(written from December 23rd to December 24th, 2014)
Daria's Present
December 25th, 2012
"Runt! Please come inside!" ordered Mom. "The guests will be arriving soon."
"But Mom, look at this view. The dawn looks pretty this morning." I continued to look at the beautiful pink sky, sitting on the ledge in front of our den. Behind me, I heard Mom sigh.
"You're just like your father."
"Did somebody mention me?" asked Dad who approached the den with my siblings next to him. Kate ran to him in a hurry.
"You invited the guests, right?"
"Don't worry Kate; I got them all," he said proudly.
"Oh, thank goodness, honey. For a second, I thought you screwed something up. You even got Daria too?"
"Uhh... I will go get her now..."
"*sigh* I spoke too soon... I can't believe you forgot about our most important guest! You know she hasn't been to a Christmas feast before. I wanna make sure we give her the best experience ever! Now hurry. They'll be here any minute!"
"Okay, okay. Calm down, Kate. I'll go get her."
"Can I come?" I asked, looking for an excuse to be away from the boring ol' den. And to see Daria again. It had been a while since we saw each other. Time flies fast for pups.
"Of course, you can," Dad agreed, smiling. I could always count on him.
"Alright! Go!" Mom was getting worked up. Beware sign.
We both started running to the den we assigned to Daria when she was welcomed to the Western Region. Not long later, I noticed Stinky and Claudette were following us. I slowed to a different stride to get some answers.
"Stinky? Claudette? What are you doing?"
"We're comin' with you," Claudette informed. Stinky nodded.
"You wanna see Daria too, do you?" I asked.
"It's been a while," he said.
"I know. She's warmed up to us," I replied.
"Not to mention bringing us fresh kill with her superb hearing and smell," Stinky added.
Later. . .
"Hi, Daria. How's life in the West?" said Dad, sitting down at the mouth of her den that was located at the base of the mountain known as Mt. Victory. She, without hesitation, looked at us, showing her teeth with her wide smile. She seemed relieved to hear us.
"Great. Very great. I never knew pack life was the best life." She then turned to me. I missed her a lot, especially those two green cloudy eyes of hers.
"Runt? Is that you?"
"How did you know?" I asked.
"Your scent is really strong."
"Probably because he hasn't been bathing in forever," said my sister.
"I do bathe... every moon cycle or so..." I'd hate to admit it, but we kings of the forest had to send a strong message to those who threaten us. Though, Dad wasn't so proud.
"First of all, son, gross. Second of all, we'll talk about it later with your mother."
"What brings you to my den?" asked Daria.
"Oh, right! We're having a Christmas feast! Kate wanted to invite you."
"A feast? Why, Humphrey, that would be lovely! Just umm... what exactly is Christmas? Floyd told me it was just a celebration in the winter shared by most animals and humans around the world."
"Well, uhh... I don't have much time to explain. My mate really wants me to come back."
"Oh... okay."
"We can talk about it on the way."
On the way. . .
"So let me get this straight," Daria said. "What is the true meaning of Christmas?"
"So far what we've learned from humans is that it's better to give than receive," Stinky informed. "But there could possibly be more of a deeper meaning that we wolves don't know or don't understand yet. Overall though, the meaning could just be anything from anyone's perspective."
"Did you celebrate at all?" I asked, worried that, maybe, throughout her whole life, she hadn't felt even the slightest glimmer of the Christmas spirit.
"Well, when I was a little pup, a small family lived in the Shadow Forest for a short time, unaware of my presence. Fran and Freida kept an eye on them to make sure they didn't get close to me. Then, one day in the summer, they saw the family having a celebration. They told me they saw the family's only son give a perfectly white bone to his parents. So perfect, in fact, it even looked appealing to the porcupines." I couldn't help but drool. "So you know what they did? They stole it and gave it to me for Christmas! Even though Christmas was many moons away."
"At least they were trying to be nice," said Claudette.
"True, but I simply couldn't accept it. It belonged to that pup's parents. I demanded them to put it back. Thankfully, they did."
"How's the family now?" Stinky asked. "As far as Winston knows, Shadow Forest has been completely wolf-free since you left."
"They mysteriously disappeared not long after the incident. I have no idea how."
"Strange..."
"Yes, but even more strange, Floyd later found the bone all by itself nowhere near their den, looking pale white with no marks on it at all, like it had always been. It's a puzzling mystery. He brought it to me where I kept it safe in my protected den. I dared not to eat it because, if it was as pale white and smooth as the porcupines described, it wasn't worth eating it yet. Then I thought, maybe, I should save it for someone else. The porcupines provided me with enough food anyway. Though, sometimes, I wish I could finally eat it after all these moons. Oh, how luscious would it taste? Tangy? Salty? Sweet? Bitter?" She was beginning to creep me out as she went off-topic. Fortunately, she shook her head out of it. "But I digress. Sorry. So... that's basically my first Christmas... if you could even call it that. Anyway, I heard something happened to Runt after I settled into this den."
"It was awesome!" I yelled.
"I wouldn't exactly say that," said Dad. "We were attacked by King and his Rogues."
"Correct," said Stinky, "but we showed 'em who's the boss in the Regions. I doubt they'll ever come back here again."
"Yeah," I agreed. "Plus we spent a night inside a cozy truck stop."
"A truck stop?" Daria looked amazed.
"They could've gotten themselves killed," Dad added.
"But we didn't so it was awesome!"
Near the peak of the mountain. . .
After getting Daria to slowly cross a log bridge, we managed to get home... just not at the time Mom preferred…
"What took so long?" she questioned.
"Don't look at me," said Dad. "Her den is at the base of the mountain."
"*sigh* Just forget it. Half of the guests are here, and finally, you get Daria..."
"Kate... just calm down. Everything's going to be alright. As your Omega mate, I must relieve any tension going on inside you." As Dad massaged Mom, I headed for the ledge where I tried to stare at the dawn. It wasn't there anymore. Behind me, I could hear the guests talking in the cave. Grandpa Winston, Grandma Eve, and a couple of my mom's friends, Hutch and Can-do, were all talking about the holidays, specifically what they were going to give to their friends or to each other, whether it was going to be a pawful of flowers or a special bone. Wait... A bone? That gives me an idea!
Just as Daria was welcomed by the other guests, my siblings sat next to me on different sides. Perfect. I had to tell them something.
"Stinky! Claudette! I just thought of an idea! If it is better to give than receive, then I know what we can do for Daria!"
"And what might that be?" said Claudette, seeming cautious.
"The bone, of course!"
"You want to get that perfect bone for Daria for Christmas? Genius, bro!" said Stinky.
"I know! She hasn't really gotten anything before. I wanna be the first."
"But wait a minute. She didn't tell us where the bone was," said Stinky.
"Well, she did say when Floyd found it, she kept it in her den. It could be still there. Maybe she accidentally left it when we took her in."
"Something doesn't add up..." Usually when Stinky starts overthinking, it's because he's doubtful. I could see where this was going.
"Please tell me you're not still afraid of Shadow Forest."
"We're not!" they exclaimed in unison. I should've known.
"We're just... concerned for your safety," said Claudette.
"Hm, it's a good thing I never listen." I started to go. They followed, lagging behind me. We snuck around Kate and headed down the mountain. Stinky and Claudette were whispering to each other during the whole trip. Some of the sentences I could hear.
"I don't like it, Claudette. It seems odd that Daria didn't tell us where the bone was."
"Maybe it was for a reason. Maybe she didn't tell us everything about the bone. And maybe that is really why she didn't eat it."
I'm pretty sure they're just overreacting. Daria probably just forgot to tell us where the bone was.
At Daria's old den in Shadow Forest. . .
Sure enough, the bone was actually here. It was in the farthest corner of the cave, covered in cobwebs and dust. It obviously hadn't been touched or moved from that spot in a long time. Interesting enough…
"Now that we've seen it I think we should—"
"No!" I interrupted. "I'm gonna help Daria whether you two like it or not. I can't believe you guys don't want to." It was so unlike them that it was unbelievable.
"It's not that, Runt..."
"Whatever." I moved the bone closer and blew off the dust. Not one mark, scratch, or anything on the surface. I licked off any remaining debris and spat it out. The surface... so smooth... it was nearly impossible to look away. And unbearable when looking away…
Stinky and Claudette had to stop me. I chewed on that thing so obsessively that they took the bone away from me. I couldn't help it.
"Okay, this thing isn't really safe," Stinky declared. "I was afraid of this." I wasn't fully convinced. Sure, this bone can stimulate the urge to chew it excessively, but I don't see that as a reason not to use it as a gift. Besides, if Daria could control herself and not eat it for all those moons, it's safe for her at least.
"Come on, guys. I can't give her nothing. She'll hate me."
"You could tell the truth," Claudette suggested. I laughed.
"Ha, good one. But this is no time for jokes."
"Why don't you just give her a pawful of flowers?" asked Stinky.
"No! Everybody does that. I want to give her something special because she is special."
"But, Runt, everybody gives away bones too."
"But this particular bone is different in so many ways. One being that it's her old Christmas present that never got used."
"...Runt... please..."
"I don't have time. I'm done arguing," I declared. I grabbed the bone with my mouth and ran back home. I ran real fast, so my siblings wouldn't catch up easily and put doubts in my mind. I don't need them. Nothing's going to go between me and Daria.
Near the peak of the mountain. . .
Before crossing the log bridge, that urge came back to haunt me. Stinky and Claudette weren't with me right now to stop me, so I didn't know what I was going to do. Just a few bites wouldn't hurt... I lay down and gnawed at the bone. It still hadn't begun to splinter. Amazing!
Then, as I was gnawing, a couple of interesting thoughts went through my head. The first was what Stinky theorized, that there was a reason why Daria didn't say the bone's whereabouts. The second was new. I started believing that maybe this bone is the reason why that family in the Shadow Forest disappeared. And possibly that's the real reason why Daria didn't eat it. Maybe she was scared to... especially since she was a blind pup at the time. I thought about what made the family disappear. Were they fighting over the thing in my mouth? I imagined the horror out of it. It was enough for me to drop the bone. I immediately snapped back to reality, picked the bone back up, and threw it over the cliff. The bone went down the mountain slope.
At the same time, I smelled my siblings coming close. They must've seen it.
"What made you do that?" Claudette asked.
"You both were right. That bone is cursed. I guess I should've figured that out since it came out of Shadow Forest."
"You did good, little bro," thanked Stinky who sighed in relief. I began to cry.
