BEFORE READING THIS CHAPTER, GO BACK AND RE-READ THE END OF CHAPTER 8 AS NEW CONTENT WITH REBECCA AND GARRETT WAS ADDED THAT MUST BE READ TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
Chapter 9: Clara
Deep within the forest, Kale continues to hunt for Clara. The scent of prey animals (that is carcasses) she has rolled around in that has long shielded wolves such as himself from being detected threatens to cloud Kale's senses as well. But Kale's best talent of all is tracking. Long before he joined the Bone-Chompers, ever since he was a little pup without a permanent name, he was a tracker—the best one there is. His sense of smell is unlike any other in the entire wolf species. Although he loathed it at the time, he truly did earn the mock-name "Track" that he was jokily given by his brothers to describe how he was good at nothing except tracking. But he made them and the other Bone-Chompers pay for years' worth of insults by using his nose to smell his ex-pack members coming to spy on him during his recuperation, and give them a ruse by pretending to be the hedgies' slave driver. He then used it to send them on a wild goose chase to track down a missing paisano while he told the hedgies how to best defeat his pack when the latter were prepping to overthrow the Bone-Chompers.
Nothing can deceive his nose. He can sense Clara somewhere, but not find her yet. But he will find her and learn the secret of how she is so strong. Then he will kill her, and perhaps eat her heart for all that she's done. He thinks back to her attack on the hedgies and reaffirms that the reason he was so gun-ho to start hunting Clara despite his family only suffering minor injuries was because of all the stress that Kale has had bottled up from the recent weeks of predators increasing their attacks on the woods he protects. All the anger he holds for being blamed by so many prey animals despite everything he's done to protect them gives him more than enough motivation. It really started with the snake Janie and her brothers, but only got worse when Clara came around because she attacked his new family as well as other prey animals.
But soon all of that will end. Eagerly, Kale continues his trek into the unknown.
Ten minutes later, Kale is closing in on Clara, his anger over letting Rebecca's secret slip out of his muzzle giving him a new reason to hate the wolfess. After all, if it weren't for Clara, he wouldn't have had to drop by Garrett's home. So even though it's his fault for losing his temper, he still finds a way to blame Clara for ruining his relationship with Rebecca, and her relationship with her boyfriend.
Kale thinking: "I'm gonna beat her extra hard just for dat!"
Using his nose and unleashing his "predator spirit"—a state where he uses his senses of smell, hearing, taste, feel, and sight at their fullest potential to "feel" and "see" every living and non-living object in front of him, similar to 'the Force" from pop culture—he can tell that she has stopped somewhere ahead. But what puzzles him is that she should be able to pick up his scent by now, yet she has neither tried to go on the attack nor kept running away. She knows he has the mark of shame, and at their first meeting she seemed poised to kill him because of that.
Kale thinking: "So why is she just waitin' for me? She teenks I'm gonna come waltzing inta her trap? No, she's gotta be smarter dan that. But no matter how smart she is, I'm smarter. Growin' up with my ex-pack and being with my new familia has improved my IQ. I'm not an inexperienced 15-year-old anymore. I've got everyting figured out, I just need ta get a few things set up."
He finds a spot in the woods he knows well, the perfect place to fight Clara on his terms. After some reminiscing about ways the prey animal resistance group during the Bone-Chompers' reign would try to get back at his ex-pack, he takes all the time he needs to set up his traps. Once finished, Kale smirks and muses, "Alright, ready ta put my plan inta action. I just need ta have enough strength to take a beating from Clara, ta convince her I'm not leading her into my trap.
"Heh, why am I hoping? I know I can take the beating. I didn't get deese scars all ov'a my body for nothin'."
And it's true. As the numerous scars over his body show, he was beaten within an inch of his life twice within a 12-hour timeframe; before and after the battle in the forest that defeated his former pack—all 11 of them...at the same time. Therefore, no matter how strong she is, she won't win this fight. Kale uses his nose to confirm one last time that Stella and Luby are too far away to interfere, should this fight go perfectly to plan. Because that rarely ever happens, he needs to haul his non-existing tail.
After traveling half a mile, he is now within sight of Clara's dwelling.
Kale thinking (in sarcasm): "Why am I not surprised..."
It's a cave located in what would be called the "bad part of town," a place where predators who wish to become permanent residents in woodlands beyond the Elysian Fields Estates can have easy access to water, shelter, and food—as long as they can fend off the competition. Because of the irresistible location, many predators have fought and died to secure this particular cave almost daily. So the fact that Clara has held onto it for as long as she has is a testament of her own skills. Indeed, she seems to want others to know this, as Kale gets vibes from The Temple of Doom when he sees the numerous carnivore skulls stuck to sticks and spikes on display from the left and right sides of a clear path that leads to the cave. She isn't in sight, but Kale knows she's there, and after musing, "Time for Step 1," he calls out to her, "You knew I'd come for ya's, so surely you know what happens next!"
Clara's voice: "Ye-eah. You run for ya's life like da chicken you are before I come ta hunt you down! It wasn't brave ta come n' find me, it was stupid."
Kale: "You sound pretty stopped up in da nose."
Clara's voice: "You try keeping da same voice when a raccoon shoves a flaming sparkler stick up your nose. Knowing you's, I bet you wouldn't even survive!"
Kale: "Yep, Roger told me 'bout dat...How you's got beaten by a teenage raccoon. You's'll be da laughing stock'a'da woods by nightfall. I made sure of dat by tellin' every animal about your humiliatin' defeat!"
Clara's voice: "Let 'em laugh, it'll only make it more satisfyin' when I kill 'em. Dare all just insects compared ta me n' my brains, my strength, my speed, and my ferocity. And so are you's!"
Kale: "Yep, I used ta be just like you; thinkin' I was betta dan every prey animals en el mundo—dat means 'in the world' by da way—because you don't strike me as the kinda girl who's smart enough to know two languages."
Clara's voice (rhetorically): "So you speak Spanish? Whoop dee-freakin'-do. Dat's one more reason for me ta hate ya, in addition ta ruining my hunt of those measly squirrels, and especially ta havin' the mark of shame."
Kale: "Speakin' of squirrels, where's your skunk piasanos? I nev'a forget a scent, and theirs are nowhere in my great smelling distance."
Clara's voice (matter-of-factly): "I ate 'em that day when we got back here, doofus. I was hungry and you screwed up my chances of havin' a meal then."
Kale: "Now that was stupid and foolish of ya's ta kill your only allies."
Clara's voice: "I don't care. In fact, doing it was betta for me, since I was weak to have needed prey animals ta help me out. Just like you're weak for gettin' the mark of shame, epic-fail-boy!"
Kale: "Says the epic-fail-girl who also has the mark of shame. See how your insults don't make no sense? You can't claim superiority ov'a me."
Clara's voice: "I'm still betta dan you's, mark of shame or not! 'Cuz for starters, you haven't countered each of my insults with an insult of ya's own, which means you really have gone soft since getting the mark of shame. I, however, have gotten stronger; livin' on my own without a pack, family, or friends. I'm a true lone wolf!"
Kale: "Then tell me somethin', is it lonely in that cave of judgement you're in?"
Clara's voice: "I dunno. Why don't you come in here so I can kill ya, be alone again, and find out?"
Kale lets out a bored yawn and follows up with, "Talk, talk, talk, and nooo-oooo action. Why don't ya's come out here n' prove you're betta dan me, Clara?"
Clara's voice: "My pleasure, Kale!"
Kale's eyes widen as the voice that had just spoken came from behind him. He doesn't even get the chance to move his toes before he's tackled to the ground by Clara who pins him there.
