Short chapter, so I'm giving you two. The next one is longer – promise. Sorry about the use of another Disney quote, but these things just happen.
Thank you to wolfgirlnowandforever for being my unofficial beta for this chapter. You're awesome!
The Kerl~
Chapter 8
"They're different from us,
Which means they can't be trusted."
– Savages (Part 1), Disney's Pocahontas
Our search was not going as planned. I am not sure why I felt that tracking Wolfbane would be easy, but he was proving to be an elusive adversary. We'd interrogated the old rebel for days and discovered nothing of consequence. The fool kept muttering to herself. We brought her food, hoping to restore her strength so that she would be of more use to us, but she refused to eat. It was only a matter of time before she passed and we were left with nothing. The pack was growing weary as the days grew shorter. If we did not find him by winter, we would be forced to bed down somewhere for the winter. Past experience had proven that tracking in the winter was pointless.
If that were to happen, and we had to wait for the spring to come before we resumed our efforts, I had a plan. There were seven of us together, too large and aggressive a group to join with another pack. If we were to disperse ourselves amongst various packs in the area, however, we could lie in wait for any news of the black wolf. The only thorn in this solution was the fact that we were Balkar, and each of us too intimidating and strong to be allowed to join as a mere member.
We were born to lead.
A twig snapped behind me. I twisted around, a loud snarl rippling through the morning air. Ghaat's fur bristled, but he held his ground. "Ghaat – what news?" I demanded. We were all on edge, yet my position was more precarious for I was Dragga. Any moment one the males could snap and challenge my position of leadership. This made me more wary than normal, starting at any sound my ears met with.
Ghaat lowered his head in submission, looking at my paws instead of my blaring eyes. "The she-wolf is dead. She said nothing more. The pack wishes to know if we should hunt again before moving on." I was both pleased and offended by the way he spoke to me. It was a familiar way, as though we were equals. His brother, Gherr, would not have made such a mistake. Still, Ghaat had a nose that could track a bird in flight. We needed him. A growl erupted in my throat in agitation, and Ghaat nodded his head. I supposed he mistook my anger with him as frustration that the pack wanted to delay our departure. In fact, I was upset by this.
"They hunted five suns ago. We should leave now, we've wasted enough time here as it is." He nodded in agreement. I thought back to my earlier plans and decided to take a different path in our search. "Gather the pack – it is time to change our course of action." Ghaat backed away with a quiet, "Of course, Brak," and left me to my thoughts. I stared into the sky, hazy with the day's new sun. Already the flying scavengers were flocking toward the place the she-wolf's body rested. Their crowing filled the air, giving the area a sense of morbidity. I snarled to the sky, cursing the filthy scum. One heard me and dove towards where I stood, alighting on a branch just out of my jumping range.
I can't be sure what overcame me, but I spoke to the creature. "Go on, then. We don't want your filth around here. Go on to your meal," I snarled. The bird turned on the branch, raising his tail feathers in my direction. He dropped large, white mass on the ground before me. I jumped back just in time to escape catching the droppings on my muzzle. It turned its head to me and opened its beak, releasing an angry cry. He called out so loudly it left my ears ringing, so hard that I imagined I could hear words in the cry.
"Caaaw missed! Stupid wolves caaaan't take a hint. Don't listen to nobody, stupid wolves. Caaaan't even die properly, stupid wolves. Caaaan't even follow a straight line, stupid white ones. Better dead. Caaaw!" The bird leapt into the air to join its brethren in the feast. Just as the ringing faded from my mind Vantr stepped through the brush, followed by the others. None of them looked pleased, but then the loss of the old she-varg was a hard blow to our campaign.
"Ghaat says you have news. What is it?" Vantr's voice was cold. I was on thin ice, and I needed to win back their loyalty quickly.
I nodded my head and sat, inviting them all to relax. Everyone sat but Vantr, who began pacing around the group. "We are getting nowhere as a group. We need to fan out and question the packs in the area. Perhaps they have knowledge of Huttser's pack."
Menduvlad growled. "We didn't get information that way before, Brak. What makes you think we will have better luck now?" Gherr and Vantr growled along with him, and I knew that they were all in agreement with each other against me.
"Before we worked as a pack, intimidating the few we encountered. The Varg don't want to be intimidated any more. This time we work in pairs and sniff out what we can. The packs may be more willing to divulge their knowledge if they feel more secure. Varg are still settling across the land – roaming dragga searching for unclaimed territories will be much less conspicuous. Who knows, they even allow us to join their packs for a short time." It was all we could do, unless we were to miraculously stumble upon another from Huttser's pack. If that happens, Fenris would do well to send one in better condition. "Vantr and I will head west." I needed to make sure he was not causing dissent amongst the others while we separated. "The rest of you will fan out in pairs, or alone, it doesn't matter. Find what you can and meet here in a moon's time. If you happen upon either the pack or Fell, let them be. They must not be forewarned. Surprise is our advantage." Each growled quietly in response, glad to have a plan.
