By Sun and Moon

(started 9/24/07 – ) 

Overall Summary: Two kingdoms of wolves celebrate the birth of their only children: Selene, a silver-gray cub of the Moon Kingdom, and Cyrus, a orange-red cub of the Sun Kingdom. The Alphas arrange for them to be joined in marriage, thus uniting their kingdoms as one, but the reluctant children search for their own destiny as war lies right around the corner.

Rating: PG-13 for violence, hunting, and speak of survival stuff. It’s a wildlife story, so it’s necessary! There’s also description of several birth scenes . . . but they may be a bit too intensely graphic for young children. Reader’s discretion is strongly advised! 

Disclaimer: All of the characters and the story idea were created especially for this fan work only by me, Juuchan17; they should not be used without the author’s (again, mine) permission. Thanks!

==================================================

================================================== 

Chapter I: The Betrothal

The typical mid-winter weather that day was out of sight, almost as if the heavens above felt that there was a reason for a calm, clear sky that night. The snow from the previous days remained above the cold, dead soil, although it still found a way to provide for the forest trees. The snow-covered branches had its tips surrounded with dead leaves that had forgotten to make their descent onto the ground in the previous season, but there was a slight sense of rebirth in the air as a tiny bit of green began to peek a little from the ivory snow. 

The terrain was covered with tall pine and evergreen, mostly all of them decorated with a thin layer of white flurries. Three large mountain peaks stuck out from the Arctic tundra, almost as if they were outcasts of the woods. The night sky was scattered with millions of celestial glitter and starlight, topped off with the beauty and majesty of the key pieces of a far north sky: the Aurora Borealis as it danced with the lunar sphere that was often covered by the gray clouds of the night. As many other creatures were fast asleep underneath the tranquil after-midnight sky, a couple of blaring sounds broke the silence of the night.

Two female wolves were howling in pain, releasing their voices back and forth without realizing that the other was returning their calls. Each female was a member of a different pack of wolves, but their kingdoms were close allies to each other, almost to the verge of joining together. Renee, the Alpha Female of the Moon Kingdom, accompanied with Luna, her midwife, within her birthing chamber, was breathing rapidly as her silver and white belly heaved as she groaned loudly as she pushed hard. She had been in labor for hours, which exhausted her extremely, and the moment of delivery was close upon her. 

“Come on, Ren,” Luna encouraged her. “You’re doing great.” After the female finished her contraction, the midwife calmed her with several licks to her forehead. “Now, rest a bit; this next push will be a long one – the one that births your child!”

The pregnant female was lying on her side as her contraction ended, allowing her hind leg to lower at last. She took calm breaths as she prepared for the final push that would allow new life to emerge from her womb. “Where’s my mate, Luna?” She asked in between breaths. “I want him to catch my child once it slips from me.” 

“But . . . but, my Lady,” the white-gray assistant informed the laboring she-wolf. “It is forbidden for males to be in the vicinity of a birthing female. You know that the Royal Law that forbids such an action, even by an Alpha such as yourself.”

“This is my first child, Luna! I want him here to be the first to see our new pup.” Renee shouted in rebellion. “As your Alpha, I order you to summon Taylor to me before I deliver. Now!” 

Luna, defeated by her mistress, lowered her head and tail in respect. “As you wish, Ren.” She left the small cave immediately and ran to find the Alpha of their kingdom.

Only less than a mile away from the Moon Kingdom in her own territory, the other female, a light brown Alpha named Dionne, lay on the ground in front of the other members of her kingdom as she suffered through the trials of giving birth. In their kingdom, it was a ritual for all birthing Alpha Females to go through the task of labor and delivery in the presence of all of the members of the pack. The fifty other wolves could only watch; not even her mate, the orange-coated Alpha Sol, could go to comfort her until she completed her delivery. The sounds she made and the sight of her thrashing about on the ground as she pushed made him lower his ears; still, he continued to look on with worried eyes, wishing deep in his heart that he could do something to help make his mate’s torturous fight a little easier. 

“How much longer?” He murmured to the elder wolf beside him, his father Laxel. “Oh, I can’t bear to watch Dionne suffer anymore, Father!” He let out a whine, turning to the elder like a needy child. “Can’t I go to her at least? She needs me with her!”

Laxel placed a paw on his son’s shoulder, halting him immediately. ”You knew this moment would come when you two joined in that ever-so important ritual of procreation.” He looked back at the howling female in the center of the main chamber of the cavern, knowing that inside his son was suffering. “This is her battle to fight, my son; she must deliver the child alone, with only the weight of the Sun Kingdom’s eyes beside her.” 

And my love to protect her,Sol sighed as he continued to gaze at the agony that his mate faced as she pushed the pressing sac of pup from between her hind legs. “You’re right, Father. I’m sure she can handle this.” Please be with her, Great Mother, he prayed to the spirits as he saw the wet sac crowning from her body.

“The child . . . our heir . . . is being born!” Laxel announced in an almost prophetic voice to his kingdom.  

“Dionne . . .” The Alpha’s ears pricked up as he whispered his mate’s name into the wind. “Our child . . .”

“Quiet, everyone; we must witness this event in peace!” The elder tan wolf hushed the crowd of his fellow wolves with his booming voice. The lupines went from murmurs of awe to complete silence, only with the sounds of the female’s painful grunting and groaning filling the air of the large chamber. 

“Uhh . . . ah!” The light-brown she-wolf tightened her eyelids as another powerful contraction gripped her body.

Steady, Dionne . . . take your breathing steady, darling, Sol’s thoughts were focused on his Alpha Female as she took the final stage of delivering the heir to the Sun Kingdom. I still can’t bear to see her suffer like this . . . but our pain will result in our first child. A tear grew and suddenly slipped down from his eyes. Oh, Great Mother! Bless us this night! 

