"To run with the wolf was to run in the shadows, the dark ray of life, survival and instinct. A fierceness that was both proud and lonely, a tearing, a howling, a hunger and thirst. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst. A strength that would die fighting, kicking, screaming, that wouldn't stop until the last breath had been wrung from its body. The will to take one's place in the world. To say 'I am here.' To say 'I am."
― O.R. Melling
Cloudreach, 9:29 Dragon
Bright blue eyes peered from the darkness, watching Thackery observe a rare Black Lotus. Thackery warily stepped back from the water of the stream, but his curiosity kept drawing him back to the herb. His ear twitched.
A small black wolf pup raced from the bushes, pouncing on Thackery. It nipped gently at his ear.
Thackery burst out laughing, wrestling around with the pup.
"Argo, you nearly had me." He held the pup up, watching it nip at his fingers.
Argo gave a small bark, and two more pups shot from the bushes. One nearly all white, her ears tipped with black, and the other light brown with grey streaks. The three pups let out small howls, crawling over Thackery and nipping at his clothes.
"Traitors!" Thackery cackled, playing with the pups.
He rolled himself over, all three pups staring at him, waiting for him to make a move. Thackery whipped his head up. Argo jumped up, his tail wagging up in the air. The other two made small yips.
Thackery jumped to his feet, running in the direction of the encampment. The pups caught up him him, tongues lolling out.
They ran through the center of camp, a few elders shaking their heads with disapproval. When they reached Ashalle's aravel, Thackery jumped onto the side, barely a foot off the ground. The pups stopped, looking up at him and yapping playfully. Thackery laughed, jumping down to pat Argo on the head.
His ear twitched when he heard someone cursing from the other side of the aravel. Thackery went around, seeing Melia had accidentally dropped an empty bucket. By her side was the mother wolf, whom Melia had named Revas.
Revas had put on a little weight in those few weeks with the Mahariel's, and she especially grew fond of Melia.
Thackery went over, picking up the bucket for Melia.
"Why are you doing things?" Thackery asked her.
Melia furrowed her brow, "I am pregnant, not useless." She snatched the bucket away, immediately wincing, her hand flying to her back.
"Okay," Thackery took the bucket away, "I know you're not useless, Melly...but that baby has only a couple more months left, and you should take a rest every now and again."
"Right…" Melia said quietly, absently stroking behind Revas' ears.
The white wolf pup went over to Melia, nipping at her animal skin dress. Melia smiled.
"And hello to you too, Larka." She said.
The brown wolf pup started yapping again, warning the others that Tamlen and Fenarel were making their way to the aravel.
"Samahl, you know me!" Tamlen bent down to let the pup sniff his hand.
"Doesn't mean she trusts you, lethallin." Fenarel laughed, going over to kiss Thackery on the cheek. Argo bared his milky white teeth.
"I should say the same for you." Tamlen raised his brow, he bent to kiss Melia, but stopped himself and instead cleared his throat.
Fenarel looked at Thackery, "Tamlen and I are going with a few hunters to…" He noticed Melia putting her hands on her hips, "Get some elfroot."
"Is that so?" Melia asked.
"Just elfroot, lethallan," Tamlen assured her, "For the Keeper."
"The Keeper asked how many hunters to gather elfroot?" Melia raised her brow.
"Just a few." Fenarel said.
"I am sure she did." Melia smiled, then pushed the bucket into Tamlens chest, "Then I suppose you will not mind also fetching some fresh water."
"In this? No problem." Tamlen smiled back at her.
"Oh!" Melia pointed to the side, "And also those buckets under the aravel."
Tamlen, Thackery, and Fenarel looked to where Melia had pointed, frowning when they saw two more stacks of empty water buckets.
"Or I can do it myself." Melia cocked her head to the side.
"Fenedhis…" Thackery muttered under his breath, "Alright, alright, Melly, we'll fill the buckets."
"We will?" Fenarel asked.
"Do you want to explain to my mam why we let Melia walk up and down a hill multiple times, while heavily pregnant?"
Fenarels eyes widened, he went over and took a stack of the wooden water pails for himself, "We'll be back, Mel."
