!” Cari bellowed. “You’ve been nothing but trouble, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, since your mother found you that day—“339

“Enough!” Soro roared. “Where is Tehila?”340

“I sent them away. The two traitors must be well outside of the pack’s boundaries now. If they’re not, I’ll go see to that myself,” Cari said, her calm facade returning.341

“Our little Tehila is alone out… out there?” Lara squeaked.342

“Lara, she’s four years old. She can cope,” Soro assured her. “I’m still trying to get over her lying to us.”343

After that, Jadyn tuned out the conversation. She was only aware of the sadness that hung like an aura around her.344

Tehila had been her only friend – that is, until she met Kane. Which didn’t matter, because she could never see him every day like she saw Tehila.345

On the way home, Jadyn’s sadness intensified. But this time, there was another emotion, too – anger. Why didn’t she tell me? Jadyn kept asking herself. I thought we were friends. I thought I could trust her, and I thought she trusted me. I guess not. Jadyn shook her head. She could feel the tears crawl up behind her eyes, but she blinked and forced them back. Not now.346

When the pack arrived home, they all went their separate ways. Myen crept over to where he could sit and converse rapidly with Vita. Quen went off to the side and lay down, his little chest rising and falling quickly and eyes searching the sky. Lara stalked off on her own, but Jadyn followed her father to the mouth of the den.347

“What is it, Jadyn?” her father said tiredly, sitting himself down and heaving a great sigh.348

Jadyn remained standing and decided to quit beating around the bush. “I want to know what Cari meant when she said Mom found me.”349

Soro’s eyes widened like he had sat on a porcupine quill. “Oh, that,” he said uncomfortably. “Can we talk about this some other time?” he pondered, trying to dodge the question.350

“No,” Jadyn replied stolidly, her face emotionless and determination showing in her eyes.351

Soro sighed again and looked at his daughter. Here she was, not a pup any more – two and a half years old, in fact. Jadyn stared into his amber eyes, willing him to tell her the truth.352

“This lie is getting old anyway,” he mumbled before starting to speak. “Have we ever told you about your brother Yen?”353

“Yes,” Jadyn said tightly, remembering how Tehila had described his gruesome death.354

“Well, shortly after he,” Soro gulped air, “passed away, your mother was off by herself when she found a little black pup squealing for a mother that seemed to be missing. Her heart was raw with grief and she took you in as her own. It wasn’t long before we actually figured out who and what your were.”355

“What?” Jadyn said hoarsely, still standing stock-still.356

“An heir.”357

“To what?” Jadyn asked, her voice small. She was almost afraid to hear the answer.358

“To the mountain, the river, the forest, our lives. An heir to a queen’s army.”359

Kane360

Kane could tell by the way she moved that Jadyn was very upset. She finished conversing with her father and padded in slow motion toward his hiding spot at the very edge of the clearing, downwind of the tired wolves.361

As soon as she was out of her father’s gaze, the two wolves stepped off into the trees.362

“Do you want to talk?” Kane asked gently. Jadyn shook her head.363

They reached a good spot well away from the camp. Jadyn flopped down on the ground, her body shaking in silent sobs.364

Kane was unsure of what to do with himself. He lay down next to Jadyn, his flank just barely touching hers. Jadyn and Kane remained like that for a few more minutes until Jadyn lifted her head.365

“I don’t want to be here any more,” she said, resting her head on Kane’s folded paws.366

Kane had no idea what to say. It must come from living alone my whole life, Kane thought morosely.367

Kane rhythmically swept his pink tongue over the spot in the middle of Jadyn’s forehead, right in between her swimming golden eyes.368

“Kane,” Jadyn said finally, looking him full in the face. “I can’t stay here. My so-called parents scold Tehila for lying, and yet they keep my whole life a secret.”369

“Then come with me,” Kane said simply. The words even surprised Kane himself. He scolded himself for suggesting such a thing.370

Jadyn’s face brightened. “Let’s see how much they like secrets,” Jadyn said, her face set and jaw clenched. But her eyes had that friendly twinkle back in them; the same sparkle that had attracted Kane to her in the first place. Her face grew solemn once more. “You know what else?” Jadyn pondered. “I’ll give you someone to be brave for,” she whispered in his ear. “Someone to be loyal to.”371

Jadyn leapt up as if her injury had never happened. “We’ll leave tomorrow. Leave the lying to me,” she said with a playful wink.372

Kane followed her back through the trees to her camp. “I have to stay here,” he said after they had traveled some distance. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Here. At moonhigh. And, um, Jadyn?” he said. “Did you really mean what you said before?”373

Jadyn nodded and with a smile and a whisk of her black tail, she was gone.374

Kane’s head throbbed. He sat down, thinking hard. Kane didn’t know what was happening. The world seemed to be spinning too fast. He sorted it out in his brain, picking apart the foggy bits.375

It was too much for his sleep-deprived body. He had stayed up all last night watching Jadyn and her pack sleep, making sure Jadyn was properly cared for and comfortable.376

He lay down and rested his chin on his paws, telling himself drowsily that he would only relax for a minute…377

The sun had gone down by the time Kane woke. The moon wasn’t out, at least not yet. It was in this odd twilight that Kane spotted a black shape slink toward him.378

“Jadyn?” he called out. The form didn’t respond. Kane closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts. When he opened them again, a black wolf stood so close to him, their noses almost touched. “Ah!” Kane yelped as he jumped backward, quickly regaining his dignity and taking up snarl.379

“Please,” the black she-wolf said, her piercing ice blue eyes slicing through Kane’s pelt. “Growling doesn’t work on me.”380

Kane kept up his hostile pose, a deep growl rumbling from his throat. “Who are you?” he growled.381

“That is of no business to you,” the wolf replied.382

“Then get out!” Kane barked.383

The wolf cocked her head and smiled cruelly. “That is not for you to say, is it, Kane? Lone wolves don’t have territories. I think it’s you that should be leaving.”384

Kane shivered, noticing for the first time that almost all the trees were bare and a bitter cold wind swept his fur across his eyes. Kane took a step back and turned around. But she was there too. The black wolf stood in front of him again.385

“You can’t run from Wind, Kane,” she hissed. “Wind is everywhere,” she murmured close in his ear before cackling insanely and flitting off to run in circles around him. The circles became tighter and tighter, and Wind started moving faster and faster, her black pelt blurring into smudges of color and feeling. Pain and suffering. Kane remembered his lonely years as a pup. Getting chased away from every pack he encountered. He trembled and shook his head, moaning quietly and closing his eyes.386

All of a sudden, the memories stopped, the feelings stopped, and Wind stopped. She turned to face Kane again, moving as slow as a glacier. Her frosty blue eyes locked onto Kane’s. “I want you to bring Jadyn to me. We have some… unfinished business…” she cackled again. “Up there, Kane,” she said with a softness that was menacing. Suddenly she was standing beside him, whispering in his quivering ear. “Up to Hawk’s Peak.”387

Kane shook his head. “Why?” he asked Wind, but the wolf was gone, like dust blowing in the wind, her mocking laughter still echoing around him.388

“I’ll see you again, Kane,” she howled quietly and then all traces of her had disappeared, save for a small cut above Kane’s eye.389

The blood dripped steadily from it, and Kane attempted to lick it, but his tongue wouldn’t reach.390

Just then a more familiar black form slipped through the trees. Kane was on his guard, but he knew it was Jadyn just by the way she walked. And her glowing golden eyes were nothing like the cold ice blue of Wind.391

“You’re bleeding,” was the first thing she remarked before hustling over and swiping her tongue over the cut.392

“Ouch!” Kane flinched away from her, the cut burning and searing the second it was touched.393

“Sorry!” Jadyn whispered. “What happened?” Her brow creased in concern.394

“Nothing, I just… Cut myself on a thorn bush. I was being stupid,” Kane muttered after many failed attempts at telling her about Wind. Every time he opened his mouth wanting to say something about her, his throat would close up and the cut above his eye would throb and sear with pain.395

“Let’s go then,” Jadyn said, heading off west, toward the edge of the forest, and the grasslands.396

After a moment’s reluctant hesitation and another shot of pain from his cut, Kane said, “Let’s go this way.” With that he led Jadyn north. Toward Eagle Mountain, toward Hawk’s Peak, toward Wind.397

Farren 398

Farren was ashamed that he had let himself and Tehila be captured so easily. So he walked with his head down and tail low. “I’m sorry,” he told Tehila for about the billionth time.399

Tehila swept her tongue over his ear. “I’ve told you already, it’s okay…” she said.400

But it wasn’t. Farren had fallen asleep, his tired limbs feeling heavy and achy. Tehila was also sound asleep beside him. But he was supposed to be keeping watch. If he had been awake, he never would have let those wolves sneak up on him. He kept telling himself that.401

Their captors were all silent. The only wolf that had spoken a word was the smallest one. Even she was laconic, the tiny tan she-wolf that was obviously the leader. “Get up,” she had said in a high but commanding voice. Farren and Tehila had obeyed without questioning, noting with fear the twenty or so jet-black wolves that surrounded them.402

“Where are you taking us?” Farren asked the air. No one responded. The wolves that had maintained the circle about them didn’t seem to notice him, and they didn’t say a word. They just kept walking north, their bodies getting lost in the shadow of Eagle Mountain, looming ahead of them. Its jagged peak was like the jaws of a powerful wolf. There was no way that the wolves would ever be able to scale that.403

“Why do you think they don’t speak?” Tehila whispered.404

The little tan wolf whirled around, teeth gleaming in a malicious grin. “They can’t.”405

“What?” Tehila asked as the procession halted.406

“They can’t. They’re special warriors of Her Majesty that cannot make a sound. They’re wonderful spies,” she said, sweeping around them in large, arching circles. “They never let secrets slip out of their mouths in insolent babble…”407