--------------------------

Back in the Moon Kingdom, the birth sac had also just begun to crown from Renee as a dark-gray and silver marked male walked carefully into the chamber with Luna following behind him. 

“Ren!” He heard the she-wolf cry out; he called out to her, letting her know that he was there like she wanted. “Renee, I’m here!”

“Tay . . . ohh!” Another contraction stopped her welcoming comment, but he remained by her side as Luna made her way to Renee’s cervix where the pup was about to enter the world. 

“Okay, Ren – push real hard!” The midwife commanded the female. “Push!”

Shutting her eyes tightly, Renee howled out a cry of pain as she felt the mid-section of the birth sac emerge from her uterus. “Ah! Catch our child, Tay!” She told him with gritted teeth. “Break its cord once it’s born!” 

After giving her a comforting lick on the cheek, Taylor went to where Luna was and was told what to do. “Now, that growing sac right there is your child,” Luna reminded him; at the same time, the darker male had a look of disgust as he looked at where his child would enter the world. “Place your paws underneath it and it should just slide onto your legs. There’ll be a thin, pale cord that will connect the sac to the inside of her body, and you just bite it once it’s born.”

“Are you sure I can do this, Luna?” Taylor asked with worry as he quickly placed his legs in the position that he was told. “I don’t want to accidentally mess up or cause any sudden harm to our baby.” He felt his mate calm down, signaling the end of her latest contraction. 

“You can do it, Sir,” Luna smiled, reassuring him with a nuzzle. “Ren asked only for you to catch this child and nobody else. If that is what Lady Ren wants, then I will trust you as much as she does.” She lifted her head back to see a steadily breathing Renee preparing for the last push. “Are you ready to birth your pup, Ren?”

“Oh God, yes!” The she-wolf panted quickly. “My body feels like it will burst if I don’t push it out!” She grunted loudly as the final contraction began to over take her body. “Ohh, it is a horrible, burning pain, Luna! Please get this child out of me!” 

“It’s up to you, Ren,” Luna replied as she went up to the Alpha Female’s head, preparing her to birth the child. “Are you ready, my Lady?” When the silver-gray nodded with a painful groan, the midwife turned to the Alpha. “You okay, Sir?”

He nodded nervously but confidently. “As ready as I’ll ever be, Luna.” He began to speak in a comforting tone. “Come on, Ren; let’s welcome our first child into the world . . . together.” 

Renee took a couple of breaths to prepare herself, but she was able to give her mate a warming smile; she was especially glad that Taylor was not only by her side to witness the birth of their first child, but also that he was going to welcome it into the world with open arms to shelter it.

Sure that the two of them were clearly ready, Luna gave the order. “Okay, one last, long push now . . . Push, Ren! Push!” 

The laboring she-wolf groaned loudly almost in a scream, feeling the rest of her baby slip through her birth canal and into the waiting paws of her mate for life. The moment seemed to last for many minutes, but the sac landed on top of the male’s legs, still connected by the lean cord that bound mother and pup together since its conception over two months ago. A steady stream of uterine fluid and blood emerged from her cervix, causing the floor and Taylor’s forelegs to be covered in the liquid that once surrounded their pup. Seeing the thin umbilical cord in front of him, the Alpha leaned forward and bit it, causing Renee to collapse in exhaustion.

“And it’s done,” Luna quickly smiled at the Alpha, who was still surprised by what he had just accomplished. “Oh, you were great, Sir.” 

“So was she,” Taylor added as he let Luna remove the birth sac from his paws so that he could clean his soiled legs. After taking a moment to groom himself, he approached his tired mate, giving her a nuzzle of congratulations. “You were wonderful, Ren. Now, you should rest for a bit. You must be completely drained after all that labor, and you need your strength.”

“No, not yet,” Renee told him. “Luna’s preparing our child for its presentation to us. We must witness this together. You did help bring our pup into the world; it’s only natural to those that helped with the birth to see the final result.” She nuzzled him back with a soft smile as they both saw the midwife carrying the tiny fruit of their labors in her jaws. 

“Here, my Alphas,” Luna murmured with joy in her heart and tears in her eyes as she approached the new parents and placed the newborn in between the forelegs of the mother. “You have a daughter.”

-------------------------- 

The situation was much different in the neighboring kingdom. The quite public birth by the young she-wolf of the Sun Kingdom made her nervous, but now was not the time to think about being uneasy. With the presence of her parents, other wolves and her Alpha Mate surrounding her, Dionne continued her personal task of delivering her first-born child from her protective womb. Again and again, she cried out whenever a contraction hit her body, pushing as hard as she could until the full birth sac emerged from her cervix. Clear and red fluid spilled onto the dirt rock ground of the main chamber as it came out of the she-wolf’s hind end whenever Dionne tried to complete the birth.

“Uhh . . .” The light-brown Dionne grunted quietly as she felt another slight contraction shift her baby closer to being born. “Ohh . . . AAH!” She shut her eyes once more as she allowed the urge to take control over her body, thus birthing the sac. Her upper body lifted from the ground, allowing gravity to help release the pup from its two-month prison of growth. 

Dionne, my love . . . I must go to her . . .

Sol, unable to stand in the sidelines any longer while his mate lay in front of him and his loyal subjects in agonizing labor, leaped towards the center of the chamber; Laxel lifted a paw to him, trying to stop his son, but it was too late. 

Please forgive me, Great Mother . . .

“Dionne?” The male halted before reaching his wife as he watched the final push that sealed the fate of his newborn child. He shut his eyes slightly as a small spray of blood splattered on the rock, quickly followed by the dull, glossy sac that carried his child. Once the sac was released from her, Dionne’s front legs buckled as she began to collapse to the ground with fatigue from the delivery. “Dionne!” Sol cried out with a gasp after opening his eyes to the sight of his weakened wife. 

