Now that Saku, Tala and Hunter had managed to become three good friends with each other, it seemed like that from that day and afterwards, their friendship would let out its roots and hold on tight for times to come, like the oak tree from the sapling to the grand tree that grows through time.
Metaphorically, it could be said that the start of their friendship was like as if someone threw the seeds of friendship on the barren soil and the seeds would never blossom. Then someone took those seeds and had them thrown on the fertile soil from where these seeds spread their roots and the flowers of friendship blossomed magnificently.
These three were getting along well and they were holding each others' back, but they weren't neglecting their packmates, as some of them, Atka and Nilak, were everyday faces they could see and talk to. So it was like as if Hunter's arrival to the pack was like the cream in the crop for Maska's clan.
Sadly, not everyone shared that enthusiasm. It wasn't that Hunter's arrival caused anyone to be hostile towards him. There was no aminosity, but the fact that Hunter and Tala were close to each other was something that some wolves were finding rather funny and that was evident just a week after his arrival to the pack, early in the morning…
"Look, you guys! I get it! You do see me with Tala quite a lot because she is my sister so quit it!" Hunter, with the slight annoyance in his tone, spoke to his packmates early in the morning as they were to hunt for some rabbits and groundhogs. One of the wolves mockingly chuckled: "So quit it! Maybe you should run to your sister Tala to comfort you!"
Hunter scoffed in frustration as the another one spoke: "Look, Hunter, we get it that you're our newest packmate, but you should take it easy. We all have siblings with whom we played as pups and like to see from time to time, but your case is special." He was looking like as if the chuckles were coming to him.
"So what if it is special?! I mean, she looked after me when I was little and when our parents were hunting food for us!" Hunter spoke, without thinking how this could affect his reputation as the omega of this clan. The third wolf had spoken:" Yeah, but consider that you're a grown wolf now, Hunter. You cannot always rely on the fact that you'll have to be on your own as well."
"I know…" Hunter told him, but was interrupted by the fourth one: "And just for the record, you know how your sister has advanced in ranks over the past few months. You could do the same thing if it your bond with her wasn't slowing you down." This seemed like he wasn't going to take this easily anymore.
"You don't say?!" Hunter growled at him, albeit without any malice intended. The wolf didn't back up as he knew that Hunter wasn't going to attack him. He just let him know: "You will see it eventually! There is absolutely nothing to slow me down in advancing in this clan - I wasn't being given my name without the reason and that is Hunter!"
This one did manage to silence his mocking packmates for a little bit and just as one was going to relieve the tension with his mocking attitude, the familiar voice: "What's happening here?! Why do I hear the commotion?" The voice belonged to Saku as he approached Hunter, noticing the frustration in his eyes.
"Ahhhh, it's nothing big, Saku. Just giving some advice to our newcomer Hunter how to be on his own after being being babied by Tala as a puppy!" He and some of the wolves couldn't take it anymore as they laughed. Saku, remaining firm, looked at Hunter and told him: "I got this, stay calm."
Then he looked at the wolves who shared some laughs together and asked him sarcastically: "Oh yeah? Haven't you had elder siblings who were babying you as a little? Do you find that funny now?" The wolves went quiet and some of them found themselves in the corner with that question. Though one said: "Well, I did have…"
"Shush!" The first mocking wolf silenced him as he didn't want to have anyone else embarrassed in front of Saku, although the smug look on Saku's face was indicating that he was right on this one and Hunter's frustration was slowly shifting into amusement and without saying the world, Saku's face was telling him: "You're welcome."
"My fellow brothers, what is all this unsettling atmosphere doing in here between you?" The elderly voice, belonging to none other else than Maska, asked from nearby as Maska trotted to the young wolves. The mocking wolves remained silent as they didn't want to admit their childish, or pupish, behavior in front of the honorable alpha.
