Now
One year later...
Where the black sky touched the white snow there was movement. A wolf. He pushed through the snow wearily. His forever-vigilant eyes scanned the hills for danger but found he was alone. Always alone…. Harsh winds blew from the north, sculpting the frozen tundra. All life here was waiting, holding its breath for spring to come, for longer days whose sunlight would coax forth new life.
The wolf was oblivious to its patience. Oblivious to the freezing snow that failed to penetrate his dense winter fur. Determination alone drove him forward, on and on through the snow. Determination to find what was missing from his life, to find his purpose. The Pull – the urge, the gut feeling to run - was leading him; it showed him the way.
Since the Change, the Pull had steered him through deserts, forests and countryside; up mountains, over rivers; through rain, shine or snow. He’d run until his legs gave out and fatigue got the better of him. He’d sleep through the better part of the day then wake up and dash off again, going in whatever direction the Pull hauled him, even if it led him to his death. Days, months, years, however long it took, however many steps, he would run until he found it – whatever it was the Pull was leading him to – or he’d die trying.
The end might have been approaching sooner than he had anticipated.
A snowfield before him spread out endlessly like an ocean of white. Would the snow ever melt? Would the plains ever phase into forest? If so, when? How long could he go without food? Should he turn back, head for the forest from which he came, just to be safe? He looked back at the snowy ridge he had just passed over and saw a brown shape moving up there.
Food! Every instinct screamed at him to seize the moment, but he remained as frozen as the ground beneath him. Something held him back. The Pull. It didn’t want him to go that way. Stuff this, he thought angrily. I’m starving. Ice melted between his toes as he crunched back up the ridge, squinting his eyes against the sleet pounding in his face.
Whatever the shape had been, it was gone when he got there. However, dotting the ground ahead of him were paw prints leading back the way he’d came. He placed his own paw in one of them. Almost a perfect match. Maybe he wasn’t completely alone in this strange white world.
With nothing to lose, and so much to gain, he pushed onward.
*
Snow crunched beneath five sets of paws as the pack weaved between the towering trees. The wolves were all but the only life in the forest during this time of year; many of the native animals were still sleeping away the cold winter months. A silence lay thickly over the woodland, the silence of grass growing beneath the frost, preparing for the approaching spring. It was music to Alexis’ ears. She wished life was quieter, but she could never escape the voices in her head.
Her fur – as white as the snow carpeting the forest floor - ruffled in the icy breeze as she trotted alongside Raven. They walked ahead of the alpha female, Jasmine, who was accompanied by the omegas, Vivi and Shayne. Their rankings counted for nothing in their lifestyle, they were a family where all were equal.
Alexis felt her time with Raven was growing shorter, that soon Raven might be tempted to move out with her boyfriend, Daine. She could sense things the others could not, the shifts in attitude and behaviour everyone seemed to over-look. The past three years felt like a lifetime, during which Raven had always been there by her side; she could only imagine what life would be like without her. Alexis would never voice her worries, would never let those thoughts slip past her guard. But they were there, corroding her soul like an acid.
Nearly home... Raven’ enthusiasm surged through them all, almost making them eager to get home to see Daine too.
He’s out with Kammal, Shayne, her little brother, reminded her, slightly envious that he wasn’t with the other men.
What if they get back soon, but? Each step Raven took bounced with impatience. I gotta be there when he gets back.
Knowing Daine, they’re probably at a night club getting a lap dance. The absentminded thought escaped Alexis’s grasp and into the others minds. She didn’t mean to offend her friends – her family, her pack – but she seemed to do so often.
Raven, however, ignored the comment, her focus given to a sound the others couldn’t hear. Men are camping about two kilometres east, she warned them, sleek black ears twitching.
Six years and I’m still amazed at how good your senses are… If she’d been in human form, Jasmine would’ve been wearing the affectionate, motherly grin the kids knew so well. She might’ve even tousled Raven’ hair, if Raven wasn’t a seventeen year old with attitude problems.
I’m hungry. Vivi complained, more to herself as her stomach gurgled.
You’re always hungry. Alexis sighed. Her best friend was a stick figure yet she ate like a horse.
How about I make you kids some yummy chocolate pudding when we get home? Jasmine offered.
With whipped cream? Vivi’s large green eyes gleamed with eagerness.
Jasmine barked a laugh. Why do you girls find the need to put whipped cream on everything?
You should try it on cheese pizza, Ze insisted. It’s really yummy!
Ew, gross. A shudder rippled through Raven’ midnight black fur.
Alexis grinned. You love it.
