Chapter 10
Roland
Anchorage, Alaska,
1924
"Okay, okay old man, easy! You're cramping my style!" Kavik said jokingly, laughing with the unexpected delight of seeing his old friend again after so long. He pulled back and took in the other wolf's appearance; he was happy to see that not much had changed, despite the passage of time. Roland's fur was as dark as ever, the color of polished ebony on top with a lighter, silvery-gray coloring for the underside. It had started to fade the slightest bit in some places, but the change from black to gray was unnoticeable unless you really looked. There were a few scars here and there but that was really nothing: in the wild every wolf had at least two or three on display. "You haven't changed a bit," he said, and chuckled.
"Yes, but you've grown since we last palavered!" Roland exclaimed, also looking Kavik over, his eyes – which were the faded blue of a robin's egg – widening slightly as he took in the white hybrid's slowly clotting wounds. "But…you're still the headstrong and compassionate youngster I remember," he said and smiled broadly with fond recall. "Always rushing into things and blatantly disregarding your own safety."
All through this, Lakota had remained silent, her mouth slightly open, and the capacity for speech seeming temporarily beyond her reach. Yet now she shook her head, clearly confused somewhat. "You know my Father?" she asked Kavik, incredulously looking from one to the other. "How…?"
"It's a bit of a long story…" Kavik said, shooting her father a smile. "And one, correct me if I'm mistaken, your Father would prefer to be told in a place that's nice and warm?"
Roland was about to speak, but was stopped even before he got started by the low gurgling rumble of Kavik's stomach. He arched an eyebrow, smiling in amusement as the younger wolf blushed and laughed embarrassedly. "Sounds like somebody's – " A similar growl followed in the wake of the one left by Kavik…only this time it came from Lakota, who also blushed and gave a nervous little giggle. And then, as if the sound was some sort of cue, a chorus of hungry stomachs was raised from most of those gathered, insides braying with the need to be filled.
And, now that his hunger had made itself known to him, Kavik began to smell the aroma of the gargantuan creature behind him, just lying there…and reeking of fresh meat. "Seems like we could all use a bit of a pick-me-up…." he ventured. "It'd be a shame to just leave it here for the other scavengers." He looked questioningly towards Roland, a smile slowly spreading across his face. "Shall we…?"
"I don't see why not." The dark wolf replied, his own smile growing. After calling to the rest of his party, the small group settled down to dispose of now deceased Grizzly. Roland even went so far as to insist that Kavik have the honor of taking the first bite, a simple action which signified to all those present just how vast his respect for him was. And Kavik had obliged, though not without some slight argument about how it wasn't fitting, that Roland should be first since he was Alpha and that he, Kavik, had no business with such matters, seeing as he wasn't part of the pack. Needless to say, however, Roland prevailed and without further hindrance, they fell to the meal, disposing of the creature with astonishing swiftness, leaving only bones as a witness to the animal's existence.
Finally, when all were sated and left with nothing more to do than contentedly lick their chops, Roland turned once again to his daughter's rescuer. "How have you been?" he asked, his voice sounding slightly giddy in his anticipation. "How is your sister? And what brings you so far North?"
"She…. Ikea," Kavik started and then had to pause in order to keep his voice from shaking. "She's… dead…Shot by a hunter. I'm the only one left." Tears slowly formed in his eyes and spilled down his cheeks and he lowered his head, seeking to hide his face from the obsidian wolf in his embarrassment, not wanting any of them to see him in such a state of despair.
However, Roland moved closer, giving what comfort he could, nuzzling Kavik and saying sympathetically, "I'm so very sorry…I knew her well; she was a kind-hearted and merciful soul, always willing to listen to what the other side had to say…. I will miss her as you no doubt do…. What of your brother, Kemo?"
Kavik shook his head. "Still no trace of him…though I've searched for God-knows how long…I suspect he's somewhere to the East…" his voice trembled slightly as he shook his head, a small, grimly amused smile playing across his face. "Who am I kidding…I have no idea where he is…I don't even know if he's still alive for crying out loud!"
