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-Chapter 1-
The full moon above sparkled a blinding white against the darkened sky. Stars were clearly visible, but appeared dim when compared to the shine of the moon, which reflected off the clearing below as a gray hue. The snow was almost completely melted, besides the few clumps of snow and sleet that covered the ground. Where grass had begun to sprout, the snow was melted away completely, and at the base of the trees, the snow remained built up, as if it had snowed just yesterday. Cowering to the side of one of those trees, was a white wolf, whiter than even the snow itself. Her eyes sparkled a bright blue, with gray specks that seemed to bounce about in her fear. The blue eyes were genetically impossible for her kind. No wolf possessed such eyes, and that alone was enough to arise suspicions of any studied man, but no man wandered here. It was no-man's land, and hence the animals lived in peace.
Her ear twitched slightly at the call of wolves beyond. It sounded as though they had made a kill, likely one of the caribou from the group which migrated through in this season of the coming spring. She slunk forward slowly, knowing very well that she was stepping on a territory that was claimed. By the sound of their victory howl, the pack was of a size of five members. She could pick out the leader's howl above the others - Louder and much deeper in tone than the rest. The howl rose and fell in a pattern more rhythmic than the others. But a female's voice rose nearly an octave above his, whose song was drawn out in its length. Another voice she recognized. It was a gruff sound, the song only lasting in short breaths. The fourth wolf's song was in yips, as was the fifth. They were noticeably still younger pups, who hadn't yet learned to break into song. They did their best anyway, barking triumphantly.
She listened yet again to the gruffness of the third wolf. Her ears twitched uneasily at the sound, and cautiously she lifted her head to hear the song clearer. It was unmistakably one of her past pack. He had been run out, she was sure, by the leader, just as she had. He was a trouble maker, one that seemed content in the structure of a pack, only to challenge the dominance of those around him, including the leader, soon after. He'd only been around for a season before he'd launched his first attack on their past leader. The battle had been gruesome, but the proper wolf won in the end.
She shook the bits of snow from her coat, and continued on her journey towards the group. She'd wait a few nights to study the habits of the members, especially their leader, and would hopefully, eventually, confront them. She didn't know just how long she could hide her scent from them though. That might pose a problem.
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She watched two pups, tumbling over one another in the last clumps of snow. One was gray, with a unique pattern to his fur. He appeared aged, even in his youth and small stature. The second pup was female, with orange fur like that of a Red Rolf, but this pack was presumably a group of a breed known as Timber Wolves. She scanned the watcher of the pups. It was the mother - the wolf whose song was long and clear. She possessed an elegant appearance, with her white fur and silver markings. One eye was blue, and the other brown. By her scent, the lone wolf could tell that her name was Sapphire. A name like that seemed nearly impossible, but the scent that wavered from that mother wolf was unmistakably nothing but. The smaller female pup smelled of Rose, and she guessed that, that too, was her name. The more grizzly looking male pup smelled of Pine, the trees that surrounded them all now.
The wolf who had watched all this from within the brush sensed a shift in the wind. If the leader's mate caught scent of her, there would be trouble, especially at this stage. Silently, she leapt over the snow, being careful to step only in the dirt patches that would make no noise, and crossed over the property line.
It seemed it was too late to escape unnoticed though. Sapphire lifted her head, and posed protectively, grunting to her pups to come close. After a bit of playful tackling, then struggling to become untangled, the pups did as they were told. The young female seemed to sense the lone wolf as well, and if not the lone wolf, then a presence that didn't belong. The brother continued to pounce at his mother, completely unaware. Sapphire knocked him aside with a swish of her light tail. Being small, the pup was thrown into the snow. He yelped small yips of pain, and in return, Sapphire growled, as quietly as could be possible. The young wolf, Pine, lay still, knowing now that something was wrong. Sapphire ducked her head to the pups, and nudged them both in the direction of the den. They eagerly scampered off.
