Chapter 1: The
“Come on, Thunder, get his leg! Storm, I’ll get his nose, worry his flanks pup,” Lightning roared orders to his Pack.
“Dad, I got it! I got it!” Thunder was now a young adult with powerful jaws and needle sharp teeth. He had latched himself on to the moose’s leg and was trying his best not to be kicked off.
“Hold on son!” Lightning leapt to his son’s side, almost in unison with Star, and they both sank their teeth in to the moose’s leg. With the combined weight of the three wolves, the old bull moose began to falter. Rain took a running leap and landed on the moose’s back. The moose bellowed and tried to buck him off, but it couldn’t, due to Thunder’s, Star’s, and Lightning’s weight on its hind legs. To finish the hunt, Gale leapt and sank his teeth into the moose’s nose and rode its head to the ground.
The moose’s bearded chin hit the dust with a Thump, and it gave a dying bellow. With a savage snarl, Storm bounded up and delivered the final bite to the beast’s neck. The moose fell limp and moved no more.
“I’m starving!” Rain sniffed the moose’s side excitedly. “Can we eat it now? Please?” Lightning cast an amused glance at his dappled son and, according to Pack tradition, plunged his snout into the moose’s side and ripped it open for his Pack. “Let us eat.” He said solemnly.
The Pack stripped the body bare of everything but scraps for the vultures and foxes already sneaking up for their share. Thunder tore a rib bone off and spanked the ground, inviting his littermates to play tug-o-war with him. Star grabbed hold of the other end of the bone and yanked. Thunder shook his head and growled playfully. Suddenly Storm decided to join in and jumped on to Thunder’s back. Rain bounded into the fray and all four wolves became a bundle of flashing black, gray, and white fur.
Lightning looked on with pride as Star, still a little small for her age, outsmarted her much larger brother, Rain, by ducking when he leaped at her, thus putting her in a position that she could leap on to his back from behind. Star did so, and surprised Rain so much he fell flat on the ground. She sprang off with lightning speed and head butted Rain’s side so hard it pushed him on to his back so that his belly was exposed. Before he could react, Star was standing over him with a paw holding him down, and teeth bared.
Thunder had to fight a bit harder to win the battle than his favorite sibling. When Storm had launched himself on top of Thunder, Thunder had jerked his head back so suddenly that Star had been forced to let go of the rib bone. Filled with the momentum of Thunder’s vicious tug, the bone flew back and hit Storm right on the top of his skull. Storm was only stunned for a few seconds, but those few seconds were all Thunder needed. He spat the rib out, and then rocketed in to a forward somersault that sent Storm flying. Storm landed on his feet and did a turn-around that sent dirt in all directions. He raced toward Thunder and overwhelmed him with the sudden charge. Thunder recovered quickly and threw Storm off with the same somersault that had unseated his brother earlier. Storm also used the same move, the turn-around-and-charge one, but this time Thunder was ready. As the young wolf sped into him, Thunder jumped to one side and allowed his brother to crash into the large oak tree right behind them. Storm stood up, and shook his head to dispel his dizziness. Before he could, Thunder bulled into his side and brought Storm crashing to the ground again. Thunder stood over his exposed stomach and, panting heavily, growled, “Got…ya there…bro, I…win!”
Storm snapped grumpily at his brother’s restraining paw. “Get off me you great lump, and you only won because I ran into a tree!”
“Well, it was your own fault,” scolded Star, “You should’ve been watching where you were going.”
“Oh, shut up, Star!”
Thunder pressed extra hard down on Storm, and growled, “No, you shut up, harebrain, and keep your flea ridden tongue to yourself, you hear?”
“Oh yes, I hear, almighty Alpha, and obey,” replied Storm sarcastically, “Oh yea, I forgot, Lightning hasn’t died yet, and you’re not my Alpha.”
“Calm yourselves! There is no need to insult each other, Storm and Thunder, so behave!” Although Lightning sounded harsh, he was secretly very proud of his offspring’s amazing instinct for fighting.
Star made up for her smallness in sheer cleverness. She knew many techniques that left the enemy flat on their backs, gasping for breath, such as the one Rain had fallen for. Yet she was the only one of her litter that did not enjoy prolonged fighting, preferring to quickly knock her foe unconscious with a quick forceful tap on top of the head. Rain was still smaller than Storm and Thunder, but he could still hold his own in a fight. His favorite move was letting the wolf get on top of him then suddenly lunge up and knock the foe straight in the air. Storm was, again, different, operating with brute force, and a few tricks Star had taught him. He was almost as large as his petite mother, and nearly twice as large as his small sister. Though he seemed uncaring and mean, he would fight to the death to protect any one of his pack members and was totally loyal to the Pack as a whole.