Just when he was about to make another step forward to muzzle his mate in a sign of congratulation, the voice of his elder father echoed through the cavern. “Sol! Do not take another step!”

The bright-colored Alpha stopped, turning his head back to Laxel. “Why?” He whined; he was still pretty young, but he was just beginning his life as an Alpha – a life that had begun only a year ago – but his father, the former Alpha, continued to teach his son the things that a leader needed to learn.  

“The birthing ritual has not been completed!” Laxel explained to his son. “Until the pup is released from its birthing sac, no one else may interfere. That is the law of the Great Mother.”

The Alpha looked back at Dionne with a sigh, surprised that indeed she wasn’t finished yet. The birth sac had yet to be ruptured, allowing the newborn to take its first crucial breaths of life, and the umbilical cord remained intact, still connected to the sac and the new mother’s body. Sol patiently sat down as he could only observe his mate’s actions; without taking a chance to rest after the final push, the light-brown head of the mother went back to where her newborn lay, going straight to work with her newfound maternal instincts. With her teeth, she gently tore the dull-colored sac, allowing a clear fluid to overflow from it and ultimately reveal the miracle that everyone – Sol, most especially – was waiting for.  

The Alpha didn’t need his father’s assistance now, for he knew that it was his time to complete his child’s arrival into their kingdom; Sol approached Dionne, gently nuzzling her with a soft kiss to the nose and cheek, then went to the wet newborn that lay behind the new mother. He placed his white mouth by the slender, off-white cord that bonded mother and child and broke the connection, releasing the pup from its mother’s nourishment. As soon as Sol bit the cord, the pup let out a whimpering cry, quickly signaling to Dionne that it was time to clean up her new baby.

“The heir . . . is born!” Laxel proclaimed with a howl. “The Great Mother has bestowed this blessing upon us! Let us raise our voices and show our praise!” The other wolves of the Sun Kingdom began to cry out in joy and jubilation as the new parents nuzzled once more. 

“Oh, Dionne,” Sol gently comforted his mate with his bright-colored muzzle. “You did it, honey. Are you feeling okay after all of that?”

The she-wolf just chuckled airily at his silly question. “I’m fine, but I have to groom our new baby now.” She picked up the shivering pup with her mouth and placed it on her front legs, quickly using her tongue to remove all of the uterine fluid from her child’s coat. “Oh!” Dionne paused as she let out a howl of joy, silencing her people.  

“What is it, my Alpha?” Laxel asked her, still speaking like the wise-wolf that he was now. “Is there something wrong with the child?”

Dionne saw the confused look in her mate’s eyes and murmured something into Sol’s ear, causing him to smile as his eyelids lowered with pure joy in his heart. “There’s nothing wrong, Father,” he told his father, announcing to everyone. “It’s just that . . .” The new father was so happy, he couldn’t help but let out a quick howl before shouting his news with a gleeful voice. “It’s just that . . . it’s a boy! A son is born to us!” 

As the rest of the kingdom rejoiced at the sound of their Alpha’s announcement of the gender of the pup they had all seen born into the world, Dionne and Sol glanced again at their child, their son, with love and happiness.

“I can’t believe it!” Sol nudged his mate’s cheek as she leaned towards his neck, still keeping her eyes on her newborn pup. “A son . . . a son! A prince of the Sun Kingdom is born once again!” He placed his own tongue against his son’s coat. 

“Mmm,” Dionne moaned lightly in exhaustion. “He is a beautiful child indeed, blessed by the Great Mother to be bestowed within me and given your handsome looks.” She smiled, chuckling again. “I’m sure he’ll be a great heir to our kingdom.”

Sol nodded in agreement as he quickly whistled for a servant wolf to come to him. “Yes, my Alpha?” The servant stood up with his head erect and his position firm.  

“I want you to bring the message of our kingdom’s good news to our neighboring ally, the Moon Kingdom,” Sol told the dark gray servant. “Tell them a son is born to us at last and that we wish to invite them to join us in celebration tomorrow night at the Peace-Gathering Cave.”

The servant nodded. “Yes, Sire. Many congratulations for your family.” He added with a bow before running out of the chamber towards the Moon Kingdom. 

About a few moments after as he had left, as if it were speak of the devil, an ivory-white servant – clearly a member of the Moon Kingdom – leaped from the entrance with a short howl of welcome and landed by the bright-orange Alpha and the resting mother and the now-nursing child. The she-wolf lowered her tail and legs, bowing in respect to the Alpha.

“I beg your pardon, Sir, but I bring good news from my kingdom, the Moon Kingdom:” The white she-wolf cleared her throat and raised her head before continuing. “His Majesties, Lord Taylor and Lady Renee of the Moon Kingdom, have invited you and your kingdom to come to the Peace-Gathering Cave next morrow night in celebration of the birth of our princess earlier this midnight.” She bowed once more. “The Alphas give their personal congratulations to you and your wife’s expected child.” 

Sol began to laugh. “Thank you very much for your words, but our child has been born as well . . .” He laughed again as he glanced quickly at his mate and son then back at the servant. “Actually, he was given the breath of life about five minutes ago . . . Strange how both of our children were born at around the same moments!” Sol let out a low mutter under his breath so that no one else but him could hear. “How fate must be shining on us! This must be a destined sign from the Great Mother herself . . .” Once he cleared his own throat, he bowed back at the servant, giving her a reply for the other new parents. “Please tell your lord and lady that we offer our personal congratulations for their new daughter and that we would be honored to join them with us in celebration.” Dionne, who was quietly resting behind her husband as her son suckled on her teats, woke up a little earlier when the Moon Kingdom’s servant first arrived and also gave her a bowing gesture to show her thanks. “We sent a messenger towards your kingdom only moments ago with the same request. I’m sure Taylor and Renee would be honored that we join together in a time of peace and jubilation to officially add our children’s names to the Great Mother’s book.”