"Now what will I bring Daria? *sniff* I guess I'll go get some flowers from the garden. *sniff*"
"It's okay, Runt. I think it's best you go to her and tell the truth, that you didn't get her anything."
"*sniff* You're right. I'll go." I wiped away my tears and walked to our den where I could hear chatter and laughter among the adults. I stepped in. Mom and Dad were happy to see me as were the guests. A big pile of meat was in the center of the den while wolves were gathered around.
"How's it going, kid?" asked Dad's friend, Shakey, from the back of the cave.
"Good," I answered quietly. "I uhh... was playing Keep Away with my siblings." I tried to keep myself from looking sad. I went straight to Daria who sat next to Garth, not far from the entrance. She sensed my close presence.
"Yes, Runt?"
"I'm sorry to say this, but I don't have any present for you for Christmas." There was a quick frown and a deep silence from her. I felt awful to say that. We were best friends.
"Oh, Runt..." she replied. I looked down at the floor in shame.
"If you hate me, I understand."
"Hate you? Runt, I love you." I looked back up at her face. "It's okay if you don't have a present for me." She leaned in for a whisper. "To be honest, I didn't want one anyway." I was astonished. "Why, you may wonder? Because my greatest wish has already been granted."
"What wish is that?" I asked
"To have a home again... and you are the one who fulfilled it. But I thank you greatly for trying to find something more... It's the thought that counts..." She then winked. She knew...
Later. . .
After the feast ended, I came to the edge of the ledge and stared at the beautiful dusk. Its lines of pink and purple intertwined in the mixture of clouds and sky surrounding an unrecognizable sun that was falling down behind the sierra in the distance. As my two siblings sat beside me, I began to ponder... I think I have just found the true meaning of Christmas... I turned around to see Daria in front of the den. We both smiled. We were all looking at the dusk.
The End
(written from July 1st to July 3rd, 2015)
The Colorful Fires
July 1st, 2012
"Dad?"
"Yes, Runt?"
"Have you ever wondered what those bright sparkly lights are, the ones in the night sky that happen to only show up on the same exact date every year, which is tomorrow night?"
"Bright sparkly lights?"
"Yeah. Sometimes, when I'm in the trees helping my siblings train, I can see it in the distance."
"I think I know what you're talking about, son. What it is is not some crazy phenomenon, but something the humans like to do this time of year."
"Humans? So that explains why it's close to the ranger cabins. What is it that they're doing if they make so much noise?" he asked.
"No one knows because nobody goes over there, but Winston once told me not long after I was born that an owl friend of his, who's nocturnal, told him that all she knew was that there are always hundreds of humans in the ranger area during the event and that the humans call the bright sparkly lights 'fireworks'."
"Fireworks! That sounds dangerous! They play with fire?!"
"Like I said, no one knows."
"I wanna know! I wanna go over there."
"Nuh-uh. No. You're still a pup. Besides, the humans are unpredictable. Why do you think they took us to Sawtooth?" Runt stepped down from the hill that overlooked the canopy. His father followed.
"You know, if it wasn't for the humans, I wouldn't be here if you know what I mean."
"I guess that's true... but still. You should never be near them."
"I know. I know. I hear you, father."
"Good. Now let's head home. Your mother must be worried about us."
Later. . .
Both Runt and Humphrey entered the den after their stroll in the forest. Both of them were tired and wanted to rest. Kate and Eve greeted them at the mouth of the cave.
"There you boys are. I was wondering what was taking so long," said Kate. Humphrey gave her a kiss as he went in.
"Well, we had a longer-than-expected chat."
"About what?" asked Eve as she hugged Runt.
"Nothing," answered Runt.
"It was about safety," his father corrected. "We talked about the dangers of wandering out unsupervised and why Rogues are still a problem."
"Let me guess, bro. You wanted to go somewhere?" said Claudette, lying down.
"It's just the ranger cabin area I want to visit."
"Sure! I'm up for adventure!"
"Why not!" said Stinky.
"No one's going anywhere!" ordered Kate. "That place is too dangerous... and too far... You might get lost." All of the pups knew that their parents were just trying to be their parents, but they couldn't resist their inner adventure spirits. They just wanted to explore what was over there, beyond the world of the wolves, and go into another world where structures were made by hand, not by paw.
That night. . .
With their parents and other relatives asleep, Runt was determined to find out what was so mysterious about that place. He wanted to learn more about it in hopes that an investigation will explain the exploding lights.
He couldn't do this alone, so he woke up his siblings who were asleep beside him.
"Wake up! Wake up!" he whispered.
"Runt... What is it? It's late at night."
"A couple more minutes," said Stinky, trying to go back to his dream.
"No! Guys. We need to find out what is over there!"
"Why? Our parents said it was dangerous," Claudette reminded.
"How could it be dangerous? They barely know anything about it."
"That is a good point." Stinky looked at his sister.
"But, bro. What about the humans?! What if one of them happens to have one of those things that shoot out fire, like one of them did when Kate and Humphrey were at the gas station, trying to get back home."
"Think about it, Claudette," said Runt. "Dad said that, at this time of year, there are always hundreds of people in that one area. Why would one of them be carrying something like that in a crowd? If it were to fire, it would surely hurt others."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm trying to say that, maybe, the humans didn't bring something like that because the risks of hurting their own were too great. Besides, if they're so smart, they would know that we are peaceful and don't mean any harm."
"And what if you're wrong?" asked Stinky.
"I'll tell you what, the first time any of us sees a weapon like that, we will make a run for it. Deal?" After a couple of minutes of thinking about it, they both agreed. Runt promised that they would be back by dawn.
Sneaking past all of the snoring bodies, they all came outside. Claudette and Stinky then followed Runt as he was the only one who knew the way towards the mysterious area.
Coming closer, they noticed the trees becoming more and more distant from each other and the grass becoming less and less full of weeds, almost like someone was taking them out. Eventually, it was clear that the trees were being trimmed at their base and that the grass was being trimmed so it would be shorter.
Claudette pointed out a structure in the distance, a human structure. It was made up of stacks of large stones and the trunks of trees in an arrangement of sorts. It was almost as tall as the trees. The pups had never seen anything like it, the elements of the Earth put into this complex and intricate way. It gave the pups a moment of awe and amazement on a scale never previously seen in their lifetimes.
They walked around it, noticing a small ray of light coming from something on the front wall beside a closed opening, an opening that was probably used to get inside the structure.
"Wow..."
"Okay, we've seen enough. Let's go now before—"
"Wait! What's that?!" Runt interrupted Stinky. Many yards away, there was a small spot surrounded by a ring of huge boulders. Before he tripped, Runt saw that there was a black skinny worm-like thing connecting the ring of boulders to the big structure with the light on it. Sniffing it, they followed the black thing until it seemed to go in between the boulders. "Come on! Let's dig under," the runt encouraged. They dug under the boulders until each pup came to the other side where they found sand. The black skinny thing then broke into many brown even skinnier things, and they all went into a number of different objects that sat in the center of the ring of boulders. The objects were covered in a thick covering of sorts.
"What are these things?" Claudette questioned. Each object had its own unique color and size and a large amount of written language all over them. A few things were consistent. All of them were cylindrical with something holding them erect. They all pointed up to the sky and had a hole at the top that was filled with things. These objects all stood on the sand in rows of twenty with some of those rows isolated in special spots.
As Claudette was about to sniff inside one of the larger cylindrical objects, a couple of familiar wolves started talking.
"Runt! Claudette! Stinky! What are you three doing here?!" Their parents showed up, coming from the hole the pups dug, and their faces were not happy.
The pups gave no reply.
"Pups! I thought I told you not to come here. Don't any of you listen?" said Humphrey, whispering. He sighed afterwards.
"Look, pups," said Kate. "We don't want to lose any of you. This is why you gotta listen to our warnings!"
"But, Mom! We can handle ourselves!" Runt replied. "We aren't little anymore. We want to find things on our own."
"You may not be as defenseless as a newborn, but you still are vulnerable. The world can be a dark place. And we want wolves like you, especially our own offspring, to learn to avoid this. We don't know how humans behave, and it's this uncertainty that scares us," their father expressed.
"Dad, if I understand correctly," said Stinky, "if we adventure into the unknown, then some of the uncertainty can become clear, which would help it not be so scary."
"Enough! C'mon, pups! We're going home!" ordered Kate. "This isn't some adventure. This is life or death. Next time I'm gonna have to get somebody specialized in watching you guys."
"But, Mom! I want to find out about the bright sparkly lights!" yelled Runt.
"NOW!" she growled, about to leave through the hole.
Suddenly, there was a loud creaking sound coming from the big structure with the light on it. All of them froze in fear. It was followed by footsteps in the grass coming closer and closer.
"Hide!" Humphrey insisted. They all took cover in the dark shadows of the big boulders, away from the moonlight.
Yards away. . .
A twenty-seven-year-old man with a T-shirt and a cap that had the Canadian national flag on it was walking towards the ring of boulders, unaware of the animals that had gotten into it. Being on his smartphone earlier, he had been told to test one of the special fireworks to make sure the recent downpour hadn't made them inert. A tarp was over them to keep them dry for the firework show tomorrow night, but it was old and had many small holes.
He walked to the firework box, as it was called, following the fuse. He climbed up the ladder that went up and over the boulders. The boulders of the firework box protected the surrounding forest from sparks. The man came into the ring of boulders and stood right in front of the wolves without knowing their presence whatsoever.
The wolves watched him as he moved part of the tarp to reach one of the major fireworks. He cut the small brown fuse, disconnecting the one firework from the rest, and placed one shell inside it to test. He then lit a match he had in his pocket
When he was about to test the firework and make a run for it, he discovered a new reason to run.
"Ah! Wolves!" he screamed, accidentally dropping the match. It landed on the big, black main fuse where the flame quickly began to head for every firework except the one he disconnected. Ignoring the dangers of the wolves, he dashed up the ladder and jumped off the boulders before landing on his knees and rolling a bit.
At the same time, all of the wolves squealed and ran out from the hole the pups dug. Only seconds after that, all of the fireworks exploded into the air with many different colors, styles, and sequences doing their share simultaneously as the man began recording the scene with the camera on his phone. He sat down in the grass, laughing at the whole incident. "Well... hashtag happy Canada Day..."
Later. . .
The wolves had raced home. The parents were furious, but the pups, especially Runt, were awestruck by the bright sparkly lights that were so close and detailed behind them.
Runt was pondering all the way home.
