The path that led to the west was the same path Tala used to step into her new and independent life. It did not mean that no one else could use that same path. In fact, some animals, beasts, and if not, humans, used it, but only partly. Most of them started going that way, but ended up going on the sides.
But there was one wolf who did not steer away from this path. He had taken the path to the west across the snowy taigas. His fur was solid brown, his eyes were the golden, almost amber like and his underbelly was as white as the snow that crunched underneath his paws.
Speaking of that male wolf, his ears were flattered down and he was looking down on the ground while walking in front. The grief, melancholy and unease were present in his eyes and he looked very forlorn, as if the life had never been roses for him.
The wolf glanced behind him once and making sure that he was alone, turned his head back and continued walking slowly towards the west. Sad and depressing thoughts clouded his mind, remembering the hard and terrible times he'd been through all his life.
"My life… was never good to begin with…" The wolf thought to him while glancing in front and below every little. it was surprising that no tears were seen in his eyes as he carried on: "...forgotten, neglected, overlooked, never given a chance to show what I'm capable of… as if my family had given up on me ever since I was born…"
He remembered some of his dire puppyhood days, filled with misery as the scenes flashed in his mind - that runt who always got the least milk from his mother, the one who had hard time keeping up with his siblings while learning how to hunt, that one who was forgotten by his siblings in terms of playtime and socializing…
"But the last straw… that last straw… it drove me away…" The wolf closed his eyes as he recalled the recent event. That was something that made him leave the pack he was from and start his life anew. His last memory flashed and it was… a black female wolf.
"Sami… why?" The brown wolf thought deeply inside himself, recalling the black female wolf, with the white eyepatches that looked like as if they were the light in the darkness. "You.. you were the one I always thought as someone to share a destiny… but I hesitated, I hesitated too much, I missed my chance. It was all my fault!"
His last memory was when he saw Sami in his pack, and just as he had finally mustered the courage to be his girlfriend, something uncalled happened. Before he could call for her name, another male wolf showed up. Dark brown fur like a spruce tree, dark gray underbelly and his eyes… bright amber. His name was Faro.
He had remembered this sad moment when he noticed Sami walking up to Faro joyfully and nuzzling him, as if the two were meant for each other. All while he remained behind, doing nothing and missing his chance all this time along. That was the moment he had to do it - leave this life behind and start independent one anew.
"Is my life ever going to be roses at once?" The wolf asked himself, now deeper in his thoughts. He was unaware where he just marched into and he was also unaware that at this point, he was not alone. Someone was hiding in the bushes and behind the trees. Not just one, but more, half of dozen… wolves.
Though when one of the twigs snapped, that was the trigger for the wolf as he realized he was not alone anymore. He inspected the surrounding around him and asked timidly: "H… hello? Who goes there? Is someone… behind the trees?"
No answer, as expected. Still, the wolf looked around himself and before he carried on with his walking ahead, he noticed two wolves standing in his way, not looking really friendly. "What the…?" The wolf asked himself as his path was blocked by two unknown wolves. From there it wasn't getting any better, not when he asked: "What's the meaning of this…?"
They did not answer to him as when he made a step backwards, two more wolves were behind him, also looking unfriendly. When he looked front and back, he noticed yet two more unfriendly wolves coming from his life, making him very nervous to the point of him saying: "Who are you? What do you want from me?!"
The wolves, six of them, started circling around the brown wolf, showing hostility to the stranger. One of them spoke out: "We want to know what crossed your mind to enter our territory!" Did he just unintentionally step into the unknown wolf territory?! He had to make an excuse, and fast, which was: "I didn't mean to enter… or trespass anyone's territory!"
"Then what gives? You're still here!" Another one growled and seeing that he could not escape, he begged them: "Please, don't! I mean no harm to any of you! I just want to go away!" Even if he begged and begged, the wolves weren't giving up as one said: "You should have thought twice about stepping in here!"
"Brothers! Be at peace with the stranger!" An another voice, louder, but not hostile, came from behind. The brown wolf wondered who could that be while all six stood by, revealing an elderly wolf from behind. Could he have been an alpha? He sure seemed like so.
"Maska, my alpha, this stranger had stepped into our territory! Who knows what he is capable of!" One wolf, the one who was bent on dealing with the brown wolf the most, spoke to Maska. Maska looked calmly at him and spoke: "Atka, my nephew, that is not the way to greet strangers, be the one harmful or not! And as for him…"
Maska looked at the brown wolf and he seemed to be a bit relieved by this rescue. But would Maska believe them or him? Then, his answer came: "I don't see any harm coming from this stranger. In fact, I can see in his eyes that he has seen lots of sorrow and neglect in his life."
The brown wolf sighed in relief when his siege was broken by Maska so he could feel a bit free. He spoke: "Alpha Maska… I have no words to say how thankful I am for your help. But how did you know that I had a bad life and that my family overlooked me? I wouldn't think of anyone being capable of foreseeing. I mean no offense."