Roland gave what comfort he could. "Fear not…for the Great Spirit is with you…" he smiled gently, feeling pity for his troubled comrade. "I've no doubt that you shall see your brother again someday, mayhap very soon…"
"Thanks…." Kavik said, now uncomfortably aware that all eyes were upon the two of them now and that everyone had seen him cry. 'Ah, crap.' He thought somewhat distantly, 'great, now I'll have to show these guys that I'm not just some pushover…what a blast that'll be….' What he said was; "I'll like to tell you the whole story but – "
"First, we have to get moving and regroup with the pack." Roland finished for him. And, when Kavik first only looked at him blankly, and then seemed on the verge of arguing, he went on. "And don't even try it; we know each other well, and I think it's safe to assume you realize that I'd jump off a cliff before allowing you – the very wolf who now not only once saved my entire pack from utter destruction, but now have also saved the life of my daughter Lakota as well – to simply wander off into the wild with injuries such as yours without allowing me to first do whatever I can to help."
"Look Roland, thanks for the offer, but I don't – " Kavik began, but Roland suddenly cut him off, his own voice now taking on a stony edge. His eyes gained a slight glimmer that Kavik recognized all too well.
"Enough of this nonsense! You're as much a part of my family as any of these wolves here! Your parents were good friends of mine and in the short time I spent with you, I realized you were like a son I would've been proud to call my own. You're strong and intelligent, devoted and compassionate! And to top it all off, you handle pups a damn sight better than any other wolf I've ever met, including myself." He smiled at the way the color in Kavik's cheeks grew deeper with each passing compliment and took the opportunity to address the whole group as one.
"Now, let's get moving! I'd like to catch up with the pack before midnight if we can manage it!" He shot Kavik a sideways look of amused triumph as he saw the white hybrid's own mouth quirk, a sure sign that he had accepted Roland's terms…for now anyway. They all got to their paws, shaking snow from their coats in preparation for the run ahead of them, a run that would be made all the longer by the fact that two of their number would be able to do no more than trudge along for most of the way. This also meant that the likelihood of all of them being caught out here long after dark was rapidly increasing with each second that ticked by. But, a group of wolves is in itself, a formidable gathering of wills, and if harnessed, this collective force is one to be reckoned with. Such was the power and strength of mind of these animals, and they were able to make and keep up a steady pace, even though Kavik and Lakota were forced to slow up a bit to give their aggravated bodies time to stop complaining.
((()-()))
They kept it up for hours, exactly how many, Kavik was never completely sure of. All he knew was that by the time he caught the scent of what could only be Roland's Pack, the moon had all but vanished from view and if he strained his eyes, he could just see the faint edges of the suns rays as it began its ascent into the sky, the beacon of the coming day. They'd been on the move for most of the night and on into early morning… Holy crispy crap but this was exhausting.
Lakota was to his left, Roland directly in front of him, exercising his duty as Alpha to lead their party. And all around him were the rest, a mix of colors and odors, attitudes and shapes. From his position, Kavik had a clear view of both Lakota and her father…and the sight of the former was none too comforting; both he and she were panting more heavily that all the rest, and Kavik himself had begun to bleed again from several of his more painful injuries, his own path now marked by a semi-steady spatter of blood droplets. Lakota's own blood trail however, was more constant than his own, making him feel a slight tinge of unease. He had no doubts whatsoever that she could handle herself – she'd taken on and managed to hold off that Grizzly for almost a full ten minutes before he'd turned around and come racing to her aid – but even for one such as she, if this kept up for too much longer, Lakota might have some serious problems on her paws….
'It'll be up to you to look after her if that happens.' He told himself – or rather, his Mother's voice spoke inside his head. 'That is your duty as a both her packmate and her friend….'
'Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold the phone for a second, Mom!' he thought back, mind suddenly frantic, 'it's a little early to say we're friends, let alone packmates don't you think?' He apparently would never know exactly what she thought, for he received no reply and Kavik was forced to push the thoughts away and focus his attention instead on the band of dull, throbbing pain that had began to run up the leg which the bear had slashed, making him grimace and his breathing quicken. Damn, but this was starting to become very bothersome!