Maybe there was something about humans if they made these beautiful things that only appeared one night every single year. Dad said many humans usually gather when it comes on. The event was one of great importance. It probably had a great origin and purpose. This only made the pups even more curious to explore the world as it held on to weird, interesting things just waiting to be known...
(written on September 10th, 2015)
The Man
October 20th, 2012
"*pant!* Shoot! That was close!" whispered Humphrey. His youngest son crawled up next to him.
"What is it?" asked Runt. The look on his face made his father answer.
"It's him..."
"Oh, no..."
The man finally woke up. He saw the surrounding area. The wolves dragged him there. He tried to stand, but he only made sounds of pain. Behind a nearby tree, Humphrey and his son were hiding, out of his sight. They had dragged him there... away from an explosion that happened many miles away. They were planning to bring him to the nearest body of water, but they never expected him to wake up so early.
"Don't say a word or move a muscle," ordered Humphrey as he heard the man try to stand up. He knew the human had very bloody legs and might take his time.
A couple of minutes later, he managed and scanned the area, eventually spotting the explosion. It was his bush plane. A snowstorm had iced his wings to the point that he could no longer open his ailerons and rudders to turn around. He thought he could make it with his friend who was also an expert in flying. They never thought the ice would have the better of them.
Unexpectedly, there was a thud. In front of the man, Runt fell from his position behind the tree and into open space. The man quickly ran away, wanting to get away from the animals. He ran towards the smoke near the mountains where he crashed landed. He wanted to find his friend... who was also his wife.
"Where is he going?" asked the runt.
"I think he's trying to find his friend."
"Why didn't we take her too?"
"Because... well..."
"Well, we need to tell him!" Runt followed the human who was limping with determination.
"Runt! Get back here now! We don't go near humans!"
"Dad! We need to help him!"
"Why? What have humans done for us?"
"They're the reason you guys fell in love. It's the least we could do!" Humphrey began trailing his son who was running far ahead.
"It's too dangerous! A fire is brewing there!"
"Dad! We must warn him then."
"Hmm... Okay, but we must hurry."
Later. . .
Upon finding the crash site, the man immediately began searching the area for his wife. There was fire everywhere. Ash covered his face after a while. Soon, he became frantic. He looked through destroyed belongings and the debris from the plane, ignoring the spreading fire and the fact that he could be trapped.
Then he found something as Humphrey and Runt made it to him. There was a burial. On top of it was a picture of his wife. A little flame was causing it to burn. Runt looked at his father. Humphrey had made the burial. He knew she was dead before the man woke up. He didn't want to tell Runt yet.
The man sat down next to a huge fragment of the plane and started crying. He was unaware of the wolves sitting near him as his arm covered his eyes.
"What now?" said Runt.
"Shhhh..." Humphrey wanted the pup to give a moment of silence. "Even for humans, death is unsettling. And we must be respectful."
While sobbing and letting his heart accept the reality, the man was thinking. Death is both surprising and unsurprising at the same time. In times of great tragedy, we aim to seek revenge on someone. But that is not a proper response. Tragedy reminds us of our flaws. And it's best we stick together and learn from it. Sometimes, people make mistakes. And we must create the light to guide future generations, so they won't do the same. We should remember those mistakes.
They stayed with him until he realized he was right next to them. He then took the burning picture and ran off, never to be seen again. As they left the site that was about to be engulfed in flames, Humphrey and Runt watched him go into the sunset. His limping turned into a perfect walk.
"What about the wreck? Should we tell Mom?! She's gonna be so surprised once we tell her we encountered a human!"
"Yes. He should be remembered. Let this be a lesson for you, Runt. Remember the ones who've sacrificed for our protection, even the ones lesser known..."
(written on November 22nd, 2017)
Spirit of the Caribou
April 12th, 2013
"Does everything look spiffy enough?" asked Kate. Her mate smiled after examining the den they had been cleaning.
"How could it not? Only the Alpha's Alpha can achieve this level of clean!" Humphrey squinted his eyes at the den wall. "Is it me or can I see my reflection?" Kate giggled and bumped him with her elbow.
"You flatter me."
"Isn't that all I do?" he replied. Kate drew closer, their noses almost making contact.
"Of course not. You give me purpose. Without you, I'd be an incomplete wolf. And also, you father well. Better than I expected."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, if you asked me a few years ago if an Omega could father two Alphas in addition to one Omega, I would think the fermented berries had gotten to your head."
"Hey, I didn't get drunk that much back then," said Humphrey with a laugh. "Fermented berries weren't an ideal thing until I lost my virginity. Parenting is exceptionally stressful. Why subject yourself to such anguish when you can fizzle it out by ingesting a suppressant the size of a pebble?"
"You can't talk. I literally had small wolves inside me for a while. Now add the physical ramifications with my Alpha duties and, yeah, doesn't seem so sunshine and rainbows, doesn't it?"
"True, but you underestimate the integral duties that every Omega inherits."
"And what might that be, mister?"
"I'm surprised you are unaware of them. See, there's our mud-diving sessions, our coyote-in-the-middle game, and as Marcel would put it, the pièce de résistance of it all is the wolf pile!"
"Hmm, maybe I should join this so-called wolf pile."
"Putting aside your sarcasm, we've never had a she-wolf in one of our piles, let alone an Alpha. That would be interesting."
"It would, wouldn't it? But unfortunately, we have a big dinner to prepare for."
"Oh, right! How could I forget?"
"Did you invite Mom?"
"Kate, you know me. I invited everybody."
"That's what I'm afraid of. Define 'everybody.'"
"Oh, you know, your mom, your dad, your sister, Garth, Daria, and a few others."
"A few others?" Kate raised an eyebrow.
"Well, how could I leave my friends out of it?"
"The last time we invited Mooch, he lay against the wall and fell through it. We couldn't sleep with the extra moonlight until the Alphas patched the hole. On top of that, I could've sworn Salty did not like the bone marrow I got for him."
"What can I say? My buddies aren't exactly accustomed to high living."
"Whatever. Have you seen the pups?"
"They're still at their schools. Hardly pups anymore."
"I know that, but what else am I gonna call them? Our progeny?"
Humphrey replied by shrugging his shoulders.
Meanwhile, at the outskirts of the pack, Claudette and Stinky jointly stalked their prey. A really young caribou sipping from a calm pond was in their tightly fixed sights. Their heartbeat slowed as they approached the small beast with their newfound precision. With the flickering of their ears and tails, they communicated back and forth about the state of the caribou as they inched carefully in the tall grass. Once within striking distance, they each gave a signal to prepare to attack. An invisible timer was set and three seconds later, the caribou noticed the wolves way too late. To prevent an escape, Claudette struck with her teeth and ripped one of the back legs off with a single pull from her neck. The caribou squealed and struggled to run, but Stinky held him down by grabbing onto his antlers. Claudette then tore off one of the front legs. Now the animal was helpless. Blood was gushing out so wildly that it saturated most of the fur on Claudette's face. She proceeded to rip the ungulate in two to make it easy for transport. First, by boring straight into the abdomen, through the intestines, then, with the help of Stinky, disconnecting the spine by pulling the front end and the back end apart. It wasn't until that last part that the caribou actually died.
The two wolves, both ranked Betas, divided the body even more. Other Betas that were in the vicinity heard their subsequent howl, informing them it was a successful hunt. It also signaled the wolves to help transport the pieces. Claudette and Stinky directed them on exactly where to deposit: their den.
"Greetings, everyone!" said Stinky to the guests that now flooded the den. Right behind him were sister and company dragging the food. "May I and Claudette present our fresh kill for the holiday feast!"
"Wow, Stinky and Claudette! You really outdid yourself!" praised Daria. "Although I cannot see the meat, the permeating smell is delightfully intense!"
"Mom, can you stop drooling?" said Kate.
"I'm sorry, it's just this meat is so beautiful, and it looks succulent!"
"Mooch, can you stop drooling too?" said Humphrey. Mooch didn't seem to even twitch as he stared at the dinner. The blood on it was still dripping tremendously.
"Goodness gracious!" Lilly exclaimed. "Did you come from a war zone, Claudette?" The Alphas laughed.
"When you've lived long enough, you get used to it," said Winston, eyeing Garth who had been on numerous hunts.
"Sweetie, you mind cleaning up?" Kate asked politely. "This is a formal dinner, not a hunters' gathering."
"I like it!" Eve expressed.
"Mom!"
"I'm serious, Kate! It makes her look edgy or slick or whatever you pups are sayin' nowadays."
"I'm on fleek," Claudette corrected with a grin.
"Don't you mean 'on Fleet,' sis'?" said her brother.
"Shut up, Stinky!" She bared her teeth at him.
"Hey, can we eat this thing now?" asked Mooch. "The more it sits there, the more I feel insulted."
"I agree," said Eve. "Claudette, would you nudge it forward please?" Claudette moved the pieces closer to the center of the den. Every wolf sat all around it in a big circle.
"Wait! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Kate stood up and stepped closer to the food. The angry look on her face worried her mate.
"Uh, Kate, is something wrong?" Humphrey looked at her and tilted his head.
"A huge thing is wrong! Dad, look at this!" Kate flipped part of the meat around to reveal a gruesome truth. The meat looked like it had been brutally stretched and ripped.
"Oh, my gosh." Winston put his paw on his mouth to express the horror that began to hover in his mind. "Never in my life have I seen a caribou with such a story behind it. This was not a proper killing."
"Far from it!" Kate added. She glared at her two Betas. Claudette and Stinky's hearts sank.
"What? What's going on? What's a 'proper killing?'" Humphrey pressed.
"We have codes when we hunt," Garth answered. "To keep us wolves from disrespecting or not appreciating our kill and to ensure that said kill ends his or her life in the least amount of pain and suffering, we have codes of conduct that all hunters must follow, especially Alphas."
"Seems counterproductive. Why can't we just eat it and not care?" said Mooch.
"This is very important!" Kate exclaimed. "We are the apex predators of the forest. We hold a dignified reputation among the critters, including animals that lay within our diet. They may seem insignificant to us since we're stronger and dominate the region, but don't be mistaken. We must treat the caribou with respect and give thanks because they are our major food source. In a way, they kinda dictate the success of our pack. We depend on them, and if word goes out that we treated them this way, herds of food could roll out of the Valley in large numbers. The caribou aren't stupid. They know we eat them, but I assure you, pups, the only reason any of us are even alive is that they have chosen this place as a place to die old or sick, not young like this meat. Would you wanna live in a place to die young? The caribou have lives to live too. You pups should know better. I'm not mad, but I am gravely disappointed. There was a time in our history when there was no conduct. It was during a population boom, and wolves at the time were incredibly selfish. For a long time, our pack suffered from malnutrition because the caribou fled us. Wolves would brutally kill caribou to show off and hold on to their parts, so they could gain power from the hungry. It was a shameful time, and it will be shameful if we eat this."