Race ya? Vivi thought to Raven and Alexis. She gave them a wolfish grin, her pink tongue lolling out. Alexis rolled her eyes and sighed. They all knew who would win, who would come second and who would come last. Raven was up for it anyway. She licked her brother on the cheek before barking, GO!
Yuck! Don’t lick me. Shayne pawed at his face.
Raven, Vivi and Alexis bounded through the trees, howling cheerfully as they went. The trees thinned and the ground dropped away into a steep cliff overlooking a clearing in which a small red cottage stood. Home. Alexis placed her front paws up on an ice-glazed rock and let out a long howl. The rest of the pack joined her, howling in unison - not at the moon, not to stake their territory or call on other pack members, but to celebrate being a family. But for how long would they remain a family? Alexis wondered.
I won, Vivi grinned, as if it needed pointing out, like it was the first time and a cause for celebration.
Yeah, yeah. Raven sighed resignedly. We know you’re the fastest.
Not in human form, she’s not, Alexis reminded them, sensing Raven would like to win, just once. I reckon you could beat Vivi in human form, Rav.
With my short legs? Doubt it.
You know, Shayne thought... well, thoughtfully, at first, when all this shape-shifting stuff was new to me, I was jealous of the normal kids. But now I pity them. I mean, how many of them can run at thirty k’s an hour for over three k’s?
Three of them, Alexis replied, though the question was rhetorical. She enjoyed the desired effect it had on Shayne, the way he coiled in irritation. She began listing the names of some seniors at school – who, though they were fast, weren’t quite as fast as Shayne had specified – however she was cut short by Raven’ panicked bark.
Shape-shifters heading our way, could be trouble.
The pack scrambled into a defensive formation, tense and ready for action. Just as someone would not enter a stranger’s property, packs of shape-shifters like themselves would rarely wander onto another’s territory, no matter how far gone they were into the mind of their inner animal. The seconds ticked by slowly. Raven believed it to be only males heading their way. How she could tell from only sound, Alexis would never know. Now Alexis could also hear the wolves; it sounded like there were three of them.
Four. Raven corrected Alexis as soon as she had thought it. To prove her point four lean male wolves emerged from the trees. Growls bubbled up in the throats of Raven and Alexis, but Jasmine silenced them.
Don’t start anything, she warned, and even her thoughts were shaky.
Keep behind me, Shayne, Raven told her little brother, her hackles prickling.
He rolled his grey eyes. I’m not a kid.
A breeze brought to the pack the smell of blood; salty and metallic, and distinctly human. It coated the trespassers muzzles, as if they’d recently feasted. Their ears were back and hackles high in an intimidating posture. Jasmine’s pack shuffled backward, being herded like sheep as wiry wolves from the other pack darted back and forth before them, their guttural snarls the only noise in the night.
What do they want? Lex? What do they want? Vivi asked, her stomach fluttering with panic.
Alexis’s mind travelled along the connection between her and each wolf, but instead of a similar feeling to walking into a dark room full of chattering people and random images, it was more like walking into a desert football stadium flooded with intense lights. Alexis winced at the brightness, and retreated to her own safe psyche. I... I dunno, she told her awaiting pack. Their minds are just... blank.
Ok, it’s gonna be ok, hold your ground, Jasmine ordered them, but even she couldn’t help shying away.
Vivi’s back paw slipped off the edge of the cliff. Rocks crumbled away and clattered to the clearing far below. Alarmed, she scooted forward, almost running into one of the wolves who were circling them. He growled and snapped at her ferociously. Yelping, Vivi scurried back to hide behind Alexis.
Glancing behind them Alexis saw that there was nowhere to run except off the cliff. Then she noticed Kammal’s Ute crawling up the long driveway snaking through the forest, headlights on full blast. He was still a long way off, but maybe if he saw them he and Daine could get there in time…
He won’t be able to see us, Shayne whined. We’re too far off.
Vivi? Alexis thought.
Yeah...?
Run.
In a flash of brown fur, Vivi darted out from behind Alexis and launched herself at Raven, landing on her head just for a fraction of a second before bouncing off and over the other pack. Ignoring the on-coming headache, Raven was too worried to be pissed. Vivi bolted into the darkness of the forest, leaving the trespassers dazed and confused. One of them came to his senses and dashed after her.
Just one of the wolves had remained still and in front of them the whole time, not snarling or circling, not pacing agitatedly, just standing in wait. Now he took a step towards them, out of the shadow cast by the trees, into the pool of moonlight. The pack recognised his beady yellow eyes and matted grey fur immediately.
Alexis inhaled sharply. Don’t stop running, Ze, don’t look behind. Go home and tell Kammal ‘He’s back’.
The grinning wolf’s teeth were chipped and rotten, worse than Alexis had remembered them. “Hello again, sweetheart.”
