(written on December 6th, 2014)
Chapter 1: Following the Leader
December 20th, 2009
"Kate! Kate! Wait!" I heard a voice from behind me. My father and I turned around. It was Humphrey racing towards us with a big smile on his face. He probably was gonna tell us goodbye.
"What is it, Humphrey? I have to go. Alpha School doesn't wait."
"Here." He dropped a rock from his mouth.
"Heh, heh, heh. Very nice... gift! Umm... what is it?" I asked.
"It's a rock!" he answered, smiling wide and sitting down.
"And?"
"Not just any rock. It's the rock I tripped on when we were sightseeing in the mountains!"
"...And...?" I wondered how long this was going to go on.
"I want you to have it!" My Dad and I looked at each other before I replied.
"You want me to have this rock? I'm... flattered."
"I knew you would be! It's supposed to represent our time together. So when you're sprinting laps or doing tree squats, you'll remember we're friends." I picked it up with my mouth.
"Oh, thank you. That's very kind of you."
"Now go tend to your Omega friends," said Dad.
"Right. Well, I'll see you in spring, Kate!" He ran off to his friends. I could still hear them wrestling in the distance.
When he was gone, I was going to drop this stone into the nearby stream, but I was stopped by Dad.
"What are you doing? That's your gift."
"Dad, I'm a Beta now. I don't have time to be thinking about friends."
"You know, Kate. Without friendships, you wouldn't be you. How do you think I married your mom?"
"She forced you to?"
"No... Although it may seem that way... it all started as a friendship."
"Boy, how did that go?" I asked.
"Great actually. Not a single Eastern bullied me during those days."
"What happened to the Easterns who tried?"
"Let's just say they aren't here to tell the tale."
"My..."
"What I'm saying is don't throw away your friendships. You're going to regret it. Like if I wasn't trying to be friends with Tony, who knows what would happen? Maybe our packs would be at war again."
"War?"
"You'll learn it in Alpha School. Speaking of which, we have to hurry. C'mon. We'll miss the opening ceremony. And please take Humphrey's gift with you. It's the least you can do with his parents being sick and all."
"You're right, sorry."
"It's okay. We all make mistakes." I got a better grip on the rock before we headed over to the big valley where our pack's important affairs were held.
At the Ceremonial Valley. . .
We sat in rows on the valley floor, looking up at a ledge jutting out of the hillside. A red wolf stood on top of it, clearing her throat. I sat next to Mom. Another pup was on my left. He looked at me. His fur was blackish but his face was a light gray. Handsome in my terms.
"Hey. My name's Hutch," he whispered, bringing his right front paw up to my chest. That name sounded familiar. "I dream to become the greatest Alpha ever," he joked. We shook paws.
"May the best Beta win," I challenged. He was totally gonna lose. I wondered if he knew that I was the oldest daughter of the pack leader.
"Kate, pay attention," growled Mom. I didn't even realize the red wolf was talking.
"Pups, I know you're going to miss your families, but this is life. This is what it means to be a Western Alpha. It takes more than dignity, determination, and definitely natural talent to please us. It takes the right attitude! May I present our director for the Alpha School, the pack leader himself, Winston." The crowds around me cheered. Only the pups like me and Hutch stayed quiet. The red wolf shook paws with my Dad before he got up and spoke to us.
"This is the Alpha School to the Western Pack. And our everyday mantra is: 'Teaching is our cue.' Of our departments, there is mathematics, Wolfish, history, and of course—we can never forget—physical education, and all are superb thanks to our high standards of education. It is essential that Betas who come out as Alphas know how to count to infinity, know the adult language, know what happened during the War of the Divide, and know especially how to hunt and gather food for our pack. It is our huge job to make sure the path that our next generation walks on is clear enough to see. We need to teach these pups, or else no one will. I know you parents need to move on for the greater good of the West. It is your duty, and I respect that because I too have duties. Heck, I'm doing one of them right now." I was trying so hard not to laugh. It was pretty obvious that there was still lots of puppy in me.
Suddenly, a very cold gust of air flew through the valley. All of us started shivering, even Dad. Mom pushed me in close to her warm chest. I was now sitting in her left armpit. It didn't smell nice with the wind. "Whew. Winter's startin' already?" Dad commented. "Anyway, tomorrow when winter begins, our educators, advisors, and instructors will give the best of their ability like they'll do for each and every school day. We teach in the most informative and innovative type of way, making sure the material will stick in their heads after winter. We also teach them alternative ways of finding the same solution, so they'll be no excuse for not doing work. But why would you find an excuse? We create fun activities for our Betas at the same time as we keep it real for them, so we don't take it too far. Perhaps the most recent thing we've added would be the new department where the mentally disabled can be taught in peace. We have recommendations from the Constitutional Committee to not have another Tim on our paws."
"Who's Tim?" I asked Mom curiously, looking up at her face.
"It's just someone that used to be in school with me and your father. That's all dear." For some reason, I got the strangest sensation that Mom wasn't telling me the whole truth.
Suddenly again, another gust of cold air rushed into us. It was getting colder really fast. Winston quickly wrapped up his speech and let the red wolf take the pups out to school. "Do good, okay?" said Mom, hugging me tightly.
"Don't worry, Eve. She'll do fine. I'll update you soon."
"Thank you, Winston."
"Wait, Dad, Mom? When will I see you again?"
"You'll see us tomorrow. We're teaching the physical education class," said Dad.
"Really?! Radical!"
"Sure is, honey. Now go to the red wolf, Loretta. She's going to give your orientation."
"What's that?" I asked.
"It's where they show you around the place, telling you where you'll learn and stuff."
"Oh, okay." I walked over to the crowd of pups surrounding Loretta. As we went away to the Alpha school, we looked back and saw our parents waving goodbyes. From this point on, all of us were ranked Betas. What world awaited me in school? Would I make new friends? Alpha friends for once? I had hung out with Humphrey for so long that I didn't know what it was like to have Alpha friends. As I heard some thunder rumbling in the background, I wondered... Was I ready to take this giant leap forward?
(written on December 9th, 2014)
Chapter 2: Introductions
"Alright, Betas," said Loretta. "Please stay close as I give your orientation. We wouldn't want any of you cute pups gettin' lost."
"Don't worry," we all told her.
"Cool... Okay, as we walk here, notice this special tree on the trail." She pointed at the small one that had claw markings all over it. It was practically barkless. Next to it was a pointy rock that held the horrible stench of something I didn't want to know.
"Why does it smell awful?" asked a small dark grey male. His forehead was black, blending in with his black mane to the point where you couldn't tell where his eyebrows were.
"It's supposed to smell like that. Every time we big Alphas come from our den, we must check in with this rock. Then, at dusk, another wolf will come over to take a whiff of it, so he can check our attendance. Does that answer your question, little guy?"
"Little guy? Do I look little to you?!" She didn't answer.
"Why did you point out this rock?" asked a white pup from the back.
"Because... this rock is special for a reason. I need all of you to listen closely... Whenever you get lost for whatever reason, whether it be from fog or snow, go to this rock at all times. Its strong smell should make it easy to find. When you find it, stay there so the guy at dusk can pick you up and take you where you need to be. All of us got it?" We all nodded. "Good. It's really important you're safe."
I went over to Hutch. It was best to be close to someone I knew.
"Hey," I greeted.
"Hey," he replied, looking at me with a grin. Loretta continued to talk as everybody entered a plain full of dens. She called it the Learning Center.
"This is where everybody's classes except P.E. should be. Tomorrow, everybody will receive information that will tell you which order their classes are in. The order is mostly random, but they're in a way where each instructor gets a certain manageable amount of Betas. Oh, one thing to remember: always address your instructors with a Ms., Mr., or Mrs. in front of their name along with 'ma'am' or 'sir.' You should know what I mean, so I don't have to explain."
We moved to the part of the plain that had no dens on it. There, my Dad was standing. He waved at me and chuckled. Nice. "This, Betas, is the area where you'll test your muscles to the best of your ability. This wolf here is your athletic instructor, Mr. Winston, better known as our pack leader."
"SUBMIT!" Dad shouted. It scared the daylights out of me! All of us, including Loretta, immediately got into a submissive posture. I bowed my head down and put my tail in between my back legs just like how Mom taught me. The pups that didn't know what a submission posture was went along with the ones that did. Meanwhile, Dad kept on shouting, walking around us in a circle. I had never seen him like this before. "HUMILITY, DISCIPLINE, AND DIGNITY! THREE OF THE MANY THINGS YOU'LL NEED TO SCORE GOOD AT THIS SCHOOL! Or become an Alpha in general!" We got up from our posture and looked at him with respect. "Kate, come here," he called. I walked over to him and blushed. I felt nervous about being the center of attention.
