first litter. They both had the same colors as their dam, except for the fact that they lacked any markings to tell them apart. Only their eyes were different – Tydra’s were brown, while her brother’s were blue. 

“At a young age, Nava had a sense that they were going to be trouble for the Clan – it is said that pups born without markings were an ominous sign from the Great Spirits that trouble was coming. Although he knew the consequences of their birth and understood that they were to be the object of any wolf’s tattling, he continued to allow them to live in the Kawa Clan, despite the fears of his fellow Clansmen – they were born into his Clan after all and as Alpha, he only wanted them to live a normal life like any other pup should. They, unlike many of our pups, were spared from the constant raids of the revolting Clans, mainly because of the fact that they were born in the summer instead of the late-spring like most wolves. As they grew, their actions and ways quickly began to show as more than just friendly sibling interactions . . .”

Aleu gasped. “You mean, . . .?” 

Dahlia nodded. “Yes. Only us elder females – Me, Kayli, Sheka, Deelya, and including their mother, Hilde – were able to notice that Tydra and Viking were nuzzling and snuggling too closely to be seen as brother and sister . . . They acted more like . . . a pair of very close lovers.”

“Oh my goodness!” Aleu was taken aback. “I . . . I never would have guessed that they were . . .” She let out a cough. “um, like that . . .” Aleu lifted her head up with curiosity. “So, Nava didn’t know that they were like this?” 

“Of course not,” The brown and white she-wolf responded. “Nava was too busy with the safety of his Clan and protecting the next generation of the Kawa; but it’s not often that something like this would take place in Clan society, especially since Nava is related to most of us here in the Kawa. There are actually Wolf Clans that only have the Alphas to mate, but there are some rules of breeding that can be altered if the current Alpha sees fit to change it. That’s why Nava would only mate with the she-wolves of the Clan that weren’t closely related to him in order to build up our pack numbers.” Dahlia grinned, but her expression quickly shifted to a serious look. “However, close incest between a brother and sister are strictly forbidden in Clans. I’m not sure why it is so forbidden, but the Law of Aniu that states it as so. Disobedience to this rule calls for the strictest punishment – death.” Dahlia’s tone was stern, especially with the last word; she swiftly turned her head to the yearling female, causing the Alpha to shutter.

Aleu let out a gasp of fear. “Oops. Does that mean I did something wrong by letting them roam freely?” 

“Probably,” Dahlia sighed. “but now they are no longer bound by the Law of Aniu, since they have left their birth Clan. I just hope they don’t plan to have a litter together.”

“Why?” Aleu asked. “Is it that bad of a deal for them to mate?” 

“Of course it is!” Dahlia shouted at her, then lowered her tone. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me, for I’ve forgotten how inexperienced and naïve you are.”

“It’s all right,” Aleu got a bit flustered by Dahlia’s apology. “I’m still learning, thanks to Scarlet, Lorna, and the Trio . . . and you too, of course.” The Alpha nodded her head lightly. “Please explain what you mean, Dahlia. I don’t seem to understand why it seems so bad! If they’re in love, shouldn’t it be okay?” 

“Not really. You’re still a young pup yourself, and you are probably new to the emotions of love.” She cleared her throat and continued. “Well, I have heard of many stillbirths and miscarriages due to close incest mating, but it would be a tragic day when a she-wolf births her own brother’s child . . . and is born alive.”

“Why?” Aleu repeated. 

“I don’t know; I’ve only heard legends and stories of such taboo actually occurring, and it’s never ended good. There is a prophecy that Nava told us elder wolves a month before the Clan invasions began, a prophecy sent to him from the Great Aniu herself:” Dahlia began to speak in an almost trance-like voice, as if the Great Spirits themselves were speaking to Aleu through the mother wolf. “‘When two of the same blood become one, the Dark Child of Destiny shall smite out the Sun; thus on this day, the Great Spirit will fall, and destruction and death await for us all.’ It was a prophecy that has been passed down for many generations; now, I pass it to you, and I pray that this has not yet been fulfilled.”

Aleu let out another gasp. “Can this prophecy be stopped, Dahlia?” 

“I don’t know, Aleu,” Dahlia answered sadly. “It all depends on if Viking has planted his seed in her yet. If Tydra becomes with child by now, we only have about two months before the Dark Child is given the breath of life.”

“There must be something that can be done!” Aleu began to stand up, tears in her eyes. 