The wolves that she brushed with her tail flinched away from her as if she were made of hot coals. The black wolves’ eyes were all dark with fear as the little tan wolf slunk back to the front.408

Farren gulped, glancing at Tehila, who was shaking. Farren pressed himself against her, trying to calm her. Tehila gave him an appreciative lick.409

After trotting for an hour or so, the little wolf turned around. “You wanted to know where we’re going, did you not? Well, we’re here…” She brushed aside a bush.410

Behind it was a small cavern. It was big enough one full-size wolf to walk through, as long as he ducked his head. Farren shivered involuntarily at the yawning hole. An ominous, deathly cold stench wafted out of it.411

“Let’s go then,” the little wolf said cheerfully, slipping into the tunnel. The black wolves behind Farren shifted their paws uneasily before the biggest one gave Farren a shove and he stepped into cave. He could almost feel the temperature drop. The path started out heading steeply downhill before it evened out and began a steady uphill climb.412

“Wait,” Farren said. The little tan wolf stopped and turned her head, her dark green eyes penetrating deep into Farren’s. “What’s your name?”413

“Kirala,” she whispered before turning back to the black tunnel. Farren resumed putting one foot in front of the other, staring straight ahead at Kirala’s swaying tail. His eyes were now growing accustomed to the shadowy darkness of the mountain.414

Farren could feel the tunnel getting narrower; he had to scrunch down close to the floor to avoid getting stuck. Suddenly the passageway widened greatly. It was over a hundred feet across, but the path that they walked on remained only two and a half feet wide. Over the edge was a perilous drop. Farren couldn’t even see the bottom. It was lost in cloudy mist. Farren stared around and stopped abruptly, feeling Tehila bump into him. There was a scuffling of feet and slipping rocks. Farren glanced back to see one of the black wolves falling into nothingness before he disappeared completely, swallowed whole by the rolling mist. There was a far off slap of something hitting water, and Farren could feel his heartbeat thunder in his chest.415

“No matter, we have many more,” Kirala said, grinning cruelly. “Keep it moving, Farren,” she said softly.416

At the sound of her voice, a chorus of squeaking and rustling started, coming from the tall ceiling. The bats fell silent, and the wolves continued on their way.417

They walked for what seemed like forever, the path rising and twisting until there were walls to either side of them again. Farren was glad to leave the wide tunnel behind, feelings of dread and fear lurked in the dark water below.418

“Here we are,” Kirala said eventually, narrowing her eyes maliciously.419

Farren was tired from walking so long and hardly having slept at all. Tehila was no better off. It was then that Farren saw a dot of white light at the end of the tunnel. He could see the piercing blue sky and feel the cold rush of air from outside.420

As soon as Farren stepped outside, he wanted to go back in. This was a wasteland. There were no trees. The bitter wind nipped his numb limbs mercilessly. Hundreds of wolves milled around. They were all different shapes and sizes, some fearsome and menacing, and submissive and cowardly looking. Farren wondered dazedly if they could talk.421

Snowdrifts lingered around the mountaintop like huge crouching wolves, the ice biting into Farren’s cold paws.422

“Welcome to the home of the Wind,” Kirala said, her voice high and joyfully heartless. “Make your selves at home,” she snarled as two big black wolves took their guard spots in front of the tunnel. It was the only way down.423

Jadyn424

Jadyn could tell something was bothering Kane. She asked him about it once or twice, but he dismissed it by cutting her off and saying he was, “Fine, just fine.”425

Kane was leading her steadily north.426

“Kane?” Jadyn said meekly, not wanting to upset him.427

“What?” he asked, not moving his eyes off the top of the vicious looking mountain.428

“Why are we going north?”429

“We just are,” he replied, not helping at all.430

After that Jadyn stayed silent. She padded beside him and noticed how every time her flank brushed his, he shrank away and seemed to flinch from her touch before recovering and turning pack to the mountain.431

Jadyn noted with shudders that winter was almost here; she could smell the snow coming. The trees were all bare and wind rattled through their bare, death-like branches, clattering them together like some kind of death-march music.432

Jadyn noted that Kane’s cut had swollen, and it was an ugly shade of pink. She tried commenting about it, but Kane ignored her. Sure, Kane was normally quiet, but this was nothing like her friend.433

The perilous mountain loomed in front of them and the ground started getting hilly. But farther up, the slope was steep and rocky.434

The sun had sunk hours ago, and the moon was rising, a big white face in a million stars. “Should we stop for the night?” Jadyn asked uneasily.435

Kane stopped and looked back. His eyes were distressed and round with fear. “Yes,” he gasped weakly. With that he flopped onto the ground and promptly fell asleep. Jadyn padded over and lay down next to him, feeling his shaky and uneven breathing.436

She kept her eyes open, not wanting to sleep, wanting to think about Kane. He had been acting strangely all day. He wasn’t like himself lately. He dragged his paws when he walked like they were made out of lead. His dark blue eyes were heavy and expressionless. Jadyn wondered what was wrong.437

A bitter wind swept down from the mountain, slicing through Jadyn’s fur and making her shiver, crouching closer to Kane. A harsh cackling seemed to come from nowhere, carried by the wind around the tree underneath which they slept. Jadyn shut her eyes tight and hoped that she would fall asleep.438

The temperature had not risen in the morning. In fact, it felt like it had dropped about fifteen degrees. Jadyn’s winter coat was just starting to grow in, and the cold was almost too much for her.439

Jadyn nudged Kane, and he stirred, moaning slightly. Jadyn licked his ear. “Come, on Kane. You have to get up now,” she whispered.440

Kane’s eyes shot open and he stood so suddenly that he bumped heads with Jadyn. “Sorry,” he mumbled.441

“It’s fine,” Jadyn replied, shaking her throbbing head. “Hungry?”442

Kane nodded. Jadyn felt a distance between them. A very unwelcome distance to Jadyn. She sighed sadly, following Kane into the brush.443

Jadyn put her nose up to the wind, smelling squirrel and rabbit. No big prey today. Jadyn followed the strong smell of rabbit until she happened upon one chewing a blade of grass.444

Dropping into a hunting crouch, Jadyn stalked forward, carefully placing one paw in front of the other. Suddenly the undergrowth exploded and Kane shot out, paws outstretched and jaws open, ready to sink into his prey. But it was no use. The rabbit was long gone by the time his paws hit the ground.445

“Kane!” Jadyn whined, slightly annoyed.446

Kane looked at her, his eyes far off, seeing something that she couldn’t see. “Sorry, I guess I’m not myself today. I… I didn’t sleep well,” he finished.447

“It’s fine,” Jadyn told him, walking over and giving him a gentle lick.448

Kane recoiled at her touch, crouching close to the ground and growling quietly.449

Jadyn was taken aback. Hurt, she stalked away from him before picking up her pace to a trot, and then a full-out blasting sprint. Her breathing was harsh and labored, but Jadyn didn’t stop until she reached a frozen pond. It was about forty feet across. Jadyn sat down hard, wanting so much to just cry.450

Jadyn expected Kane to burst out of the undergrowth at any moment, stuttering to apologize. She stared at the ice. She could see fish swimming beneath it. Standing, she stepped awkwardly out onto the ice.451

The fish swam away from her paws, and Jadyn chased after it, not hearing the ice moan under her weight. She was a pup again, playing with Tehila on the frozen stream.452

Jadyn had made it to the middle of the lake, but the fish disappeared into the deeper water. Sighing, Jadyn turned. A harsh crack split the air, and Jadyn fell. The cold water was like a punch in the chest. Jadyn floundered in the water, screaming “Kane! Help!” But no one came. The cold water was suffocating her, pushing on her lungs, draining her strength.453

Her limbs were heavy as lead. She was numb all over and didn’t feel it when her head dropped under the water. The biting cold was everywhere.454

Jadyn’s skin burned, and her mind thought blurrily about Kane, her sister, her pack, and how she would never see any of them again. Through all this mental turmoil, one thought remained crystal clear:455

She was going to die.456

Kane457

Kane regretted acting so cold. He trotted along the path that Jadyn had left, occasionally calling her name. He got no response but the scolding of squirrels and the groaning of the wind.458

Wind. Just thinking about her made Kane’s cut sear and his muscles turn limp and useless.459

Kane heard Jadyn’s screech echo through the cold air. “Kane! Help!”460

Kane reached a pond. Jadyn’s scent was everywhere, but where was she? Oh, no, Kane thought. Her scent trail led on to the ice. It was then that he noticed the gaping hole in the middle of the pond.461

He raced out onto the ice without thinking twice. But he was beat to it by a huge white blur that launched itself into the water, diving deep down.462

Kane tried to stop, but he slipped and fell, sliding closer to the hole. Trying to stand, he scrabbled against the frictionless surface until he was able to turn himself around and wobble back toward the shore.463

It was another minute before Kane saw a wet head emerge from the water. It was the big white wolf. He swam over to the edge, first hauling out what looked like a soggy black lump of fur.464

Kane knew at once it was Jadyn. The white wolf got out himself, and dragged Jadyn’s lifeless body over to the edge of the pond. Kane bolted over to meet them. Jadyn’s rescuer was gasping for breath, chest shaking as he drew big, shattering breaths. But as soon as he saw Kane, he stopped, a deep growl erupting from his chest.465

Kane ignored his warning as he rushed up to Jadyn, swiping his tongue over her forehead. She was so cold. But Kane could see the faintest movement of her chest as she breathed. He could have cried with relief.466

“Get away,” the white wolf snarled.467

Kane returned the gesture with a snarl of his own. “She’s with me,” he growled.468

