Hey there, beautiful people! GrinWolf is again here to post a new personal lenght record! About 3.5k words in a chapter! Amazing, isn't it? At least, it's amazing for me, taking into account that Italian is my first language!
Oh well, I just wanna remember to my readers that in few hours we will stop the vote thing about Grin's rank into the United Pack...So hurry up and vote!
As I always pray you:
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Chapter 19: Vanished, Forever
MAYA's P.O.V.
After I had seen Grin and Oya leave the space in front of my parent's den, it was finally time to talk about what happened to my fellow training members, what they intended to do with me, Pia and Gwen, Pia's died sister, and finally become aware of what has happened to my aunt Lilly and to my two older brothers, Runt and Claudette.
My parents beckoned me to get into the den, in practice, to follow them in. I obeyed without hesitation. Meanwhile my older brother Stinky told mom and dad that he would resume his normal patrol activity, and so he departed , running toward his patrol team, while Matt and Alanis decided to go play somewhere, just to be faithful to their Omega principles, having fun and keeping the peace in the pack.
So we were only three of us: my father, my mother and me. At one point they came to an halt, thinking they have walked deeply enough into the den…But their expressions when they turned back to me seemed to have regained the veil of sadness that I noted earlier, when I mentioned their names. They kept their eyes down, as if something very serious had happened to them…No, it can't be…My gaze was beginning to show signs of obvious concern, too…
My father began to speak after about ten seconds, as he was trying to find the right words "As you know, in this world there aren't only pleasant events, but there are also those unpleasant…Unfortunately,they both belong to the circle of life… There were two unpleasant incident during your absence, in the period in which you were committed to you Alpha training… One of these concerned your aunt Lilly…And strictly linked to the first one there is the second one, about your two brothers, Stinky and Claudette…"
My mother and my father looked at each other for a moment, as if looking at each other might be able to find the strength to continue their speech.
My mother continued the speech "I'll talk about what happened to your aunt and my sister, Lilly…" She sniffed a bit, trying to withhold her emotions…
KATE's P.O.V. FLASHBACK about LILLY
"Ouch!" Lilly said, stumbling and falling onto the soft sleet of the ground…She had fallen so clumsy that I could not hold back the laughter, and I burst out laughing.
"Still thinking about Garth, uh?" I said, keeping the smile.
She stood up, her face red as a beet…And so it clearly proved that I was right.
But how could I blame her…They were married just a few weeks ago, and they were still in that stage all sunshine and rainbows, that didn't leave me for a couple of months. The last thing she would want is to leave her husband for a period, but it was something that had to be done… As both future leader of the United Pack, were chosen for update of new peace talks with a pack nearby, about two days walk from our…Tt was not a dangerous shoal, its members were quite peaceful, but the negotiations were necessary for the good of both packs…It seemed to me a good opportunity to bring Lilly with me…Hitherto she had lived as a carefree Omega…This could be a chance to bring her closer to the administrative and bureaucratic, and to make her earn some experience into relations herd to herd…Then life of none of both of us would be in danger…The pack was quite small…Even though they tried something, our pack would have crushed them numerically…
As I thought of all this, we were almost at the end of our second day's march, and then almost next to our destination. A smile began to make its way on my face…I was thinking about how our lives woould become as leaders of the pack, how my sister's attitudes would have accrued in that task…And then my eyes rested on her snow-white fur, while she was skipping merrily around, almost excited for that job.
I shook my head jokingly, and said to her: "Come on, Lilly, we're almost there"
She nodded with her eyes a little widened, saying "Thank goodness, my legs are begging for mercy!"
Oh…I'm just wondering if she will be able to maintain her unique playfulness with her new soon-to-be-acquired ranking…I sincerely hope so.
Continuing to walk, I could notice the sun was beginning to set, going to fall slowly through the mountains silhouetted on the horizon…
We continued walking for another half an hour, until we finally reached the pack. We were finally into Willmore Wilderness Park, into what could be regarded as a pack allocated at the foot of a big mountain…Definitely what our father Winston told us…He told us also that their leader was called Seth, and he was renowed for his wisdom and for his weighting, features that currently few wolves possess.
