As the sun rose up one beautiful spring morning, a little puppy was born. His mother was overjoyed, yet concerned. If her master had known that this pup's father was a wolf, he would have drowned the pup immediately. Luckily, the newborn pup had his mother's tan colored pelt with white paws. But his tail did not curl like huskies do, and his paws were somewhat bigger than the other puppies. His mother had hoped it would be a minor thing her master would not notice.
"Hello, Daisy.” He growled thru his rotten teeth, "How many do we have today?" His breath was so awful; it could make a grown moose pass out. He had a stiff, wiry beard and cold yellow eyes that sent a shiver down your spine. He was a professional dog breeder, or so he saw it. The dogs he kept were skinny, underfed and covered in all manner of vermin. He was outraged that out of the four pups, only one survived.
"You stupid mutt, you couldn't even keep two alive thru the night!" he yelled, "Now I can't afford to pay the stud fees, the others didn't even have more than three."
"Oh well, here's enough food to keep you and that pup of yours alive today." He said, and staggered away into the house.
"Oh, my little son," sighed Daisy, "If only we were with your father, he and his pack would keep us safe and well fed." She could remember the day she met the pup's father and what a wonderful time they had together. She could also remember the tasty huckleberries that were in season when they were first mates. And with that, she whispered the newborn pup's name.
"Huckleberry."
Six Months Later
"Hey, Blueberry, I heard your Momma howls at the moon, is she calling to your pack?" asked a tricolor pup meanly to a particular tan pup with white paws. Thru the starry night sky, You are safe little one Dream on. As the wind blows the trees, You are free, my love
"My name is Huckleberry," answered the pup crossly, "and she just misses my father."
"Oh really, I heard he left her for the master to get her. Ain't that right fellas?"
"You got that right Ace," Sniggered Eddy, a scrawny gray and white husky pup.
"Without a doubt," Chimed in Dirk, Eddy's beefier black and white brother.
"That's not true, he had to go back to his pack, but he promised to come back for us."
"So why are you still here, Half-breed?" Ace laughed, Eddy and Dirk joined in. Huckleberry lunged for Ace. Unfortunately, Ace had ducked just in time and sent poor Huckleberry sailing into a bowl of stale dog food. Embarrassed, Huckleberry ran into his doghouse and cried.
Ever since he could remember, Ace and his goons had teased Huckleberry because of his big paws, his tail that didn't curl, his name, and most of all, for the fact that he was a wolf-dog. He couldn't help it if he was different; he just wanted to be like all the other dogs at the mill where he lived. Just then, his mother, looking more tired than ever, and lay down beside him.
"Hello, Huck." She said warmly
"Hi, Mom"
"How was your day today?" She asked, Huck said nothing.
"Did Ace tease you again?"
"Yes, he called me Half-breed." replied Huck, "Then when I charged at him, I crashed into a food bowl."
"Sounds bad, Huck." Replied his mother. For the next few seconds there was a peaceful silence, until Huck asked his mother something he never asked before.
"Mom, what was my father like?"
"He was clever and brave, his fur was as black as night, and he had icy blue eyes."
"Just like mine?" asked Huck
"Yes, just like yours," Answered Daisy, "He is also the leader of his pack."
"Really," Exclaimed Huck
"Yes, the Blue Moon Clan is what it's called."
"Wow, what was his name?"
"His name is Talon, now go to sleep, Huck."
"Okay." Huck answered, he was feeling tired anyway. As he fell asleep his mother sang him a lullaby that she used to sing to him when he was a little puppy.
Soar free above.
Huck woke up to his mother lying on her side, panting heavily. He thought she was having pups again and wanted to be alone, so he started out of the doghouse. "No, son," Daisy whimpered, "Come back, it's not pups." "Mother, what is it? Are you hurt?" "No...I'm not, I'm very sick, I probably don't have long to live." "No, It can't be, what happened?" asked Huck worried "I cannot explain. Huck, I want you to promise me something." Daisy said weakly "Yes, Mother, Anything."