“Well you obviously don’t care for her much if you would have let her drown like that,” he said, stepping protectively over Jadyn’s body.469

Kane was outraged. “You just beat me to her! If you hadn’t showed up, I would have rescued her!”470

“Sure you would have,” he sneered sarcastically.471

“That’s it!” Kane snarled, leaping at him.472

The wolf sidestepped his attack easily, and Kane flew by him, landing with a crash nearby. Before he knew it, the wolf was on top of him, snarling in his ear. “You better get out of here, loner. You’re on my territory. And that’s my mate over there,” he snarled, motioning to Jadyn’s body and nipping Kane hard on the nose before letting him up and watching him scurry away.473

Kane could feel his pelt burn in embarrassment. He was glad Jadyn couldn’t see him now. He only looked back once, to see the big white wolf drag Jadyn off toward the mountain.474

Kane didn’t know what to do. The only time his mind had been clear was when he heard Jadyn’s cry for help. Now he was muddled again. His mind seemed to turn dark, and Wind’s voice echoed in his head. “I want you to bring Jadyn to me…” she said in his mind.475

Those words stayed with him all the way to the mountain. He stopped at a bristly thorn bush. He didn’t know how he knew to do this, but Kane plunged through it, into the dark tunnel that led into the heart of the mountain. Wind seemed to be whispering in his mind, her persuading voice sounding in his head. “Come to me, Kane, we will talk this over…”476

Kane didn’t question why Wind’s voice felt so close. So close in fact, he felt that he could reach out his paw and touch her. But no one was there. It was just him, all alone. Except for the bats.477

The only sound was of his breathing, and his paws rhythmically beating the ground. The occasional rustling of the bats calmed Kane’s turbulent emotions. He grew used to their squeaking. It was almost as if they were speaking to him. But he knew they weren’t. He knew it was just his sleep-deprived mind making things up.478

So on Kane ran. The tunnel widened, but he didn’t stop to watch the mist sweep up toward him, he didn’t notice it curling around his paw until it tightened like a fist locking onto his leg, and Kane was pulled down into the depths of the mountain.479

Jadyn480

Jadyn woke to warmth. The silence was deafening. She sat up, staring around. She was in a cave. On the floor beneath her was… a bearskin? But that’s what it was. The dead grizzly’s fur was soft and comforting, but most of all, it was warm. It was like warmth emanated from it. Fortunately, there was no bear beneath it. It was just the skin.481

It was then that Jadyn’s started feeling woozy and dizzy, so she lay back down, burrowing her head in the fur and falling asleep…482

The air was warm as she trotted along. The soft smell of rabbit was in the air. She spotted one, and bolted towards it. Jadyn seemed to have super speed, for she caught the rabbit before it even had time to blink.483

She tossed the rabbit into the air before catching it again and tossing it up once more. She let the rabbit flop onto the ground this time before pouncing. She giggled, and left the carcass to the crows. She wasn’t hungry now.484

Walking along, she smelled the sweet blossoms on the ground. Birds twittered as she jogged by them.485

Suddenly she burst into a sprint, giving a sidelong glance at Kane, who ran beside her, his tongue hanging comically out of his mouth.486

They seemed to be able to run forever. When they finally stopped, Jadyn stooped to catch her breath.487

Kane crouched, putting his rump in the air and wagging his tail furiously. Jadyn replied by pouncing on him, and soon they were rolling around in the sweet smelling grass, playing like they were pups.488

Jadyn had to admit defeat when Kane had her pinned to the ground. He let her up, and she gave him a lick before sitting down and resting her chin on her paws.489

Kane sat next to her, licking her ear gently. She buried her head in his fur, breathed in his scent, and she was happy.490

When Jadyn awoke again, she was ravenous. Her stomach felt hollow. She wondered bleakly how long she had slept.491

“Hello, there,” a deep voice boomed.492

Jadyn leapt up, her lips curling into a snarl.493

“No need for hostility,” the voice said. It was then that Jadyn saw it belonged to a beautiful white wolf. His dark brown eyes were kind and warm. They reminded Jadyn of the grizzly fur.494

His words didn’t make Jadyn calm down one bit. “Where’s Kane?” she asked through gritted teeth.495

“Who?” he asked. Then recognition dawned on his face. “Oh the little gray wolf?” He laughed. “He ran off like a pup when he saw me.”496

“You mean…” Jadyn started. “He didn’t rescue me?”497

“No, he did absolutely nothing but watch me dive in to save you,” the white wolf bragged.498

A single tear fell out of Jadyn’s eye, lost in the fur. He didn’t even try to save me… she thought morosely. I bet he doesn’t even like me. I just wish I had told him how I felt before now… Because now… I’ll never… Jadyn didn’t want to think about it, but the thought arrived anyway. I’ll probably never get to tell him that I love him.499

Jadyn broke down; letting silent sobs wrack her body. The white wolf came over and whispered comforting thoughts in her ear. But Jadyn would hear none of it. She covered her face in her paws and bawled like a pup.500

She could feel the wolf sit down next to her, laying his head on top of Jadyn’s back. He sighed gently. “I thought this would happen,” he whispered to her.501

Jadyn didn’t respond and kept on crying.502

“Before he left, he told me to tell you something.”503

Jadyn continued ignoring him.504

“He wanted me to say that he was angry at you. He didn’t ever want to see you again.”505

Jadyn stopped abruptly. “Kane said that?” she said, her voice muffled by the grizzly pelt.506

The white wolf didn’t hesitate for even a moment. “Yes.”507

“I don’t believe you,” Jadyn told him, but far in the back of her mind, a little voice told her, you know, you were quite mean to him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was that mad at you. Jadyn silenced the voice.508

“You don’t?” the wolf’s voice sounded surprised. “Why do you think he kept recoiling from your touch? You disgust him. He told me so before he left.”509

Jadyn was silent. She turned to look at the wolf. His handsome head was held aloft in a proud, alpha position. His dark brown eyes stared deep into Jadyn’s. “Please believe me,” he implored. “I’m telling the truth.”510

The voice in Jadyn’s head started up again. See? Now look what you’ve done! Kane hates you, and you’ve got no one left! “I’ve… I’ve got no one…” Jadyn whispered, remembering the night Kane had told her to come with him. Had he been lying?511

“You’ve got me,” the wolf whispered softly.512

Jadyn looked away. “I don’t even know your name,” she said scornfully.513

“Oh, I apologize for being rude. My name is Darius,” he said. He wore the name like a banner. Even Jadyn thought the name fit his demeanor.514

Jadyn rose suddenly. “I’m going to find him,” she said determinedly. And tell him, whether he likes it or not, she added silently. Wobbling down the passage, Jadyn made her way to the cave entrance. It was dark out, and ominous clouds laid overhead like a blanket. Jadyn watched the first snowflake flutter down. After the first one fell, it was like a starting gun shouting, “Go!” Snow started tumbling down from the sky in drifts, it seemed.515

Jadyn took a step outside. Her foot landed on a patch of slippery ice and she slid. Her weak body couldn’t support her own weight and she fell, sliding down the slope over rocks until Darius raced over and braced his shoulder against her, making her stop. He started to help her up until Jadyn snarled, “I can get up on my own, thank you!”516

But she couldn’t. Her legs were too weak and malnourished. She didn’t complain – in fact she made no sound at all – as Darius helped her up and led her back up the hill.517

Once back inside, Darius led her to the fur rug. She collapsed on it in a heap, ignoring him when he offered food. Darius left a slab of meat on the floor, and when Jadyn heard him leave the cave, she got up and gulped down the hunk of meat in a matter of seconds. Her stomach growled for more but she hushed it and went back to lie down in the furs, losing herself in memories and sleep.518

Kane519

The fall wasn’t the worst part for Kane. It was the blindness. He couldn’t see anything. The mist, by now, had gotten so thick he couldn’t see the tip of his nose. This frightened him. He was alone again, terribly alone. There was nothing solid he could see.520

That was, until he hit the water.521

He barreled into it with the force of a car crash. The cold water knocked the wind out of him. Down and down Kane sunk, bubbles escaping his mouth. But this time there was no Jadyn to save him. He would either have to save himself, or die.522

But what was left to live for? He would surely never see Jadyn again. He would surely never tell her how he felt about her, for she probably hated his guts for abandoning her. At least in death he would be spared of these troubles.523

A clear thought shot through his murky brain. Bring Jadyn to Wind. Kane struggled, thrashing his limbs until his head finally broke the surface. He gasped air, floundering helplessly in the water.524

“You failed, Kane,” a whooshing voice said. Kane instantly recognized it as Wind’s. Fear flew through his heart like an arrow.525

It was taking all his strength just to keep his head above the waves. Wind’s shape materialized above the black water, floating in midair.526

“Please,” Kane gurgled, cold water rushing down his throat.527

“I do not tolerate failure,” Wind said coldly.528

Kan gave up. He knew he was done for. But for some strange reason, his body kept fighting the waves.529

“But I like you, Kane,” Wind said conversationally, as if Kane was not drowning and she was not floating two feet off the surface of the water. She narrowed her ice blue eyes, staring straight down her nose at Kane. “So I’ll give you one more chance. One more chance to bring her to me. If you fail this time, I’m not helping you out.” She vanished.530

“No please! Come back!” Kane shrieked. “I need help!” Water rushed into his lungs, and he coughed, spluttering as he kicked his feet feebly.531

Just then a dark shoreline came into view. A big wave was pushing him towards in, and he crashed onto the land as the wave broke and fell back into the water. It was still as glass once more.532

Kane immediately collapsed onto the grimy sand, throwing up all the water he had swallowed. When he was finished, he looked around. The mist still hung about him like a cloak. There was no sign of a way out. So he got up, glanced around one more time, and, turning his back on the water, he just walked.533

