Take Wing Part 4: True Wish

"Ugh!  How do I ever deal with you guys?"  A large golden-orange wolf bathed in the early sun, which illuminated her coat and the coats of three small pups romping beside her.  As she switched her tail, a small orange female leaped into the air, giggling.  "Do it again!"

Aspen, their mother, rolled her deep blue eyes.  "Why should I?"  She answered the pup, knowing very well the answer.

"Because we wanna play!"  The soft, sweet eyes bored into hers, and the mother relented, swirling her tail about like a jump-rope.

"Hooray!"  They knew they'd gotten the better of her, because they always did.  As Maple, Rowan, and Linden pranced around her, Aspen laid her head on her paws with a sigh and closed her sleepy eyes.

Where is she?  A large golden-brown wolfdog with dark ears and shoulders trotted noncommitally up the crest of the steep hill.  He hated to go this far past the cave where the Northern Heights clan lived, but he had to find his friend.  That girl!  Around here somewhere, I'm sure.  

"Looking for me?"  A petite, black and white Border collie-husky mix peered around the corner.

"Good timing," Juneau responded, laughing.

Brite smiled.  "Time to eat already, is it?"  She fell into step beside Juneau, limping slightly because of a bad previous injury.  Her friend instinctively swung around to the other side so that he was facing the edge of the cliff instead of her.  "You don't need to protect me, you know.  I'm not going to fall."

"Well, you know..."  The young male blushed.  He and Brite had been friends up until four months before, when they were about a year old.  Then they had begun to like each other, and, as their wolf friend Pawnee would say, "The rest is history."

"Cal's going back down the mountain tomorrow morning," Juneau's friend stated.  Brite's cousin, Caliber, was handsome and popular, and he had been fast...until a serious injury had ended his blossoming career abruptly.  Before that, he and Brite had been fighting almost constantly.  Needless to say, after she saved him from a vicious mountain lion his attitude had changed; it was then that she had acquired her limp.  Cal was now also on good terms with Juneau himself, whom he had previously despised.  He had come a long way from the boasting, egotistical pup he had been, and as he thought about it, Juneau realized that he was actually going to miss Cal.

"You're missing him already, too?"  As usual, Brite was reading his mind.

"Yeah," he admitted sheepishly.

"There's no reason to be embarrassed."  She faced Juneau, and he gave her an affectionate swipe on the cheek with his tongue before continuing on.  "I know, but it still seems a little strange that he and I are friends now."

"I know what you mean."  By this time they had reached the mouth of the big cave where the two lived.  After Brite's owner had left her to move south from the frigid air of Alaska, the young she-dog had been offered a place in the Northern Heights clan and had readily accepted.  They were both glad she had, although at first her collie-ish ways had been cause for great amusement among the pack members.  Brite had garnered a respected spot among them after having saved her cousin.

"There you are!"  A shout from Pawnee broke into their private thoughts.  "C'mon!  The kill's getting cold!"

"Right there!"  Together they ambled into the lip of the cavern.  A horde of wolves-about thirty since some early pups of winter had already been born-were standing around a freshly caught moose.

Juneau was indignant.  "Hey!  Why didn't anybody tell me about the hunt?"  Being the heir to the alpha role, Juneau was supposed to be at hunts.  After his father Bering, the old leader, died at Juneau's birth, the pup had been cast out into Nome and taken in by that town's hero, Balto.  The older wolfdog also happened to be his uncle, and had given him numerous tidbits of advice many times.  Balto had always been like a father to the son of his brother Bering, and they were very close, even though they lived about a day's trek from each other.

"We figured you were busy."  Pawnee jerked his chin at Brite with a mischevious glint in his eye.

"She was late for dinner, that's why I went to fetch her!"  But Juneau couldn't hold his friend's warm gaze.

"Right."

"Pawnee!  Leave them alone!"  The wolf's mate, Aspen, appeared with three pups clinging to her side.  They peeked over her knee with interest.

"Yay!  It's Juneau!  It's Juneau and Brite!"  The biggest one, a male named Rowan, plowed past his mother, all uncertainties instantly forgotten.

The other two responded similarly:  "Hooray!  Play with us!  C'mon, please?"

