Chapter 6
Later that evening Snap and Solaris walked into a large room in the Talbourne Cave that had a large waterfall in it. Normally wolves crowded into this space to get a drink of the cool water, but it was late enough now that most of them had went to bed and the chamber was deserted.
Snap walked to the edge of the pond and sat down.
Solaris walked up next to her and sat as well.
Snap smiled and turned to him. "Well, that's about it I think. This is the water hole. Lots of wolves come here to drink, but we also come here to socialize too. Normally it's pretty crowded, but I guess it's getting late."
Solaris nodded. "So, you never told me about this Aniu." He said.
Snap nodded back. "Oh, right, I expect you're curious about that. Sorry, I'm so used to everyone knowing her story I guess I left that part out." She paused for a moment. "Aniu is the spirit that watches over us. You see, long ago, when the wolves were first created; Aniu was the first. After her came others, and one by one they fell in line behind her. She was their Alpha. Back then in the time before all wolves lived in one clan. There were no wars, no territory disputes, no suffering. We were all at peace. Then jealousy entered the wolf world in the form of Aniu's son, Shade. Shade was envious of his mothers power and influence, and he plotted to kill her and take that power for himself."
"...and did he succeed?" Solaris asked.
Snap nodded. "Yes, he did. Shade killed Aniu and tried to make the others follow him, but he did not posses the traits that had led the others to follow Aniu, so the great clan fractured and split up to roam over all the world. One clan believed that Aniu still watched over them, even in death. They were led by Aniu's mate. They called themselves Talbourne."
Solaris nodded. "That's the same as this clan."
Snap nodded back. "Yes, a good many of the wolves in the clan are descendents of those wolves. Shade and the Talbourne clashed, but the Talbourne was able to overpower Shade's armies and kill him. When this happened, Aniu became a spirit protector and guide for us, and Shade became a spirit bent on our annihilation."
Solaris nodded but said nothing.
"We, the Talbourne, serve Aniu today, just as our ancestors did in times past. Aniu guides us and protects us. She spoke to Aleu in a dream and foretold your coming. She said you were very important."
Solaris chuckled. "Well, I don't see how that could be true. I'm just a wandering mutt with no idea what his future is, nothing special there."
Snap smiled at him. "Oh I don't know about that, you seem pretty special to me."
Solaris eyes opened wider and he smiled, his look one of questioning uncertainty.
Snap giggled and glanced down at the floor, blushing under her fur, surprised she could have made her feelings so evident to a wolf-dog she'd only known for a few hours.
Solaris smiled at her reaction. Then he gently pushed her chin up with his paw and looked into her almond colored eyes.
She smiled and glanced away from him.
Solaris stepped forward and bent his head down to nuzzle her softly.
Snap felt her pulse quicken as her nose contacted his rough fur and she rubbed her muzzle against his neck. Every hair on her body seemed to stand on end and she gulped quietly. She felt as if she were facing a great enemy, courageous and wanting to continue on, yet ready to bolt at any second.
This confused her. She'd been in intmate-ish situations with other males before, but something about this one was different. She couldn't place it, but she knew it to be true all the same.
Solaris smiled and slid the side of his muzzle against her warmly colored orange fur. To him it felt soft, as soft as any blanket he'd ever laid on.
Just as suddenly as it had happened their embrace ended and both stepped back from one another a few inches, as if on cue.
It was silent for a long moment as the two stood there looking at each other, then Snap blushed and looked away. "Follow me. There's one more part of the cave you haven't seen." She said.
Solaris nodded and followed her as she walked out of the back of the Water Chamber and down a small and somewhat cramped tunnel. When they emerged Solaris found himself standing on a small stretch of rock that jutted out from the mountainside.
"This is my favorite place to come and think." Snap said.
Solaris nodded and looked out over the frozen timber cloaked in the fog of nightfall. "I can see why."
Snap nodded. "It's beautiful."
Solaris nodded and then looked at her.
Snap felt his eyes on her and her pulse quickened again. She wanted to say something to him, to tell him to stop, to tell him other things, but she could not get the words to come out. She just looked away again and blushed as red as ever.
Solaris smiled. "You uh... you said you had seen Aniu?"
Snap nodded and recomposed herself. "Yes, I have."
"What did she look like?" Solaris asked.