Sapphire then crouched slightly, absorbing the scent, but decided to do nothing for the time being. She lifted her head, stared with her cold multicolored eyes, then whirled about to follow her pups. It wouldn't be long before they managed to get themselves into trouble.
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For a month afterward, the lone wolf lingered, studying the pack. So far, she'd noticed that they lived together quite well. There was almost a sense of harmony among them, like nothing could go wrong - or ever would go wrong - in the pack structure. The Alpha, a black wolf, was taller with a furry coat, and was all together stronger and larger than the rest, while his mate stood a good head shorter than him. The pups were the size of their mother's leg now, and the the wolf that she'd recognized was older looking than she'd remembered. He was gray and scruffy, and stood with his head below the leader and the wolf second in command – the beta. He didn't have to do much of course, since he too was shorter than the alpha, but just slightly higher than Sapphire.
The lone wolf came to recognize each of them by their scent and their howl. The scruffy male's scent was a smell of moss, but Motten seemed to be the more proper sound of it. She marked that his scent. The alpha carried about a scent she couldn't quite name instantly. It was a sense of pride and courage, which nearly covered any other scent he carried. Maybe close up, when she found the bravery to cross over the border, she would be able to define it.
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At sunset, when the sky was turning a darker hue of blue, she slunk back over the line. The wind was shifted to her advantage this day, and she was willing to come across the leader alone; to be judged admittance.
She found that he was not the only one on duty, as the pups crawled into their den for the night. Her former pack member was there too. She let her gaze remain on Motten, her ex-pack member. He stood with his head high, as the alpha was not facing his direction to counteract such a posture. She listened as he shook off the bits of snow that had accumulated on his fur from the pines above. She didn't know if she could trust him or his presence, especially if he were able to recognize her, which was quite possible. Her instinct was saying “flee,” but something inside her drove her to take a step forward out of the brush. In clear view, she tucked her tail till it touched her underbelly, and slunk as close to the ground as possible, laying her ears flat against her head. Her eyes sparkled a pitiful blue, and she whined as the alpha turned his eyes upon her. Her former pack member stood taller, the fur raising along his back, and snarled a snarl that caused a series of shivers to run down her spine. But the leader stepped forward, baring his fangs, and Motten dropped his head, along with his tail, in obedience.
The lone wolf crawled forward, then lay sideways against the ground, her belly still to the snow. The larger wolf's shadow fell over her, and she waited as he scented her. Silently she did the same. Still, she could find no scent on his body, and it seemed neither could he. The alpha took a few steps back, lowering his head with a cautious glow to his eyes. They were a light shade of green, a a color that was possible, but indeed rare. Her eyes narrowed, and she pulled her ears back closer to her skull. A growl erupted from the alpha, and she sighted his fangs, a blinding white against his blackened lips. She waited no longer, for she could already feel Motten coming in for the chase.
She yipped in forgiveness, then bounded away, her tail raising to break the wind. She forced herself forward in long strides, the snarl of the leader, and his partner in crime, close behind. This wasn't her time to die; she would not be caught so easily. But as she burst forward into her fastest speed, a pair of teeth sank into her tail, and another in her flanks. She screamed out, barreling over into the newly grown grass. There was no mercy in the force of their attack, nor the cruelness of their fangs. She faced fate as Motten closed his jaws on her throat. No matter how much she struggled, she could not break free, and in the end was rewarded with only a shortness of breath; he intended to kill her the long way.
Sapphire came upon them then, and sighted the attack. She snapped at Motten. Without hesitation, he released her, and the alpha did the same, out of nothing but loyalty to his mate. The lone wolf now stared into the jaws of Sapphire. The lone wolf's ears faced outwards in arrogance. If death came, she would not die in vain. She bared her fangs, but Sapphire only shook herself and threw her head to the side in a form of attitude. The lone wolf's ears pricked forward, and her tail raised slightly from the ground. The average wolf didn't act in such a way. Sapphire nodded, and the lone wolf slunk to her belly, then rose to her feet, still keeping low to the ground. Could it be another of her kind? Sapphire seemed to read her mind, and nodded an awkward wolfish nod once again. The lone wolf only stared in shock. Is this the power the wolf possessed? The ability to read minds? Sapphire's eyes sparkled in mischief. The lone wolf lowered her head, feeling violated in some way. Sapphire looked away, and the lone wolf thought yet again.. Where had she come from? But Sapphire didn't respond. Maybe eye contact was needed for her to work her wonders. Would she be accepted into the pack now that one of her own had acknowledged her? Sapphire turned back.