"Yes, Dad?" Everybody gasped. Some of the Betas didn't know. Well... this was awkward…
"Yes, Betas. Kate is my daughter. And if anyone messes with her or causes any trouble regarding her, they'll personally have to deal with me. Understand?"
"Yes sir..." they said. Dad turned to me.
"If anyone causes you any problems, don't be afraid to let me know. Okay, sweetie?"
"Crystal clear," I replied, sighing afterward.
"Right. Loretta, would you mind telling them about our little punishment?"
"Yes, sir. Our punishment here for consistent or major troublemakers, bullies, and thieves is a swift piercing to the ear of your choice. The holes or missing pieces of flesh made are there to remind you of your wrongdoings. It's an old punishment that the school has only used once before."
"...Tim..." I whispered before Dad spoke.
"So don't become number two. The 'Nibbling,' as it's called, results in excruciating pain with lots of blood... Loretta, would you mind taking these youngsters to the practice field? It looks like they need some fresh air. Wouldn't you agree, pups?"
Everybody promptly nodded their heads. We were all too freaked out to say, "Yes, sir." Way to go Dad for possibly ruining my future friendships.
Later, at the practice field. . .
When Loretta dropped us off at the field, I tried to see if I could become friends with Hutch. He seemed like a pretty rad guy. Most of the females were starting to surround him. I wonder what that meant?
"Oh, hey, Kate! How are you?"
"Good, you?"
"Fabulous, even though your Dad is a little creepy."
"He's always like that when you first meet him. You'll get used to it as I have."
"Why didn't you tell us the pack leader was your father?" asked one of the girls. She was a light brown plump-looking pup.
"I don't know. When it became important. As it just did."
"What are your interests?" asked Hutch.
"Uhh, nobody's ever really asked me that before... Wait a minute..." Something clicked in my mind. I've met Hutch before! I knew that name was familiar! He was on the Western team with me when we won the Great Wolf Games! I can't believe I forgot him. I guess I was too caught up with the Omegas. I'm also surprised how Hutch didn't even remember ME. How different were we then? "Wait, wait! Hutch, it's me from the Games!" I yelled excitedly.
"I know."
"What?" I was confused.
"Heh, heh. I was wondering how long it was gonna take."
"What didn't you tell me?" I questioned him.
"I just thought it was interesting that you acted like we just met, so I just played along. Do you remember Can-do?"
"Oh, right! I forget about him too!" I can't believe that rude little pup that Loretta called the "little guy" was Can-do. Well, actually I can. You all look different. I couldn't tell."
"Please tell me you didn't forget Humphrey or any of his buddies."
"Oh, not at all. After the Games, I started hanging out with Humphrey almost every day until today."
"How's he?"
"Still his silly and funny self. You know Omegas."
"I see. Uhh... It's great to see you again."
"Thanks. You too." I smiled. This winter was going to be alright.
(written on December 15th, 2014)
Chapter 3: The Stowaway
Friends... What were they good for? Do they bring you bones? Do they uhh... scratch your back? For the most part, I bet they haven't, but when it comes to Humphrey, you've walked into another domain. Guess who I found hiding in the bushes?
"Humphrey? What are you doing here? You're gonna get in trouble!" I whispered.
"What? How did you find me?"
"I don't know. There are not that many bushes in the world that have a tail poking out."
"Fair point."
"Get outta' here!"
"Why? This place is nice. Omega School smells like a dump."
"That's not my problem. Go!"
"It's too late, Kate. The guards have returned. There's no way out."
"Ughhhhh... Why did you come here?"
"I wanted to see you again."
"Why?"
"So we could play! I miss you already."
"Look, Humphrey. I already miss you too, but... I'm a Beta now. I got duties. Things to learn. Places to be. I need to make Alpha friends now." I turned around to leave, but he stopped me.
"Kate! You're just going to leave me here? What about our friendship?"
"Play with your Omega friends," I suggested.
"But... but..."
"Goodbye." I left. Soon, he started whining. "I'm not falling for it." He whined again. Ohh, the pain I endure when he does this. "Fine! Fine! But stay low, and don't say your name!"
"Say who's name?" asked a familiar pup. Can-do happened to be overhearing us. Great.
"Oh, hi, Can-do! Nice to meet you again. It's been a while since the Games. I see your parents groomed your mane. Your new look suits you."
"Groomed my mane? What are you talking about? It's always looked this way."
"Oh... That's nice." I tried to keep my smile, but he looked right through me.
"Are you hiding something? I know that face when I see it."
"That face? What face? Am I making a familiar face?"
"*sigh* What is it?"
"What is what?"
"What are you hiding?"
"Hiding? Am I hiding something?"
"Yes!"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah, you do!"
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you—" (*smack!*) Hutch hit him in the back of the head, knocking him out cold. Before I could say anything, he went:
"Shhhh... Humphrey, get out of there." Humphrey came out of his hiding place. "I'll keep the secret."
"No!" I demanded. "Report him, so he can leave. He needs to be in Omega School."
"Why won't he go?" said Hutch.
"He umm... misses me."
"Aww... Puppy love, isn't it?"
"Gross! Heck no! Besides... he's an Omega. Not my type." I looked back at Humphrey and made a sound of disgust. I like him and all but not in that way.
"Come on, Kate," said Humphrey. "Can I just stay for a few days? I wanna at least see what you do here." I looked at Hutch for approval. He nodded.
"One day," I said. "After that, if you're still here, my dad will drag you out."
"Yikes! Deal!"
Then, unexpectedly, the same cold gust of wind came, colder than ever. This time the clouds that had been above us for a while turned dark grey. "What is up with the weather?" Humphrey asked. "It's starting to scare me."
"I know, right?" said Hutch. "It's weird. Weirder than the Omega."
"I'm not weird," he protested while cleaning his ears with his back left paw. We stared at him. "What? I'm not gonna use my front paws. Come on, don't you guys know anything about sanitation?"
Suddenly, Can-do started waking up.
"*moan* What happened to me? And why is it so cold?" Hutch hit him across the face. He fell back down.
"You didn't have to hit him so hard," I said, feeling sorry for him. Ehh, not really.
"I know, but I can't forget what he did to Humphrey after the Games..."
(written on March 24th, 2015)
Chapter 4: Missed
After many hours of playing in the field with my friend, Hutch, Loretta took us to the plaza of the Learning Center where a pile of food was kept. This was only one thing: lunchtime! Oh, boy, I was so hungry. I quickly got ahead of everybody else and dug in excessively.
"Calm down, Kate!" said Hutch. "It's just food."
"Don't you dare tell me that!" I told him. This was my long-lost gift.
Meanwhile, as all of us Betas ate, the future Omega was sitting next to one of the learning dens, watching us. I felt bad for him, so I decided to grab some meat and toss it over to him. He ate as fast as I did.
"Thank you," he said when he finished.
"*sigh* What am I going to do with you?" I sighed, sitting next to him. He chuckled at my expression.
"So how is your day so far?" he asked.
"Good until you showed up," I answered.
"I'm sorry about this."
"Don't be. I don't blame you for missing me."
"You don't?"
"No, Humphrey. We're both just afraid of change. I'm eventually gonna miss myself. Speaking of which, I should warn you." He gave me a worried look. "By the time Alpha School ends in the spring, I won't be my same self."
"What?"
"And neither will you." I pointed at his chest. "I will be an Alpha... and you... an Omega. We'll be on two sides. We'll be opposites..."
"What are you saying, Kate?"
"I'm saying we won't be able to have fun together anymore. We will be different in every way."
"So all those times where we'd frolic and run will be over? What makes you so sure?"
"My dad told me this before I left my home den. I just thought it was important that I share this with you because I don't want you to be missing me so much in the future."
"I see..." Tears began to come down his face. This wasn't what I wanted. I dreaded this.
"Humphrey, please! I told you: we're both afraid of change. I don't have much of a choice, you know. I have to be here. I need to become an Alpha."
"Oh, yeah, because becoming an Alpha is more important than our friendship!" he yelled.
"Humphrey..."
"No! If you wanted me to leave so bad, you could've just said so!" He ran away crying despite the danger of the Alpha School guards keeping everybody in. Suddenly, at the very same time, I felt water droplets on my shoulders. First, they fell haphazardly, then intensively. It was then accompanied by a chain of thunder. It was raining. I wanted to tend to Humphrey, but I couldn't leave. I just stood up and stared in the direction he left, feeling sorry for him... and myself.
I try to make friends... and all I do is lose them. It was because of our stupid ranks. Our friendship was now impossible, for we were different beings set apart by our ranked society. And I believed it would continue to be that way. As my Dad said, at the end of this, we probably wouldn't remember each other nor meet again after winter. Why did this have to happen? I guess I wouldn't know the answer to that until I learned more here.
After standing in the freezing cold rain for who knows how long, Loretta howled for all the Betas to take their food with them and seek shelter in the den she was in.