Melia chuckled, petting Revas, "I await with baited breath."
The moon had already been up for several hours when Thackery finally made his way home. Argo and Samahl had followed the group to the valley, where a few of the other hunters set up a large fire.
Junar had brought some dried spindleweed, crushing a leaf and throwing into the fire as an offering. Then the rest of them put a leaf under their tongue, letting the hallucinogens take over.
Thackery was the first to get over his high, not many plants affected him as he had grown up sampling a variety of herbs, some poisonous. He had a high tolerance of poisons, and used it to his advantage.
Argo was at his feet, his ears flopping every which way. Samahl was still with the hunters, and the last Thackery saw was asleep on Tamlen's chest.
He stumbled into camp, his ears twitching when he overheard whispers over by Paivel's aravel.
Thackery crept quietly behind the aravel, masking himself. He put his finger up to his lips, and Argo slunk into the shadows with him. Thackery thought he could see Hahren Paivel talking to Vinell.
"I'm just worried is all…" Thackery overheard Paivel, "What if the child is a boy? You remembered what happened with Arianni."
"The Keeper won't do a damn thing, you know how she shirked when Isis made trouble..."
"Fenedhis, Vinell," Paivel snapped, "There's only so many times you can say that."
Isis? Thackery asked himself why they were talking about his long dead mother...what had she done? Maybe the spindleweed went to his head more than he thought.
"We shouldn't speak more of this, the Creators look down upon those who curse their own people." Paivel said.
"Mark my words, Paivel," Vinell shook their head, "If that baby is born a boy, there will be unrest in the Clan."
"I said enough," Paivel narrowed his eyes, "Do you not remember Keeper Mahariel, how he brought such light to the People? If Marethari leaves the child to Fen'Harel, Osiris will come back from the dead himself to smite the whole clan. Was it not he that wished for peace with the shems?"
"You also forget there was a time Osiris Mahariel nearly killed a shem with his own two hands."
"I forget nothing," Paivel snapped, "Yes this is true, but also remember that shem walked away...very much alive."
"Yes, but with-"
"Watch your tongue, Vinell."
"Fine, fine…"
Thackery crept away, not wanting to give himself away. His walked back to the aravel with a heavy heart.
When he lifted the flap, he saw Melia on her bed rubbing oils on her swollen stomach. Thackery gave a weak smile.
"How are you feeling, Melly?" He sat next to her, "And you, da'len? Not putting your mamae through too much pain are you?"
Melia smiled, "He has been kicking all day…"
"He?" Thackery's ears perked up, a wave of panic rushed over him.
"Oh yes," Melia rubbed the back of her neck, "He is just hanging so low, babies who are born male typically do so." Then she added, "Perhaps I am being too presumptuous…"
"Maybe…" Thackery felt Melia's stomach, a small kick bumping his palm.
"Awake again, da'len?" Melia sighed, "I will have a hard time resting tonight I think."
"The little hunter is just happy to hear their uncle Thackery, right?" Thackery jested, feeling another kick at his hand, "See?"
"Speaking of hunters…" Melia raised her brow, taking Thackery's chin so she could examine him, "Judging by the color of your eyes and the smell, I would say you all put some spindleweed under your tongue? Communing with the Creators, or are you just being foolish?"
"Strictly religious, Melly." Thackery winked at her, "Like you haven't done it."
"Oh, many times...with Tamlen…" Melia got quiet.
Thackery scratched his head, "Still having troubles, lethallan?"
"I had a dream," Melia began, "Or a memory...perhaps neither…" She blushed, "You will not want to hear my prattling."
"No, go on." Thackery urged her, "Any memory is a good memory."
"I am not so sure…" Melia looked at her stomach, "But I was in the forest. At the mountain clearing. I was tracking a boar. I could feel something watching me, so I sunk into the grass. I could smell a strange scent with the coming winds. I think it was him…"
"The Orlesian?" Thackery's jaw tensed.
