Chapter 7
Vale stopped her dead run when she caught the scent of wolf markings. So there were other wolves, maybe with different cultures that didn’t have the Mark of a Loner. Maybe they would accept her. Maybe she would not have to be a Loner. Excitement began to build in her chest. Maybe she could live with a Tribe again. Common sense told her that they could not refuse a strong able female in her prime, especially since she could tell from the markings that several wolves that had been present once had not been with the Tribe when they had last marked the spot. There was a new Long-Claw as well. Or whatever these new wolves called their leader. I don’t even know what they call their leaders. I don’t know anything about their culture! At least I can trust my instinct. All wolves have that. Vale thought to herself.
She waited just outside the border, reluctant to venture in without permission and risk angering the new leader. She was sure they would not allow an intruder to join the Tribe. Finally, she heard a long drawn out howl coming from within the territory. The resident leader had scented her and now he called.
“I am Bone, the Alpha of this territory. What is your business at my border, Loner?” The face, when Vale saw it break through the undergrowth to growl at her, matched the grating tough howl that she had heard. Scars covered him, some fresh and still bleeding sluggishly.
A young, handsome wolf broke through the undergrowth after Bone. He had thick, brown fur and proud, gold eyes. Well-developed muscles rippled under his coat, while sharp, white teeth glinted dangerously in the sun as he bared them. The way he held himself declared dominance. His white-tipped tail flicked up and Vale cowered submissively before him.
Bone pushed the young wolf aside with a growl. The wolf backed off submissively, but growled under his breath at Bone’s turned back. “Loner, answer my question!” Bone growled. “What are you doing at my border?”
“I have come to ask to join your Tribe,” whimpered Vale in a submissive tone. Vale could sense Bone’s eyes sweeping her, calculating the benefit of accepting her, weighing the disadvantages. His eyes rested on the Scar of the Loner, and Vale cringed inwardly. Her heartbeat sped up. Did these wolves know about the Mark of the Loner? Could they know? The Tribes were so far away, but she had made it. What if they would not accept her?
“Where do you come from,” He asked imperiously.
“Far away to the east,” she replied, trying to be as submissive as possible, but still look capable and tough.
“What was your position in the Pack you come from?”
“I was the second-in-charge.”
“Impressive,” he murmured to himself. “You may join the Stone Pack,” Bone declared. Vale started.
“The Stone Pack?” she murmured under her breath. “I was mistaken when I thought Stone would not follow me. Should I take that as a bad omen?” Reluctantly, Vale decided to join the pack anyway.
The young, handsome wolf led her back to the Stone Pack camp. “What is your name?” Vale asked him.
“I am Blaze, the only surviving son of Smoke and Spark. Smoke was the Alpha until a recent battle with the Forest Pack. Bone was the Beta then,” Blaze said. His voice turned bitter and his eyes hardened as he continued. “By all rights he should be dead, but he lives because he submitted to Gale, the Forest Pack Beta. My father would not submit to Lightning, as he had honor, and was not a coward. My brother, who would have taken the position of Alpha in the case of Smoke's death, was also killed in that same battle by Thunder and Storm, the sons of Lightning and Holly, in revenge for the lives of their brother, Rain, and their mother.” Vale took all this in with a whirling head.
“A-alpha? Beta?” Vale stammered. “Do you mean the Long-Stone and the Second-Stone? Er- the leader and the second-in-charge?”
Blaze stared at her. “You… That is odd. I have never met a wolf that did not know these words. Nor have I ever heard an Alpha referred to as a Long-Stone.” His eyes became suspicious. “Where are you from? I did not hear your answer to Bone when he asked you this question.”
Vale looked him straight in the eye. “I am of the Tribe of Claw, in the
“Tribe?” Blaze repeated.
“Yes. Our leader was called the Long-Claw, and I was the Second-Claw. The Tribe of Tooth, our neighbor, had a leader called the Long-Tooth, and a Second-Tooth who was second-in-charge.”
“You lived with a very different culture.”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps you will need help adjusting.” Vale looked at Blaze, surprise and something else in her gaze. “I could help you… if you like.”
“I-I would like that,” she stammered. “I would like that a lot.”
Blaze nodded. “I forgot to ask your name.”
“Vale. I am Vale.”