When Loretta started roll call, I stayed by the den's entrance, still looking out in the direction Humphrey left. Minutes later, Hutch came to me with a small bone in his mouth.
"Why so low?" he asked.
"Humphrey left."
"Isn't that what you wanted?" he pointed out.
"Yes but..."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him the truth about the future." Somehow, he understood.
"Ohhhh... That's not cool... Well, why did you tell him that?"
"I needed to tell him it, so in the future, he wouldn't be missing me so much."
"Ahh... Hm. You know... sometimes, it's not a bad thing to be missed. Would you think that my dad shouldn't miss me?"
"I know but Humphrey... He can get... obsessed with things."
"I see... but I don't think you need to drive a wedge between you two. Omegas can get pretty emotional."
"You're right... I'm such an idiot. I can't imagine being him right now in this cold rain. I feel so bad. Do you think he'll forgive me?"
"Kate, I'm sure he'll understand. Just give it time."
Give it time... It made sense. Time was all Humphrey had. Still, I couldn't help but feel bad knowing that, out there in this freaky weather, a wolf was running away from me…
(written from July 6th to July 31st, 2017)
Chapter 5: First Day - Part 1
The next morning. . .
December 21st, 2009
"ATTENTION!" shouted somebody at the top of their lungs, waking up everyone who was asleep in the sleeping quarters. It was Loretta. Outside, it was still pretty dark. We were scared by her shout but still tired and ready to head back to sleep at a moment's notice. Unfortunately, she did not let that happen. "Awake, Betas!"
"Why so early?" said a wolf, rubbing his eyes.
"An Alpha must be very vigilant," she replied. "An ambush or any surprise attack of any magnitude would be hard to impede if, say a tired Alpha, decided that now was the point to start emitting some extra Z's." Hutch and I exchanged glances.
"What?" we said in unison. This she-wolf sounded insane.
"Remember: every action has a reaction. Everything you do has a consequence whether good or bad. If it rains, things become wet. If I press my paw on the ground, I'll create a pawprint. If I bite another wolf, they'll bleed, and they may return the favor. What I'm trying to say is to be mindful of your choices. In a pack, specifically this pack, your individual choices will shape our future. Every single one of you has choices, so read the terrain, scout ahead, and make our beloved pack proud. This is the first day of winter, and thus, the first day of Alpha School for you. You will exit the end of winter as an adult ranked as Alpha, and you may not be the same wolf as you are now. Some of you may even be so drastically different that your friends may not recognize you when it's all over. That is because, here, we teach truth, and truth is a funny thing. You may not like it, but what is true is true. Nothing can change the past. In a way, our sole purpose is for you to accept that. If you are in a battle and your friend dies on your watch, accept the reality! Your friend is dead! Even if he fought as the bravest wolf he could be, you do not cry about him! Your pack is worth more! You both fight for the pack! You must leave behind your puppyish behavior of sentimentality! It will get you killed. It could endanger the pack. You must know: your complete loyalty will be to your pack and nothing else. Is that clear, Betas?"
"Yes, ma'am," we replied, shaking with fear. She sighed.
"I know, Betas. It seems hard, but all of you will learn in time. All Alphas in this pack were exactly where you were at some point in their lives. They were like you, both physically and mentally. Many responsibilities will pile on your shoulders, but we aren't doing this to punish you or anything like that. No, this is all necessary. You will work and work to push your limits. The only thing we will punish you for is disrupting others' ability to learn. Is that clear, Betas?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. It seems we will have a good winter. Now go to the fields outside. The director, Mr. Winston, will give you your daily schedule. The first class will start soon, so I suggest you hurry. Dismissed!"
The others and I ran past Loretta and went to the large fields beside the Learning Center. Dad was there waiting for us next to a bunch of small bones on the ground. He called our names one by one. When my name was called, I came up to him, and he gave me my daily schedule. It was a bone that had a list inscribed on it. From top to bottom, it went from mathematics to health to lunch to Wolfish to history and, lastly, to physical education. I went over to Hutch to see what his schedule was, but a howl from Loretta signaled that it was time to go to the first class, so I headed there promptly.
In the mathematics den at the Learning Center, there was the mathematics instructor. She was a light brown she-wolf who was fairly built and had a darker patch of fur on her right cheek. As I sat down by my new classmates with the schedule bone still in my mouth, she introduced herself.
"Hi, Betas. Welcome to Alpha School. I'm Spade, but of course, you'll address me as Ms. Spade. This is the mathematics den, and I am the math instructor. This is where you will learn how to properly count, correctly judge distance, and use mathematical reasoning in your everyday lives as Alphas. I know all of this sounds gibberish, but trust me, I will explain it to all of you in a very easy manner, so you can understand." While sitting down next to the back wall of the den, which was made of stone, she grabbed a small rock with her right front paw.
"What is that for, Ms. Spade?" someone in the class asked.
"Well, I'm glad you asked. This is called a writing tool. There are two ways we wolves can write: gnawing on a bone or like this." She pushed the writing tool against the stone wall, creating a white line. "This stone wall is called a board." She then made other different shapes. "This is a line. This is a circle. This is a triangle. This is a square. All of these are shapes. There are three types of shapes: one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional. The circle, triangle, and square are two-dimensional shapes. A line, no matter how long it is, is a one-dimensional shape and the only one there is. One-dimensional shapes only have a length, so there will only be a line. We live in a three-dimensional world. Everything you see has a length, width, and height, so technically, one-dimensional and two-dimensional shapes don't exist, but we use the idea of them to describe our world, so they're important. For example, if I say the caribou are lined up, that means that the caribou are right next to each other, one by one. That's called a single file line. There are many other ways math is used, and by the end, you will use it all the time until it becomes second nature like breathing. Any questions? Just raise your paw." I raised mine.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Is that a birthmark on your face?"
(written on April 19th, 2020)
Chapter 6: First Day - Part 2
My next class was health, and it was taught by my mom. If that wasn't bad enough, I shared it with Can-do. I made sure after I walked into the den that I sat far away from him, but before Mom could get to the board, he approached me.
"Hey, Kate, I'm sorry about Humphrey." I wasn't in the mood to listen to him, but he seemed genuine. "If it makes ya' feel any better, I'm not allowed to advance to Alpha. Even if I graduate Alpha School, I can't be an Alpha until Winston says so."
"Yes, it does make me feel better," I said to him smugly.
"Can we start over?"
"I imagine your parents gave you quite the spanking."
"Everyone in the pack knows about it, okay." I could tell that Can-do was embarrassed and shameful. I never thought I would have any kind of sympathy for him. "I ruined my family name," he added. I thought it was enough.
"Look, I can't be your friend, but we're packmates... so you can count on me to be your comrade." I patted his back which he took as my acceptance.
"I'll take it."
Using the writing tool, my mom drew an outline of the body of a wolf.
"This is who we are. We are wolves. You may notice the various features of our bodies. There are our hind limbs, our forelimbs, our tails, our paws, our muzzles, our teeth, our eyes, our ears, and so on. All of these features have a purpose. Some of them are pretty obvious but some are not. Throughout this course, I will teach you how to fully unlock the features of your body. Knowing your full potential could mean the difference between life and death. I will also teach you about the parts of your body that you cannot see, the stuff on the inside. It may be gross, but this is stuff you need to know. That includes mating."
I could hear everyone in the room groan and make sounds of disgust. I winced as I knew my mom too well. "Oh, you guys hate it now but when spring comes, all of you won't hesitate to hump whatever's in front of you!"
"Ew! Why is your mom so gross?" said Can-do. I rolled my eyes and stiffened my lips. I remembered what my dad told me about friendships and how they made you who you are. If my parents subscribed to that idea, they weren't doing a good job at helping me make these life-defining friends.
After health class was, thankfully, lunch. After my mom, I assumed everyone had lost their appetites, but the opposite couldn't be more true. In the center of the Learning Center was a flat boulder called a butchering stone. We drooled as we watched an Alpha divide some caribou, staining the stone red. The adults ate before us. It seemed cruel, but they told us that the highest-level wolves in a group always ate first. The order of who eats was decided by the wolf hierarchy. I had an idea of what that was, but my next class, Wolfish, would go in-depth.
I would learn that Wolfish class not only taught our language, which was West Canadian Wolfish, but customs that defined our society. My instructor here was a wolf named Dwight.
"From the lowest to the highest ranking," he began, "the wolf hierarchy goes like this: you have the unranked pups, Junior-age and Senior-age, then the Omegas-in-training, the Omegas, then there's the Prime Omega, and then there are the Betas, which are you guys. Betas are the Alphas-in-training. After Betas are the Alphas, but there are many types of Alphas. The highest of those are the Alpha members of the royal family." He then gestured to me. "Kate will be one of them. An exception is often the second-in-command which is appointed. At the moment, we don't have a second-in-command, but I hear that Winston may choose one of the Betas to become one." I immediately thought of Hutch. Ever since Hutch suffered a serious back injury when he was younger, my dad had personally kept an eye on him. Hutch was like the son he never had. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he became a second-in-command. "Above the second-in-command," our instructor continued, "is the pack leader's mate, which is Eve. After that is the pack leader, which currently is Winston. The pack leader is the highest authority in the territory. You are bound to any wolf with a higher level than you, and Winston has the final say."