Yet, even Storm could honestly admit that Thunder was the true Alpha of the pups. He was aggressive and ambitious, though not so much so as Storm, but he was also kind and considerate toward the weaker members of his pack, such as Star. The small black female had been intimidated by Storm’s greater size and had not been getting her share of the food. Thunder would push Storm and Rain away to let Star have some milk. In return, Star became his favorite sibling and loyal friend. Wisdom and a thirst for learning were also necessary parts of an Alpha, and Thunder had plenty. Though gruff and rude, Moon, his grandmother, was a great teacher, if not a patient one, and Thunder could often be found in her den with Star, learning the myths and stories of the Packs of the
Lightning was jerked out of his reverie by sudden howl from the direction of the Stone Pack’s territory.
“Lightning, Alpha of the
“Lightning, he sounds like he’s in our territory! Let’s get ‘em!” Thunder sounded both excited and worried. Storm growled in anticipation.
“You are right son. Forest Pack, we go to rid our territory of Stones that do not belong. Ready yourselves for battle!” Lightning howled. The pack took off, Lightning and Thunder far in the lead. The wolves put all their energy in running, and they arrived at the valley in a matter of minuets. They stopped silently at the edge of the valley and peeked through the foliage. They saw the whole Stone Pack grouped in a dark corner, trying in vain to hide in the leaves of a bush. Star snorted.
“Good thing we’re more used to seeing prey in the under growth than they are.” Thunder nodded in agreement to his sister’s whispered statement. They all froze as Smoke’s sinister whisper carried on the breeze toward them. “…buffoon will come charging in here and we will ambush them. It shouldn’t be long until he realizes I’m in his territory.” Lightning’s muscles tensed in anger. He turned and said, “Here’s the plan. Holly, you will take the pups and you and you and chase them into the woods from behind while I lead the rest straight into the clearing so they will not notice you. Even if they have more fighters than us, we are much more used to fighting in the trees than them and if you fight hard and I know that we can win.”
Holly nodded and the chosen wolves followed her around the clearing until they were directly behind the trespassers. Thunder crouched and waited. With a cry of anger, Lightning and his segment barreled down the narrow trail into the valley at breakneck speed. Smoke’s head popped up and he growled with pleasure that quickly turned to pain as Storm leapt on him with a fierce cry.
With that, a furious battle ensued. Holly nipped at a few wolves. Those few leapt out of the cover of the brush and into the trees and the others followed, straight into the rest of the Forest Pack. The surprise attack was costly to the intruders, but the Stone Pack was larger than the Forest Pack, and they soon recovered the advantage. Two of the most furious fights were between the Alphas and the Betas. A vicious wolf named Burn was the beta of the Stone Pack. He and Gale were locked tight in a life or death struggle, as were Lightning and Smoke.
Both Alphas were lean and wiry, with teeth sharper than shards of crystal and thorny claws. Their jaws could break bones easier than toothpicks, and they were strong enough to rip a leg off a moose. Lightning’s clear tawny, gold eyes focused on the brown flecked ones of his opponent. They circled, waiting for an opening, waiting for the other to let their guard down the slightest bit, and their eyes never left the other. Smoke snarled to Lightning, “Flee, Lightning, flee, or I will rip you and your little pathetic Pack to pieces!”
“Never! This territory is mine and as long as I’m Alpha, no one will take what is rightly ours!” Lightning’s reply was full of unchecked rage and venom.
“Huh! I fully intend on having this valley to support my Pack. I didn’t come all the way from my territory just to leave. I came for more of it. We have far more wolves than you and we need this territory or my pups will starve!” As Lightning paused, Smoke leapt and the battle began in earnest.
Thunder’s world had dissolved into mass chaos. He heard nothing but growls and snarls; he saw nothing but sharp white teeth and malevolent staring eyes through a growing red mist. Although he knew he needed rest, a part of him thirsted for battle and reveled in submission from enemies. Only one thing could break through this strange urging: concern for his family. Thunder shook off his opponent and frantically searched the heaving churning battleground for his sister. Her small black form was fighting side-by-side with a furious Moon. He did a mental check list of his intermediate family. Rain could be seen battling not far from his mother. Gale and Lightning were locked in their separate struggles. Storm had formed an alliance with another Pack member and was plowing his way to Lightning’s side to hold off any Stone Pack members who would try to attack Lightning and give their Alpha the advantage. Satisfied, Thunder gave in to the urge for blood and plunged back into the chaotic battling Packs below.
