Muahahahaha I finally got this out the way I wanted to. I didn't go back through and edit it like I should have, but I figured you wouldn't hate me too much for posting it a week early.

The Kerl

Chapter 13

"I did a terrible thing to you, and I spent a lot of nights wishing I could take it back.

I'm not asking you to forgive me - I just want you to understand."

– Spiderman 3, The Sandman

Larka

The next morning we woke with the sun. Skart assured us that we had time to hunt before the confrontation, but Huttser argued that feasting would only serve to slow us down. Still, we did not waste our time in our positions for the ambush. Now that Fell and I were sure that we could reach each others' minds, we wanted to test our ability to reach Skart's. If he were able to spot them coming, we would know exactly where to meet them. Cadea and Fell were already known to the Balkar, so they would lie somewhere in the open while the rest of us circled back around. Skart's forewarning would give us more time to prepare and reduce the risk of our springing the trap too early. Fell had spent the better part of two years living with them – he knew how they thought and fought and was sure we could catch them unawares.

Neither myself nor my brother were able to reach Skart in any way other than with our voices. Kar suggested that he or Cadea try, but they fared no better than us. Still, Fell and I were able to reach each other, which would still give us time. We split up into two groups, mine heading in a northerly direction before veering outwards. Kar led the other group, thereby allowing Skart to communicate with each of the groups.

It was a good plan…if only it had worked out.

We heard the cry as the sun began to dip in the sky. "They're close! Hurry up!" I leapt to my feet and ran, ran as fast as I could. I ran until I couldn't see – only my sight had nothing to do with my running. What I saw was Cadea standing at my side in an empty clearing. They aren't here, I thought. Fell broke contact and I was stumbling. Kipcha bumped into me and Huttser tripped over her. Khaz stopped in time to avoid falling.

"Larka, what happened?" Huttser was furious, his worried face was inches from mine.

I shook my head. "I – I don't know. The Balkar aren't in the meadow. I don't know whe –"

"Run! Run!" It came from the other side of the meadow, around where the others lay in hiding. Skart's call was echoed by the rumbling growls and snarls of what were unmistakably angry wolves. We ran as fast as our legs could carry us, barely daring to dwell on what sort of scene we would come upon. Khaz pulled ahead of me and I knew we were too late.

"What have you done to us?" shouted a voice.

We ran on.

"Ah!" screamed another.

"Make that filth stop talking!"

"Please calm down – we only wish to speak with you," one pleaded.

"Do not believe his lies! Kill them!"

"NO!" That was Palla. Another moment and we were on the scene, stopping short as we took it all in. I couldn't believe what I saw. Skop lie motionless on the ground, his throat bloodied. A wolf I'd never seen before stood over him licking his chops. One had Cadea pinned to the ground while another clenched her bleeding thigh between his teeth. The remainder of the Balkar circled Fell in an attempt to ward off Huttser and Larka. There were six present, and Fenris knew where the other two were. Palla was frozen, staring down at her cub. Skart called out from above.

One of the males – I assumed that this was Brak – turned his head in our direction. I saw his eyes widen as he recognized me. Kar took a step forward to stand between us, but Brak snarled a warning to stay back. "I see that the rumors are true," he whispered. The others turned and various growls and gasps gave away their surprise. Fell looked to me with a desperate plea.

I took a deep breath and raised my head high, knowing better than to move an inch closer to our attackers. "Brak," I snarled, "tell us why you are here."

His lips curled back in a sneer. "We've come for your dear brother, O White One. Surely, one such as yourself, one who has travelled to the Red Meadow and back twice, would have no reason to protect Wolfbane. We've come to ensure that his wickedness no longer taints the earth."

Cadea stirred beneath her captors, yelping as the jaws dug further into her flesh. "Tell them Larka! They won't listen to us!"

"Shut up, Sikla. Don't pretend you haven't come to warn them. We remember you well enough."

A deep growl rumbled from Huttser as he circled around the group towards Skop. "She's done nothing to you – let her go."

"No. Not until he finds a way to undo what he's done to us!"

Brak and another looked to Fell, who seemed unaware of their distress. "I have no idea what they are shouting about. Morgra is dead and we all know I had very little to do with that."

Snarl. "We don't want that old fool back. We want you to take back the curse you've put on us. We want you to die so that your evil will be destroyed." He cast a wary glance toward the sky where Skart was still circling overhead.