"Let me eat, and then I'll play with you," said Juneau.  His special liking of puppies always seemed to work against him in this way, but he didn't really mind.  It was relaxing and invigorating at the same time to play with a wolf puppy.  Gobbling down his share of the savory meat, he leaped into the fray, tumbling over the offspring of his two friends.

"What are you doing?"  Cal approached, laughing.

Brite went to his side and nuzzled her iron-gray cousin.  "Just goofing off...as always."

"Hey!  I-"  But before the hybrid could finish, he was swallowed up by yelping young wolves.  Thrusting his head above them, he managed to greet Cal briefly as another pup, Linden, worked her way up to his head to chew on his ear.  The last and smallest one, Maple, tackled him to the ground again, but finally he heaved himself up and jumped over the mass.  Hollering in delight, the pups squirmed around him, asking if he could teach them how to jump like that.

"You'll learn," he replied with an air of superiority that seemed ridiculous.  The entire pack, having watched the whole scene, laughed uproariously.

Before long, it was time to sleep, for Cal was waking early to make it down the mountain in a single day.  Desiring to send the husky off right, the whole pack gathered close for a good night's sleep.

Dawn was clear and cold, and it had begun to burn away the heavy fog that had settled into the mountain hollow.  Rising clumsily, Juneau searched for Brite among the cluster of sleeping canines.

"Right here," she whispered.  Climbing to her own feet a bit more gracefully, the mixed-breed hopped and dodged around feet, tails and the occasional head that stuck out awkwardly.

The sun dazzled their eyes.  Blinking almost constantly, they settled down on their favorite rock.  Wide and dished, it made a perfect seat. 

Without any warning, Brite turned to Juneau in that impulsive way of hers and asked him a sudden question; one that would change his life:

"Have you ever thought about being...mates?"

He gulped but found the courage to answer.  "Yes."

"A lot?"

"A lot," Juneau confirmed.

"I want to."  She rested her small, fine head on his large shoulder.

"So do I."  His eyes shone with love, and his gravity set him apart in a special way.

"I love you.  You're so genuine and honest."  Brite smiled up at him.

"And I you, without a doubt."

And so the two mates rested peacefully together.  Watching the sun rise into the bright sky, they both felt so satisfied that it was almost unbearable.  Their journey in life, side by side, was just beginning.

Many tears were shed that day-tears of regret (much of them on Brite's part) when Cal left for Nome, and of happiness when the pack heard of Juneau and Brite's newfound unity.  To add to the festivities, Juneau was to be the official alpha of Northern Heights clan.  Pawnee had been leader while Juneau was still young, but now they all felt that Juneau was ready to take the role himself.

To everyone's shock and pleasure, Balto showed up that night, howling and wagging his bushy dark tail.

"I didn't know you were coming!"  Juneau's eyes shone with happiness at the appearance of his uncle.

"Cal told me all about it on his way home.  He's grown into a fine young dog...and so have you."  Balto smiled proudly, and his nephew was ready to burst with pride.  His reign was off to a good start.

Three months later...

"Mama!"  Maple raced around long legs and hopped over puddles from the fresh rain the night before.  "Mama!"

"What is it?"  Aspen rolled her eyes (as she seemed to do so often these days) at the pup in annoyance, but the little wolf kept on coming anyway.

"Mama!  Brite's sick!  She says she feels funny and doesn't wanna eat anything!  She told me to find you."  The small female shook the rain out of her coat impatiently.

"I'm coming!"  In an instant Aspen was up and away over the giant animal, with the others exchanging concerned looks.

Upon reaching the den that she herself had once occupied, Aspen ducked low and parted the reeds at the entrance with a rustle.  A low moan could be heard over the quaking sound.

"Aspen," mumbled Brite, "I feel terrible!"

"Where's Juneau?"

"He's out dragging the meat in, and I didn't want to bother him.  I figured he wouldn't know what's wrong."

An hour passed.  The pups sitting outside the door were anxious for their friend and their mother's return.

"D'you think she's all right?"

"I hope so.  Rowan, what's wrong with her?"

"How would I know, Linden?  Besides, I think Mama's coming."

Sure enough, the large golden female emerged from the curtain.  She was smiling.