The white wolf bowed her head again before leaping her way back to her home kingdom with the reply. Within ten to fifteen minutes, their gray servant returned with the same news that the Moon Servant had given them. 

“Everything’s been agreed to, Sire,” The gray servant bowed in front of the members of the Sun Council once he returned. The Sun Council consisted of the former Alpha, Laxel, the current Alphas, and about three other wolves that were considered wise within the kingdom. “They insist that we follow the regulations of the Peace-Gathering Cave by bringing enough fresh kill to offer to the other.”

“Yes, yes; we all know that already,” Laxel told him. “It’s not like us older ones haven’t been to a gathering there before.” 

“I apologize, Sires,” The servant lowered his head again, feeling ashamed by his previous comment.

“It is all right; there’s no need to apologize. You may go now to get some much needed sleep,” Sol gave the servant a slight nod of his head. “Thank you for all of your assistance and loyalty, Thunder. I’m counting on you to help lead the hunting party for the late morning.” Thunder, the dark gray wolf, continued to show his respect to his leaders and the Sun Council as he left the Main Chamber and went off on his way to rest up.  

Finally, the Council was alone with the proud new parents and their newborn son. They cooed softly, gazing their almond-shaped eyes at the child that slept soundly in his dam’s front legs. He was almost a perfect clone of his sire, with exception of his bright red-orange fur speckled with a bit of his mother’s light-brown hue mixed in. Off-white covered his tiny muzzle, chest, and each one of his little paws to the ankles. His eyes and ears were shut tight, causing him to not notice much, but his nose was able to work, allowing him to recognize those that were crucial to his survival – his mother, father, and the others in the kingdom that rejoiced in his birth.

“Oh, he’s perfect, Dionne,” Sol murmured to his mate with a smile.  

The light-brown and white female only laughed airily. “You’ve been saying that ever since he was born, Sol!” She lifted her unmarked muzzle to his and nuzzled him. “Surely you will think of the perfect name for our perfect child at the naming ritual tomorrow night, yes?” She joked with him kindly.

“Of course I will,” he replied. “but Father’s rules still apply though.” 

“They’re not my rules, Sol; they’re the order of the Great Mother herself, passed down for many generations from Alpha to Alpha,” Laxel stepped forward, clarifying his son’s words to the young Alphas. “According to the Great Mother, a new pup’s name can only be made official during the naming ritual and not before then; from then on, all who witness the event shall call him as such, but if the rules are broken, he shall be damned by the spirits for all eternity.”

Sol nodded to his father, understanding the severity of the naming process. “I understand, Father. I haven’t actually thought of anything yet, but I’m sure it will come to me before we have the celebration at Peace-Gathering Cave.” Satisfied by the Alpha’s response, Laxel headed out of the Main Chamber towards the resting caverns. He turned back to his mate and the child they made together out of their love. “So, Dionne,” he began to ask her. “should we make our way back to our cave as well? It’s been a long night.” 

“Mmm,” she nodded, gathering her strength to stand while also grabbing her son with her jaws. She was still able to speak while the pup hung from her mouth, but it sounded a bit muffled. “I am tired, and the morning sunrise is close upon us.” With Sol by her side, the new mother hobbled forward out of the cavern, just in time for the dawn.

Sol’s eyes widened at the sight of the shifting colors of the sky, changing from dark-navy to lighter shades of orange-red as the sun began to lift itself above the horizon. He gasped lightly with awe; he had seen the sunrise many times before as a young pup and as an Alpha-in-training, but somehow the dawning of the sun this morning made him feel different as the low rays warmed his coat. Sol looked at his mate with a look of love, but only gasped again when he saw his son. He was still dangling in his mother’s jaws, but his coat reflected the sunrise, causing him to look as if he was glowing . . . 

Like the sun . . . Sol thought to himself, quickly agreeing on what he was going to do later within the next night. That’s it then – I’ll name him after the glorious sun . . .

-------------------------- 

Meanwhile, the new parents of the Moon Kingdom celebrated amongst their followers after sending their messenger out to their friends in the Sun Kingdom. Luna gazed over the nuzzling forms of the dark-gray Alpha and his silver and white mate as they allowed their first-born to nurse.

Their child’s coat had dried since her first bath, so her true coat of silver-gray shimmered in the still shining moonlight above them. She had a few spots of white on her belly and around her closed eyes and underneath her tiny nub of a tail.  

“She’s a little beauty, isn’t she?” Luna asked her Alphas, still entranced by the resemblance of the new child to her parents. “She’ll be a wonderful heir for our kingdom.”

“Mmm,” Renee stroked her tongue against the nursing pup that suckled on her teat-lined belly. “Yes, I’m sure she will, especially after the official presentation within the next night.” 

“Indeed!” Taylor replied back with a smile. “My daughter . . . Tomorrow night, she will receive a most special name from her father.”

“Just don’t reveal it yet, my lord,” Luna reminded the new parents. “The Royal Kingdom in the heavens will be angered if you break the Royal Protocol of new heirs. By Royal Law, a newborn child can only be officially named during the naming ceremony. From that moment on, the pup shall be known by that name, given to it by its patriarch.” The white wolf nodded her head in approval of the rules. 

“Yes, yes, I understand all of that, Luna,” The Alpha clarified to the midwife. He was trained in the ways of the Royals ever since he was a pup, destined to become the next Alpha of the Moon Kingdom since birth, so the naming ceremony was something he had been waiting to do for a long time. “Now, would you excuse us for a moment, please? I’d like to speak with my mate alone for a bit.” Luna gave him a worried look, but Taylor reassured her with his words. “Don’t worry; I’ll be back to help with the hunt in a few minutes.”

