Chapter 11: Wolves and Bears (written from February 15th to March 5th, 2016)
"Do you ever wonder about the pups?" asked Stormfast. There was a hint of awe in his question.
"Huh, well, you can hardly call them that," she replied after chuckling a bit. Terra was right. No longer pups, they were. It was hard for them to accept it. Life with their pups came and went like a drizzle on a summer evening. "But yes, I do think about them, of course. To think this might be the farthest away we've ever been to them, it almost breaks my heart, but one can hardly call it indifferent to a new mother tragically losing her newborn pups. No, we have taught our offspring well. They are as fierce as any storm mother nature can throw at them. Still, I'd tear my heart out if I knew something terrible happened to them while we were gone. Just the thought of it makes me cringe. Such pain would hurt me far more than any of my aching paws right now." Stormfast sympathized with his mate. They had been walking for a very long time. They felt their paws pads were about fall off by the time they reach the bottom of the large hill.
"What could hurt our wolves? Besides the Movement happening in the Grand Pack, we have seen unprecedented peace and prosperity. What threat could be among them?"
"I have no idea, but it's the uncertainty that defies any carefree judgement."
"I understand." Stormfast nodded. He couldn't agree more. "I mostly think about Henry. I hope the Southerners have warmed up to his temporary rule."
"I wouldn't worry about it too much, dear. Besides, they'd have to whether they like or not. He is the heir after."
"Hmm... I worry more of the conference."
"Representing the Southern Alliance is a great honor. And in his age and position, being prepared to speak among the Constitutional Committee and other representatives isn't something he wouldn't do. Our youngest son, your successor after the death of David, is as strong in speaking as is in physical abilities and heart." The words echoed relentlessly in her mate's head, rampant, they were to the point of him almost making a smile in the harsh and cold landscape they were currently walking through.
The mountains that surrounded the valley which most wolves from this region originated were called the Hole Mountains simply because from the summits, the encircled position of the range would make the valley look like a hole in a vast rocky land. Life was plentiful in the valley due to the drainage of water from the topography. The mountains weren't tall enough to block the rain, but anyone not used to the moderate climate of the valley would suddenly face the different weather of the surrounding areas beyond the mountains. The ground was higher, the winds were stronger, and the trees were thicker. This results in a colder environment, more snowstorms; a windier environment, more thunderstorms with damaging gusts; and a literally rough environment, a rocky, uneven surface with thick brush and grass. Stormfast and Terra know what they were heading into. Expeditions of the last couple centuries by the wolves who inhabited the valley have a wealth of information which is taught in mainly Alpha School. But despite that, this territory beyond the Hole Mountains was still largely uncharted and disliked. Very few expeditions have occurred in just the last one hundred years alone due to the Black Mountain War. Once upon a time, a pack was able to survived the harshness of the land known as the Black Mountain Pack, but when the war between them and the old Grand Pack broke out, it left very negative opinions on the land and hardly anybody bothered to explore the areas since except what is known as the Eclipse Pass, named after the moon it was discovered on.
If there was anything Justin forgot to mention, it was that the Pack of Honesty was even more southerly than Banff. As Terra had once told her mate, wolves of the Pack of Honestly, also known as the Harvinians were very stationary animals and Justin probably didn't know that he passed through Banff. And he probably didn't know of Eclipse Pass. Eclipse Pass was the narrow gap between the Southern Hole Mountains that one could pass without having to climb or descend very steeply for such work was very dangerous. It wasn't until now that Stormfast and Terra had realized that Justin had actually been there. He had said that he passed by two creeks and it had been widely known that two creeks crossed Eclipse Pass. Immediately south of the pass was Banff, the national park that bordered Jasper to the south. It was believed that the earliest ancestor of all wolves in the valley known as Canis came through the pass going north like Justin, escaping the belligerent packs that once inhabited Banff. No one knows where in Banff that Canis's original pack was as barely any packs exist now in Banff outside of King's Pack. King's Pack was rumored to be the remnants of Canis's original pack as they are very belligerent too, but it is very disproved as the wolves of King's Pack, often called Rogues for their uncivilized behavior are too uncivilized for even Canis's origins. But nonetheless, Stormfast and Terra headed on to Eclipse Pass, risking their lives through Rogue-infected lands and harsh weather to carry out Justin's will.
Following Justin's old scent marks, the couple were now able to see Eclipse Pass with their own eyes. It was nighttime and the details were hard to make out, but their enhanced wolf vision kept the pass in their view.
They walked down the pass as it was a bit of an incline. Very small vegetation grew as there wasn't much soil on the surface. The moonlight coming from the east made the rocks glow a light blue. Sometimes the wolves would walk passed a large shadow from the mountains to the left. There, the world was pitch black, blending in with Stormfast's mostly black fur. To Stormfast, Terra was his guiding light as her fur was mostly white, though dark grey in the darkened land. To Terra, whenever she'd look to make sure he was alright, the darkness seemed to consumed him, sky, Earth, and fur seemed to have no clear boundary. Only the white of his eyes and age was visible even with her superb eyesight. It worried her. There was never a time she and him hadn't enjoyed each other's company since marriage, but for the first time, she felt disconnected with him. Just as the blackness of his fur faded to white, the blackness of the surroundings faded into him. This happened back and forth as they entered and exited my shadows. It was chilling sensation Terra was feeling!
"Who dares to enter our kingdom?!" yelled a deep, crackling voice ahead. The two wolves froze in their tracks. An eight feet tall beast, standing on its hind legs stared at them. It was a bear!
"Um, excuse us. Kingdom? We are unaware of a kingdom," said Stormfast. On the bear's face, berry juice had been smeared under his left eye, arranged as some sort of symbol.