"It's nothing great, alpha Maska. Just some misunderstanding between us." Hunter spoke, revealing his intention that he wasn't going to snitch on someone. Still, Maska could feel in the air that the truth had to emerge so he looked at him encouragingly and asked: "Whether it's a small misunderstanding or great, it'd be better if you were to tell us, young Hunter."
It seemed like some of the mocking wolves tried not to laugh and Hunter said this time: "Well, if you say so. It is just that some of my packmates cannot get over it with my close bond between me and Tala." Now it seemed like Maska could let it go and he appeared to have something to share.
"Young Hunter, we are all well known to your close bond with Tala and that she's one of our finest hunters in the clan. I see the great potential in you and in no time, you could rise to her rank! While I do not encourage the wolf brothers and sisters to belittle you for being close to her, know well that you should live up to your name at this point." Maska offered him some advice.
This was good enough for Hunter to soak up the wise words of the wise elderly wolf and so he answered: "Thank you, alpha Maska. I will prove my ambitions as long as I am the part of this clan!" Maska smiled to him just so he could feel motivated for his future in the clan and Saku leaned to whisper to him: "Hunter, both Tala and I know that you'll live up to it!"
Hunter smiled to his friend, being glad that there was someone who wasn't going to let him down that easily. Then he perked his eyes in the distance and noticed the newcomer: "Speaking of Tala, there she goes!" Both Hunter and Saku smiled as she approached them, with the cheerful look on her face, saying: "Good morning, you two! Getting ready to hunt now?"
"Ready as usual!" Saku spoke, trying to remain firm so his feelings could be sealed a bit more. Tala looked at Hunter and she noticed in his eyes how he had a bit unsettling talk before, asking him: "Hunter, you seem like you had argued with someone. Were they picking on you again?" It seemed like Tala was already known to this situation from before.
Hunter rolled his green eyes as he wasn't in mood to talk about this, but she was his sister so of course, he said: "Well, it was again that they couldn't connect my name with who I really am. Besides, if I'm close to you, then that's none of their business!" Tala, while surprised by his stance, at least showed that she was proud at him for being honest.
"It's alright, Hunter." Then she leaned to whisper to him, just waiting for Saku to move a bit further so he wouldn't overhear their talk: "Listen, it may not be easy for you because of me, but don't let yourself become bitter like Saku was because of what happened to him, alright? Just don't listen to their nonsense and it'll be fine!"
Tala's words comforted him and before he, Saku and the rest were about to head towards the river, where their hunt was, he told her: "Thank you, Tala. I knew it that I could always rely on you!" Tala nuzzled him one more time before he turned around to start hunting, letting him know: "Don't mention it, Hunter. I wish you good luck in hunting!"
But before he and Saku left, Tala looked at him and raised her voice: "And I wish you too good luck, Saku! I hope you're going to have a successful hunt today!" Saku smiled goofily at her, but remained firm as Hunter had headed in front so he told her: "We won't let you down, Tala!" With that being said, the brown wolf disappeared behind the spruces and pines.
With the time passing, and the winter already stepping into its' latest phase, things had changed for good. Saku no longer had to remember his painful past, as if it was going to become a forgotten memory soon. As for Hunter, he no longer allowed himself to be the laughingstock of the pack as he'd proved with his skills that he was capable of doing the things on his own.
"So, the last time when they made fun of Hunter, it was about time when they realized their jokes have turned stale and that was more than a month ago?!" Saku was speaking to Tala as the two were having their causal morning walk in the clearing. The smile on Tala's face was indicating that she was happy that Hunter's reputation grew well.
"He may be my little brother, Saku, but Hunter can be pretty formidable if you make fun of him. But of course, you're in no harm!" She laughed at this when she let him know more about Hunter. Saku and Tala were smiling at each other and having so much fun. It felt like both of them were getting closer and closer to each other, which she was unaware of yet.
Just as he was about to say something, the familiar voice spoke from nearby: "Would you look at this? Two of my friends nearby! What a coincidence!" They both recognized that the voice belonged to Nilak, who cheerfully walked up to them, focusing on Tala more than on Saku, whose face was showing the disappointment.
