Chapter 24

"Discovery"

I must remember that the pups were no longer pups and my role as Mother was no longer what it used to be. My responsibilities shifted just like the rest of the pack as the young ones established their rank amongst the others. The lessons I taught them to prepare for their introduction to the wild paled in comparison to what they would learn within the next year. Winter brought unique challenges, but five freshly evolved young ones, all competing with one another for their place, only added to its complexity. The pack would face hardships, but those were now trials Prima and Alpha must handle.

I could only watch as the young ones sitting beside me with great stress suddenly took off from the hill we waited on to join the hunt of the Touring Bulls further ahead. They once played a similar role long ago on the mountain side of Castle Rock against a herd of Stantler, but this was the grasslands, and the prey, much more challenging. Touring Bulls were armed with powerful hooves, three lashing tails, heavy mantles, and large curved pointed horns. This particular herd was one the Mighty Hena of the Grasslands hunted since ancient times. Formidable enough to earn themselves the name of Big Horn.

They snorted and hoarsely bellowed as they plowed full speed through the snow dusted grass. Alpha and the rest of the pack drove them towards our location, but the Touring Bulls could see our coming. Our black manes were a hindrance against the snow, especially at a descending angle. The herd spotted the young ones rushing headlong down the hill and turned away in the opposite direction they were meant to go. Omega came up beside me, eyes tracing and plotting the lines of the hunt, where the herd was going and how our pack was placed down below.

"They run too fast," he observed of the young ones. "They will tire too quickly."

I pinched my eyes in a smile.

"What else do you see?" I asked him, testing the skills he learned over the past few seasons, of which, the young ones had already forgotten in their growth.

Omega's eyes darted around again, calculating the impact of the young ones, how they chased strong prey, disrupted the paths of the others, and drove the Big Horn together when they needed to be apart.

"They will fail," Omega predicted. "Waste too much energy before isolating their prey."

I smiled a little harder, content with weathering another night with an empty belly. Failed hunts were far more common than successful ones. This would be one of many, but failure came with experience, and slowly, the young ones would better their skills. It was Alpha and the Blessed who would have to work the hardest trying to make up the difference.

"Very good," I told him, standing up.

Omega prepared to go with me, thinking we were joining the hunt, but the hunt did not need more bodies. There were far too many creatures involved already. One of which was far stranger than the others.

"Something does not belong," I alerted while looking out over the darkened landscape.

Omega pulled back, realizing we would not join the hunt. He looked around again with new intent. Ears and eyes stiffly attuned to the slightest details. His tail dropped and he looked to me for help, knowing he had missed something. It was wise to look to me for guidance while I was still there to give it. Relying on those with experience to strengthen one's own short comings was a great lesson, especially to those who have risen in rank. I tilted my head up at the sky. He followed my gaze and pinched his eyes. It was much harder to distinguish creatures of the sky at night, but his increased time around Keen Eye since Phantom Back's fall was already paying off. His desire for wisdom by accumulating knowledge and experience from the others was frighteningly impressive. All of our Blessed had felt the weight of Omega's company since then.

"What is it?" Omega asked, correctly spotting the shadow in the sky.

It was so large and low that even the night could not hide it.

"It is a Fisher," I explained, pointing out the long slim neck, narrow piercing beak, and extra wide wing span. They were grown versions of Spear Beaks, the brown, red, and black brush birds. He did not recognize the silhouette because Fishers were not common in the grasslands although their smaller versions were. Fishers lived near large bodies of water where their sharp harpoon like beaks excelled at catching fish. Whenever Fishers did occasionally fly over the grasslands, they rode higher currents than other birds. They were also creatures of the day and did not hunt at night.

"Why does it fly now and so low?" Omega questioned, utilizing this new knowledge.

We were about to find out.

"Come," I told him as the bird flew over us, leaving the area.

We got up and trotted down the hill. Omega glanced back at the receding hunt. He did not have to worry about the pack. The others would get away from us, but they would eventually tire and the trail was easily picked up again. So we set off after the bird. It could travel much faster than us in flight, but it was in no rush to return to wherever it came. It was also unaware of our presence. Being tracked by Mighty Hena never crossed its mind. We were often too involved with affairs of the ground to concern ourselves with those of the sky.

This would play to our advantage.

Some distance later, the Fisher descended into a very small camp. It landed on the crossbar of a vehicle that had a short cab in the front and an open space in the back. I recognized it as a human thing which inevitably meant humans themselves. There were two of them. One sat by a small fire, tinkering away with a piece of equipment he kept raising to his eye to look at more closely. The other was on the back of the vehicle, rummaging through gear boxes. They had pitched a tent. Its design was more sophisticated than the ones I was familiar with, but not necessarily larger. The camp was smaller and simpler and more natural than the last one Scout and I came across. The feel and purpose, different. Less menacing and obtrusive.

