CHAPTER 5

The sun had set in the small clearing and the only light came from the fire which roared merrily in the center with Jose tending to it. Stars twinkled from far up in the sky as Iconis sat and warmed herself by the flames as the pups slept on and around Jose.

It had been a multiple hours since Ariel had turned into a wolf and disappeared into the night. She had not returned yet and he was starting to get worried but Iconis whom he had seemed to befriend and gain the trust of, did not seem worried. "Is she going to come back soon Iconis? I'm starting to get worried," he asked the wolf at his side. In answer the wolf wagged her tail and gave a quiet yip. "Well, I take that as a yes."

Jose was sifting through all of the information that he had learned in the past day when Iconis's happy yip broke into his thoughts. Upon looking up, he saw the black wolf enter the clearing in front of the pack with a huge hunk of meat in her mouth. She put in on the ground in front of Jose then trotted to the other side of the fire and clearing. Once she was over there, Jose saw for the second time that day the blinding blue light with white strips and then in the same spot that the wolf had occupied seconds before now stood Ariel.

"Hello Jose, that meat is for you, Iconis, and the pups since they have their meat teeth now," Ariel said happily, it felt good to run with the pack again.

"Oh-okay, how much should I give them?" Jose asked unsure. "Don't you want some, I can hunt myself."

"Just take whatever you want, Iconis can go eat with the pack tomorrow at the kill, and the pups can go too if they are hungry. And no I don't want any, I ate with the pack. Last of all, why should you kill off the prey of the pack when we can bring you down an elk big enough for us all," replied Ariel as she sat down against a tree.

Jose started to cut the meat and cook it as he thought on something and then decided to bring it out in the open. "Are you too tired after going out with the wolves to tell me what the hell is going on?"

"No, I'm not tired, but I don't know where to begin telling you," Ariel said as she looked up at him.

"How about at the beginning when you disappeared."

"Oh, okay. That last night, the pack took me to the den. I think my mother knew the wolves would come for me, she let them in the house."

"The only thing I had left of my mother was her mount Cloud. She had followed the pack to the den. I could already talk to animals so I was never lonely and the wolves took care of me, fed me, and kept me arm at night. At the time, I did not know that everyone could not talk to the animals of the world. I thought that everyone had that ability."

Understanding at last, Jose said, "So that was why when we were younger the horses and animals in town never hurt you."

Nodding her head, Ariel scratched Iorek behind the ears and stared into the fire. She continued, "Over the years, I started to realize that I could sharpen my senses such as my hearing to that of a wolf. At first, I thought it was a change within my body, but the one time I sharpened my sense of smell, I reached up and my nose was furry and had whiskers. For a while I thought I had finally gone crazy from living with wolves and I was afraid to change my ears or anything for that matter. That was three years ago. After I was not afraid anymore, I asked myself if I could change totally into a wolf and with some practice, I could. Once I mastered the ability, the pack started taking me to towns and making me socialize with other two-leggers although they would never tell me why." This last comment she directed at Iorek beside her.

And we will not tell you now either. Listen to your elders for once and finish telling him your story. When Iorek said this, he along with the rest of the animals in the clearing laughed excluding Thunder.

"Very funny friends. Finally, about a month ago, Iorek told me that I needed to go back to the two-leggers of my village and live with them. He said he could teach me no more. And after a few days of thinking I was a bother to the pack, I realized he was right. I needed to come back and so here I am. I guess I just could not stay away from the pack though."

No, you could not listen to your elders for once and stay away, but we missed you. Nari the alpha female said.

For the first time while telling her tale, Ariel looked up at Jose and she found him looking at her with a new admiration.

"So that is where you have been for the last fourteen years. Thank-you for telling me and trusting me."

"So you believe me? You don't think I am crazy?"

"Yes, I believe you. I saw you change twice, and not to mention we are sitting here with wolves which by the way you have not introduced and we are still alive." Jose said while he petted the relaxed Iconis who still sat at his side.

"I'm sorry, how rude of me. The one beside me is Iorek the alpha male, and there is Nari the alpha female and mother to the pups. All the rest of the pack including me, in wolf form answer to them. Iconis who you have already met sits the pups for Nari sometimes. The male with the white snout is Longsnout, the female with the black socks is Lightning, when she was a pup she got stuck by some. Dart is the one laying on his back," at the sound of his name, Dart wagged his tail. "Arrow has the arrow on his back. The females there are Frost and Ice who both got caught in a storm for three days. Scar by the rock got his name from tangling with a cougar. Waterfoot likes water more then is good for her and Tallear has the white tipped ears. The small one is Bull, she likes to push the others around and see how far she can get without drawing the attention and anger of Iorek and Nari. The tawny one is Shorttail, and finally the pups don't have names yet."

"You will probably have to tell me all the names again later. I will not remember all those names," said Jose trying to place a name with a picture with each wolf in his head.

"Its okay, I'll help you learn the names if you want me to," Ariel said, "and the pack will help you too. Won't you guys?" A chorus of yips and howls answered her from around the clearing.

Looking up at the sky, Jose said, "Wow, I did not realize it was midnight already. I brought an extra bed roll you can use since I know you have been living out here for years and you have not gone soft in a city."

Ariel shook her head smiling and said, "No, we still have a bet and bed rolls are too soft, I like the ground. Anyways, I'll sleep with Rain and the pack. I need to talk to Iorek and Nari too so I think I will turn in now. Good night."

"Okay, it's over by the saddle if you change your mind. G-night." Jose unrolled his bed roll and climbed in. Before he closed his eyes to let the darkness overtake him, he saw Rain along with all the wolves but one lay down around Ariel and her looking into the faces of the alpha wolves. He assumed they had started their silent conversation. The only wolf not to lay down with her was Iconis who to his surprise and satisfaction came to lay down with him.

It is good of you to tell the two-legger your tale. He needed to know, Nari said.

It felt good to tell a two-legger, especially since he believes me. But why did I have to tell him, why is it good, Ariel asked her suspiciously.

We have our reasons, all you need to know is to listen to your elders and not ask questions, Iorek said teasingly.

How did I know you were going to say that? I have been with the pack too long, she replied teasingly back at the pair in front of her. In reply both Iorek and Nari made toothy wolf grins which to any one else might have seemed menacing. So ho has the pack been since I left?

Nari replied, The pack has been fine, just as it was when you were here. She had always been like a mother to Ariel since her real mother disappeared. The only thing that happened was that I had my pups which you already know. Tell me about this two-legger.

This two-legger is Jose. He and I were friends before I came to the pack. We used to play together. We are both different, grown up now but I did not realize how much I had missed him until I saw him again. He is like a brother to me. I can't believe it has been fourteen years.

Well we are happy that you are happy, Iorek said after Ariel was done. He stretched out and closed his eyes. And now it is time for sleep, we must take all the pups to the kill tomorrow which will be a task in itself. Goodnight Ariel.

Yes, my mate is right, the pups shall be a pawful tomorrow. Nari said while stretching out too.

Okay, tomorrow I will help you with the pups. I wish to get to know them. Goodnight me friends. As she settled down for a night of rest, she heard her friends and animals of the forest who were also going to bed or waking up say goodnight back to her.

A/N: Happy Dance Another chapter done! Even though I highly doubt anyone will read it, it makes me happy! SO anywho, PLEASE tell me what you think! This is as far as I have written so I don't know when I will be able to put the next chapter up, plus I don't exactly know what I am gonna have happen next in my sequel of events….. Well until next time:-b :-O