steps forward to close the space
between us. I heard Joven whisper a reassurance to Koya in a tight
voice as though he was also uncertain of my safety. The black wolf
stared at me, no challenge in his eyes, only curiosity. Silver Leaf
gave a slight whine and he let out a huff in response. Silver Leaf
leaped forward and jumped on me, her licks and whines welcome after
the long absence. At Shadow Runner’s acceptance, the six other
wolves bounded into the clearing.
Four of them had been pups when I was taken.
Cricket, Pond Jumper, Trace, and Night Seeker now ran on long,
lanky legs they were still getting used to. They tripped over each
other and ended up in a sprawling pile a few feet away. Traveler
and Gull stepped around them. Traveler’s fur held so much gray the
black that marked him as Shadow Runner’s father was barely visible.
Gull, slender like her sister Silver Leaf but brown and white like
the birds that circled the lakes, brushed my shoulder with hers and
nipped at the back of my head.
I smiled but remembered not to grin. Wolves
didn’t show teeth to each other lightly. It was surprising how
easily the human expression came to me. Traveler sniffed my hair,
then sneezed. The yearling pups finally untangled themselves and
gamboled over to me. Their paws were large and heads big, but their
bodies were still lanky and they had yet to grow into their long
limbs. All four pups were healthy and had thick coats. Pond Jumper
licked my face and when I tried to push him away, Trace jumped on
my back. Within seconds, I had a full wolf-pile on top of me. Paws
and teeth made marks on my skin, but I pushed back in play. I was
used to the wrestling and biting and had long ago perfected the art
of fighting off such attacks, though the wolves had been much
younger.
I shoved the last one away and let out a
mocking growl. The younger pups growled back in voices much deeper
and fuller than I expected. I glanced over my shoulder and saw
Joven and Koya watching me. Koya had a hand to her mouth and her
eyes were wide with dismay as though she thought the wolves were
going to eat me any moment. Joven’s face was pale and he held an
arm protectively around Koya’s shoulders.
I looked back at the wolves; they had
noticed the humans. Shadow Runner lifted his lips in a snarl, sure
I was in danger. I lifted a hand to calm him, then dropped it
again, amazed at the human reactions that overtook the wolven
instincts that had been my life for so long. I blew air through my
nose and gave a short grunt. The alpha refused to be appeased. I
wished I was in wolf form so I could communicate better, but the
moon was still bright overhead and wouldn’t be releasing its hold
anytime soon.
I turned my back on Shadow Runner and heard
his surprised outlet of breath. I rose slowly and walked back to
Koya and Joven. The siblings watched me warily as if afraid that I
was as wild as the wolves behind me. Their lack of trust shouldn’t
have hurt given the short time we had known each other, but the
faint scent of fear that wafted from them both struck me to the
heart. I stopped a few feet short and held out a hand.
Koya glanced at Joven who refused to take
his eyes off me. His easy smile and casual manner were gone.
Instead, I saw a protector who would defend his sister against a
pack of eight wolves capable of taking down full-grown moose and
elk. I admired his courage, but hoped it didn’t get in the way of
what I wanted to do. Koya gave him one last look, then slipped her
hand into mine. I walked back mindful of her smaller steps and the
hesitancy in her posture. Wolves sensed weakness; I could only hope
they would trust her because I did.
When we were within a few paces of the pack,
I motioned for Koya to crouch. She surprised me by kneeling in the
grass, taking away her ability to run if things became dangerous. I
followed her example and knelt beside her. Shadow Runner watched us
carefully, his body still and the other wolves crouched behind
between us. I heard Joven whisper a reassurance to Koya in a tight
voice as though he was also uncertain of my safety. The black wolf
stared at me, no challenge in his eyes, only curiosity. Silver Leaf
gave a slight whine and he let out a huff in response. Silver Leaf
leaped forward and jumped on me, her licks and whines welcome after
the long absence. At Shadow Runner’s acceptance, the six other
wolves bounded into the clearing.
Four of them had been pups when I was taken.
Cricket, Pond Jumper, Trace, and Night Seeker now ran on long,
lanky legs they were still getting used to. They tripped over each
other and ended up in a sprawling pile a few feet away. Traveler
and Gull stepped around them. Traveler’s fur held so much gray the
black that marked him as Shadow Runner’s father was barely visible.
Gull, slender like her sister Silver Leaf but brown and white like
the birds that circled the lakes, brushed my shoulder with hers and
nipped at the back of my head.
I smiled but remembered not to grin. Wolves
didn’t show teeth to each other lightly. It was surprising how
easily the human expression came to me. Traveler sniffed my hair,
then sneezed. The yearling pups finally untangled themselves and
gamboled over to me. Their paws were large and heads big, but their
bodies were still lanky and they had yet to grow into their long
limbs. All four pups were healthy and had thick coats. Pond Jumper
licked my face and when I tried to push him away, Trace jumped on
my back. Within seconds, I had a full wolf-pile on top of me. Paws
and teeth made marks on my skin, but I pushed back in play. I was
used to the wrestling and biting and had long ago perfected the art
of fighting off such attacks, though the wolves had been much
younger.
I shoved the last one away and let out a
mocking growl. The younger pups growled back in voices much deeper
and fuller than I expected. I glanced over my shoulder and saw
Joven and Koya watching me. Koya had a hand to her mouth and her
eyes were wide with dismay as though she thought the wolves were
going to eat me any moment. Joven’s face was pale and he held an
arm protectively around Koya’s shoulders.
I looked back at the wolves; they had
noticed the humans. Shadow Runner lifted his lips in a snarl, sure
I was in danger. I lifted a hand to calm him, then dropped it
again, amazed at the human reactions that overtook the wolven
instincts that had been my life for so long. I blew air through my
nose and gave a short grunt. The alpha refused to be appeased. I
wished I was in wolf form so I could communicate better, but the
moon was still bright overhead and wouldn’t be releasing its hold
anytime soon.
I turned my back on Shadow Runner and heard
his surprised outlet of breath. I rose slowly and walked back to
Koya and Joven. The siblings watched me warily as if afraid that I
was as wild as the wolves behind me. Their lack of trust shouldn’t
have hurt given the short time we had known each other, but the
faint scent of fear that wafted from them both struck me to the
heart. I stopped a few feet short and held out a hand.
Koya glanced at Joven who refused to take
his eyes off me. His easy smile and casual manner were gone.
Instead, I saw a protector who would defend his sister against a
pack of eight wolves capable of taking down full-grown moose and
elk. I admired his courage, but hoped it didn’t get in the way of
what I wanted to do. Koya gave him one last look, then slipped her
hand into mine. I walked back mindful of her smaller steps and the
hesitancy in her posture. Wolves sensed weakness; I could only hope
they would trust her because I did.
When we were within a few paces of the pack,
I motioned for Koya to crouch. She surprised me by kneeling in the
grass, taking away her ability to run if things became dangerous. I
followed her example and knelt beside her. Shadow Runner watched us
carefully, his body still and the other wolves crouched behind