“As you wish,” the midwife lowered her head and turned away, heading for the outside of the cavern as she was commanded. 

“Ah, what a day it has been for us,” Taylor walked over to his mate and nuzzled her once more. “We helped bring a daughter into our lives, begun to spread the news of this wonderful occasion, and tomorrow night . . . ah, our daughter’s birth shall be celebrated throughout the kingdom as everyone chants her name once she is christened!”

“Mmm,” Renee replied back. “I’m sure things will be just fine.” A small giggle slipped from her lips. “You know, you’ve been so excited ever since she slipped from me and your paws caught her for the first time, Tay. I hope this doesn’t change how much you love me, darling.” 

“You’re still my number one love, Ren,” Taylor licked her nose, tickling her sweetly. “It’s just that our little girl . . . our princess . . . she’s our legacy, the heir of our great kingdom! We have to love her and cherish her as much as we can.”

“Indeed,” the silver and white she-wolf leaned over to her daughter and groomed her once more as the child began to wiggle to a warmer part of her mother’s belly, whimpering quietly. “Now, I think I’ll be fine with her right now. You go ahead and lead the hunting party.” 

But before Taylor could even depart from Renee’s side, Luna poked her head into the entrance and lowered her head with a slight whine. “Majesties, there is a messenger from the nearby Sun Kingdom who has an important announcement for you. Shall I send him in?”

“Yes, you may, Luna,” Taylor nodded. The white she-wolf walked out and the dark-gray wolf from the neighboring territory carefully stepped into the cavern, his tail and head lowered slightly to show respect of the differences of their ranks. “Greetings, my brother,” The male Alpha cheerfully welcomed his fellow lupine with kind words and a friendly nuzzle between friends. “What news do you have for us on this wonderful day?”

“Your Majesties,” The messenger bowed regally to the Alphas in respect. “I come bearing an important announcement from Sol and Dionne, Alphas of the Sun Kingdom. Today, an hour before the dawn, the Prince of the Sun Kingdom was given life. As a sign of friendship, the Alphas humbly ask your presence at the Peace-Gathering Cave tomorrow night to witness the christening of our Kingdom’s latest Son.” 

“Hmm, thank you for the news, my brother,” Taylor bobbed his head once more. “We have news to return to you as well.” He motioned his head to the direction of Renee with her cub. “Renee, my queen, has also just birthed our royal heir, the Princess of the Moon Kingdom. We just sent our own messenger to your kingdom, so they should learn about this shortly; plus, we have invited them to the naming of our daughter for the same night as well, so I suppose we shall celebrate together in harmony of these miraculous occasions.”

“Indeed, my Lord,” the dark-gray wolf replied. “I’m sure my Alphas would agree to that idea as well.” He turned to the new mother and lowered his muzzle, remembering his place. “Please allow me to be the first to wish you congratulations on the birth of your daughter, your Majesty, . . . in honor of my Alphas’ current absence.” 

Renee, who was calming down her quietly whimpering cub with her tongue and nose, gave a slight nod with her head. “Thank you, kind Sir, for your kind blessings for us and our princess. I suppose we shall see your Alphas and the rest of your Kingdom at the Peace-Gathering Cave tomorrow night, yes?”

“Of course,” the messenger agreed. “I should make my way back to our kingdom to help prepare for our part of the celebration.” 

“Yes,” Taylor added. “Each of our Kingdoms will supply half of the feast so that we can eat together in this time of peace and celebration. Please have a safe journey back to your Kingdom, my friend.”

“I will, thank you,” The messenger nodded a farewell before sprinting back to his own kingdom. 

Taylor sighed in relief as he too began to approach the edge of the cavern, making his way to the outside of the serene scene of his wife and daughter beginning to rest. “Rest well, my loves,” He murmured quietly as he saw the dawn start in the sky in front of him. The moon was to one side of him, while the glow of the sunrise was on the other; just looking at the fading moon, the sight of the shimmering coat of his newborn daughter returned to his thoughts.

Oh my daughter, he thought. Your coat is so beautiful, just like the mysterious moonlight the lights up the night sky . . . and I shall name you after the lunar light above . . . 

The sun rose and fell in the daylight and the moon followed behind it during the night. Once more, the sun rose, signaling a new day, and fell again; at last, the night of celebration had arrived for the two kingdoms.

The stars were like faint glitter in the skies as the two kingdoms of wolves came from separate directions to meet within the large space of the Peace-Gathering Cave. Each Kingdom began with the leaders of the pack, the Alpha Male and his mate; the Alpha Female carefully held her newborn cub within her jaws, protecting the fruit of her long, strenuous labors as she walked closely beside the protective male of the kingdom. Behind the Alphas were several strong males – the hunters and protectors of the pack – who carried about five to seven large carcasses of deer or caribou within their teeth with help from other males and she-wolf servants. Following them was the remainder of the pack, carefully moving forward and chatting amongst themselves about the wonderful event that was the focus of their celebration. 

By now, every wolf of the Sun and Moon Kingdoms had learned of the arrival of the other cub, so many of them wondered how this occasion would change their ways of life. However, the four Alphas had planned to talk to each other prior to the Naming Ceremony, which was another reason why they wanted to be the first ones in their kingdoms to touch the sacred ground of the cavern.

Once the two packs of wolves had gathered in the main chamber of the cave, the four Alphas, followed by the elders of each Kingdom – Laxel from the Sun Kingdom and Luna from the Moon Kingdom – went into a smaller, more private chamber room where they could talk about an important matter. 

“Greetings, young Alphas,” Laxel began, greeting the four leaders with a respectable bow. “And to you too, Elder Luna,” he regally bowed before the servant, for she was as old as he. “It has been a while since my last journey here to the Peace-Gathering Cave to name a kingdom’s heir . . . actually, it was when my son, Sol, was born about two years prior . . . but yet again, I fear that this may be my last time here alive.”