"Relax, Saku, he might just greet us and leave." Saku thought this to himself as he didn't want to leave any bad impressions upon seeing Nilak. Tala, while remaining cheerful, had that concealeed tone in her voice that matched Saku's disappointment as she spoke: "Nilak! What gives? I thought you were hunting?"
Nilak, without any honesty, told her sweetly: "Well, I must have overslept today. Say, Tala, would you consider going out for a walk with me now? I see that you and Saku have done yours here." As much as Saku wanted to protest and told him they weren't done yet, they knew that might not be a wise idea so Tala spoke: "Alright, sure."
"Great!" Nilak answered as he moved ahead, with his tone still not having any honesty. Tala looked at Saku with the slight disappointment and then walked with Nilak. While Saku watched them walk towards the south, he groaned in annoyance. This was not the first time Nilak had done this to them and even Hunter. None of this could have been coincidence!
While thinking what time already had Nilak "coincidentally" popped up to take Tala up for a walk, he heard Hunter's voice: "Hey, Saku! Have you seen Tala somewhere?" He looked with his amber eyes to his black-furred friend, still having that disappointment in his eyes. He answered to him: "Yeah, she was here few minutes ago and then went for a walk with Nilak."
With Hunter coming closer to him, Hunter wasn't really bothered as he replied: "Well, I can wait then. It's not a big deal if I have to wait for her to come back soon or later." This just made Saku sigh soundly, which Hunter noticed as he perked his ears towards him so he asked: "Saku? Are you alright? Did you have a bad dream?"
Saku looked up at him and realized that he had to take this burden off his chest and Hunter was the one he could tell: "Hunter, there's something about Tala and Nilak that bothers me. This has been going on for a while." While taking a small break, wondering if Hunter was going to follow him what he had to say, his answer was: "What's there to bother you? I mean, Tala and Nilak are friends, like you and I are, or like you and Tala and so on."
There was no point for Hunter to count all the friendships. Saku impatiently rubbed his front left paw in the snow underneath, speaking: "No, I'm fine that they're friends. The thing is, every time either of us are spending time with her, it's like Nilak happens to be nearby and happens to casually come across us, saying that he wants to be with Tala too."
Letting that sink in, he just added some more: "And with some other packmates of this clan. It's like we cannot have any private time with her without him interrupting." He was hoping that Hunter would finally come to understand what he was saying. Looking at where Tala and Nilak had left, he wondered if Hunter would be his ally in this problem.
"Look, you have nothing to worry about Tala. She already has a great reputation in this clan and she can take care of herself. That is why I let her be who she is." He was right about this, but Saku really had no intention to let this talk end with him looking like a constantly worried wolf, as if that would damage his own reputation.
Then he had finally remembered: "It's true, I don't. But Hunter, please think of this. Is it just me or whenever we are or someone else is with Tala, Nilak secretly watches with whom she is and to whom he talks to? Doesn't that bother you at least?" Now he had to wait for his answer, while he finally managed to reach the frozen soil under the snow he'd rubbed.
"You're right in here, Saku. I haven't thought of that way before!" It was like as if the candle above Hunter's head had finally lit. Being glad that he was understanding him, he had been asked: "But do tell me, has Nilak always been like this, ever since Tala's joined the clan?"
"I cannot be entirely sure because she's been in this pack longer than I was." That was the answer Saku could offer and it was quite logical, because he'd have no idea if it had been ever since Tala had joined Maska's clan. Noticing that no one else was eavesdropping on them, Saku whispered to his friend: "Hunter, here's the thing. May this talk be only between us. I don't want this talk to be heard by the ones who do not deserve to hear it."
"My mouth will remain shut as long as it takes!" Hunter kept his word, not wanting to let his friend down. In order to make sure that no one was looking at them suspiciously, Hunter switched the topic the way Saku would easily know: "But how about we go and see if Atka needs our help, eh Saku?" He winked to him and Saku followed with: "Sure, that would be a good idea, come on!"
