Epilogue

The next few days would be a blur to the migrants. The Ice Bridge had become something they were used to, and they were led by the Masked Owl Gwynneth, who was also led by a small golden creature who lit the near-blind owl's way. The two eagles that Gwynneth had called Eelon and Zanouche flew behind them and on occasion, some puffins would stop by to check up on them.

In this time, despite the fact that Maudie was trying to absorb all of her father's attention, Brent was able to learn the names of those he was travelling with; the two tawny she-wolves were Faolan's blood sisters, and were named Mhairie and Dearlea. The pale gray wolf was called simply the Whistler. The white and brown she-wolves who had led them through the water back to the Ice Bridge were called Airmead and Katria respectively, one a former Obea, and the other a MacNamara outflanker. The outcast red wolf from the tongue was known as Rags and seemed to be as new to the group as Brent and the quadruplets were. The bears' names were Toby and Burney, and the yellow wolf whom Banja had been protecting was called Caila.

The other two pups, one belonging to Caila, and the other adopted by Faolan and Edme, were named Abban and Myrr, short for Myrrglosch. Brent made a point to learn them well, as they were the only other pups aside from his daughter, and one of them would have to become her mate someday. The Distant Blue drew so near to them; they could only be a couple miles from its shore. It was just across the frozen sea.

At the very end of the Ice Bridge however, they were attacked again by the Outclanners. However, this attack was disorganized, and the yellow wolf whom everyone called Heep was impaled by narwhales, leading the Outclanners to vanish from them for good. Then the Bridge collapsed as they created another den in the snow, similar to the ones on the plain from days before. That night, Dearlea, who had once been a skreeleen, began to sing for them all and everyone joined in. The song told of their victory and how they would never forget their journey from one world into the next.

The next day, they stepped upon the shore of this new land. It was beautiful. Wonders surrounded them. It was like a haven just waiting for them. They found a cave and settled in it on that day, calling it the new gadderheal. They all mixed, Myre Society wolf, Watch Wolf, skreeleen, outflanker, Obea, bear, and owl. Their long journey was truly over.

The very morning after they had founded the new gadderheal, Brent stepped outside to observe the new land and to breathe in its scents. He couldn't believe he had made it as far as he did, and found the family he had longed for since the day Banja told him she was pregnant. He was joined shortly by Banja herself, who simply sat next to him. Though they were silent, their tails danced playfully with each other and they smiled.

"Is the princess asleep?" Brent asked.

"Very," said Banja. They were quiet again for a few moments before Brent spoke again.

"How do you think we'll survive in this new land?" asked Brent thoughtfully, "Our number is small, and many of us are interrelated."

"Perhaps we will experience a miracle," said Banja. They watched the sun rise over the distant land from whence they had come. As they did, there was the sound of paws padding against stone behind them. They both turned at once to see their daughter coming up to them.

"Mum, Da," she asked, "Where's Uncle Faolan?" The two of them looked about the den. It was true; Faolan wasn't around. Neither of them were worried however; they both knew well that their leader could handle himself. Maudie spoke again.

"Da, can you show me the land?" she asked. Brent thought for a moment before answering.

"Come here," said Brent, and Maudie did eagerly. He allowed her to climb up on his back and then up onto his head and then stood up.

"Wow!" she cried as she saw the vast land of the Distant Blue in front of her, "The world is so big!" Both of her parents smiled at her enthusiasm.

"Yes," said Brent, "It certainly is." Maudie suddenly cried out again.

"I see Uncle Faolan!" she cried, "And… he has wolves with him!" Brent and Banja both looked down into the valley below them to see that indeed, Faolan was coming up to them with a pack of maybe fifteen wolves.

"So not all of the wolves crossed the Ice Bridge a thousand years ago," Banja mused, "Some were left behind."

"Perhaps there was just enough food to sustain the smaller population," said Brent. They moved closer together as they watched Faolan approach with the pack of wolves. Seeing this, they knew that their journey, their trial, was over, and that with this new land, a new life of peace and prosperity would ensue for all of them.

A/N: I know, the last two chapters were short, but there wasn't much left to tell, and I thought the story would look lopsided with nine chapters. But anyways, this closes Brent's story. Look forward to more Free Runners Stories in the future! :D

I do not own Wolves of the Beyond. All characters, ideas, and places, except for my own, belong to Kathryn Lasky.