The other five wolves gasped, most especially Sol. “Father, you can’t die yet! I have so much left to learn from you!” 

“Ah, my son,” Laxel nuzzled him gently. “I am old, and not the young pup I used to be long ago. It’s been nearly fifteen years since my christening, and it is a rare sight nowadays for even a male to survive for so long. Besides, Death is only a natural part of our existence. I don’t know when that time will come, but right now we have a bigger situation to deal with . . .” He again turned to the snow-white wolf. “Isn’t that right, Elder Luna?”

She tiptoed forward with a gentle nod. “That is correct, Elder Laxel.” She then faced the young Alphas with a mystical look of concern in her eyes. “As the Elder of the Moon Kingdom as well as a Royal Servant and Midwife, I have witnessed and assisted with the birth of many a cub to our pack within my ten years of adulthood; however, less than two days ago, I felt a strange feeling of things to come . . . and I fear that the Princess, the newborn heir of my birth kingdom, will only be half of the solution to this possible threat to our society.” 

“Our daughter?” Taylor, quick to defend the child that he had seen born into his paws, leapt to his feet, his ears pricked up in shock. “I don’t understand, Luna. What does it mean?”

Dionne, who had been listening the entire time, seemed to understand. “I think it has something to do with our son as well.” Everyone faced the she-wolf as she explained her reasons. “When I was giving birth to my cub, I could feel something else surging through me as I gave him life. It was . . .” She let out a relaxing sigh. “I don’t know exactly how to describe the feeling, but it was as if . . . as if I could feel how important this tiny child was to be once he was born.” 

“And you are right, my dear,” Laxel replied back to her. “Just as Elder Luna feels the Moon Kingdom heir is half of the solution, I feel your son . . . my first grandson . . . is the other half.”

“Hmm,” Sol thought aloud. “So, if our children will form this solution for this unknown threat to our future, perhaps we should bind them together now while we still can.” 

“What, do you mean . . . an arranged marriage?” Renee went up and joined the others, gasping in shock by the words the Sun Kingdom Alpha had spoken. “Is this truly necessary for our safety? For our children?” She lowered her head in tears. “Oh, my daughter should have the right to fall in love on her own, not to be a part of something that is out of her control! It just doesn’t seem right!”

“If we are to be saved from this danger that awaits us, my lady,” Luna comforted the Alpha Female, licking the tears from her cheeks. “We must arrange this marriage of your daughter and the Sun Kingdom’s prince.” Renee sniffled, raising her head and looking eye-to-eye at her best friend. “Ren, you knew bearing a child as an Alpha meant that they wouldn’t lead a normal life, mostly because they would be of royal blood. Your daughter has a destiny to be fulfilled, and this is what is necessary to save us all. You both have to face this simple truth, and there’s nothing that can be done about it.” 

“But . . . but wouldn’t this betrothal unite our Kingdoms once they come of age?” Sol asked his father. “Is this what must happen?” Laxel nodded, only causing more questions to spew from the Alpha’s mouth. “What about our customs, our traditions, our way of life? Wouldn’t we lose this once my son marries a daughter of another kingdom?”

“That is not necessarily true, my son,” the Sun Elder spoke. “Sure, we will become one Kingdom because of the marriage of our Kingdoms’ heirs, but that doesn’t mean that the ways of our culture would go away. We will still live on, but we would also learn the ways of the Moon Kingdom as well, and naturally pass down both histories of the kingdoms to the next generations of the new pack.” 

“Hmm,” Sol slowly nodded. “I understand. Perhaps . . .” he turned to the other Alphas after letting out a sigh. “perhaps it’s best for us to betroth our heirs . . . if this is to help our kingdoms live on.”

“I agree,” the two she-wolf Alphas bobbed their heads, agreeing to the terms of the ritual. Dionne of the Sun Kingdom was easy to understand the situation of her son’s future, and although Renee wished only for the best for her daughter, Luna’s guidance from moments prior reassured her that this was the necessary thing that had to happen. 

“I guess we have no choice, huh?” Taylor lowered his head in a worried manner.

“I’m afraid this is the only option, my lord,” Luna answered back. “Betrothal at a young age was common back in my day, but it’s nearly died off nowadays; besides, there doesn’t seem to be any other way in my mind to prepare for the future.” 

The Moon Kingdom Alpha sighed loudly. “But what about our kingdoms? They might not like the idea of this sudden betrothal once we complete the Naming Ceremony.”

Laxel decided to answer the brown wolf’s query. “It doesn’t matter what they think right now. This move is indeed strange, but in time, they will understand the severity of the situation once the time is right.” 

“Well, I suppose,” Taylor finally concurred to the idea. “If my daughter . . . and your son must be together to save us . . .”

“Then it is settled,” Luna barked, beginning to end the meeting. “We shall announce the betrothal of the Princess of the Moon Kingdom to the Prince of the Sun Kingdom once their names have been made official.” 

“And once they both pass the crucial test of the Adulthood Ritual, we shall complete their joining together by making their marriage legitimate,” Laxel added, beginning to lead the Alphas out of the room and back into the main chamber of the large cavern. “Now, shall we name these children and celebrate their miraculous arrivals into our world?”

The young Alphas and the other Elder let out slight howls of happiness as they joined the rest of their Kingdoms in celebration. The main plateau of the room was where the two pairs of Alphas took their children to where every wolf could see. Once the wolves were settled down after waiting for so long for the celebration to begin, the Elders of each Kingdom arrived to the side of their set of Alphas, awaiting their role in the ceremony. 