Saku and Hunter were keeping it good by themselves about this small trouble regarding Nilak's frequently appearing in "coincidental" ways. As for the rest of the clan, they were unaware of that situation, mostly because they knew that nothing would ever revolve around one or two individuals in this pack.
Moreover, the spring was on its' way. While it was true that the snow was going to remain for some time more, that didn't mean the flora and fauna couldn't break through the snow. In fact, with the March introducing spring, there was slightly possible that the first flowers would blossom and finally color the white landscapes of snow.
That one morning, Saku was all by himself, walking by the river in the territory of Maska's clan. He looked at those bushes lined by the river in order to find out something… something that could push him closer to the relationship with Tala and finally open his feelings. After searching by the bushes, the smile stretched on his face.
There he saw bunch of these yellow flowers, finally being strong enough to blossom and break through the snow layers. Those were the stream violets, despite the fact that they were not violet colored, but yellow! Seeing those pretty yellow flowers, Saku sighed in a content as he started his daydream.
In there, he could be seen with some of these stream violets in his jaws, with the grin on his face as he was walking through the melting snow and saw Tala in front of him. By the time he was by her, he smiled goofily and offered her the flowers as if he were saying: "These are for you, Tala!" And as she accepted the flowers graciously, she nuzzled him, with feelings.
While looking in her eyes in his daydream, it was something he was seeing in her eyes, as if she wanted to be with none other else than him. But before he was going to say something, he heard Hunter's voice: "Saku! Hey, Saku!" He looked around himself in the daydream, but he couldn't see him anywhere. Then he realized…
"Saku! Can you hear me?!" Hunter's voice boomed and the daydream faded in front of Saku's eyes, leaving him in front of the bush on which the stream violets bloomed. He turned around and there he saw Hunter moving towards him. He didn't seem like he was frightened or in rush though, as the relaxed look on his face was proving it.
"Hunter, hey. I was just down by the river and guess what I found out? Spring is coming!" He spoke this in order to keep the daydream for himself so Hunter wouldn't suspect a thing. Though, Hunter did have something to tell him and that was: "Saku, I have been thinking about when we talked about Tala and Nilak weeks ago. I think I got it."
Saku raised his eyebrow upon hearing what he was saying and he let him continue, while Hunter's eyes were darting at the flowers: "I know that look, Saku. I figured out one thing - you like my sister, don't you?" Saku wasn't clearly expecting this, but at the same time, this may have been obvious! Hunter spoke: "And the flowers? Smooth move!"
"Look, I was just wondering if the spring was coming, that's all!" Saku was trying to come up with some kind of excuse, but the mischievous look on Hunter's face wasn't to be fooled and making sure there was no one else eavesdropping at them, he revealed: "Well, let's say that you're right. But I don't want to rush anywhere with our friendship right now!"
Even he had got the point in here, Hunter couldn't deny that, but he had to speak up: "I didn't tell you to rush anywhere, just take it easy where you are at." It was a relief for Saku that no one was forcing him to do something ahead and even he heard Hunter saying: "But in any case, I think you would make Tala a better friend than… him."
"Nilak?" Saku asked him, even if he knew that this was too obvious and Hunter nodded, albeit uneasily, indicating something he revealed to him: "I mean, fine, he is our friend and Tala's, but I really don't like it when he comes up with random excuses just whenever he happens to come across us. I mean, even with the packmates whom she just casually exchanges few words with."
The way Nilak was treating Tala as if she was meant only to be his was feeling unnatural at this point and this had to end one day. Then, an outstanding idea came to Hunter: "Say, why don't you ask Tala out one day? I think she is going to love that idea with you!" Now Saku was taken completely off the guard, not sure what to say first.
Glancing at the flowers, then at his friend, he thought about this… to ask Tala out, even with Nilak being constantly around? Was it worth a shot? Hunter's encouragement meant something and he answered: "Well, I think that'd be a good idea, but what if I don't come up to her expectations?"