Omega became curious, but cautious at the sight of them. They were still a ways away from us and humans did not have night eyes like ours, so our presence went undetected. We found the source of the Fisher, but mere discovery would not satisfy me. The humans had slowly increased their presence in the grasslands. Which meant they had no intention of leaving. It was imperative I find out if they were enemy, ally, competition, or benign. There were only two humans and one bird. All three completely exposed. Oblivious to being watched.

I might not get a better chance.

Omega glanced at me as I assumed the slow intensity of a stalk. We had a real hunt now. He instantly matched my stealth. We had been together for so long now that he could slip in and out of my shadow with perfect ease. His clumsiness had long since washed away in the waters of the riverlands. We had become a hunting pair which meant we were just as effective together as if we had the whole pack behind us. Carefully, we crept closer until I stopped us just outside the touch of their firelight. I remembered the way My Man used to see me by my eyes before I even crossed the threshold of light, so I silently showed Omega how to keep part of his gaze hidden behind the grass to prevent this.

The makings of the campsite were much clearer now. I took a moment to sort through all of the human words I had learned even though I was not always sure what they meant. There were cooking utensils and hiking bags, bedding inside of the tent and some packaged food. The man by the fire chewed a mouthful of something before raising the digital camera in his hands. The lens clicked and shuttered on occasion as he played with the settings. He had a curious, non-threatening air about him. There were no Iron Mouths or chains or trappings at his feet. Although the man did have a belt with a few small devices on it which could be just as threatening.

The other man had something similar around his waist although it appeared much more utilitarian than personal. His clothes were also much more uniform and the design on the back of his jacket matched the one on the side of the jeep. He wore a brimmed hat despite the darkness and handled the gear with ease, moving around a handheld antenna before tending to this and that. His friend remained engrossed in his photography lesson. Omega's nose turned to the fire where some type of meat was roasting. I kept my eyes on the man in the uniform. His skin was darker than the other man's. Reddish brown like deep clay. His black hair was long and plaited behind him.

Something danced inside of me like the flames nearby. Warm and bright and familiar.

I lifted out of my crouch. Omega remained hidden, but alerted to my sudden focus. He waited and watched as I carefully stepped forward in tune with the flickering light so that I remained unseen until I appeared at the very edge of camp, only a few feet away from the fire. I waited like I did with Jumper's Brown Owl, but humans were not as perceptive as us creatures. Nor were they as cautious. I increased the pressure of my presence, adding energy to it. The man at the fire was closest. He finally felt my stare, glanced up, and spotted me standing in camp across from him, slightly to the side of the fire. He flinched with a gasp of profanity that instantly ignited the night with tension.

The bird also jumped in reaction to him and started looking outward and upward for the disturbance. The other man quickly whirled around at attention. He knew more about the wild than the others because his eyes instantly went to the edge of camp where he knew the most imminent danger to be. He saw me and threw out his hand, shushing his friend into paralyzing obedience. The camera man tightly gripped his device, heart hammering so loudly I could count the beats.

The other man was much more composed, tight with caution, but accustomed to the weight of a Mighty Hena's gaze. His deep dark almond eyes had no more trouble catching my red ones than the horizon at sunrise. He was older. Mature, but not aged. His skin was warmed by sunlight even at night. A keychain of sorts with turquoise beads and feathers adorned his hat. He was taller, shoulders broader, but the way he held himself on the defensive was the same. Captivating and a little cocky.

It was My Man.

I never thought I would see him again. And given the way he looked at me, he did not either because he did not recognize me. I did not hold it against him. Hena aged much faster than humans. And back when he knew me, my face was still black from nose to ear. It was a unique trait of my bloodline. Now, the grey on my muzzle masked my identity, making me like any other. All he saw was a Mighty Hena of the wild which was just as well considering I tried to kill him the last time we met so close. My Man came off of the jeep. He slowly stepped a little closer so that he came even with the other human. Then, a little forward so that he took the brunt of my focus.

He told his friend not to move so as not to threaten or provoke me. The bird saw me now and screeched. The camera man flinched again. My Man winced, knowing it could cause an attack just as much as it might make me run away. I paid it no attention. Given the bird's lack of detection until now, its experience was no threat. I continued to stare at My Man, appreciating how well he looked. Fit. Seasoned. Eager, but respectful of a wild encounter. Proud of the logo on his chest. I am glad our last encounter was not embedded in his memory so tragically.

If it was, he would have been much more aggressive and fearful at my appearance which was nearly identical as my last. I was happy for My Man because I could tell he had found his purpose. He no longer roamed the grasslands lost and alone. Whatever it was these men were doing, they took great satisfaction in it. They were content. Not given their current circumstance of course. But the Spirit about them was gentle. I was very glad they were not like the other men. Armored and rowdy and disrespectful. We stood there, all very conscious of one another. I did not mean to disturb their balance. I did not want to cause any more discomfort. So, I would turn back and take Omega and leave with more than my curiosity satisfied.