He had just begun to think that he wouldn't be able to stand it much longer when they suddenly slowed to a brisk walk, the snowy foliage surrounding them now denser than ever. Kavik tried to remember the last time he'd been so deep into the Alaskan wilderness before and could not; this was beyond anywhere he'd ever cared to venture. He was in the Heart of the Forest now, like it or not, and there was no turning back…not that he would've been able to do much of that either; he was now becoming so fundamentally tired that he found it a continuous wonder that he was simply able to keep placing one paw in front of the other.
Roland pulled ahead of the rest suddenly, briefly pointing his nose to the sky and letting loose a low, short howl that, after a few seconds wait was answered by two identical ones, both not more than 400 yards away. He turned to Kavik. "Sentries. Let them know who's coming."
"I know." Kavik replied, a bit testily. With the way Roland had just addressed him, you'd think this was his first trip into the wild after he'd been raised by a human his whole life or something. What an idea! Mentally chuckling at the hilarity of the thought of a human who could show such an attitude towards animals such as him, he sniffed the air and sighed. "You're getting a bit sloppy, Roland." He commented dryly, mouth once again quirking.
"Oh?" The black Alpha replied, sounding amused. "How, pray tell?"
"There's only three coming toward us. You should've prepared at least six, five at the very least." Kavik went on, sounding slightly reproving.
"Can't get anything past you, can I?" Roland replied, helpless not to be pleased by the other's observations. He offered Kavik another smile. "Maybe you're right, but out here, the humans have yet to discover our little niche in this neck of the woods, so not quite as large a degree of caution is needed." He suddenly gave Kavik a curiously worried sort of look. "Mayhap you're being a bit overly cautious…."
"I should hope not," Kavik replied, now grinning. "My being 'overly cautious' has kept me from being somebody's winter clothing more than a few times."
A sudden rustle from the tree next to him swept away whatever remark Roland might've chosen to make in light of this statement. Kavik tensed somewhat, not really wanting too, but doing it anyway. Old habits die-hard…especially when you were used to such a sound being followed by a gunshot or some other equally nasty surprise as he himself was. His muscles relaxed the barest margin as he saw a large Timber wolf with green eyes about a head shorter than himself emerge from between two large conifers before them.
The sentry's face split in a relieved grin as he approached Roland and bowed his head submissively. "Roland, thank goodness!" The tan canine sighed, his voice conveying that he was indeed very thankful for his Alpha's return. "I'm glad you're back, and you too as well Lakota!" he added as he took her in at her rightful place by her father's side. His face suddenly darkened as he saw Kavik and then noticed his and Lakota's numerous lacerations. "What happened?" A slightly uneasy pause followed this query. "Who's he?"
Kavik heard the suspicious note in that last question, but didn't mind in the slightest. Such was the way wolves were expected to treat newcomers on their lands. A sort of 'Wait-to-see-where-your-loyalties-lie' type deal inherited by all wolves as a matter of instinct. Again, Kavik could only anticipate such a greeting firsthand; such behavior was one of things that kept the Clans from spinning off into totally lawless chaos, and God knew what would become of their already endangered race if that ever happened. The humans would have a field day, that much was for certain….
Far from being put out, Kavik was, if anything else relieved by the Timber wolf's instinctive actions. Such a reaction firsthand showed that the Timber wolf before him had learned his lessons in survival well. In any case, such suspicions were lessened for the time being as Roland stepped forward and returned the grin, quickly assuaging the wolf's questions.
"Hello Timber, I'm glad to see you so alert." Roland replied, making the wolf in question lower his eyes and blush a bit. "I'd like to explain everything but right now, there isn't time; my daughter and this young wolf who so kindly gave her aid, need to rest and tend to their wounds. We've been running for almost four or five hours now and all of us are very tired." When Timber seemed on the verge of voicing another question, Roland added, "And don't worry; you'll get the full story in the morning as I'd prefer to wait until the entire pack has awoken so as not to be forced to spin the same tale any more than I have to. Do you take my meaning?"