Snap smiled. "Aniu is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. She is white as snow... and she has the most piercing blue eyes you will ever see. To meet her gaze fills you with great fear, yet makes you feel like nothing could ever harm you."
Solaris sat down beside her and Snap joined him. "That reminds me of my mother." He said. "I wasn't with her long, maybe a year or so. ...but she was a wolf, like you. She had white fur and I always felt safe around her."
Snap smiled and started to unconciously tilt her head sideways toward his shoulder.
Solaris turned to her. "So, you're a fighter here?"
Snap nodded and straightened her head. "Yes."
Solaris nodded. "I heard the Alpha promoting you, Lieutenant, that's quite a jump, congratulations."
Snap nodded. "Yes, yes it is, and thank you. I... I don't know, it's only temporary until Aleu finishes training you."
Solaris smiled. "Still, it's a sign of how well they think of you."
Snap nodded.
"You must have been in some horrible battles." Solaris said. "...how do you handle that?"
Snap sighed. "Yes, yes I have been. I guess... I see it as a necessity. I'm protecting the clan. I don't wish any harm to fall on those I call friend."
Solaris nodded. "...guess that's a reasonable view." He said. He glanced back up and looked at her for a moment. "...is that what happened to your ear?" He asked.
Snap suddenly stood up and looked sharply away from him. "Solaris, don't ask about that." She said curtly.
Solaris nodded and tilted his head down and to the left a little. "Alright, but that darker marking around your left foreleg , just above your paw, looks like you got caught in a trap."
Snap sighed. "Alright, I was captured by the humans and they made me do horrible things!" She yelled. "They made me kill, not for defense, not to protect my friends, but just for sport! That's how I hurt my ear! A wolf I considered my best friend half tore it off while I was ripping out his throat! There! Happy now?!"
Solaris sighed. "I'm sorry Snap." He said.
Snap glared at him. "Whatever, just get the hell out here. I don't want to see you right now."
Solaris frowned and walked up behind her.
"I said to go!" Snap growled.
Solaris sighed. "I know how you feel Snap, what you went through." He said softly.
Snap quickly turned her head to look at him. "No one understands!" She yelled. Her eyes went softer then and started to fill with tears as she quickly turned her head away, unwilling to let him see her cry. When she spoke her voice was much quieter. "...no one knows how they hurt me or what it fills like."
The softness in Solaris' eyes faded away and hardened. "You know you're not the only one the humans have hurt." He said sharply. "You're a good wolf Snap, and I can see a lot of great qualities in you, but this selfishness is a definite bruise on the overall fruit." Then he turned to walk away.
A multitude of emotions were swirling around in Snap's body at that moment. "Absolute anger and hatred seemed strongest, but layered underneath, and quickly boiling to the surface was compassion and..."
"...and love?" Snap thought. The word startled her. She hadn't known this wolf-dog more than a few hours, and yet, that's what it was, love.
Snap quickly stood and turned, reaching her paw out toward Solaris' retreating form as if she could stop him from six feet away. "...wait, please... Solaris." She said quietly. Even her voice surprised her. It was timid, kind of weak sounding, with none of the usual sternness and strength it usually held.
Solaris stopped and turned.
"What... what happened... to you?" She asked.
Solaris sighed. "You really want to know?"
Snap nodded and looked down ashamed. "I'm sorry, I just... it's a tender subject with me... I shouldn't have overreacted."
Solaris nodded and walked back toward her. He walked a little past her and sat down. He looked out over the beautiful timber and sighed.
Snap walked up beside him and sat down as well. She tilted her head to the side and laid her cheek on his shoulder. "So... what happened?" She asked.
Solaris sighed and continued looking out at the mountainside. "Well, about a year ago I was attacked by some humans while I was outside the town I lived in. It was called Applegate. I didn't have my tags or collar on me and... I guess they thought I was a stray, or they didn't care." He paused. "Anyway, they hooked me with a cable loop attached to a pole and drugged me. When I woke up I was in their compound."
He paused and then sighed. "It wasn't long before their intentions were known to me. As I sat there in my cage I heard humans talking outside and then the door opened. In front of me was a small circle of dirt with white, bloodstained walls. At the other end of the arena the door on another cage opened and a dog charged out at me. He was rough. He had many wounds that had long since healed, torn ears, he was... battle-scarred, and the way he charged at me I knew he wanted me dead."