Rain had never been so exhilarated in all his short life. Flowing through his blood was the genetic ferocity and love of battle known to infect certain wolves, especially the Stone and Forest Pack males, called the Blood Crave. Watching Thunder, and remembering the tales of the Blood Crave, Rain came to the conclusion that both he and Thunder had a mild case, not really that bad. Something hit his side and scored claws down it. Whirling around and abandoning his wonderings, he savagely bit and slashed at the scrawny wolf that faced him. The skinny canine lashed out and caught Rain a stinging blow to the snout. Undeterred, Rain returned the blow and in the same movement, leapt, did a flip in mid air, and landed so that he was facing his enemy’s back side. Before the Stone Pack wolf could react, Rain pushed himself into the air and landed on the wolf’s back. In a panic, the wolf rolled over, crushing Rain. Glad for the opportunity to use his favorite move, Rain settled his back firmly on the ground and shot all four legs straight up like pistons, then calmly got to his feet as the Stone Pack wolf went flying and landed in a still heap a few yards away. Suddenly, the flow of savage joy that his triumph had sent careening through his veins was cut off abruptly as Rain spotted his mother being struck down by a huge brown wolf. No other Forest Pack member was available to come to Holly’s defense. Holly’s pitiful whine and the sight of the enormous wolf raising his paw for the final blow sent a tidal wave of fury that coursed through Rain and threw his body into action. His furious cry of “Stay off her, you scum!” rang sharply through the air as Rain launched himself into the brown wolf’s side.
Storm was beginning to grow bored. At first, the battle had been viciously exciting, but now just guarding Lightning’s back wasn’t all that great. Simply snapping at the occasional offender was getting old, especially since the Alphas’ fight was reaching such a height in savagery that approaching them to help either side would almost be suicidal. Luckily his ally spotted his fidgeting before he abandoned his post. The wolf signaled a female from Holly’s side to take Storm’s post, leaving him free to go and fight. Giving her a grateful nod, Storm ran to where Thunder was trying to battle two Stone Pack wolves at once. Swiftly snatching a hold on one of the wolves’ tail, Storm began to shake his head violently, as if he was playing tug of war. That got his attention, the flea ridden cur, thought Storm as his action was rewarded by a yelp from his victim. Now only battling one enemy, Thunder quickly dispatched of his opponent. By now, Storm’s wolf had figured out that it was a wolf that was biting him, and he turned around to menace Storm with bared teeth. Thunder took hold of the Stone Pack wolf’s scruff and bit down hard. As the enemy turned to face Thunder, Storm released his hold on the tail and brought his paw down on the wolf’s head, knocking him out cold. The two brothers turned as one when they heard Rain’s bloodcurdling howl. They saw Rain leap on the huge wolf. Even as they charged to help Rain, both Storm and Thunder knew that they were to far away to help Rain. Rain hit the brown wolf and immediately began to tear at its side. Snorting contemptuously, the wolf left off attacking Holly and snatched hold of Rain by the scruff. With a ferocious heave, the Stone Pack wolf threw Rain against the trunk of a nearby tree. Rain’s head hit the tree with a sickening thump, and Storm felt his heart break at the sight of his dappled brother stretched out on the ground, blood slowly pooling beneath his head.
Unlike her brothers, Star was not enjoying herself. Wolf blood made her stomach churn, and her head was spinning from a blow from a snarling Stone Pack youth about her age. Using her size to her advantage, Star ducked and weaved as the frustrated female rained blow after blow in an attempt to bring down her dodgy opponent. Finally, Star found an opening. Darting in, Star brought her forepaw crashing down, claws extended, on her opponent’s head. As the gray female toppled to the ground, Star heard Rain’ s cry as he leapt on the brown wolf, and, like Thunder and Storm, started urgently toward him. The sound of Rain’s skull as it connected with the tree and the sight of her brother’s broken body caused Star to freeze in her tracks and a pressure to build up in her lungs and her throat to the point where she had to look away. Suddenly, Star’s head snapped up. I’ve got help Mom! That wolf might go for her next. Star immediately set out for her mother’s still form and nearly collided with her two remaining brothers. Looking from raging face to the other, Star saw in their eyes what they planned to do. They planned to kill. Her own sparkling blue eyes became as hard as flint. She would join them.
“For Rain…” Star’s whisper trailed off. Thunder glanced at Storm, and then nodded.
“For Rain.” Thunder’s voice had an undercurrent of sadness, but was as solid and firm as the
Holly was fading. Fingers of silvery mist were beginning to obscure her failing sight. The brown wolf’s muddy figure slipped in and out of focus as Holly’s wounds continued to pour forth her life-blood. He had returned to finish Holly off after attacking Rain and had backed Holly against a tree not far from Rain’s dappled form.