“My brothers, sisters, friends from another Kingdom,” Taylor spoke up first, allowing his voice to spread throughout the room. “we gather here tonight to be joyous and celebrate the birth of the future of our Kingdoms.” The wolves howled in unison and pride for the words spoken.

“In the traditions of all heirs to the rank of Alpha, as well as all cubs born within our Kingdoms,” Sol continued. “we come to assign names to the two children born onto us nearly two nights ago and allow them to receive their official blessing from the heavenly beings that guide us day by day . . . and from the ones that shall watch them grow into Alphas that will one day make us proud to work for.” 

Again, the wolves of many colors – white, silver, black, brown, tan, and more – cried out in praise, but their loudest howls were being saved for once the names of their own kingdom’s heir was announced by their Alpha Male.

Finally, the Elders began their part of the ritual. “May the Alphas of the Sun Kingdom please step forward?” Laxel announced. Sol, followed closely behind Dionne, made their way forward close to the edge of the plateau. The light brown she-wolf carefully cradled her son within her mouth, letting the moonlight above brighten his light red-orange and white coat. Sol gazed at his tan father, who slightly nodded to him and allowed him to continue his part of the ceremony. 

“My followers of the Sun Kingdom . . . and my friends of the Moon Kingdom,” Sol introduced before proceeding. “Just a couple of days ago, my mate and I welcomed our first cub into the world. My Kingdom watched the miracle of life commence with their very eyes, but no one but me saw a wonderful sign that led to the name of my son.” He paused for a light sigh and a smile then returned to his story. “An hour after his birth, the dawning of the sun made me see something . . . amazing. I had seen the sunrise many times before, but now that I was a father . . . and my son was beside me, glowing within the light of the morning star, it was almost like . . . I was looking at the sun for the first time.” A tear swelled up and trickled down his cheeks in such pure joy and delight. “Just as my father gave me a name means “sun,” my son . . . oh, my own son shall also be given a name with the same meaning . . .” He paused again, turning to his mate and the tiny bundle that lay in her jaws. Sol smiled, nuzzling his son gently with his wet nose. “In the presence of the Great Mother who watches over us, I christen this child . . . Cyrus, my son . . . the heir of the Sun Kingdom.”

Laxel stepped beside Dionne and Sol, speaking with a surge of jubilation in his voice. “The Alpha has spoken and this child has been named! Let us praise this event with howls to the Great Mother who blesses us!” His tan muzzle was raised as a clear howl emerged deep from his throat. As he cried out, Dionne raised her mouth, raising her newly-named son into the air so that all could send him their praises by chanting out his eternal identity.  

After about two minutes of joyful cheering and chanting, the Sun Alphas stepped back and allowed the dark-gray and brown Alpha and the silver and white she-wolf to step through to name their daughter.

Just like with the Sun Kingdom’s part of the ceremony, Luna did her part as her Kingdom’s Elder Wolf. “Alphas of the Moon Kingdom, please come forward,” she spoke loud and clear. Once they halted near the edge of the plateau, the white wolf signaled to the Alpha Male with a normal voiced statement. “My Lord, it is time to reveal what name you have chosen. You can do it.” She gave him a smile of encouragement; once the Alpha Male nodded, returning the smile, Luna stepped back to where the other Alphas and Elder were. 

Taylor quickly let out a cough to clear his throat and began to speak. “Friends and Followers of our Kingdoms, we gather here to celebrate not only the birth of the young prince from the Sun Kingdom, but also the birth of my daughter of the Moon Kingdom.” He paused for a second, not really knowing what he was going to say, but the words just began to flow from his lips like water. “All my life, I have been waiting for the moment when I would have a cub of my own brought into the world, . . .” He began to let out a slight chuckle of nervousness, all while trying not to cry over the emotional moment that he was about to describe. “ . . . but I never would have dreamed of having my first-born birthed into my own paws. I thought at the time she was not so pretty to look at once she first arrived, but the moment I saw her shining coat of silver-gray, all cleaned up from being born, . . .” Now the tears he was holding back flowed through his eyes like a pair of thin-streaming waterfalls. “ . . . I truly felt so lucky to be present to have such a beautiful treasure to carry on my legacy.” Gently Renee nuzzled his cheeks with her nose, trying to dry his eyes. The pup dangling from her jaws let out a small whimper, which strangely gave the Alpha Male the strength to continue. “Only an hour after her birth, I could see the setting Moon in my daughter’s coat, and just as my friend was inspired to name his son after the Sun, I name my daughter after the Moon; now, in the presence of all members of the Moon Kingdom, both present and those that live on within the Royal Kingdom of Heaven, I would like to introduce the heir of the Moon Kingdom, . . . my shining star of a daughter, . . . Her Royal Highness, Princess Selene.”

Just as the Sun Kingdom praised the naming of the Sun Kingdom heir, Renee lifted her daughter as high as she could, allowing her people to howl their joy towards the acceptance of the cub’s new name. 

“Our heir has been named!” Luna howled, smiling in pride in her heart. “Now all have heard the christening of the princess, raise up your voices and show your praise!”

The other wolves howled with joy, while some began to chant the Moon Kingdom heir’s name aloud. Taylor’s tears were streaking down his cheeks as his daughter’s name echoed through his ears. 

“Ah, Selene . . . my little girl,” the Moon Alpha male murmured with a joyous sigh, still listening to the cries of glorification for his first-born child.

“What a perfect name for your daughter,” Sol approached his friend and showed his appreciation. “She is indeed beautiful, and it suits her well, Taylor.” 

“As does your son’s,” the gray and brown wolf replied back. “Cyrus . . . such a strong sounding name for a future Alpha; I’m sure he will truly live up to his name.”

The she-wolves finally rejoined their mates and nuzzled them sweetly as the elder Laxel stood in front to complete the ceremony and begin the feast. “Now, a final announcement before we begin our celebration. As the Elders of our Kingdoms, Luna and I have both sensed a feeling of importance with these two young cubs.” He paused for a moment, unsure of how to continue on without causing concern for the real feelings of worry within him. 

