(written from August 30th to August 31st, 2022)
Prologue
Spring, 2009
It was a chilling night. Somewhere inside the Western Pack, a she-wolf was running. Behind her, a wall of howls washed through the forest, growing louder and louder with every second. There was a flash of lightning, but the storm could not be more than a nuisance. She was an elderly wolf who had seen enough battle.
Soon, the wolves chasing her were getting close. They had caught her scent and were in hot pursuit. For a moment, she took refuge in a bush, but it was a refuge she could not use for long. There was someone else already there, a white pup. And not just any white pup but her own. The elderly she-wolf sped through her goodbyes and left. The pup was now all alone while the howls raced through her vicinity. All the pup could do was stay hidden. Flashes of lightning continued, but the pup could not see them. It was the shaking of the ground she felt as well as the shaking of the air. If one were to see this pup in the bush, they would be scared away by its eyes which now seemed to glow in the darkness like two faint stars.
(written from September 1st to September 2nd, 2022)
Chapter 1: Kings of the Forest
December 12th, 2012
Traditionally, the academic year for Alpha and Omega schools begins on the first day of winter. Since the founding of packs in the Valley, that was the way things had always been done, but this year, things were going a bit differently. Tony, the retired leader of the East, had volunteered to help Winston who was the director. The population of both East and West had increased dramatically since the reunification, so extra Alphas were needed. This year would be Winston's seventh time as an Alpha School director as teaching was one of his favorite activities. Now that Tony was trying it out for the first time, the two old wolves agreed to be co-directors, and this led to Alpha School commencing ten days earlier than usual. To maintain coherence, Omega School followed suit.
Today was the second day, and the future leader of the pack was late again. It was Stinky, Humphrey and Kate's eldest. The dark grey pup arrived in the middle of a lesson.
"Alphas," said Winston, "the first rule of a hunt... is to control your fears." He and Tony circled the group of Betas. Stinky quickly took his place beside his sister and made a reply.
"But, Winston—great leader! We're the wolves. They're the prey. What do we have to fear?"
"Stinky! Is that mud on your snout, or is it always brown?" Stinky wasn't in the mood to entertain his sister. Despite his poor attendance, he sought to be the best Alpha he could be.
"Claudette, shut it. As future leader of the pack, I—"
"Oh, please," Claudette grumbled. He tried ignoring her.
"I'm faster, stronger—"
"Clumsier," she finished.
"Claudette, Stinky." Their grandfather snatched their attention. "Fear will be natural, but you must control it or it will destroy you."
"You got that, bro?"
"Yeah. Do you?" Stinky replied. Competitive smirks flew back and forth between them, but the exchanges were cut short.
"Alphas, take your positions." As ordered, Betas demonstrated the "ready pose," splaying their front legs with their elbows on the ground and pushing their hips upward. They erected their tails until they were as vertical as the trees. Also called the play bow, the posture was used to prepare a pounce on prey, and every hunter had to perfect it in order to be successful.
Once all the Betas took their stance, one small wolf in the class stood out. The instructor hadn't seen him slip in. His ready pose was sloppy at best. "Runt! This is Alpha School. You're supposed to be in Omega School."
"Aw, Grandpa Winston... I want to hunt! I may be small, but I'm fearless!"
"Hey, Fearless!" fumed a voice many yards away. "You get over here right now!" It was his mother, Kate, who was also Winston's daughter. Flanking her was Winston's other daughter, Lilly, and the fun-loving Omega himself, Humphrey. The three of them had been searching for Runt after he sneaked away from Lilly's class.
"Oh, shoot!" Runt exclaimed. He leaped into a patch of tall grass to conceal himself, but it was too late. The three wolves met up with Winston and Tony.
"Runt, buddy, listen to your mother," said Humphrey. Runt then retorted.
"Why should I, Dad? You never do." The Omega father blushed in embarrassment. Kate shook her head, acknowledging her son's point, but she elected to persuade him.
"Aunt Lilly has a fabulous field trip planned for Omega School." Runt, however, expressed disinterest. He found his school to be boring which was an unheard thing. Most pups were eager to conform to their ranks, but it was getting clear that Runt was becoming a unique kind of wolf, likely due to his unique parentage.
"Pff! Alphas get to hunt, and the Omegas go on field trips!"
"We're going to an ecological phenomenon," Lilly added. "Shadow Forest..." The forbidding name lingered in the air, causing a nearby Tony to gasp. Suddenly, Runt's disinterest disappeared, and he let his head poke out from the blades. Yesterday, he had heard Warren, an Omega classmate of his, share disturbing tales from the cursed land. While most Omega trainees were beyond frightened as one would expect, Runt was engrossed in every description, but he wasn't sure if any of it was true since Warren was often sensationalist.
"Shadow Forest? Cool! Isn't that haunted?"
"Huh, just a myth," Lilly replied dismissively, "and that was a long time ago."
"Did I just hear you were going to Shadow Forest?" asked Tony, after getting closer to the Omega.
"Yes. I was there yesterday. It's fine. It's teeming with life!"
"Code for food," Claudette remarked. Stinky nodded in agreement.
"Hmm," Winston murmured. Despite it being in the West, he hadn't been to Shadow Forest in years. The area was so spooky that no wolf wanted to live there, especially after the incident that happened with his Eastern counterpart over three years ago. The light brown senior stepped even closer to Kate's sister.
"Would Garth like this, Lilly?"
The female Omega was a bit offended that Tony would suggest Garth disapproving.
"My mate is on an extended hunting trip. He trusts my judgment," she answered proudly.
"Well... I had a bad experience in there, and I've never been back."
"When you were supposedly attacked by a ghost... at Sawtooth Cave, right?" Winston had heard the story countless times. Runt's eyes widened at the mention of a ghost.
"Well, I haven't seen you going in there lately," the Eastern retorted. Winston turned to his Omega daughter.
"Lilly, you were just there and it's uh... okay, right?"
"There were a whole lot of critters because we have avoided an entire forest!"
"Humphrey, is this a good idea?"
"It'll be fine, Kate," Humphrey assured his mate. "I'm going with them."
"Then it's settled," said Winston. "The Alphas will be kings of the fields..." He then gestured to Runt who wagged his tail. "...and the Omegas will be kings of the forest."
"Awesome!" The pup performed a backflip in excitement. "Dad! Aunt Lilly! Shall we?"
"Wait. I just wanna say one thing," said Tony.
"Oh, here we go," Winston groaned.
"It's just a warning to little Runt. Stay away from Sawtooth Cave. Whatever curiosity you have—it's not worth resolving." But Tony didn't speak the language of pups, especially Kate and Humphrey's pups who were known to be mischievous. When they were only three months old, they wandered off to a ranger cabin and scared a human, causing a premature light show of fireworks. Warnings only increased Runt's desire to check out the scene. More than his siblings, he loved the thrill of discovery, and nothing would be more stimulating than an investigation into something... supernatural.
(written from September 3rd to September 19th, 2022)
Chapter 2: Sawtooth Cave
"Okay... I see where it got its name," said Humphrey. The Omega trainees and their chaperones hiked down the main trail. The district was shadowed by the overgrowth of beech trees. A dense canopy hampered most rays from hitting the earth directly. Even at noon, a day was never brighter than the evening. In addition, a wispy green fog provided a swampy atmosphere. Fireflies swam in the fog. They were the closest things to stars. Still, a strange-looking forest on its own wouldn't deter wolves. There was, of course, more to the story.
"So what happened that made us avoid it all this time?" Runt asked.
"Some wolves claim that it's haunted with a wolf ghost," Lilly answered.
"Wait! I hear something," Humphrey informed. A dark blue porcupine revealed itself from one of the bushes ahead. The wolves were bewildered to see it making a kind of threatening dance, spinning and squawking as if a diseased bird. No one knew what to make of it. Humphrey wanted to laugh, but the attempt was too pitiful to be humorous. "Is that supposed to be aggression?"
"You see?" Lilly replied. "Even the critters aren't afraid of us."
Nevertheless, the runt approached and growled despite the porcupine having comparable size.
"Runt, unnecessary," said Humphrey.
"Dad! If the Omegas are the kings of the forest, we have to show it who's boss!" While the pup's back was turned, the spined creature stamped its foot on his left hind paw. "Ahh!" he exclaimed in pain.
"I think he just did," Humphrey whispered to Lilly.
"Hey, wolves," said the porcupine, its voice masculine. "The exit's thataway."