Clara: "Ya really are a noob if you's fell for my walkie-talkie-in-the-cave trick! Now, about you sayin' dat I was 'all talk and no action,' how's this for action?!"
Clara bites Kale hard on the back and he is reminded of how supernatural her strength is. He tries to hold it in, but can't stop a yelp of pain from escaping his muzzle.
Clara: "Dat bite wasn't even at my full strength—I wanna have fun wit ya's before killin' ya—so man, you's really are soft!"
Kale: "Wanna talk about soft spots, how 'bout this?!"
Kale jumps up and bucks his hind legs like a donkey right in between Clara's hind legs. She yelps and lets go of Kale on instinct. Clara decides to take her time to shake off the pain, knowing that Kale will undoubtedly make another wisecrack, but that's when Kale proves his earlier point about his intelligence advantage when he immediately slashes Clara in the face. He gets in another hit in her chest before needing to back away to avoid her counterattack; a bite intended for his head.
Clara: "I see you likes ta fight dirty—"
Kale picks up a nearby skull and throws it into Clara's face. She's unfazed, and continues her monologue even ask she gets hit by more skulls, "I like dat...It means I can—" (takes another skull hit) "fight dirty—" (takes yet another skull hit) "—too!"
She lunges forward and that's when Kale grabs a stake (with a skull attached to the top) in his mouth and uses it to smack her to the ground by swinging it downward. She's back up almost immediately and catches the stake that Kale tries to swing at her sideways. Clara says, "My turn" while gripping it in her mouth and manages to actually lift up Kale off his feet! He's too busy feeling horrified with such a feat that he doesn't let go of the stake, giving Clara the time she needs to swing him hard against a nearby tree. She rushes in while he's down, but he jumps straight up and lands on top of her back. Before he can bite the back of her neck, she lays on her side and makes him fall back to the ground.
She misses biting him when he rolls out of the way, and he keeps rolling to avoid her follow-up attacks. Unfortunately he gets stopped by a tree, and she' able to sink her teeth into his exposed belly. Through the agonizing pain, he manages to stick one of his foreclaws into her throat, hitting a vital pressure point and hindering her breathing—but she keeps biting him like nothing happened!
Kale thinking: "Qué demonios!? That should'a stopped a bear!"
Note: Qué demonios means "what the heck" in Spanish.
Kale then rolls toward her, which causes Clara to lose her grip. He decides it's time to run away and lead her to his trap, but his belly injury slows him down. He half expects her to show up from behind and drag him back toward her while saying, "Where do ya think you're goin'? Don't start somethin' you can't finish!" which is something his ex-godsister Bone-Chomper Gabby would do. Lucky for him, Clara is not like Gabby, and allows him to hobble away, but only because it brings amazing satisfaction to her ego.
Clara: "Kyaa-ha-ha-haaaa! Dat's right, crawl away like da worm you are! I'll give you's till the count of 10 ta get further, den I'm gonna hunt you!"
Kale doesn't bother quickening his pace because his belly injury would only get worse, and he needs to save all his strength.
Clara: "One...two...three..." (without pausing) "eight, nine, ten! Time's up!"
She quickly catches up to him and is so confident in the wound she inflicted, that she simply shoves him to the ground.
Clara: "Get up."
Kale does and he gets shoved back down again.
Clara: "Get uuuuup, ya measly prey-lover!"
Kale crawls forward, causing Clara to scoff and yank him to his feet.
Clara: "I said, get up!"
It's Kale's turn for a little payback when he donkey-kicks her in the face, but all it does is force her head to look up, instead of launching her into the air and making her land on her back as he had intended.
Clara: "Good, still some fight left in ya. Didn't want tings ta end too quickly. Besides, you still gots more'a my questions ta answer before you die."
Kale keeps moving forward and Clara's ego and overconfidence lets him. Kale smiles internally while musing, "Just what I was dependin' on." Then says out loud, "Oh? What questions?"
Clara: "What did'ja do ta get the mark of shame?"
Kale: "I was sick n' tired of followin' the Codes of Wolf Society. I wanted ta be free, I wanted ta be loved, I wanted ta enjoy life like any animal should. Wolves don't allow any of that, but prey animals do, so I chose ta work to overthrow my pack's hold of dis area of forest. And when my godfather gave me the choice to either remain with my pack or go live with the prey animal family that showed me what real love was, I chose the prey animals."
Clara: "Ooo. Choice, stupid." (Rhetorically) "But what else would I expect from'a loser like you's?"
Kale: "So how'd you get the mark of shame?"
Clara slashes his side, causing Kale to groan, and then she says, "I'm askin' da questions here! Now answer dis, what was the name of the pack that banished you's?"
Kale: "The Bone-Chompers."
Clara's eyes widen and she repeats, "The Bone-Chompers? You were part'a the Bone-Chompers? Okay, first off, how'd a weakling such as you's get inta the best wolf pack ever? And second, why did'ja wanna leave it?"
Kale: "Leo was my literal godfather, so when my parents were killed he took me and my brothers in. And I wanted ta leave because, aside from what I've told ya's already, I nev'a got respect from any of 'em, not even my brothers, and nothin' I did was ever enough ta meet dare impossible expectations."
Clara: "You really are a fool, wantin' ta give up bein' a part of the best wolf pack in America."
Kale's eyes brighten up as he is now in the area where his traps are set. He turns around to face Clara as she comes walking to him and saying, "Tanks for tellin' me all dis, so now you can die a foolish loser too!"
Kale: "I'll at least die a free, foolish, loser."
Clara: "Any last words? Take all the time ya needs, 'cuz you're in no shape ta do more dan shove me a few feet in da condition you're in."
Kale: "You know, since gettin' the mark of shame, I have long wondered what I would say to any wolves who ask me 'Why did you really betray your own species and chose to protect prey animals instead'a hunting them?' And you know my answer is? It's not because wolves are sadists who simply enjoy killin' prey animals for fun. It's not because wolves prefer to raise their kids without love or a childhood so they can teach their whelps how ta follow the worthless Codes of Wolf Society.
"No...Its 'cuz all wolves are so. Friggin'. RUDE!"
As he expected, his monologue had been so attention-grabbing that Clara lowered her guard. And as she expected, all he manages to do when he lurches forward is shove her back a few feet. However, her feet fall through four wolf-leg-sized holes that had been hidden by leaves and grass Kale had set up. At the bottom of the holes are punji sticks that go straight through Clara's feet! She screams in agony, and that's when Kale punches her in the throat, making her gag-cough.
Kale: "That's for attackin' Sam and Aaron!"
Kale then slashes her in the left shoulder and says, "That's for havin' your skunk paisano gas me!" Next he bites her in the left foreleg, dodges her worthless attempt to bite him and says, "That's for all'uv the stress you've caused me tryin' ta keep prey animals safe ever since comin' into these woods!"
He swipes her on the right side of the face with his claws, leaving scratch marks while doing so and says, "That's for attackin' Mary!" He repeats the same attack to the left side of her face and says, "That's for all the hate and blame I received for failin' ta protect other prey animals while tryin' ta find you!"
Clara manages to painstakingly free her right hindleg from the punji stick hole. Wanting to get that foot back in the trap hole, but knowing she'll likely free another leg while he does that, Kale quickly bites her in the belly. With a new source of pain occupying her mind, it gives Kale enough time to let go and bite her in the right hindleg. But rather than force it back into the punji sticks below, Kale decides to bite that limb at the ankle and twist it. That seems to take the fight out of her long enough for him to say, "Those were for attackin' mi familia, and injurin' Heather, Sarah, and Plushie!"