He soon left the water behind. But the mist stayed with him all the while. So Kane didn’t see the thing until it was almost upon him.534

It looked like a giant bat, its leathery wings spanning seven feet. It shrieked thunderously, and sped off into the mist.535

Kane returned to his trek. The bat swooped down on him, snatching him up in its clawed feet. Kane thrashed, twisting his head to bite the bat’s leg. He managed to nip it, and it dropped him abruptly. Kane plummeted the ten feet or so the ground, landing with a soft thud that the sand seemed to absorb.536

Kane rose, feeling his aching muscles protest. This time, Kane was ready. When the bat dove down, he leapt into the air and caught hold of its leg. Kane growled and thought to himself, now who’s a coward? The bat screamed and attempted to fly away, but Kane had caught it in the spur of its downward momentum. The bat was heading to the ground, no matter how much it flapped its wings.537

Kane’s feet touched the ground and he instantly started pulling aggressively on the bat’s leg. He yanked until the bat itself was on the ground, its right leg mangled and bloody. The bat froze for a moment, and Kane took the chance to launch himself at the bat’s wing. He tore through the thin flap of skin like a screen door. It screeched again and tried to take off, but it was no use. It couldn’t fly with one wing.538

With grim determination, Kane pounced, landing squarely on the creature’s muscled back and driving his fangs straight into the bat’s neck.539

A minute later, the bat lay lifeless on the ground while Kane tore through its tough, rancid meat, swallowing as much as he could as quickly as possible.540

Kane finished, licking his chops and hurrying on his way, leaving what was left of the carcass to whatever wanted it.541

His cut throbbed with every step he took, but he ignored it, wondering bleakly when it would heal.542

Kane trotted along all day, seeing nothing but mist and hearing nothing at all but the occasional snap of a bat’s wings. He could almost see the huge creatures looming above him, but they left him alone.543

Kane was growing weary; his limbs seemed to grow ten pounds heavier with each step he took. But he couldn’t sleep. What if those things attacked him the moment he closed his eyes for a little rest?544

Kane put one foot in front of the other until he just couldn’t take it any more. He was tired from his swim. His fight with the giant bat hadn’t helped matters, either. He curled up into a ball, resting his tail on the tip of his nose and closing his eyes, hoping that nothing would happen to him in his sleep.545

Snow fell silently from the sky. Kane frolicked like he had not a care in the world, leaping into snowdrifts and burrowing out again.546

Only one was different. He pounced on it and met something hard and cold. He pawed at it, digging faster and faster the more of the wolf he uncovered.547

It was a black wolf. Her golden eyes were wide open and glazed over.548

“Jadyn,” Kane whispered, though he knew she couldn’t hear him. She couldn’t hear anybody. She was dead.549

“No, Jadyn, wake up!” Kane said, panic rising in him, making his voice coming out high and squeaky. “I’m sorry I didn’t save you! I know I should have! I… I love you!” he cried.550

A white shadow seemed to life from Jadyn’s pelt, shrouded in mist. The ghostly form cried out, “You didn’t help me, Kane! It’s your fault I’m dead! Your fault!”551

Her stinging words rang in Kane’s head as the eerie shape rose up into the treetops and then vanished into the intense whiteness above.552

“Jadyn is not dead, contrary to your belief,” the voice startled Kane out of sleep. He was instantly on his guard, on his feet and growling menacingly, staring hard into the mist, trying to make out a shape, any shape at all.553

“Over here,” the voice said. “No, to the left. There. See me now?”554

Kane shook his head.555

The voice sighed. A raven stepped out of the mist. “Vernon,” the bird said, holding out a claw.556

Kane stared at the bird.557

“Excuse me,” Vernon said, “but I do believe that staring is very impolite.”558

“Sorry,” Kane said, looking away quickly. “How do you know she’s not dead?” he asked right off the bat.559

“I’ve seen her!” he cried as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I don’t come down here too often, but a friend of mine told me the fish were jumping, and I figured I could use a little fattening up.” The black bird puffed out his chest.560

“So you look like you need a little help, huh?” Vernon said, eyeing Kane warily.561

Kane nodded, staring at his feet.562

“Well then. You’ve been heading the wrong way.”563

“What?” Kane said, snapping his head up.564

“Well, if you want the exit close to where your,” Vernon paused, “friend is, its that-a-way.” He jabbed his beak to Kane’s left.565

Kane moaned. “How many days will it take to get there?”566

The raven drew a claw thoughtfully up to his beak and said, “A day if you’re flying, two days or so if you run without stopping.”567

Kane groaned again. “Would you accompany me to the outside so I don’t get lost?” he asked reluctantly.568

Vernon chuckled heartily. “Sure I will, laddie!”569

Kane set off in the direction Vernon had pointed out, with Vernon riding on his shoulder and keeping up a steady stream of chatter.570

Kane picked up his pace at the end of what he thought was the day, wanting to get out as soon as possible.571

His feet hit the sand with soft thumps. Kane nodded to Vernon, giving an occasional “Uh-huh. Yeah. Right,” when he seemed like he was expecting an answer.572

But what was really on his mind was Jadyn. He knew he needed to find her. But he didn’t know for whom: Himself? Or Wind?573

Tehila574

The cold on the mountaintop was almost unbearable. The biting wind blew ceaselessly. For the most part, she and Farren were left to wander aimlessly throughout the camp. Tehila thought it strange at first, but once they had explored more, she understood: there was nowhere to run to. The only way down was through that hated tunnel, and it was guarded at all times. The only other way would be to pretty much jump off the mountain and be killed by the sharp stones at the bottom.575

At night, guard wolves that could not talk were sent out, corralling all the prisoners into a circle. There was a hollow in the mountain where they were kept. The huge mass of wolves on the top of the mountain slept outside the mouth of the tunnel and scattered about the plateau.576

That day, Tehila wondered bleakly what was on top of the one spire of rock that twisted farther up, away from where all the wolves stayed. A few times daily, a wolf would make the climb to the top; hugging close to the outcrop of rock because the path they followed was barely a foot wide.577

Tehila’s curiosity died away when she was called to the top. All of the recent prisoners were summoned.578

She and Farren lagged at the back, following a gray wolf and her small pup. She carried him up the precarious path, and he cried and whimpered, despite the best efforts of the mother.579

When they finally reached the top, after circling the spire for what seemed like an eternity, they reached a den. They were all ordered in, and they lined up as if for inspection. It was then that a black wolf peeled herself away from the shadows.580

“Jadyn!” Tehila cried out without thinking.581

The black wolf turned her head, her ice blue eye drilling into Tehila’s skull. “Quiet,” she murmured with a coldness that seemed to make the temperature drop twenty degrees more.582

“You are here today,” she said, addressing the pack, “so that you can decide, between two things: join my army, or die.”583

The black wolf started at the other end of the line, asking each wolf the same question, “Stay, or die?”584

Most decided they’d rather be in her army; until the black wolf reached a big gray male.585

“Stay, or die?” she asked him.586

“I’d much rather die than join your rat crew!” he snarled.587

The wolf narrowed her eyes slyly. “Your wish is my command,” she said lightly. She lunged at him at almost lightning speed. Her jaws locked onto the wolf’s throat and she made a ripping motion with her jaws. Tehila covered her eyes, and Farren pressed himself comfortingly against her, suppressing her shivers.588

Finally, after three more gruesome deaths, the little black wolf reached Farren. “Stay, or die?” she questioned him.589

Farren closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again, a look of determination set frozen on his face. “Die,” he snarled through gritted teeth.590

The black wolf grinned. “As you say,” she said, about to lunge when Tehila threw herself at the wolf’s feet.591

“Please!” she implored. “Don’t kill him! Take me instead! Just don’t kill him!”592

“Ah,” the wolf said evenly. “I see we have reached a disturbance. Get back in line or I will kill you both,” she snarled.593

“Just don’t kill him!” Tehila bawled.594

“Tehila,” Farren rumbled. “It’s okay. I’m ready.”595

“But I’m not!” Tehila said, looking up at him with swimming eyes. “We’ve been alone together for not even a week and already I’ll be separated from you forever?”596

The black wolf hesitated a moment. “You’re the one that knows Jadyn,” she said in a low voice.597

“Yes?” Tehila said. “She’s my sister. What do you want with her?”598

“I have… an interest in her,” the wolf said, choosing her words slowly and carefully.599

“What kind of interest?” Tehila said suspiciously.600

“That is of no business to you. But I am willing to make you a deal.”601

Tehila stood up and took her place back in line, listening carefully.602

“You call your sister up here with a howl or two, and,” she narrowed her eyes. “I’ll let you live.”603

“What about Farren?” Tehila asked.604

“He chose to die, and he will,” she replied.605

“Then I won’t do it!” Tehila said. This wolf was the definition of fear to her. Menacing eyes, strong body, and a cold cruelty that made Tehila think that she could kill every living thing in the world and not blink an eye. It was taking all the courage she had to stand up to her.606

She wrinkled up her nose in a snarl. “Fine! You have your wishes! But if she doesn’t come in a week, your time’s up. And so is his…” she growled.607

Darius608

Jadyn padded through the snow as more fell from the sky. Darius walked beside her, his pelt ever so slightly brushing hers. Jadyn growled every time he touched her, speeding up and darting away.609

But Darius would follow persistently, and no matter how much she growled at him, Darius would not leave her alone. He knew he had to win her over before that Kane could come back.610

“Deer,” Darius whispered in Jadyn’s ear.611

“I know!” she snarled, turning away from him.612

Jadyn trotted off toward where the smell was coming from, and Darius followed, his white ears jammed forward and dark brown eyes focused on Jadyn.613