"Well said, Kate," said Winston.
"We're so sorry," said Claudette who was nearly sobbing. "I don't know what came over us. You said we could get the caribou for the special dinner, so we must've gotten full of ourselves from being so excited. Of course, though, that's no excuse. I am rightfully ashamed. Mom, this will never happen again."
"Same here. We deeply apologize," added Stinky. "We broke the rules, and as future Alphas, that is unacceptable. This is something greater than us. I openly admit I am embarrassed that I took part in this. I do not deserve to sit with you all. We'll get rid of this meat. In fact, Mom, we'll bury it exactly where we killed it."
"No. Actually, we're going to eat this." All of the other wolves looked at her in shock. "It is clear that you pups don't mean harm and profoundly regret your actions, and seeing as I know you pups learn very well, I am confident this won't happen again. Although this caribou was killed in the most unspeakable way, it at least provided you with a valuable lesson, a lesson so precious that the kill would've forgiven you. Now you must give thanks."
"We will," Claudette and Stinky said in unison.
"Let's all do it," said Winston. The wolves bowed their heads at the pieces of meat and gave a respectful moment of silence.
After the moment passed, another wolf entered the den. His mouth was overflowing with berries.
"Runt?" said Humphrey.
"Hi, guys! Sorry, I'm late. It's a little hard to move around when you're holding thirty berries for a whole day. I have to break the record set by my friend, Warren. Did I miss anything?"
(written on June 16th, 2018)
A Father at Heart
May 25th, 2012
It was a calm day in late spring. Two human years had passed since the incident where the East and West were on the brink of war. It was mating season again, and it was around the time when the next generation of wolves was being born. A couple of days ago, Humphrey and Kate were blessed with three beautiful pups named Stinky, Claudette, and Runt. Garth and Lilly on the other paw... had trouble…
While Humphrey and Kate decided to wait two years, Garth and Lilly had already tried two times... They had even tried a third time two moons ago, but soon they found out in the following weeks that something was up. A realization was beginning to set in that began to loom above the couple, especially Garth who had always envisioned being a parent. The fact that Lilly might be... infertile.
"Garth... It's okay. Maybe it wasn't meant for us," said Lilly trying to comfort her depressed mate. Unlike most wolves, this pair didn't live in a den. They took residence in the long grassy fields near Rabbit Poo Mountain.
"I just don't get it. How?"
"I don't know..." Lilly peered at him. He gave out a large sigh.
"Of course, Humphrey and Kate get the pups they want."
"Don't compare yourself to them. You're only making it worse."
"Sorry... Just know... I won't leave you if it turns out you're infertile. I guess pups weren't our destiny, but you're way more than that. I'm certain."
"Aww... I love you, Garth."
"I love you too."
"Hey, maybe we can adopt?"
"Adopt? Wow, I never thought about that."
"Yeah! C'mon, I know the place."
They traveled to a place that the Omega knew as the Western Foster Care Center, a large den that served as the place for orphans in the West. Although it was against pack law for a parent to leave a pup, sometimes wolves from other packs or lone wolves would drop their young off in the territory. It was also for pups whose parents disappeared or died. They made it to the place, and to their surprise, they found it completely empty.
"I guess no pups are available," said Garth. "Not even the wolves who take care of them while they wait for a permanent home."
"There has to be foster care in the East."
"It's worth a try."
Later. . .
Garth had no idea the place existed. Inscribed on a bone beside a small den read: "The Caretakers." Interestingly, someone was there, an elderly beige she-wolf in fact.
"Who dares to attempt to ransack me?!" she yelled. The couple took a step back.
"We aren't here to impose," Lilly assured. "We heard that you might harbor some pups here who don't have homes."
"What? Where on Earth did ya' hear that?"
"Scar," said Garth.
"Ahh, crap. I was hoping my grandson wouldn't be that stupid. I usually try to keep that part of my life a secret. I should've removed that bone long ago."
"So you did keep pups?"
"I did but it was long ago. My name is Hazel."
"Hello, Hazel. What happened?"
"There were simply no pups anymore. Any pups that were here got taken up long ago. They're probably the same age as you are by now. Plus no new pups came. I just had nothing, so foster care just ceased. Wolves nowadays keep their young more often."
"*sigh* What are we gonna do? Leave the Valley?" Garth seemed hopeless.
"No... No, honey... we don't need to do that."
"What's the problem?" asked Hazel.
"Lilly is... infertile."
"Ohh... well... I'm so sorry. You know... I had an uncle once who was infertile."
"A male?"
"Yes. He had an... accident sometime in Alpha School but I digress. He was very down about it, so much so that he even thought about suicide. He really wanted to be a father."
"That's terrible."
"I know but he managed to pull through when he had helped a bunch of wolves during a bad storm. Part of the river had burst its banks and flooded their homes. He saved them. He saved all of them. After that, he felt good about himself 'til the day he died. He figured that if he couldn't bear sons or daughters, he could help the sons and daughters of others. He spent the rest of his life working on improving pack life, even working alongside the Eastern pack leader, Bronx. They were close friends."
"I guess that's what I'll continue to be," Garth declared. "A samaritan."
"Inside, you're still a father," said the old wolf. "The entire pack is your pup."
"That's a neat way of putting it," said Lilly. She turned to her mate. "I just want you to be yourself."
"I'm myself when I'm with you," he replied. "I wished to have pups, but if the Universe says no, I'll make do."
"Hey," said Hazel.
"Yeah?"
"I've noticed you put the pack and your mate above you. For what it's worth, remember this: if not a father, you're a father at heart..."
(written on October 31st, 2018)
Story of the Prophet
October 31st, 2012
"Ahhhh!" A horrid shriek rippled the sky over the East. A nightmare, the likes of which had never been so bone-chilling, caused the wolf's head to ache. The cold air returned, and Tony shivered profusely before one of his Alphas came to his den with worry in his eyes.
"Sir?! Are you alright?" He stepped closer but not too close in order to not intensify the moment. The elderly wolf shook his head and tried to clear his mind from the traumatic experience.
"I'm fine. Napping on the wrong side of the den just makes the disc in my back agitated."
"Pardon me, sir, but it seems like you had a bad dream."
"It appears so, but it felt so real."
"How can a dream feel real?" he asked.
"It can if it's actually happened before..."
Later. . .
After his nap, Tony traveled to the West again where Humphrey and Kate's pups were. Many wolves already seemed to eye his distress. Tony was not one to normally look unsteady. Often, he would cherish a glare, a beam that would arise instant submission from his inferiors. Today was not his day. Usually, visiting the West would be a sign of that, but actually, he and Winston had become more natural friends since the packs united. Tony had no current mate, only a son and his son's partner to keep him company but only for a few hours at best. It eased his mind to visit his old friend. Winston had a family Tony knew a lot about. The pups, especially, were vastly more entertaining than watching Link and Lyle eat snowballs to see which had the larger brain freeze.
"Oh, Tony! Nice to see you again!" exclaimed Kate. Beside her were the pups and Humphrey. Both of whom grew excited.
"Is something wrong?" said Humphrey. "You look like you slept wrong. You might wanna fix the beard. It's kinda stuck sideways."
"Don't worry about it. I've been a little on edge."
"You wanna share why?" said Kate.
"Well, that's why I'm here. I know how much the pups love to hear my tales of woe. I was hoping Winston would join me. I notice he's absent."
"Don't expect him. He and Mom are having some alone time together," Kate replied.
"I wanna hear another story, Tony!" cried Runt.
"Yeah, pleeeeeeeeeeease!" Claudette hopped around.
"Of course. Of course. It's still spooky season after all. Best not to keep you pups waiting."
"This is gonna be interesting," Stinky remarked. "Tony always has the scariest stories."
"I must warn you guys though. This story is another true one, and it's enough to scare even me. It's probably the most frightening thing I know. The only thing that's come close was when I was almost trampled by a stampede years ago."
"Don't worry about us," said Claudette. "We've seen Mooch's rotten molar. Nothing gets worse than that."
"Okay then. Tough ones you say." Tony rolled his eyes and started. "Long ago, once again in my younger days, back when caribou herds came from a different direction, and I was being trained in Alpha School. My hunting at the time was pretty abysmal and my brother, Owen, would tease me about it endlessly. He was pretty full of himself. Anyway, back in one of those days, a strange newcomer had arrived in our lands. No one knew his real name. He was simply referred to as the Prophet. He was... an interesting fellow to say the least. He was a lone wolf with strange ideas. He came basically with skin and bones. He hadn't eaten in weeks. My father let him into our pack, and he made himself at home, but soon things started getting crazy. He began speaking in a way as if he was narrating a story that he was merely a character of. Saying, 'The Prophet wants this' or 'The Prophet demands that.' It was making everybody's head spin. Eventually, he told us that the reason he was malnourished was that he was too busy 'spreading truth.'"
"Seems that guy drank too much of his own urine," whispered Humphrey.
"It didn't end there. Since he was around my age, he was put into my classes at Alpha School. He started spreading fake rumors among us. He once said that I was secretly an Omega in disguise, and I'm part of some conspiracy of Omegas ready to overthrow everyone."
Humphrey burst into laughter.
"Ha! Ha! He don't know a thing about us, like we're capable of organizing that efficiently. Pshhh!"
"Well, it got onto some wolves' nerves," Tony continued. "But not all. Some were actually convinced by his harsh rhetoric. A select few even turned to violence... I used to have a dedicated circle of friends back in the day, but the Prophet divided us. We couldn't get his words out of our heads. It just consumed us and consumed some to the point of oblivion. He called himself the 'answer to everyone's problems' and claimed he alone could solve them; however, he sparked ones that had not existed before. It truly was a nightmare. The Betas I grew up with scattered about. We were locked in our differences. We couldn't work together on the hunts. It hurt. Our pack was counting on us to bring food in the future."
"Wow," said Kate.
"The turning point came when a few Alphas actually attacked a group of Omegas from the Western Pack. Their actions had been inspired by the Prophet. Fearing trouble would brew from the West, my father finally banished that terrible wolf. I had graduated Alpha School by that point, so the only friend that stuck with me was my future mate, Martha, Garth's mother. Let me tell ya' though, not a day goes by where I don't think about that darn wolf and what he did to us. Burns me to my bone marrow."
