sigh, she curled up in a corner of the den and closed her eyes. 

In reality, Juneau was busy preparing for a big spring hunt.  Not only that-danger was lurking around the horizon that Thacia didn't know about.  Rumors were flying lately, rumors that the great white wolf Shonee had returned and was settled only a few miles away.  Angry and bitter from his long exile, he had grouped supporters in the year since Juneau had seen him and defeated him in Juneau's puppyhood.  Now it was up to the clan to gather food to store in case they were ambushed.  Coordinating messengers and spies, enforcing safety, and not to mention the hunt, Juneau was a very busy alpha; busier than usual.  And as much as he would have liked a break and some time to himself and his family, he simply couldn't afford it right now.

Malthace slipped into a light doze, and awoke only when her brother Thor pounced on her.  Used to his assaults, she forced herself to stay calm and succeeded in opening an eye rather lazily and muttering, "What?"

"Thace, c'mon!  It's dinner time!"  Her oldest brother was black and white like their mother, but with brown patches on his shoulders  and brown ears with white tips resembling Juneau's.  He also had a white stripe running down his back, which began with a long, thick lock of hair that flopped over his face.  He shook it out of his eyes now, in a familiar gesture of impatience.  "Thacia!"

"Oh, all right."  She and her brothers, two months old, had just begun to eat meat, and were considered "late" pups among the group of little wolves-born in late spring.  Summer was growing closer and closer, and still Malthace was small for her age.  Combined with the fact that she was younger than the rest, she was teased occasionally for her size-whenever her protective brothers weren't around to ward off verbal attackers.  She was grateful to them, but she wanted to be able to prove herself to others without protection.  She hoped that day was soon in coming.

The night's meal was eaten in relative silence (considering the normal prattle that went on at supper time).  Uncomfortable, Thor and Thace, sitting together, gazed back and forth between their parents.  Finally, Thor burst out, "Why is everybody so quiet?  What's wrong?"

Juneau and Brite gave each other a look.  The look, the two pups thought to themselves.

"Well, you guys know I've been pretty busy," Juneau began.

"Yes...?"  Thor's ears were pricked, sensing trouble.

"Well, I'm going to visit some friends in town in a little while.  Thace, you're coming with me."  There was a look like metal that had been firmly set on their father's face.

"What?  Why?"  His daughter's voice pealed.

"And why," said a very hurt Thor, "can't I come?"

"What about us?"  Bering and Atlas, the other two pups, looked indignant.

"Because I said so."  Juneau remained firm, and the glint in his eye remained.

The days melted into weeks.  Still the clan was sullen, saddened by news that had been recently reported to them by their leader.  Unfortunately for the sons and daughter of Juneau and Brite, the clan had been instructed not to tell their dreary secret.  It seemed o involve the pups somehow, for whenever any of the pups tried to ask what was the matter, the wolf in question wouldn't answer.  Meeting up together at last, the young foursome discussed the adult's plan.  As usual, Atlas, the logical one, took over.  "There's probably some trouble or hard times that our parents don't want us to get into," he reasoned.

"Sounds right to me," the Thor replied.  The others heartily agreed, and the short meeting was adjourned.  They decided to approach their parents about the matter, and they agreed that they wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

And why, thought Thacia privately, why hasn't Papa taken me into town yet?

"Uh-oh.  Here comes trouble."

Brite's head jerked up from her doze, and she sighed at her mate's dry remark.  "No doubt it's about our discussion a few weeks ago."

Approaching into the reedy den was a wall of fiercely determined puppies.  If the situation hadn't been so urgent, Juneau and Brite would have laughed out loud.  Each pup had a grim countenance and a steely look; this was helped by that fact that Thacia and Thor both had light blue eyes that shone like sea spray when they were in a good mood.  Now, however, their looks were icy.

"Now children," Brite began, "there's no reason to be so upset.  You want to know why the other wolves are so...so anxious, don't you?"