Somehow, despite all the injuries she has sustained, Clara gets both of her forelegs free of the punji sticks at the same time. The price is more pain for her, but seeing her do that makes Kale briefly panic internally by saying, "HOOOOOWWW?! She's a freakin' juggernaut!" in his head. But he instantly gets the idea for his next attack, and sinks his claws through the puncture wounds in her right hindleg, rubbing his digits as violently as possible. It has the desired effect of bringing Clara to her knees, all while making her cry out in pain.
Kale: "This is for the butt-whoopin' you gave me today!"
Clara: "S-still not f-f-finished wit you's y-yet!—"
Kale goes over to her left hindleg where he yanks it higher so that it's free of the punji sticks (but still in the trap hole), only for him to shove it back down into the punji sticks again. Kale raises his voice to be heard over her scream when he says, "How 'bout now?!"
Even though Clara's voice is strained from the pain, there is determination in her words when she says, "S'gonna take more dan that ta beat me!"
Kale runs to her left side and leaps into her with his forepaws outstretched. Knocked on her side, Kale puts every ounce of strength behind his blows when he latches his teeth and pokes his claws into her underbelly. Five seconds of increasing his bite force later, there is a sickening Snap!, and four of Clara's ribs are broken.
Clara (groaning yet in a nonchalant tone): "Yep, dat'll do it."
At long last Clara succumbs to her injuries and finally passes out. Kale does his best to remain conscious as well, not wanting to risk her waking up before him, but he's already seeing stars and his vision is becoming darker.
Stella: "Kale!"
The wolf looks over and through his blurry vision makes out the image of Luby and Stella running for him.
Luby: "Mother Mercy, you actually beat her on your own?"
Kale: "Yep. Nothin' to it..."
Stella: "Don't try to act all tough, you look like heck."
Kale: "I'm fine..." (Looks over to Clara) "But she's not..."
Kale collapses, but he's still awake. Luby gets next to him and says, "Drink this." She opens the can of Mach 6 energy drink she had been carrying and he chugs it all down. His vision clears and he is fully back to his senses.
Stella: "Easy..."
Kale nods and gets up slowly into a seated position. Luby and Stella pat either side of his back.
Stella: "Way to go, Kale!"
Luby: "We'll never have to worry about her again!"
Kale: "She isn't dead."
Stella and Luby in unison: "What?!"
Kale: "I never intended ta kill her."
Luby: "Why?!"
Stella: " 'Secially aft'a all she's done!"
Kale: "She has the mark of shame, just like me. She's dee only one who truly und'a'stands how I feel."
Luby: "But we—! Our family!—"
Kale: "None of you have been through what I have. No amount of love will ever change dat. Even though you's have all given me everything I nev'a had with my ex-pack, I've been feelin' alone. I thought I would always be alone..." (Looks over at the unconscious Clara) "Until I met her."
Luby: "You actually think she'll want to be your friend?!"
Kale: "It won't be easy, but I'm sure I can get through ta her." (While looking over to Luby and Stella) "Only, I can't do it alone..."
Stella: "Count me out, and the whole family! There's no way she'll ev'a change."
Kale: "I changed, didn't I?"
Luby: "But you never liked being a wolf and were mocked your whole life for falling short of your pack's standards." (Points at Clara) "With her abilities she was probably a candidate for a future pack leader."
Kale: "Yet she still got the mark of shame. And trust me, Bomba de Laza, it takes more than strength and resilience ta become a pack godfather or godmother. Like you, she is way too hot-headed ta have held a leadership role."
Even though she knows that her pack-name translates as "Bow Bombshell," and why she received it, Luby still gets defensive when she says, " 'Hot-headed'?! You're one to talk!"
Kale: "Okay, ya's got me there. But what I'm tryin' ta say is dat she's been through a lotta stuff too. And only another wolf, with the mark of shame, can make her a better girl."
Stella: "We changed you without your pack."
Kale: "You're actually wrong there, Stella. The things my pack did and said ta me all my life was the main reason I changed." (Seriously) "And if I can change, then anyone can, even Clara. Imagine what it would be like for Clara to be an ally for us instead of an enemy? It would take a huge workload off of my back, and I'd finally have another wolf to be with me. Yeah, this is more for me than you and the prey animals, but when is a chance like this going to happen again?
"I just...need to give it a shot, and if I can't get through to her, then I'll make sure to kill her. It'll be like what you did for my ex-pack's paisanos, except you just banished those who refused to change. She's too dangerous to be left alive if she doesn't change, and I won't hesitate, I promise."
Luby and Stella look at each other. Kale's proper grammar, serious tone, and the look in his eyes all proved he meant every word he said. The two then look back at Kale.
Luby: "Well...we're not taking her back to the log to help her recuperate."
Kale: "Of course not, she's gotta earn that privilege, and she's in no condition to make the journey. It'll be one-on-one interaction between me and her until I can trust ta bring her home. I'll stay here and keep an eye on her, knock her out if she wakes up again. Just bring medical supplies here. Oh, and that thing dat mi Mejores Brotes have been customizing for prank purposes. Dat'll really get Clara ta follow in line."
Stella's cracks a smile as she knows what device Kale is referring to and says, "Consider it done, but we will talk your plan over with Verne and RJ."
Kale: "Sí. And since we need ta have that device on her before she wakes up, you's might need ta have a bird friend go get it and bring it back here."
Luby: "You got it."
Kale: "And thank you for lettin' me do this."
Stella: "Just be sho' you don't let her try n' manipulate you."
Kale: "Heh, no worries. As a wolf, I know all about deception. Dare's no honor among our species, even toward each oth'a."
The two ladies leave and Kale starts brainstorming what he say to Clara when she wakes up.
Clara's eyes open and she feels like utter crap. Her whole body is sore and it hurts to breathe because of her cracked ribs. There's also a strange tight and itchy sensation coming from her neck. She wonders why that is because she wasn't hit there very hard, and even if she was, the wound wouldn't itch.
She's about to scratch the itch when Kale says, "I wouldn't do that if I was you."
Clara glares at him, her heart filling with hate, and she says, "You're dead now, fleabag!"
Kale presses something and Clara's gets shocked at the neck with enough electricity to hurt her despite her pain tolerance.
Clara: "Ahhhghh! Wha'di'ja do?!"
Kale: "It also wouldn't be wise for you's to try ta attack me."
Clara: "Answer my dad-gum question!"
Kale tosses a hand mirror laying at his side (courtesy of the hedgies) over at Clara who looks at her reflection and discovers what Kale has done to her. Being a wolf, she has used her senses of hearing and sight to learn several things about the human world as well, and knows exactly what's fashioned around her neck.
Clara: "You put'a shock collar on me?"
Kale: "Who's the 'dog' now?"
When Clara raises her right forepaw to try to cut the collar off, it shocks her again. Having noticed that Kale had done nothing when she was shocked just now, Clara asks in a baffled tone, "How di'ja?!"
Kale: "Dat's no regular shock collar. It's mostly made'a metal ta increase the electricity's power, which has also been cranked up more than usual, and is programed to shock you if you try ta remove it. It also works on remote. It's da perfect tool ta help you clean up you're act."
Clara: "Screw you!"
Kale presses the remote and shocks Clara again. She's brought to her knees and pants. He then says, "Is dat anyway ta treat me after I spared ya's life and bandages your wounds?"
Clara's anger disappears for the first time since waking up and looks at her paws to see the bandages wrapped around them. She also feels that her right hindleg is in an ankle brace. She is genuinely curious when she looks back up at Kale and asks him, "You let me live? Why?"