"Is that it?" replied Humphrey, tilting his head.
"Pretty much."
"Wow, sorry to hear that, Tony," said Stinky.
"It's okay, little one. Hey, it all turned out great in the end. I had Garth, and I met all of you guys. We should be thankful. Life is not guaranteed to work around itself."
"No," said Stinky. "I meant sorry that that's possibly your un-scariest story ever."
"What?"
"Yeah. Borrrrrrrrring," added Runt. "I can't believe you don't live up to the hype. I was expecting zombies throwing up 'cause they've eaten too many brains, not some lecture."
"I know, right?" said Claudette. "Ugh. You sounded like Mom and Dad giving us a lesson. C'mon guys. Let's see if Anges or Brent has any creepy tales!"
Tony stood near the entrance of the cave dumbfounded as the pups exited, running underneath his legs with giddy smiles.
"Probably should've warned you," said Kate. Tony took a deep breath and straightened his beard.
"Ya' think?"
(written on November 11th, 2018)
Lost Warriors
January 2nd, 2013
While the first specks of snow were inching their way to the grass, Kate and Winston continued to educate Claudette and Stinky through their journey of Alpha School. They were learning fast. In no time, they would become fully-developed Alphas, caribou-killing machines joining the ranks of distinguished hunters across the pack. Kate was excited, for her pups were getting a nice schooling experience vital to their progress. A nice experience was something lacking during Kate's time as a Beta when the Great Blizzard reigned and threatened to wipe out the entire Valley. Kate was glad that, at least so far, Claudette and Stinky hadn't lived through anything that harsh. Kate's respected father, Winston, thought the same. Once again, he was the Alpha School director, but he personally gave his daughter some oversight of her pups.
The future Alphas were now heading into adolescence, and it was more important than ever that they face the truth of life and death. Yesterday, they had gained basic knowledge of mating and relationships. Today, they were to see for themselves a real lifeless body of their species. And not just that. They were to finally grasp the significance and insignificance of their lives in one eerie event.
"We are going to Shadow Forest!" Winston announced. He and Kate planned to take all of the Betas small group by small group, starting with Claudette and Stinky. The two pups were the only Betas who had visited Shadow Forest previously.
"But Mom, we've been there before," whined Claudette. "It doesn't scare us as much as it used to."
"First of all, the point is not to scare you," her mother answered. "It's to make you realize the gravity of your existence, to make you guys more mature. It is an important step in the transition to adulthood. Second of all, we're going to a part of Shadow Forest I'm sure you two haven't seen. It's a sacred place filled with mist."
"Yes, it's a place that usually only older Alphas know how to find," added Winston. "That's why I'm going to lead the way."
The group traveled across the West to the outskirts of the pack where the mysterious land resided. The cold of the season was beginning to set in as the last light of the day slid down the horizon. The air remained calm. The lack of wind propelled the mist to grow to amazing proportions among the many transparent ponds. The Shadow Forest was famous for its beech trees that gave a more-than-generous amount of shade, but the area Winston knew too well was darker. Despite the Betas being comfortable in the breeze, their hearts came to a standstill like a locked glacier. Mounds were everywhere, even in the distance. "This is Asynia," Winston informed, "the burial grounds of the Valley."
"Burial grounds? You mean where wolves bury their food?"
"No, Claudette. This is where Alphas bury their dead."
"They're dead? You mean…"
"Yes. They're dead. All of our lives will end, and our bodies will return to the soil. The great circle of life."
Winston pointed his paw to a grave that was open. Inside, the rotting corpse of an elderly wolf lay. Claudette and Stinky could not believe their eyes. They had been so used to seeing an animated wolf body that it took them to a different dimension for them to contemplate. It took a while for the two to really put together that the body crawling with maggots and beetles was once a lively, thinking creature just like they were. Kate curiously watched her offspring mentally rearrange themselves. They became humbler, but that, ironically, made them feel more self-worth. Their own bodies were no different than any Omegas or pack leaders. All wolves were destined to die, but that's what gave them a better meaning to live in the present. Winston could see their minds change. He had seen it time and time again from previous Betas. They all had the same reaction, including himself long ago. Asynia was one of the few places that never changed a bit. Its atmosphere was incomparable as it was stagnant.
But it wasn't over. After passing by numerous mounds cloaked in mist, Winston wanted to focus their attention on the graves of those who fought in war.
"Woah, these mounds go on forever," said Stinky.
"These are our deceased veterans of the War of the Divide," said Winston, "the conflict that split the East and West up about thirteen years ago. About three quarters of our population died in two years."
"I don't even know what to say," said Kate. "I never get used to it."
"Neither will they," her father replied. He then pointed to a smaller area of mounds that looked practically ancient with its tight space and overhanging cobwebs. "These are our deceased veterans of the Black Mountain War that occurred about twenty years ago. These wolves protected us against a great foreign threat in the mountains. They were warriors who lost their lives saving our country, answering the call of duty when no one else would. They warrant our highest respect."
"Let's give a moment of silence," Kate suggested.
"Of course."
For two minutes, Winston, Kate, and the Betas sat down and bowed their heads to the graveyard. Suddenly, a large swam of glimmering insects came from the trees and flew down. The mist glowed, and Claudette couldn't help but smile as one landed on her muzzle.
"These guys are cute!" she giggled. "What are they?"
"I don't know," said Kate.
"Oh, my goodness... They're fireflies!" Winston exclaimed. "I haven't seen them since I was a pup. I thought they all went extinct in the Valley."
"Apparently not," said Stinky who tried to jump and eat them. "If only Runt were here to see this."
"Speaking of Runt, we should probably go home now. It's getting late."
"Yes, Kate," said Winston. "You guys go. I'm gonna continue with the other Betas."
Kate and her two pups left Aysina and exited Shadow Forest, going towards their den where they believed Runt and Humphrey were waiting for them patiently. While they walked, the fireflies followed them from above. Claudette noticed it and thought about the veteran graveyards.
"Hey, Stinky. What if every firefly is a veteran from the burial grounds?"
"That's crazy talk, Claudette."
"I'm not saying it's true... Just think about it symbolically." Stinky looked up at the sky and saw the fireflies. If one didn't have good eyesight, they would've confused the bugs as stars.
"Hmm... I think I see exactly what you mean..."
(written from December 29th to December 30th, 2019)
A Snowy Resolution
December 23rd, 2011
Twenty-one months after Kate confessed her love to an Omega, she was beginning to have doubts that their relationship could work. It was not that they weren't getting along, that they weren't incompatible. The two wolves liked each other a lot. But they lived totally different lives. They were the first known couple of both Alpha and Omega. Just from that, Kate knew it wasn't going to be easy. She was dealing with something no other Alpha experienced aside from Garth. She didn't know how well Garth and Lilly were managing themselves, but she did know her arrangement with Humphrey wasn't working.
While she did her daily duties like the average Alpha, her silly partner hanged out with his Omega friends, perfecting his playing skills. Kate had thought the arrangement was perfect. Neither of them would interfere with each other's business. Since both wolves of a regular couple have the same rank, they often did the same duties and disagreements on courses of action would emerge. If both wolves have the same knowledge of a subject or confidence in a subject such as hunting, one may think he or she knows better than their partner, and the ensuing debate can halt the progression of any relationship. Knowing how demanding she could be, Kate thought she struck it lucky, but one thing she did not foresee was her need to feel appreciated. It was a relationship after all. Kate didn't see Humphrey as much as she liked, and it seemed Humphrey, being the Omega, was oblivious. The pack leader of the united pack, Garth, let Kate stay in her family den for the time being as her parents and Lilly moved out. Kate shared the large den with Humphrey. After they got married, both of them would return after dusk and spend a little time together before sleeping, but a few weeks later, Humphrey started staying with his friends. Now he stayed with them every two or three nights, and Kate would sleep in her den cold and alone.
Winter was in full swing, and Kate was not happy. Today, after twenty-one months had passed, she was ready to express her feelings to a degree not seen since their wedding. Once again, Humphrey was playing with his Omega friends, this time, in the snow.
"Whoo-hoo! We're getting so good at this!" said Humphrey.
"I'll say," Salty replied.
"Winter's always the best time to ride on a log," said Shakey. "The snow keeps everything smooth."
"And soft for accidental crashes," Mooch added, rubbing his sore butt.
The log they rode slowed to a stop at the base of the hill. All four Omegas jumped and landed on the fresh powder surrounding them. As soon as a random snowball hit Mooch in the back of the head, the area instantly became a war zone. "So you have chosen death!" Mooch sneered. Kate ducked her head as she approached their free-for-all. Humphrey then kicked volleys of snow and ice into the air that went to his pretend enemies.
"I call this the Kate maneuver!" Humphrey declared.
"Cute," said Kate.
"Oh, hey, Kate! I didn't see you there!"
"Honey, may I talk to you, please? It's important."
"How much on the importance scale?"
"This is serious." Suddenly, a snowball hit Humphrey's face.
"I swear I'm gonna get one of y'all!" he warned playfully. Kate was frustrated by his lack of focus.
"Humphrey... Please..."
"Alright, alright, I hear ya'." He briefly turned to his buddies. "Be right back. You three will be goners!" They threw more snowballs at him which enticed him to throw a few back.
"Humphrey, I'm pregnant." The Omega froze. Another snowball hit his face, but he barely noticed it.
"For real?"
"Like I said, we need to talk," she replied sternly.
Later. . .
They traveled back up the mountain. Their den was near the summit. As soon as they entered, Humphrey anxiously took a look at Kate's stomach.
"I'm not pregnant," she admitted apathetically. "It's hard to get your attention sometimes."
"Oh... So what's on your mind?"
"Humphrey, this isn't working..."
"What isn't? You mean us? What's wrong?"
"Look, sweetie. I love you, but... I'm not sure how long I can live like this. It's like we don't have a relationship at all. I miss when you used to come home every night, and we would cuddle. Don't you miss that?"
"We cuddled?" he replied softly.
"Yes! Like puppies!"
"Huh... I don't remember..."
"Please, Humphrey, can you leave your friends be for a while?"
"I don't know... I can't just abandon them. They're my friends! We're still practicing the snake maneuver! What if you suddenly stopped hunting with your Alphas?"
"My Alpha duties actually benefit the pack. All you do is play all day long."