"And none is taken. I have seen in eyes the lives of many wolves through my life." Maska confidently nodded to the stranger wolf, so all other wolves could take it easy. Save for Atka, who was still trying to get used to the stranger. Maska had finally asked him: "Tell me, stranger, who are you and what gives that you're near our lands?"
The brown wolf looked confidently at Maska and revealed: "My name is Saku. I have been travelling for days from the east. I… I had to leave everything behind in my life. My life was never filled with joy. As a runt, I was neglected, forgotten, weak… and the one I loved was taken by the another male… I couldn't take it anymore."
"So you have decided to walk into our territory to compensate that?" Atka asked him, still not believing Saku. Maska looked at his nephew and wisely spoke: "Atka, take it easy on him. I am certain that he was unaware of these lands being under our sovereignty." Atka went silent and Saku was allowed to speak: "I just wanted to go as far as possible from where I came. I wanted to start my life anew!"
Seeing how Saku was not easily taking all that pain, he needed solace and a new chance. Maska spoke: "Saku, how would you ever consider from me that I offer you to be the wolf in my own pack? I believe it will be a good start for you." Saku widened his eyes when he had heard that… was he offered a place in Maska's wolf pack?!
"Are… are you sure? You would accept a stranger wolf like me in the pack?!" Saku was surprised by this offer and while the other wolves weren't delighted by what he just said, Maska calmly answered to him: "Yes. I'm willing to give you a new chance in life so you can start all over it again and forget your sorrows!"
If this was true what Maska was saying, then Saku knew what the answer was: "Maska, I would be honored to be the part of your pack!" Maska smiled warmly as Saku accepted his offer. He turned around and spoke to his nephew: "Atka, take the rest with you to the pack. Tell them that we're having a new member!"
Atka obeyed by saying: "I shall get going, uncle! Come on!" He led the other five to their den, leaving Maska and Saku behind. Of course, Maska led Saku to the den and as Saku wondered what was going to happen, Maska asked him: "Saku, I'm sure that you're asking yourself why Atka is being hostile towards you?"
"Because I'm the stranger?" Saku asked, realizing that his answer might have been too obvious. Maska wasn't bothered by his wrong answer as he revealed: "You see, Atka is my nephew. The alpha female of this pack is his aunt. Before he came to settle down in here, Atka was the alpha of his own pack."
"Oh?" Saku was curious by this revelation and before he could ask anything else, Maska revealed more: "But most of his pack was hunted down by the humans. With the little left of it, he led them to my pack and seeing what he has gone through that time, I let him and other wolves in. It'd be wise from you not to mention him humans, they have left a mark on his life."
"I… I understand." Saku nodded, hoping that if he was going to befriend Atka one day, then he better not mention any of those tragic events that would invoke trauma to the alpha's nephew. In fact, he was going to keep it all a secret.
Maska glanced in front of themselves and on the snowy path, he showed him: "Look at those two spruce trees standing by the path. When you cross over, it is the heart of our territory!" Saku was preparing for the unexpected when he was going to cross that line. What was he going to see in there?
At last, when Maska and Saku crossed it, the landscape was wider and filled with rocks, grass poking out of snow and birch trees. But what had Saku surprised the most was the number of this wolf pack… or was it the wolf clan? Looking at all the wolves his eyes could see, there he could count two or three dozen of wolves!
Looking in surprise by how many were there, Maska smiled warmly to him: "You must be surprised by how many of us are in this pack. I understand your feeling, young Saku. Oh, and allow me to introduce my mate, the alpha female of our pack." He beckoned to the elderly female wolf who was coming to greet the newcomer.
"Greetings, young one. We've been told that you were coming. I am Anya, the alpha female of Maska's clan." Maska's mate and Atka's aunt, Anya, greeted Saku, the new wolf of this pack, or the clan. Saku honorably nodded to her and spoke: "I greet you, alpha Anya. My name is Saku, I have come from the distant land in the east, travelling for days."
Anya smiled affirmatively towards Saku for his courteous demeanor towards her. Maska, before he gave Saku some space to meet the pack by himself, told him wisely: "Now remember, Saku. Each of us start from the bottom in the wolf clan. Like you, I used to be omega when I was young. I hope that with your dedication you'll be alpha of your pack someday."
Realizing that every wolf pack, and clan, had the hierarchy, Saku agreed with alpha's words and spoke: "Alpha Maska, I thank you and alpha Anya for your hospitality and advice. I may now meet my packmates?" Both alphas nodded, letting him go to meet the rest.
Walking throughout the territory, Saku got the chance to meet numerous wolves in the pack, be it male or female, adult, elderly or puppy, with various ranks. Some of them were rather reluctant about them new omega, whereas some were friendly with the new one.
After meeting new faces, one by one, Saku already thought that he had met enough for one day, until he had heard the voice… the voice that was as sweet as honey: "Hello! You must be the new omega of our clan!" He looked at the source of the voice.
Upon gazing at the wolf who met him, he was captivated by the beauty of the female he had seen. It was the most beautiful female wolf he'd seen in his life! With her fur being white as snow and her eyes green as emeralds, Saku's jaw slowly dropped in awe.
