Alright guys, so this story was originally posted under Victory, but we decided to transfer rights to this story. It will still be a joint operation and he will be helping me out in the making of this story since we both came up with the idea. Sit back and enjoy, but first I must give you some very vital information.
*Kate and Lilly aren't sisters. This is actually very important for you to know.
*Humphrey is seeing Sweets. Also important.
*Sweets and Kate are sisters. Also very important.
*Lilly and Harv are siblings. I'd you don't know who Harv is, you'll find out.
Alright, so with that out of the way we present to you, chapter 1. Enjoy.
There is nothing quite like the late hours of a passing summer day in the central portion of Canada. The sun's purple and amber rays reach out and embrace the land in their warm glow, casting its last light upon the trees, rivers, plains, and hills and dark shadows stretched east across the ground, bringing with them warning of the eminent nightfall. It was on warm evenings such as this that the wolves of the long united Jasper Valley liked to lounge around in the sun, basking in its pleasant rays. They all sat out upon the main grounds, talking casually to one another while the pups played. Even the normally uptight and high-strung alphas found themselves partaking in pranks that the omegas had planned. Life was good here. The food was plentiful, and after the outbreak in the north a few years back the word 'war' had all but become a pup's fairytale. Watching the times of joy from high above the main grounds in the head alpha den was a she-wolf; gray of face while keeping her natural silvery tan fur along the rest of her body. Her beautiful amber eyes seemed tired and content, at peace with the world around her. She watched her people lazing about in the cool evening air and sighed a deep, satisfied sigh.
"Ah our pup could not have ever dreamed that she would get to lead the pack in such a peaceful state," a gruff sounding male voice asked suddenly from behind the she-wolf.
But alas the she-wolf did not fear this voice. With a soft smile she turned her head back and up slightly until she was looking the owner of the voice in the face. He smiled warmly back at her, his silvering gray features showing the wisdom of his old age, and moved slowly to her side, laying down close to her and entwining his tail with hers. For a while the two just stared out at their land, watching the pups play, hearing the laughter from the wolves; until the male turned his face silently to her, still smiling at his thoughts. The she-wolf felt his gaze and turned her face to his, and the two stared deeply into each other's eyes for a long moment.
Their moment was interrupted by a feminine voice sounding softly in their ears.
"Mom? Dad?" they heard.
They smiled broadly and turned to see their only daughter standing a short distance down the ramp from the entrance in which they lay. Her form was that of pride and strength, her posture was excellent and her snow white fur was well kept, from the tip of her muzzle to the two black socks she wore on her hind legs. Her lavender rimmed eyes possessed enough wisdom and knowledge to lead four packs, while also giving way to careless innocence. These were the eyes of a young leader, and it was with these eyes that she would gaze out upon what was soon to be hers, and smile proudly.
Her parents slowly stood up, the two of them stiff with their age and walked over to their daughter, each one taking turns wrapping their necks affectionately around hers, touching their muzzles to her opposite shoulder. She returned the gesture to both of them and took a few steps back.
"So what brings you around Nadia?" the elder she-wolf asked happily, always thrilled to get a visit from their daughter.
"Ah not much," Nadia replied with a grin, "just stopped by to say hey to my favorite wolves in the world."
"I thought that we were your favorite wolves," a male voice suddenly challenged playfully.
Nadia turned around with a smile, seeing her black furred mate walking casually up the hill, behind him two pups of dark tan and blonde. The pups were playing as they made their way up the ramp, tackling each other to the ground and rolling around in scuffles. Nadia's face became stern.
"Arie! Shep!"
The pups heard the tone of their mother's voice and immediately ceased their folly, coming to a rest in an awkward position and quickly untangling themselves. They sat up on their haunches side by side and hung their heads.
"How many times do I have to tell you about not playing around while you're walking up the ramp?" nadi scolded firmly.
They hung their heads low and the blonde furred Arie began to sniffle. Nadia saw this and her pointed tone immediately vanished. She padded over to her daughter and pulled het into a comforting hug.
"I'm sorry Arie, Nadia crooned, "you know I don't mean to snap at you. It's just that I worry for your safety.