"Brak." Vantr met my piercing gaze with one his own. "Would it not be wiser for one of us to try and infiltrate the pack? We could learn much from them." While it was an intriguing notion, it would never work.
"No, Vantr. Do not for a moment forget Fell's power. He can read minds – he would know of our deception. He must not know our purpose. The Varg fear him equally, so they should side with us, but we cannot risk word getting out. Lying is no new concept for us. Ask about the family, but do not give yourselves away. The moment he runs into hiding is the moment we lose him."
Menduvlad chuckled. "Do you really think that Wolfbane is a Sikla to run and hide from us? He controlled the full number of the Balkar without us ever seeing him. If he chooses to fight…we are no match for him. We would do best to recruit others to our cause."
I leapt to my paws, snarling viciously at this challenge to my authority. "Enough of this foolishness. You believe that others would join the Balkar? We were Morgra's pawns. We allowed the fear of Wolfbane to control us. We must correct our wrongs ourselves." I sighed in resignation. Larger number would be beneficial, but we could not afford to be naïve enough to expect help. "Besides, a large pack would only attract attention. We must rely upon the stealth and cunning of the Putnar to achieve our goal. We will not be led astray by talk of gods or demons. We are Balkar – first among the Putnar. Never forget this."
I threw my head back in a howl. The others, caught up in the moment, joined me. Our call shook the morning, sending clouds of frenzied black shapes into the skies. Their shouts of protest were lost to our voices. My muscles shifted, launching me into a sprint. I heard the howl die down and the sound of paws pounding into the earth behind me. Soon there was only the sound of paws on crunchy leaves and the steady breathing two wolves make as they rush through the forest. Vantr caught up to me and ran along my left side. Our eyes met and from his look I knew he was with me.
If Vantr was with me, then so was the rest of the pack. Once again, I was in control.
Nothing could stop me.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We ran for days, stopping to rest when necessary. We picked up the tracks of a male wildcat and hunted him for another two days. It was old and weak, but it replenished our strength. The exertion of our travel was tempered, and we moved on. With no destination in mind, it was good to finally let go and run. I haven't felt this free since Tratto led us, I thought to myself. I was once again Balkar, defending those who could not defend themselves. It was our duty and right to protect the Varg from this unnatural creature. I was sure of it.
This assurance lifted my spirits. It also led me to second-guess myself when we encountered our first pack. It was a little over a week before we needed to return to the rest of the pack. As was the new custom, we approached their border offering them all Larka's Blessing. As loyal as I had been to Tratto, this was strange to do, yet we needed to blend in. We were greeted by four wolves.
"Larka's Blessing indeed! I am Nahrl, Dragga of this pack. These are my mate, Rrirha and my children Miko and Shadha. What are you called?" The wolf was certainly Dragga, but it seems as though the years had not treated him as kindly. He had a crick in one of his back legs that clicked when he moved. This gave him a limp that he did his best to hide. His accented hinted at foreign origin. Before last year I would have found it strange to find this wolf so far north, yet the rebel pack had amassed varg from faraway lands. His mate was equally as old. Looking between the four of them, I was certain that these young cubs did not belong to the old ones. Morgra's raids had ensured that no cubs their age were left with their parents. These were certainly foundlings. While old enough to venture out on their own, the cubs remained with their adoptive family. The lot of the were Siklas, and they could be of great use to us. Vantr caught my eye and gave a short nod of approval.
"I am called Brak, and my companion is Vantr. We were Kerl before we joined the rebels. We found that pack life suits us and wish to join a family. Do you know of any nearby packs in this region who would accept us?" Nahrl frowned slightly. Yes, they will play right into our jaws.
The old dragga looked to his mate, who shook her head sadly. The young ones glanced around nervously. Nahrl was studying us closely, taking in our large builds with a cautious eye. He was not a fool, so he knew better than to immediately trust us, but he could not afford to send us away, either. His pack could use strong males to hunt and defend. This was what I was hoping for. "I cannot think of any at the moment. We are new to this land. Miko and Shadha were born not far from here, yet their family is gone. Perhaps you can accompany us to our den and we can think of something."
"Of course. Thank you, Nahrl." Against my better instinct I lowered my gaze in a submissive gesture. From the corner of my eye I saw Vantr imitating my motions. Nahrl, pleased with our actions, turned tail and led us to the pack den. Vantr and I followed a ways behind, speaking softly.