"She, she… she is so beautiful! She must be the most beautiful wolf I've ever seen!" Saku looked at the female, who was smiling at him friendly. The sun behind her and the chilly breeze stirring her snow white fur already had him speechless. Though, the female was a bit puzzled by Saku so she asked him: "Hello?"
Then he had finally realized that she was talking to him! If she was really talking to him, then this was his chance to talk to her! He was finally able to speak, or stutter: "H-h-h-hello! I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to be t-t-t-this rude!" She heard him say that and then she giggled, replying: "Oh, don't worry! You're fine!"
"R-really?" Saku asked the white female, still being stunned by her beauty. He got his answer when she nodded warmly to him. The way she smiled at him, it was telling him something… but he'd just met her and rushing ahead would be… bad. "She may be beautiful, but I have to be careful… I cannot let myself repeat the same scenario with Sami back then!"
"Say, what is your name?" The female asked him and that was something that had him snapped out of his thoughts. He stuttered: "M-my name?" Still feeling anxious, she kept looking at him with a warm and friendly smile and look. Then he understood at last: "Oh yes… my name is…!" But before he could reveal…
"Hey, Tala!" The voice from the distance prevented Saku from revealing his name to white wolf, who was Tala all in all. It belonged to a black male wolf, who by the time he walked up to her, spoke: "Have you heard that Maska had found a new wolf in our clan?"
Tala smiled to the black wolf and revealed: "Oh, Nilak, of course I have!" She giggled as the black wolf, Nilak, could gain that information. She then continued: "In fact, he's standing right in front of me!" Nilak looked at Saku and realizing that he was the new wolf, because he hadn't seen him before in clan.
Nilak smiled cheerfully and spoke: "Greetings, stranger! We were surprised to find out that we have a new wolf among us! What is your name?" Saku, while looking at Nilak, slipped his eyes to gaze at Tala for a second before looking back at Nilak and then he revealed: "I… uh, Maska."
That struck both Tala and Nilak as odd and Nilak asked him: "Like our alpha Maska?!" Then Saku did realize that he made a mistake and corrected himself: "Uhh… no, no, no! I'm sorry for that. My name is not Maska! I accidentally said your alpha's name. My real name is Saku!" He swallowed after revealing his true name. While Nilak found this odd, Tala was amused by this revelation.
"Saku? That's a lovely name you have." Tala spoke and when he had heard that coming from here, he felt awestruck by that compliment. He did not expect to receive that kindness from that female he felt like it was that special someone to him. He spoke: "Uh… why, thank you!"
While Saku had nothing else to say, Tala spoke: "Well, you have heard it from Nilak, but I'll say it again. My name is Tala." The way she had said it made Saku realize that he could not remain speechless so he gave her a compliment: "That's a pretty name!" She smiled as if she were grateful for it and then Nilak spoke: "And I am Nilak, but you've heard it from us."
"Yes, yes I have." Saku timidly spoke as he wanted to leave a good first impression to the new faces in this wolf clan. Nilak let him further know: "And of course, welcome to our clan, or as it's better known - Maska's clan. Since you're a new one, I don't have to guess that you're an omega in our clan."
"You got that right, Nilak." Saku answered, albeit he felt insecure about it. Moreover, Nilak cheerfully looked at Tala and let her know: "Each of us begin from zero when we come to this pack. As far as I know, Tala and I have been in this pack for a while and even she is pretty much of a hunter for her time here!"
Tala smiled, then encouragingly looked at Saku and told him: "But don't worry. There's nothing wrong with being an omega, Saku! One day you'll grow to higher ranks, like us!" Even if he had the lowest rank by now, it did mean a lot to him when she said that so he spoke: "I dearly hope so, Tala."
With the new familiar faces around him, Saku wondered to what extent Maska's territory was with the rocks, woods and a river heard flowing nearby. However, as distant as it was, Saku could swear Nilak muttering something so he asked: "I'm sorry?"
Nilak looked at him: "Oh, nothing. I was just wondering if Tala and I can help you up in here. You know, so you can see Maska's territory yourself!" If this was one large wolf territory, then Saku had better know it, but when Tala's words, sweet as honey, said: "I'd love to show you around and let you familiarize with the territory!" Saku knew the answer.
"Oh yes! I would like to know about this place!" Saku spoke out, looking at Nilak and Tala, trying to focus on Tala mostly. They both smiled and supportingly beckoned to him: "Follow us, there's a lot to learn from this place!" When Tala turned around, the wind swished her fur in the air and with the sun rays beaming on her fur, Saku almost lost it.
"Right behind you!" Saku followed Tala and Nilak, walking across the trees and by the rocks, No matter how long this was going to take him to get familiarized with Maska's territory, at least Saku met Tala, the one he could not get his eyes away from. But he knew one thing he had to be careful about.
"Saku, you may have just met Tala, but be careful! You don't want to hesitate for too much and lose her to another male. You already lost Sami to Faro, don't let the same thing happen to Tala!" Saku thought to himself while following his two new friends, wondering if Tala and Nilak had a thing for each other, while they were passing through the snow covered forest.