“Aleu . . .” Dahlia murmured as she looked up at her Alpha, then focused her attention back on her pups.

“I’ve worked too hard to be accepted into this lifestyle of being an Alpha of a Wolf Clan, and I must try to prevent this destiny from happening!” She was now on her feet; her left hind leg was now slightly stronger for standing. Aleu pricked her ears up towards the entrance of the den, where the twittering of waking birds signaled the rise of the sun. “It’s dawn already, Dahlia. I have to get started on hunting, so I’ll leave you and the pups alone until later today, okay?” 

“All right then,” The she-wolf bowed her head once, but quickly added a quick request. “Oh Aleu, do you think that you could get a little bit of kill for me? All I’ve eaten is this nutrient-filled placenta that was attached to the pups after they were born, and it just wasn’t enough. Awful stuff, really, but when there’s nothing else left . . .” She sighed with a small smile.

Aleu smiled as she turned around to her friend. “Of course. I’ll see if I can find some water nearby also so that you can drink and still return to the pups. I’ll get Lorna to help me when I return back to the Clan.” 

“Thank you, Aleu,” Dahlia said graciously. “May Aniu bless you.”

Aleu bowed back in respect and crawled out of the den. The Trio was still asleep, even though the sunrise was beginning to light up the early-morning sky. As she stood, she shook off the dirt and leaves that were attached to her coat, and groomed herself until her coat was smoother than it was when she first woke up earlier. After feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays sliding against her body, Aleu began her morning hunt with a new sense of knowledge . . . and many questions of what she should do to prepare herself for the problems that awaited for her to resolve. 

But nothing would prepare her for what awaited her when Aleu returned to the Kawa Clan’s territory.

She had been hunting for about an hour after sunrise and managed to catch a couple of rabbits – one of them, she delivered to Dahlia’s den before returning to the Clan – and a young bull moose as well. Aleu felt lucky to finally catch something bigger than a rabbit for once, and she hoped that this latest sign would lift up their hopes of finding the caribou herd that they had traveled all this way for. Carrying the remaining rabbit by the ear in her mouth, she quickly ran back to the edge of the reflecting pond in front of the strips of caverns. Nuk, who was awake by the time Aleu had dropped off the other rabbit, hauled the moose with his large, powerful jaws and followed closely behind his Alpha. By the time they begun their approach to the edge of the forest to share their bounty, they were surprised to hear barks and calls for someone. The closer they trotted, the louder the cries filled the air of their home. 

“Do you hear all that noise?” Nuk call the din to her attention.

“Yeah,” Aleu answered back. “I wonder what’s going on . . .” 

Suddenly, a mud-red and white wolf leaped from a nearby bush, halting in front of the two wolves and their kill.

“Oh, it’s only you!” The male wolf first shouted the first word, then once realizing whose presence he was in, lowered his voice to normal, although his tone was still filled with worry and the unknowing. “Aleu, we’ve been looking for you since daybreak! Where have you been?” 

“Scarlet, you know where I’ve been,” Aleu replied calmly, leaning up to his nose and touching it with her own. “Hunting for breakfast, of course . . . and visiting Dahlia and her litter.” She sighed in an almost dreamily manner. “They were just darling pups too. I just hope our first litter ends up being so perfect.” She was gazing deep into his dark gray eyes with love, but all she saw was concern emitting from his stare. “Umm, Scarlet? Hey, Scarlet? What’s wrong? Did something happen while I was out?”

The words took true courage for him to say and total shock fell upon the Alpha and the large wolf. His head was lowered between his front legs, his tail lowered between his hind legs. His voice was quiet yet shaken with sadness as he muttered them with his lips. 

“Lorna’s gone.”

A silent pause of surprise swept through the duo as their kill dropped to the ground in unison. Aleu’s mouth and eyes were wide in disbelief. 

“WHAT?!” was Aleu’s immediate response. And it was a loud reply too.

“I was afraid of that . . .” Scarlet muttered under his breath.  

She began her slew of questions. “How did this happen? When did she go? Where did she go?” She began to pant in worry, trying to move around so that she could search for her friend, but Scarlet quickly took action.

“Keep her calm and still, Nuk,” He ordered; the large wolf grabbed a hold of her shoulder, jerking her downward as he forced her to sit down and stay calm. “I can’t talk to you when you’re