The Blue Wolf (Part 6)

Dusk. Ryanne sat resolutely in front of the cave, the place where she had met the mysterious rogue, Iatn. She sat, with patience she'd learned from him, determined to wait for him to appear and tell her the truth he promised her.

She was just about to give up when his voice rang out.

"So you're still here."

"Iatn!"

Ryanne couldn't help but cried out in joy, seeing him coming out of the shadows. She was close enough to hear him muttering, "Too bloody inquisitive for her own good." She didn't mind that.

"I suppose you want to hear my story now, so make yourself comfortable and listen carefully, because I'd only tell this once." That got Ryanne's ears pricked up. Se took her usual place, lying beside Iatn, as he started recounting the his life to this future fellow Traveller.

* * *

"I am once an Alpha-" Ryanne gasped, not out of surprise, but rather out of awe, "-I led my pack with my mate for some seasons. We had a good life - food was plentiful, the neighbouring packs were respectful to us as we were to them, and such. "

"Then, they came. Who they are, not one of us knows. They are not natural. These - monsters -" Iatn spat the word with absolute hatred, "- They destroyed our homes. They held me, watching helplessly as my mate, my brood was slain before my very eyes. Then, they release me, and vanish without a trace. "

"Ever since then, I've been travelling, moving from one place to the next, searching for them, wanting to avenge my pack or die in the process. Yet, I have found no scent, no trace, no sign of them. But during my travels, something happened to me. This had grown on me."

As Iatn spoke the last words, he reared up. Ryanne gasped as she saw a mark on his body, so familiar because she wore it herself on her right paw. On Iatn's stomach, lined in blue fur of lighter hue, was a newborn moon, under which a river of stars flow. Even though Iatn lay perfectly still, the flowing stars seemed ever undulating moving in front of Ryanne's eyes as patches of blue fur on Iatn's body changed hue to suit the movements of the celestial bodies. Ryanne's own symbol was much smaller, but it shared the similarity that the symbol moved too.

Once Iatn had laid down, he continued, "Wit this... symbol on my body, I found that I slowly became stronger, faster, physically better. There are other changes," He added when he saw curiosity in Ryanne's eyes, "But theos are for each Bearer, each Traveller to find out."

"What-" Ryanne began, but Iatn cut her short. "Now, let me finish my tale first. All will be told in time." When she fell silent' he continued, "At last, I found the desecrators of my pack in a faraway and desolate place. With my newfound strength, I defeated them, though not without undue effort. Since then, I have been wandering around, searching for you."

"For me?"

"Why yes, Ryanne. Now that I've found you, I now know that you are, not yet ready. For now, your life will not be troubled - trust me, that I will come for you again, and take you to the place where you will truly belong."

"But I belonged here-" Ryanne's protest died away when she realized that Iatn was no longer there. Not by stealth and speed - for she knew that no wolf can just slipped away beside another like what Iatn did. Ryanne had so many questions she'd want Iatn to answer, but now, she would have to wait for another time.

Looking out towards the moon, Ryanne silently made a promise. "We will meet again, Iatn. I trust you." Then, she padded back to her home, her right paw tingling as her own symbol flows.

The Blue Wolf (Part 5)

No sooner then his foe twitched his last at his feet than he'd found himself surrounded - by her mother's pack. He didn't even needed his senses to tell him that he could never break through their ranks alive.

Her mother - Shyle - stepped forward, tail high in the air, fangs slightly bared. Wisely, he kept his tail down. She watched him anxiously, hoping that he may have a chace of walking out of this contingency alive, slim chance though it seems.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" asked Shyle.

"I am called Iatn - " Finally, she'd known his name! " - And I am a rogue. The reason that I wandered this deep into your territory was because I am hunting."

"These humans?" scoffed Shyle. "They are worthy enough as your prey?" Iatn did not answer, waiting for Shyle's next remark.

Then, suddenly, Shyle's glare soften as she glanced at her daughter the rogue had saved. "While no rogue who penetrates our territory this deep should be left alive, I am not ungrateful of what you did, for you saved my daughter's life." "Yet," she continued, "No wolf that does not belong in this pack belongs here. Join us, or leave this place. " There was a murmur of growls during her proclaimation, but Shyle silenced them all with a glare,, then stared back at the rogue. "Its your choice."