With a snarl the wolf leapt at Holly and collided in mid-air with Storm and Thunder.
“You moose-brained piece of dog-scrap,” Storm yelled at the top of his lungs and using the worst insult he could think of, ‘dog-scrap.’ “Get off of my mother!” Meanwhile, Holly’s vision began to swim and faint wolves the color of the sky started to gain dimensions and crowd around her. One figure stepped forward. Juniper, Holly’s father, spoke gently, yet with authority,
“Speak, dearest, tell Star of the prophecy. She must know.”
The words tumbled unbidden to Holly’s tongue. “On the night that the stars fall, the white wolf will come and Thunder must beware the kin of the kin of Fire. The kin of Moon must beware the daughter of Sun.” Juniper panted in satisfaction.
“Holly, come with us. Roam the sky with me.” He smiled winningly.
“But… Star… Thunder and Lightning. I wouldn’t see them again.”
“I’m afraid you do not have much choice, dearest. You are dying.” The panic that Juniper’s remark caused in Holly’s chest faded almost as soon as it appeared. What was wrong with dying? Even Star’s panicked whines were growing fainter, while her father was becoming more solid.
“Mother, please, please don’t die. Tell me what you meant. Who is the white wolf? We need you, don’t go!” Holly was undecided. She felt something pulling at her heart, trying to tug her into the sky. Yet her natural instinct to survive pulled her in the opposite direction. Finally deciding that she had no choice, Holly lifted her head for a final look at the world, Holly saw something that caused her blood to run cold. Just before her heart stopped beating, an explosion rent the air and Lightning leapt, only to fall to the ground with a bullet in his heart.
The entire valley was thrust into confusion. Two Stone Pack wolves went down to bullets, and several Forest Pack wolves were grazed by flying bullets. Lightning had already defeated Smoke, and now both Packs were leaderless and milling about, unsure of what to do. The Stone Pack Beta took the chance to slip out of Gale’s paws and escape in the chaos. Bone decided to take charge of the Stone Pack since his Alpha was dead.
“Retreat!” he yowled. “Stone Pack, retreat!”
Retreat was the last thing on Thunder’s mind. He grouped the Forest Pack into a tight knot and chased the Stone Pack from the territory. Once the Stone Pack wolves were in their own territory, Thunder led his wolves back to Camp, skirting the valley to avoid the Strangers and their guns.
Once there, he had Star take roll call. Lightning, Holly, Rain, and a wolf named Rose were missing. Six wolves, including Gale and himself, had bullet wounds, though none were serious. All wolves had suffered minor injuries, and two wolves had injuries that weren’t so minor. However, Thunder was sure that the Stone Pack had it even worse. Smoke they knew for sure was dead, along with the wolf that had thrown Rain at a tree. Each of the forest Pack had given as good as they had got, considering that they had been out-numbered.
A small bluish silver wolf named River approached Thunder and licked his chin.
“Hail, Alpha Thunder!” she cried in a strong deep voice. The rest of the Pack joined, one by one. Star approach her brother and licked his chin.
“Thunder,” Star said. “Thunder, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it, Star?”
“Gale and I just returned from a little private scouting. Rain’s body is gone! Some Strangers, not the ones who attacked us, took it!”
Thunder’s eyes widened. “Are you sure they weren’t the ones who had attacked us?”
“Yes, these smelled different and they had green fur.”
“But why would they take Rain’s body?” Thunder asked.
“No idea,” replied Star. “We wanted to stop them, but they had fire-sticks, and it all happened very fast.”
Star’s white spot gleamed red in the dying sun’s light. Thunder turned and watched the sun sink slowly behind the horizon, and dark clouds steal across the blood-red sky. The clouds blocked the rising moon and faint stars. A flash of lightning tore across the sky, clawing at the gloomy clouds, and seconds after the lightning blinked out, thunder roared. Rain began spitting out of the sky, just a little at first, but slowly upgrading into an icy downpour. The wolves stood still, allowing the icy rain to wash away the blood and numb their wounds.
Wind blew in gusts, angling the rain and twisting the clouds into varying patterns and shapes. Star looked up, squinting to protect her eyes from the rain. For a single moment, the clouds formed the shape of her mother’s face. Then the image was gone, but the strange words her mother had uttered moments before her death still echoed in Star’s mind. What did they mean?
Another lightning strike lit up the bedraggled Pack. Thunder’s golden eyes seemed to have a charge of their own. Thunder boomed, and a crashing sound warned Thunder that trees were falling and he had to get the Pack to safety. He grunted to get the Pack’s attention, then flicked his tail in the direction of their camp to indicate where they needed to go. The weary wolves fell in line behind Thunder as he led them home.