Our instructor then went on to tell us that his entire curriculum consisted of the teaching of language, laws, wolf etiquette, and other customs. One of the big customs he wanted us to remember was the one that banned romantic relationships between the two main ranks, Alpha and Omega. "To promote specialization," he explained, "Alphas and Omegas cannot be together. Besides, Omegas are inferior. You wouldn't want to be with them anyway. So repeat after me: we can eat together, but we can't howl together."
"We can eat together, but we can't howl together," we repeated.
"Good."
Next was my history class. Our instructor for this class gave us his own overview of the material ahead. He told us that we had to learn all twenty-eight years of the history of the Valley. "The history of the Valley is divided into seven eras: the Canisian Era, the Grand Boom, the First Great Peace, the Black Mountain War, the Second Great Peace, the War of the Divide, and the Age of Aggression. Some of these eras may invoke some emotions, but I'm not here to make you subscribe to one ideology or another. My job is to simply and objectively lay down the events and the reasons why said events occurred."
"Alpha School is going to feel so long if we have to learn so much useless information," I heard someone say quietly. To an extent, I could sympathize with my classmate. Classes such as history, math, Wolfish, and health only seemed to be the appetizer. The main course or cornerstone of Alpha School was the P.E. class. Everyone knew that, and wolves who hadn't been to the class yet couldn't wait for it. That included me. I wasn't quite as excited as everyone else since I knew both my parents taught P.E., but every other class paled in comparison. Every Beta wanted to learn how to hunt. It was the thing that practically determined whether or not you were a true Alpha.
(written on April 23rd, 2020)
Chapter 7: First Day - Part 3
At last, the main event was here: P.E. class or physical education class. I went to the fields where I found my mom and dad. I noticed as I sat down in front of them that there were a lot of Betas here, probably half of all of them in school. It must've meant that P.E. class was longer, so they can serve more Betas at once. I figured the instructors wanted to take advantage of the open space. I also figured that since my mom was here, there was no health class at this time unless there was a second health teacher that I didn't know about. As a matter of fact, it turned out there was.
"Hello, Betas," said my mom. "I'd like all of you to give Loretta thanks when you have the chance. She substitutes for my last class when I'm here on the field."
"Mind my mate though," said Dad. "She's only here to give my daughter some personal training." I could hear some of my classmates making disapproving sounds. They probably felt it was unfair. They weren't wrong. I was ahead of most Betas when it came to running and jumping activities. These fields were the same fields where I practiced relentlessly for the Great Wolf Games. Ahh, yes, the Great Games. I almost forget about my special maneuver, the "spin-out." If there were any wolves who didn't know me then, they knew now. I was regarded as a legend. I imagined that a lot of the wolves my age were jealous.
All of a sudden, someone poked my shoulder. It was a smiling Hutch. And Can-do was behind him. I was glad that they were in this class. Perhaps I could teach them some of my moves and help them catch up. Maybe the spin-out could be useful for hunts. "Alright, Betas, line up!" my dad yelled. I remembered what my Wolfish instructor told me about submissive postures, so I got into one. My dad noticed immediately. "Good, Kate!"
"You want to split them up into two teams, honey?" said Mom.
"Sure." One half of the group went to my mom, the other to my dad. Can-do, Hutch, and I were in my dad's group. "Alright, there are about fifteen of you. That's a good-sized hunting group."
"Are there formations we have to learn?" someone asked.
"Yes, indeed. Hunting formations are very important. But all of you should know the different hunting stages first. First stage is tracking. Second stage is stalking. And the third stage is pursuing. Hunting formations are important for the second and third stages. There are many different types of formations. Which one a group uses depends on the topography of the area and the amount or type of animal being hunted. Moose, for example, are robust and dangerous. They require advanced formations that exploit their weaknesses such as the fact that there they are always alone. Caribou form herds, so they protect each other, which is why we usually pick out the weak and sick. Most of our hunting is spent tracking caribou. Caribou are the most abundant deer in the Valley, and you all will soon get the most familiar with them."
The Betas looked at each other. We felt honored. "But for now," my dad continued, "you guys need to build your strength. Caribou are fast, and you need good, bulky legs to get them. Once you guys have enough strength, each of you will be tested in different hunting positions to see which one will work best for you. Don't worry about being too weak, Betas. That is not the attitude you should have. There's a reason why we do Alpha School in the winter. Your bodies are currently going through a massive change, and we are simply taking advantage of it. You need to be built by the time your bodies mature. Otherwise, you'll end up like the Omegas. Their bodies will be flimsy, but that's fine since they don't hunt. You guys do, so it's important. Soon, you guys will be the ones bringing home the food for the pack. The pack will depend on you immensely. If you don't do your job, the pack dies. End of story. It will be your divine duty as an Alpha to be the provider. And to be the provider, you must have the strength to do so, so I will give all of you a number of exercises. Right now, I want you all to take ten laps around the field. Anyone who's last gets to do three more. Now go!"
We took off. As expected, I quickly got ahead of everybody. Can-do wasn't far behind. We ran around the field as the air started to get colder and colder. I started to wonder when I'd see the first snowflake fall. I had never seen snow in my life, but I heard descriptions. I heard that it was crystal-like, and it resembled a small spider's web. I heard that ice was just the colder version of water and that snow was just particles of ice. I wondered how snow felt. I remembered my mom telling me that piles on the ground had a powder-like consistency. That must mean it's very soft. Although I had never experienced extreme cold, I somehow knew what I was expecting, like it was knowledge I was born with. I assumed the other Betas knew what cold was too.
After my fifth lap, when I started to pant, I looked at my mom who was in the center of the field with the other half of the class. She saw me and waved at me while grinning.
"Go, sweetie! Go!" she shouted. "Crush them!" I smiled in return.
(written from August 14th to August 15th, 2020)
Chapter 8: Snowfall
The next day. . .
December 22nd, 2009
I woke up earlier than usual. The cold air engulfed me, triggering a shivering frenzy that shook my eyelids open. I thought the draft came from the center of the room, so I scooched myself toward the wall. Instantly, I realized that was a mistake. The parts of the floor that were free of body heat were ten times colder, and I shot up and hit my head on the ceiling. I was undeniably awake now. So this was what extreme cold felt like?
I soon noticed other Betas going through a similar experience. They all shifted a bit before shooting up like somebody pinched them. I found my way to Loretta who was already awake. The instructor was looking outside with a concerned look. I sat next to her as the wolves behind us woke up one by one. We watched in silence as a shiny crystal-like object elegantly fell to the Earth. I never expected it to shine as bright as it did against the contrasting darkness of the early morning. It was a beautiful little thing. The moon's light made it resemble a falling star. It had a unique shape. Few things in nature looked as geometrically immaculate.
"That, my dear Kate, is a snowflake," said Loretta. "Notice how it sits on the ground without melting."
"I thought it was supposed to snow in winter," I replied.
"It is, but this is unusually early. The first snowflake shouldn't come until at least a moon from now. If the ground is already this cold, then something isn't right. I had never seen this before... Well... I'm sure it's just a really early season this time around. We can adjust." Loretta turned to other Betas. "Up, up, up! Alphas never go back to sleep!" I didn't think the Betas could. The cold air had quickly proved itself to be a formidable character within the sleeping quarters.
After I retrieved my schedule bone, I headed out with Loretta. The air hugged me tighter. and I struggled to breathe. I was being attacked from all sides like a billion mosquitos were sucking me dry from every square inch of my body. I knew someday I would get used to this, but I wished it would happen faster. Loretta noticed me struggling, so she nudged me from behind. She then did the same to everyone else.
I stopped for a moment to take a look at my schedule bone. The surface of it had been damaged since my chattering teeth disfigured the inscriptions.
"I did the same thing!" said Hutch, showing off his disfigured bone. However, Hutch was visibly dealing with the cold much better than me.
"You can't speak! You have longer fur!"
"What do you think of this winter so far?" he asked.
"Challenging... but I like challenging." He chuckled after I smirked.
As the day went on, the cold was unceasing. The classes continued as normal, and I tried my best not to be distracted by the outside where snow was piling up. On my way to my health class, I noticed the snow had made its mark everywhere. Other than the ground and air, it was in the trees and on the backs of my classmates. When I first felt it through my paws, it did feel like a powder, a cold one anyway. After that, the cold didn't seem to bother me anymore. And it seemed this sentiment was quickly catching on. The piles of snow were tempting. I really wanted to jump in and play as I did with the leaves during the fall. But I knew I shouldn't. I knew the instructors were just waiting for a Beta to do it, so they can scold them. Playing around was a puppy thing and an Omega thing, and we were becoming neither.