Kale: "Are there any two wolves like us in dis country? A male and female, with the mark of shame, who're still alive? We're both alone, we're both outcasts from the entire wolf species, and we're never gonna be allowed into another pack for the rest of our lives. We shouldn't be enemies, we should be workin' together."
Clara: "You got da mark of shame! That alone makes you my enemy!"
Kale: "Why're you still followin' the Codes of Wolf Society when you've been banished from it? What sense does that make?"
Clara: "More sense dan befriending prey animals, and choosin' dem over ya's own kind!"
Kale: "Yeah, you've heard my story, la-dee-da. But now dat the shoe is on dee oth'a foot, it's your turn ta answer my questions. So...what's your story? How'd you get the mark of shame?"
Clara: "I ain't tellin' you nothin'! You're not worthy ta know!
Kale shocks her for five seconds, and then says, "What's your story?"
Clara: "This lil' toy collar just tickles me uncomfortably. I won't give in!"
Kale: "Tsk. Level 2 it is."
Before Clara can ask him what he means, he turns a dial on the remote and presses the button. The electricity is far more intense, and makes Clara writhe on the ground. It was already painful to breathe with her broken ribs before, but after this electrocution it hurts even more, especially when she is panting.
Kale: "Yeah, you are a very strong fighter, I'll give ya that, but you're not a smart fighter like me. From the very start I knew you was usin' a walkie-talkie in ya's cave. I just had ta play along and take the beating you gave me, then lead you into my traps."
Clara: "I'm still betta dan you 'cuz you wouldn't have survived the same traps and injuries if I had been inflicting 'em on you!"
Kale: "You do—you truly do—find da most pathetic ways ta claim your superiority over others, even when you're beaten. And I thought I was bad..."
Clara: "It ain't pathetic! But yeah, you's are bad and I am superior!"
Kale: "Den how come you're da one with a load'a injuries and a shock collar on, and I'm not?"
Clara: "I-I-I'm still betta dan you!"
Kale: "You stuttered...But enough distractions, how'd you's get the mark of shame?"
Clara: "I'd rather die than tell a wretch-reject like you!"
Kale is about to press the remote again, but then stops, making even Clara confused.
Kale: "I don't wanna risk killin' ya before I know the reason, so file dis interrogation und'a 'to be concluded.' Right now, we gotta get outta dis part of the woods and get you somewhere safe to recover. Now that you're out of commission, oth'a predators'll want ta take over your cave."
Clara: "I don't need you, I can get dare without your help!"
Kale (while walking away): "Okay, just let one of the numerous predators who really wants ya cave see how helpless you's are...With your attitude I bet you've made more enemies among predators dan prey animals."
Clara: " 'Helpless'? Watch me get up!"
The instant Clara tries, it's like her body is trying to beat her up 50 times more painfully than Kale did. She falls back to the ground and groans. When she looks up, Kale is standing there with a smirk that says, "I told you so."
Kale: "C'mon, I got just the thing ta get you's where we need ta go with little effort."
Kale walks behind a bush and pulls a leash that's tied to a skateboard with off-road wheels. Expecting a question Kale says, "The prey animal family who fixed me up gave me dis ta get myself around when both'uv my hindlegs were broken from fox traps." After putting the skateboard next to Clara he says, "It's gonna hurt when you get on it. I'm gonna count ta three in Spanish and help you."
Clara: "I don't have a choice anymore do I?"
Kale: "Not if you wanna live."
Clara sighs and says, "Fine..."
Kale: "Uno, dos, tres!"
Clara hisses from the pain, but is on the skateboard without a problem.
Kale: "You still good?"
Clara: "I'll live through this, just like I'll live through anything."
Kale grins, remembering how cocky he used to be, and says, "Ok, ahí vamos."
Clara: "Huh?"
Kale: "I said 'Here we go'."
Clara: "Why speak in dat dumb Taco-language?"
Kale (matter-of-factly): "Ta annoy you's, 'cuz it's anoth'a way dat I'm superior ta you since I know more than one language."
Clara lets out a growl, but stops when her ribs hurt again.
Clara: "You knew what you's were doin' when ya injured me. Where'd you's learn ta fight like dat?"
Kale: "From my ex-godfather. He always said, 'When facin' a stronger opponent, you's gotta go for the vital areas.' "
Clara: "Humph, sounds like a good guy."
Kale (darkly): "You don't know my ex-godfather...He purposely tried ta get rid'a me so dat I could stop holdin' back his pack from glory. I killed children for him, and he still treated me lower than snot because I cut their necks instead of making them suffer longer from drowning."
Clara (sneering): "And whose fault was dat?"
Kale: "I still have the collar remote in my paw, and dat's where it's gonna stay while I pull the skateboard. Knock off the sass and don't try to attack me, or else it's zap time."
Clara: "Ok...But how will ya pull the skateboard? With your teeth?"
Kale: "I figured the two of us'll be talking ta pass the time, so I got anoth'a way."
He sticks two fingers in his mouths and whistles. Some birds show up to help put a dog harness on him, then clip the leash onto it.
Clara: "How'd they know what ta do?—No, how'd you get 'em ta help you?"
Kale: "When you spend your time protectin' prey animals instead'a eating 'em, you make friends."
Clara: "Figures no wolf ev'a liked you's enough ta be a friend."
Kale presses the button to shock Clara. When it's over he says, "What did I say?"
Clara: "Point taken. I'll stop insultin' you..."
Kale: "Darn right you will."
Kale walks forward and the two get moving.
Clara: "But you should be used ta constant comebacks, bein' a wolf and all."
Kale: "You're da first wolf I've met in five years. Guess I had gotten used to da peace n' quiet."
Clara: "Dat's when you got the mark of shame, eh."
Kale: "Sí."
Clara: "What'd you say?"
Kale: "Dat means 'yes.' " (Looks at her in question) "Most folks at least know how to say 'yes' in Spanish, and I expected you to as well. What gives?"
Clara: "Dare's only one language that really matters, and it's English. All others are as pointless as a train load of cow manure."
Kale: "Strong opinion and coarse mouth, Ms. Attitude."
Clara: "Dat's why I'm called Clara; 'cuz I have a habit of clarifying my attitude."
Kale: "Can't say I'm surprised. I'm called Kale because I tracked a stoat through gale-force winds. My dad wanted ta call me 'Gale' but my mom said that's a girly name, so we chose 'Kale.' When did you get the mark of shame?"
Clara: "Why'd you ask me 'when' instead of 'how'?"
Kale: "You'll tell me how you got it when you're ready. Since we's technically not bound by the Codes of Wolf Society, I'm not gonna force dat question on ya's until you have no choice but ta answer."
Clara: "Uh...Tanks, I guess..."
Kale: "Feels good doesn't it? Not bein' forced ta do somethin' you don't want to now that you're free from wolf society."
Clara: "Speak for ya'self! My life's been nothin' but horrible since den!" Knowing she's already let something important slip out, and wanting to divert Kale's attention, Clara quickly adds, "Anyway, I got the mark of shame eight years ago, when I was 12."
Kale whistles "Fyooooiiu" and says, "You were a very bad girl to have gotten it when you were that young."
Clara: " 'Bad' as in hardcore and cool. I was always betta dan everyone. Still am."
Kale (rhetorically): "Do I need ta repeat how I outsmarted you, kicked your butt, can still kick your butt with a push of'a button, and know more languages than you?"
Clara (in resignation): "No...It's just—"
Kale: "—Your natural response to everything. Yep, I know. And before you ask 'how,' it's 'cuz you're around anoth'a wolf who's been trew similar stuff as you. Right down ta havin' everyting you know backfire against ya's when bested by a foe you believed was inferior to ya'self."