Then, something clicked. It whirred with a blink of its eye. It was the camera the man at the fire had raised to his face. He pointed it at me, and when it clicked again, I glanced at him. Deliberate and purposeful. He slowly lowered the device from his face, looking at me with his real eyes now. They were stunned to know I could hear the inner mechanics of his device when they were supposed to be silent. Supposedly the best in the business. Even in such fragile balance he thought of nothing but his craft. Such commitment was bound to cause him trouble someday. My gaze, only a little admonishing, fell on him with a sigh.

Humans.

It was then that My Man dropped his guard. His stance relaxed with the decompression of recognition and he whispered in a language different from the one he used with his friend. I recognized it as the tongue he used on special occasion with me and during his great fire ceremony years ago. It was his native tongue. One much more attuned to the wild and the Spirit. I knew because the Spirit flushed with excitement at the sound of it. My ears went up. I lifted my head and looked at My Man. He dared to meet my gaze and hold it. I let him look. My fur may have greyed and my body changed, but my eyes would always remain the same. A smile spread across My Man's face. A bright light filled his eyes.

"Moonshine?" he asked again, switching tongues.

Invoked by name, I could not run away. Nor did I want to. That name was very special to me just as my name for him was special. Remembering the tricks I learned to communicate with him, I started to wag my tail. My Man's energy surged, but he did not let it show, knowing Hena were sensitive to such things. Instead, he dropped down to his knees, propped himself up so that he sat on his heels, and placed his hands on his legs, patting them like he used to when he wanted me close. I dropped my head below my shoulders to return his gesture and slowly walked over to him.

Knowing how I once bounded playfully into his lap, My Man did not thrust his hands into my fur right away to rustle my mane with scratches. Neither of us were so innocent anymore. But he did bend his head and rub it into mine when I sniffed and licked and nuzzled his face. And then, something changed. Suddenly it was as if the years between us never existed. My Man raised his hands and rubbed my neck. I pulled away with a sneeze of campfire smoke from his hair. He sat down and began explaining to his friend who I was. Although I was not sure his friend listened because his camera was up again, shuttering away like some Chatter Rat.

I turned my nose to him for an indirect examination and My Man took the chance to steal a stroke down my back. It ignited my Spirit all the way down my spine like the burning of a Fire Pony. It summoned Omega out of the grasses. He appeared with great caution and much nervousness. I trotted over to him and licked his face to tell him it was alright. He immediately straightened out, bumping me a little, and walked with me back to My Man.

"Who is this?" My Man asked before glancing around for anymore unexpected guests.

It would not have been the first time I brought the pack with me. Omega explored My Man's person with much sniffing. He then moved into the camp to search through all of the human things that were scattered around. I did likewise, moving about to try and understand what it was the humans were here for. There were boxes of supplies and equipment. Some had handholds for birds like the top of the jeep. One was long and carefully locked. It smelled of metal dust and fire. The humans stayed in their spots, content to watch us wander around. Smart to stay out of our way.

Omega hurriedly went from one thing to another, jumping back and forth, too excited to linger in fear he might never get this chance again. He even went so far as to investigate the other human who had lost his fear and thoroughly enjoyed this unprecedented opportunity by watching in and out of his camera. As he should since the next Mighty Hena might try to bite his face off instead of sniff it. I explored the jeep, smelling its tires to find out where it had been. The bird squawked at me, upset I should be so close. I glared at it and it shied away, sidestepping down the bar. I then moved to the jeep's flat bed, catching My Man's lingering scent.

With a small braced hop, I jumped into the open back. My Man watched me, unafraid of what I might find. There was a crate of Iron Mouths, dismantled and dismembered and rendered completely useless. Most of which, still had the smallest traces of Mighty Hena scent. The grasslands were not the only ones with a successful hunt. Warrior and his wandering pack had done well. And now, even the humans were getting involved. The wild was determined to find balance. It was a great discovery, these trappings and these men. I looked down at My Man. He looked up at me and I saw a glimmer in his eye. The type that teased impish thoughts. The last time I saw such a look, he threw a great deal of metal balls at me. It seemed a part of him still missed me. The desire to tame the High Mighty Hena ran deep in his bloodline. All the way to his ancestors that roamed and hunted just like the pack. It was how our two species first met.

But it was a fleeting thought. I made it so by jumping down from the jeep and trotting past the humans without an ounce of recognition. Such was the way of one of higher rank. Humans needed to be reminded of such things. Omega felt my change in purpose, abandoned his curiosity, and fell back into my shadow. The humans quieted with the realization we were leaving and did not hinder our departure. I felt My Man staring. Disheartened, but understanding. He worried for nothing. Our paths crossed once more and that was more than we already expected. The Spirit told me we would travel together again for a time, so I did not share such longing.