"You know what your dad said. Fun is important."
"I know what he said. I agree with him, but let's be realistic. What you and your Omegas do doesn't feed mouths. What I'm trying to say is you can handle missing a few days with your friends."
"Maybe later I can handle that but not right now. There's been talk that logboarding could be introduced to the Great Wolf Games. We have to prove to wolves that, with enough practice, logboarding could be as safe as any sport."
"Oh... I see..." Humphrey then sighed.
"Kate, it's important to me at least. I'll tell you what, next week I'll be home more often. Will that suffice?"
"Okay," Kate replied forlornly. The Omega turned around and was ready to exit the den. He could hear his friends laughing below. He stepped outside and felt the cool breeze. "Have fun," his mate added. Humphrey stared at his friends below for a minute before lifting his head slightly and noticing another mountain in the distance. It was Moonlight Howl Rock on the border between East and West. And just like that, a great awareness settled upon him.
"What am I doing? Kate?" He turned back towards the inside of the cave where Kate seemed to be on the edge of tears. It brought a twinge to his heart.
"Yes?" the she-wolf responded. Humphrey thought back to their wedding.
"Do you, Alpha Kate, take Humphrey to be your trustworthy mate?" Tony had asked.
"I do," Kate said with a smile. Winston spoke next.
"Do you, Omega Humphrey, take Kate to be your trustworthy mate?"
"Most definitely," Humphrey had replied. They then rubbed noses again. The crowd was clapping with their paws. It was over. They made history. No one back then knew what to expect from such an odd pairing. Now it was in jeopardy. The romantic experiment hanged in the balance. Mates last forever. This was the point that would decide the future of their marriage. Humphrey realized that Kate had needs. He was the only one who could embrace her in the way she liked most. What would be the thing that would define Humphrey as a loving partner?
"Humphrey?" Kate saw that he fell into an abyss of thought. A minute later, the Omega reentered the den and tightly hugged his dear mate.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here... for you. I'm so sorry."
"Babe..." The Alpha was shocked.
"I can't believe for so long I forgot I was supposed to be taking care of the most important thing in my life. I neglected you. Omegas are the greatest communicators. What kind of an Omega am I?"
"You're my Omega." Kate gently nuzzled him.
"I'll make it up to you. From now on, I'll be here in this den most of the day for every day, to give you what any wolf of your caliber deserves. I'll even decorate this place, make it ours." He held his mate's paws and affectionately rubbed them with his face, spreading his scent all over her, which made Kate blush.
"Are you sure you won't get distracted?"
"Well... I have a plan for that actually, and you've given me the idea," he replied. "Kate... We should try for pups next spring." The she-wolf gasped.
"Really?"
"Yeah... Why not? Before our youth fades."
"I... I don't know, honey. We had a lot of pups this year. Next year, they will all be in heat for the first time, and a lot of them will be at their dens taking care of their pups, which means every Alpha will be so busy going between hunting for more food and managing the little ones. It won't be long before that happens. This year is almost over and Alpha School will be over before we know it."
"It's a risk. I know. It probably would be better for the pack if you stayed a virgin, but I'm confident that we can do anything. We make a pretty good team, you and I."
"We do. I'll think about it." She smiled and wiped away her tears of joy. "I love you."
"I love you too. What say we cuddle again, hmm?"
"A little flirtatious, aren't we? Heh, heh. Come hither, you sly dog," she teased. Humphrey bit his bottom lip and advanced closer until their chests were in contact with each other. Kate brought her lips over his right ear. "Before we cuddle... bathe, please. Ha, ha!" Humphrey was caught off guard, but he soon joined her laughter. He began to exit the den to head for the nearest stream.
"What's the matter? Too stinky for you? Ha, ha."
"Careful, Omega, or I'll name a pup after your stench. Heh, heh."
"I'm counting on it!" Humphrey declared. His mate then gleefully mooned him, using a trancelike dance of her tail to provoke him further. He responded with a sarcastic growl before disappearing out of sight.
"Yep... That's the Omega I know," said Kate.
(written from February 10th to February 14th, 2020)
One Year Anniversary
March 23rd, 2011
Today was the fourth day of spring. One year ago, Kate and Humphrey saved Winston and Tony from a caribou stampede. One year ago, they nuzzled among a large crowd of Easterns and Westerns. One year ago, they married and became mates. Four days ago was the Moonlight Howl which came annually on the first night of spring. That night was a celebration of its own. All mature wolves came together to howl with each other, to have fun. However, today was a day that mattered most significantly to Kate and Humphrey in addition to Lilly and Garth.
While Humphrey was in a den decorating every surface in preparation for his mate's arrival, Lilly and Garth played in the grasses where they had been living for the past year. They were a considerable distance from the rest of the population. Neither of them was particularly social. They only relied on the company of each other. And the tall grasses of their area provided a lot of privacy. Not far from them, though, was a special place.
"We should head up Rabbit Poo Mountain," suggested Garth.
"Really?"
"Yeah, for old times' sake. What do you say?" Lilly licked his cheek. That was her response.
"Thought you'd never ask."
Rabbit Poo Mountain was the place where they fell in love. While Kate and Humphrey were gone on their adventure, Lilly took the duty of showing Garth around the Western Pack. At the time, Kate was planning to marry Garth, and Lilly thought it would be nice if Garth knew his way around the West by the time Kate would return. Lilly never expected it to blossom into anything. Alphas couldn't be with Omegas and vice-versa. It became clear right away that Garth had little interest in Kate. Garth was only proud of the arranged marriage at first because he was making his father proud. Tony had high expectations for his son. Garth always had the mind of an Alpha, but Lilly found out he was much softer inside. Most Alphas wouldn't bat an eye at an Omega, but Garth listened to Lilly like no one else. He read her mind more than any Omega could. Both of them gained confidence in different ways. Lilly learned that shutting herself out from the world wasn't necessary, and Garth learned that being his true self was okay. A few hours before Kate and Humphrey returned from Idaho, Garth and Lilly were on Rabbit Poo Mountain. The real moment during that time was when Lilly taught him how to howl. Garth, for the longest time, struggled to find his own howling voice. The white she-wolf fulfilled his lifelong wish.
The two wolves went back to their sacred hill—for old times' sake. They played games, howled, and shared more intimate moments. The experience wasn't quite the same without the freshness and risqué nature of their formally-illegal relationship, but they didn't care. All that mattered was each other's presence. They weren't going to attempt to replicate what happened a year ago. In fact, they were going to do something they never thought of doing before they were married. Mating season had recently begun, and it seemed only natural to try for pups. They had done it once during the mating season of the previous year but with no success. It was disappointing, but they were optimistic. Conception failure wasn't too uncommon. There wasn't a rush anyway. But this time seemed to be the perfect opportunity to try again. They went and did their erotic business under the stars and the moonlight.
Meanwhile, on that night, Kate came back to the territory after hunting with Hutch.
"You bet he has something planned?" said Hutch.
"No doubt," Kate replied. "I haven't seen him too much, but he knows how to surprise me."
Kate and Humphrey had fallen into a schedule where both of them would return to their den at dusk after doing their respective activities. To Kate, things between them were getting a bit stale, but she figured Humphrey wouldn't disappoint on such a special day.
She was right.
She entered their large den to find the inside decorated to the max. There was no organization. It was Humphrey's pure genius. Berry juice was splattered over everything. Unlike most dens which were dirt holes in the ground, their den was a pile of flat boulders with a giant space in the middle. The whole thing was supported by a huge tree that shaded a lot of the surrounding area. The tree's large roots could be seen inside the den, protruding from the inner walls. Berry juice stuck with roots and stone surfaces much more than dirt. The reflecting moonlight made the blue color even more vibrant. Aside from the juice, there were random piles of sticks and twigs on the floor along with flower petals arranged in curvy lines. In the center of the den was a large piece of bark. Kate presumed it was one of Humphrey's logboards. He lay on his back on the log, smirking as Kate neared him.
"You like?"
"Well, it screams you," said Kate. "That's why I like it."
"We've almost been married for a whole year."
"I know." Kate then sat down in front of him.
"We knew our relationship wasn't going to be easy. I think we can agree it hasn't been too easy, but I wouldn't have my life any other way. I love you, Kate." The tan she-wolf pounced on his chest and nuzzled him.
"Me neither." Just at that moment, both of them heard Lilly and Garth's howls in the distance. It prompted Kate to howl. Humphrey then chuckled. "Since when do you howl first?" He tilted his head.
"You know a lot about me, Omega, but you have much to learn."
"Teach me. We have all night."
"Ha, ha. Well... if you want pups, forget about it."
"I don't want pups! Too much responsibility."
"You're right. Let's wait another year," she suggested.
"Sounds good to me."
"Let's enjoy each other." Kate proceeded to bury her face in his chest fur.
"Thought you'd never ask," said Humphrey.
They lay on the blue-stained log together throughout the night, listening calmly to Garth and Lilly. That night, two couples found peace.
(written on March 29th, 2020)
Day of the Runt
April 1st, 2013
On the twelfth day of spring, there was a special lowkey celebration known as the Day of the Runt. Runts were the smaller-than-average wolves of the population. Historically, they were ostracized and viewed as objects incapable of significance. Go back far enough, and you'll find Alpha fathers drowning runts in rivers. Things were obviously different now, but a modest prejudice remained to this day.
Runt the wolf, was not immune to it. He knew the prejudice too well. His own name reminded him of it. Both of his parents hoped that, by naming him "Runt," it would make him feel proud, not isolated. Thankfully, Runt never felt isolated. He was a social butterfly... to a fault. Despite being made fun of by his family, there was always a sense that they knew in their hearts that runts were equal to any other wolf. His family wasn't mean; they took shots at his size only because Runt playfully allowed it. He knew they were teasing. They were family. Ironically, it was Runt's antics that could only go on to justify the prejudice.
Runt always had a love-hate relationship with his family. Aside from size, Runt was the most different, the family's sore toe. His parents suspected that it had something to do with the fact that they were the first Alpha-Omega pair. While Claudette and Stinky had clear Alpha-like personalities, Runt was somewhere in between. It was decided he would become an Omega since that was the closest rank that suited him, but he was loosely an Omega. His intelligence and take-charge-ness baffled wolves from Omega School. No one was like Runt. But if there was anything that directly tied him to being an Omega, it was his need to make jokes and prank. His family loathed his humor. Even Humphrey thought it was too far. And his family especially loathed the Day of the Runt. On the twelfth day of spring, all runts were allowed to do anything they wanted. It was a free day and that meant trouble. No telling what he would come up with.