Clara thinking: "What is with dis guy?! I don't know whether ta hate him or shake his paw for bein' such'a worthy opponent!" (Out loud) "The more time I spend with you's, the more my hatred and respect for you grows—but the fact that the latter happens infuriates me."
Kale: "That's exactly what I went through. When my hind legs broke my pack left me for dead, but then this family made up'a various prey animals came by and offered me a deal: they'd help me recover and I wouldn't eat any of 'em. I spent every second thinkin' 'bout how ta assert my dominance as a predator ov'a prey like dem, but the more I stayed with 'em the more I began ta like 'em 'cuz I didn't have ta follow the Codes of Wolf Society."
Sensing the wolf species' infamous manipulation, Clara says, "I'm on to ya, by the way. Just 'cuz you tell me how you got the mark of shame, don't mean I'm gonna do it."
Kale almost feels hurt, but doesn't show it when he responds, "That's not why I'm telling you this. If you're gonna take away anything from me, it's that I'm different from all other wolves you've ever known. But even so, I know you're not gonna tell me. Like I said, you'll tell me your mark-of-shame-story when you're ready. Ah, here we are: my down-time spot when I'm not with mi familia!"
Before Clara can bad-mouth the Spanish language, Kale steps to the side so she can see where he has brought her. She is so impressed that she doesn't reprimand herself for letting a gasp of awe escape from her muzzle. The two canines are looking at an abandoned bomb shelter that once belonged to a wealthy human family who used to own this section of the forest before they sold their land to Indiana's government to use as part of the forest preservation law. It is overgrown with foliage and blends in perfectly with the natural surrounding woods.
Kale: "Dis place's previous owner was one nasty bear mistress who I killed. Even dat wasn't enough ta earn respect in my pack, 'cuz I made her fall on a homemade wooden stake instead'uv killin' her with my own strength."
Clara: "You serious? My pack godmother declared a holiday honoring my name that my pack celebrated every year when I killed my first bear."
Kale: "Like I said, you don't know my ex-godfather, and count ya'self lucky for that. Anyway, once her kids were killed and my former pack was defeated by all the prey animals in deese woods, this place was up for grabs. The prey animals were more than willin' ta let this place be mine, and they even help keep other predators from tryin' to take it over. I usually allow whatever animals need it to stay here when I'm not usin' it."
Clara: "So dare's probably some in there right now. Good. I'm gettin' hungry."
Kale faces Clara, looking her dead in the eyes, and says, "From now on, prey animals are no longer part of your diet. Anytime you misbehave or try to do anything bad to any prey animal—whether it's teasing, hurting, or eating them—I'll press the 'button of pain.' "
Clara grimaces in anger, but stops herself from arguing when Kale taps the collar remote with his digits.
Clara: "Fine. I promise. But what'll I eat?"
Kale: "The same thing I eat. I'll show you's."
Kale takes her inside the bomb shelter where several squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and non-predatory reptiles are in the main living area. They turn their heads to look at Kale and say numerous greetings.
Kale: "S'up everyone! I need ta use dis place for a while, so as much as I hate drivin' ya's out, it's for your own safety. I got a really antisocial, stuck-up, sneaky predator I'm tryin' ta reform and she can't be trusted 'round prey animals yet."
Clara remains out of sight from the animals in the bomb shelter, but lets out an indignant, "Hey!"
Kale (to Clara): "You know it's true!"
Blue jay: "We understand, Kale. Thanks for letting us stay here."
Kale: "Hopefully she'll clean up her act fast and all'uv you's can come back. But I make no promises. I'll also need you" (Points to the blue jay) "and ya's family ta take this harness offa me when I bring her in."
The animals nod and vacate the building by going out the door in the other end. Kale brings Clara in and stops near a mattress. The blue jay's family takes off the harness and then goes, leaving Clara and Kale alone. He helps her onto the mattress, walks over to a mini-fridge, opens it, and brings back some meat for Clara to eat.
Kale: "This is your food from now on: raw meat, the same kind humans buy inna supermarket. Try it, you'll like it."
Clara: "It's cold, and I like my meat warm and bloody."
Kale: "Beggars can't be choosers. It's either eat dis, or starve." Clara's stomach growls, making Kale say, "And it looks like you's're hungry. Go on, you'll be impressed with the taste."
Clara: "Alright. If it'll get ya ta stop your stupid 'sales commercial.' "
Clara takes one bite, thinking she'll hate it, but then her eyes widen and she suddenly is eating the best food in her life. It's plenty juicy, and rather than lessen the flavor, the coldness makes it taste better.
Kale: "See, what'd I tell ya?"
Still wanting to be the boss with her superiority complex, Clara scoffs and says, "Meh, it's okay. I've had dog food that tasted betta dan this."
Kale: "Liar, I saw da look in ya's eyes."
Clara: "Argh! How do you keep doin' that? Shooting down my comebacks like it's a day at the store for ya's?"
Kale: "Bein' the worst-performing wolf in my ex-pack, I had quite dee inferiority complex. I would come up with some nasty crack-back talks and take it all out on prey animals whenev'a possible. Haven't had ta do that on a daily basis for five years, but dat talent never goes away. And I've been noticin' somethin' about you, how you don't like thinking too much. You say whateva's on your mind, which is both a good and bad thing. I was the total opposite, 'cuz if I voiced my opinion I'd get beaten or verbally chewed out."
Clara: "You still have an inferiority complex, too. Guess that nev'a goes away either."
Kale (amused tone): "What makes ya say that?"
Clara: "First, you's not dee only one who can play psychology diagnosis. And second, you keep failin' ta protect prey animals so you's take out all'uv your rage on predators, like you did with me today."
Kale: "Girl, what 'choo on? It's not 'cuz I feel inferior anymore, it's because I can't be in two places at once, and predators have finally figured out to attack prey animals on the opposite side of the forest where I'm patrollin'. Dare's a difference between an inferiority complex and getting frustrated or angry."
Clara: "I'm still betta dan—"
Kale: "And your superiority complex is the reason you don't have any friends."
Clara: "Friends are overrated. They just slow ya down, force ya ta depend on others instead of being self-sufficient, and hold you back from doin' what must be done to achieve greatness."
Kale: "Your parents never loved you, did they?"
Clara stares at him, her silence providing all the answer he needs.
Kale: "Don't be so surprised I figured dat out. It's how most wolves raise their kids—ta be wolves, not sons or daughters. My parents, Sniff-Trackers Eddie and Sharnese, were different though. Dare motto was 'Family comes before the pack. We don't disown divorce, or turn our backs on our own, no matter what they do. Sniff-Trackers stay together, no arguments.' They raised me and my brothers with love and family in mind, wanted me ta be whoever I wanted to be instead of forcin' me ta be someone I didn't wanna be. They were amazing."
Clara: "Family...? Love...? Your parents were weak is what dey were."
Kale snarls then violently presses the shock collar button. When Clara has suffered for 10 seconds, he lets go of the button and keeps his voice ominously calm when he says, "You wanna talk bad about me, fine. But know this: don't you ever talk bad about my parents. Comprende?—Und'a'stand?"
Clara (strained voice from the pain): "Sounds good..."
Clara decides to keep her big mouth shut for a change and finishes eating her piece of meat. She then decides to give credit where credit is due when she says, "Yeah, you are different from all other wolves I've ev'a known. You're wimpier, but you're also the most tolerable."
Kale: "I got my family ta thank for that—the family of prey animals. When I was recuperatin' they put up with my constant insults and predator pride nonsense, even forgave me when I killed one of their friends. But it was far from easy for them to do dat."