"I promise, Mother," said Huck thru painful tears. "Be brave, my son...I love you, Huckleberry." his mother said, and was still. Over the next few days, the young dog was sadder than ever. He had no one to talk to and no one to comfort him when Ace and his goons teased him. He wanted to keep his mother's promise, but he just couldn’t figure out how to escape. Until one day, about a week later when the Master was feeding the dogs, it came to him. As his cruel master slowly opened the kennel door, Huck dashed thru his lanky legs and ran. All around him he could hear the other dogs.
“Yeah, that’s right, run into a bear trap for me, Blueberry,” ridiculed Ace. But Huck never heard him; he just kept running and never looked back.
He kept running thru the woods, until finally, he collapsed into a pile of leaves. Eventually, he fell asleep listening to the Alaskan wilderness. Little did he know that he was not alone.
“Hey, you wake up,” growled an unfriendly voice. Huck woke up immediately and found himself face to face with a large gray she-wolf. “Who are you, what are you doing in this territory.” The angry she-wolf growled.
“I-I am Huckleberry, I’m looking for Talon of the Blue Moon clan.” Huck stammered. “I am from the Blue Moon clan, why do you want to see my leader?” the she-wolf asked. Huck wondered if he could trust this she-wolf. Finally, he decided to tell her the truth.
“Because he is my father, my mother told me to go to him before she died.” Huck admitted. The she-wolf thought for a minute.
“Come with me,” she said, and Huck followed.
As the two trotted towards the clan’s camp, Huck couldn’t help but notice the air smelled fresher than at the puppy mill. He took some deep breaths to enjoy the fresh air.
“Hey, What’s-your-name, you having trouble breathing?” the she-wolf asked.
“It’s Huckleberry, and I was just enjoying the fresh air.”
“Why? Haven’t you ever been outside before?” the she-wolf snickered. Feeling embarrassed, Huckleberry kept quiet until the both of them came to a part of the forest where he guessed the Blue Moon clan lived.
It was a large, shady part where the light peeked thru the trees in small patches. There was a large cave on the side of a cliff that smelled of wolves. In the mouth of the cave sat a regal looking, black wolf with a tinge of gray hairs on his muzzle. But what was unique about him was his eyes were the most beautiful shade of dark blue.
“Talon, I found this stranger roaming our borders,” said the gray she-wolf to the blue-eyed, black wolf, “He claims you are his father.”The other wolves looked around in alarm. Surely the great Talon would throw this stranger out.
“Who are you, boy?” asked Talon gruffly.
“I am Huckleberry, but my mother used to call me Huck.” Replied Huck
“What are you doing out here, Huck. The forest is no place for a lone pup.” Said Talon
“I came out here to find you, to join your pack. It was my mother’s wish.” Said Huck sadly.
“What was your mother’s name?” Talon asked in curiosity.
“Her name was Daisy; she lived at a puppy mill where I was born.” Said Huck.
“Where is Daisy now, Huck?”
“She’s dead; it was her wish that I go to the forest to find you.” Huck sobbed. Talon rose up and called all of the Blue Moon pack to gather around him and Huck.
“My Brothers and Sisters, you have always known me as the Great Talon, but there is something I must say now. This creature is indeed my son, his mother is dead, and so it is my duty to teach him all there is to know about living here. For he will be one of us now, so please welcome my son, Huckleberry.”
As the other wolves came to greet him, Huck knew he did the right thing in honoring his mother’s wish. For if he didn’t, he would have never met his father, and all of the members of the clan. At last, for the first time in his life, he was home.
Talon looked at the young pup in shock. He remembered his first mate was a she-dog named Daisy. If he had known that she was expecting he wouldn’t have let her cruel master get her. He looked down at his son, his only son, and asked him…
"Promise me you will escape from here and find your father, he is leads his pack thru the woods around this time of year. Ask the first wolf you see for Talon of the Blue Moon Clan. Beware of wolverines, bears, and foxes, they only mean trouble."
That was all he remembered her singing before he went to sleep.
As the Moon rises high,
As her cruel master came tromping thru the snow, a shiver of fear came down the mother dog's spine. She knew her master would be expecting at least two or three more pups from his best breeder, but this pup was the only survivor of the litter. As he came up to the doghouse, the mother dog cringed with fear as her master's voice boomed overhead.