"She's okay?"  The puppies yelped.

"More than okay," replied Aspen mysteriously.

 
"Brite's PREGNANT?!"

Aspen laughed at Juneau's shocked expression.  "That's exactly how Pawnee acted when he found out about me."

"Where is she?  And she's going to be okay?"

"In the den, and yes, just fine."  She couldn't suppress another chuckle.  "Go see her."

The future father knelt carefully at the entrance of the alpha's den.  It was easy to see that he had grown into a powerful animal in the past few months:  His large, shaggy shoulders barely fit through the hole, and he had to crouch low to make his long legs fit.  

"Hear the news?"  Brite gave a low chortle.  Her petite frame, lying in the nest of grasses, was largely in contrast to her mate's tall, muscular build.

"Yes.  How are you feeling?"

"Why do I get the impression that I'm going to be asked that constantly?  Yes, of course I'm feeling fine.  I'm just not able to hold anything down at the moment, that's all."

"Well, if that's all it is, then I guess I'm okay with that."  Juneau's tone was teasing, and Brite butted him as hard as she could manage.

"If our pups are anything like you, they're going to end up insane!"  They both laughed at her comment, but not without a few playful swipes exchanged first.

"Great job on the hunt the other day."  The Elder, a tall, black wolf with hulking shoulders and a stooped gait, whacked Juneau on the back in congratulations with a large forepaw.

"Ow.  I mean, thanks!"

"No problem."  With a sly grin the spry old wolf trotted stiffly away, his silvery muzzle curved up in a smile. 

"You doing okay?"  Juneau spun around and found that none other than the half-grown pup Linden was inquiring about his mate.  He glimpsed Brite, her belly growing larger every day, shake her head emphatically at the pup.

"No, of course I'm not," she quipped sarcastically.

Juneau approached, grinning in spite of himself.  "Go on, run along!"  Obeying Juneau's order, Linden scampered away from the alpha male and female to play with her friends, many of whom were smaller than herself--they had all been born after her and her brother and sister.

"She's grown so big already," Brite commented with a sigh.  "It seems like she was just a baby yesterday."

"Sure does.  Say, how about we go and visit Balto for the night?  He could use the company; his kids are all grown up.  That is, unless you're not feeling up to it."

"Of course I am!  But will the pack be okay?"

"I'll put Pawnee in charge.  He knows I could use a break, and after all, he's the beta wolf now."  After a hectic last-minute hunt for spring meat for the growing pups, Juneau was exhausted.  It had been a very long month since Brite had been found pregnant, and they both could use a vacation, however short it way be.

"Well, what are we waiting for?  Let's find Pawnee."

Balto stretched and settled himself on the planking of his old boat.  Nearby, in the shadows of late twilight, Juneau and his mate plopped down next to each other.  It was the next day, and they had been traveling for many hours without stopping, hoping to make it by nightfall.  But with Brite's pregnancy it was nearly impossible to do so, and it had been very taxing on her to make it at all.  Yet here they were; they had arrived and were quite glad of it.

"So, Uncle, how have you been?  Lonely?"

"Me?  Pshaw.  Jenna visits pretty much every day, and I her.  But," the older wolfdog conceded, "it would be nice to have little ones around the place again."

"Well, when my family visits you someday soon, you won't be lonely."  A wide grin stretched across Juneau's face as his uncle's features twisted in shock.  "You don't mean..."

"I'm expecting in late February, another month."  Brite intervened proudly.

"Congratulations!  I'm happy for you."  Balto got to his feet and nuzzled both of them.

"We're pretty happy for ourselves," Juneau chuckled, "but anyway, what's happening in Nome these days?  I've heard that..."

The talk continued late into the night, and Brite had long been resting on her mate's shoulder when the two "men" turned in for the night.

Weeks passed, and it became harder and harder for Brite to move around.  Soon she was confined to the cave, and several days before the delivery couldn't make it out of the den itself. 

The entire clan was eager the day of the birth.  Tension radiated and bounced off of everything.  And of course, no one was as concerned as Juneau.  He paced in the same path, back and forth, back and forth, for two hours until The Elder sagely advised him not to create a ravine in the cave floor.  "Her time will come, and soon."

"When?"  The young alpha's face was haggard. 