"Yes…" Melia felt her throat go dry, "When I awoke, I could feel as if my body had been lifted, and I could not reach the bed below. And yet it was still there under me..." Melia's voice trailed off, she looked up at Thackery, "I am not myself, lethallin. I have not been for some time. There are moments when I think to myself I could have really...really fallen in love. And that is what scares me most. Perhaps that is why I cannot let myself think of Tamlen-" Then she whispered, "I still feel him, Thackery...in my thoughts. Crawling his way into everything I have on my mind…"
"He's dead, Mel. I was there…" Thackery reminded her.
"I know this," Melia pursed her lips, "Perhaps the Creators plague my mind, to punish me for what I have done. If that is true, I only wish for them to leave my child alone."
"They can't punish you if you haven't done anything wrong." Thackery said to her, "You've always been better than I am when it comes to properly worshipping the Gods. I don't think they would likely abandon one of their most devout children."
"I have asked Mythal more times than I can count for protection. I have offered her the water of the ocean, prayed to the moon, and still she cannot hear me. Would that I were strong enough to travel to Sundermount…"
"Mythal has not abandoned you, Melia," Thackery held her close, "If she was not listening, then she would not have given you the strength to carry your baby, to heal Revas, or to walk among our people with your head held high."
"And why should I not?" Melia asked.
Thackery hesitated, contemplating telling Melia of the conversation her had heard. He shook his head.
"No reason at all. You will be a fine mamae." Thackery kissed Melia's cheek, "One deserving of a good night's sleep." He spoke to the baby.
Melia smiled, "We shall see."
"You will not disturb your mamae while she rests, da'len," Thackery said, placing his hand back on Melia's stomach, "Or when you come out I'll have Ashalle ground you."
Melia laughed, "What a joy you will as an uncle."
"Now there's a scary thought."
"I have faith in you." Melia said.
Thackery scoffed, "That makes one of us."
"Oh, that is just the spindleweed talking now," Melia waved Thackery away, "Mamae is behind the aravel checking on Revas, perhaps you should make sure she is alright?"
"See you're already ordering me around like a mam." Thackery cackled.
"I have always done so." Melia rolled her eyes.
"My point exactly." Thackery grinned, kissing Melia's cheek once more before leaving.
He found Argo waiting outside for him, Thackery cocked his head to the side and picked him up. He placed the pup around his neck, going over to check on Ashalle, who was leaving a bucket of water for Revas and the pups.
"There you are, da'len," Ashalle smiled at Thackery, "Where is Samahl?" She checked the corner.
"With Tamlen," Thackery set Argo on the ground, he went over and kissed Ashalle on the cheek, "Both of them asleep last I saw."
"Of course." Ashalle laughed, "That boy better come back with our pup."
"They're quite fond of each other." Thackery shrugged, he hesitated before he finally asked, "Mam…"
"Hmm?" Ashalle looked up from petting Larka.
"Does-does Mel have anything to worry about?" Thackery asked, "With the baby?"
"Of course not," Ashalle said adamantly, "They will both be just fine."
"It's just-" Thackery sat down, lowering his voice to a whisper, "Is it true that if the child is born a male that...that the Keeper will make Melia give him up?"
"Thackery Mahariel, I don't know where you heard such a ridiculous thing," Ashalle snapped, "After all, you-" She stopped herself, "There's nothing to worry about. And that is final."
"Sure…"
"Anyone who says otherwise is going to get my leather boot up their ass." Ashalle said, most likely to convince herself that it was true.
"Yes, mamae." Thackery nodded once.
"Now, go to bed." Ashalle told him, "But wash up first."
"I will." Thackery got up.
Ashalle quickly grabbed his hand, "Say nothing of this to your cousin. It's best not to worry her with rumors." She let go.
"Alright…"
Thackery went back into the aravel, cleaning the dirt off his face, then slumped into his bed. Melia was already fast asleep cuddling next to a pile of pillows. Thackery smiled when she snored. He rolled onto his back, rubbing his face.
He felt as if he had too many worries on his mind, he couldn't focus on a singular problem. Then he told himself it was best to come back to these thoughts after he woke up. He rustled his moppy black hair to try and rid his mind of anything and everything.
It was then that he drifted off into an uneasy sleep, going into the Beyond to dream of wolves and heroes in other worlds.