Clara: "How did such a ragtag bunch'a reject misfits become a family?"
Kale: "Izza long story, but I need ta get back to my patrols. Who knows what things predators have been doin' while I've been goin' outta my way ta help you, even after you tried ta kill me and my family."
Clara: "Don't try to guilt trip me. I had my reasons. You don't know all the things I've been through in life—before and after gettin' the mark of shame."
Kale: "No, I don't. Maybe you can explain it to me when I come back. In the meantime, you should get some rest. Remember, you don't have ta worry about predators here. I've marked dis whole building as my territory and the prey animals are pretty good at fightin'."
Clara: "I'll believe that when I see it, 'cuz lotsa predators want me dead."
Kale: "Then if you're still alive when I come back, dat means the prey did fight effectively. See ya, or as they say in my native language, 'Adiós.' "
Clara watches Kale turn and go out the door they had come through. Part of her wants Kale to leave so she doesn't have to be around such as weakling wolf. Besides, she's used to being alone. But it's only a small part of her that wants that. Oddly, most of her wants him to stay and keep talking, because truth be told she is sick of peace and quiet. But she's too tired for anymore conversation, so she yawns and falls asleep.
In her reoccurring nightmare Clara is her current age, but back in the same time and place she got the mark of shame. It's a 30x30 foot forest clearing surrounded by bushes. She sees the prey she had been hunting materialize, a bear. Strong, imposing, and brutal...the perfect prey. That's the thing about Clara's pack, to them prey animals are so low and pathetic that they're not even worth eating. Instead, her pack only eats other predators, ensuring glory even when getting themselves sustenance. She attacks the bear, her innate strength easily catching the ursine off guard and allowing her to win a swift victory.
When she goes for the killing blow, the bear sinks to the ground, turning into a bear rug. From the bear rug emerges the one she hates the most, the one who is responsible for her getting the mark of shame. It's a male wolf who goes by the name Predator-Killer Barkley, her pack's surname.
More than that, Predator-Killer Barkley is her brother, and oh how she wishes she had killed him herself when she had the chance.
In a warm and cheery voice as if he's having a conversation with an old friend, Barkley says, "Hey, Clara. You didn't forget about me, did ya's?"
Clara runs toward him at full speed while screaming, "You lousy, rotten, scum-sucking animal! I'll kill you, you little—!"
The instant before she makes contact with him, he disappears then reappears to her side. Clara keeps trying to attack him throughout his entire monologue, but every time she tries to hit him, he teleports to a different location, as indicated by the pauses.
Predator-Killer Barkley: "Oh dat's right, you did forget about me...your own brother...Or at least tried to. Forgot that this victory was mine and not yours...But don't worry, I'm still here in ya's head because you keep me here...I will always be a part of you's...and make you remember the story how it really happened...not the false alternate reality that you tried to create..."
Clara: "You'll NEVER be my brother! But how 'bout you be a man and hold still!"
Predator-Killer Barkley ignores his sister's rants and continues teleporting away from her attacks while following up with his earlier monologue, "Starting by telling you that I'm not the reason you were banished...It was your own fault. And you know it...You know what you did to me...You know you deserved the mark of shame...And that the only one to blame was ya'self...You always had to be better than everyone...craved it...felt worthless if you failed to outperform others...That selfish desire would prove to be your undoing...And it happened just. Like. This..."
Seeing how her attacks are fruitless, Clara tries to race to her pack, to tell them what happened according to her point of view, to make them leave the area so they won't discover what she did. But no matter how fast she runs or how many shortcuts she takes, she's always too late. Once Barkley finishes telling the others what she did, she notices the look of hatred and betrayal on her parents first, then one by one, each of the eight wolves in her pack looks at her in the same way. She tries to run, but her pack teleports and appears in front of her no matter how many times she tries to get away. They are far away at first, but get closer with each reappearance. Each time they reappear their eyes slowly turn red, their fur becomes more ruffled and unkempt, their ears become horns, and their claws and teeth become longer, all of which makes them look like demons in wolf form. When they are closest to her, their pupils disappear, making them soulless monsters.
But Clara knows she was the real soulless monster for what she did. She begs for them to spare her, promising to never do anything like what she did ever again, but her pleas fall on deaf ears.
She feels the pain, the disgrace, and the humiliation of her tail getting bitten clean off by her pack godmother who says, "Now go...Never return...Live all by yourself for the rest of your days!
Everyone in her pack chants, "No one likes you! No one can like you! You will always be alone!"
Always be alone.
Always be alone...
Always...be alone...
Always...be...alone...
Always...
Be...
Alone...
The dream-memory ends, but Clara does not wake up from her nightmare in a panic like most people would. She used to be afraid to dream because of the nightmare, but not anymore (1). The reason is because whenever she wakes up, her life is always worse. (1)
Note: (1)=Based on dialogue from Alien Resurrection Special Edition. Property of 20th Century Fox.
Because it's dark outside, Clara knows she slept for many hours. "Dat was quite a nap," she muses. Being well-rested, she feels her strong will coming back to her, demanding her to leave Kale's shelter, recuperate elsewhere, and then return for revenge on him and his prey animal family once she's at full strength.
She feels sore, but is good enough to stand up. When she tries walking, however, she immediately finds out that's not a good idea. She then remembers the off-road skateboard and gets herself onto it. Her paw injuries where the punji sticks went through still hurt and she can barely drag herself forward, but she perseveres no matter how painful it is.
Clara thinking: "Once I get outta range'a that stupid collar remote, I'll be good. It's not like he can show up ta stop me at the drop of'a hat."
She's at the open doorway when for some odd reason, she hesitates to leave. It's not that she's in too much pain, it's something else. Something she can't put her finger on. Something she can't explain because she hasn't felt this feeling in a very long time..."Or is it never felt at all?" she wonders. It's been so long and her life has been full of so much hate and negativity that she can't even remember anymore. Whatever this feeling is, it makes her not want to leave, but to stay instead. Stay in the bomb shelter where there's food, water, a bed...and yes, where Kale will come back to her.
She gets her wish sooner than expected when Kale shows up.
Kale: "Hola señorita." Dat means 'Hello Miss.' " Quickly deducing what she's trying to do after taking one glance at her, he says, "You leavin'?"
Clara: "How'd you's get here? I thought you had a 24/7 job of patrolling."
Kale: "Seems dat all land-based predators are busy fightin' each other over your former cave. But answer my question, why were ya tryin' ta leave."
Clara: "I was...gonna head back ta my cave, but now I guess I won't. As much as I hate ta admit it, I'm still too sore ta fight."
Kale turns his head while eyeing her in question and says, "You're lyin' again. Dare's somethin' you ain't tellin' me. But even so, Clara, there's nowhere you can go where I can't track ya down with my nose."
"Or mine!" yells an unknown voice.
Kale is shoved out of the way by a coyote who causes Clara to yell in anger and disbelief, "Ted?!" before he lands a blow to Clara's face.
Before Kale can get back up, a second coyote comes in, saying "And his brother, Ned!" and starts hitting the male wolf repeatedly in the face to keep him down. Normally Kale would take the beating with little trouble and counterattack, but Ned had brought a full beer bottle he had gotten from a garbage can, meaning the hits are as hard as a rock.
Meanwhile, Ted's hit knocks Clara of the skateboard and onto her side, causing her to groan in pain. Ted raises an eyebrow and says, "You're usually quicker than that, Clara. What gives—?" After noticing her bandages, Ted smiles his snaggletoothed mouth in sinister glee and says in a tone that matches that smile, "Oooohhh...Looks like someone's not in tip-top shaaaa-aaape."