Before we could be able to reach the main camp, we were intercepted by a patrol guarding the borders.
"Who you are and what you want?" A male wolf that seemed in charge of the patrol almost shouted us.
A little awed ( my sister more than me), I responded him : "We are the daughters of Winston, ex-leader of Jasper Park's United Pack…And we have been sent here , as ambassadors, to discuss peace negotiations with your pack leader, Seth"
After my words, he nodded and said "We've been waiting for you…Please follow me" He said something to one of his patrol companions, maybe asking him to temporarily take the lead of the patrol, and he began to led the way.
We followed him until we arrived in front of a cave carved into mountain's base. The wolf suddenly stopped his march and motioned us to go inside, saying "Our leader is waiting for you inside… Please, enter"
We got into Seth's den…Although at the beginning it was a long, dark, lugubrious corridor, the main room was fairly lit, due to several cracks that let the sunlight filter and although the sun had almost died out, you could still see very well.
To the other end of the room there were two wolves sat on their haunches, one of those was clearly Seth, but we know nothing about the other wolf.
"Oooh look who's here!…The last time I saw them they were just puppies…And now watch them, grew up well, matured, seeking to follow in their father's footsteeps!" A male wolf said , while squaring us from head to foot.
I turned my head to Lilly to see her slightly blushing for the received compliments. I inhaled, trying to find more concentration, closing my eyes…So then I took courage and began to speak
"Well, thank you for your compliments… So, you should be Seth… Right?" I asked him
"Precisely, my dear, and you should be…Winston's daughter, am I right? But excuse my lack of memory to remember your names ... "
"My name is Kate, and her..." I said, pointing to her "…is Lilly…" Then Lilly took a bit of courage, too, and added a shy "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance"
He began to chuckle slighly and finally we debated about various issues, such as hunting grounds, possible danger coming from nearby packs…But it ended up with a one, only way, in the same way that my father had agreed with him for years: mutual immunity in exchange for mutual aid in case of attack…In this case, both packs earned something.
After concluding negotiations, sun had finally left the sky, dark night's veil was slowly descending over our heads…In fact it was getting late, and the weather was not ideal to get on the march again, headed home.
Seth offered me and Lilly hospitality for the night, and he intended to hold a banquet in honor of the renewed agreement…So this evening is destined to celebrations.
There was a voice in my mind that intimated me , even then, to return home…I didn't want to stay there to join the party, I preferred to return home…But Lilly was looking at me with pleading eyes… She rarely took part in festivities, due to her excessive shyness that always played tricks on her…Then Lilly would surely have been too tired to get back on the road…She was an Omega, after all, she was not used to withstand excessive strains like me…
So, reluctantly, I decided that we were going to stay there for the night, taking advantage of the generous offer of Seth…Not knowing at all that my decision would have resulted in…a tragedy.
BACK to REALITY, MAYA's P.O.V.
After that sentence, my mother burst into tears…I was shocked…I had never seen my mother cry like that before…It's as if my heart would suffer a laceration every time a tear had left her hazel eyes…My father tried to comfort her in some way, but telling those memories had the effect of re-opening the jar of emotions she had tried to close in every possible way, but with no success.
Losing a sister, a friend, could really destroy someone so much…Looking at her, wailing desperately, did nothing but bring me on the verge of tears too…I tried to understand what it meant losing a sister…
Silent tears were beginning to stream down my cheeks, without me being aware of them.
"Oh Kate…I can not see you like this, please…It breaks my heart…" My father said, trying to placate her sorrowful crying.
After five minutes, my mother regained her typical composure, the only thing that betrayed her were her bloodshot eyes, due to her intense crying session.