"And what sort of curse do you suppose I've put upon you, Brak? I never touched you, and yet you come here and attack my family as though you've some divine orders. Pray tell, what is it that I've done wrong?"

"The mere fact that you exist is wrong. Do you expect us to allow you to continue masquerading as some defunct god, torturing the Lera as you did with Morgra? Your sister has already shown us just how powerful the Sight is. How are we to defend ourselves from the likes of you and your family?"

"Brak, you have it all wrong – you don't understand. Fell and Larka – " One of the others cut Kar off.

" – must be destroyed." The response was a chorus of howling from the Balkar. The two holding Cadea down let up, but she was too weak to stand on her own. Fell rushed to her side and Palla rushed to Skop.

Cadea managed to roll herself up into a near-sitting position, but she was forced to lean upon Fell for support. "Killing Fell and Larka will not rid the world of the Sight. No, it's too late for that. Things are changing."

Fell shook his head. "Stop Cadea, don't." Brak's brow contorted in confusion as Fell tried to prevent the Balkar from learning of Cadea and Kar's new abilities. He rounded on me, demanding that I explain. I cautiously met Kar's eye before opening my mouth to speak. The next words did not come from me, though. "Brak, you know as well as I that nothing has been the same since Harja. If anything we need to stop the rumors running rampant through the forests and the glens. We've tried to keep Larka's survival a secret, but word will spread."

Cadea barked in half-hearted laughter. "Yes. If you kill Fell, who's to say that he won't come back like Larka?"

"Dead is dead, and you know it," spat one.

"Yes, but the Varg are superstitious and will listen to nearly anything. Isn't that how Morgra convinced you to turn on Tratto?" Snarling. "Anyhow, I can hardly believe that you are truly prepared to destroy all who possess the Sight."

"Skart!" The eagle glided to my side, meeting the startled looks of the Balkar with a steely one of his own. An idea came to me and I quietly whispered to Skart.

"See how she commands the flying Putnar!"

"Shut up, Menduvlad. What can she possibly hope to accomplish by whispering to a bird?" He laughed and turned towards Cadea. "And I should tell you that you are wrong about me – it will not pain me in the least to dispose of your new friends."

Skart skipped forward a pace, cocking his head to the side as he spoke. "Perhaps, but then there will still be others with the power." Brak froze. His back was to me, and consequently to Skart, but there was a visible tension in his shoulders. His ears perked before sliding back. Finally his tail dipped. He's scared, I thought. "Yes varg, I speak to you. Turn and face me." The wolf shuddered before tilting his head to peek over his shoulder. Skart picked up a leg to approach and Brak flinched. "You are frightened. I did not suppose that Morgra would choose a Sikla for the leader of her filth, but I see I was wrong." Brak snarled and side-stepped, swinging around to face Skart fully.

The Balkar were now confused, for their Dragga was reacting to what they heard as a series of hisses and clicks issued from Skart. Brak snarled, but his body language told us that it was only for show – he was beyond terrified. Again he demanded to know what had been done to him.

Fell took a half-step forward, closing the circle around Brak. His head turned as a strangled breath came from Palla and Skop's position. He is still alive. "I have done nothing to you, Brak. If I had, do you think that I'd have left you capable of doing that to my brother? You remember what I was capable of…"

Brak shivered and raised a skeptical brow. "'Was'?"

"Yes. Was. The prophecy was fulfilled at Harja – we have no more need for the Sight."

The big male nodded. "And this is why you must die."

Skart screeched in laughter. "So then Brak has not told his pack about his new abilities."

"NO!" cried Brak. "They can't know!"

"Who can't know what?" one of the males asked. Skart was already leaping into the air when Brak pounced. Skart circled overhead before laughing at the poor wolf. It seemed as though my idea was working. "Brak! What in Wolfbane's Den is going on with you?"

Fell shot me a questioning glance. I nodded before explaining. "Whatever Morgra told you about the Sight is probably wrong. It isn't the same as being stronger or faster than other wolves. The power of the Sight is more like…like rainwater. Rain is everywhere, but the water only collects where it is needed most. Plants need water to survive and soak up the water from the ground. However, streams and ponds are the places the water collects for everyone to see. Fell and I are just the places that the Sight collected and was the most evident. Now imagine that the earth was flat – that there were no large bodies of water. Rain would spread the water equally and the water would be used equally. That is what is happening with the Sight. There is no longer any reason for it to be collected within a few bodies, but used equally amongst the Lera like it once was. Even now it is leaking from Fell and I and touching the Varg." I swallowed nervously. I'd done my best to keep Cadea and Kar out of the discussion, because if talks failed then they were in as much danger as Fell and I.