"Yeah, and the forest is thataway," Humphrey shot back with a grin.
"You want to take this outside?"
"Aren't we already outside?" he joked. Humphrey wasn't about to take this porcupine seriously.
"Dad, come on," said Runt, wanting to continue their exploration. All the wolves promptly ignored the rodent and advanced further into the shadows. They were heading towards the center of the forest, an area nobody had seen in years. The district was certainly spooky but not enough to dissuade confident Omegas.
"You wolves are making a big mistake!" the porcupine yelled behind them.
Later. . .
In the center of Shadow Forest, the fog was at its thickest. The wolves came across a huge pile of boulders that formed a jagged hill. They placed their upper bodies on a fallen tree trunk and peered upwards where the fog mixed with the color of the open sky and became a vibrant turquoise. Inside this aquamarine cloud, the top of the hillock resembled the head of a yawning wolf. Spiked rocks were on the upper and lower edges of the mouth of the cave, resembling sharp teeth.
"What is it?" asked Runt.
"Not sure," Lilly answered. The pup's mind buzzed with curiosity.
"It looks like someone's home."
"Well... it certainly seems protected," Humphrey added.
"Protected? From what?"
The winds dramatically picked up speed. Thousands of red and orange leaves began swirling in the air.
"That's odd," Lilly remarked. "Nothing in the clouds indicated a windstorm today." None of it seemed natural at all. The winds seemed to manifest into unintelligible whispers. It was enough to lower Humphrey's confidence.
"Ah, alright, pups. Uh... let's go. Pups?" He noticed an empty space between two of them. Grunts above his head shortly drew him to the troublemaker. "Runt! What are you doing...?" The pup dismissed his father's frustrated tone.
"I'm going up to take a look!" he informed. Although the nearest tree was as bare as a skeleton, Runt climbed after noticing one of its thickest branches extended over the platform ahead of the cave. Humphrey gave a sigh.
"My son, the tree hugger."
"I think it's Sawtooth Cave!" said Runt. "The rocks around the edges look like fangs!" A gale threatened to loosen his footing. Elaborate rivers of leaves formed around the wolves, crisscrossing in wild arcs. Runt was halfway up the tree when he gasped. A vortex of leaves arose above the cave. Next came a series of swirling flashes! The pup couldn't believe what he was seeing. A face was taking shape! The airborne leaves melted into the edges of a giant wolf head twice the size of Sawtooth Cave!
The figure was light blue, the same color as Runt's eyes. With no chest, abdomen, or appendages, the head floated on its own like a divine guardian, and like an undisturbed puddle, all of it was distinctly translucent except for its own eyes. They were not proper eyes but sockets that glowed like two full moons, and under one of them, three claw slashes signified a violent past. It was a real spirit of the dead!
"Son, it's getting windy up there. C'mon, time to hit the trail," Humphrey urged. The wolves on the ground couldn't see what Runt stared at. The pup locked his gaze with the spirit. It quietly drifted closer. Lightning suddenly blasted from its sockets. Runt felt a tingle inside the deepest part of his brain which made him scream at the top of his lungs.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" He let go of the tree and plummeted, landing right beside his confused father.
"Runt! Runt, are you okay?" The pup was unaffected by the fall itself. Upside down, all four of his paws stretched into the air, afflicted with intense shivers. His mind and body had become that of a statue.
Later. . .
Carrying a stiff pup on his back, Humphrey returned to the family den. His mother-in-law happened to be there waiting for them.
"Hi, Eve."
"Hi, Mom," said Lilly who had followed the grey wolf.
"Oh, there you are," Eve replied. "Why are you so late? Dinner's gone cold," she said with a pout.
"Uh, Runt had an... incident," the grey wolf informed.
"Dad, I'm fine!" Runt assured through clenched teeth. He was still belly-up with his legs equally spaced and erect. He hadn't moved an inch since his scare.
"What did you see?" Kate asked him with concern.
"Nothing..." The pup finally abandoned his frozen state and sighed.
"Stay away... Stay away!" a voice echoed. It was Tony speaking from his dream. Both of the former pack leaders were sleeping in the back of the den.
"Something got your fur in a bunch?" asked Claudette as Runt dismounted Humphrey.
"Little bro, you're... you're as pale as a coyote," Stinky added.
"A coyote? Really?" Runt replied with a scoff. He never thought he could be compared to a wolf's lowly cousin.
"Hey," said his brother, "did you alert the critters that the Omegas are the new kings of the forest?"
"No... but I will tomorrow."
"I think a different field trip is probably a good idea," their mother suggested, shattering Runt's pride.
"Kate, it's not a bad place to explore," Humphrey countered.
"Yeah! Critters... everywhere!" Lilly added with excitement.
"I have an idea," said Eve. "Let's all go! We can do a hunt! GRRR! And afterwards have a picnic!"
"Stay away... Stay away," Tony continued, drawing their attention. Eve decided to wake them up.
"WOLF ATTACK!"
"WAR!" Tony screamed in response. The old wolves jumped in urgency. Upon quickly realizing there was no danger, they saw the family staring. Tony cleared his throat before asking a question. "So... how was the forest?"
"Great!" Lilly replied. "Except that place has some strange weather patterns."
"Windy, right?"
"Yeah!"
"Especially up by Sawtooth Cave," said one of the pups.
"Runt! I told you to stay away from that place!"
"Uncle Tony, what happened to you when you were there?" The old Eastern wolf lowered his ears.
"Don't act like you don't want to tell 'em your story," said Winston.
"I really don't," Tony replied. He sat down politely and looked away from the wolves, but the three pups gathered around him eagerly. At that point, it became extremely hard to resist. "Well... okay!" The pups wagged their tails. "It was a dark and cold night."
"And if it's Tony's story, it'll be even darker and colder," Winston remarked sarcastically. He closed his eyes and resumed the sleeping posture, hoping the story would put him back to sleep.
In a flashback. . .
(Tony's POV)
It was more than two years ago. Not long after the packs united, I embarked on an expedition across the West. My tour guides were the well-known twins, Link and Lyle. There we were... We were practice-hunting... on the tail of major prey. It was huge! Antlers sharp as rock. We stalked it... across the path. I had to get it. It was my first prey as a retired leader.
"Tony, it looks like it went into that cave," said Link. "That dark and creepy cave."
"Okay, Lyle and Link, you twins go check it out." The two young wolves looked at each other.
"Why us?" they replied in unison
"Because if anything happens to one, there's always a spare." I was so selfless. They began climbing the rock pile. "Think about it. You'll come back with your biggest prey yet!" Suddenly, the winds came in which made the two wolves hesitant. "Come on, let's do this thing!" I encouraged, but it wasn't enough. The winds blew stronger, so they chose to descend. "Oh, for howling out loud! What is wrong with you two? I'll do it!"
I made my way up. The winds became even stronger. It was tough, but I was tougher. I pushed on. Eventually, I made it to the opening of the cave. That was when... it appeared. I heard a noise behind me before I could go inside. I turned around. It was a giant... blue face! "AHHHHHHH! RUN! RUN! IT'S GONNA GET US! IT'S GONNA GET US!"
Back in the present. . .
(Third Person POV)
"IT'S GONNA GET US! IT'S GONNA GET US!" Tony screamed. His legs were awkwardly crossed. The other wolves could see he was reliving the exact moment. He then cleared his throat again. "And I never went into the forest again..."
"Okay! I... think it's getting late!" said Kate nervously.
"Uh, yeah! I agree!" said Humphrey. "Uh, pups, thank Grandma for dinner."
"Thanks for dinner, Grandma," they said in unison.
"Come back for leftovers!" Eve replied cheerfully.
"Oh, and, uh, thank Uncle Tony for the bedtime horror story."
"Thank you for the bedtime horror story!"
That night. . .
Long after Eve, Lilly, and the former pack leaders had left, Humphrey and Kate watched their offspring snore. It seemed only yesterday when they had their journey back to Jasper.
"They're growing up so fast. Hunting... Exploring... Quite a pawful," Kate remarked.
"Yeah," Humphrey agreed. "It's how a grey wolf gets even greyer."
But unbeknownst to them, one of their pups was having an intense dream. Runt was taken back to the bare tree he had climbed in Shadow Forest. The same swirling winds enclosed him.