"Yes, of course." Timber said, now shooting Kavik a look that held more curiosity than suspicion. Kavik, in return, offered him a kind but tired smile. The action looked to be totally genuine, but in truth, it was more reflexive than anything else. Timber might well have given him a look of dislike or even hate, but the expression or the feelings propelling it at that particular moment ceased to matter. Kavik was far too weary to be affected by anything so meager as a first impression when in comparison to his yammering and howling body.
Two more wolves, one a uniform gray, the other a dusky brownish-red, appeared to either side of Timber and Roland was again forced to repeat himself. Kavik paid no heed. All he cared about right now was finding a place to crash for a while. He felt as though he would've slept all through the next day if given half the chance, and had never felt so exhausted and bushed-out as he did at this moment.
When the last little bit of gibbering had passed between the new arrivals and their Alpha, the now slightly larger party continued on their way, plodding on with only the motivation of sleep to coax their appendages into coordinated motion. Kavik was only dimly aware as the trees abruptly fell away as they entered a sudden valley that was flanked on both sides by thick snarls of knotty vegetation and jagged, interweaving mountain peaks between which ran a single snowy path that led the rest of way to their destination. At the end of this proverbial hallway, the steeply wooded hills suddenly gave way to a large, bowl-shaped clearing of rough-hewn stone shot through on almost every side with an intricate weave of interconnecting dens and passageways.
The sky above them was star-lit and cloudless, and had he the energy left to take it into consideration, the pallid canine tromping along behind Lakota would've thought it one of the most beautiful places that he had ever laid eyes upon. However, Kavik did not, as we know, possess any strength with which to perform this observation at the present time, and so his bright gaze remained locked onto the she-wolf in front of him as they at last reached and emptied out into the snowy clearing and Roland turned to address them all once more before they turned in.
After a short conversation with the others of his party, the velvety wolf turned his blue gaze upon his daughter and her rescuer, a kind and somewhat relieved looking smile spreading across his furry face. "Kavik…" he sighed and shook his head, all but laughing now. "There are so many things I want to say, but I know the time for questions will come later. You are both injured and I dare say you look like you're about to collapse."
"Right on the money." Kavik replied with his own smile.
Roland let loose a short bray of chuckles at this. He shook his head, as if to tell himself that he should've expected as much from the likes of Kavik. "Sorry to hear it. Now that that's been established, if you'll follow Lakota I'm sure she'd be happy to lead you to our – "
"I don't think that's such a good idea." Kavik interjected gently. "I know how the hierarchy that governs a wolf pack works as well as anyone else and something tells me there'd be trouble if a few of the other pack members happened to see the newcomer being given shelter in – "
"Oh give me a break!" Lakota interrupted, not unkindly, and Kavik turned, startled at hearing the remark come from her mouth rather than Roland's. She gave him an embarrassed little smile that made him feel funny in a way that was not at all unpleasant. "Who cares what those other suspicious mutts think?"
Roland seemed about to step in, but a sudden howl from one of the sentries that had stayed behind at his post alerted him to a possible threat. "I'll let you two work this out then," he said absently and then flitted away without another word. For a few seconds, the two young adults simply stared after the departing elder, then Kavik blinked, as did she and the two started up again.
"Lakota – " Kavik tried but she overrode him with a simplicity that seemed to suggest that it was a tactic that she'd gotten a lot of practice with. Then again, it wasn't all that surprising considering her position in the pack.
"No," she said, and her tone was surprisingly gentle. "We're standing outside in the snow, dripping blood on the ground and you're so tired I'm amazed you can even keep your footing." She gave him a smile so sweet that it had the capacity to simply melt his heart right then and there and she even garnished it with a little nuzzle to his bloodied neck. The gesture alone seemed to make him feel slightly dizzy, though he knew not why it should've been so. "You risked your life to save me, and even though you knew that you'd probably get hurt…you still tried."