She stopped abruptly, and Darius bumped into her. This was met by a harsh growl. Just then the doe stuck up her head, liquid brown eyes wide in fear. She had scented them.614

The deer took off, and the two wolves pelted after her. She was swift, leaping over rocks and clusters of brambles.615

She disappeared into a patch of tall bushes. Darius hesitated, but Jadyn bolted on through them.616

There was a thunderous roar and a small howl from Jadyn as the black wolf back peddled furiously before whipping around and streaking off into the undergrowth.617

A grizzly lumbered out of the bush, deer blood on her giant paws. Darius stiffened his body, puffing out his fur to make himself look bigger.618

A snarl rose in his chest and he bared his teeth.619

The bear bellowed back at him. She lunged forward, her paw lashing out. Darius jumped back, out of the way. One of the longer claws sliced through his fur, but the cut wasn’t deep. Darius wasn’t fazed. As soon as the paw had passed, he threw himself forward, locking his jaws onto the grizzly’s neck.620

She shook her head and clawed at him. Darius was flung off, and he landed ten feet away in a heap. But he was back on his paws in an instant, ready to attack again. It was then that he saw Jadyn’s golden eyes peering out from under a bush.621

The bear charged at him and peeled away at the last second, shambling away and leaving the two wolves their prey.622

Darius relaxed and sat down, attempting to lick his shoulder. But Jadyn had gotten up and was licking vigorously. Darius narrowed his eyes contentedly, sighing. “Let’s eat,” he said.623

He and Jadyn dragged the carcass out into the open before starting to feed.624

When they were finally finished, there was almost a foot of snow. Darius put his rump in the air and wagged his tail playfully.625

Jadyn tackled him, and they were rolling around in the snow like they did when they were pups.626

When they tired, Jadyn suggested they go back to the cave for some sleep. Darius, his muscles fatigued from the fight, readily agreed.627

They reached the cave while trotting at a leisurely pace. Jadyn went straight to the back, lying down on the bearskin.628

After a minute, she asked, “Where did you get it?”629

“The bearskin? Humans,” Darius sighed, sitting down next to her. This time she didn’t flinch away at his touch. “Nicked it,” he said, flashing her a sheepish and toothy grin. Jadyn grinned back.630

“Where’s the rest of your pack?” Darius questioned conversationally. At this, Jadyn’s smile froze and sank away.631

“Kane was my pack. Until he abandoned me.”632

“Oh,” was all Darius said.633

“What about you?” Jadyn returned the question.634

“I, uh…” Darius stuttered. “My pack was killed by humans,” the lie slipped out of his lips before he could stop it.635

“That’s horrible!” Jadyn exclaimed, giving him a comforting lick.636

Darius nodded, his throat choking up. He shook his head. “But now I have you, so it’s okay,” he said, looking her in the eye. Her beautiful golden eyes looked back.637

They were silent for a while. Jadyn shifted her body so she was sprawled out on her side, her head resting near Darius’s. She quickly fell asleep.638

Darius rose, and turning in circles a few times, and lay down and slept himself.639

Darius slunk away from the clearing. His pack’s jeering laughter stung him and whirled around in his head even though he was miles away from them.640

He had to do something about this, something to get his power back. He hadn’t expected the attack. One of the beta wolves had stolen the bone he was chewing on.641

Darius had taken it as a challenge, and stood up, growling and puffing out his chest. The beta didn’t wait one second. He lunged at Darius and Darius was pinned on the ground before he could do anything about it.642

It was a shameful way to drop the title of alpha wolf.643

So Darius made up his mind.644

He waited till the moon came out, and he slunk back to the camp, where all the wolves were fast asleep.645

He crept over to where the new alpha was sleeping next to the alpha female, his old mate. Darius snarled quietly to himself.646

But he didn’t hesitate for even a moment when he lashed out, grabbing the wolf’s throat in his jaws and ripping it out. It seemed like he had said the magic word, though Darius had said no words at all. Suddenly the whole pack was on their feet, growling and forming a circle around their former leader.647

“What did you do?” His old mate wailed. “You killed him!” she shrieked.648

“Kana, I thought you loved me!” Darius said, his dark eyes pleading.649

“Not anymore! I never knew you to be so cold-blooded!”650

“Fine!” Darius howled. He lunged at her, clamping her jaws onto the back of her neck. She flailed, but it was no use. Darius had her in a death-grip. “Anyone else?” Darius screamed.651

It seemed it was all at once that the pack jumped at him in slow motion. Darius took down one wolf after another until it was just he and his dead pack left in the clearing.652

It was then that Darius realized he was alone. Totally alone in a blood-stained clearing full of horrid, grieving memories. Their blood pooled around his paws, staining them red. He glanced about the clearing. It was totally silent. No bats snapped their wings. No owls hooting. No nothing. Just Darius.653

It was then that Darius realized he had killed his own mother. His father was dead, and so were his sisters, and all the wolves that had loved him. They probably still would have even if he weren’t the alpha.654

Even if he wasn’t in control of the pack, they would have loved him. Darius still couldn’t imagine his life if he wasn’t the alpha. What would the pack have done without him? He kept them in line! He fed them, did all he was supposed to do as an alpha! Why did he have to be the one that was kicked out? Why not them? He thought all this as he stared around at his dead family. He started to cry. He was barely two years old, and already he was desperately alone.655

But then Darius stopped feeling sorry for himself. He knew he wouldn’t have made it as an omega.656

He always needed to be in control.657

Always.658

Darius woke with a start to find he was shaking and drenched in sweat. Jadyn was still fast asleep beside him. He lay his head down on her back telling himself drowsily, “She doesn’t have to know the truth…”659

Wind660

Wind paced back and forth in her large den. She lay down on her white bearskin rug for a moment before popping up again and resuming her trek.661

Finally, she put her nose to the sky. ‘Arath!’ she howled. ‘Come here!’662

Wind had enough courtesy to stop her incessant pacing and wait for her advisor. He was there in less than ten minutes, his old arthritic bones slowing him down only slightly.663

“Yes, Your Majesty?” he asked in his old creaky voice.664

“Come in, already!” Wind said rudely. Then, more kindly, remembering to whom she was speaking. “Have a seat on the rug,” she said, her teeth gleaming in the moonlight that streamed through the narrow entrance.665

“To what honor do I come to you tonight?” Arath asked, his graying muzzle drooping slightly, his eyes half-closed as he sat down on the bearskin.666

“Let’s quit beating around the bush, shall we?” Wind asked as she moved closer. “I want to know about… you know…”667

“Ah,” Arath said, his eyes lighting in recognition. “That. Which part, Your Majesty?”668

“All of it! I just need to hear it again to make sure my plan will work flawlessly!”669

Arath sighed and began, his wheezy voice in a whisper so low that Wind had to lean closer to hear it. “If one would like to become a goddess,” he began, “as you know, there are… a few requirements.670

“First! A promise. A goddess cannot be without a purpose. What is your promise?”671

“I promise to rule the forest for as long as I live…” Wind breathed.672

“Second! Followers. A goddess cannot be alone in her cause. You have plenty of followers, do you not, your majesty?”673

“Yes, I do,” she murmured. “Many more than you would think…”674

“Third! A sacrifice. A goddess must sacrifice her own flesh and blood to become a true powerful being.”675

Wind narrowed her icy eyes. “Therein, lies the problem. I don’t think my daughter can get here soon enough.”676

“The ceremony must be performed on the shortest day of the year. Right when the moon reaches above your head, the sacrifice will die, and you will be… a goddess,” Arath said.677

Wind breathed in deeply. “I have done everything in my power. I have her sister outside right now, calling her to me. I have a scout to bring her up. He had better make it in time,” she said darkly.678

“Because without Jadyn, there is no way my plan can work.”679

“Of course not, Your Majesty.”680

“Thank you, Arath, you may go,” Wind told him.681

He seemed to heave a sigh of relief as he shambled out of the room. Wind ignored it.682

She lay down on the bearskin, curling up into a ball and resting her tail on her nose.683

Memories flashed behind her eyelids as she thought of her only daughter. At the time, she didn’t know Jadyn would be so useful. If she had, she would have kept her close.684

She could see her mate now. The one thing in the whole world she had loved. His bright amber eyes and his flowing dark gray pelt still made her sigh contentedly.685

“Until he betrayed me,” Wind snarled to herself.686

‘It was your fault,’ her brain insisted.687

“No it wasn’t!” Wind argued. “It was he who decided to go off and have pups with another wolf behind my back. It was his fault he died!”688

‘You think his murder was his fault? No, more like your fault. Remember the way you treated him? You were mean to him and you treated him like dirt! I wouldn’t blame him for what he did!’689

“Well I would!” Wind said huffily.690

‘You shouldn’t! It was your fault!’ her mind scolded her.691

Wind suddenly broke down. It was the first time she’d cried since she found out what her mate had done. She was finished quickly though. It was time to greet the new prisoners. She hoped a lot of them wanted to die, for she was in a bad mood and feeling mutinous anyway.692

Kane693

Kane wasn’t sure exactly how he had gotten out of the mountain. All he remembered was staggering out into the light, thanking Vernon, and collapsing in a heap to ease his troubled mind. Vernon had stayed with him overnight, but flew off in the morning, looking for food.694

His cheery crack of laughter and goodbye still echoed in Kane’s head as he made his way toward the spot where he had last seen Jadyn.695

He stumbled upon her scent as he was padding near the steep, vertical cliffs. He snuffled around and found an entrance to a cave. The winter’s morning sun was peeping over the treetops.696

Kane had no time to think of being cautious as he put his face in the cave and hollered, “Jadyn!”697

But it wasn’t Jadyn who came to meet him. It was her rescuer, the big, white wolf. Just the sight of him put a snarl on Kane’s lips.698

