Chapter 2

Natisha once again trotted down the path towards the gnaw wolf dens. She hoped by Lupus that the two wolves were still there, especially after what she had told them last night.

"Not that I'm trying to help you or anything, but I'd say you should skedaddle as soon as possible."

The words echoed in her head. They were the first things that had made her think about helping the wolves escape so that they could raise their pup. But now they had to stand before the gadderheal to hear the chieftain's decree. Hopefully it wouldn't be as harsh as it usually was… unless of course, non-malcadhs had nothing to do with the equation. It was still hard to believe that that pup couldn't be deformed at all. She saw the den just a few more paces away ahead of her. To her relief, Cilian was standing outside of it. She broke into a run down the hill.

Cilian saw the Obea coming quickly at them.

"What does she want now?" he asked himself. Natisha screeched to a halt at the entrance to the cave.

"You could have just walked the last few paces," said Cilian.

"I am to return as quickly as possible," said Natisha, "I must deliver the chieftain's news to you."

"Then please come in," said Cilian. Natisha was surprised. No wolf would invite the Obea into their den if their life depended on it.

"I… I can't," said Natisha. Cilian looked at her suspiciously.

"What law of the Beyond says that?" asked Cilian.

"There isn't one," said Natisha, "But one never invites the Obea into their den, especially after the birthing of a pup."

"Well then we're different aren't we," said Cilian, "Come on. The sooner we get this over with the sooner you can get back to the chieftain." Natisha reluctantly followed him into the cave and saw that the pup was still nursing at Iris's side. Cilian went over and stood by his mate and waited for the Obea to speak.

"Go on," said Cilian.

"The chieftain would like to see you two in the gadderheal tomorrow when the sun rises," said Natisha, "That is all he told me to tell you." The two gnaw wolves stared at her blankly with their single eyes. It was as if they were one wolf staring at her.

"What else do you have to say," said Cilian. Natisha stayed silent for a few moments.

"I feel that you need my help," said Natisha softly, "I must apologize for exposing both of you in the gadderheal earlier. It was just my duty…"

"But why would you help us?" asked Iris. Natisha stared into her left eye.

"You two remember the events right after you were accepted as gnaw wolves into the clan don't you?" asked Natisha. Both wolves nodded.

"Yes, back when I met both of you…"


The she-wolf staggered into the boundaries of the MacDuncan clan, seen only by the Obea. Many wolves were out on a byrrgis at the moment. The Obea ran towards the she-wolf and as she got closer, she saw that the wolf had a single left eye and beautiful silver fur.

"Th-they're coming!" the she-wolf cried, "They're getting closer!"

"Calm down!" Natisha demanded. Inside she felt surprised. Just days before, a male wolf missing his left eye had come into the clan's boundaries and became a gnaw wolf rather quickly.

"Who is chasing you?" Natisha asked. Her question was answered seconds later when a duo of terrible smelling wolves burst from the bushes that the she-wolf had come from.

"Outclanners!" Natisha cried at the top of her lungs. Immediately, the skreeleen cry for Outclanners was howled and a group of wolves that had stayed behind in the camp rushed out to take the Outclanners down. The wolves quickly took down the Outclanners and when the task was complete, they all went back to the camp. Natisha took a few moments before speaking to the she-wolf again.

"Where did you come from?" asked Natisha.

"I-I-I don't know," the wolf stuttered weakly.

"Then you shall come and join our clan as a gnaw wolf," said Natisha, "I feel that you will get along quite well with the other gnaw wolf we have here." The she-wolf nodded shakily. Natisha almost felt bad for her. But not just bad, but some sort of kinship to the girl as if they had met somewhere before. But how was that possible? She was a malcadh for goodness sakes! It couldn't be possible as she hadn't taken any malcadhs from the clan in her short career. And on top of that, this she-wolf appeared the same age as her.

"Come along," said Natisha as she led the she-wolf towards the heart of the MacDuncan clan.


And it was most certainly true that Iris got along with Cilian; got along too much even.

"I felt a kinship to Iris when I first met her," said Natisha, "As if she were my own sister." She glanced at Cilian.

"And as for you… you were the one who saved me," said Natisha, "I feel that I owe you something."

"I remember," said Cilian.


Natisha walked among the trees in the MacDuncan territory. It was a nice day, perfect for a walk, but suddenly, she heard the sound of hooves on the ground. She turned and saw a large moose walking towards her. Natisha backed away slowly. She had heard that charges from moose could kill wolves instantly. She suddenly stepped on a twig and the moose freaked. It charged straight at her and she began to run. Suddenly, she tripped over a branch and rolled over on her back.

"This is it," Natisha thought to herself, "I'm going to be the second Obea in a row to die of a moose charge." She squeezed her eyes shut but no moose trampled her. As a matter of fact, she heard wailing from the moose. She rolled over on her feet and turned around and saw that the moose had been taken down and was lying lifeless on the ground. The attacker was a single right eyed wolf.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

"I'm fine," said Natisha, "Who are you?"

"I don't know," said the wolf, "I've never had a name."

"A malcadh!" she thought in sudden realization.

"Come with me," said Natisha, "You shall be named and shall join the MacDuncan clan." The wolf seemed confused.

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"You will become a gnaw wolf of the MacDuncans and maybe someday you will join the Watch at the Ring of Sacred Volcanos," said Natisha sincerely. She nodded towards a ring of volcanos out to the east.

"Come along," said Natisha, "We must see the MacDuncan chieftain." It took a few moments before he nodded reluctantly.

"Good, then let's go," said Natisha.


"Well, at least now I have no reason to regret it," said Cilian looking down at his son.

"What have you named him anyways?" asked Natisha.

"Myron," said Iris, "His name is Myron." Myron… it had such a nice ring to it Natisha thought.

"Well anyways, I must be heading back," said Natisha, "Remember, when the sun rises tomorrow, be at the gadderheal or there will be problems." She walked out of the cave and turned around as she was leaving its mouth. The wolves were watching her as she went. Myron seemed to look straight at her eyes as well.

"And thank you for helping me care about something," she said softly. She walked back up the bluff and walked towards the gadderheal once again.


A/N: Well it looks like Natisha is helping gnaw wolves out now. What might happen to them? And what will Liam MacDuncan's statement be? Well, we'll all find out won't we? It's kind of a short chapter because there wasn't much to write.

Disclaimer: I do not own Wolves of the Beyond. Everything belongs to Kathryn Lasky except for my OCs.