"I am not afraid. I am not afraid. I am not afraid." The repeating words trembled as much as he did. He could sense the ghost watching him, its misty breath brushing over his shoulder as he peered into the throat of Sawtooth Cave. Before he was rendered petrified, there was something he saw that he initially disregarded. Within the pitch black, there were two green dots. He thought at first they were fireflies, but he remembered the points moving together as if they were fixed to the same thing. He imagined behind those two dots the outline of a head, a furry one. Was someone trapped in the cave? This stunning thought made the ghost roar. It charged angrily at him, opening its jaws wide, but before it could chew the pup to bits, he awoke with a start.
Luckily, his scream didn't wake his parents nearby. Humphrey and Kate were deep sleepers, but Stinky and Claudette were quick to respond. Since he was the small one, his siblings were always sensitive to his episodes of distress.
"You okay, little brother?" Stinky whispered.
"I have to go back! I have to!" he asserted. "Are you two with me?" His two siblings looked at each other. What trouble were they getting into now?
(written on September 19th, 2022)
Chapter 3: Saving Stinky
December 13th, 2012
"Have fun at the river! Catch a few fish, would ya?"
"Uh, sure thing, Mom," said Runt from outside the family den. His siblings followed closely.
"I feel guilty," Claudette admitted.
"Why?" said Stinky. "Technically we are going to the river. Just... takin' a detour."
Kate protruded her head from the cave, dying to say one last thing.
"And please—" Runt cut her off.
"Mom, we're cool, okay? We'll be back for dinner," he assured. Their mother blushed. She realized she was annoying them.
"Bye..."
Later. . .
"Welcome to my kingdom," Runt declared. Stinky and Claudette entered Shadow Forest for the first time. It was difficult for them to be proud of Runt. The forest reeked of despair. Who would want a province so disagreeable and melancholy?
"It's... uh... Nice, Runt." It was all Stinky could say. "Uh... A bit dark and—"
"So... shadowy," Claudette finished. The Betas arrived at the belief that they were being watched. By who? They didn't want to find out. "Okay... now we've seen it and we should... hightail it over to the river." She and Stinky turned to leave. Runt stamped a paw on their tails, preventing their withdrawal.
"No, I want to show you Sawtooth Cave! Are you two afraid?" He nearly chuckled at the notion of two Alphas-in-training being more frightened than the Omega-in-training.
"No!" they answered in unison. A strange hawk-like bird then flew close and made a bizarre reverberating call. "AHHH!" they both screamed. Runt rolled his eyes.
"Would you two wolves channel your inner Alpha? We're creating an image here!" Suddenly, loud giggling splintered the fog. Runt looked to his left and noticed two female porcupines, one a darker blue than the other. "Great."
"Identify yourselves!" Stinky ordered.
"Ugh, identify yourself," one of them shot back.
"Well, we asked you first!" Claudette retorted, "and we outrank you guys." The bluer porcupine turned to her companion.
"Check out wolf girl! She has got some serious attitude."
"And what is with that fur?" the other replied. "Is that a mullet?"
Claudette gasped and approached them.
"Well, well, if it isn't the MEAN GIRLS of Shadow Forest!"
"Okay, now look," said Runt, going between the females. "Let's all try and be friendly here." He focused on the porcupines. "I'm Runt, the future king of the forest."
"Ha, ha, ha! Says who?"
"Says Winston, a former leader of the wolves!" Stinky answered. "And I do believe we can come and go as we wish."
"And I do believe you can't!"
"Hey, hey!" Runt cooed. "We're not here to cause problems." He motioned his siblings to follow him. "Come on."
Later. . .
Runt led the way to the mound of boulders. His siblings maintained control of their shivers under the turquoise cloud.
"Let's do this thing." They began to scale the rocks. Once again, the weather changed. The same swirl of autumn taunted the wolves. They wondered if they could be swept away. As soon as Runt got closer than ever, twenty feet from the platform, he surprised himself by having second thoughts. "Okay... maybe we should come back another day." The tan she-wolf gasped. The ghost had reappeared! Now Runt's siblings could see for themselves what rendered their brother stiff as a moose femur. The blue phantom peered right into their souls.
"What is that?!"
"It looks like a wolf," said Stinky.
"Quick, this way!" Runt urged. He wondered if they could outflank it. He led his siblings back into the thicket. The spirit chased after them. In a panic, they slid down a small hill. That was when they realized something had changed.
"Which way is out?!" asked Stinky.
"I think we came that way, didn't we?!" said Claudette, pointing towards the south.
"No, no, it was that way!" said Runt. Claudette gasped again. The spirit found them!
"RUN! RUN!" Claudette took the lead and motioned them to hide in a bush. "This way, bros!" They jumped in quickly. Immediately, the ghost's roar subsided.
"Okay, be very... quiet," whispered Stinky. He poked his head out. "Where are we?" The land appeared completely different. Everything from the tallest trees to the smallest pebbles seemed to have rearranged themselves. In Alpha School, Stinky had quickly risen to one of the best navigators in his class. Here, he was utterly dumbfounded.
"I'll scope out the opposite direction," Claudette offered.
"Runt, you stay in there!" Stinky ordered. His brother groaned.
"What am I? The sitting Paddy?!" The Betas then left the bush. After half a minute, Runt came out to check on them. "Stinky? Claudette? Anything?" The leaves continued their aerial dance. Soon, Claudette returned.
"I think I found the exit! Where is Stinky?"
"I don't know."
"AHHHH!" a voice cried.
"Stinky!"
"Bro, where are you?!" Runt called. There was no response. The two pups' hearts sank. They tried to locate the sound of his yell. Thirty yards north of the bush they found footprints. "His paw marks stop here. Stinky!"
"Stinky! Where are you?!" Claudette yelled. Runt decided to climb the nearest tree. It took him less than twenty seconds to reach the top. "Anything?"
"No, nothing!" Runt replied frantically. He feared it was too late, that the spirit had done him in. He scanned the vicinity. "I... I don't see him anywhere! STINKY!" Although the dark grey pup was nowhere to be seen, a blue flash caught his eye. A hundred yards away, the ghost reemerged next to Sawtooth Cave. Next, a white she-wolf appeared out of the darkness, the wolf from his dream! A realization came. He gasped. "It's protecting her!" The white wolf, who seemed no older than his parents, engaged in a squirming movement. "Wha... What are you saying to me?" he whispered to himself. She then pointed her paw towards the ravine. Runt looked towards the spot she pointed to and found his brother struggling to climb a cliff. "CLAUDETTE, I SEE HIM! I SEE HIM!" In no time, he descended the tree. Claudette joined him at the cliff edge, and both of them tried to reach for Stinky, but he was too far down. They had to do something or else Stinky would fall into the river of mud and debris. Claudette opted for grabbing a stick with her jaws. "Hold on!" She held one end while the other end was lowered for Stinky to grab. "Come on! Stinky! Hold it!" Stinky managed to get a grip, and a single strong pull was enough to get him up.
(written on September 23rd, 2022)
Chapter 4: Troubled Parents
"You said you were going to the river!" Kate scolded. After Stinky was rescued, the pups returned to the family den atop Mt. Victory where their perturbed parents awaited. Their mother was especially distraught. Even before she ascertained their true whereabouts, the Alpha had had her suspicions. Recently, the pups were getting too comfortable with dishonesty.
"Well, we did travel to the river!" Stinky replied.
"And Stinky has the mud on his paws to prove it!" Claudette added.
"I saw something coming and freaked out, and then I fell... but I survived!" The dark grey pup wasn't fazed at all by his near-death experience, but Kate wondered how far his pride would take him. She acknowledged their excuses with a sigh. When they told her they were going to the river, she was misled to believe it was the Dividing River they were referring to.
Due to minor complaints of the pups interfering with hunts, they weren't allowed to be out of their parents' range of smell without asking permission. Consequences were said to follow if they weren't where they agreed to be, and this was the third time in the last week alone that one of them lied. This bothered Kate in particular. Alpha parents were usually quick to discipline their pups and such was the case between Kate and her parents. At the pups' age, she could never imagine lying to Winston or Eve. They had smacked the smallest hints of disobedience out of her not long after she was born, but Kate didn't wish to be like her parents. The pups were her baby angels, and she could never be angry with them, only frustrated.
"Oh, pups, enough with that forest! Can't you stick to... chasing butterflies in the valley?"
"Huh?" Claudette tilted her head.
"Or playing in front of the cave."
"Playing what?" said the runt with a defiant tone.
"Oh... you could play... the howling game!" The pups all groaned at once.
"Oh, you mean like howling EVERY fifteen minutes so you can locate us," said Stinky. Their mother blushed.
"Uh, nooo... Um... on the hour will do."