I thought of Humphrey. I still felt bad for pushing him away despite the fact that it was necessary. He probably wished he could play with me in the snow. I then thought of his Omega-to-be status. Assuming he went to Omega School like he was supposed to, he was probably spending countless hours with his fellow peers. Maybe Humphrey would think that hanging out with a future Alpha wasn't such a good idea in hindsight, and he would stick with his ilk for the rest of his life. Yeah... I needed to forget Humphrey. He was holding me back. I'm a Beta now.
Later. . .
Lunch had begun. I exited the health class den and made my way to the butchering stone where the kill was already prepared. An instructor told us the Alphas had eaten another kill earlier, so we could dig in right away. Because it was below freezing, they didn't want any meat to sit and become stiff. After I ate my share, the blood from the meal began to freeze on my face, which was very uncomfortable. I tried to wipe the red ice off my cheeks, but I accidentally dropped my schedule bone. It rolled down one of my forelimbs and down a small hill. I went after it and when I got close, my legs collapsed and my face met something hard. "What the heck?!" I exclaimed. The ground was smooth, too smooth to be made of soil, but it wasn't rock, for it was semi-transparent. That was when I remembered there once was a puddle here. It was ice! The most I had ever seen in one spot. I never thought an entire space of water could freeze so solidly. The surface was so smooth that I had slipped on it. I looked ahead of me and saw the bone two feet away, lying on the ice. I tried to stand cautiously. I didn't want to risk another fall, so instead of taking a step forward, I stretched out one of my paws. I could barely reach it. I then felt someone's cold nose nudge my butt. I was nudged forward but too harshly. I lost my footing and fell again. I looked back and glared at the wolf who nudged me.
"Sorry," said a wincing Hutch. "I was trying to help."
(written on August 15th, 2020)
Chapter 9: Thundersnow
It was P.E. class now. By this point, some piles of snow were reaching the heights of some of the Betas. It seemed like it would never stop snowing. And it was only getting colder. But my parents stayed on the course. My dad had us in a line, so he could lecture. The winds were getting so loud that we could barely hear him.
"Today, I'm going to start teaching you guys the first stage, tracking! Since the weather has clearly been whacky lately, we'll start with tracking in the snow! In most cases, prints in the snow are very defined!" Mom gave him what looked like a hoof. "We keep a number of different hooves for education purposes! This is a caribou hoof!" He placed it on the snow and pushed it down with his paw. When he removed the hoof, it revealed a distinct symmetrical print of four shapes. The two shapes on the forward-facing side were much larger and resembled two crescent moons. "Get used to these prints because you'll see these most often!" My dad then made more prints using the various hooves that Mom gave him.
Each of us took our time comparing them. Moose were like caribou except the crescent shapes were overlapping. An ox's hoof lacked the two smaller shapes, and the two crescent shapes that were left were less curvy. Wapitis were similar to the ox, but the overall print was significantly smaller. Dad told us it was easy to confuse a wapiti of any age with a young ox. Younger ungulates tend to have smaller hooves, but some species kept small hooves throughout adulthood. "Tracking, however, is more than just looking at shapes!" Dad added. "If you're having trouble figuring out exactly what animal it is, use your sense of smell! In fact, your sense of smell will be your greatest asset when tracking! But we'll get to smell at a later date! For now, memorize these prints!"
Beside me, I heard Can-do sneeze. He didn't look good. His eyes were hardly open, and he shivered uncontrollably. On a normal day, I wouldn't care about Can-do, but I knew since he was a runt that he was vulnerable to the cold, and I didn't want him to suffer like that. As I've gotten older, I've realized how relentless nature can be. Nature doesn't care about anybody.
Later, during a lesson about scent marking, two more Betas fell ill. The weather only got worse and worse. Suddenly, a booming sound rippled through. It was thunder! Apparently lightning was enough to spook my dad. "Okay, everybody, we're going to have to go inside and wait this out!" Everyone replied with a sigh of relief. Can-do, Hutch, and I were assigned to the den known as Sleeping Quarters A, so that was where we headed for. Sleeping Quarters B was on the other side of the Learning Center. The group eventually split in two. Mom went with the B group and Dad stayed with me. After a hard walk against the wind, we met Loretta at Sleeping Quarters A, and Hutch and I huddled close to each other in the back of the cave. I noticed Loretta whispering something to my dad. Whatever it was had to be important. "Attention, Betas! I have received word that a blizzard is likely..."
"What's a blizzard?" somebody asked.
"It's a really powerful snowstorm, one that can snow so much that you won't be able to see a thing. It's extremely dangerous. It's very easy to get lost." My dad could sense us beginning to panic. "Now, now, don't be afraid. We have at least one blizzard every winter. While this one is very early, it is nothing we haven't prepared for. We have Alphas in guard dens surrounding the training grounds. They are trained to know every inch of this place, even in a snowstorm, so they can find a lost Beta. All we have to do is wait the storm out and conserve heat. During a blizzard, all wolves will stay inside. I can request atmospheric statuses from around the territory via howls, so I can monitor the situation."
I was relieved to know that the weather was being monitored. It made me feel safer since that meant that the best possible decisions were going to be made in case of an emergency.
And as if the universe read my mind, an alarming howl was heard through the winds.
"It's an emergency howl!" said Loretta. My dad turned to her.
"Eve... Something must have happened to the other group!"
"Let me go, sir."
"No, Loretta. I'll go. I'll be right back, Betas." Dad took one quiet look at me before going into the yowling storm alone. I gasped. My heart skipped a beat. He quickly disappeared. The whiteness ate his dark fur with no resistance. I stared at the last sight of his body in horror. Please... Don't leave me, Dad. I then told myself to calm down. You're coming back, aren't you? Given his experience, it was probably likely, but nature looked like she had other plans.
Later. . .
An hour later, as the sun began to set, my dad still hadn't returned. While the other Betas had fallen asleep, I was very much awake as was Loretta. Instead of Hutch, I lay next to her. We watched the snow continue to pile up. Half of the den's entrance was blocked. No doubt it was a blizzard now. It happened so fast. I was still processing my emotions. Loretta could see me looking gloomy, so she gave me a soothing hug.
"Do you think my dad is okay?" I asked her.
"Your dad is very resilient," she replied. "It's not him I'm most worried about..."
"My dad is one tough wolf. My mom too," I acknowledged.
"You should get some sleep, dear. I'm certain he'll be back when you wake up."
"Okay..." I buried my head in my forepaws and closed my eyes. Before I slipped away, I heard another howl and some other noises, but I was too sleepy to respond.
(written on August 16th, 2020)
Chapter 10: Snowbound
The next day. . .
December 23rd, 2009
When I woke up, I had trouble realizing I was awake. My surroundings were gripped by darkness. I used my nose to figure out my position. I was still in the sleeping quarters. All of the other Betas were here too, but I couldn't smell Loretta. I tried to sniff out the outside. I made it to where the entrance was and found out why it was so dark. A wall of snow covered the entire opening. We were trapped! Some of the Betas began panicking.
"We're gonna die in the dark!" one of them yelled. "They can't rescue us if they can't find the den!"
"Wait... Maybe this isn't so bad," I replied, trying to lift the mood. "Sure, it's dark, but the snow is blocking the wind."
"She's right," said another wolf, "This is the warmest it has been in a while."
"But Loretta's gone!" said a female in the back.
"We are not going out there," said Hutch. "Remember what Winston told us. We can just wait out the storm. It won't last forever."
"What if it lasts long enough that we starve? Our bodies are constantly fighting against the cold. Soon, we're gonna have to eat something..."
"Maybe we'll have to eat Can-do."
"Ahh!" Can-do shrieked.
"No ones eating anyone!" said Hutch. "If things become dire... I'll go and get something. My thicker coat lets me last longer out there."
"Are you sure you'll be alright, Hutch?" I whispered to him.
"I'm not sure of anything," he answered. "But I want to give them hope..."
Later. . .
All us Betas could do was nap and conserve heat as much as possible. I stayed by the blocked entrance, hoping my dad would knock it down with his big paws. I couldn't hibernate like the other Betas, for my mind buzzed. I was lying on top of Loretta's pawprints. I wondered why she left. It didn't seem like Loretta would be the type to risk leaving us alone for so long.
Loretta rang in my head, so... I myself did something risky... I dug into the snow wall until I could peep through a small hole. I was shocked. The training grounds were unrecognizable. Everywhere looked the same. The snow on the ground was probably around four feet high. As a result, the trees looked smaller than they actually were. Grass and shrubs were nonexistent. It was just the endless snow, the Douglas firs trying their best to survive, and the white fog racing across.