In fact, I was all the more curious to find out what it was the Spirit wanted from us. But this was a development Alpha must know about. Omega and I retraced our steps, leaving the smell of fire and roasted meat behind. He asked me questions every step of the way. About the strange looking objects and weirdly smelling things he experienced. I explained the best I could with what I knew, passing on my knowledge so he might come to know the difference between good men and bad men. They kept showing up in the grasslands and I had a feeling their presence would influence that of the pack in the future. We eventually caught up to the others where I expected them to be. At the end of a long and fruitless hunt, panting and agitated. Almost all of the young ones were napping.

The rest were spread out, just as exhausted. Alpha was the only one still standing when we arrived. He did not ask where we had been because he always knew that whatever I did was in the best interest of the pack. Mahakah Dust Eater, as tired as he was, got up to greet us. He limped, which alarmed Omega, but he could not yet tell the difference between hurt muscle and growing muscle. Mahakah would be fine after some rest. To encourage their recovery, I sat Omega down amongst them and had him tell the story of what we found. His enthusiasm energized the others, forcing them to think of things other than their tired legs, burning lungs, and empty bellies. Scout added in bits a pieces of the things she saw from the other group of humans, comparing their differences and noting their similarities. These words did not sink in to all, but it was good for them to hear and to plant the seeds for future use. They would come to understand when the story was told enough. The important part was that their energy settled and tempers cooled.

"But why would Mother greet human like Hena?" Catori Soft Song asked, glancing between us.

Omega looked at me. By then, I lay away near Mahakah who had stuffed his face in my fur while napping. This part of the story did not belong to Omega, therefore, he could not tell it. Alpha leveled his gaze with mine from a distance. He knew of My Man but there were things I kept in my heart that he did not know about. There was a time and place for every story. With the humans so close, there was no point keeping it to myself anymore. So I told them of the names we had given one another and how we came to be called such. With the whole pack having gone through the naming ceremony, they all understood the importance of such things.

Most could not believe there was anyone greater than Mother or Prima or Alpha who could perform such an important task as naming, especially not a human. And most humans could not. They carelessly tossed around names time and time again. But once in a while, there was something special that came about that bound the two together. Scout craved such an experience. I saw it shinning in her red eyes, bright and wide and hungry. I had a feeling she would hunt for it with every expedition she led from here on out.

Her own name no longer satisfied her.

Our stories took us into the morning where we sought refuge from the sun and rest, but the Spirit scratched my eyes every time I tried to close them, so I eventually got up to take watch. Like Tired Eye, I often found my days restless. Only when all was right in the wild would I ever be able to sleep soundly. The Day Breaker in me could not sleep when I knew My Man was out there. So I sat and watched the horizon just like I used to when he would follow in the shadow of my pack. Only now, he did so on wheels instead of feet. I caught sight of the Jeep rolling its way across the grasslands.

Its motor rumbled and metal parts squeaked whenever it hit a bump or hole. It was much louder and larger than a man on foot, so it stayed a greater distance away, stopping when it found us. I was tempted to go out there, especially when the camera man came out and laid on the roof with all of his equipment to photograph us. The Fisher eventually appeared, seemingly from nowhere, and soared over us. I did not sound the alarm for I knew it would not hurt us. It had some type of device in its talons. Likely another camera given the glass eye within its metal body.

The humans lingered about at a respectable and healthy distance, pulling out other instruments and tools to measure the wild and its workings. Given the way things eventually quieted, they must have gone to sleep like us. This way, they could follow us in the night. My Man had fallen into old routine. When Ume and Watepei came to replace me, I told them of the humans. After hearing the stories, they knew they only needed to keep one set of eyes on them, and casually at that. At sundown, we started the hunt again. The jeep continued to rumble as it followed us, lights off so as not to disturb us or our prey.

We tracked down the Big Horn and pursued them once more. Having learned much about exertion yesterday, the pack halfheartedly chased their marks, preferring to work on balance and testing their dynamic while working together. It spooked the herd just enough to keep it agitated. I played my part, watching and evaluating each of the herd, looking for weakness and practicing formations with the others whenever they drifted close to my area. Yet I always found myself glancing back at the horizon, looking for the jeep tumbling along the land at a much slower pace. With no prospects in sight, we ended active pursuit early to reserve our strength.

While the others rested, I went to My Man, crossing the grasslands to where the humans camped. Omega trotted into usual step. To no surprise, Scout trotted over to catch up. No longer able to hold herself back, she trotted parallel to Omega on my opposite side. I led the little pack to camp. We paused outside of the light to show Scout how it was done. Without waiting as long as last time, I stepped forward. The humans were quick to catch me this time. The Fisher screeched loudly, not to be taken by surprise again. I folded my ears. My Man quickly quieted the bird, reaching up to stroke its chest from its perch on the jeep.