“Allow me to finish for you, Elder Laxel,” the white elder she-wolf whispered into his tan ear. He nodded and stepped aside, giving Luna the permission to complete the latest announcement. Now speaking in a louder voice, she began to explain the latest agreement from moments before. “Our world is changing, my friends, and it has come to my . . . and Elder Laxel’s attention that something is brewing within our future . . .” She paused, hearing the gasps of fear and worry from the over one hundred lupines that had gathered. Luna wasn’t afraid of telling them the truth of the situation, for she knew that the Sun Kingdom was strong enough to protect and help raise the young prince while she and the rest of the Moon Kingdom could protect the princess. “. . . but we should fear not, my friends – Destiny’s hand has paved a path for us that would secure victory for all of us, thanks to the births of the Alpha heirs.” Again she paused, allowing the words to sink into the ears of all who could hear her.

Laxel, realizing that Luna had added that slight bit of worry to their former subjects, revealed the finale of their announcement. “After speaking with both Alpha couples, it has been agreed and approved . . . that the newborn heirs be betrothed; once they reach the age of maturity and the ritual of adulthood is completed, Cyrus and Selene will be joined forever in marriage, thus their union will save us all.” 

After a couple of moments to think this sudden news over, a rush of cheers filled the entirety of the chamber. A few howls blared out, showing their approval of the idea of a joining of the two cubs once they grew old enough. Actually, most of the wolves present had never experienced a betrothal within their lifetimes, so they probably thought nothing bad of it.

“Now, let us feast and be merry, my brethren and friends,” Laxel proclaimed. “and praise our new heirs!” He again raised his muzzle, shouting his praise to the heavens so the Great Mother could hear. “Long live Prince Cyrus!” 

Luna quickly joined him. “Long live Princess Selene!”

The other wolves also followed in harmonious wails to their deities, repeating the chant and letting out a howl in near unison. “Long live Prince Cyrus! Long live Princess Selene!” 

Once the final cheer ended, the feast began; hungry yet happy wolves tore through the kill that was brought by each kingdom, all eating with the happiness and joy inside their hearts for the two tiny – now sleeping – bundles of joy that would one day become leaders that would make both the Sun and Moon Kingdom proud with their union as adults.

However, there was an unwelcome visitor lurking above the skylight of Peace-Gathering Cave, but it did not block the silver-white moon that shone its light into the main chamber; clearly, this creature was not ready to be noticed yet by the celebrating kingdoms, but its shadowy figure heard the details of the two young children that were just named and praised by their birth and betrothal. A sinister grin formed on its muzzle while it stepped backward and began to make its way back to the main forest. 

“S-s-s-so,” the creature’s voice slipped out in a murmur, yet it made an almost serpent-like slithering sound as it spoke continued to return to where it was sent from. “The Alphas have made plans for their heirs-s-s-s . . . to be wed, eh?” A hissing chuckle slipped from its lips. “The male . . . I can s-s-sense his s-s-strong aura – a fighting s-s-spirit grows within his beating heart, although he’s only a newborn, . . . and the female . . . s-s-she’ll be timid but headstrong as she matures, and yet s-s-she’ll have wisdom beyond her years . . . Both are an equal threat.” The dark creature snickered, looking back at the direction it had just come from. “We must plan ahead . . . for our future depends-s-s on what we do about these two . . . before their arranged union occurs-s-s-s . . .”

Its voice was now with concern, but still spoke with that snake-like sound; however, its tone quickly changed to one that was almost sinister, still speaking aloud as if other creatures of its own kind could hear its thoughts.  

“The S-s-sun Kingdom and the Moon Kingdom s-s-shall be no more . . . if we destroy their heirs . . . before they reach the age of maturity . . .” A cackle escaped from its mouth, while a few other rustled in the nearby bushes by a couple of caverns. “Those two – S-s-selene, the female . . . and Cyrus-s-s, the male . . . Their union will only cause destruction for us-s-s-s . . .”

Another voice hissed through the rustling branches, growling lowly as it replied. “Yes-s-s-s . . . Now go to our brethren from around the dark woods-s-s and gather them . . . The time to commence attack is near at hand, and we must be ready to s-s-strike our targets . . .” 

The shadowed creature lowered its head, bowing low to the ground. “Yes-s-s, my Alpha . . . I s-s-shall not let you down . . .”

“I pray you be s-s-swift of foot, Nighthawk . . .” The Alpha spoke prior to the other creature’s leaving. “Contact the leaders-s-s of the s-s-smaller rogue clans-s-s across-s-s the mountains-s-s . . . I trust you can convince them to join our brigade . . . our plan to take back everything that is rightfully ours-s-s . . .” 

“Yes-s-s, Fath– I mean, my Alpha . . .” Nighthawk answered back, quickly sprinting towards the mountains by the forest.

The Alpha’s ears pricked at the sound of the joyous festivity of Cyrus and Selene’s christening from the nearby Peace-Gathering Cave. It let out a growling huff of frustration, knowing full well that as long as someone was within the walls of Peace-Gathering Cave, they could not be harmed, else instant death would come to the murderer.  

“Yes-s-s, my friends-s-s . . .” The Alpha hissed as it heard the voices of celebration echoing from the cave. “Celebrate while you can . . . for the end of your happiness-s-s is-s-s drawing close . . .” It let out a low howl before returning back into its cavern to continue resting, but it muttered something . . . something that made it grow an evil smirk on its face.

“And your children . . . will die by my paws-s-s . . . to s-s-seal our glorious-s-s victory . . . and bring forth the dawning of the Age of Midnight . . .” 

(Part I – completed 11/21/07)