Chapter 2: The Prodigal Son
The sun hitting his body waked Brigham. He woke comfortably and smiled as he saw the vista before him. When he went to bed he was a distraught and angry, but now he was clam, and ready to face whatever his journey entailed. “Howd’ ya sleep little Briggems?” Vira said in a jesting manner. “Wha… great… great! Aniu appeared to me!” Vira knew this would happen but played surprised. “Oh you don’t say!” “I’m serious Vira! You said yourself she appears to people in dreams sometimes.” “Yes, yes I did and I’m just pulling your tail, I know she appeared to you.” Confused Brigham asked, “How did you know?” “Well I’ve been speaking with Aniu about you for a long time, before we even met actually. She told me about a relative of mine whom I would run into. She told all about your hardships and sufferings, she told me to mentor you and teach you everything about our culture and about life.” Although Brigham would have reacted with an angry retort before this morning, he did not this time. “Well she does seem to be on top of things doesn’t she?” Surprised by Brigham’s calm response Vira said, “Well I guess Aniu got through to you last night. What’d she say?” Brigham then recounted all the events of his dream to Vira, his parents, how Aniu is his grandmother and how he must choose to leave Nome and begin his journey. “I knew she was your grandmother, in essence she is my great-grandmother.” Vira laughed as Brigham frowned and said “Well you could have let that slip sooner.” “Where’s the fun in that?” Brigham then looked over the cliff to Nome. Seeing him look at Nome Vira said, “I knew there was something familiar about that town.” “Yeah I know, but I have to leave behind… again” “Don’t worry your mom and dad will be fine. I’m sure Aniu has handled everything” “Anything else you know about Aniu that you’ve been keeping secret?” Brigham said as he pushed Vira jestingly. “Haha no, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you”. “Figures,” Brigham said as he walked away from the Cliffside, away from his home, away from his parents, and towards his destiny.
Brigham and Vira walked northwest away from Nome. On their way they ran into a wolf hunting party. However, this was no regular hunting party, because the leader was none other than Viras father Ulra. Vira looked exactly like his father expect Vira’s eyes were sky blue. Vira looked less than happy that it was his fathers hunting party but it was too late for when His father saw Vira, he broke down in tears. He ran to his son and embraced him with the strength of ten wolves. “I thought… I thought you were dead. The hunting party said that your body was lost in the river.” “Yeah, uh… there’s a lot I need to tell you father.” Not now, not now, we need to go back to the pack and feast. For my dead son is alive!” Ulra howled and the rest of party joined in his celebration. On the way back Ulra was introduced to Brigham and told all about his adventures and his dream about Aniu. “By the Great White Wolf, a fellow grandson of Aniu! It still surprises me how young you are.” When they had arrived where the rest of the pack lived, Viras mother came out and greeted the pack. She was all black with sky blue eyes. “You know what I said about not coming back without food Ulra….” Her voice trailed off at the sight of her living son. “How?” Vira looked down at the ground embarrassed but Brigham did not know why.
There’s something going on, it doesn’t add up. Ulra paid no attention to his wife for he knew there would be time to explain later. He had one thing on his mind at the time…
“Feast! For my son who was dead lives, take all of our reserve food and feast! Aniu has blessed us with my son who has come back from the dead.” Brigham was surprised by the hospitality of the pack even though he was only half-wolf. The pack treated him kindly and asked him many questions about his life. Brigham was very happy to explain who he was and even happier why people would believe him when he said he was Aniu’s grandson. However there was one thing he needed to figure out. He walked over to Vira and his parents who were crying and nuzzling with each other. He had just walked up when Viras mother directed her next nuzzle to Brigham. Brigham was taken by surprise but enjoyed the loving embrace. Ulra spoke to Brigham first, “This is my mate Accalia.” “I think I can say my own name Ulra. Thank you so much for watching over our son, we owe you so much.” Confused Brigham stated “Well he actually was watching over me.” “Ulra jumped in “What she means is thank your for being with our son, we thought he was dead. Our whole pack mourned his death for days.” Brigham was getting annoyed and felt it was time to clear this mess up, “Ok what’s going on? Vira, you told me that your pack didn’t like you and that you were half-wolf, yet your parents both look full wolf.” Ulra and Accalia both looked at Vira in confusion. “What is this about son?” said Ulra. “Well when I met Brigham he was young and filled with anger towards the wolves, humans and dogs. I felt that if I said that I was half-wolf like him, he would listen to me more. As Vira spoke Brigham remembered what Aniu said to him,
would I rather listen to someone who had experienced what I had or someone who just heard about it? Before Vira’s parents could say anything, Brigham spoke up. “It’s ok, I understand why Vira lied to me. I know I would not have listened to him otherwise. All he was doing was trying to help me and make sure I didn’t do anything stupid. I owe him everything and only wish I could repay him.” Vira’s parents were speechless. Brigham didn’t know that the real reason Vira left was because he didn’t like his pack, he wanted to be on his own and explore the wilderness. He had planned his escape and used the caribou raid as his distraction when he left. Vira was on the verge of tears when Ulra spoke to him, “Son, we thought we had lost you, we were overwrought with grief for your death..” Vira looked as he was about to try to speak but Ulra stopped him. “Just listen son, we do not care that you faked your death so that you could be on your own. All we care about is that you are safe and back home. You saved this young wolfdog and mentored him in the old ways. You are a great son and a great example for Brigham and other young wolves.” “But father, I have disgraced our family and our pack with my lies. I do not deserve to live.” “That may be true, but Aniu has deemed that you deserve life, if she didn’t than you would not be here today.” Vira thought to himself,
that’s right, Aniu watched over me, she led me to Brigham, without me, he would have been killed, my purpose was to mentor him; To mentor a hero. “You are right father, I was wrong to ever leave, forgive me and forgive my ignorance.” “You were forgiven the moment I saw you my son.”
The whole family embraced and nuzzled once more. Brigham was reminded of the many times his parents would do the same thing to him. However, instead of being sad he felt happy,
there will a time when I will experience that once again, but not yet mom and dad. I still have to complete my journey. Things were beginning to make sense to Brigham now. “Aniu told me I would be a beacon of light within the coming dark and that I would help save those around me. When I first heard this I thought it meant life or death, but now I realize there was more to it. I was supposed to reunite your family and bring peace to your pack.” Ulra saw much of what he heard about Aniu in this young wolfdog, “Brigham if what you say is true, and I do believe it is, then we must do all we can to help you fulfill your destiny.” Brigham understood more than they did at this point but he could not explain it all. “Right now I just need a place to sleep, but tomorrow I have to continue my journey.” Vira spoke up “You mean you must go alone don’t you?”
Brigham was sad to admit it but he nodded. He knew he owed his whole life to Vira. Vira had taught him everything, how to hunt, how to live, how to believe. Brigham knew this would be hard, but it had to be done. “Vira, I owe you my life, but now I must go on my own. You have guided me through this stage of my life but I am now old and mature enough to go it alone. I will never forget you and what you’ve done.” Brigham noticed tears on his old mentors face and jokingly said, “Hey, you never taught me to cry, what happened to being calm and coolheaded?” Vira chuckled, “Well… sometimes it is good to cry…it’s therapeutic.” They all laughed and continued to talk until the feast was over. That night, Brigham slept the best he had ever slept in his life, he knew that he would alone from now on, but I he knew he had Aniu watching him.
Tomorrow, I go it alone, will I be strong enough? Will I be able to fulfill my destiny?
Chapter 3: A Hero’s Journey Begins
Brigham awoke the next day while the sun was just starting to come up. He walked to the entrance of the cave he had been sleeping in. Vira shared his own cave with
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