Secretly, she'd hoped that he would stay, but his words dashed that hope immediately. "My apologies, but... no."

"Then, good hunting to you," Without another word, Shyle's pack retreated behind her, leaving Iatn free to go. As he turned to leave, she could not help it but pouted. "But..."

"Silence, Ryanne!" Her mother snapped. Iatn, upon hearing the name, turned sowly and gazed at the youngling's eyes, then padded out of sight. Ryanne could only watched as Iatn went in cover and disappear from sight.

The Blue Wolf (Part 4)

The tension is nearly palpable. To Shyle's thinking, they were in a disadvantage. In the open, they'd lost their best form of offense and defense. Then there's the matter of their - her - young. No matter whether they win or lose, precious blood will be spilled before the sun rises again. This could bode ill for her pack's future.

She didn't spare much time brroding about this, because the humans were inching closer with each breath she draw. Carefully, she marked each human with their scent, tagged less than a dozen, including two muzzled hounds. With a silent signal, she ordered her pack to be ready. Then, she'd pounced.

As one, half her pack leaped into the bushes, every wolf aiming for their respective targets throats. They know well that this fight has to end as soon as possible, lest they suffer casualties that proved fatal in the long run.

The hound-mastiff's were the first blood shed. Shyle's mate ripped his throat before he'd even release his hold on the dogs' rein and muzzle. With a primal growl, Shyle sent those half-cousins away, tails between knees. Her own target was similarly killed, but one of her wolves was shot through her skull.

Shyle could smell their remaining foes breaking ranks and retreating, and she barked an order to restrain them from giving chase. Too late, she sensed one left still standing. The human was now cocking his gun, aiming it at her beloved daughter, along with the other helpless young. None of her pack, including herself, was near enough to knock him down, rip his throat. Shyle watched, almost helplessly, as the human male pulled back the finger hooking the trigger.

* * *

He was waiting for this all along.

Admittedly, he'd realised soon enough that the humans couldn't have possibly win against such a large, vigilant pack. Yet, he stayed and watched, in case there was something he'd have to do.

There. That's it. The fight was won, right after it had begun. It was two wolves against one man, two wolves as determined to protect their pack as the humans were to completely erradicated the threat to their village. There was no question.

Yet, his target wasn't cowed by the odds. Their was an odd glint in the human's eye, now that he was close enough to observe. Suddenly, he realised it: the look of a creature who also had something held precious destroyed right in front of his eyes.

The human raise his gun, oblivious to the danger. Following the human's aim, his heart jolted when he'd seen the target. Her!

Without a second thought, he pounced, fangs aiming for the back of the human's neck. The force of his leap knocked the human's aim skywards, missing the cluster of young cubs and nearly grazing a wolf in the human's path. Before the human can react, he sink his teeth down on the humans neck, breaking his spine.

The Blue Wolf (Part 3)

The hunters are closing in on the pack's resting grounds. As they moved, he noticed one of them, a lean, gaunt, bearded man, who moved with a grace and determination that matched the blaze in his eye - the right one was covered by an eye patch. He'd presumed he was blinded. That human was definitely the leader of the ragged group.

He called them "ragged" because aside from their leader, all of them humans would never stand a match against a true wolf. He could tell that these humans were hunting wolves because they need to do it. Her pack probably have been feeding off their lifestock lately, leaving them without a means of food for the coming winter.

No matter. He's a wolf, and though rogues don't normally interfere with problems of another wolf pack, he'd prefer the victory of his own kind against those despicable humans. He'd immediately marked the gaunt leader as his primary target, though he'd need a distraction to close in unawares on the human.

* * *

Shyle lied on her stomach, having eaten a full meal. Her daughter laid beside her, seemingly brooding. Shyle put it as her daughter having a moody fit. Not fitting for being a warrior and alpha in-making. She'd have to find a way to root it out sooner or later.

Little did she know that her daughter was thinking about a rogue she'd been meeting with for some time.