The wise black wolf's eyes softened as he said, "I do not know.  What I do know is that birth is treasured among the members of this clan, and that everyone in Northern Heights will do whatever it takes to help Brite."  With that, he turned away.  Juneau took up his restless pacing, and this time, no one tried to stop him.

It was a long and difficult birth, and Aspen had her paws full with the delivery; but at last four pups had emerged into the world.  After resting for several minutes, Brite urged her friend to announce the birth and let Juneau into the den ("He's probably worried sick!").

"At last!"  Juneau gave a howl of jubilance that echoed across the stony outcroppings of the mountain.  Others joined in the rambunctious cacophony, and it lasted for several minutes.  Finally, laughingly, Aspen urged Juneau inside, saying in hushed reverence, "Oh, Juneau!  They're the most beautiful things!  You'll love them!"

"I'm sure I will," he murmured.

Snuggled at Brite's side were four young things:  A large, black male pup with brown markings; a medium-sized light tan male; a big dark brown male; and lastly a small deep-chocolate colored female with a pale chest and pale legs.  Also, unlike the others, she had strange tear-drop markings splattered across her hind legs like dripping dew on a summer morning.

"They-they're beautiul," Juneau breathed.  His breath seemed to have left him suddenly.

"Aren't they?  Let's have some names.  I'd like for both of us to pick out each name, not one or the other."  Brite cocked her head in request.

"It's a deal.  How about 'Tor' for that one?"  Juneau indicated the large black male puppy.

"Let's modify that.  Since he's so big and strong, let's call him 'Thor' instead!"  Brite laughed.

"A good name," Aspen assented, smiling.

"All right, then.  What about a name for the tan guy?"  Juneau's head wrinkled in concentration.

"Lane?"

"No!"  Juneau shook his head violently.

"Sam? Perry?"

"No and no.  Something distinguished.  Something like...Atlas?"

"Atlas?  Yes, I like that.  Atlas."  His mate bobbed her head approvingly.

"And that one?"  The large dark-brown male was pointed out.

"Oh, I already thought of a name for that one."  A smug smile encased Brite's face.

"You did, did you?  Well, let's hear it, then."

"Just look at him.  Who does he look like to you?"

Juneau and Aspen stared carefully.  Suddenly realization dawned on Aspen's face and she let her breath out with a whoosh.

"What?  Who does he look like to you?"  Juneau stared at her in curiosity.

Aspen slowly replied, "Like you, of course, yes.  But he looks even more like-"

In a flash of sudden realization and shock Juneau knew.  "My father?"

"Yes." 

Brite backed Aspen up with a nod.  "Aspen described your father to me once, and from what I can tell, he looks almost exactly like-"

"Bering.  And that will be this pup's name."  Juneau had never seen much of his father, and his few memories were dim.  But he knew from descriptions-and in his heart-that this pup was truly like his father.

"And for the girl?"  Brite's eyes jabbed in the direction of the small, dark female.

"I dunno...that's hard.  But a trader came to Nome from a distant land once when I was young, and I heard him say a name-Malthace.  Do you like that?  We could call her 'Thacia' or just 'Thace'.

"It's unusual and different...but I really like it.  Malthace it is."

"You have chosen well."  Aspen's approving comment was backed by the squealings and whimperings of  Thor, Atlas, Bering, and Malthace.  After Aspen left to infrom the clan of the pups and their new names, Juneau nestled down beside Brite, and the two of them slept soundly.  Their pups kept them in good company.

Four months later...

"Papa!  Come play!"

"Not now, sweetheart.  I'm busy."

"PLEASE??"

"No."

"Pretty ple-"

"NO."

Disappointed, Malthace slunk off, tail tucked between her short legs.  How hard it was to be the youngest and smallest of the litter!  Her papa seemed so incredibly busy.  Maybe she was overreacting, but...no, it couldn't be.  He loved her and always made time for her.  Just not now.  Heaving a puppyish 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 "Thace".)

Balto, Jenna (c) Universal

Juneau, Brite, Cal, Pawnee, Aspen, Rowan, Linden, Maple, Shonee, Thor, Thacia, Atlas, Bering, Bering (adult), The Elder  (c) Iditarod