I then saw something that froze me... It was a wolf-shaped figure in the distance, walking away. Dad? Dad! I took one look at the sleeping Betas. Everyone was fine right now. I had to make my move, or else the opportunity might slip away.
I dug a bigger hole and pushed my body through. Immediately, I was starting to regret it. I was being strangled by the temperature. But my dad was still there. I just needed to get closer... It was so intense that I couldn't keep my head up and my eyes open. My paws sunk with each step. Every step, the snow would touch my chest, disabling me more. Soon, I couldn't feel my toes, then my paws, then my entire legs. I wanted to cry, but I was afraid my tears would freeze my eyes shut for good. I couldn't use my sense of smell. My nose was going to fall off. My ears were ready to join. My neck became sore, trying to hold my head against the unforgiving atmosphere. The winds were so fast that I could hardly take in a breath. This was a mistake, I thought. I was going to die... I lifted my head one last time. The wolf was gone. No... It wasn't a wolf... It was my imagination... I now knew why Loretta left. This winter played deadly tricks…
I tried my best to look back. There were no pawprints behind me. No den opening in sight. North was the same as south, the same as east, and the same as west, and south was the same as north, the same as east, and the same as west. The sleeping quarters had vanished. But even if I knew where it was, I didn't have the energy to make it back. My joints were locked. I was becoming ice…
I really was going to die, so I accepted it and collapsed. White clouds kept exiting my mouth, and I thought that was going to be my last exhalation.
But then... there was a loud crashing sound deep below me. The next thing I knew, a gaping hole appeared, and I plummeted straight down! I whiplashed back and forth within a jumble of snow, soil, and rocks. Somehow, I didn't get crushed when I hit the bottom, and I was pushed deeper into the cavern. Snow and debris kept falling in until the hole was plugged. I was in darkness again. It was warm down here. After ten minutes, my joints thawed, and I was able to move again. I got on all fours, but I was very weak, and I had a throbbing headache. It didn't help that there was a rhythmic dripping noise. That was when my ears perked.
Dripping noise?! Water!
I scanned the ground with my paws in search of a watery consistency. It didn't take long to find a puddle I could promptly drink from. It was cold, of course, but I didn't have much of a choice. I was thirsty.
I sniffed the area in case I was lucky enough to share this cave with food. Instead, I smelled a wolf! No doubt it was! This place wasn't a den. It was a natural cave, and I smelled the wolf down a passageway. I followed it. As I got closer, I recognized the scent. It was Ms. Spade!
(written on August 17th, 2020)
Chapter 11: Warmth Ahead
Down the passageway I went. I walked in the darkness for almost an hour. The passageway seemed to go on forever, but my ears perked when a single point of light came into view. Like a star, it twinkled, which suggested that someone was moving in front of it. I picked up speed and smiled.
And there she was, my mathematics instructor, lying near the mouth of the cave. The light brown she-wolf looked tired and out of breath. I approached her cautiously, so I wouldn't startle her.
"Ms. Spade?" She turned around and grinned.
"Kate! I can't believe it's you!" I gave her a hug. She was colder than me.
"Why are you hanging over here? It's warmer down there. C'mon!"
"No, it's fine, sweetie..."
"Are you sure?" She replied with a nod. "This storm came quick, didn't it?"
"Yes..." She was oddly quiet.
"Have you seen the other Betas, Ms. Spade? The ones that were going to Sleeping Quarters B? Have you seen my parents?"
"Just call me Spade, sweetie... Yes... Something happened with Eve's group. I was with them..."
"What happened?"
"Too much snow had piled on the den of Sleeping Quarters B. It collapsed... We had nowhere to go... Your father made it to us. He said there was not enough room in Sleeping Quarters A, so we had to go to the pack leader's den of the Eastern Pack."
"Why that den?"
"He didn't have time to explain... but your father is older than most of us. We don't question his judgment."
"What happened to you?"
"The winds were so bad... I... I got separated... and I got lost... I wandered in random directions... hoping to find any place of refuge... I was exposed to the storm for the entire night..."
"How'd you survive? I thought I was gonna die!"
"I don't think I did," she replied softly. She shifted her body to the side which revealed her legs. All four of her paws were black. It was the strangest thing I'd ever seen, and it couldn't be good in the slightest, for her limbs smelled rotten.
"Wh... What is that?" I stammered.
"Frostbite," she answered. "You know, I bet your mother would tell me what stage I'm at."
"Stage?"
"Some diseases can progress to more severe forms. In the case of frostbite, the different forms are known formally as 'degrees,' colloquially as 'stages.' I think I'm at the fourth degree, which is usually the highest..."
"Are you gonna be alright?"
"I spent the rest of my energy trying to wiggle myself into this cave. I can't move, Kate..."
"I guess this is it then. We're just gonna wait this storm out?"
"That is our only option, sweetie..."
Later. . .
I waited next to Spade who fell asleep. The winds never ceased. The snow kept falling. A wolf-shaped figure was approaching, but I paid it no mind. I wasn't going to be tricked by the storm again. I looked away.
"Hello! Is anybody there?!" said a voice outside. I was disoriented. How far was this winter willing to go in order to kill me? "Hello out there! Is anybody nearby?!" I looked back outside. It was Loretta!
"Spade! Spade! Wake up!"
"What?"
"It's Ms. Loretta!" I took a few steps away from the cave and shouted with excitement. "Loretta! Over here!" I was so happy that she was alright.
"Kate! Is that you?!" She ran over to us. When she entered the cave, she shook the snow and ice off of her body. "What are you doing over here?! You're supposed to be with the Betas!"
"I'm sorry... I thought I saw my dad and headed out and... I'm sorry..." She then gave me a hug.
"At least you're safe. That's all that matters." She turned her attention to Spade. "Spade! Are you okay?"
"No, Loretta... I'm done for... I spent last night in the cold... All my legs are gone..." Loretta inspected her dead paws.
"Oh, my gosh... I... I am so sorry..."
"Why did you leave us?!" I questioned. I had a right to know.
"I went looking for your father. I figured if he was gone so long, something bad must've happened. I managed to catch his scent, and I found him, Eve, and the other Betas a few hours ago. They were on their way to the Eastern Pack leader's den since Sleeping Quarters B had fallen apart. Apparently, Tony's den doubles as a shelter that can hold up to fifty wolves in case there's some crazy weather. When we got there, Winston and Tony had some sort of fight. It's complicated, but as a result, Tony wanted me to look around the area for any wolves stuck in the snow. I was planning on heading back over to Sleeping Quarters A afterward."
"Wait," I said. "We're in the Eastern Pack?"
"Yes."
"How can you navigate at all in this?"
"I was once one of the guard wolves surrounding the training grounds. I don't get lost."
"I wish I was you," Spade commented bitterly.
"This cave has a long passage deep inside!" I informed Loretta. "It can take you straight to the Learning Center! I think..."
"Really?"
"Yeah! However, the way out on the other side is blocked. You would have to dig yourself up. Also, it's really dark down there."
"It beats walking around in this weather," she replied. "I'm only three years old. I haven't lived through many winters, but this has to be one of the worst in recent history. I heard reports from Tony's Alphas that a lot of wolves have died. Tony himself has ordered search parties looking for his mate who's missing. I can imagine it's mayhem in the West as well." Spade then sighed after having a coughing fit.
"Today is a sad day indeed..."
"Can you take me to my dad?" I asked. "I want to be near him."
"Okay... but you have to stay close."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Spade... I'm taking you with me."
"No, you're not, sis'... I'm already dead..."
"Sis'?!" I exclaimed.
"Yes, Spade is my sister," said Loretta. "She's a year older than me, from our parents' first litter."
"Loretta, I'm fine here..."
"Quit being so dramatic," the red wolf replied with pity. "Tony's den is less than half a mile away. It's very warm. You had a rough night, so I don't want you cold and alone again." She got underneath Spade and lifted her up. She was going to carry the mathematics instructor on her back. "You ready, Kate?"
"Of course," I responded. I was very much motivated to see my father once more.
(written from August 18th to August 23rd, 2020)
Chapter 12: Grief
"We're almost there!" said Loretta strenuously. The winds were stronger than ever. I thought at any minute I was going to be carried away. I stayed close to Loretta as promised, but it wasn't without perseverance. Although a harder job, carrying Spade kept Lorreta on the ground. At least that was what I thought she hoped.
I had no idea how she was navigating. I was not aware of a sixth sense. "Amazed, huh?" she said after glancing at me. "Heh, heh. It's okay, little one. Perhaps I'll teach you once this is all over. It's pretty simple actually. It's all about training your eyes and your nose. You must always be aware of your surroundings... Speaking of which..." Loretta then stamped one of her paws. "Just as I thought. We're on a frozen pond. Here, Kate, get in front of me. Your paws won't have any grip on the ice, especially in this windstorm. Let me push you along."