"Don't listen to her! She speaks lies to weaken your mind!" Brak was shaking in both fear and fury by this point.

"I know you can understand me, Brak!" shouted Skart before he wheeled around to land behind me.

"Someone make that bird shut up!"

The Balkar began exchanging nervous glances as Brak's composure failed entirely. One of the smarter males realized the implications. "Are you saying that the Sight is…spreading?" He eyed Brak, unsure of what to do with the information before him.

"No," Fell corrected. "The Sight keeps a natural balance in the world. Larka and I were not meant to possess such powerful abilities as the Sight allowed us. We used them to fulfill the prophecy and now they are leaving, restoring that natural balance. I cannot touch the minds of the Varg as I did before, nor can we look into the water to summon visions at will. And now more and more of the Lera are speaking to each other…including Brak."

"So says 'Wolfbane', the Dark One," Brak sneered. His ears and tail were twitching in agitation. "Don't listen to his lies! Kill him! Kill them all for doing this to us!"

Fell snarled so viciously I could feel every hair on my body stand on end. "If you've come here to punish me for being Morgra's dog then so be it. I did not want a fight here, but you've attacked my family and I will defend them. If you've come to destroy the Sight once and for all, then you are a fool. You cannot destroy what you do not understand, Brak, and you are now included in our number. At least five of us here today can speak with the birds, but how many more are out there running around? Will you hunt them all down and kill them one by one?"

"Of course I will – it is my duty as Balkar to protect the peace."

"If you do that then you are no better than Morgra. This has to end now, Brak. All of you listen to me! I've lived the life you led with Morgra – I understand your pain, your anger, your regrets. She tricked me as well. Still, we must learn to let go of these pains before we can heal. Violence is not the solution here and it never will be. I promise you that even if I were still able to harm you with the Sight I wouldn't do it." Fell shook his head and looked to Cadea, who was breathing heavily with the effort of keeping herself upright. Her leg was bleeding badly, but my major concern was still with Skop. He was shielded from me by the tall grass, though I could hear Palla whimpering above him.

Brak's Night Hunters were lost. Huttser saw this and approached the largest one. The male barely acknowledged Huttser's presence, he was so lost in his own thoughts. "It is in the nature of the dragga," began Huttser, "to want to protect one's pack. You have come here to kill my children and I have come to meet your challenge. I will protect my family, but I wonder who you are protecting by coming here. Surely none of you have families of your own. What is your name?"

The wolf shook himself from his thoughts and peered at Huttser through the corner of his eye. He was younger and bigger than Huttser, but Brak's behavior had put him on edge. "Vantr."

Huttser twitched his muzzle in Brak's direction, and we all looked to see how the leader of the Balkar was curled up in a shivering ball of fur. It looked as though he were attempting to make himself small enough that Skart could not see him. "Do you see what would happen if Fell and Larka were not here to explain the powers of the Sight? Madness will spread along with it, Vantr. If you want to fight, by all means fight the madness. We've already seen that nothing can stop the Sight."

His words shocked me. Only my eyes moved, seeking those of my brother and my mate. Never had Huttser shown such reverence for the Sight. Tsinga taught me that it is a part of everything – it is how the different creatures and plants survived in the midst of the chaos brought on by man. It was balance. Huttser admitting that showed us just how far he'd come from the fearful skeptic of my cubhood. I saw the surprise in Kar's eyes as expected, but Fell was almost smiling like he knew that Huttser could give no other response. Like he was meant to.

Vantr listened. He listened as Palla told the story of our pack from the time she was a cub and Morgra was unjustly driven out by her own family. Huttser recounted how the Balkar had chased them and how Morgra had come for me soon after Palla gave birth to Fell and I. I told them of the struggles we faced growing up with the Sight and knowing nothing of it beyond cubs tales. Sadness hit me as I told them of Tsinga, and of finding Skart and Tsarr. Fell recalled the anger and jealousy that Morgra had used against him, and how he had relied upon the Sight to make his place in the world she trapped him in. And more than just Vantr listened. The others gave us their full attention as they began to realize just how far Morgra had led them astray. Cadea explained how Rar had brought me back to her pack to heal and how she had been rendered helpless then. A soft smile graced her features as she told of Fell helping her to control the Sight. Kar spoke as well, detailing my return and his sudden ability to understand the birds. Together, we were able to relate all of our knowledge of the Sight to the Balkar, keeping secret only how to perform the Summoning Howl.