Her smile suddenly faded, transforming into what could almost but not quite be called a frown and her brow creased. She looked almost indignant. "You save me from a Grizzly and reunite me with my pack and after all that, you have guts to think that I'll just let you be miserable and sleep out here in some uncomfortable little hole in the ground?" She snorted. "You've got some nerve!"
Kavik was at first incapable of doing anything, momentarily knocked off kilter by this statement. He sat there, staring at her, utterly speechless for one of the first times in his life. Then, he burst out laughing. He couldn't help it. She just looked so funny with that pouty, almost puppyish look on her face. The fact that the expression was joined with her all but scolding tone of voice only served to make moment all the more humorous. She at first only looked surprised by his reaction, then smiled and laughed right along with him, both making sure to keep the noise to a minimum so as not to awaken the rest of the still slumbering pack nestled in the vast array of caves and dens encircling them.
Finally, their laughter petered away to nothing and they only sat there, staining the virgin snow with their blood and simply looking through and studying each other, all the while still smiling. At long last after a period of perhaps ten seconds, Kavik finally broke the now slightly nervous silence that had grown between them. "Well…I'll admit you might have a point." His smile grew to a grin as he conceited. "Alright fine, you win; we'll play it your way."
She returned his grin. "Glad you finally see the light…" she replied, her tone sounding somewhat triumphant. "Now that that's settled, follow me if you would…"
For a few minutes though, it seemed to the two of them that perhaps neither would be going into any den for the night, seeing as they were briefly unable to walk or even stand up for that matter. But after a few grunts and slightly labored breaths, they managed to gain their paws and begin to plod their way towards the Alpha den. They encountered yet another roadblock when they reached one of several natural wide ledges of granite that served as makeshift ramps leading to the upper cave levels. The shelves and the valley clearing itself had been formed as a result of hundred's of years natural wearing-down by melting snow and water-run offs that had eroded the rock face in a specific way, shaping the structure into something akin to a single side of a rough Incan step pyramid that extended in a crude three-quarter circle shape with rows of comfy dwellings nestled along each 'floor'.
The Alpha's den was, as you can guess, located on the third of these natural step-levels, and therefore, presented a somewhat tiring problem to the two already injured and drowsy wolves at the structure's base. This problem was more easily dealt with than some might've guessed; taking turns as they climbed each successive incline, they leaned on one another, each supporting the other's worn-out body, a job which required Kavik to offer Lakota more and more support as they started to climb the progressively steeper slopes.
Eventually, the two of them bested the last rise and walked on somewhat wobbly legs down the 'balcony' to one of only two caves located at this height. Kavik allowed Lakota to precede him and waited for her signal before following her into the inky blackness of the cave. It was surprisingly warmer, but not by much, as there were only three or four other wolves currently asleep within, but Kavik gave the temperature little consideration. He had no strength left to spare and he wanted desperately to sleep. He had been planning to simply follow Lakota into the cave and then, after the silvery female was dead to the world, to creep back down and find an unoccupied den in which to spend the night. The trek up had forced him to scrap this plan; as he lay down on the cool stone floor, he knew that he would not be able to get up or even lick clean his injuries until at least morning.
Ah, well, such was life….
His eyes slipped closed…
And then snapped open again as he felt another furry warm body come into contact beside his own as Lakota – who else? – Lay down next to him. She was…ah…uncomfortably close, her side pressed to his back, her ribs gently moving and expanding with each respiration. Under normal circumstances, Kavik would've jumped up at such a gesture, but was currently unable to do anything but give a slight twitch and a sharp intake of breath. His eyes wider than usual, he turned his gaze to Lakota, intending to ask her just what the heck she was doing, but before he could even begin, she answered his inquiry for him.
"Calm down, I'm just trying to keep the two of us warm. And don't even try it," she added hastily as she saw him preparing to argue. "You're hurt and it's too cold for you to sleep all alone in here…you'll get sick and your wounds could get infected."