"Yes," said Thacie guardedly.

"Sit down, dear."  Brite motioned for Malthace to step forward.  Wrapping her paw comfortingly around her little daughter (Thacia hadn't grown much in the last month), she sent the others away.

"We can't hold the truth from you any longer, little one.  We had to wait because of spies...Shonee..."  That was all the other three could hear of their father's strong voice before they were outside the den.

"Goodbye, little Thace.  Be strong."  Aspen nuzzled the pup affectionately.  "Take care."

Tears glistened in the eyes of Thacia's mother, and Aspen licked her on the cheek.  "I'll see you soon, dear one," Brite whispered, steeling herself.  "I'll see you soon!" she said louder.  Before long, Juneau and Malthace were out of sight, on their way to Balto's boat, where their daughter would be safe from the mutiny and corruption of the mountains.  The three boys would be needed when they were just a little bit older.  The mountains cannot lie, thought Brite wearily, but their inhabitants can.

At nightfall the pair of wolfdogs stopped to rest.  They were up again and going steady in the morning until they reached Balto at noon.

He greeted them heartily.  "There you are!  I thought you'd never come."  He didn't seem at all surprised to see them, which Thacia thought seemed a bit odd.  But then it struck her that her father had told him in advance that she was coming to stay.  To stay, to stay, to stay, her footsteps echoed as they approached.  She gulped.  She loved her great-uncle, but had met him only a few times, and by the looks of things his boat was nowhere near as wondrous as her mountain home.

"I know it's nothing grand," Balto said, as if reading her mind, "but it'll do.  You'll like it.  Just like your dad did."  He winked at Juneau, who grinned secretively.

"Did you really stay here, Dad?"  Thacia's eyes were as wide as frisbees.

"Yes, I did, sweetheart.  Now have fun, and I'll see you soon."  Her father leapt gracefully out of the boat and to the sandy ground.  She strained to see him until he was out of sight.  Then she turned to her great-uncle.

"Now, now," he comforted, seeing the tears welling up behind her startling blue eyes.  He gathered her to him.  "We're going to have lots of fun together.  Do you want to know how your father came to live with me?"  Balto asked, hitting on an inspiration.

"Uh-huh," she sniffled.

"Good."  He patted her head, and she crawled up on his forearm.  "It's a long story, but when your father was younger than you are now..."

Several days later, Balto and Thacia were making a beeline for Jenna's house, because Balto had informed Thace that she was expecting their second litter of pups soon.  "Very soon.  So I must check on her every day."  Thacia knew the route by heart already. 

"Stay here and don't move.  Okay?"  Balto was panting excitedly.

Thace nodded.  Balto ran off to check on Jenna for the umpteenth time.  But her gaze seemed to draw towards Balto again.  She'd noticed that he looked strained and eager for the few days that she'd been living with him.  

She looked on with interest as he tried to get in the shed by their house.  But a human (Balto had explained to her what they were called, since she'd never seen one) kept swatting him away; not roughly, but persistently.  This went on for several minutes, but finally the human smiled and admitted him.  Like a rocket about to explode the wolfdog burst in.  Awed and overcome by curiosity, Thacia followed.

"Come on in.  They don't bite."  A weak voice came from the small enclosure.  Balto smiled at the four little pups nestled at Jenna's side.  Three were distinctly red, with one gray one.  Upon seeing Thacia, Balto drew her into his arms and tucked her securely next to him in the way she loved.  

"They're beautiful," Thace whispered.  Seeing these pups, so little and innocent, reminded her of her life.  How short it seemed!  And how much more she could learn about herself!

"Aren't they?"  Balto smiled with pardonable pride, repeating the words of the loving mother Brite.

(Note:  The name "Malthace" is from a very good book called "The Bronze Bow" by Elizabeth George Speare.  I liked the name, so I decided to use it.  In the book, Malthace is often referred to as "Thacia" or

Previous Page

1 2 3 4

Next page