To show the bird its rank, I trotted over to My Man. He immediately dropped down so I could greet and inspect him. With a superior glance at the bird, who, in turn, ruffled its feathers, insulted, I changed interests and went to inspect the camera man who was furiously clicking away again. This time, without shame. I did not get to establish myself with him last time, so I pushed him from his seat and onto his side to straddle him. His fear flared as he realized his rank, but his bruised ego was no match for the concern he had for his equipment. With the humans in place, Omega trotted into camp much more confidently than before. Scout followed him, sticking close as if Omega could shield her from all of these new sights and sounds. The cameraman regained his enthusiasm and started clicking away again. My Man watched Scout carefully and began whispering things about the workings of the pack to his friend. Teaching him about us. I expected no less from My Man.

He was mine after all.

When the visit ended, we returned to the pack and Scout recounted all that she could in a dizzy garbled mix of words and sounds that conveyed more of her excitement than anything else. Alpha once again set his eyes on me. He had heard the sounds and seen the jeep. I reassured him that everything was alright and all was well in Spirit. He left my actions unchallenged, but departed quietly which meant he was deliberating heavily over what he wanted to do about these humans. I did not want to seem distracted so, for the next hunt as we continued to track the Big Horn, I made sure to keep up with the others. I pressed the herd, feeling out the possibilities, but a healthy and vibrant grasslands strengthened all within it, not just the Mighty Hena. There would be no meal again tonight.

Winter was always lean, but we would not go hungry forever.

I had to rest a while after the hunt from my efforts, so by the time I was ready to visit My Man again, I could not slip away unnoticed. Scout and Omega were instantly at my side, no longer traveling behind. The rustle of many paws came a few moments later. They tried shadow sneaking to stay hidden, but they were poor practitioners. So much so, the humans were already on the lookout for us when we arrived. By now, they anticipated our visit. Seeing how Omega and Scout entered the light, all five of the young ones came close. They were exceptionally loud for creatures of the night, especially Mahakah who had been deeply engrossed in sniffing for some time now.

I waited at the edge of the light for them. To show them they were not as clever as they thought themselves to be. I startled them when they found me. If they wished to continue, they would have to listen without fault. I caught My Man watching through the grass. He could tell I was doing something and quickly told his friend not to be as carefree as last time. This visit was very important, and thus, required caution and attention. My Man recognized the order I instilled. How I was no longer the reckless young one he was accustomed too. So, I led the young ones out to show him who I was and what I had become. I walked into camp. The young ones followed. They crept in. Some cautious. Others reckless. And went about camp as Omega had first done. The introduction of five new Mighty Hena quickly changed the attitude of the men. They stilled with a cautious respect, ever aware of our movements, for these were no longer circumstances they could control.

My Man was most attuned to this reality, but his fear quieted as he watched the young ones explore and flinch at things they did not understand. All under my watchful eye. I let them learn, but when they got too rough or destructive or close to the fire, I corrected them. As did Omega. Annoyed with so many rambunctious Hena, the Fisher took off into the night sky. When the young ones found the courage to approach My Man, I informed them of his station with a nip or growl or show of teeth. They quickly kept their paws on the ground and eyes at an angle afterwards.

My Man need not worry for his safety in my shadow. He stroked my back when I eventually sat beside him. I gave him a quick lick on the chin in return. Together, we watched the young ones grow comfortable, lie down, and play lightly. We saw peace between us and I felt him grow sad, yet ever more resolute in whatever it was he was here for. It reminded me of the nights he would sit by his campfire and tell me stories of the reservation he was from and the ways of his people. But there would be no stories tonight. There would be no more stories at all because Alpha made his decision. He appeared at the edge of the fire light, a great black immeasurable shadow with two red discs for eyes. These he purposefully did not hide.

"Oh, look, another," the camera man exclaimed while winking around Scout's exploratory nose.

But the Spirit of My Man shifted. He harshly reprimanded his friend with a silent but strong motion, commanding him not to move or to speak or to breathe.

I do not know how long Alpha had been there watching us, but I knew by the feel of his Spirit that our time with the humans had ended. His presence pressed down on the camp, darkening the shadows so that they pushed up against the fire light. I could hear My Man's heart racing. It jumped when Alpha sharply howled, voice cutting through the night like a Cutting Mantis' blade. It had power in it. The humans, being so close, probably felt it deafening. Especially when the rest of the pack started up. Voices all around us, unseen in the grasses. They had surrounded camp without us ever realizing it. It was shadow stepping at its finest. The young ones recoiled as if caught doing something they were not supposed to and hurried back into the cover of the grasses.

It was time to leave.

Alpha decided to let the humans be, but the pack would no longer associate with them. The howl warned the humans whose territory they were in and what awaited them outside of their ring of light. We would respect them if they respected us. Sahrahsahe was the first to disappear. Ahanu and Keokuk ran past Omega who winked in annoyance at their swift yet playful departure. Catori came up beside Omega. He glanced at me before disappearing with her. I stood up and calmly walked across camp. With my compliance, the pack began moving, leaving. But there was one who lingered. Scout paced back and forth in the camp before going to My Man again for one last visit. He did not reach up and touch her for Alpha's gaze was still upon us, but when her head came close to his, he turned it ever so slightly so that his face rubbed back against her. I saw something there. Not just in affectionate respect, but Spirit. A connection I had never seen before because I had never seen a creature and human interact so closely outside of myself.