Arie sniffed and returned the hug.
"You know that your father and I love you guys both very much, and we would be devastated if anything were to happen to you."
Arie coughed lightly and pulled away, looking up to Nadia. Nadia smiled and looked her daughter right in her teary crystal blue eyes.
"You promise?" Arie asked innocently.
Nadia only smiled and pulled her back into the hug.
"I promise baby," she whispered.
Arie smiled and pulled out of her mother's hug.
"I love you too mommy," she said and released herself from the hug.
Shep watched the whole situation unfold and when they finished he spoke.
"I'm sorry momma," he apologized sincerely.
Nadia smiled and took him into a quick hug as well.
"Oh, you guys know I can't stay mad at you."
Her mate and parents stood by and watched the whole thing and were touched by this moment, causing smiles to steal across their faces. After a few more seconds of watching he padded over to his mate and laid his muzzle down on her shoulder. Nadia turned to him.
"Come on Nadi, pups, garamma and grampa just invited us to stay for dinner."
The pups' spirit immediately brightened and they squealed for joy, sprawling quickly to their grandparents and jumping up and down excitedly, their little tails beating back and forth rapidly. The two elder wolves smiled happily and bent their heads down to their grandpups, taking turns nuzzling each one, and then pulled their heads back up.
"Alright let's go get us some food," the elder male suggested, gesturing the family into the den.
"You know, it's a beautiful evening," Nadia pointed out, "why don't we eat out here?" she suggested.
This got the pups' attention and they jumped up and down excitedly, for this would be the first time that they had ever eaten outside of a den. The elder wolf smiled and looked to his mate, seeing her nod in approval and said,
"Alright, yeah let's eat out here," he said and walked toward the back of the den, grabbing the leg of a fresh killed caribou, "and itsh a good thsing becaushe thish carihou wash haking up jusht a bih HOO MUCH... ROOM! Gah."
He grunted in his speech as he dragged the body of quite possibly the largest caribou that Nadia, and her mate for that matter, had ever seen, and placed it on its side in the middle of the group with a relieved groan.
"Oh my goodness," Nadia cried in astonishment, "how did you ever manage to take down such a thing?"
Her father only grinned.
"Your old man may be, well... old, but he's still got some fight left in him."
This drew some laughter from the family and he joined in with them.
"Alright, well enough chitchat," the elder male said finally, cutting away the laughter, "let's eat. I'm starving."
Nadia and her mate nodded and began to slice the skin open, revealing the succulent flesh beneath. They then peeled some of the skin back and finally dipped their heads, taking the first bloody bite.
"Mmm, this is delicious dad," Nadia said, her mouth rimmed with blood.
"Only the best for my family dear," he replied and began to eat as well.
The pups followed suit, as did Nadia's mate, and lastly her mother until they were all feasting upon the delicious red meat.
The family ate and ate until they were certain that if they took one more bite their stomachs would surely explode, and even still there was enough meat left on the carcass to feed another two or three wolves. The sun was now nearly down and the other wolves of the territory were beginning to make their way to their dens for the night. The carcass was taken into the den by Nadia's mate, and now they all lay about on the little outcropping in front of the den. Nadia had Arie and Shep between her forelegs and was cleaning them of blood and Nadia's mate was doing the same for her, grooming her soft white fur with his tongue. Nadia's parents lay together nearby, grooming each other's faces and laughing softly as they thought about how they used to do this when they were young. It was breezy out, and the wind blew soft and warm through their fur, seeming to be a perfect end to such a perfect day. Arie looked over from her cleaning to her grandparents and her innocent curiosity began to rise.
"Um, gramma Nyla? Grampa Flint?" she asked sweetly, gaining the attention of ther elder couple.
"Yes little one?" Nyla asked, smiling adoringly back at her.
"I was just wondering... where are you and grampa from?" she asked, her eyes full of question and mystery.
Nyla chuckled at the question and turned to her mate, remembering the story that her parents had told them all those years ago.
"Well, it all began many many years ago, back before your grampa and I were even born; when two lovers, separated by the laws of nature, discovered the Secret..."