"What brings you here to my homeland?" The lone wolf stared in surprise. She was communicating telepathically. Was this another gift that they both could use?
"I was only looking for a home as well. I was chased out of the pack, and I'd properly place the blame on your third in command. He was my old mate, and he challenged his authority.."
"Is that such a way to speak of your loved one?"
"But he wasn't a loved one." The lone wolf shook her head in frustration, then met the gaze of her elder once again. "It was forced."
"In the life of wolves, such a thing couldn't be possible," Sapphire snorted.
"Oh, but there was another of I.." She trailed off.
"Then why was it you seemed so surprised that I could hear your very thoughts?"
"He didn't possess that ability," the lone wolf replied. "He spoke to I and only I, but through emotions and eye contact, not through words of speech."
"No wonder your dialect is so outdated," the silver wolf coldly teased.
"Can you really blame me?" She shook her head, grass flying off as she did so. Sapphire's eyes sparkled slightly. "It didn't occur to me that you were any different from those around us.." continued the lone wolf.
"My mate is one of us as well," she corrected, then looked over at the leader.
"Why is it that he smells of nothing?" In response, Sapphire's tongue lolled out in a laugh.
"We haven't quite thought a name of him. You do know that we aren't as easily named as others? A task must be completed to earn our names, and our scents."
"Then why is it you - Sapphire? How could such a name be possible at all?"
"It was difficult, I admit." Sapphire closed her eyes, remembering the event. "But it's too long a story to tell." The lone wolf closed her eyes as well, but quickly met the gaze of Sapphire's again.
"Can he speak?"
"Of course." A sort of smile spread across Sapphire's face, and her eyes met her mate's. The lone wolf watched, and envied.
"I can't hear what you communicate?"
"You won't be able to communicate without eye contact until your name has been assigned." The gaze of the silver wolf hadn't even been locked with hers when she turned to speak those words.
"So you can hear all?"
"The thoughts of all those that I've bonded with. There's different levels. We each have thoughts on a unique level, but when close together in a pack like ours, a same level can be established. It takes much fine tuning though, that much is true." Her eyes closed, and the lone wolf took the chance to look up at her face.
"May I join you?" she asked in wonder. How fine would it be to be part of a pack? One that was not only wolves, but her own species of wolves: Jadewolves. Sapphire did not meet her eyes directly afterward. "Legendary Jadewolves? That's what we are, correct?"
"Yes," was Sapphire's response. The lone wolf tilted her head.
"And what is he? That wolf that can not communicate directly?"
"He is a more sinister form - another species entirely." The lone wolf stared with wide-eyes into Sapphire's, awaiting an explanation. "His kind manipulates. Treachery is his skill. He can make one of us - one of any wolf at all, actually - abide to his every will."
"Could it have been worse?"
"For you? A wolf of your kind? He could have willed you to walk off a high cliff, or break through the very ice that you could walk upon harmlessly when light-footed." The lone wolf closed her eyes.
"Evil he is? But of course, killing one wolf like me wouldn't bring an end to our world?" she stated doubtfully.
"No, but he can scent track each and every one of us. He could will us all - by contacting the leaders - to come to war, to shed one another's blood. I didn't know our enemy even existed in this day. He was vanquished long ago in a time well before I was born." Sapphire's gaze broke from hers, and met the eyes of the alpha. The lone wolf waited patiently, and eyed her former pack mate as the two higher-ups spoke. She met the gold eyes of her enemy. No message passed; was he not one of theirs? Her gaze went back to Sapphire's, but she had already begun the journey back to her pups.