“What are you doing here?” the wolf growled.699

“I came to see Jadyn,” Kane snarled back, his body the picture of aggression. His hackles were raised and lips peeled back to reveal gleaming fangs.700

“Well I don’t want to see you,” Jadyn snarled, pushing past them both and pointedly turning her back on Kane.701

“Jadyn!” Kane said. “Please! Just give me a chance to explain!”702

Jadyn whirled around and lashed out, her fangs whipping through the air an inch from Kane’s head. “Explain what? Explain this!” she howled. “You abandon me, and then say you never want to see me again! Darius told me all about what you said!”703

“No, Jadyn! That’s not true!” he said desperately, as she turned and started out of the clearing.704

“Then what is?” Jadyn snarled.705

“I… I love you!” Kane said before he lost his courage.706

Jadyn’s hostility instantly melted. She looked down at her paws; golden eyes swimming with unshed tears.707

“Ha!” Darius barked. “Then why did you say you never wanted to see her again?”708

“I didn’t!” Kane protested. Then, to Jadyn, he said, “Who are you going to believe, me?“ Kane threw Darius a loathing glance, “Or him?”709

Jadyn looked up, staring first at Kane and then at Darius. “I don’t know!” Jadyn said, the tears finally spilling down and splashing onto the ground.710

Kane stood next to her, gently giving her shoulder encouraging licks.711

“Get away from her!” Darius bellowed. He sprung at Kane and caught him off-guard.712

Kane was knocked to the ground, but before Darius could pin him, he writhed away and stood, fangs bared. “I don’t want to fight you,” he told Darius.713

“Why, because you know you’ll lose?” Darius sneered.714

Darius lunged at him again, but this time Kane was ready. As soon as he was near enough, Kane flipped onto his back as Darius landed, stumbling and off-balance, on top of him. He kicked out his legs, catching Darius’ momentum to send him flying forward into a tree.715

Darius was stunned only for a second. He was back on his feet and leaping at Kane before Kane even knew what was happened.716

“Got you again,” Darius snickered.717

Kane gathered his back feet underneath Darius’ stomach and kicked out with all his strength, sending Darius flying. Kane jumped up and was there to meet him when he collided with the rock wall.718

“Got you,” Kane snarled as he pinned Darius to the ground.719

“Fine,” Darius panted. “Kill me then. I bet you don’t have the guts,” he scoffed.720

“Excuse me, you’re in no position to make a threat,” Kane growled. He slashed his fangs across Darius’ eye, leaving a bloody, curved scar.721

Kane let Darius up and turned, opening his mouth to talk to Jadyn. But she suddenly jumped up and sprung at him, fangs bared.722

Kane winced, ready for her to hit her target. But she flew right by him, tackling Darius instead. “That’s a rotten thing to do to anybody!” she snarled. “But especially to one of my friends!” she growled.723

She stood there her nose right up in his face and golden eyes staring down his snout until Darius relaxed and looked away, tucking his tail up to his tummy in a sign of defeat.724

“Tried to jump you from behind,” Jadyn whispered to Kane as she followed him out of the clearing.725

She was heading south.726

“Actually, Jadyn, I was thinking… Maybe we could go to the mountaintop?” Kane asked, scared of the answer.727

“Why?” she asked, turning to look at him.728

Suddenly, a howl twirled down from the top of the mountain.729

‘Jadyn! It’s Tehila! Come see us at the top!’730

Jadyn’s eyes flew wide. She opened her mouth to howl back.731

“That’s why,” Kane said, thanking Tehila for her wonderful timing. Somehow he doubted Jadyn would agree to come if her told her the truth. But lying to her was almost as bad as losing her to Darius. What good a friend was he if she couldn’t trust him?732

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Jadyn exclaimed. Suddenly her excitement faded. “How do we get up?”733

“I don’t know,” Kane lied. “Let’s go this way. Maybe there’s a slope that we can climb.” Jadyn looked doubtful, but followed him nonetheless.734

The cut throbbed with each step he took closer to Wind. He nonchalantly made his way around the mountain, “stumbling” upon the opening into the cave.735

“This cave looks to be our best bet,” Kane told Jadyn.736

Jadyn didn’t stop to wait. She plunged in, her coat merging instantly with the darkness. Suddenly her eyes appeared as she turned and waited for him to follow.737

“Kane?” she asked.738

“Yes?” he replied as they made their way into the tunnel.739

“I love you, too.”740

Her words were a knife in Kane’s heart. He knew he wasn’t taking Jadyn to see Tehila. The truth was, he didn’t know why. Wind had commanded it. It was like she was living inside his mind. Telling him what to do.741

But Jadyn’s feelings had freed him from her grasp. Finally, he felt free. There was powerful wrenching in his gut as Kane stumbled and fell, losing consciousness almost instantly.742

Jadyn743

Jadyn turned around when she heard the thump. They had been walking for just over a half hour.744

“Kane!” Her voice sounded shrill and worried. Kane didn’t move. He lay, crumpled on the floor and wedged in between the close walls.745

Jadyn sat down hard. She could feel tears welling up behind her eyes but she didn’t let them fall. Instead, she stood up and gave Kane a lick.746

His eyes snapped open and he jumped up so fast he bumped his head on the ceiling.747

“We have to go back!” Kane yelped.748

“Why?” Jadyn asked, surprised. “Tehila’s up there! She wants us to come!”749

“But—“750

“Shh!” Jadyn hushed him. She could hear a faint rumble of feet.751

“Prisoners,” Kane whispered.752

“What?” Jadyn asked, thinking she misheard him.753

“Nothing. Let’s just keep going,” Kane replied, shaking his head and shivering slightly.754

Jadyn noticed for the first time that the cut had disappeared. She swore when they entered the tunnel, it had been there, an ugly swollen scar across his forehead. But now it was gone, and it had left no trace of it ever existing.755

Jadyn nodded and turned back. This time, instead of walking, she set off at a brisk trot. Kane followed behind her, glancing back over his shoulder after every few steps.756

When they reached the large room, the mist was everywhere. It rose up to the path and swirled around the wolves’ paws. Jadyn could still see, but she stepped carefully because the heavy fog was covering the path.757

A screech cut through the silence like a knife. Jadyn’s instinct was to hit the deck and wait it out, but Kane lifted his head to the tall, dark ceiling, searching for movement. Jadyn followed suit. A flickering shadow flitted toward them. Jadyn let a growl come from inside her chest.758

A huge bat swooped down to her, claws outstretched, snapping its leathery wings. Jadyn sprung up to meet it, grabbing its leg and yanking hard. There was a small pop, and the leg was left dangling useless from the muscular body.759

Gravity pulled her back down. Jadyn waited for her back paws to hit ground, but they didn’t. They whooshed by the narrow path. Her front paws landed jarringly on the very edge. Jadyn’s back feet scrabbled in midair. Kane leapt to her rescue, gingerly grabbing hold of the scruff of her neck and heaving her out of the endless mist.760

“T-thanks,” Jadyn said, her body quivering from shock.761

Kane nodded, looking back over his shoulder toward the entrance again. “Let’s go,” he said, ushering her along her way.762

“What’s the matter with you?” Jadyn asked him as they made their way along the passageway.763

“Shh!” Kane was the one shushing this time. “Keep your voice down, or they’ll hear us.”764

“Who, exactly, will hear us?” Jadyn asked, slightly vexed.765

“I don’t know,” Kane muttered, “but I doubt you’d like to meet them.”766

Jadyn heard the soft footsteps of more wolves entering the wide room. She sped up until she was running, stifling her breathing and calming her stormy thoughts.767

The tunnel suddenly became narrow again, and for this Jadyn was glad. The empty space and whirling mist was making her nervous.768

Straining slightly, Jadyn noted that the path was now going steeply uphill. When they crested a particularly sheer rise, a waft of cold fresh air hit Jadyn’s nose. She froze. She smelled wolves, and lots of them.769

“Kane, where are we?” Jadyn asked in a small voice.770

“At the hideout of Wind,” a voice said behind Jadyn. But it wasn’t Kane. Turning, Jadyn saw that Kane had vanished. In his place stood a little tan wolf. “Jadyn…” she murmured. “We have awaited you arrival here for awhile now.”771

“Who are you? What did you do with Kane?” she asked, her voice rising and fear mounting. Behind the tan wolf, furry shadows lurked, their eyes glowing in the darkness.772

“Name’s Kirala,” the wolf said. “And these,” she swept her long bushy tail behind her, gesturing to the shadows, “are Her Majesty’s silent warriors.”773

The only word that Jadyn took in was “warriors”. She whipped around and bolted toward where the cold air was coming from.774

The sunlight was astonishingly bright. Jadyn was stunned for a moment. But that was just long enough for the two black wolves on either side of her to pin her down and knock her unconscious.775

When Jadyn woke up, she was in a small room. The rocky walls told her she was inside the wretched mountain again. She looked around the low-ceilinged room.776

A small bed of moss was in the corner opposite her. She crossed to it in four paces and sniffed it half-heartedly. There was a dead rabbit next to it. She sniffed that, too, wrinkling up her nose in disgust. Poisoned to make her sleep. She disdainfully swept it away. Jadyn paced the perimeter, finding a low hole that she thought she might be able to squeeze through. Jadyn put her head through it, pushing her body flat against the floor. She wiggled forward, inching through the small tunnel. It was short, only about as long as three-quarters of her body. The only problem was, there was a rock blocking the other side.777

Jadyn sighed, gathering her feet under her and pushing her weight against it. She shoved hard; her feet kicking out and body squirming. Finally, she felt it budge, and doubled her efforts. The big rock rolled away and Jadyn was out in a moment, slowing her breathing and observing her surroundings.778