"Do you think they will take us in?"
I nodded, my eyes trained on the young ones before us. "They cannot afford not to." The female, Shadha, slowed her pace and fell into step beside Vantr. He looked at me in confusion before she spoke.
In a shy voice she asked, "You traveled from the north?" I bit my lips to keep the smile from my face. She was infatuated with Vantr. He was strong and handsome, of course, but had not taken a mate for the same reason none of the Balkar took mates – the Balkar are entirely male. When we longed for companionship we went hunting, using our primal urges for the better of the pack. Occasionally there were intense sparring matches each season, for we could not ignore our instincts when they told us to fight our opposition, but very few left to take mates.
Vantr became aware of the young wolf's attraction immediately. I was grateful, because this could only hope to aid us in joining this pack. "Yes. We were members of the rebel pack gathered in the north." Shadha's eyes flickered away at his words. "You were not at Harja, then?" Nahrl and his mate were far enough ahead that they would not hear our conversation.
"Harja? No. My brother and I were here with Nahrl and Rrirha. We heard about what happened from a pack that came through here not long ago, though. Is what they said really true?" Her brother had fallen back as well, walking in step with me. My body itched to take my place in the front of the group, away from the crowding bodies bringing up the rear, but I had an appearance to maintain. Vantr asked Shadha what she spoke of, and she explained. "We were told that two packs, both led by drappas, met in battle below the ancient citadel in the mountains. They told us of ghosts and of a she-wolf who carried a man cub upon her back."
I nodded. "Yes. It is true. Most of them are dead, now." Vantr grinned wickedly as he recalled the part he'd played in fighting the rebels.
Miko shivered in excitement. "So you saw her, then?"
"Who?"
Shadha laughed. "The white wolf, of course! You spoke of Larka's Blessing, so you must know her."
"Yes, we are familiar with Larka." My eyes met with Vantr's again and we shared our amusement. How had they not asked of the vile brother?
Miko and Shadha leapt in front of us, causing us to stop and face them. "You must tell us what happened. The other pack told us things that must have been exaggerated. Rrirha bit at the stories, but we are not so naïve as to believe the tales they told us."
Miko barked in laughter, his tail wagging back and forth. "Of course not. They expected us to believe that this Larka lived."
My brow furrowed. "No, it is true. I saw her with my own eyes. She and our - … I mean, she was killed in a struggle with the leader of the Night Hunters over a great chasm. Both she and Morgra were crushed."
The two siblings looked at each other in astonishment before turning two cautious gazes upon us. The female spoke up. "That is not what they told us. They told us that they saw her just over three moons ago, running through the forest. Have you not heard these rumors?"
Vantr looked at me anxiously. "She died. There is no way in the Red Meadows that she survived that fall. Besides, that pack beneath the mountains would have known if she left…"
"That thrice accursed, stupid son of a Herla! That gods-forsaken whelp of Wolfbane knew all along!" My voice startled the others. I thought back to when we had ventured to Harja to wait for the return of the black wolf. There had been an arrogant male living near the entrance to the mountain path. He'd told us that he was protecting the place from those who wished to disrespect the dead.
He was covering up the fact that there was only one body crushed beneath the rocks!
"We need to find the others." Vantr made to leave at that instant, but I held him back.
The old dragga was searching for some hidden explanation. "What others?"
I ignored him and focused on the siblings, who were both pressing into one another in an attempt to make themselves appear smaller and less important. "You two," I growled out. "Where did this pack say claim they saw Larka?"
Shadha was shaking, and Miko put on a brave face to protect his sister. "They claimed they saw her not far from the southern border, running east. They tried to speak to her, but she was oblivious to their presence. They were convinced that it was her spirit, roaming the land in search of something."
"She was looking for him," Vantr whispered quietly. He cast me a glance and began growling loudly. "We have to find them."
"Who was she looking for?" The young female stepped forward cautiously, upset that Vantr was so out of mind. He turned on her, snarling furiously. She cried out and ran for cover behind the old ones. The next moment, Vantr and I took off as quickly as we could. We needed to reassemble the pack before we moved any further.
"How is it that she is still alive, Brak? We saw her and Morgra die before our eyes." I was too confused to answer. There was so much blood…had we mistaken Morgra's mangled body for Larka's? Something is wrong. I knew little of the white she-wolf. Morgra had feared her, to be sure, yet I did know where her loyalties lie. She had despised Morgra and was betrayed by Slavka. I assumed that she fought for herself and her family, as she was so eager to save her parents and the man-cub. It would have been the natural way of things, Larka fighting for her family, had Man not been involved and she not had such an obvious advantage over the rest of us. I many ways, Larka was just as dangerous as her brother.
She would have to be taken care of as well.