To put it in perspective, the last prank that Runt did involved hiding in a carcass. Runt hid in a carcass just to scare a hunting Claudette. His sister was far from amused. Runt, covered in slimy fascia, never let her forget it.
But this time around, his family wanted to do the impossible. They wanted to prank the prankster. As expected, Humphrey spearheaded the project since he knew the ways of pranking. Runt hadn't done anything yet today, but they knew he was a complex character. They just needed to jump him, get ahead of the curve, and outwit him. Easier said than done. But Runt's strength as a combined force of Alpha and Omega intelligence was also his weakness. He couldn't be totally Alpha nor totally Omega. They planned to exploit that weakness. So what was their grand plan?
Well, they knew Runt was starting to have a thing for fermented berries. They planned to guide him back to the fermenting berry bushes and use that to slightly numb his senses, senses that would otherwise figure out what was going on. Next, they would recruit his new girlfriend, Magril, to act like she's breaking up with Runt who shouldn't be tipsy enough to be numb from the heartbreak. It wouldn't be until tomorrow when the Day of the Runt was over that the family would tell him the truth. It was brilliant because it attacked Runt in a way he never attacked them: at the heart. He wouldn't expect it at all, and that was the point.
"C'mon, Runt. Magril said she needs to talk to you," said Claudette, trying to exit the box canyon full of berries.
"Huh? She what? Why?" he said drunkenly.
"You tell me, bro."
"Maybe it's a surprise gift 'cause of the holiday," he replied.
"It may be. But don't get your hopes up."
While his sister led him to Magril, the rest of Runt's family was a good distance behind them, watching their every move. Runt was tipsy enough that he couldn't catch their scent. At this point, Magril knew her role. She was waiting on the other side of Mt. Victory. However, she was unenthusiastic. Magril was one of the few wolves Runt never pranked. She didn't understand the family's frustrations nor did she like their plan to one-up him. She voiced her disgust, and it was starting to get to Humphrey specifically. He gathered up the other members and became a voice of doubt.
"I don't know about this, guys. Maybe Magril was right."
"She doesn't know squat," said Stinky. "Runt once dug a three-foot hole near my den. Because it was purposely camouflaged, I nearly broke my paw. Since I'm the pack leader now, imagine what a broken paw would mean for my leadership."
"I understand, son. I really do," said Humphrey. "Back when it was just me and Salty, we used to prank wolves all the time. I get it."
"Yeah, but the thing is you and Salty grew up. Runt needs to grow up. It's getting out of paw," said Kate.
"True, but do we really need to like... break his heart?"
"We're not breaking his heart, sweetie," Humphrey's mate assured. "He's halfway drunk. When it's all over, I'm sure he will have a good laugh over it, right?"
"I guess."
They continued on their way until Runt and Claudette finally met up with Magril. She appeared from behind a boulder and approached Runt in a way he did not recognize. Kate, Stinky, and Humphrey watched from the edge of a ledge.
"Woah. Is everything alright?" asked Runt.
"Umm, not exactly," said Magril.
"Tell me. What's up?"
"Well, I just haven't been feelin' us lately."
"Wh-what?"
"What do you mean?" said Claudette. She tried her best to act and feed into Magril's acting.
"I mean I look at Claudette and Fleet's relationship, and there's a spark that we lack." Runt became visibly worrisome. He gestured to his sister next to him.
"Well... don't compare us to them! It's a different kind of spark!"
"I'm sorry, Runt... We tried... but it's not working for me."
"Magril! Please!"
"I'm sorry... I have to go back to the North."
"No..." Runt dropped to the ground and covered his eyes with his paws. Any hint of drunkenness seemed to disappear as he cried underneath. Claudette couldn't take what she was seeing. After Magril left, he stood up.
"Runt?"
"I'm going after her."
"Please, Runt. Don't make this harder."
"No, Claudette. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Why didn't you stop her? You know I'm a good guy, right?"
"I uhh... erm..." Claudette was at a loss for words. She couldn't blow the cover.
"You want Fleet's family all to yourself, don't you?!"
"Nooo! It's not that!" she replied. "I'm sorry, okay!" Claudette herself shed tears, and they weren't fake. When Runt was out of earshot, she called down the other three. "Guys! Guys! Humphrey was right! We took it too far!"
"What?" said Stinky.
"He's taking it pretty hard. He just ran after Magril."
"How hard?" said Kate.
"Orphaned-pup hard," her daughter answered. All four of them felt tremendous guilt.
"What have we done?"
"Enough," said Claudette.
"Screw this! I'm telling him now!" Humphrey declared. "You don't mess with someone's heart. You'll scar 'em for life!"
Meanwhile. . .
Runt and Magril rolled around in a large mud field, laughing and smiling. They rolled around playfully until Magril was on top of him. Their chests touched. Their eyes were locked on each other. An Alpha and an Omega in love. They nuzzled vigorously and hugged tightly until mud oozed from between their bodies.
"Handsome actor," said Magril.
"Beautiful double agent," Runt replied. With her forepaw, Magril then reached into Runt's mouth and pulled out all of the berries he hid under his tongue. She ate them herself—swallowing them too—before whispering to him.
"I guess, in the end, we're all runts."
(written from April 20th to April 21st, 2020)
Squirrel Frenzy
January 3rd, 2013
"Attention!" yelled Kate. A subsequent howl woke the group of Betas. They hurriedly exited the sleeping quarters and met Kate at the practice fields. "Make sure you line up!" When the Betas were surely standing shoulder to shoulder, her father, Winston, joined the scene.
"Good morning, Betas."
"Good morning, sir," they responded.
"Hm. Since I showed you guys Asynia yesterday, let's make today interesting as well. Kate, how about we give them a challenge?"
"A challenge?"
"Yes."
"Okay, then. Umm... Everybody! We're running low on food supply. If each of you brings us a few squirrels, we will have enough to last a few more weeks. Those who don't find any squirrels get to run a number of laps around the fields." The Betas exchanged glances.
"Well," said Winston. "Don't just sit there. Get to it!" The Betas dispersed, but Stinky proceeded to get close to his sister.
"Hey, sis'. They didn't say we couldn't help each other."
"It's supposed to be a challenge, Stinky," Claudette replied. "I can get enough squirrels to last us 'til the end of Alpha School."
"I know Alpha School is all about pushing your limits and going beyond, but that's beyond what is sane."
"Well, there are wolves like you who choose the bland safe route, and then there are wolves like me who aren't that. I know what Mom wants. She wants to see someone who delivers." Stinky shrugged his shoulders.
"In this particular case, I disagree. If you wanna exhaust yourself, go ahead. How are you gonna gather all of those little squirrels?" he asked.
"I'll think of something..."
Over the next hour, Claudette attempted to hunt down every squirrel that was unfortunate enough to be in her sights. She had to be quick. If a squirrel noticed her too early, it had a good chance of running up a tree. "If only Runt was a Beta," she said to herself. "He could climb these trees and get these out-of-reach squirrels for me."
Squirrels were not normally hunted since caribou were meatier and more predictable, so the squirrel populations were known to be thriving. Compared to wolves, they mated twice as frequently. The only thing that kept their numbers in check were the owls. The squirrels were much more fond of the Omegas, and they often hung out in areas where Omegas congregated. Claudette decided to concentrate on those areas.
After catching twenty squirrels, she found a large batch of them surrounding two she-wolves. One was dark grey. The other was tan. To Claudette's bewilderment, they appeared to be dancing with the squirrels.
"Why, hello, Alpha. What brings you here?" said the dark grey wolf.
"Wait, you're Reba and Janice!" Claudette exclaimed. "My dad's friends talk about you a lot."
"That's right!" said the tan wolf. "She's Reba, and I'm Janice."
"I hear that you're umm... vegetarians."
"Yes, that is us," said Janice
"Seems fitting since you guys are vegetables."
"What was that?"
"Nothing," said Claudette. "I can't help but notice that you're accompanied by some squirrels."
"Oh, yes! From left to right, that's Frankie Nuttington, Francis P. Nutt, and Franco Squeak-squeak III."
"That's cute. I'm afraid these squirrels need to come with me."
"Um, where are you taking them?" asked Reba.
"Um. It's kind of a need-to-know basis. Beta business."
"I don't like the sound of that. I don't like the sound of that at all. Do you want to go with the Beta?" Francis P. Nutt shook his head. "That's what I thought. Sorry, Claudette, but we believe you intend to take them as food. The squirrels in these areas are off-limits."
"On whose authority? Such sanctuaries were never established. Come on, just give 'em to me." Claudette grabbed Francis with her paws and tried to make a quick getaway, but Janice managed to stretch her neck and catch the squirrel's tail with her mouth.
"Let go!" she yelled.
"No, you let go!"
"Join us, Claudette!" said Reba. "Repent! Abandon your crazy addiction to meat and live a healthier life! Stop the insanity!" The squirrel, meanwhile, was screaming in pain.
"I said let go!" Janice growled.
"Fine." Claudette released her grip, causing the squirrel to fling into Janice's mouth where she accidentally swallowed.
"NOOOO! Janice! How could you?!" Reba screamed. The other squirrels were horrified and shrieking.
"I'm running out of time to deal with this," said Claudette. "I'm getting Runt to help me." The Beta then left the two she-wolves alone. Both of them were freaking out.
"I'm sorry, Reba!" Janice cried. "It was a natural reflex! I'm ashamed! I'm ashamed! I broke the code!"
"Don't worry yet, Janice! You didn't chew, so he's still alive! Stand still! I'm going hit you in the stomach!"
Later. . .
Under the guise of an Alpha School "project," Claudette managed to round up eighty more squirrels with the help of Runt and his climbing abilities. Almost all of the students had turned in their share of squirrels by the time she returned to the Learning Center for good. There, she kept all of her squirrels in the den where her math class was held. After dropping off a few more, she closed the entrance by rolling a boulder over it.
"Whatchu up to, Claudette?" said Kate upon seeing her again.
"Oh, Mom! Just the wolf I wanted to see!"
"I haven't received your squirrels. Are you having trouble finding them?"
"No, Mom. Look!" Claudette removed the boulder, revealing two hundred little eyes.
"Gah!" Kate screamed. "What in the world?!"
"We're all set for winter, aren't we?"
"Claudette... This is a little too much." Claudette was confused.
"What? I don't understand. They're food! How can you have too much of that?"