She was in another cave. This one was a long passageway. She could walk through it easily, though, because it was four feet across and five feet high. There were no other signs of life, though little holes with rocks blocking them just like the one to her room were lined up across the floor. Jadyn wondered how whoever had put her in there had fit her through.779

She shook the thought away, however, when a black wolf rounded the corner. At first, Jadyn thought she was seeing her reflection. The wolf was the same size, had the same muscular build. That was until her cruel eyes froze Jadyn. Ice blue that made her think of cold, lonely nights and death.780

“Jadyn,” she said, her voice soft and menacing. “What are you doing up?”781

“Who are you?” Jadyn said.782

The black wolf looked surprised, though her face remained remotely expressionless. “You don’t recognize me? I’m your mother,” she said.783

Jadyn was shocked into silence. “No,” was all she said, her voice strained and thin.784

“You don’t remember me? Wind?” she questioned.785

“No!” Jadyn shouted. “Now let me go! I need to find Kane!”786

“Ah,” Wind said delicately. “There’s the problem. You can’t go, you see. I need your… assistance with some… business of mine.” She showed her teeth in a malicious and heartless smile.787

“Then at least let me see Kane!” Jadyn pleaded.788

“I see you haven’t found out,” Wind said softly.789

“Found what out?” Jadyn said sharply.790

“Kane is the one that led you to me. He brought you up here. All for me.”791

“No he didn’t! We came because—“792

“Tehila? She’s in on this, too. Trust me, Jadyn. You’ve got no one but me, now. You might as well make the best of it and cooperate,” Wind snarled softly.793

Jadyn was silent for a while. “I… My friends wouldn’t do that to me! They love me!”794

“But they were just following my orders. This charade had you fooled for quite a while, didn’t it?” Wind asked, her voice gentle and malevolent at the same time. “As long as you promise to cooperate with me, you won’t have to go back in there.” Wind jabbed her tail toward the small room.795

With that she turned, not even checking to make sure that Jadyn was following behind. Jadyn hovered for a moment in indecision before she trailed behind her, head down and tail dragging almost as low as her spirit.796

Kane797

It didn’t take long for the guilt to set in. In fact, as soon as the little tan wolf appeared and the black wolves surrounded him, enveloping him in darkness and a deafening silence, the true nature of what he had just done struck him like lightning.798

He wanted to just start over. Redo it all so Jadyn wouldn’t hate him and he could be free to run away with her. But he couldn’t. He didn’t have the power to do that.799

But wait. Wind did, didn’t she?800

As soon as Kane was free of the horrible black wolves, he sped toward the spiraling peak. He bolted around and around the rocky spire until he reached the peak, where a small, hollow cave entrance yawned. He plunged in, following the twisting entrance hallway until he reached a large, empty room. There was a white bearskin lying in the corner, and a small hole in the ceiling threw in the moon’s milky light.801

Wind was there, too. She leapt up as soon as he entered and snarled quietly, “How nice of you to join me, Kane,”802

“Where’s Jadyn?” Kane asked rudely, getting right to the point.803

“I doubt she wants to see you right now.”804

Kane ignored this last statement. “Where is she?”805

“You don’t get it, do you?” Wind asked softly, her cold laugh as hollow as her heart. “I don’t need you any more.”806

“What?”807

“I have what I want, thanks to you,” she said, getting up and stalking over to whisper in his ear. Her cold, icy blue gaze burned into his mind.808

“What does that have to do with me?” Kane asked, shadows of fear creeping into his heart and mind.809

“Absolutely nothing.” She laughed mirthlessly again. “That’s just it. Goodbye, Kane. I’ve lost my fondness for you. And I apologize,” she snarled quietly, her eyes narrowing as she heard the promising thud of Kane’s body hitting the rock floor. She dismissed the two silent wolves with a flick of her tail and left Kane’s body as she stepped around him and into the winding tunnel, reaching the cold air and observing the moon.810

Kane woke to a shout of fury. The shriek died down, echoing off the empty cave walls. He recognized it at once.811

He stumbled to his feet, his blurry eyes raking the dark cave for the form he wished to see. Jadyn was standing there, shadowed by none other than Wind, a malicious smile playing on her lips.812

“Jadyn!” he yelped, springing toward her. His muscles screamed in pain as a long cut on his shoulder broke open and bled freely.813

Jadyn didn’t hold back. She leapt toward him, locking her teeth onto Kane’s neck.814

“Don’t hold back. Let out all your fury, Jadyn. He deserves it.” Wind’s voice floated over him.815

Kane squeaked in pain and jumped away before Jadyn could get a good hold on him.816

“I can’t believe you!” she hollered.817

“What?” he asked, bewildered.818

“This was all a joke? A plot? You don’t love me… None of it was true!” she howled mournfully, looking as if she would like to attack again.819

“But Jadyn!” Kane said, his mind racing. “I do! Why would you ever think that?”820

“Why wouldn’t I?” Jadyn said, her voice taking on the cold indifference of her mother. Kane winced inwardly at the comparison.821

“Please believe me,” he implored, his dark blue eyes widening. He willed her to believe him.822

She sniffed and put her nose in the air. “I’m past believing you,” she snarled as she stalked out the door.823

Kane couldn’t believe. The one wolf he loved, gone. Forever. Kane didn’t think that she would forgive him too soon.824

He followed her out of the tunnel, but when he reached the cold, crisp air, she was nowhere to be seen. Wind had not followed. An old gray wolf pushed past him, casting an apologetic glance over his shoulder.825

With a moment’s hesitation, Kane let him have a head start and then he stalked after the old wolf, back into the cave. He hovered in the tunnel, ears pricked.826

“Your Majesty,” the old wolf wheezed. “Winter Solstice is tomorrow. You must start the preparation.”827

“How long?” Wind’s eager voice said.828

“The fast is a day. You cannot eat, nor see another soul until the ceremony tomorrow.”829

“And this is all because of Jadyn…” Wind murmured.830

Jadyn? Kane slunk closer, his ears quivering in fear and worry.831

“Typically, the goddess must sacrifice herself,” the old wolf said grumpily.832

Wind drew in a deep breath. “I do not care to know what typical wolves do, Arath. I wish to be different. I wouldn’t want to sacrifice myself. That’s just where Jadyn comes in.”833

Realization suddenly dawned on Kane’s face. No. How could she be so cruel and cold-hearted? Kane didn’t need to answer his own question. He knew without a doubt that Wind would do that in a heartbeat. Tomorrow, Jadyn would be dead. And that scared him more than anything he had seen so far in his short three years. 834

Kane slunk out of the cave, not wishing to hear any more. He bolted into the afternoon sunlight, wanting it to warm his fur. But the sun was cold today. Clouds hovered around it, swaying and promising lots of snow.835

Kane reached the plateau, and was weaving between tightly packed groups of wolves when he heard his name called. Well, it wasn’t his name, but somehow he knew the “Hey, you!” was directed at him. He turned to see who had addressed him, and he spotted a slim white wolf dash up to him.836

“Hello,” she the she-wolf said, a sly grin playing on her lips. “I hear you know Jadyn.”837

At her name, Kane’s head snapped up and she looked the wolf straight in the eye. Her light gold gaze did not waver. “You’re…” he began.838

“Jadyn’s sister. Tehila,” she said, leading him to the spot where she had been sitting with a big chocolate brown wolf.839

Kane glanced at him and when he saw the forest green eyes his pose turned hostile. A slight growl rumbled in his throat as the wolf rose and faced him.840

“I believe we got off to a bad start last time we met,” he said conversationally.841

Kane did not reply, but kept up his growl.842

“I’m Farren,” the wolf said, “and if you hadn’t bolted off like that, I would have asked you to join the Mountain Pack.”843

At this Kane snorted. But he sat down, thinking that hostility would do him no good here. The three wolves lapsed into silence until Tehila broke it. “So what is your name?” she asked.844

“Kane,” he replied gruffly.845

Tehila looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, “So have you seen Jadyn?”846

“Unfortunately, yes,” Kane replied, relaying all that had happened between them. And then, with some hesitation, he dropped his voice to a whisper and leaned in close, informing them of Wind’s plan.847

Tehila’s calm face took on a look of horror. “No,” she murmured.848

“Yes,” Kane said grimly.849

Farren had been silent until now, “And this is all planned to happen tomorrow?”850

“Until the moon is directly overhead,” Kane answered.851

They all heaved a big sigh. The sun was setting and the clouds had overtaken the sky in its place. Snow drifted down from the heavens covering everything in a thick white blanket.852

Suddenly all the wolves in the clearing were round up into a tightly pack circle, surrounded on all sides by shadowy black pelts.853

Kane curled up into a ball and thought sadly of Jadyn until sleep claimed him, snow falling all the while.854

Farren855

The day of Winter Solstice was bleak. Farren couldn’t remember much of anything but turmoil in his heart and chaos in the wolves around him. They could sense something was happening, but as far as Farren knew, he, Tehila, and Kane were the only wolves besides Wind and her advisor that knew what she was going to attempt.856

Farren could feel Tehila’s worry prickling in her fur and his own uneasy mood put him on edge. The three wolves wandered around for the entire day, mostly remaining silent.857

When the sun disappeared, the warmth went with it. Every time he exhaled, Farren’s breath came out in a shroud of frozen mist. 858

He saw a black form emerge from the top of Hawk’s Peak, and Farren wondered whether it was Wind? Or Jadyn? Another black blob materialized behind it. By now all the wolves were craning their necks to watch their descent.859

They reached the pack, which had gathered in a great bundle. Kane padded away with muttered goodbyes. Farren let him go, he needed to stay and comfort Tehila. He could tell she was trying to be strong and hold her head up high, but Farren could tell that inside she just wanted to curl up and forget that all of this had ever happened.860