As Solaris continued his eyes took on a faraway gaze. In his minds eye he could see the events he was talking about; as clearly as if they were happening right in front of his eyes once more.
"I bolted from my cage, but I had no idea what to do; what I could do." He chuckled sadly. "Up until that point I'd never been in a fight before. I'd never had need of it, so... I just ran. I ran as fast as I could around the arena with the dog chasing me and people above laughing and cheering."
He paused again.
"...and then... suddenly I couldn't run anymore. The other dog was in front of me and he hit me. I went sprawling to the ground and I remember thinking that I was going to die... and then... something came over me. Something to this day I cannot understand. I leapt up and faced the dog head on... the fight was a blur. I still don't remember it blow for blow. I only recall pain, yelps of pain, the taste of blood in my mouth... and the people laughing and cheering above me. When it was over I stood victorious over my attacker. I had killed him."
Solaris sighed. "I had... never killed before. I never wanted to... but they made me, they trained that dog to attack me so I would have to kill him or die."
He paused again. "It went on like that, for almost six months it went on like that. The humans would beat me, electrocute me, starve me... anything to make me more vicious. ...and I became the toughest dog there. No one would mess with me. Even the humans pushed what little food they gave me to me with a broomstick."
He sighed. "...and then she came, Sasha. Sasha was another dog that the humans picked up outside Applegate. She was so soft and kind. All the other dogs stayed away from me, but she... she saw something in me that they didn't., who I was before the humans took me and made me a monster. She kept trying to get close to me until I finally opened up to her. I cried on her shoulder time and time again. It turned out she was quite a fighter herself, so we were both forced to kill, but with each kill came the satisfaction that we would be able to see one another again. Through her I regained a part of who I was, and left the animal that the humans had trained me to be behind."
Solaris stopped again and wiped his paw across his eye as it was stinging, tears beginning to fall. "We decided to... to try to escape, together. We'd both seen what happened when dogs failed to escape. The human's paraded their mangled bodies in front of us to deter us from attempting it... but we decided it was better to die together than to fight alone forever. The night finally came when the humans were careless and we were able to get out of our cages. We ran for it, but a human saw us and they got the other dogs out to give chase. We were near the outside of the compound. I leapt up on the metal roof of a woodshed and over the fence. That's when I heard a crash, like the loudest thunder. I turned and saw Sasha fall."
Snap sighed and scooted closer to him.
There was blood on the snow, so much blood. She was half kneeling-half standing and a thin stream of blood clung to her lips. She smiled at me and told me to run. I told her I wouldn't leave her, but she said to run, that at least one of us would get away from this place, then she turned and ran, and so did I. With the fence separating us what choice did I have? I couldn't make the leap from the ground, so... I left her there. As I crested the hill I heard the dogs stop barking and turned to look back, just a second crash echoed across the tundra."
Solaris stopped talking and hung his head low, a few tears managing to edge their way past his best defenses. "...and a few days later I ran into you and your Lieutenant." He said.
Snap sighed and looked up at him, keeping her cheek on his shoulder. "I'm... I'm sorry Solaris." She said.
Solaris chuckled and wiped his eyes with his paw, clearing his voice before speaking. "Sorry for what Snap? You weren't there, you couldn't have done anything."
Snap shook her head. "No, I mean about before." She said. "I was wrong. You do understand, perhaps..." she paused. "...perhaps the only one here that does."
Solaris nodded." Look, Snap, I'm not sure about this whole Aniu thing..." He said. "...and quite honestly it's something I'll have to see to truly believe, but I'll stay here."
A confused look crossed Snap's face. "...but, if not for Aniu, then why?"
Solaris smiled and looked into her eyes. "...for you." He said.
Snap smiled and rubbed her muzzle against his shoulder, then picked up her right forepaw and placed it on top of Solaris' left.
They sat there like that for nearly fifteen minutes, just silent in the other's embrace until Snap looked up and spoke with a trembling voice. "You know... I... I'm getting tired and... remembering all the things that happened to me... I don't want to sleep alone. Would you... would you stay with me tonight... Solaris?"
Solaris smiled and nuzzled her. "...of course Snap, I don't really want to be alone either."
Snap smiled and nuzzled him back. "Then let's go to my chambers." She said. "It's warmer there."
Solaris nodded and Snap stood up.
Then Solaris followed, close by her side, as she made her way back inside the cave.