Suddenly, her sentinels let out a warning yip. Humans! Shyle immediately got on guard, followed by her daughter. wondering zhat foolishness caused the humans to track them this far, Shyle nevertheless issued orders to form a protective circle around the young. She will protect her pack, no matter the threat or the outcome, because she hold her family - especially her only daughter who'd survived after birth - dearer to her heart than her life. To forfeit her pack, would mean to forfeit her honour and her life.

As her mate took his place beside her, Shyle dropped, preparing to pounce at the slightest hint of her enemies' whereabouts.

The Blue Wolf (Part 2)

Autumn. Three months had passed. She came to him a few more times. Sometimes, something caught her attention, and she'd ask curious questions in a neverending stream - he'd answered the all. Other times, both of them just sat or lied close to each other, neither conversing with sound, but with subtle gestures, such as a nod of the snout, a glance, a flare of nostrils. She was still waiting, he knew, for more glimpses about his own life from himself, but he was just as patient. He know the time was not yet then, but it would come soon.

That day had come.

Rising from his midday nap, his instincts immedtiately howled danger. He bounded out of his den, and the scents in the wind confirmed his suspicions. Humans. He bared his teeth as he thought of what he would face soon, grinned inwardly in anticipation at the thought of having to do it.

The humans are moving southeast, towards the den where her family had been resting. Wasting no more time, he loped eastwards, downwind, so that he can track the humans and learn of them.

Let's hunt, he called, to the winds, the the earth, to the skies.

* * *

The humans are lounging on the ground, each and every one of them arming themselves with the guns and nets. He was watching them from afar, and noted that they'd only brought two dogs, which means that these humans weren't capable enough to enlist the aid of more - or dangerously confident in their capabilities.

No matter. Either they'll be scared away, their non-existent tails between their knees, or they will have their throats ripped apart. He slinked away, leaving no noise, no trails, not even scents that can be picked out by the hounds nose.

Now, to set up the scene - and give both sides in the inevitable battle a surprise. For he knew, in his heart of hearts, that these people will not give up the hunting of wolves, ill-equipped they may seem.

The Blue Wolf

Red sun, yellow skies, orange clouds,
Dawn to all those within darkness shrouded.
Beware,
All brothers and sisters out there,
Cross not the teritory,
Nor the path that I bear.

Sprightly buck, helpless fawn, doe the protector,
Black moose, brown elk, forest conquerors.
All seemed alert and wary,
Yet myself they all overlooked easily.

Blue moon, black night,
Yet another meal that sustain the spark of another's life.
Deep snarl, loud cry,
That freezes all that listens,
As well as those within sight.

Small hill, tall pine,
A howl from the sillhoute that is mine.
Proud nature, cruel fate,
Tonight, who slumbers on,
And who stay awake?

She recited the verse in her heart, as she did so many times before -and, with the silent recital comes the question that finally comes out of the mouth, to the one who composed it, "But...... don't you ever feel lonely?"

He smiled at her, fully understanding that she could not yet comprehend the way he did for the very term 'lonely'. She is too young, after all - barely half his age, and at this time of her life, she's yet to cross the Rubicon and attend the baptism of fire. Still, his instincts told him sound and true - she is special compared to others her age. "Little one, when you lived as I did to my age, you'll learn to appreciate and enjoy being lonely."

"Really?" she sounds unconvinced. "Mama says that all of us will feel that need to mate, to form a pack on time or another. She says that it is what every wolf does."

Sadness flickered across his face, as his remembered his pack, his life in it, and the catastrophe that destroyed it, tearing almost everything he once held dear away from him. But he restrained his thoughts, hiding his emotional turmoil from the youngling in front of him, and said, "Well, I'm not your average wolf, now am I?"

When she did not respond, apparently in thought, he seized the chance and said, "Look, dusk is coming. You wouldn't want your parents to find you missing when they return from their hunting. Go back to your nest now."

When he said that, she'd usually hurry away with a hasty goodbye, but this time, her eyes bore into his for a moment before she opened her mouth, tried to speak, then closed it again with a shake of her head. Then, she turned around and padded away, reluctant to leave.

He watched her form disappeared into the bushes, his blue fur rippling as a breeze played around his form. There's something knowing in his eyes.

She will be back again. And, he will wait until she is mature enough, then he will tell her everything.