This was something that Hunter told him, even more encouragingly: "Listen to your heart and let your feelings come to the surface. Then you'll know!" This was undeniably true and seeing there was nothing to waste, Saku walked away from the flowers and told him: "You're right! I'll go see where she is and do it!" He felt the courage filling his entire body, all the way in his veins.
Saku skipped, jumped and ran across the trees like a little kid who was excitedly getting an award for the good behavior. If he were to talk to Tala right now and reveal his feelings that had to break through all the way to the surface, then this was going to be the turning point for both him and Tala. Ho boy, this was very exciting!
Yet, as he had finally reached the main clearing, he noticed that Tala was on the other end and so was Nilak. But something was different. Saku could notice from the distance that Tala's face was openly showing dissatisfaction and… anger? She was beckoning to Nilak to follow her, who had a confused look on his face, or was it?
Wondering what could it have been, Saku decided to sneak upon them nearby and overhear whatever they were up to, making it to the spot where they left the clearing. Walking behind the rocks and bushes, Saku slowly moved closer to them and he surely didn't see it coming. He was startled when he heard Tala's loud voice, filled with frustration:
"Nilak, this is going out of the paw! I really need some time to be alone!" That was what he heard and Saku was genuinely surprised by the tone she was using. He could never imagine someone mellow and caring like her to be this mad and especially not someone confident like Nilak, to stutter: "Tala… look, I just wanted to know. W-why are you like this now?…"
But her voice was stronger than his stuttering as she interrupted him, with the frustration flowing out of her like a strong waterfall: "Oh, so you are saying that you don't understand what am I talking about? Don't you?!" Nilak had never sounded like this vulnerable before and he stuttered some more: "Tala, I… I, uh…"
He seemed like he had nothing to do about it or at least couldn't provide any better answer when Tala outspoke him again: "Explain me this: How come that every time I am talking to any packmate, you just happen to be at the right place at the right time and I mean it - every SINGLE time?!" Saku, who was hidden from them, didn't know what he wanted to express.
"No, Tala, it's just…" Nilak trembled as he tried to talk, but once again, he stood no chance when Tala let him know: "And do you have any explanation that whenever I am with my brother Hunter or with Saku, you happen to be there completely by the accident?!" This was something that he couldn't argue against, but at the same time, he didn't want to accept it.
"Tala, listen… all that I want is to…" It seemed like Nilak was going to come to the words and give her an explanation, but he was wrong because Tala frustratingly scoffed: "...to keep me safe?! Nilak, I am a grown female wolf! There's nothing that will hurt me, I am fine by myself out in the wild and against the fiend wolves!"
Now he had nothing to say and he even backed up, feeling the cold touch of the rock he leaned against with his back and on the other side of the rock, Saku was perking with his ear when he heard Tala's voice again, albeit a bit calmer: "Nilak, look, I know that you've been a friend of me ever since I've come to this pack and I appreciate how you care for me and my safety…"
"...but your habit of showing up every single time whenever I talk to someone else has really overstayed its welcome. If you want to be with me and talk to me, then at least let me know beforepaw! Can I have your word about it?" It looked like that Nilak was going to offer her a required answer and Saku looked down on the ground, not liking this…
But Nilak didn't answer to her, not after three seconds, not even after five and after ten. Saku perked his ear once more and then he could hear Tala's frustrated sigh and her turning around. Nilak, who'd been petrified by this kind of question, finally got his ability to talk when he spoke: "Tala! Tala, wait! Tala!" However, she was already gone.
Seeing what kind of humiliating moment this was for Nilak, Saku couldn't figure out what emotion to express right now. He watched Tala running away towards the small ponds, on the southeast. This venting had left her completely dried out by now and she needed to replenish her energy from it.
Saku, while slowly moving away to the clearing, thought to himself carefully: "I'll let Tala calm down for some time, like she had when I had that misfortunate incident months ago… she needs to relax. Maybe it isn't the best time for me to ask her out, at least for now." If anything, that was the best choice Saku could make for today.