"What's next? A leash?" Claudette remarked in a low voice. The pups' displeasure was apparent.
"Okay, guys," said Humphrey. "Look, your mother is just trying to make sure that you don't... you know, get yourself into a... situation."
"Yeah, a situation that could be bad... Leads to bad things," Stinky retorted with sarcasm. He twisted his head as a gesture toward the adults.
"Didn't you two get into a lot of 'situations?'" Claudette reminded.
"But I wouldn't say it led to bad things," added Runt. "Well, not in the end, at least."
Their parents exchanged a look of embarrassment. Their own offspring had exposed their hypocrisy.
Meanwhile. . .
Not far from the cave, Tony was having a leisurely walk when two familiar wolves blocked his path.
"If it isn't my favorite twins..." The Eastern had lost count of how many moons it had been when he had seen the twins last. Link and Lyle were the infamous agitators of the West. They were controversial Alphas who Tony had befriended, not because he liked them but because he found their eccentricity amusing. The twins were regularly engrossed in rumors and conspiracies.
"We hear that a bunch of Omegas went into Shadow Forest today," said Lyle.
"Against my wishes," informed Tony.
"It must be safe if Omegas went there," said Link, his voice much deeper than his brother's. In fact, the voice difference was the sole difference between them. Both had identical dark grey fur with the same brown smears. They also shared striking amber eyes.
"From what I understand," Tony replied. "It's exactly as we left it."
"Did Winston declare it for the Omegas?" asked Lyle in a high-pitched tone, mocking the former Western leader he mentioned. Both twins viewed Winston as spineless. "I heard there was a lot of food in there," he then added.
"For your own good, stick to hunting in the fields." The Eastern's recommendation was sturdy. The spirit they encountered had scarred him the most. At a minimum, he wouldn't join Link and Lyle. He then resumed his exercise, forcing the twins to express their indignation amongst themselves.
"Ever since Winston allowed Kate to marry Humphrey, the Alphas have always gotten the short end!"
"We found that forest first!"
"Yeah, we did..." It was at that point they agreed to claim Shadow Forest for themselves. No other Alphas were willing to go there, so they believed no one would dare to dispute their claim.
Later. . .
"Ugh, can Mom and Dad chill?" said Claudette.
"Let's call 'em out," Runt whispered.
"Heh, heh. Let me," Stinky offered. "I do believe we are being followed!" the pup shouted.
"You think we're following you? Kate, did you hear that? The pups think their own parents are following them! Please..." Humphrey then whispered to Kate even though their pups were close enough to hear. "Huh, I told you this was a bad idea..."
"No! No! We're just uh... going on a walk!" Kate replied nervously. The irked pups came to a stop. Their parents were only a foot behind them, and they were less than half a mile from Mt. Victory. "Hey! Hey! Let's do a family walk... together... okay?"
Their daughter looked back and groaned.
"Mom... it's time we explore places by ourselves." Her brothers nodded.
What followed was a few seconds of awkward silence, but this was the moment their parents finally capitulated.
"Kate... we knew this day would come," said Humphrey. The Alpha shook her head.
"Rejection. Horrible feeling," she admitted.
The Omega took a deep breath. He was anxious, but a small part of him was thrilled. This would be a big step for the pups whether it was premature or not.
"Okay, well... stay on the path of uhh... life!" They watched the pups walk on their own, disappearing into the trees. To the parents' dismay, none of them hesitated or looked back one last time.
"And uh... throw us a howl... every now and then," Kate added woefully. The Alpha was on the verge of tears; however, her mate offered hope.
"I have an idea. Don't worry," he cooed.
Later. . .
An hour then passed after the pups began their first independent journey. Humphrey's idea was to meet up with the golfing waterfowl, Paddy and Marcel. The two birds had stuck around since the training days of the Great Wolf Games that occurred more than two months ago, for they had grown quite fond of the wolves they helped escape Idaho, especially after they found out the wolves could marry each other. They were disappointed when Humphrey told them he couldn't be with Kate because of the law. That was over two and a half years ago. The birds now considered themselves uncles, but Humphrey believed the title of uncle came with... stipulations.
"Oh, look at Paddy. Quack, quack, qua-qua-quack," the goose sneered. He and the grey wolf perched, side by side, on the bank of a pond. Moving in figures of eights on the water's surface was Paddy, quacking repeatedly in a manner that was unusually loud for him.
"Isn't it kind of... a duck thing? Blech!" said Humphrey with a grimace.
"And so is l'orange sauce," said Marcel, sharing his version of something disgusting. After a short while, the goose couldn't take any more quacking. "Paddy, enough with that!"
"I have to get it out of my system!" Paddy replied.
"OH, GOSH!" the Omega exclaimed, reclaiming his grimace. "Is that what you're doing?! I drink out of this lake!" Humphrey had assumed it was only a ritual for molting feathers.
"Unlucky you," said Marcel. "Uh, Paddy, Humphrey has a task for us! Hurry!"
"Will the stuffed goose please stop pressuring me?!" the duck shot back. Marcel then turned back to the wolf to deliver his honest opinion that seemed to be a fact.
"Eh, the pups are no longer pups, my friend. You and Kate must learn to let them go." There was no sympathy or pity accompanying his conclusion. If Humphrey wanted them to do this task, Marcel thought it was necessary to avoid sugarcoating the truth as much as possible. Otherwise, as far as the goose believed, there would be no path to acceptance. As anticipated, the news crushed Humphrey. He lowered his head and flattened his ears in sadness. The truth was heartbreaking. "I'll never forget when my mama gathered me in her maternal wings and... threw me off the nest."
"Ah, all cleaned out," Paddy declared before exiting the pond.
"That's more than I needed to know," said Humphrey.
"The parents are dealing with maturing pups," Marcel informed.
"They're always getting into trouble!" The Omega carried a look of desperation.
"Hm. Sounds like a family trait," Paddy replied with a smirk.
"But no judgment, by the way," added Marcel.
"Please, guys," Humphrey begged, "just some air reconnaissance..."
(written from September 24th to September 25th, 2022)
Chapter 5: A Wolf in Hiding
The birds spotted the pups near the northern border of the pack. Close to the North was a network of groves dense with trembling aspens. Although nowhere near as grim as Shadow Forest, the groves produced a fair amount of shade, and it was in the darkest shadows inside the trees' crowns where Marcel and Paddy kept their distance.
However, neither of them were trained spies. Less than twenty minutes into their monitoring, the pups began to feel that they were watched. Stinky could already smell waterfowl, for his sense of smell was remarkably strong for his age. Then, all of a sudden, his inkling was reinforced when there was a loud quack. Unbeknownst to them, Paddy had bent a branch downward with his wings to get a closer look, but a loss of grip caused the branch to swing up into the duck's face, knocking him out of the tree.
"That sounded like Paddy," said Stinky. "Uncle Paddy, is that you?"
Marcel smacked his face with his wing.
"Ugh... Never send a duck to do a goose's job."
It didn't take long for the pups to understand what was going on. Runt motioned Stinky to walk alone, forcing the birds to split up. Paddy followed Stinky who traveled further in the grove while the goose followed Runt and Claudette as they entered a field with tall grass.
At the field, the goose was totally exposed, but he didn't give up his pursuit.
"Uncle Marcel, stop following us!" Runt implored. The bird pretended to act ignorant.
"Oh! I was uh... trying to catch a field mouse."
"Yeah, right," Claudette replied with a sarcastic smile as her brother rolled his eyes. "Did our parents put you up to this?"
"My beak... is sealed."
The two pups decided to stick out their tongues in response, spurring Marcel to glide down towards them. He intended to give a disciplinary blow. They then disappeared into a patch of tall grass, catching the goose off guard. He was unable to ascend fast enough, and he crash-landed ahead of them. "Oof!"
Claudette exited the patch to see if the bird was okay.
"Sorry. If we're being honked at, we tend to move!"
Marcel quickly stood up and dusted himself off. He noticed her brother was not beside her.
"Well, where is Runt?"
"My mouth is sealed," she answered smugly.
Later. . .
Indeed, it was part of the plan. Runt managed to slip away and travel to Shadow Forest again. He had to meet the white wolf who saved Stinky. There was a mystery inside Sawtooth Cave, and he wanted to peel it back. It was said that ghosts had what was called "unfinished business." What kind of business would he find?