The lone wolf stood taller, and rushed to the alpha, lowering herself as she came to his shoulders within sight. She gazed up at him, waiting for eye contact. She had questions that were still left unasked. During that short walk, he never so much as looked at her; it was as if she weren't there at all.
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At the den, she sat with her head held high in defiance. She didn't expect the alpha to notice her or her movements, but his writhing snarl and sharp fangs changed her thoughts an that subject. She rolled over into the grass, accepting his fangs in the scruff of her neck. She had made a mistake; that was clear. He met her eyes, an action that was supposed to last only long enough to make her blood run cold. It did indeed, but she mustered the courage to ask but one of the questions that had come to her mind back in the pines. "A normal wolf in your pack?" she rushed. The contact broke, then he looked back at her.
Grunting a yes, he walked off, his back bent stiffly, and his tail low, swishing in quick jerks that could only be read as anger.
"Sapphire?" she called. "Sapphire, you can hear me; can you not? Your pups? They have names. I can smell their names. But are they not the offspring of both you and your fellow Jadewolf? Are you not both Jadewolves?" Sapphire appeared from the entrance of the cave, sitting before the lone wolf.
"It's like rolling dice, my dear." The lone wolf's ears pricked forward in curiosity. "Oh, that's right. You have no idea what those are." Sapphire paused to groom a fore-paw that had collected frozen bits of the snow.
"None at all."
"Dice; they're a human instrument that has to do with chance. There's the chance - a very small chance that the pups conceived will be Jadewolves."
"Nonsense!" The lone wolf shook herself bitterly. "How could we be cursed so?"
"It's not a curse." Saphire's eyes sparkled. "We've interbred with average wolves."
"A Jadewolf? Us? How could one of us do such a thing? It's mediocre!" Sapphire laughed yet again.
"We're spread widely. It's not often we come upon another of our opposite gender; not one that we like, anyhow." The lone wolf tilted her head yet again.
"Could I be so unfortunate as to never find another of my own?" Her voice was full of longing. Sapphire sighed.
"It's quite possible - really. Most have had to settle down with the common wolf. It's a rewarding life, to have pups and to care for them; to have a mate who stays till the end, and sleeps at your side for always... But once you meet another Jadewolf and recognize that a common wolf is not what you are, your view changes completely." Sapphire broke eye contact to look back at the den, presumably seeing the images of her pups and mate. She then looked back. "Oh, you'll never be able to settle for the average wolf again," she grinned.
"I noticed that - when you started speaking to me. I can't seem to imagine living among an average wolf pack... It's like living without my legs. Impossible!"
"I'm sorry," Sapphire managed to say, before closing her eyes. The lone wolf watched eagerly, only to see that Sapphire had rose to leave. She looked back once before entering the mouth of the small cave. "A pack of us is not allowed more than a male and a female by right. Our ancestors have made it clear. You see that unwritten law now, don't you? You feel it? Competition can not be tolerated. Jadewolves, unlike the average wolf, can betray one another." Her eyes closed, then she opened them briefly enough to turn away without meeting the lone wolf's eyes. She could not stay here. That was what Sapphire had managed to explain: Indirectly but as clear as water in a fresh stream.
The lone wolf stepped away. Not a thought escaped her mind; not one that could be read by Sapphire. It was true - All that she had said. That feeling in her gut that she'd felt when she saw the alpha; it was the unwritten law, urging her to go on. But how strict was this law? She should have continued onward, but now she was destined to search high and low for another of her kind, and not just any pack as she'd planned before. A normal wolf? That just wouldn't do. Her thought process even felt different now. She was open to thoughts and feelings that she hadn't even known existed. What had Sapphire used for comparisons? “Human” objects?
 GraywoIf · Wed Aug 19, 2009 @ 01:30am · 0 Comments |
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