Farren pressed his flank against her, steadying her shattering breaths. She cried into his shoulder, sobs wracking her body. Farren couldn’t blame her.861

He glanced up at Jadyn again. He guessed that she was the second wolf, her tail was held low and her feet dragged glumly. Wind turned and murmured a few words into her daughter’s ear. Jadyn’s tail lifted and her head snapped up as if she were standing at attention.862

When they reached the crowd of wolves, they parted, forming a path to the center of the frozen plateau. Farren glanced away, looking for Kane in the pack. He spotted Kane’s dark gray pelt making his way through the sea of pelts until he reached the front, where he could see close up.863

The moon was high above their heads, but not directly above. It glittered coldly, casting gloomy shadows all around the plateau. Stars dotted the skies as an old, grizzled wolf stood before the two midnight black pelts. Jadyn stepped forward and the old wolf began to talk.864

“We are here to observe the crowning of a goddess,” he growled.865

There was a gasp from the gathered wolves. A few cries of horror were heard. Wind silenced them all with a glare.866

The moon was rising fast, and a single, ominously black cloud drifted lazily toward it.867

When the moon was mere minutes away from being directly overhead, the old wolf jarred Farren out of his thinking. “The promise?” he asked.868

“I promise to rule this forest till the day I die,” Wind answered eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement.869

Arath turned and addressed the pack. “You,” he said, his voice ringing out across the plateau, “are the followers of the goddess. Wind,” he clarified. The pack was deathly silent. Even the smallest pup there seemed to sense the thick tension in the air.870

“And last,” Arath said, turning to Jadyn. He lowered his voice darkly, and the wolves all leaned forward. “The sacrifice.” Jadyn’s mouth fell open. Her eyes shot wide and her black tail stood straight up.871

Wind paid her no mind. She glanced impatiently up at the cloud that now, with one long wispy tip, seemed to brush the moon. At that moment the sky turned dark. The winking stars disappeared behind the heavy canopy of writhing black clouds.872

Snow shot down from the black clouds, showing stark white against the sinister clouds. Lightning flew down and struck the top of the mountain, a sizzling heat emanating from it. A clap of thunder ripped down from the sky, seeming to shake the mountain itself.873

Lightning snaked down and struck the path that wound up the spire, rock exploding outward in all directions. It was coming closer. Farren suddenly saw how the sacrifice would happen. His eyes stretched wide in shock, and he could almost feel the heat of the lightning sizzle his fur just as it would sizzle Jadyn’s.874

Farren glanced around helplessly, his eyes lighting on Kane. His face had on a mask of calm determination. No. Kane had his whole life ahead of him. Farren set his face. He turned to Tehila.875

“I love you, Tehila,” he said. He gave her a lick before racing off, pushing between wolves and ignoring the growls that chased after him. Thunder rumbled, and the snow whirled, getting in his eyes and turning his vision white. But Farren blinked it angrily away.876

The lightning struck again, this time closer. Jadyn was frozen in fear, her wide golden eyes staring bleakly up at her doom.877

Farren reached Kane, who was readying himself to leap. But Farren beat him to it. He gave a sideways glance at Kane, locking eyes with him before giving a mighty heave, straining his legs and stretching them, bowling Jadyn over and out of harm’s way just as a bolt of lightning rocketed down and struck him instead.878

Jadyn879

Jadyn had the wind knocked out of her. The impact of Farren’s huge body had sent her flying. She landed in a heap and stood up in time to see the clouds clearing. The snow stopped and the moon glowed high in the sky as the stars twinkled merrily.880

“No!” Wind howled. “No!” she screeched again. She dashed over to Farren’s lifeless body and grabbed hold of it in her jaws, ripping his chocolate brown fur into shreds. Jadyn was then struck by what had happened. Farren had sacrificed himself for her, a mere stranger. Why?881

A mournful cry rang out across the plateau. Heads turned to where Tehila was sitting, putting her muzzle up to the moon and howling her grief. Other wolves joined in, until Wind was the only silent wolf in the clearing.882

Her cold eyes swept around the pack until she spotted Jadyn huddling toward the side of the circle. Wind’s frosty gaze lit up. “Jadyn,” she murmured. Jadyn was about to turn tail and run when big black wolves appeared around her, shoving her forward to face Wind.883

If it was a fight she wanted, it was a fight she would get. Jadyn straightened, gathering her courage. She growled, flattening her ears and stiffening her lean muscles.884

Wind let out a bark of laughter. “You think growling will work on me?” she yowled. Wind flashed forward, and had Jadyn pinned to the ground before she could do a thing about it. Then she seemed to move in slow motion, raising her muzzle and driving it downward, aiming straight for Jadyn’s neck.885

Jadyn thrashed, but no matter how hard she tried, Wind’s rock hard muscles were locked in place. She could feel Wind’s breath on her throat when suddenly her weight was lifted from Jadyn’s neck. She leapt up like she had been sitting on hot coals, looking around to see why Wind had jumped away from her.886

Wind’s black pelt stood out against the pale snow, but the snow was turning red, blood leaking into it from the motionless body. Kane lifted his head from Wind’s throat, where his teeth had found their mark. Jadyn smiled and walked slowly over to him, giving him a lick behind his ear. He returned the sign of affection and the wolves around them howled all the while.887

After a few minutes, the plateau began to empty. Wolves were filing out through the cave, making the trek back to the outside of the mountain.888

“I suppose we should go too,” Kane said meekly.889

“I want to see Tehila first,” Jadyn replied, diving off into the crowd and lifting her nose, pinpointing her sister sitting exactly where she had been when Farren was killed.890

Tehila made no motion of greeting when Jadyn padded up and sat down next to her. Jadyn gave her sister a comforting lick, but still, she did not respond. After an uncomfortable silence, Jadyn said, “I just want to say thank you.”891

Tehila turned to look at her, grief raw in her face. “For what?”892

“For everything. And,” Jadyn paused, uncertain how to put it. “I want you to know that I love you, no matter whether you’re my sister or not.”893

Tehila cracked, tears spilling down her face. She leaned on Jadyn, crying harder than ever.894

“What’s wrong?” Jadyn said kindly, even though she had a pretty good idea of what was wrong.895

“H-his pups,” Tehila managed to choke out.896

“What?” Jadyn asked, surprised.897

“They won’t have a father,” Tehila murmured.898

Realization dawned on Jadyn. “But they’ll be fine! They’ll be very proud to have a mother like you and a father that was so kindhearted.”899

Affection for her sister warmed Jadyn’s cold limbs. “Come on,” she said, tugging gently on Tehila’s fur. “Let’s go down and get out of this place.”900

Tehila nodded forlornly and followed Jadyn back to Kane who threw Jadyn a puzzling look. Jadyn gave him a lick and they started down the path behind the dozens of other wolves before them.901

When they finally reached the bottom, the sun was up. Somehow it seemed less cold than it had up at the top of the mountain. The wolves all split, packs reuniting and scampering off to claim their lost territory.902

Jadyn, Tehila, and Kane remained by the mountain’s base until the last wolf and rushed off. Then they were alone.903

It was Kane who brought up the uneasy subject. “So,” he said uncertainly to Tehila, “are you going to go back to your pack?”904

“No,” Tehila answered without looking at him.905

Jadyn’s brow creased in concern. “Then where will you go?”906

Tehila turned to look her full in the face. “I was wondering if maybe, I could stay with you,” she said solemnly, a hopeful light dancing in her eyes.907

Jadyn glanced at Kane who smiled and twined his tail with hers.908

“Of course,” Jadyn whispered warmly. “Of course you can stay in our pack.”909

Tehila910

“Garret! Come back here!” Tehila called after the rambunctious pup. The chocolate colored pelt froze, and Garret looked around, silently pleading his mother to let him go and play. Tehila looked into the green gaze and felt a warm glow rush through her limbs. “Come and play with your sister and brother!”911

“Aw, but they’re boring!” Garret complained, his whine startling a butterfly from a flower. He jumped up and snapped at the fluttering insect, but missed.912

“So you think we’re boring, huh?” Garret’s sister said. Her snowy white pelt lunged toward him, toppling him to the ground.913

“Kana!” Garret yelped. “Get off!”914

Kana leapt back, and the tan pup took over. As soon as Garret stood, the pup launched himself on top of Garret.915

“No fair!” Garret cried. “You guys can’t team up on me!”916

“Well you’re the biggest,” Kana pouted. “Right Koen?” The quiet tan pup nodded vigorously.917

“No fighting,” Tehila scolded as she heaved herself up and lifted Koen off of Garret, who immediately leapt up and growled, flashing his sharp white teeth.918

The warmth of spring calmed Tehila, soaking her body in pleasant heat.919

Jadyn padded up, her black pelt fluffed out in excitement. She sat down, and the pups exclaimed, “Jadyn!” excitedly and clambered all over her.920

“Careful,” she told them, wincing when Garret nipped her ear. “You might hurt the pups.”921

“What pups?” Kana asked.922

“I thought we were the pups!” Garret said, his voice on the edge of complaining.923

“You are,” Jadyn said. “But there’s going to be some more!”924

Tehila jumped up. “No way!” she yelped.925

Jadyn nodded breathlessly. Their pack was growing! Soon they’d be able to teach Tehila’s pups how to hunt and fight.926

Kane padded into the clearing, pausing to lap up a mouthful of water from the pond that marked the center of their territory. He sat down next to Jadyn. It was a big leap, going from a loner to the alpha of a new pack. But it was a job his was willing and ready to fulfill.927

Jadyn gave him a lick and Kane wagged his tail gently. Then, with the pups yelping blissfully the three adult wolves lay down, putting their chins on their paws. Every one of them was happier than they could ever remember.928

FIN929