"Hello? Hellooo?" his voice echoed. Runt found himself next to the tree he had climbed twice before. Surprisingly, the spirit had yet to show itself. The associated winds were also presently nonexistent. It was deathly quiet, but he could smell the she-wolf inside the cave. "I wanted to thank you for the other day. You helped me find my brother." There was no response. "Can I come up? Is that okay?" he softly asked.
"Please... don't..."
"Okay, we're making progress here," Runt whispered to himself. He concluded that she was shy, but he remained adamant. Despite her protest, he didn't believe this wolf truly wanted to be alone. "I... just want to say hi."
"I don't want any visitors!" she yelled. Her unease grew, but the pup progressed anyway. Halfway up the tree, he could see the two green dots. The she-wolf backed farther into the cave until the dots vanished.
"Almost there!" Runt began crossing the branch that led to the platform. As he got closer, the winds picked up. He took a deep breath. "Okay... Used to that wind already." Since the spirit still hadn't awakened yet, the pup calmly landed on the platform. He noticed a pine cone sitting by itself on the ledge and decided to use it. "Bringing... a housewarming gift! It's simple, but it's uh... art! Look at the texture." It was then the wind speed became unnerving. At the same time, he attempted to interpret the cone's scales. "It says, life... is a rough..." But then, just like in his dream, he felt the spirit coalesce behind his back. "I am not afraid... I am king of the forest! Huh... Wow, that sounded pretty good." He turned around and challenged its glare with his own. The blue beast stared through him, bright as ever. Runt felt the same tingle in his brain, but he simply ignored it. "Boring... Doesn't scare me! I once fought a bear... cub at Rabbit Poo Mountain!" The spirit unleashed a screech. Like a blood-thirsty moose, it charged! The pup winced, accepting his fate. Next, a paw grabbed his right hind leg. "AHH!" He was pulled into the darkness. When Runt reopened his eyes, the spirit was gone. Not a single leaf was in the air.
"You've been to Rabbit Poo Mountain?" the white wolf asked, capturing the pup's attention.
"Yes..." Runt answered meekly. His fears returned. Now that he was in this wolf's inner domain, he wasn't sure if she would be friendly. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Come back tomorrow."
"So um... I'm free to leave?"
"Yes... but move quickly."
Meanwhile. . .
The porcupines, Fran and Freida, were close to the jagged hill when they came across two new wolves.
"Flea alert," said Fran.
"We let one in, and now we've got the whole pack to deal with."
They quickly noticed the wolves' identical appearances.
"Well, if it isn't wolf squared."
"Look, tasty prey," said Lyle.
"And so plump," Link added.
"WHAT?!" Freida exclaimed. She could never imagine a wolf having a taste for her spines.
"Should we take 'em down?" Fran suggested.
"Sure. I wonder how they would taste."
"Gross me out!"
"Sike! I wouldn't eat a wolf. Like disgusting."
"Are they sneering at us?" said Lyle. The rodent named Freida stepped towards them and hissed.
"Okay, that critter just gave me a territorial challenge," said Link.
"Go ahead," his brother replied, "Show the porcupine who's top dog."
Link approached the closest bole and lifted his leg. Fran gasped.
"He's marking my favorite tree?!"
"Oo, gross!" Freida exclaimed.
"You know, in this lighting, they're almost cute," said the twin after he finished urinating.
"That does it!" The porcupines broadened their backs, ready to pounce with their quills extended; however, the wolves ran past them, going towards Sawtooth Cave.
"Great! They were supposed to run out of the woods," said an irked Fran. Now it was up to the spirit to stop them. Lyle took the lead up the hill but soon paused.
"Wait. I went first last time!"
"Okay, put your paw out," Link ordered. "Ready?" They engaged in a paw game where each player made one of three shapes with their forepaws.
"Leaf! Teeth! Rock!" they said in unison before displaying their paws. Lyle chose "teeth" while Link chose "rock."
"I won!" Link declared. "Take that!"
"Just like last time," his brother grumbled, but Link wouldn't get a moment to enjoy it. The winds blew into them violently and that was when the spirit greeted them. The twins were petrified at first. Then the ghost made the hair on the backs erect by bellowing an earth-shattering warning.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Their shrieks were enough to stir the fog. The scare sent them sprinting in unsteady zigzags. Fran and Freida giggled as the twins hurried past them.
"Come again!" they remarked joyfully.
Later. . .
It was now dusk. A few hours after the twins returned, a babbling crowd formed in front of Winston and Tony. Since Garth was unavailable, it was their responsibility to address the pack's concerns. The elders took their place atop a prominent rock and commenced assessing the commotion.
"Order! Order!" said Winston. The two wolves who started the turmoil stepped forward.
"Speak," Tony directed.
"Winston, Tony... we ventured into Shadow Forest, and we saw for ourselves... that forest is haunted!" Flanking the twins, the other Alphas laughed hysterically. "There is a ghost of a wolf!"
"Where?" asked Winston.
"It was this image in the trees!" answered Link. Winston didn't think he could take them seriously. He turned to the Eastern.
"Been telling your stories lately?"
"And there are these two witches!" Lyle added.
"Witches?" Winston replied, his left eyebrow raised.
"Yeah! These two... porcupines!" The shower of laughter intensified exponentially. It left them feeling unappreciated. The two of them were famous for indulging in speculations, but this was the one time they were one hundred percent sure of what they were talking about. If only they had known earlier how much the pack did not trust them.
(written from September 25th to September 27th, 2022)
Chapter 6: The Escape - Part 1
By the end of twilight, the twins settled in one of the sleeping fields, mushy greenery coating the gentle slopes of Mt. Victory. For wolves without dens, they were comfortable retreats, but for this night, the stars had been languid due to Lyle grinding his teeth. The sting of humiliation stymied his slumber. It left him no choice but to nudge his lifelong associate.
"Do you mind? I was having a nice dream about a Moonlight Howl."
"No one believed us," said Lyle.
"Yeah, it stunk," his brother admitted. "Now back to my dream, and you're... not in it."
"And now we look pathetic to our pack!"
"Try to sleep it off."
"If we chase out the ghost, we will be heroes," Lyle suggested. Link's eyes reopened. The word "hero" had a nice ring to it.
"We'll need more wolves..."
"But how will we get somebody on our side? You saw how they laughed at us!" Their eyes were then drawn to the snoring wolves that surrounded them.
The twins weren't the only ones who objected to the law revision that allowed Alphas of the royal family to mate with Omegas. There were many who believed the restoration of the Grand Pack wasn't worth the breaking of an ancient custom. The twins had heard whispers of a few Alphas who considered leaving the pack in protest. Perhaps, if they could take advantage of this sentiment, they could organize a band whose numbers could overwhelm the spirit. It was said for a long time that the phantom was only a guard. Sitting within Sawtooth Cave was said to be something powerful and enchanted, another spirit or ghost but unlike any other. It was theorized to be a psychic force that could possibly be used or manipulated to act at their bidding. With it on their side, they could be the leaders of a new pack entirely within Shadow Forest. Of course, this was treason they were contemplating as the forest had always been either Grand Pack or Western territory, but the twins were exceptional risk-takers. They lived and breathed hazards. It was their oxygen.
Later. . .
At the top of Mt. Victory, Runt withdrew from the family cave. It wasn't unusual for him to have to go in the middle of the night. Fragmented sleep had become part of his routine. Managing a yawn, he strode to the nearest shrub. He lifted his leg casually but stopped his business short. Four Alphas had huddled together ten yards away. To exchange whispers so close to his family's area seemed questionable. Being his curious self, he broke their conversation with a greeting.
"Hey there." He was not spared the glares and sighs of annoyance. Runt identified two of the Alphas as the infamous duo. He knew them well as he was once a regular listener of their stories back in the summer.
"Runt," said Lyle, "isn't it a little late for you to be out?"
"I had to uh... you know." The pup gestured to the shrub.
"Hm... Get back to your cave," Link ordered.
"What's going on?"
"Hmm. Nothing. Nothing at all. We were just about to leave." The four Alphas then began circling him. "By the way, what exactly did you see in Shadow Forest? Anything unusual?"
"Uh, no! Nothing!" Runt lied. Link didn't buy it. Inches from the pup's snout, the Alpha produced a low growl. Runt decided there was one thing he had to give. "Actually, yeah, there um... There was something... way down by the river."
"Like what?" Lyle prodded.
"Something strange down there."
Later. . .
Runt scaled the naked tree at Shadow Forest again. The spirit raged behind him, but now it was nothing more than a nuisance. He felt that the white she-wolf was in danger. He had to inform her regardless of the spirit.