Clara: "It took ya's that long ta figure dat out? You's're still so slow ta catch on."
Ted: "From where I'm standin'—quite literally, I might add—you're the one who's slow!" He hits her in the belly and feels blissful satisfaction when hearing her groan. He continues with, "And weak!" He hits her in the sprained ankle and says in a tone that revels in her plight, "And totally HELPLEEEEEEESSSSSS! Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Haaaa-aaaaaaa!"
When he tries to hit her in in the face again, she catches his paw in her teeth and bites for all she's worth.
Ted: "Eeeeeeeyoooooooooww!"
On instinct Ted tries to pull his paw free, but that only causes him more pain. Only after Clara tastes his blood does he get the idea to poke her in the eye with his other forepaw. It doesn't do much because Clara had jammed her eyes shut before that hit, and her unnaturally high pain tolerance.
Ted: "Ned! HELP!"
Having knocked Kale unconscious, Ned comes to his brother's aid by hitting Clara's ankle with the beer bottle. She lets go of Ted's paw to yell, and Ned rolls the beer bottle to Ted who says, "Now you're gonna really get it!"
While Ted starts hitting Clara with the bottle, Ned says, "We want you to think of every prey animal you stole from us, forcing us to go to bed hungry at night! Every snarky comment, insult, and laugh that came out of your mouth whenever you dissed us! Every scratch, bite, and hit you gave us whenever you gave us a beating!"
Ted rolls the bottle back over to Ned so he can have a turn for revenge. When Ned starts hitting her Ted says, " 'Cause it's payback time, baby!"
Just as Ted joins Ned in beating up Clara some more, a mason jar full of preservatives hits Ted on the back, causing him to go "Ow!" more in surprise than in pain. Ned pauses after hearing his brother, only to get hit in the same spot and go "Ah!"
Ted and Ned turn around and see Kale standing near a shelf full of jars and cans of food. Blood trickles down his head from where Ned had hit him and his stance clearly indicates he is still dazed.
Kale: "The lady's with me. Leave here and nev'a come back, or suffer da consequences."
Ted: "Take a hike, Mr. Goody-Good wolf. We're not here for you, we're here for her!" (Points at Clara)
Kale: "Oh really?" (Points to his bleeding head)
Ned: "Nothin' personal. I only hit you senseless to keep ya from interfering."
Kale: "Too late. Dis became personal as soon as ya trespassed here."
Clara: "Just leave, Kale. Save yourself. Everyone dies, and this was bound to happen sooner or later."
Ted: "Ah, you see? Even she's ready to die."
Kale: "But I'm not ready for her ta die yet. So last chance. Walk away."
Ned: "And what're you gonna do?"
Kale: "You'll find out in three, two, one."
Ted lets out a yell and falls to his knees when Clara, having caught onto and used Kale's ruse which distracted the coyote brothers, bites and twists the ankle on Ted's right hindleg. When Ned turns to make Clara pay for that, Kale runs forward and tackles Ned to the ground. Kale fights through his head injury and latches his teeth onto Ned's throat, biting with all his might. When Ned tries to hit Kale with his forepaw, the wolf bites harder and shakes his head side to side. Unlike Clara who could take such an assault, Ned cannot since, being a coyote, he is naturally weaker and less resilient than a wolf. So even when his blows do hit Kale, they are weak and only get weaker with each passing second. Finally, Ned no longer has the strength to hit Kale anymore. His body goes limp, his eyes close, and they never open back up.
Still on his knees and facing toward Kale's direction, Ted had seen the whole thing. He screams, "NEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEDDD!" in loss. His sorrow immediately turns to rage and he runs over to Kale on three good legs and starts biting and clawing him for all he's worth.
Ted: "You killed my brother, you son of a mutt! I'll kill you! Kill you, kill you, KIIIIIIILLLLL YOOOOOOU!"
Kale honestly thinks Ted will do just that, especially when the coyote hits him in the head. But then, just when Kale thinks one more blow will end him, Ted stops.
Ted: "But killing ya right now is no way to punish you. So..."
Seeing as Kale has been reduced to a rag doll, Ted easily grips him and turns him in Clara's direction. The coyote says, "You will watch this!" walks over to Clara, bats aside her attempts to defend herself, and starts beating her in the injuries. Kale starts dragging himself over in an attempt to help, but he's too slow from all the pain he's in. It's maddening how he can only watch, and as for Clara, she finds herself cursing her high pain tolerance which prolongs her suffering. When Clara is too weak to raise a claw in self-defense, Ted walks over to her head. He looks at Kale and says, "And now for the finale. An eye for an eye!"
The coyote bites her in the throat. Kale's heart races and he knows he can't reach her in time to save her. Then, he remembers he doesn't have to, and presses the shock collar remote he had the hedgies velcro onto the wrist of his right forepaw. He hates himself for hurting Clara, but his plan has immediate results as Ted's saliva conducts the electricity of the metal collar, hurting the coyote far more than Clara. Also because of the electricity, Ted can't let go. Wanting to ensure as quick an end as possible, Kale increases the power to maximum, which causes Clara to pass out from the pain, but makes Ted's heart beat too fast until it quits on him. Kale turns off the power when Ted's body is smoking and limp.
With the threats dealt with, Kale makes his way over to Clara and checks her pulse. He breathes a sigh of relief when he feels it. It's not strong, but it's not weak either, so he is able to pass out without any worries.
The sound of chirping birds and buzzing insects stirs Kale awake, and he opens his eyes. Judging from the light of the sun and the temperature, it's around 2PM. His head turns in the direction that he hears something moving along the floor and he sees Clara coming for him with energy drinks and some meat on the skateboard.
Clara: "Rise and shine Sleepenstein. Here, have dis."
Kale doesn't need to be told twice and eats and drinks to his heart's content. When he's finished he asks, "How long've you been up?"
Clara: "Since noon."
Kale just nods and there's a moment of silence as each canine thinks of what to say. In a voice of sincerity and gratitude that even surprises herself, Clara says, "Thank you. You saved my sorry hide again."
Kale: "You're welcome, Clara. And I'm sorry for electrocuting you."
Clara: "Don't be. That's what killed Ted...But why save me from them? I wouldn't have done the same for you..."
Kale: "Because you're not my enemy."
Clara: "Even after all of the things I've said to you, put you through, and the beating I gave you yesterday? How could you not hate me?"
Remembering his own past Kale says, "It's not your fault that you're like that. It's your parents' and pack members' fault. Take it from me, growing up with a slave-driver wolf pack who never loved me, who only cared about furthering their reputation as the best wolf pack in America, and who followed the Nazi-istic Codes of Wolf Society to the letter, would make any creature a short-tempered, antisocial jerk. Somethin' tells me your pack wasn't much better."
Clara: "You're wrong."
Kale: "What?"
Clara: "I was the one who was like that in my pack, not them...You'll probably hate me all over again when I'm done, but I really need ta get it offa my chest. So get comfortable, 'cuz you've earned hearin' my mark of shame story...But don't say I didn't warn ya's...
"I wasn't always brute force over brain power. I was a gifted wolf born with higher knowledge than most members of my species. I was also born with incredible strength and resilience, and the fact that I could take a bigger beatin' and overpower other animals so easily only made me feel more superior to my own kind, and other predator species. My knowledge grew when mom n' dad would always ask me riddles at family meals ever since I was a pup. By dee age of 10, I had the intellect and maturity of an 18-year-old. However, I also had the attitude of an 18-year old. Whenev'a I was with other wolves, no one was as smart as I was, so I got easily annoyed at the immaturity of others considerin' how I was never like dat when I was their age. I thought all other wolves my age wa' stupid. They were so childish, laughing at every little stupid thing." (1)
Kale: "But those wolves were just kids back den, and that's how kids are."