It was strange and powerful and capable of changing everything.

No wonder Alpha made his decision. Freest of the pack, but still obedient, Scout sharply turned and ran back into the grasses. If she went any slower, she may have turned back and Alpha would have had to discipline her. I stopped and watched her rush past me for the first time considering what lay beyond and behind. I glanced back at the humans. The camera man was pale and stiff. Wide eyed and suddenly conscious of the fact that he could have been killed at any moment if my Alpha wished it. My Man was much more composed. He had a Mighty Hena's heart and knew the ways of the wild. The wild was somehow part of his purpose. Because of this, he was as close to the wild as a human could be. I looked around the camp and all of these human things they had brought with them.

Never once did I consider the possibility that I could stay with them. That any of us could just like we could decide which pack we wanted to be a part of. But after seeing the strange connection and how it could easily blaze into an inferno, I understood Alpha's apprehension. These humans had the ability to break packs apart. He would never tolerate such a threat. I looked back at Alpha. Unlike with Scout, he broke contact and turned away, leaving me with the humans. I had a choice to make. I looked at My Man. He waited, knowing very well that what happened next might change everything. But I was Mother and the grasslands needed me. My Man was just a man and he could not protect my pack from curses or Shaman or betrayers. I looked at him and he looked at me, realizing we would never meet again like this.

Alpha would never allow it.

Our paths had crossed, but they were not meant to run the same trail. Like before, our time together had come to an end. It was like reliving a memory. A strange rendition of the past. Familiar, yet new. And if history were to repeat itself, then I knew this would end in violence. I did not want to harm him, nor endanger the pack. So I left, disappearing out of the fire light and into what was left of the night. That day, I dreamt of a white Big Horn that appeared in the herd we were tracking. Its back right leg became trapped in an Iron Mouth. It bellowed loudly, over and over again like the Striking Beast we met at the river. Only this time, the whole world was its witness.

My Man answered its call. He danced and chanted around the Iron Mouth in his native tongue and dress. He commanded it to fall to pieces so that my teeth and jaws could replace it. The metal fell away like dust. When it was clear, I clamped my bite around the Big Horn's leg and tasted blood. Yet somehow, I knew the blood I tasted was my own. With that realization, I awoke with a start, sitting up out of the group as we slept together. I startled Tired Eye who was keeping watch. Alpha and Omega awoke at my disruption. Prima and a very groggy Gruff Growl followed should he need to sound the alarm. The rest of the pack began to stir, but without another trigger from me, or Alpha as he quickly evaluated our surroundings, Tired Eye's confusion, and my Spirit, they settled back to sleep. Especially when Gruff Growl groaned the way he did when he laid his head back down. Only Alpha, Prima, and Omega remained awake with me although I was sure there were at least a couple prying eyes and ears pretending to be asleep.

I glanced at Prima and Alpha, indicating I wanted to explain, and got up. Omega automatically followed. Alpha and Prima no longer questioned his presence. Like a true shadow, they treated him with the same respect they had for me. Leaving Tired Eye to continue his watch, the four of us moved away where our voices would not be heard. Alpha came up to me.

"Was it another Dream Eater?" he asked, gauging this invisible adversary that threatened to disturb our peace.

Prima saw the distant confusion and contemplation on my face and went in the opposite direction.

"Did you Walk?" she asked, referring to my status as a Dream Walker.

If used improperly, I could lose myself in another's dream entirely. It was neither. Or, at least, it was not an attack nor an event of my own making. It was more than a dream or a nightmare. Those Blessed by the Spirit could receive visions from it, messages and tidings, instructions and warning, but they were often difficult to decipher and mysterious in origin. One needed a confessor to accurately discern their purpose. One who could hear that which was said but not spoken. Strong in Spirit and helpful in understanding. Father used to counsel me with such things, and I him, but Father was no more. Instead, I could only seek advice from those most capable. Mato, my blood, who knew me deeply. Prima, my best student, who knew what a Mother must do for the pack. And Omega, my apprentice, who was most sensitive to the workings of the Spirit.

I was embarrassed to reveal my inability to understand. That my wisdom had its end. But such feelings were unnecessary within the pack. It was why the pack existed in the first place. To strengthen the shortcomings of ourselves so that there were no weaknesses. The fact that these three took their roles so seriously to aid me only proved I needed this humble reminder that even Mother needed guidance once in a while. So I told them of my dream, the Iron Mouths My Man collected in his jeep, and the strange fluctuation of Spirit I had witnessed.