"I-i'm sorry…Maya…" She managed to say to me, in between some little sniffles, but then I hugged her, telling her calmly "Mom, if it grieves you so much, I do not need you to tell me the whole story…"
She looked at my face, saying "I think it's fair that you know the whole truth…After all, there should be no secrets in the family" I nodded, clearly understanding her point of view…And also because I know well her stubborness…When she put something in her head, there's little you can do to remove her from her intentions…
My father also made her smile with one of his funny signs… They were just made for each other…
My mother decided that it was time to take up the story from where it was interrupted…
Returning to KATE's P.O.V. FLASHBACK about LILLY
The pack was not very big, as I previously said, there were at most fifteen wolves…The celebration began well: numerous succulent preys had been captured and dragged into what should be the main ground, ready to be eaten…There were three elks, six groundhogs, four rabbits , and differents fruits and vegetables, perhaps put there to adorn preys… Who in his right mind ever would eat fruit and vegetables?...Well, actually they exist in my pack…Vegetarian wolves, simply against nature…
We sat near Seth on top of a low peak, but high enough to allow all the wolves present there to see us, and he began to speak to wolves of his pack, saying:
"My dear brothers and friends, we are gathere here today…To celebrate..." Joyous howls rose up from the lupine crowd below.
Then Seth continued "Calm, calm, my friends, you'll have plenty of time to be spirited, after my speech" trying to pick up the thread of the discourse.
"As I was saying, tonight we will celebrate the renewal of our agreement with Jasper Park…No longer exclusively with Western Pack… But the Western Pack merged with the Eastern Pack to form a new pack… The United Pack of Jasper Park…And we are and will be their allies, in the good and bad times!" Another wave of howls of joy, followed by hops, spreaded in the mass of wolves watching us.
"Tonight, to take part in the celebrations, there are also two daughters of Winston…"He said, pointing his paw to me and Lilly "… My dear old friend as well as the ex-leader of Jasper Park's Western Pack…Please, do not be rude with them, and, I recommend you, let them feel as if they were at home…Now, without further ado, let's start the feast!"
After that, Seth gestured us to follow him to the banquet, and when we finally arrived to elk's carcass, he said to us: "Our ancient customs require that guests start the celebration, then to them is reserved the honor of the first bite" He then nodded, and sit, waiting for us to make our move.
I was impressed by all the kindness shown to us…Now I undestood why our father was Seth and his people's friend, they have a gratitude towards others that few packs could boast of possessing…Yet, despite all these expressions of thankfulness and kindness, I could not take away from me that uncomfortable feeling…It was as if hovered over me the feeling that something was going to happen…
I decided to shrug it off again…But then it occurred to me a question for Seth, and I made manifest to him my doubt: "Don't you use here a division into classes of Alphas and Omegas?"
Seth sniggered a little and then said to us: "No…Here everyone is free to do as they wish…Ours is a small pack, it does not need a lot of organization, just the essential…Everyone is able to act both as a Alpha or as a Omega, on occasion…Therefore, if you're making problems for the ranks, do not absolutely worry about it"
He concluded his speech with a warm smile, one of those that my father used to make me…
Lilly and I looked each other and then we took courage, giving the first bite into the carcass of the elk before us.
After that, all other wolves took part in the feast, biting and tearing the flesh of prey captured previously.
While we were eating, Lilly began to thirst, so she asked Seth where she could find a source of water nearby, to quench her thirst.
He stopped eating for a second to answer her question, saying "Uh, there's a river flowing west from here, is not too far from here, about ten minutes walking…" He said, resuming then eating.
Lilly nodded and said , almost anticipating the feeling of the fresh water in her throat "Okay, then I'm going to drink there!"
I turned my head to her and asked her "You want me to come with you?"
She giggled a bit and answered me "Don't worry about me…What could possibly happen to me? (typical phrase uttered before any disaster, acting as a magnet for calamities…Good job, Lilly!) I can, at most, fall into the river…And in that case it would be a perfect opportunity to make a cool, refreshing bath!" She said, with her naive witticism, but deep down I knew she was right… After all, she would become a leader of United Pack, too…It was not necessary (at least not anymore) to be constantly breathing down her neck…She was a adult, healthy and vaccinated she-wolf
"Okay…" I said to her, chewing and swallowing mouthfuls of tender and juicy meat "…I will try to save yourself a bit of meat for when you get back, okay?" She nodded and began to walk toward the water source indicated to her by Seth.
I looked at her to leave the main ground, and then I resumed to feast on the flesh like the other wolves.
Time jump – Fifteen minutes later
After we had finished dinner, was the time, according to Seth, who Omega gave show with their jokes and their comic and funny stories…And thus the cheerful chatter that had filled the air turned into a momentary silence, to allow the Omegas of the evening to be able to prepare their performances.
