Chapter 8 – High Alpha

It had been a day since they had entered the Beor Mountains, and they were making good time towards the Varden. His relationship with Arya had been growing during their travels and he could feel that she felt the same way that he did towards her. But he didn't know if those feelings where of great friendship or if they were hinting at something deeper. They had stopped to make camp; Brom went to get firewood while he went to pick up food for Arya's meal, and to hunt for theirs. Even though elves didn't eat meat he was happy to know that they didn't frown upon those who did. He was almost done gathering food when he heard wolfs howl through the night. By the sound of it they were werewolves but they were also quite young. He was exited, maybe the rest of his kind was here, he wanted to investigate, but he had to let the others know.

He made his way to camp where the others were waiting for him, he put the things he had gathered on the ground and proceeded to tell them.

"Brom, Arya, I heard howls from deep in the forest" he said, "I think they might be werewolves"

"Are you sure?" asked Brom "maybe there are normal wolves"

"No, I can tell my kind's call apart from a normal wolf" he said with authority

"If you say they are werewolves then I believe you" said Arya "what do you want to do?" He was thankful for Arya's trust. She didn't seem to think that he was wrong.

"I think I am going to meet them, if they are werewolves maybe the rest of my kind are here, and as Fury said, I am his heir and am supposed to lead them." Everyone was quiet; he hadn't told anybody except Saphira that he was supposed to be the next High Alpha. He didn't like to be reminded of the extreme responsibility he would have to shoulder in the future. He went behind Saphira and started taking his clothes off. Letting the heat spread through his body, he phased into his eight-foot tall wolf persona.

I'll be back he said to the others If I run into trouble I'll let Saphira know they nodded, and before he left he pressed his nose to Arya's forehead in a show of friendship. With that he started running into the forest following the scent that he was sure belonged to werewolves. It took him little less than an hour but he found the wolves in a clearing, he noticed that there were two small ones and a male and a female. It seemed that the parents were teaching their cubs how to hunt. He slowly approached them as he new that mothers were quite protective of their cubs. As soon as they sensed him they snarled at him, the cubs hiding behind their mother while the father walked in front of them to protect them. He noticed that he was bigger than them by at least a foot, and that their fur was grey.

He stood his ground and held his head high to show he was not afraid and was in control, and with his voice that resonated with authority he spoke to them in the Ancient Language. I mean you no harm, I am the heir of Black Fury, he told me to find our people. The other wolves visibly calmed down, and then the male spoke to him I'm sorry for our reaction, you smell different from the rest of the packs and we didn't know if you were friend or foe. I can lead you to the rest of our people and the acting alpha. Eragon agreed and let Saphira know where he was going so that she didn't worry.

They started running towards the rest of the packs, they grey wolf and him in front while the cubs and the mother behind them. The wolf started speaking to him so where do you come from, and how did you come to be the heir of Fury? Eragon decided to let I'm know, if he was going to be High Alpha then the rest must know his story. Eight years ago I was playing in the spine, I came to a cave and decided to rest there, Fury was there, mortally wounded and he proceeded to bite me. Before I woke up he spoke to me in my mind and told me why he was there and that I was to find you and take his place as Alpha. Eragon then asked about the structure of the packs. I turns out that the packs are self-governing, there are a number of packs, each with their own alpha. The strongest wolfs form a pack and the alpha in that pack is named High Alpha; in times of war he leads the rest of them. Because every alpha has an ego the High Alpha has to be the biggest and stronger.

Right now the acting High Alpha is the second in command of Fury's pack, I assume that as soon as you arrive you will take control of his pack and therefore become High Alpha.

They arrived at a meadow, and Eragon was amazed at the many wolves that populated it, there must've been at least a thousand of them, the grey wolf whose name he was told was Arast, led him towards a wolf that was certainly bigger that all the others, but as he got closer he saw that he was at least a foot taller. As they walked he noticed that he was the only wolf with white fur, Great He thought, something to make me feel even more like a stranger.

When they arrived in front of the wolf Arast explained to him how he found them and who he was, then he left Eragon with the brown wolf and the pack that was lying on the ground behind him. There was another wolf with brown fur and two grey wolves as well that looked the same, maybe twins. The Alpha stood in front of him and spoke.

My name is Jonathan 'Mud-mane' he said " Arast already somewhat explained who you are, but I'd like to hear it from you. Eragon then introduced himself and started explaining everything about him and Fury and how he had traveled across the dessert to reach the Varden in order to help them win the war.

And why are you willing to help those humans? he asked, Eragon remembered that wolves did not like to involve themselves in matters of the other races.

That is because I also am a Dragon Rider, he said. Jonathan was incredibly surprised and urged him to continue his story. Eragon told him about how he found Saphira's egg and how he left his village to rescue Arya and go to the Varden. And that is how I arrived here.

Jonathan then proceeded to stand before the rest of the packs and spoke to them. Wolves, today I have great news for you his voice boomed, and Eragon noticed that it lacked the authority that his had, he surmised that it may have been something High Alphas were born with Black Fury's heir has found his way to us he motioned for Eragon to join him and he did and is my pleasure to tell you that he is also a Dragon Rider. Howls of happiness echoed across the meadow as the wolves cried out in happiness at the news, their esteemed alpha had left a powerful heir behind.

After Jonathan's little speech he led Eragon towards the wolves that he surmised where Fury's old pack. He presented them with him. First was a wolf with brown fur lighter than Jonathan's. His name was Michael; he had a scar across his left eye, in accord to his status as a warrior and the best hunter among them. Next was one of the twins Mia, she was an expert in stealth and seemed to always want to have fun and next was her brother Lucas, his specialty was scouting and he appeared to be a little lazy.

So now that you have met the pack, what is your plan Jonathan asked while the other looked towards him.

I am going back to my Dragon and friends, I have to go to the Varden, I would ask you to come with me but I know our kind don't like humans a lot, and when we arrive at the Varden it will be a while before we can phase again. he said, to his surprise Michael was the one who spoke.

You are our Alpha now, we will go wherever you go, we can manage in our human form for a while and the other wolves are self governing, they will be alright by themselves. The others nodded and started getting up to pack up their things.

Thank you, he said as they left, his new friends, his pack, would be a lot of help against Galbatorix. He waited for them and for once thought that everything was going to be all right. They soon came back with packs across their chest and told him that they were ready to go. He began to run back towards his friends, following the trail he had left on his way to the meadow. On the way Jonathan advised that they have their first hunt as a pack. He had never hunted that way, it was like they knew what the other was going to do their prey had no chance against a unified pack of werewolves.