We shared thoughts of the hunt and humans. Only Omega failed to keep my gaze when we spoke of blood. He tightened himself with the same airs I felt when he promised to meet me in the grasslands before visiting Brother at the river. Despite their help, I received no further insight. For although the appearance of a white Big Horn was good, blood was bad. The meaning of my vision would be revealed when the Spirit allowed it, but there was one other that might provide a clue, especially if he happened to have the same vision as me. With the Spirit, such things were possible.

"I wish to see My Man," I told Alpha, seeking his permission.

"No more can go with you," he said, resolve just as firm, "but you cannot go alone."

He felt it too precarious. He then looked at Omega.

"Keep watch," he commanded of him, "and do not stray."

Omega's eyes flashed. Alpha had never given him such a task so specific to his purpose before. This officially acknowledged him as my apprentice, and thus, of great importance to the pack. It gave him authority to take me under his watch, or at least, in some sense of it, for I was Mother and not even the hierarchy of the pack would stop me from fulling the will of its Spirit. It also showed how worried Alpha was of my actions as of late. The continued pattern of isolated hunts that drew me away from the pack more often than not. I only meant this encounter to be brief. To test if My Man's appearance was truly linked to my vision or not. And at the very least, send him off with a proper howl. He was My Man after all. And I, his Moonshine.

We were bound by name.

At dusk, we prepared to part ways. Alpha and the pack on the hunt. Omega and I in search of the humans. They did not always find us well or quickly due to the rough terrain and darkened landscape. The pack needed guidance as well.

"Track the bull with the pale horn and knotted tail," I told Alpha and Keen Eye before they began the hunt. "He will fall soon."

"How do you know?" Keen Eye asked, looking between us.

He was always present when securing the hunt, but his skills were especially needed for this task. It would not be easy to spot such characteristics amongst such a large herd at night, especially when on the move. They would have to try and find the Big Horn before they started running. Alpha answered for me by nodding for Keen Eye to take to the front. Keen Eye took to the signal and glanced at me again. Always on the lookout for the trick I used to know such things. My eyes twinkled under his admiration, but I remained silent. Some things could not be explained, especially not with words. Experience, sight, smell, taste, sound, Spirit, intuition, all these things revealed truths of the hunt.

And there was none more versed in the hunt than the longest lived.

I knew what I knew and that was all that could be said. Alpha left with Keen Eye to lead the pack into the hunt. I glanced briefly at Prima when she passed, and she, me. Only Alpha and Prima knew what Omega and I were up to. She had her doubts. I could see it in her smooth gem cut eyes. But none of them knew what it was like to share a name with a human, so I did not expect them to understand, especially when I was not clear about what it was I was doing myself. The only one who might was Scout for she was the only one that had a taste of what it was like. Who might have felt the same spark I saw. I watched as she followed the others, trotting ahead to find the lead. She would have insisted she come along if she knew we were off to find the humans again.

But Alpha's command was clear. No other could come with us.

Omega and I followed along near the back of the pack as we usually did and slipped away as if to find a different vantage point. When we were far enough away so as not to be seen and arouse suspension, we paused to track the Fisher who continued to fly over the hunt every night. It was still there, which meant the humans were following us. But after a while, the bird behaved differently than before. It pulled away from the main body of the hunt as they drew further away and glided towards us, lowering itself to eventually wheel above us in the sky. I watched enough birds to know when they were marking something. Maybe it was because we were the first ones to ever come upon the humans or because we were now the ones out of reach of the others, but the Fisher was paying special attention to us.

I heard the jeep approaching. The humans turned in our direction, away from the shadow of the hunt. The Fisher came lower and lower. It did not show itself an enemy thus far, but that did not mean it was an ally either. I did not trust it. The jeep rumbled closer. I glanced between the bird and the men, suddenly keenly aware that they were working together for a shared purpose that was different than before. I looked at Omega. He was nervous and for good reason. Like how Alpha came to his decision, the humans came to theirs. They realized our relationship had changed and that their window of opportunity was closing. Whatever they were here to do, they would do it now. And that meant making an advance on Omega and I.

"Run," I told him.

We took off away from the jeep in the opposite direction of the pack. It was the only way I could protect them. The Fisher swooped down low to follow us, releasing something it clutched in its talons. The object dropped into a hover, much like the dragonflies above the grasses, but it was purely mechanical, manmade and not of the wild. Four arms kept it propelled in the air. Small red and green and white lights blinked on its body. It had a shutter eye just like the camera and it droned loudly in the quiet of the night. The drone pursued Omega who pulled away so that we could maneuver along the land without running into each other.

It stayed above and beside him, always in a blind spot. It was a quick little thing, painted black and hard to distinguish from the night. I had never seen such a machine, so I had no idea it could attack until it did. There was a shot of air. It hissed and pounded all at once. Omega yelped as something bit him. I quickly veered toward him, jumping up to snatch the drone out of the air, but it veered away as if it saw me coming. I had no time to track it as the Fisher cut across our path with a gust of wind, forcing us to stop. It then began to circle. After a few moments, Omega began acting strangely. His eyes lost focus and his body dragged, much like a Hena under the effect of Purple Moth dust.