"Yes, kingdom. You are entering Banff. This northern portion of Banff is our territory. Who are you wolves?" He got on all fours.
"My name is Sormfast. This is my mate, Terra, next to me. I am the pack leader of the Southern Alliance, a pack that is a part of the United Regions."
"Oh, you're a United Regions pack leader? I am honored!" The bear awkwardly bowed his head. "We have great esteem towards wolves from the confederacy. They have helped us for a long time and we have helped them. I was concerned if you guys were Rogues. They often travel through this pass."
"I can assure you we are no trouble. We seek to go south, most likely through your kingdom to a pack known as the Pack of Honesty."
"My, that's a ways from here."
"Yes, it is," said Terra. "We wanna make it before the new moon."
"I understand, ma'am. Don't worry. Wolves from the United Regions have free passage through our land."
"Well, that's great!"
"Well, there is one thing, though."
"And what might that be?" asked the pack leader.
"Claiming to be a pack leader and actually being it are two different things. Under orders, I am suppose to bring you to our elders. They decide for certain if you are what you say you are. Trust me, they always know. I am sorry for this inconvenience, but the Rogues leave us no choice. If they think it's funny to kill innocent cubs to dwindle our influence they are utterly false. Our elders feel we have no choice but to infringe upon the privacy of our dearest friends to protect ourselves from a common enemy."
"No, we understand completely," said Terra. "King's Pack has a left us no choice with their endless hostage-takings to sadly implement uses of torture to verify unidentified or suspicious wolves."
"King can call himself a 'king,' but it takes righteous animals like us to become a true kingdom. Come with me, wolves. Eclipse Pass ends not far from here.
After entering Banff National Park, they walked up to a huge den situated in a dense part of the forest. Inside, four brown bears resided right next to each other. Three of which, seemed more grey than brown. They were all females. There were the elders; the oldest and most revered in the kingdom had loads of berry juice on their faces varying from red to blue to purple. The fourth bear and the smallest didn't have any "paint," as they called it, on his. To the wolves, he looked upset while he was sitting in a corner in the den.
"Dear Theodore, may we ask why you cometh with nashoba?" asked the left elder.
"Nashoba request free passage of thee. They claim they are from the valley; they claim they are from the valley United Regions therof. By your recommendations, I am under the assumption that their identity must be verified with ye henceforth."
"Why are they talking like that?" Terra whispered.
"The elders sometimes speak old words," replied the little bear in the corner. His voice had a squeakiness in it.
"Yes, yes. True, Theo. Our recommendations should still be in practice. Mind us. We shall verify these 'melle.' Test them, we shall."
"'Melle' means 'mighty wolf' by the way," added the little bear. The elders continued.
"Each of us will ask one question only a nashoba from the valley will know. Only one of you two has to answer correct."
"Do it. We're ready." Stormfast cleared his throat. The bear on the right who looked to be the oldest started first.
"Who is Tony's father?" This was an easy one. Tony was Stormfast's uncle. He knew this answer too well.
"Bronx."
"You are correct. That was a silly warm-up. Be vigilant, dearest." The bear in the middle spoke next.
"What is the punishment for rape according to the Constitutional Committee?"
"Goodness... Umm..." The pack leader was slapping his head. Duties of the Constitutional Committee were very top secret. He would be surprised if anyone had the answer. In fact, how do these bears know? All the sudden, Terra raised her paw.
"I know."
"You do?" Stormfast couldn't believe what he heard.
"Yes... It's immediate castration."
You are correct."
"How do you know that?" he asked his mate. She slightly grinned and blushed.
"I usually go to the Central Region in my spare time. You umm... pick up things there."
"Interesting..."
"Last question." The left bear spoke finally.
"What is King's real name?" Instantly, both wolves were perplexed.
"Can you rephrase the question?" Sormfast asked. The bear shook her head.
"You heard what I said. Think hard and maybe it might cometh to ye." The black wolf and his mate didn't know where to start. No wolf indigenous to the valley would know this! Perhaps he and Terra didn't know something that was common knowledge. That was also a possibility. But nonetheless, they were clueless. Within minutes, they gave up.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. We have failed your test. But it's okay; we'll find a way around your territory."
"What are you talking about? You have passed with flying colors."
"Huh? But what about the last question? You said, 'only a wolf from the valley would know?'"
"Yes, it is true. When we said that we meant that you'd know what the answer to a question is... and that you'd know you can't know the answer to others. We don't know the answer and neither would anyone from the valley. But you would if you or your mate were a Rogue. In King's pack, it's a highly kept secret."
"That's really clever of you. Thank you all. Do we get to keep moving?"
"Yes, of course, dears! It is a pleasure to welcome you and your mate to our kingdom. You are distinguished guests from this point on. Brent? Would ye be a darling and escort these nice melles to the trail that will set them due south?"
"As you wish, elders. Bye Theo."
"Wait, your name is Brent?" asked Stormfast. "Yeah. I'm glad to at least temporarily leave this den. It reeks of old bear smell. I've been stuck here forever trying to 'learn a lesson with the wisest.'" As they were exited the den, the elders gave a farewell by brandishing their humongous paws, their sharp claws slicing the still air.
"See ye, Sormfast, pack leader of the Southern Alliance!"
"How the heck do they know my name?!" said Stormfast.
"They know a lot. They probably knew who you are the second you walked in," Brent replied. "They're very old."
"How old can a bear possibly get?" asked Terra.
"Our elders are just over twenty years."
"That's not so bad. They live far longer than us wolves but not so bad."
"Not exactly. That's almost a century and a half in canine years." Stormfast almost tripped on himself.
"That's canine years?! Holy caribou! They are old! Makes me feel much younger just thinking about it."
Next: Chapter 12: The Conference