"Food?!" yelled one of the squirrels. "I was told there was a fruit banquet!"
"Yeah!" said another. "We came to eat, not be eaten! This is just an Alpha trick!"
"We won't stand for it! Let's go!" All of them began digging in the walls to escape.
"No! No! Don't go!" said the Beta. "We have nuts! We have nuts here! Really big nuts! HUGE nuts! Enough nuts to make you go nutty!"
"Nice try, wolf! But only we can perpetuate our own stereotypes!" Within a minute, five tunnels made it outside, and five scores of squirrels escaped with ease.
"Noooo! You know how long it took me to catch all of you?!"
"Let 'em go, Claudette. We don't need them," said Kate.
"But why?!"
"The purpose of the challenge was not so someone could get as many as they can."
"Even if it wasn't, why let them go? You said it yourself; the food supply was low."
"It was. But you have to understand this. All of life rests in a delicate balance. We can't be taking too much of one kind of animal. If you mess with nature, nature bites back. If we ate too many squirrels, then the other animals who eat them will stave such as the owls, the magpies, the hawks, and the snakes."
"Who cares about the snakes?!"
"Lower your tone, Claudette, and drop that foolish pride! We may not care about the snakes, but the animals who eat them do. And we all share this world. One thing affects the other. Moderation is key. You know if we wanted to hunt all of the caribou in the Valley, we could. It's totally possible with our combined skills. We would have a record-breaking surplus. But that surplus wouldn't last, and if all the caribou are gone, we would starve in the end. Essentially, we would throw nature out of whack, and it would backfire on us spectacularly. The end. No more wolves."
"I see, Mom..."
"Although we may eat some of them occasionally, and they surely are delicious, the squirrels are no less part of this world than us. Same goes for the trees and the bees and the foxes. All of them provide something for the world. The trees give us shade, the bees pollinate our territory's flowers, and the feces of a fox can fertilize the soil. You treat them all with respect. Is that clear, Beta?"
"Yes, Mom. I mean... yes, ma'am. I'm sorry..."
"It's fine, Claudette. You're still learning. As a matter of fact, so are the humans. They apparently think kidnapping wolves to 'repopulate' is the way to go. Now head for Mr. Dolph. I believe your math class starts soon."
"Thank you, ma'am. One question though."
"Yes, Claudette?"
"How do mosquitoes contribute?"
"They don't. Consider blood-suckers an exception. They can all be tortured and dismembered for all I care."
(written on May 9th, 2020)
Two Mothers
March 27th, 2012
It was the spring of 2012. Two years had passed since Kate and Humphrey fell in love, and that love created the pups. At the base of Mt. Victory, the most important mountain in the West, lay Winston and Eve's retirement den. Kate was minutes away from giving birth inside it. Beside her was her mom who acted as the doula. Kate trusted her mother. If being in Kate's position once wasn't enough, Eve was also the most experienced pack healer in the Valley. And Eve was proud of her reputation. It wouldn't be smart for any patient to question her.
But even though Kate was well aware of her mother's accomplishments, she couldn't help but feel worried that Eve would try to insert herself too much into her daughter's business. Eve was also immensely proud of Kate, and the idea of Eve training Kate for parenthood could not be dismissed, especially since Kate's mate was an Omega who had no Alpha training whatsoever. But Kate valued independence. She wanted to learn on her own how to raise her pups. However, she let Eve be her doula since it would guarantee that the future leader of the pack and his brothers and sisters would come out with zero complications.
"Oh, my gosh! They're coming!" said Kate.
"You're doing good! You're doing good!" her mother assured. "Your cervix is fully dilated, so you should start feeling the urge to push any minute."
"Any minute?! It's already begun!"
"Then push like your life depends on it! In fact, it does!"
"I really wish Humphrey was here... I know he would have something sweet to say to ease my distress."
"It is custom for males to be absent when a delivery is in progress."
"I know... but it was also custom for an Alpha to not have any kind of romance with an Omega, but here we are." Eve chuckled in response.
"I think your father and Tony have had their fill of tradition-breaking." Kate then screamed in pain. "Okay, don't talk to me now. Just focus on your pushing. It shouldn't be too hard. Judging by your tummy, your litter size will be average or below average."
"Humphrey and I think we'll have two pups."
Kate was on her back, lying on a pelt. Her mother made it to the area where her hind legs rested. She spread Kate's legs further to gain better access and brought her forepaws together, ready to catch the incoming young. It didn't take long. Kate had three deep breaths before making a major push. She clenched her teeth and all four paws, making a sound of strain.
The head of the first pup appeared. Eve gasped. She didn't try to pull the pup out as that would harm it and Kate. Instead, she insisted that Kate push harder.
"C'mon, Kate! You gotta hurry, or you'll suffocate him! He's already breathing!"
"Thanks, Mom," Kate replied sarcastically. She sighed before pushing harder. Its little arms came out, followed by its abdomen and butt. Kate closed her eyes and took more deep breaths. It was unfathomable pain, but Kate, being the tough Alpha, powered through it okay. Throughout her life, she was conditioned to the pain associated with physical activity. Although birthing was far more painful than any exercise that had gotten, she had the mental capabilities to learn how to cope with it.
"It's a male!" Eve informed. "The future pack leader," she added quietly.
Kate thought back to Humphrey and how she jokingly threatened to name one of their pups after his stench. Since Humphrey wasn't in the den with her at the moment, she knew it would be an epic showing of her love for him if she actually carried out what she jokingly said she would do, enough, she hoped, to help make Humphrey feel that staying away was worth it.
"Stinky..." She knew her mother wouldn't understand such a name.
"Stinky? Why not something more dignified for the future pack leader?"
"It's something cute that reminds me of my mate. Is that a problem?" Eve stayed quiet. "Besides, we don't know for certain if he's the heir. He could have an Omega-like personality for all we know."
"Just keep pushing please."
"Wait. What does he look like?" Kate asked.
"He looks like Humphrey but darker. He looks like your father. Aww!"
A minute after Eve cut the umbilical cord, Kate went through the same intense pain again and pushed the second pup out. It was female. "This little one is the fourteenth tan she-wolf in our bloodline!" said Eve. "If only my mom, Edith, were here to appreciate how far the trait had gone."
"Claudette. Humphrey let me name any females."
"Ooo! I love 'Claudette'!" Eve lifted the pup in the air to get a better look at her. "So beautiful... I hope she's an Alpha."
"Is there any more?" Eve placed Claudette next to Stinky, then rubbed her daughter's lower abdomen, trying to feel any pups inside.
"I'm not sure," she answered. "Maybe... Try pushing some more." Kate did just that. Nothing came out. Eve continued to examine her thoroughly.
"I think that's it..."
"No. There's a runt."
"A runt?"
"Yeah..."
"Huh... Humphrey and I never discussed a name for a third pup. We were so sure it was going to be two."
"We'll just call him Runt for now. Little Runt. Just until you guys come up with something."
"Of course."
"It's been so long since I've seen one. There hasn't been a runt born in the West since Can-do."
"Not born yet," Kate replied. She pushed as hard as she could. The little bulge inside slowly moved down towards the exit. The runt was so small that Eve had to assist in helping the little one find his way out. When he finally exited, which was two minutes after Claudette, Kate let out a big sigh. The birthing was over. Now it was nursing time.
She turned her body around and lay on her side. Eve nudged the pups one by one toward her enlarged teats. The pups gravitated to the teats and instinctively began sucking. "Ow! Ow! Geez... Little biters, aren't they?"
"That's nothing. You were quite the biter I'll tell ya'."
"I was?"
"Oh, yeah... While Lilly was a breeze, you were the embodiment of some demonic art. You wanna see the scars you left me?"
"No! No! No! I'm good! I'm good!" said Kate. She wasn't interested in seeing her mother that intimately.
For the next half-hour, two she-wolves enjoyed watching the newborns. They gradually nestled close and squirmed around each other, probably to maximize the feeling of warmth. Despite the fact that there were more than enough teats, the pups drank the milk like it was their last. They suckled so passionately that excess milk would occasionally drip from their toothless mouths. Eve could hardly contain her joy as they nursed. Kate was very much happy too, but her joy was limited, for she constantly thought of her own mother relentlessly being in proximity. "Hey, Mom, can I tell you something?"
"Of course, dear."
"Please, don't take this the wrong way, but I would like to raise the pups myself."
"Well, of course, you can, dear. They are your pups after all."
"Yes, I know, but I would be... happier if... you wouldn't visit too often."
Eve was taken aback. If it was any other wolf, she would rip their tail and shove it down their throat, but she resisted any insane urges. Her own daughter was sending a message, one where a line was being drawn in the sand. Eve wasn't dumb. She knew what her daughter meant. She was partly upset, but she was partly ashamed. To Kate's surprise, Eve accepted it with great haste, albeit dejectedly.
"Ohhh... I see..." Kate had never seen her look so sad. "Umm... well... that's okay. That's okay, Kate."
"Is it okay?"
"Of course, umm... They're your pups, and... I'd hate to impose. Let me umm... Let me go get Humphrey. I know you'd like for him to come in now." Eve turned to exit the den. A sheet of guilt fell upon Kate. The tan wolf had realized what she was doing. Keeping Eve away from her pups would not be fair nor would it help her and Eve's relationship. Her mother only wanted to help and be the thing she knew best: a mother. It wouldn't be fair to the pups either, for they would barely enjoy all the goodness Eve had to offer.
Kate knew it. She had been selfish. Pure and simple.
"Wait," said Kate. "Hold on... I'm sorry."
"What?"
"Forget what I said. I'm sorry, Mom. I was just feeling a little frustrated, and I took it out on you. You've been hanging around me a lot since I became pregnant, caring about me, giving me advice. And I thought cutting you off would fix things, but I know now it won't. I'm sorry."
"Aww..." Eve walked up to Kate and hugged her. "It's alright, dear. I admit it. I get a little... into it. I'm just so happy! And I love these pups! They're beautiful! I guess sometimes I care too much..."
"Maybe that's not so bad," her daughter replied. "I love you, Mom. You can come anytime you want."
"I love you too, Kate!" Eve then looked down at the pups. "I love you, Stinky! I love you, Claudette! I love you, little Runt!" She nuzzled them gently before preparing to leave the den in order to get Kate's mate. Kate could see the pup known as Stinky yawning. A ring of whiteness surrounded his lips.
"I am a mother... I am a mother!" It was one thing to contemplate being one during pregnancy. It was another thing to actually be one. "I am a mother... as Eve is."