I quickly looked him over and found a pink feathered dart in his skin. Anything that resembled a tick or stinging insect meant poison or harm, so I quickly took it in my teeth and ripped it out. The jeep stopped not far from us as the drone returned, hovering within the circle the Fisher flew around us. Annoyed at the barriers they created, I triggered a dense pulse of energy. It struck the bird in the middle of a turn. It lost wind and fell. The drone wavered, lights flickering. I hit it again with precise intention and the lights failed before it dropped heavily into the grass, silent. Omega's condition worsened. He staggered, suddenly very drowsy. It had to be poison. A forced sleep. He would not be able to run, let alone escape in such a condition. To try and make him would inevitably lead to collapse and might cause more injury.

A great flood of light suddenly flashed into existence from the top and front of the jeep. I looked away, temporarily blinded. The jeep doors opened and closed. Omega fell into the grass, breathing heavily. I stood over him until my vision cleared. A dark silhouette stepped in front of the light and slowly approached, gaining shape. It was one of the humans. With the light behind them, the shadows hid his face, but I could tell it was My Man by the fall of his shirt, the cuff of his pants, and the angle of his hat. He held something long and menacing in his hands. A rifle. The very weapon he warned me about in his stories at the campfire so long ago.

I remembered the way he held the invisible weapon in his hands during the stories and the blasting sound he made when it fired. The way he brought it up to his sights now was just the same. I should have put up my guard and protected myself with a hardened coat or shield of energy, but I could not bring myself to do it. The situation was alarming. That of a predator hunting its prey. Yet, the Spirit did not quiver or warn or alert me of any danger. It confused me. It told me everything would be alright when it was clearly the opposite. Part of me wanted to trust My Man, so I did not act. This must have been the way he felt the night I tried to kill him. This was the wild creating balance.

As I attacked him, he now attacked me.

The shot rang out. The dart bit me. I quickly found it and ripped it out with my teeth. The other human was out of the jeep now. He whistled and chuckled at me when I spat the dart on the ground. I waited for them to advance, but neither of them came any closer. The only thing My Man did was command the Fisher to fly back up into the sky after it recovered from the hit. Dazed, but relatively unharmed. Like Omega, my eyes grew heavy. The darkness I was so familiar with deepened on a personal level. I tried to fight it, but blood poisoning could not be fought by Spirit or teeth. It could only be endured. I vaguely remembered seeing Omega asleep nearby. I tottered a step or two away from him and planted my paws to keep it from happening again. I stood there, head growing ever closer to the ground until my legs slowly bent and brought me down. The snowy grass cushioned my head.

"Quickly now," My Man prompted, finally coming closer.

His friend carried out a bag of gear from the truck.

"They won't be down long."

I could not make out My Man's face, even when he came closer. He knelt down beside me, whispering soft words in his native tongue while his friend went over to Omega. Whatever poison they used to make us sleep was strong. I would not be able to stay awake for much longer. So, I tried to remember what they did instead. I would learn from this mistake. Even if they killed me, I would warn the pack in Spirit. I would whisper in Catori Soft Song's ear. She would be able to hear it.

My Man stayed by me, using tools to measure the size of my paws, the length of my back, and the size of my teeth. He must have thought me already asleep to handle me so, but the truth was, I was not afraid of his touch so I did not fight back. I still trusted him when no good Mother should. He ran his fingers through my coat, cut a little from my mane and collected some blood in another dart. The rest was a blur. Familiar darkness that seemed to only last a moment. When the poison finally faded and I awoke, the lights were off and the jeep was nowhere to be found.

My Man was gone.

I felt the Fisher's presence far up in the sky. Nearby, Omega was trying to stand. He was still under the influence of the poison, so he leaned at an awkward angle. I got up a little more quickly and bumped into him. This helped orient him somehow. We came to our senses and glanced around for any sign of the humans.

"What did they do to us?" Omega asked, glancing and sniffing at all the places the humans had handled him.

I was much more interested in the small band around his neck. It was not overly thick or obtrusive, colored in the same way as our fur to be inconspicuous. Underneath his mane, it was practically invisible. I stepped closer and inspected it. Omega did the same which meant I had one too. I did not even feel it.

"What is it?" he asked, still so full of questions. "Where have they gone?"

I did not know so I did not answer. Instead, I looked up at the Fisher. Seeing us up and about, confused, but otherwise unharmed, it flew off into the night. This time, we did not follow it into the dark. The grasslands had proven there were surprises hiding within that even the Mighty Hena did not know about. These humans were dangerous, unpredictable creatures. Yet, they were capable of balance. I did not forget the way My Man spoke to me and stroked my back. I never discovered his purpose, nor the nature of my vision, but I had a feeling I would come to find out.

Just not at the time and place of my choosing.