"Hello? Um, excuse me? Sorry to bother you so late. I need to tell you something." The white wolf swiftly emerged.
"Come here."
Runt landed on the platform again. Before he could inform her, he had to ask an important question. It was one he had been saving since his dream.
"Are you hiding from the pack?"
"Yes," she answered shamefully, "because uhh..."
"Because a wolf who can't see isn't considered useful to some?"
"Yes." Runt knew it. The she-wolf of Sawtooth Cave was blind!
"Then how did you know where my brother was that day?"
"I heard a splash... and well... I have other talents."
"How did you get up here?" said a voice deeper in the cave. Runt was shocked. It was the squawking porcupine he met on his field trip with the Omegas! What was he doing in Sawtooth Cave?
Before Runt could answer the porcupine, a series of distant barks rippled through the fog. It announced the presence of a hostile force.
"You brought them?!" the white she-wolf exclaimed.
"No, I came to warn you!" Runt explained. "They'll come after you!"
"You know how to get to Rabbit Poo Mountain?"
"Yes."
"Can you take me there?"
"Daria?!" the porcupine exclaimed. "Are you kiddin'? He's a pup!"
"I am not a pup!" he protested with a modest blush. "I just look like one. My name is Runt." He turned back to the wolf he now knew as Daria. "What's at Rabbit Poo Mountain?"
"My family," she answered. "I'm from the fourth litter of my mother. She was elderly, and the pups of elderly she-wolves tend to have... complications. Nonetheless, she loved all of us, and she promised me that I would never be abandoned. I still remember that day. I was only a few weeks old. The family patriarch—I only knew him as Head Wolf—watched me as I still struggled to walk. I heard him talking about my mother with another Alpha. He said, 'She can't possibly raise future hunters when one of those pups is...' I heard him snarl. I was certain he was going to rush forward and attack me. He declared, 'It is the way of the pack!'"
"So your mother saved you."
"Yes. I was taken to Shadow Forest where Floyd here took me in. 'Come with me,' he said. 'I know a safe place.'" Daria then sighed. "I just want to hear her voice. Once."
The pup walked to the edge of the platform. As barks were getting louder, he could smell them closing the distance. What he feared came to pass. The misdirection he gave to Link had failed. They were not heading for the ravine. Runt had a small hope they would fall in as his older brother had.
"I told them to go to the river," Runt admitted.
"So you did bring 'em here!" said Floyd.
"What? No!" He took a few steps to the white wolf and touched her paw with his. "Daria, we have to leave!"
"It's a trap," Floyd asserted. "He's still a wolf."
Meanwhile, Link and Lyle's band arrived at the bottom of the hill. They looked up and perceived a glint up high that made them all gasp. From certain angles, light ricocheted off Daria's cloudy eyes, creating the two glowing dots. If the rumor of the freakish eyes was true, it had to be the psychic entity they were looking for!
"Something is definitely up there," said Lyle.
"If we storm it all at once," Link suggested, "we can get to it." He turned to the rest of their company. "Okay, follow me!"
The band's climb featured winds of the hurricane variety, battering them with serrated leaves that grazed their muzzles, yet they progressed as determined as ever. They squinted with heads lowered to protect their faces. "Push on, Brother!" Link encouraged. The twins were not going to give up like the last two times. They could accept being labeled as crazy, but to be dubbed a failure would strip them of their pride.
In desperation, the spirit released a roar that was nothing short of deafening, but ultimately, it didn't attempt to strike them directly. It was working! The spirit seemed bewildered by the sheer number of mortals. Within a half-minute, they reached the platform. Everything became quiet as Alpha after Alpha supported the twins. The cave was smaller than expected, no bigger than a whelping den. The two green eyes they saw hanging in the black were absent.
"No ghost?" said a confused Link.
"Yeah..." Then the other twin noticed four dots inside a crevice in the wall, though they lacked the lustrous green. "But maybe..." In a flash, there was a ferocious attack. Two creatures leaped out of the crevice, their eyes now a devilish red.
"AHH! OW! OW! OW! OW! OW! OW!" The Alpha dozen scrambled out of the mouth. Whining squeakily, they sprang and tumbled off the platform. Half of them dashed with a cluster of quills deep into their rear ends.
"Who's next?!" yelled Freida from the ledge. Panting beside her was her companion, Fran. Shortly, they complemented each other with giggles.
The platform extended past the right side of the cave. Runt, Daria, and Floyd had escaped across the right side where they descended the hill behind the cave where Link and Lyle couldn't see them.
"Right this way, Daria." They were now heading for the end of the forest. To Runt's surprise, he didn't have to walk slowly for Daria, as she was adept at following the sounds of his movements.
Runt soon altered his course, so they would be traveling east towards the populated part of the territory. After ten minutes, they came across a defined edge. All they had to do was pass over in order for Daria to be free. Moonlight was dim compared to sunlight, but walking out of the forest was like walking into tomorrow, one that was crisp and full of life. Whatever time it was inside Shadow Forest didn't matter. At least in the normal shade of the night, Runt could see his stubby little toes. That was when the pup realized that poor Daria wouldn't be able to tell the difference. In a sense, her whole universe was Shadow Forest. Or maybe it wasn't, he wondered…
Suddenly, as he neared the farthest stretch of beech trees, spiked roots shot up from the depths of the soil, twisting and weaving to form a thick woody barrier between them and the rays of the moon. "What the...?" Runt could hardly believe it. It was like the roots had a mind of their own!
"Okay... We've got problems," said Floyd. Runt noticed another path nearby.
"Floyd, follow me." But exactly as before, roots, as if sentient, halted them from exiting. Runt was dumbfounded. "Every time we try to get out, we get blocked!" He then turned to Daria. "It's like the forest doesn't want you to leave..." Runt wondered if it was the spirit's doing. The winds had intensified once more.
"Hm, no comment," said Floyd. The porcupine wasn't surprised, for he had lived in the forest his entire life and seen otherwordly things on occasion.
"Just get us out of here!" the she-wolf urged. Daria feared the spirit may try to kill Runt for guiding her out.
"I'm trying!" Runt scanned the vicinity. He found an outcrop on the edge that was higher than the canopy. He couldn't expect the roots to block them from that height. "Floyd, up and over the rocks!"
Daria and the porcupine followed him up a ramp. Just when they thought the exit was close, it turned out the outcrop was split into two. Without thinking, Runt leaped and cleared the fissure.
"Okay, jump!" the pup ordered. There were no roots to stop them. It was the only way out of the forest, but Daria hesitated.
"No, I can't!"
"Jump!"
"Daria, it's okay! It's straight ahead!" Floyd assured. He tried pushing her hind legs. It didn't move her one bit.
"I... can't!"
The porcupine decided to be harsh. He pricked her firmly in the rear end which provided the persuasion she needed. He was careful not to leave quills in her fur. "Ahh!" She landed awkwardly but without a scratch. Finally, Floyd cleared the fissure with ease. Part two of their itinerary had begun.
"This way to Rabbit Poo Mountain!" said Runt. "Quickly!"
(written on October 1st, 2022)
Chapter 7: The Escape - Part 2
"Waterfall... Huhhh, pretty waterfall..." The Omega dreamt of riding a log. Rather than down a slope, it was down a stream in the depths of a gorge where sparkling cascades entranced him. He was too late to notice the crooked corners speeding past. At the end of the canyon, the water rushed towards a pit that led straight to the center of the Earth. "Major waterfall..." He finally freed his eyes. The discomfort was hard to ignore—he needed to pee!
On his way out, he tiptoed over Stinky and Claudette. Seeing them sleep kindled his intuition. Could it be true? Indeed, from the corner of his right eye, the vacancy blazed. Why would Runt disappear at this hour? He and the Alpha agreed to give the pups more independence, but leaving the family without a word was discourteous. He had to get to the bottom of Runt's fixation with Shadow Forest, and he wasn't going to do it alone.
"Kate!" he whispered. His mate stretched a yawn.
"Humphrey, wha... what is it?" The Alpha had taken sleep aids before the night, fermented berries from Humprey's cache. The effects had yet to wear off. "Ohhh, full moon," she said seductively. She assumed Humphrey had something romantic planned. That was usually the case whenever he surprised her, but the Omega quickly shattered these thoughts. He directed her attention to the vacant spot. "Runt? Where'd he go?!" Her mate gestured to the woodlands. "Hmph. I'll get Lilly to cub-watch."
Later. . .
