Chapter 16: Clan of Morath (written from October 2nd to October 3rd, 2022; revised on November 17th, 2023)
"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 though, a rise in pack pride encouraged wolves to homogenize. By 2012, only a few distinct clans of the Grand Pack remained, and one of them included the Clan of Morath. Kate remembered the clan being a constant inconvenience to her father when he was chieftain 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 my mother 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 and permitted under Pack Law 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 headwolf finally accept her? That was the question.
"Okay, Daria, I will lead. You follow close behind," Kate instructed.
Daria replied with a nod. She missed her sister, Lois, more than anything. Almost every night in Saber-tooth Cave she dreamt of nothing but them together under their mother's warm embrace.
"I have to hear Lois's 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 she and Kate overheard. Her hackles rose. It was the headwolf!
"Passing through? Well, I'm the lead outflanker here. Welcome to Rabbit Poo Mountain." Daria's ears perked.
"Yeah, yeah, we're a long ways away. Just a sightseeing trip," Kate replied. The wolf they met was cream-colored and had light blue eyes.
"Who's your friend there?" she asked.
"Oh, uh... she is... shy," Kate replied
In fact, Daria's mind was elsewhere. She could hear the headwolf'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 wolves here?" Kate asked.
"No, just us," Lois answered.
Meanwhile, from the ledge many yards from the scene, Runt grew worried. The headwolf 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 as she saw the headwolf approach from the corner of her eye.
Kate then turned and left the group, followed closely by Daria. The headwolf 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. Headwolf," he said anxiously.
While the headwolf was distracted, the outflanker caught up with Kate and Daria.
"Wait, wait!" she cried.
"Yes?"
"You're Daria, aren't you?" The white wolf stiffened her lips.
"Hi, Lois…"
"It's okay. I... just wanted to say... hi."
"You are married to Winston's daughter," the headwolf 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 the ruler of Rabbit Poo Mountain, and, uh... hmm, smell that fresh poo." As Humphrey and Runt continued their diversion, Lois revealed that Daria's other siblings were no longer around.
"Lois... do you know where our brother is?"
"Daria, I'd hate for you to find out this way… but Liam had him killed... Liam found out that I had helped you long ago, and so he viewed us as traitorous as our mother. I was kept alive because of my useful hunting skills, but I was forced to watch Rodney fight for his life…"
The revelation devastated Daria. She feared for the longest time that something awful had happened. There was a reason she never saw them again after she visited Rabbit Poo Mountain the first time. For years, she refused to consider the thought. 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, we both loved you no less than our mother did, and she vowed to protect you."
"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 one day I can leave this clan, and I can come live with you."
"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 headwolf. "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 the headwolf! 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!" the headwolf 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 to Rodney?!" she confronted.
The headwolf'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. The headwolf approached Daria slowly. Runt stood in front of her and snarled. He was her final defense.
"The same thing that happened to your mother, Daria. Your side of the family paid the highest price for protecting 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 headwolf 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 shortly, it 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 headwolf 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 the headwolf'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."