Kavik knew she was right – an injured wolf in the cold almost always got sick if unsheltered, not to mention suffering a nasty infection– but the knowledge didn't keep his cheeks from flaring up as Lakota rested her head atop his. 'Too close! Too close! Too freakin' close!' his mind screamed and Kavik crushed the annoying voice like a bug underfoot as he lay in the dark, cheeks molten, a female wolf all but lying atop him. The damn thing wasn't helping anyway. His color deepened even further a few minutes later as Lakota mumbled, in the fuzzy tone of one who is almost, but not quite yet under the Sandman's spell, "Mm Kavik…. You're really comfortable…" before sighing contentedly and apparently drifting off into a deep sleep. And, trying desperately to push certain thoughts out of his mind, Kavik followed suit.
He dreamed of his Family…of playing with his brothers and sister and their parents…and, most of all, of Lakota… And in his sleep, he scooted closer to the warm body next to his, and inhaled the fragrant reek that was Lakota's and hers alone…
((()-()))
Roland came trotting up the last of the inclines, his breath condensing into mist before his eyes as air blew out from both nose and mouth. The sentry's howl had been nothing at all to be concerned with, just a false alarm, nothing more. He'd hurried back, in the hopes that he could maybe catch the two wolves halfway up and maybe offer assistance. He apparently wasn't needed, seeing as the two of them had managed to gain the summit before he'd even returned and were now resting in the – hopefully – warm cave.
He padded into the den, claws skritch-scratching on the stony ground beneath him. He noted their position with some amusement; Lakota was practically on top of Kavik, with her head buried in the cloud of angelic white fur of his neck, he with his own head resting on the ground not far from her. Both were snoring, Lakota softly, Kavik somewhat louder and in what could almost be classified as a growl. You could only expect such from him; not only was he relatively bigger than Lakota herself, but his snores were amplified by the fact that he was also a male and happened to be more prone to the sometimes annoying sleep disorder than most others.
As Roland watched, Kavik moved, positioning his head so that it rested across his daughter's forepaws. Lakota did not wake, but moaned slightly before drifting off again. The old black wolf felt a smile cross his face as he watched Lakota snuggle deeper into Kavik's fur, sighing as she did. Had he not known better, Roland might've been of a mind to assume that Kavik and Lakota were lovers, said assumption implied by their abnormally close and personal position. Most wolves were usually solitary sleepers, the only exceptions to this rule had to do with couples and temperature; mates usually slept together for the enjoyment of their shared warmth. But if it was unusually cold, perhaps even life threatening, and there was no immediate shelter, then a large group would huddle together to conserve heat. It was highly unusual for contact to take place outside the said circumstances, but here it was, lying right in front of him… They did look rather nice together though, he observed and that was something in itself.
Chuckling mentally at the thought, Roland moved into the cave, making not a sound in passing, his fur granting him invisibility in this darkest of places. Stepping carefully, he made his way to the back of the den, navigating through the intermittent weave of sleeping forms with the ease of long practice. At last he came to a halt beside his mate and lay down so that his back was to hers. He stiffened slightly as he heard her give a half-asleep moan and ask, in a groggy and slurred tone, "R…Roland? What's…?"
"Shhh," he replied, giving her gray cheek a single lick to quiet her. "It's nothing. I'll explain in the morning." He nuzzled his dark head against her silver one, ears flattened against his skull, his tone gentle and coaxing. "Go back to sleep."
Without need of further request, she promptly let her eyes slip closed as she dropped back off into sleep. Moving a little closer to her, Roland followed suit, laying his own head overtop hers, unconsciously mimicking his daughter. His mind attempted to barrage him with worrisome thoughts of the morning to come, but he pushed them away, content now merely to sleep. He was too tired to consider those things now and such would have to wait until morning. He smiled to himself as he lay in the dark, already beginning to drift off to sleep. Not only had he found his daughter, but he'd encountered a friend he hadn't seen in years.
The day had come to a very acceptable ending after all…