"Don't you wolves know when to quit?" Fran said rhetorically. The two porcupines had been resting on a tall boulder near Shadow Forest's eastern limits. Unlike previous visitors, Humphrey and Kate approached the porcupines willingly.
"Have you seen a small wolf? Runt?"
"Yeahhh," Freida replied, her eyes rolling at the Alpha.
"Well, where is he?" asked Humphrey.
"He's fine," answered Fran. "He's on a mission." The wolves' interest inflated. This confirmed that something bigger than them was at play.
"What kind of a mission? Where?!" Kate questioned.
"Can't say."
"This... is our son!" Kate informed.
"Not our problem," said Freida. The Alpha struggled to avoid snarling. The porcupines' casual indifference peeved her.
"You two better pipe up, or you're going to be our future APPETIZER!"
"Oh, now we see where the daughter got her obnoxious personality."
"Mm-hmm," Frieda agreed with a nod. The Omega stepped closer to the boulder and took his shot.
"Look, I get it. You're bitter because you have quills, and no one wants to touch you... but... we need to find our pup. NOW!"
"First of all, Runt is not a pup. He is a stand-up wolf," Fran corrected, wiping off the Omega's flung saliva.
"And he is helping a friend of ours," Freida added. "Okay?"
"Okay," said Kate as her irritation subsided. "We want to help him... and help his friend. I promise... We both promise..." The porcupines exchanged a smirk.
"Oh, girlfriend, we are close to seeing the two dogs beg."
"Let's see it! Come on now."
"What?!" Kate could hardly entertain the thought. "Beg?! I will never!" Promptly, the Alpha shut her eyes and mouth. She swung her muzzle away to formally highlight her refusal. Then she remembered her mate was not an Alpha. The sound of mewling pried her eyes back open. Before long, Humphrey became completely submissive. He sat with his spine vertical and his forepaws hungrily stroking the air. Although it was just for show, the whines had Kate mortified. Humphrey wasn't afraid to lose his dignity.
The porcupines smiled again and nodded. They agreed to tell the couple what they needed to know.
December 14th, 2012 - 3:00 AM
On the other end of the territory, Runt, Daria, and Floyd were exhausted. They had hiked nonstop for hours.
"We've gotta keep going," said Runt.
"I can't... even feel my legs!" said Daria.
"Runt, get me a leaf to chew on," Floyd suggested. He and Daria had never walked so far in their lives. Floyd, in particular, was several feet behind the wolves, dragging their rear.
Eventually, the porcupine came to a stop as they crossed a small manmade wooden bridge. "My blood sugar is plummeting." Next, he appeared to faint. The pup turned around.
"Hey, wake up! Wake up. You can't rest here."
"This surface is so warm," he replied. Floyd then splayed his legs.
"Yeah, and it'll be even warmer when you're road kill."
"Just a twig... and maybe... throw in a few pine needles."
Runt sighed. He had to get him to move. He peered down both ends of the road to make sure there were no cars in sight. If he hurried, he could make it to the berry bushes and return within a few minutes.
"Okay, coming up. Daria, I'll be right there." The pup dashed into the forest.
"I'm not going anywhere," the she-wolf replied with a chuckle. "Hey, you are okay, right?" Floyd rolled over until he was upside down. A soothing vibration crept through him.
"Yeah, I can feel it on my back."
"Feel what?" The vibration crawled up her legs. She placed her right ear on the bridge's surface and listened. Something huge was approaching. "Move off the road! Move off!" Daria urged.
"You're no fun. It feels soooo good." He had surrendered to the shaking.
"Floyd, RIGHT NOW! We have to move! Oh, where are you?!" The vibration interfered with her remaining senses. She walked in aimless circles, trying to search for him with a paw stretched out.
"Oh, baby, that is one strong back pounding."
"Keep talking! I need to follow your voice!"
Suddenly, Daria felt a wave of heat on one side of her body. Unbeknownst to her, a truck was turning towards them, now heading for the bridge.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY! GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Runt screamed. He ran back to Daria in the nick of time and leaped into her flank. She was thrust away from the front of the vehicle just before the bumper hit her in the face. After the truck passed, Runt scanned the bridge for Daria's caretaker. "FLOYD!" Luckily, the porcupine was unharmed. He had been in the center of the bridge where the wheels missed him.
"What the...?" His eyes reopened. "Whoa! I just had a dream I was run over." He then noticed the truck's tail lights speeding ahead. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
(written from October 2nd to October 3rd, 2022)
Chapter 8: Clan of Rabbit Poo Mountain
"We're very close," Runt assured. Their destination in full view, silhouetted against the morning sun, allowed the pup to relax. He was happy to bring the she-wolf to her home. Despite having to disobey his parents, he was convinced he was performing a noble deed. It soaked him with joy.
"I've been hearing that for an awfully long time," Floyd replied. "I'm not complaining but... hmm."
"This is the only route I know. My dad knows all the real shortcuts."
"Yes, I do," said a male voice at his tail end. The pup didn't have to guess who it was. The three of them swung around.
"Runt, you are so busted," said Floyd.
Gingerly, the young wolf submitted to the shadows of his parents. There was nothing to be ashamed of, yet the guilt swallowed him.
"Dad... Mom... I uh..."
"Son, son," Humphrey cooed. "We're here to help you."
"You are?" The pup wagged his tail. It was the perfect response he hoped for.
"Just tell us how we can," his mother added.
Later. . .
It took twenty minutes to reach the mountain's den grounds. It would've taken thirty, but Kate managed to save ten, for she knew Daria's family more than most wolves, including the exact place they lived. In the relatively distant past, all wolves of the Valley were once subdivided by close-knit families called clans. Each had its own customs and rules distinct from pack law. After a series of wars, a rise in nationalism encouraged wolves to homogenize. By 2012, only a few clans in the Grand Pack remained, and one of them included the Clan of Rabbit Poo Mountain. Kate remembered the clan being a constant inconvenience to her father when he was pack leader of the West. They did not hunt for the pack as a whole. Instead, they hunted for themselves which the rest of the pack frowned on. They were stubborn, isolated wolves. It was thought they maintained the strict customs that came with clanhood. Kate would know upon Daria's return if such was still the case.
"Okay, Daria. I see your clan." The Alpha pointed her snout to a lower level. There were two groups of wolves basking in a sloping field, one entirely male and the other entirely female. The clan was segregated by gender.
"They'll... take me back, right?"
"Why wouldn't they?" asked Runt. The white wolf lowered her head in sorrow.
"They were worried she wouldn't be able to take care of me when I was a pup... but I made it."
During the age of clans, it was common for Alphas to reject pups with crippling disabilities. It was customary for the patriarch to terminate them as they were often deemed unfit for life. Typically this was done by carrying them to a conspicuous location far from the pack, a place other predators frequented. Cougars, for example, were known to eat helpless young. However, if the pup miraculously survived and managed to return to its family, in most cases they were allowed to stay. Daria believed she proved her worthiness, but would the Head Wolf accept her this time? That was the question.
"Okay, Daria, I will lead. You follow close behind," Kate instructed.
Daria replied with a nod. She missed her mother more than anything. Almost every night in Sawtooth Cave, she dreamt of nothing but her warm embrace.
"I have to hear her voice. I'll know it immediately."
The two she-wolves headed down. They met the group of females.
"Uh... hi there," Kate greeted, "We're Westerns too. We're just passing through."
"I think... that is Winston's daughter," a male Alpha commented. The group of males on the farther side of the field stared at them. It made Kate uncomfortable. Daria was discomforted as well, not because they were staring—naturally, she had no way of knowing so—but because she recognized the voice of the one they overheard. Her hackles rose. It was Head Wolf!
"Passing through? Well, my name is Lois. Welcome to Rabbit Poo Mountain."
"Yeah, yeah, we're a long ways away. Just a road trip," Kate replied. The wolf named Lois was cream-colored and had blue eyes.
"Who's your friend there?"
"Oh uh... she is... shy."
In fact, Daria's mind was elsewhere. She could hear the Head Wolf's footsteps. They were getting louder.
"I'll be right back," he said to his male companions. He was walking his way to the she-wolves!
"So, um... are there any other female wolves here?" Kate asked.
"No, just us," Lois answered.
Meanwhile, from the ledge many yards from the scene, Runt grew worried. The Head Wolf was getting too close.
"Dad, look! We have to do something!"
"No, Runt. Not until your mother signals me."