Sometime during the day Brak began to calm down. He would not ask us questions, but I knew that he listened just as intently as the others. Palla tended to Skop and Cadea rested against Fell, drawing strength from him. I remembered what I'd been told of the healing powers of the Sight, and I could see that they would both be alright. We took nearly the entire day to speak with them. As the sun began to dip below the treetops, Brak stood and faced Fell. The Balkar, who were now resting amongst my family, looked to him with a new fire in their eyes. Some shifted, as though they were prepared to fight him off should he attack my brother.

Instead, Brak surprised us by dipping his head to Fell. "You are right – we underestimated the depth of Morgra's deception. I beg your forgiveness for blaming you for the cause of our troubles. Perhaps our hearts need more time to heal before we resume our positions as true Balkar."

Vantr cocked his head, his ears perked. "Is there even a reason to keep the pack together?"

"Yes," voiced another. "What purpose do we have now?"

Kar, previously lying by my side, rolled into me in an embarrassingly playful and affectionate manner. "If you want my advice," he barked, "I would go out and find some of those she-wolves who left the rebel pack after Harja." That is the future father of my cubs, advising a group of murderous males to venture forth and enjoy some feminine company. I'm so proud, I thought sarcastically. "Dig a den, have a litter or two, avoid forest fires, and live your lives. Pass on what you've learned today. Perhaps in time the Sight will be as it once was, and there will be no need for the Balkar beyond preserving the truth of it."

Brak nodded slowly, a renewed energy in his eyes. The fear was gone and replaced by the acceptance of his situation. "We will tell the Varg of all that your family has done. Your story will not be forgotten. Oh," he said as he turned to face me. "Of course, we will make sure to keep your presence here a secret. You were seen by others after you left Harja, though they believed that it was your spirit searching the land for something." He raised a brow cockily. "Shall we say that you've found what you were searching for?"

I nodded, licking Kar's muzzle in response. Brak smiled and bent low into a stretch. The Balkar got to their feet one by one, and one approached Cadea. A protective growl rumbled from Fell, but the wolf ignored him. "I hate to admit it, but your brother's pack is doing a fine job of protecting Harja. He headed us off before we got there…did you see her?"

"Brother?" queried Fell.

"Her?" asked Cadea at the same time she shot Fell a bewildered glance. "Yes, Morgra's body is there. We've seen her. She is dead."

The Balkar gathered and bade my family farewell. Brak assured us that he would visit Rar in the north and pass on what had occurred between our packs. The Balkar would share their knowledge of the Sight with the Varg so that we would be left alone.

It was more than any of us had dared to ask for. I sent a silent prayer to Tor for protecting us.

Skop, though covered in blood, was not injured as badly as I'd originally believed. I stayed by his side, hoping to heal him as best I could. In the meantime, my younger siblings raced and played in the meadow, elated by our victory. Kar was drug into the mayhem and soon found himself far outnumbered in the game of chase they played.

Over their delighted yelps and howls I heard Cadea laughing at Fell. She wasn't able to reach her wound to clean it properly, forcing Fell to oblige. He licked the wound and cleaned the blood from her fur as she teased him, though it seemed that her good humor was best for the both of them. "Well who did you think he was?"

"Not your brother."

"Was your nose covered in mud that day? How couldn't you smell the relation?"

"Of course, but he was so protective of you that I thought that –"

"Rar is only protective of me because he doesn't think that I can take care of myself. My father had another mate before my mother – Rar's mother – and both died delivering their first litter. He raised us both, though the rebels killed him when he refused to join Slavka. They told him it was for the good of his family because Morgra was collecting cubs, but he refused to allow us to be separated. Before he died, Vangr made Rar promise that he would look after me." Fell was pleased by this explanation, though he did not say anything to express his feelings. I only hoped he would not wait as long as Kar did.

Once I was convinced that I could do nothing more for Skop, I left him in Palla's care and went to find Skart. I found him with Cadea, Fell, and Kar. They were working through what went wrong with our plan. "It would have worked out well enough if Brak hadn't been able to understand Skart's warning," Cadea yawned. The cool night air sent a shiver down her spine and I saw she edged closer to Fell without even realizing it. She was already half-asleep, but Fell was keenly aware of her closeness. He kept looking down at her like he wanted to put some distance between them, but wasn't sure how to accomplish that without offending her or waking her up. I curled into Kar's side, relishing his warmth, and caught his eye. They twinkled in obvious amusement and we had to stifle our laughter at the scene Fell was making.