"Okay." I got in front of her. It was then that I heard a faint cracking noise. "What was that?" We stayed still for a minute. It sounded like a creature was sneakily moving beneath us. We soon found out that it was no creature, but if anything was trying to swallow us whole, it was the wintry Earth. The ice in our vicinity broke into a single piece; a crack encircled us. Our concentrated weight began flipping the plate of ice that we stood on, and we were immediately in danger of slipping into the water and becoming trapped. I desperately tried to make it to the center of the plate to balance it before we slipped downward. I jumped and hit the center of the ice, but I fell back down since the weight on one side was too great; however, during the panic, Spade slipped off of Loretta's back and fell into the water. This allowed the much heavier Loretta to do the same thing I did with much better success. The ice leveled, but sadly, that meant trapping Spade in the water below us. We both took the opportunity to jump off the unstable ice plate.
"NOOOO!" Loretta screamed. "Don't move!" she ordered me. "I'm going to get her!" The she-wolf went back to the ice piece and allowed herself to be dropped into the water. She was going to rescue her sister who couldn't swim because of her injuries. I was breathing heavily, petrified. I watched the ice level again after Loretta easily slipped in once the crack widened. No wolf was in sight now. They were underwater, underneath the frozen surface of the pond. Maybe Loretta would tap the bottom of the ice and that would be a signal for me to help. I decided to wait and see.
Seconds turned into minutes. Eventually, too many minutes passed. No... Something went wrong... and I didn't want to go back to that death trap to inspect. Some of the water had splashed my butt. It was the coldest thing ever. Frigid water was more unforgiving than frigid air ever could be. A wolf could only take so much abuse. I understood this. So that meant they had to be gone by now... Loretta and Spade didn't make it... They drowned or froze to death down there... I was alone... seemingly in the middle of nowhere...
Later. . .
l didn't have time to express my sorrow. I had to find some shelter soon. I almost died twice... I didn't want to stretch my luck again. I wandered aimlessly in the Eastern territory. It looked just as white as the West. I prayed for another miracle, and thankfully, a higher power answered. A lonely den came into view. I went inside and shook the snow off again.
"Hey!" said someone. It was someone my age. It was a black wolf all by himself.
"Hi! I'm so sorry! Is it okay if I stay in here?" I asked. "I assume you're a Beta."
"Yes. You're good!" he answered. "I don't want anyone out there. Who are you? Are you a Beta too?"
"Yes. My name is Kate. I'm from the Western Pack."
"A Western? In my den? I wasn't expecting that... I'm Stormfast, but you can call me Storm." He held out a paw. I never thought I would get a pawshake from an Eastern. Back in autumn, an incident happened between our packs that prompted my dad to make a call for peace. I was too busy playing with Humphrey in those days to hear his speech, but my mom informed me of the great cold war that had been happening since way before I was born. They called it the Age of Aggression. Eastern wolves still were our enemies, but it was apparent that the storm was our common enemy, and it made us brothers and sisters. It was odd but welcomed.
"Why are you by yourself?" I asked. "Where's your family?"
"That's who I'm waiting for. I've been in our den since the blizzard got really bad. My parents are supposed to be here with me, but I don't know what's going on. You haven't seen anybody that might look like my parents, have you?"
I shook my head.
"It's a mess out there," I replied. "I think my Alpha School instructors just died..." I finally let out my sorrow and cried. The black Eastern hugged me.
"How'd you get in the Eastern Pack? Are you lost? Are your parents gone too?"
"Umm... Well... I'm trying to get to your pack leader's den. That's where my parents are."
"Oh... You know, Tony's den is only twenty yards away."
"It is?"
"Yeah," said Stormfast. "Tony is my uncle. His den is just twenty yards to the east."
"I can't figure any directions out there."
"Oh, you're right. Well, the mouth of this den faces south, so east is that way." He took a step outside and pointed in that direction. "You won't miss it. His den is huge."
"So I hear," I replied. "Thank you so much, Storm."
"No problem. Hopefully, we'll meet again when our packs aren't hating each other."
"Ha, ha! Likewise! I hope your parents come home!"
"They will! Thank you!"
Later. . .
What I heard was right. Tony's den was huge. It was larger than the sleeping quarters. And it was really warm too. There were a lot of wolves here, but my eyes were quickly attracted to the Betas near the back. I joined them, and they were happy to see me too.
"Kate!" It was my mom. We hugged each other passionately. "I'm so glad you're safe! Winston! Kate's here!"
"Kate!" I then hugged my dad. "How'd you get here by yourself?"
"Long story," I said. "But Ms. Loretta... Ms. Spade... I think they're gone... They were taking me to you, and they got trapped in a frozen pond!"
"Goodness!" my parents exclaimed in unison.
"Why were they taking you to me?" Mom asked.
"It's more complicated than what I'm saying. You left the sleeping quarters, and I stupidly went out to look for you, and I got lost, then I found Ms. Spade, then Ms. Loretta found us and—"
"Okay, okay," Dad interrupted. He hugged me tighter. "You've seen enough for a day..."
"Ms. Spade told me what happened with Sleeping Quarters B."
"Yes. The den's structure was compromised. I had to get your mother and the Betas out of there."
"I can't believe they're gone," said Mom forlornly. "This storm has taken its toll on all of us."
"And it continues," Dad whispered as a familiar Eastern entered the den. It wasn't Stormfast but his cousin, the first Eastern wolf I met, the orange-reddish wolf named Garth. He was crying. All of the Eastern wolves in the den bowed their heads as Garth made his way to his father whose presence I never noticed before now. Dad walked over to Tony. It was like he knew something was brewing within the Eastern.
"She's gone, Dad," said Garth. "She's gone..." Tony stiffened his lips and tried to hold back the tears. My dad tried to comfort him, but he growled when the Western got close."
"Tony..."
"This is none of your business, Winston!" Tony scared me. I had never seen anyone talk to my dad with authority.
"Tony... I'm sorry..." I saw Tony eye my mom with strong feelings on his face. Perhaps it was jealousy... "Tony," my dad said again.
"I let you Westerns stay here... It is a privilege!" he yelled. "I stayed by your side, Winston! I could've been with my beloved Martha!"
"Tony... Don't put this on us," said Dad. "You told me she was sick in this cold and wouldn't last long. Your generosity saved us and our Betas!"
"I shouldn't have helped you," he whispered. "I should've been with my mate and my son."
"Tony! You're stricken with grief..."
"Whatever!" he snapped. "Let me mourn in peace, Winston..." My dad slowly nodded and backed away. Garth hugged his father, and the two cried together quietly. The Easterns in the den lifted their snouts and howled a song to commemorate the fallen she-wolf I'd never heard about or seen. Meanwhile, all I could think about was Loretta and Spade, the instructors who were sisters. I was then reminded of my sister, Lilly. I wondered where she was and if she was safe. I didn't want to return home to find out she had died. I also wondered when we would return home. When would this storm end?
(written from August 24th to August 25th, 2020)
Chapter 13: Thaw
Three days later. . .
December 26th, 2009
We stayed inside Tony's huge den for three days. By that point, the snowstorm finally loosened its grip on our world, so the thaw could begin. It was still colder than autumn, but it warmed just enough for the fresh powder to turn into slush. The howling winds ceased, and the sun gave a friendly welcome to our frozen backs. I walked outside with glee. I bounced around and pranced, but it was brief, for I was reminded of the many lives that had been lost.
I, my dad, Mom, and our group of Betas traveled back to the Learning Center. We met up with the other Betas of Sleeping Quarters A. Everyone started hugging each other when we arrived. Some delicious warm meat awaited on the butchering stone. I didn't realize how much I was starving until I had a couple of bites. The instructors had hunted it recently. Most of them were here too by the time we came.
"Sir, have you seen Loretta or Spade?" asked my Wolfish instructor, Mr. Dwight. Winston and I had to explain what happened to them, which prompted many tears and mournful howls.
"Kate, what were you thinking?!" said Hutch. "Why did you go out on your own?"
"I'm sorry, Hutch," I replied. "I don't know... I wasn't thinking... I promise I won't abandon you guys again." I then hugged Hutch. "We're a team now, hunt companions... We're all brothers and sisters."
As I reconnected with my peers, my dad the pack leader went around the territory to assess the damage. I would learn that all of the Betas had survived but many older wolves didn't. A number of my classmates' parents had died from collapsed dens due to heavy snowfall. A few wolves died of sickness and a few of hypothermia. A very similar story occurred in the East. My mom told me that it was the deadliest snowstorm on record. No blizzard since our ancestors first settled the Valley had left this amount of death in its wake. The things that contributed the most to the high mortality were the heavy snowfall and ridiculous winds. My dad was about five and a half years old. He told me he had lived through colder and longer storms, but this one was the most brutal. After hearing that, I considered myself lucky to have walked through the storm during its worst times and lived to tell the tale. I really thought on multiple occasions that I was going to die, that the legend of Kate had finally met a stronger opponent…
Later in the day, Winston addressed a rattled pack. He gave a speech detailing some of the lives that were lost. It was bittersweet, but it was not despondent. We were going to 'continue Alpha School tomorrow,' he said, as if nothing happened, as if no storm interrupted. It was going to be a symbolic message about our resilience. The dead were going to be buried in a special place within Shadow Forest, a place where only veterans of war were buried.