"Well, better get going," said Kate. It was possible that Daria's mother was still in hiding. Perhaps she was exiled for trying to save her daughter.
Kate then turned and left the group, followed closely by Daria. The Head Wolf walked past the female members of his clan. He was now clearly trying to reach Kate and Daria. The latter had a scent that was familiar. He wanted to investigate.
"Runt!" Humphrey yelled. The pup had jumped off the ledge. He rushed to intervene before Daria could be discovered. The Omega chased after his son.
"What the heck? Is he crazy?!" Floyd exclaimed.
Runt stepped in front of the toned patriarch and stole his attention.
"Hi! Uh... Have you seen my mommy?!"
"Oh... little pup, isn't that her with—?"
"Hi there!" Humphrey interrupted. "Heh, heh! Hey, Runt, come on now! Let's not bother Mr. Head Wolf," he said anxiously.
While the Head Wolf was distracted, Lois caught up with Kate and Daria.
"Wait, wait!" she cried.
"Yes?"
"You're Daria, aren't you?" The white wolf stiffened her lips. "It's okay. I... just wanted to say... hi."
"Who are you?" Daria asked.
"You are married to Winston's daughter," the Head Wolf told Humphrey. "You're an Omega, right?"
"Uh, last time I checked. Well, uh... we've taken up too much of your good time. I mean, you're king of Rabbit Poo Mountain, and uh... mmm, smell that fresh poo." As Humphrey and Runt continued their diversion, Lois revealed that she was one of Daria's sisters.
"Lois... do you know where she is?"
"Daria, Mom... never made it back," Lois replied. The mournful tone devastated Daria. She feared for the longest time that it was the truth. There was a reason she never saw her mother again after Floyd took her in. For years, she refused to consider her mother gone. Now she had no choice but to accept it. It crushed her, knowing all those nights of dreaming had been in vain. Lois then added, "But I want you to know, she loved you. She vowed to protect all of us."
"I needed to hear that," said Daria. She lifted her head. At the very least, she had closure and that was important.
"The rules of this clan are still the same. He won't accept you no matter how much you've grown, but maybe I can come visit you sometime."
"Yes, I would love that."
They soon parted ways. Once Kate and Daria were out of sight, Humphrey ended the diversion.
"Runt, shall we?" The pup nodded. The Omega then waved goodbye to the Head Wolf. "See you later."
Later. . .
After some persuasion, Daria agreed to live closer to the Westerns, but she wanted to return to Shadow Forest one last time. It had been her home all her life. Although it was musty and full of whispers, she was kept safe. The porcupines who lived there satisfied her every need and taught her how to enhance her hearing, touch, and smell, so her lack of sight could become a superpower rather than a vulnerability. She wanted to thank her adopted mothers, Fran and Freida, and give them a formal goodbye.
The four other animals straggled behind. They were beyond amazed at the white wolf who was able to find the trail to the forest on her own. Her nose was second to none, and the same was true for her ears.
"What is it?" asked Kate. The white wolf had stopped.
"I hear something. Sounds like wolves... I hear three of them."
"Over there!" said Runt. Alphas from Daria's clan appeared from the fog that blew in behind. Running the point position was Head Wolf! Kate knew something was amiss if he was accompanied by reinforcements.
"Okay, Daria, we gotta get you out of here," said Floyd.
"Hey there, all of you!" Head Wolf yelled.
"Let's go!" Kate ordered, but Daria stood her ground.
"No! I'm tired of hiding!" She then stood between Runt and Floyd who faced the enemy. "What did you do with my mother?!" she confronted.
Head Wolf's minions suddenly lunged forward. Humphrey and Kate intercepted them, initiating two fierce battles. Claws and teeth swept back and forth. Floyd aided by outflanking the Alphas in order to prick their hind legs; however, they were remarkably resistant to his quills. Soon, both battles became standoffs. Head Wolf approached Daria slowly. Runt stood in front of her and snarled. He was her final defense.
"She's gone, Daria, and she's paid the highest price for hiding you!"
At that moment, Runt noticed a stream of leaves flowing above the enemy's head. A glowing blue smear raced under the leaden clouds. It gave the pup an idea.
"Daria, we have to get you into the forest! You'll be protected there! Follow me!" The two wolves sprinted toward the land of shadow. "Listen for my footsteps, okay?" The bourn was already in view. They could make it! As the Head Wolf began his pursuit, Humphrey and Kate tricked his minions into colliding with each other, knocking them out. Runt's parents then joined the chase.
A few minutes later, the clan leader was within a few feet of the white wolf. Runt had gotten several yards ahead of Daria. Her legs were not strong enough to escape, but it shortly wouldn't matter. The pup made it to Shadow Forest first and shouted into the canopy. "DARIA'S IN TROUBLE!" Immediately, the spirit slipped into existence. It swooped down on the Head Wolf who became petrified.
"No... It's you! It can't be!" Without hesitation, the phantom seized him with its jaws and ate him whole! Because it was transparent, Runt watched Head Wolf's body brutally dissolve into twinkling sparkles inside the throat. It left the pup in complete awe. Suddenly, everything flashed. For a moment, the entire world became a white shapeless realm. Then the blue face reorganized itself into a spiral of sapphire streaks that twirled up from the ground. They rose to the highest they could go below the layer of foliage before coalescing into a ball of lightning. Runt was astounded. Next came a soft explosion of sparkles, leaving a smattering of pink flower petals tumbling in the kind breeze. Delicately, they settled on a pile of leaves as the air finally silenced.
"Okay... That was beyond twisted," said Humphrey. Kate's mandible dropped to her paws. Runt's parents and Floyd had made it just in time to see what happened.
"We're okay, Daria! We're okay!" Runt assured in relief. He hugged the she-wolf, burying his nose in her chest. He began to weep.
"Thank you," she replied. "Thank you for everything. You saved me."
"You were worth saving."
(written on October 3rd, 2022)
Epilogue
"Okay, Winston. This is our favorite part, the secret valley of the forest," said Fran.
"This is where we are from," Freida added. The two porcupines had been giving the old wolves along with the twins a tour through Shadow Forest.
"So... you're valley girls?" said Eve.
"Yeah... totally," Fran replied as she smacked her lips. She was chewing on berries she found along the way.
"Aw, look who's here," said Winston. Runt and his company walked down a rocky corridor that happened to connect to their own trail.
"Grandpa Winston!" the pup exclaimed. "I want you to meet a friend of mine."
The white wolf stepped forward and introduced herself.
"My name is Daria."
The old wolves were smart enough to quickly understand she was blind. Aside from the cloudy eyes, Daria was unable to look at anyone directly, at least on purpose. Runt then gestured to Daria's menacing head-shaped den which could be seen in the distance through a gap in the overgrowth.
"Daria's been living up there... Alone..."
"Way up there?" said Eve. "I bet the views are wonderful!" Kate promptly sent her mother a raised eyebrow. "Oh! My bad!"
"That... is Sawtooth Cave," Tony informed. It was the first time the Western elders had seen it.
"And here I thought your story was a bunch of deer dung," said Winston, "but that still doesn't explain the ghost."
"Trust me. It's here," the Eastern asserted.
"And those are the two witches!" said Lyle, pointing toward Fran and Freida.
"Grandpa," said Runt, "I'm willing to bet if there is a ghost... it was only to protect Daria. She needs a pack. She needs us... and if we don't accept her... I believe we'll continue to be... haunted." The pup believed it was now his personal duty to protect her as she reentered the normal world. The spirit counted on him. He believed protecting Daria would resolve its unfinished business and rid it of its pain.
"Well... it will require adjustments," Winston replied.
"Dad, she has amazing hearing!" Kate added. "It will be great... for hunts!"
"Why does it always circle back to hunts with these wolves?" Floyd remarked, rolling his eyes.
"Come on," said Winston, "Let's welcome Daria. After all, you heard it yourself... from the king of the forest!" His grandson spun around and wagged his tail like a branch in a tornado. The pup had never been happier.
"You know, Runt," said Kate, "don't think we didn't notice you were out all night."
"Yeah, son, way past your curfew," Humphrey added. Runt flattened his ears. Apparently, he was right to feel guilty.
"I'll take my licks..."
However, his parents surprised him by taking what he said literally. Humphrey and Kate playfully tickled him with their tongues. He collapsed, guffawing uncontrollably. "Mom! Dad! Ha, ha! Is this any way to treat the king of the forest? Not on my face! Dad! Ha, ha! Stop! Stop it! You're making me blush!"
THE END
