The night was illuminated by a bright, full moon. The pine trees of the woods sheltered a band of three, sitting about a camp fire and gazing into the flames. One was an old man, wrinkled and toughened with time and gritty with the experience of one, who's known a tough life. One was a teen who, until now, had never been out on a camping trip like this one. Far from a campground, without a tent or supplies, he thought it was crazy but trusted in the experience of his elders. The third was the boy's father, though not yet middle-aged, had an aura of wisdom that seemed beyond his years. They sat in silence for a while; then the old man stretched and yawned.
"Yaaaaawwwwnn. Waiting is something that I've never liked. I'm starting to get sleepy", he said with a false gruffness.
"What are we waiting for, Grandpa?" asked the teen.
"You're Grandfather is just getting too old for this sort of thing, Kale." said the boy's father with a playful smirk, to the old man.
"Hush, Boy. I've been at this since before you were in diapers! I'm not about to let someone as green as you are alone on one of these trips.", the old man jabbed back with humor in his voice.
"I still don't understand why we hiked all the way out here and didn't bring any supplies. Is this some sort of survival trip or something?" Kale asked with questioning defiance. The two men looked at the youth with thoughtful eyes and neutral expressions.
Growing more serious, the older man began, in a hushed tone, as he leaned in closer to the youth, "We are here because of a visitation I have recently received. In a dream, the elder spirit of our family came to me and told me that your time was near. It said to me, 'go to the gathering place before the summer moot and usher in the new cubs' first change', so here we are." The old man resumed his former sitting position and the three sat in silence for a while.
Thinking he was among the insane, Kale ventured, "I don't understand what you just said, Grandpa; Elder Spirit and First Change, What does any of that mean?" His grandfather looked at him from across the dancing flames.
"I imagine that you'll understand in a little while", said his grandfather with a devilish grin.
Silence around the campfire again. Kale shifted uneasily, as the wind began to blow gently. The fire burned hotter in the breeze and the embers crackled with the heat. In the distance the silence was broken by the cry of a wolf. Kale turned to his elders, unsure of the creatures' presence and found crazy looks spreading across their faces and fire blazing in their eyes. Surprised at their expressions, he shot up off the ground and leapt back several feet from the fire.
"Don't be afraid, Kale", his father said with crazed confidence, "Just go along with what's in your heart."
Kale turned to run from the madness that he now felt surrounding him. As he turned to bolt, fearsome wolves, some of enormous proportions, began emerging from the darkness all around the edges of the fires' glow. They growled and yipped excitedly, some even seemed to smile. Whirling around, he found that his elders had vanished into the night. The wolves had ceased their sounds and a thick silence ensued. The wind blew stronger, the fire cracked and spat, and a rustle of trees arose all around him. The wolves watched him, silent and still, and he found himself strangely unafraid. A heavy, ethereal presence seemed to desend from the trees and a low groan could be heard, over the rushes in the trees, from the pack; as a howl from an old wolf began to rise from the silence. Another joined the in, and then another, and another, still. Growing louder and louder a chorus of wild voices filled the rushing night air.
The hair on Kales' body was standing on end as he listened to them sing and a feeling began to build in his chest. A surge of strength shot through his body as new impressions and feelings began to emerge. The night air carried a new meaning, a crisp, intense flavor. The chorus around him took on a message and, as the voices became clear, the most beautiful song could be divined from the wolves, singing the tune with audible lyrics. He ripped out of his skin, then, becoming another and tore off his old clothes. Throwing back his head, he emptied his lungs and shattered the song with a roar of primal ferocity. Underneath the full moon and the dancing stars, the fire died and the woods became deathly quiet.
The rays of dawn broke over the horizon and slowly lit the land. As the light filtered through the dense trees, Kale began to see the dark shapes that surrounded him more clearly. His half sister, whom he'd never before met, stirred and looked to him. As they moved, the rest of the pack began to wake. The time was near for the summer gathering, the moot, to begin. He was among the other part of his family now, the missing half of himself that he was always, secretly, longing to learn about. Alpha "wuffed" and puffed out his fur, asserting himself. He signified that it was time to move. The pack stalked quietly through the forest hinterland. As they journeyed, others came to journey with them. By the fall of night, they had reached the gathering place, a strange and magical forrest glade, and the party began.