"The storm was our enemy," my father declared, "and some of our beloved citizens fought it 'til the end, so they shall be remembered!"
After the speech, I walked my way home, which was the Western pack leader's den. On the way up Mt. Victory, I bumped into another Beta, Can-do, who looked guilty.
"I don't think you heard..."
"Heard what?" I replied.
"Of the list of names of the dead, I don't think you recognized two of them."
"What are you talking about?"
"Kate... Two of them were Humphrey's parents..." My heart sank. I immediately thought of Humphrey. I knew why Can-do was guilty now. After the Games, Can-do ripped Humphrey a new one. And now, when Humphrey was probably going through the worst pain of his life, Can-do's shameful actions looked even worse. What he said next caught me off guard. "You should talk to him..." Can-do, the once Omega-hating Alpha-to-be was telling me, a future Alpha, to tend to the future Omega. It really emphasized how bad things were with my autumn friend, that Can-do, a wolf who wasn't selfless often, would want things to be better.
"Yes... I should talk to him."
I walked back down Mt. Victory and made my way to a group of dens that were a few leagues from the mountain. It was a place that Alphas and Betas from other areas almost never visited, a place where most of the Omegas lived. I used to visit regularly to play with Humphrey last autumn. It wasn't custom for an Alpha-to-be, especially one with as much royal blood as myself, to have an Omega friend, but Winston allowed it, for he had great respect for the Omegas of his pack. Despite being inferior, Omegas had important roles. Their duties were distinct from ours, so much so that we went to different schools. I remembered parting ways with Humphrey on my way to the Ceremonial Valley. It wasn't hard, for I was excited—and still am—about being a real Alpha.
"Kate! It's time to go," my dad informed.
"I'm coming, Dad!" I wasted no time.
"Where're you going?" Humphrey had asked.
"Alpha School. It goes 'til spring."
"Spring? But that's like... a whole winter away." My dad got in between us.
"I know you're Kate's friend, Humphrey, but by next spring, she will be a trained Alpha, the future leader of the pack... No doubt you'll be a clever Omega... Learn to keep the peace... And Humphrey... Remind us all to have fun."
"But... but..."
"Alphas and Omegas can't ma... Err... Um... How do you say it?" I then heard him clear his throat. "That's our custom, the law of the pack." He turned around and joined me. A few seconds later, I heard Humphrey's Omega friends ambush him playfully.
"Wolf pile!" they cried. I shook my head as I admittedly had a sense of entitlement.
"Silly Omegas..."
A minute later, Humphrey managed to reach me again before I left for the Ceremonial Valley.
"Kate! Kate! Wait!" My father and I turned around.
"What is it, Humphrey? I have to go. Alpha School doesn't wait."
"Here." A rock exited his mouth. I didn't know what to think of it.
"Heh, heh, heh. Very nice... gift! Umm... what is it?" I asked.
"It's a rock!" he had answered while giving me his signifying smile complete with all of his teeth.
"And?"
"Not just any rock. It's the rock I tripped on when we were sightseeing in the mountains!" I guess I didn't actually understand the real significance of that rock when he gave it to me. "It's supposed to represent our time together," he had said. "So when you're sprinting laps or doing tree squats, you'll remember we're friends." I thought back to the sightseeing activity that he was referring to.
In between the Games, when our chances of winning had never been slimmer, we climbed up Moonlight Howl Rock to ease our minds. When we reached the summit, it was dusk, and my breath was taken away. I had never been so high above the canopy. There were different hues of orange, blue, yellow, and purple that were prominently declaring their own existence in the sky. It was amazing. "You like?" said Humphrey.
"So this is what a bird's eye view is! It's amazing! Thank you!"
"Yeah, every spring, a couple goes up here to howl their hearts out. At least that's what my parents told me. Of course, we weren't even born yet when the last Moonlight Howl happened earlier this year."
"Yeah, I bet it was fun." All of a sudden, I began howling. It was horrible, and I could see Humphrey cringing. "Howling is so hard. It always makes my throat hurt."
"That's because you're trying too hard." He pointed at his head before putting a paw on his chest. "Don't howl with this. Howl with this."
"Wait a minute. Doesn't everybody already use their lungs to howl?"
"No, Kate, I was talking about your heart."
"Oh."
"See, you use your brain for making quick, informative thinking, but you use your heart for long-lasting, emotional thinking, and emotions are just strong feelings you express to others. To howl good, you must have emotion; thus, you must use your heart." I hadn't attempted to howl since then, but I couldn't forget Humphrey's demonstration. His voice was otherworldly, and it made the end of the day worth so much more than expected.
It was on our way down the mountain when Humphrey tripped on a small rock. It was practically a pebble. Its small size made me laugh. It was amusing that such a small inanimate object could bring a wolf to his or her stifles. Humphrey, of course, was amused by my laugh, so he kept the rock as a reminder of our little moment. It was sweet.
I now came up to Humphrey's den. The entrance was on the other side where I couldn't see him. Before I decided to go around, I grabbed a random pebble that was in the grass. I planned to give it to him as a reminder that he was going to be in my thoughts while I was at Alpha School. I knew I held a special place in his heart now. Aside from his Omega friends, I was all he had left, and I knew how much he missed me already. I couldn't forget his uninvited visit to the training grounds.
I proceeded to go towards Humphrey's den when my dad's words came back to me.
"I know you're Kate's friend, Humphrey, but by next spring, she will be a trained Alpha, the future leader of the pack..."
No... I couldn't do this…
"You must leave behind your puppyish behavior of sentimentality! It will get you killed. It could endanger the pack," Loretta had said.
No... Loretta was right! I shouldn't do this... Humphrey will be an Omega. I will be an Alpha. I must set it straight before things between us get weird. It was already unorthodox that we became friends as pups, but things were changing. A friendship was only going to be a hassle beyond this point. I had to draw a line in the sand as we were destined for totally different paths. Humphrey had to deal with his loss on his own or with friends like him, and I needed to become the Alpha I needed to be, for I was going to be a high-level one, an example for Alphas across the Valley. Sadly, I had to leave Humphrey behind... I had to forget him.
I dropped the rock and turned around. I headed back to the training grounds. I wanted to take advantage of the free day and get some exercise at the fields. That was where I belonged. I invented the spin-out. I charged through the toughest storm ever. I was born an Alpha! I was destined to meet a male Alpha one day, and together we will hunt and provide for the pack like all other Alpha couples do. By the end of spring, I could have an all-Alpha litter, and we would live a smooth peaceful life with zero complications and zero worries.
At least that was what I thought…
(written on August 25th, 2020)
Epilogue
September 24th, 2012
"Wow, I didn't know a storm could get that bad," said Stinky. "Loretta and Spade, rest in peace."
"You were brave too, Mom," said Runt.
"Clearly, you didn't get the future you were anticipating," said Claudette, gesturing to herself and her siblings.
"No," Kate replied. "I got something much better!" The tan she-wolf giggled before hugging all of her pups.
"Are you guys, hungry?" asked her mate as he entered the den. "Nars is going to hunt some caribou." Humphrey had been gone while Kate was telling her story.
"Wait, wait, wait!" said Claudette. "How did you two fall in love?!" Kate tilted her head sideways.
"Claudette, do we really need to talk about that now? Maybe at a later date..."
"I wanna know!" said Runt, growing excited. "At the end of this last story, you wanted to forget Dad. How did you get from there to loving him more than a friend?"
"I heard you guys were taken far away by humans so you could repopulate," said Stinky.
"Repopulate?!" Humphrey exclaimed. "Watch your language, Stinky! You must have been hanging out with Paddy and Marcel, haven't you?"
"Please, tell us what happened!" their daughter urged.
"Alright, alright…" said Kate. "One last story before we eat, okay?"
"Yes, Mom," they replied.
"Well, I guess the story should begin with you, Humphrey. Care to start us off?"
Humphrey shrugged his shoulders, smirked, and sat down in the den.
"So it's the first day of spring, more than two years ago. I just graduated from Omega School, and I wanted to celebrate by logboarding with Mooch, Salty, and Shakey. By this point, we were really skilled at it, and things were going swimmingly. I remember going down the hill and Salty saying, 'I think I taste the wind! Nah, it's a bug.' Soon after, we approached a ledge and made sure to tell Mooch to lower the boom. We thankfully averted that obstacle, but our good feelings were cut short when a boulder came directly into our view ahead..."
The end. . .