"I agree," chuckled Skart. "What do you plan to do now?" he asked Kar and I.

Kar sighed. "I was talking to Huttser about that earlier, actually." I shifted to better take in his expression but he would not meet my eyes. "He says that we should spend the winter with the rest of the pack and wait until the ground thaws to search for a place to make our home.

"Well I'm not staying," huffed Fell. His movement stirred Cadea and he froze. Her jaws spread in a yawn before she buried her muzzle in my brother's dark coat. His eyes shot open wide and he stared down at her. I coughed to regain his attention and Kar asked why he was so ready to move on. Fell snorted in amusement and shot Kar a knowing smirk, but his eyes kept straying to the figure nestled into his side. "I thought you of all of us would be ready to make your own way. Besides, the cubs aren't cubs anymore and there is no way that ten grown wolves will be able to share that den for the winter. Even if we enlarged it, finding enough game to keep us fed will be nearly impossible with the humans living so close."

"What will you do, Skart?" Kar turned the conversation to Skart so that he would not be forced to watch Fell watch Cadea as he spoke.

His beak cracked open in a semblance of a smile. "Tsarr and I found one another when I was very young. I have many years ahead of me and I think that it is about time that I found myself a mate. It is time that I lived among my own kind. Perhaps some day I will return and tell you of my travels."

"I hope that you do. We will miss you, Skart." Cadea's breathing was deep and slow, so we knew that she'd fallen asleep. Fell sniffed at her curiously and I couldn't help but tease my brother about his absurd behavior. "She isn't doing to bite, Fell. Honestly, what do you think you're doing?"

His head shot up and his mouth opened in protest, but the words caught in his throat. He looked back down to Cadea, and then at each of us in turn before returning his gaze to Cadea. His brow furrowed, and after some time he gave up. He jerked his muzzle in her direction before asking me what that meant.

"What does what mean?" Kar snickered next to me. Luckily Fell did not notice.

"What is she doing?"

My head tilted to one side, then the other as I pretended to study her thoroughly. Fell's desperate eyes caught mine as soon as I looked up. "It appears that she's sleeping," I said in a definitive tone.

"But why is she sleeping here?"

"Because it is a cold night. Hadn't you noticed?"

"No."

"Of course he didn't notice – right now Fell feels rather warm. Can't you tell by the way he's panting?" teased Kar. Fell took a deep breath to shout back, remembered that Cadea would wake up if his voice was too loud, and growled something rather unkind under his breath. Now, having experienced the sensation of being pressed against a growling body before, I could not blame Cadea for her response. She stretched out beside him, now fully pressing herself against Fell in her sleep. Fell yelped in surprise and leapt to his feet. Cadea's head was jerked up by his movements, startling her awake. My brother raced off to a chorus of laughs and jeers aimed at him, and Cadea could do nothing but lie there confused as to why she was suddenly alone and wonder at the oddity of the eagle screeching in laughter before her.

"What happened?" she asked, a yawn escaping her jaws. "Where did Fell go?" She was looking around, but winced as her leg sent a sharp reminder to the rest of her body that she was in no condition to go off in search of him. She shrugged and resettled herself in the grass, curling up into a ball to keep warm.

Skart left the following morning. He promised that if he was able he would seek us out one day. The rest of us agreed that we should stay in the meadow until Skop was well enough to make the trip back to the den. Just over the rise of the meadow was a small brook we moved him to rest by. His breathing was improved, but he had lost a lot of blood and was still weak. Cadea's leg was badly torn and I knew that it would never completely heal, but with luck she would still be able to hunt.

Fell had returned some time during the night. He kept his distance from Cadea, but Kar told me that he was only thinking things through and that he wouldn't be able to do that with her around. I asked him what he meant by that, but rather than answering me he agreed to take Khaz and Kipcha hunting. Larka wanted to stay with Skop, and Huttser was trying to convince Cadea to stay with the pack. Palla decided to stretch her legs by joining the hunting party, and Fell tagged along to distance himself from Cadea. I decided that I could do more good by staying with the injured and seeing how the Sight could help them.

YAY! I am planning on writing one more chapter. I've also added a separate prequel of sorts, called After the Fall that you can read if you want.