Clara sighs and begrudgingly says, "I know...I was the stupid one back den (1). Being so smart, I felt so alone all the time...In reality, I really wanted ta play with everyone, but was never allowed in any group of kids because of my attitude. They were intentionally excluding me (1). I began ta think I was different from those immature whelps (1). That they weren't worth my time (1). That they were inferior. My mind craved challenges...Challenges that adults were only equipped to give to "normal" kids my age, which only made me frustrated with the company I was around.
"The fact dat I was smarter than others also made me develop my superiority complex even further: to my eyes no one was as smart, strong, or talented as I was—and boy oh boy, was I ever vocal about that. Whenev'a learning somethin' with a group of kids my age, every time someone said 'I didn't know that' or 'How do we do that?' it felt like I was inna room full'uv idiots. So, I treated 'em like idiots by answering their question in a loud, scolding way dat made them feel ashamed of themselves—usually with a 'Duh-oyyyyy!' at the end. That sure as heck angered everyone around me and I got a reputation as someone who didn't know how ta treat oth'as with respect."
Clara looks down and talks in an ashamed tone, "Slowly but surely, even my parents became annoyed at my attitude...I'll never forget the night I eavesdropped on their conversation when they said that all their attempts to make me a smarter and better wolf had only created a monster. Ta add insult to injury, they also decided for my older brother, Barkley, ta be the wolf they would entrust with carryin' on the family legacy. He was the most inferior wolf of all, always failin' at everything from attacking ta thinking. Heck, the reason my parents had me in the first place was because dey wanted a better offspring ta carry on their family name. So I simultaneously met their expectations while failing epically. But that only lit a fire in me ta make them choose me as their rightful heir.
"My chance ta prove this came when I went onna hunt for a bear that'd been giving my pack some trouble. I thought that if I took out the bear all by myself with little ta no effort, that not only would my parents reconsider their choices about me, but everyone else I knew would like me" (1). Unfortunately, me n' my brother were paired together as an attempt for 'sibling bonding.' I easily tracked down the bear and started to fight it (2). Thinkin' I was better than even the bear, I predicted how it would attack, but it did dee exact opposite. The bear kicked me hard enough to knock the wind outta me, but I wasn't injured...physically that is. Mentally, I knew it was all over. All of my hopes and dreams wouldn't come true if my brother fought the bear for even a second.
"So, wanting to get rid of him, I played possum. Barkley thought I was dead, so he rushed in ready ta avenge me. To my surprise, he killed the bear on his own, but the bear gravely wounded him with its dying breath while it fell to the ground (2). Dat's when I got up. He looked at me with desperation and love in his eyes, reached out for me knowing that, as his sister, I would help him out. I knew what had ta be done ta save him...but left him for dead instead (2). Not only dat, but I also walked up to the bear's corpse and used its claws and teeth ta injure myself, so it'd look like I was the one who killed the bear." (2)
Kale gasps and looks at her in disbelief and anger—just the reaction Clara was expecting—but he remains silent and continues to listen.
Clara: "I already had my story ready to tell my pack, that me and Barkley fought the bear together, and I did all I could to save him (2). They would believe me, no doubt. When I arrived where my pack was assembled, I discovered, to my horror, that they had found Barkley first, and he told them everything I did (2). I got beaten to a pulp, my parents disowned me on the spot, and said they wished they had never had me in the first place. Mom and dad wanted to kill me, but only stopped when my pack godmother insisted that a 'certain punishment' would be far worse than death. So she gave me the mark of shame, and I was on my own.
"Failing to take out the bear on my own and gettin' the mark of shame was somethin' that hit me really hard (1). It shook my foolish self-confidence, made me realize that I wasn't superior to others after all (1). The guilt ate away at me and I was so angry at myself for my weakness that I got out of control (1). I'd get into fights not even caring about who or what it was (1). And because it was my intelligence that created my superiority complex, I vowed ta never think with my brain again, and let my innate brute strength do all the thinking for me...
"Wandering all over the state with no one to love me, like me, or criticize me and fighting off other predators just for a sip of water, has made me pretty bitter indeed. I've also encountered other wolves who tried ta kill me because of the mark of shame. But by some sick, warped sense of my superiority complex, I still feel the need ta honor the Codes of Wolf Society, 'cuz it's all I have left that makes me feel like a wolf instead of a dog.
"So...? Whadd'ya think about me now? Knowing that I got the mark of shame because of first-world-problem reasons?"
Note: (1)=Based on Cloud Strife's backstory from Final Fantasy VII (1997) by Square Enix.
(2)=Based on Aliens vs. Predator: Blood Time by Dark Horse Comics.
Kale spends five seconds gathering his thoughts, then says, "You're worse than my ex-godfather—no, worse than all of my former ex-pack members put together."
Clara looks down in shame but speaks in bitterness when she says, "Yeah, I figured you'd hate me. I deserve ta be hated 'cuz of what I did ta my own kind, my own pack, my own family, and my own brother..."
Kale: "I...didn't say I hated you."
Clara looks up and asks in confusion, "Huh?"
Kale: "You are one messed up dame, but you also feel alone...like me. I'm not sayin' I know exactly how you feel, 'cuz I don't. But I do know all the horrible thoughts and emotions that can fester inside'a you from feelin' alone. And you've been alone all of your life, whereas I started feelin' alone only after I lost my parents. And after what I've been through, I think it's safe ta say I won't hate you no matter what ya say...solely because you and me have some sort of kindred connection. If you wanna get more things off ya chest, feel free ta tell me."
Feeling better after all that she's talked to Kale about, Clara decides it's time to change topics and deal with an important problem.
Clara: "Well, we need a betta place ta stay dan here. 'Cuz as long as I'm with you, other predators are gonna hunt me down, so this bomb shelter won't be safe. And for the record, the prey animals guardin' dis place really suck at protectin' it if Ted and Ned slipped through without a hitch."
Kale smiles as he catches both the humor and sincerity in Clara's tone. He responds, "Yep. Looks like I'll need ta fire 'em and hire new guards. And as for where we'll go, there's only one place where your safety'll be secure."
Clara: "I'm listenin'..."
Kale: "With mi familia."
Clara: "Those prey animals you live with? I doubt they'll be okay with me livin' with them after I attacked 'em on three occasions."
Kale: "It won't be easy, and they won't expect me ta bring you there so soon. But need I remind you's that they let me stay and visit with 'em after I tried eating them, helped my ex-pack take over their homeland, and killed one of their friends. So iffa guy like me, who has done far more harm to dem than you, is allowed to live with 'em, then you'll do just fine. However, you gotta try your best to respect 'em. Any misbehavior or tryin' to eat them and it's the 'button of pain.' "
Clara: "You still don't trust me aft'a all we've talked about?"
Kale: "I trust you around me, but not around them."
Clara (rhetorically): "And lemme guess, I still don't have a choice?"
Kale (smirks): "Nope. You said it yourself, dis bomb shelter is unsafe as long as you're in it. But mi familia can keep us safe."
Clara: "And your proof?"
Kale (rhetorically): "They defeated you, didn't they?"
Clara sighs and says, "You got me there...Let's go."
Kale whistles to get birds to come and put the harness back on him. He and Clara then head for the log.
Like I said, I was gonna bust my butt to meet my annual early Holiday present of an updated chapter for all you (at the time of this chapter's December 20 posting), and I succeeded!
Having said that, I hope you enjoyed your early present and I wish you all a very Happy Holidays (at the time of this posting)!