But the silence was torn by an inhuman scream…A scream coming exactly from the direction where the source of water was in which Lilly wanted to drink… my instinct took over and I ran in that direction, not taking care of the other wolves… Another scream followed the previous, this time I felt it clearly...That agonizing scream belonged clearly to Lilly.
Adrenaline was being produced like torrents in my body, making me run at high speed without fatigue might interfere… every single second could make the difference between life and death of one of the creatures I cared of present on this Earth…My beloved sister Lilly.
The closer I got, the more I realized that after that second lament was not produced any other sound…Which could mean only one thing…
"No, it can't be…" I repeated to myself as I was running, trying to reach her.
Sound of rushing water began to be perceived by my ears, sign that I was close to my destination, and to Lilly…
When, as in the race, my right front paw impact in a liquid substance, and I thought to myself "It is not possible, during these days it has not rained here, it is not possible that rain has formed a puddle here…"
As my usual, but unfortunately in this case, I was right, it was not water, but… It was blood. And, judging by the wails heard before, it must also belong to Lilly.
more time I was spenting to look at the blood, thick, red, more anger took hold of me, an anger that I felt against me, for had being so reckless, and both against of the being that had made such a mess towards my beloved sister…
I came out from behind a bush, and a terrible scene parried before my eyes: A slaughterhouse had happened there. Blood profusely flat-spotted everywhere throughout all the space in front of the river, river bank was darkly tinged red…Footsteps of paws clearly of a crawling wolf were etched in that abundant blood mass…The strangest thing of all was the presence motionless body of a wolf lying on its side, but the body of this wolf was totally devoid of wounds, and clearly that blood did not belong to that wolf at all.
I rushed towards the wolf, probably thinking he might know something about my sister, but I noticed in contact with his skin was cold, too cold, like a body without life... I tried to check his heartbeat, but I did not get any positive response… That wolf was dead.
so I turned around, hoping to find my sister Lilly… I tried several times even shouting her name…But no replies…Then wolves of Seth's pack finally reached me, asking me what was wrong…And then they were stunned by the scene…After a minute, they tried to recognize that dead wolf, but no one seemed to know him…And finally we began to search for Lilly together…
"Where are you, Lilly! I pray thee, come out!" I was thinking, almost on the verge of tears… It seemed absurd, but in a week of searching we were not able to find a single trace of Lilly…It was as if she had never come with me there, yet I wondered how she managed to disappear quickly in such conditions… But above all, because she was gone from me, and without me…
I stayed a week in that pack, every day used to search relentlessly for my sister… My parents began to worry about us, too… We had to be back at home a long time ago, now… so they sent another expedition, in which my father was the head, consisting of him, Garth, Humphrey and Hutch, while my mother and Can-do stayed at home, to look after the United Pack. They wanted to be aware of the causes that had kept me and Lilly so long there… When they learned about Lilly's mysterious disappearance, and her quite likely death, they swooped all in a state of deep depression… The one who was hit hardest was undoubtedly Garth… We stayed there together another week for desperately trying to find Lilly, and Garth devoted himself body and soul, neglecting the feeding, his appearance, motivated solely by the desire to find his beloved… But his ardor was never rewarded.
BACK TO REALITY, MAYA's P.O.V.
"This episode was the last straw that finally did break down your grandmother Eve...Because of her age, she has not withstood the emotional blow, and her body succumbed…Now she is in a better world, too…" My mother concluded, tears coming again to cloud her eyes.
The pain that hung in den's air was unbearable… Tears came down from faces with the same ease with which the air entered the lungs. My strong grandmother was gone…My peaceful and loving aunt Lilly was gone, too…
I hugged tightly my parents, bringing togheter our bitter tears, unable to say anything.
Sometimes, silence is worth a thousand words.
And that, my folks, was a quite sad end of a chapter...But remember, not all evil comes to harm... Oh I just want to know if you like the cover image that I put for "A Tale of Grin"... Maybe letting me know with a review!
GrinWolf here...(I'm dying of sleep...)...over and out.