Visions of Night: Remus’s Story
The sky was black with ravens. Helicopter blades sliced the sky. Bullets spewed out of the copter guns, and the dying howl of wolves mixed with the squawking and shrill cawing of the ravens. The air was thick with blood. Brittle grass and black feathers whirled on the wind, and through it all came the sinking feeling of doom…
Remus awoke with a gasp. Her coat felt heavy, but when she turned she found it was only with sweat, not blood. She was in her own cave, with the rest of her pack lying beside her.
The stillness of the night left room for the memory of her awful dream, and in her eyes the pool of moonlight cascading into the cave was tinted red. Her breathing slowed, but her heart was still pounding. She hadn’t felt like this since she had been a pup. When she had had that dream about the raven and the white wolf…
Remus pushed herself to her paws and looked around the cave. Her brother, Shade, and her sisters, Shaila and Ruska, lay curled up at her feet. Her mother and father, Aleu and Flint, lay across the way. Linder and Quicksilver were asleep at the back of the small cave. All would be equally grumpy if she woke them up, especially if they heard it was just for a dream. But she knew this was more than a dream. It was a…premonition. A vision. Somehow she knew it was going to happen. She had to tell someone.
Shaila, who had always been a light sleeper, rolled over and stared up at her sister. “Remus, what is it?”
“I…I had a dream,” Remus told her, hurrying to explain. “But it was a vision. I just know it was. There was a battle, and wolves were dying…It felt the same as the dream I kept having when we were pups. Remember?”
Shaila nodded, and then yawned.
Aleu raised her head and blinked sleepily. “Alright, girls, what is it?”
“Remus had another dream, Mom,” Shaila said softly, “Like the one when she was a pup.”
Aleu sat up. “A dream?…Was there a raven?”
“Well, there were ravens,” Remus said, “Not one particular one like last time. But I know it’s going to happen, just like the other one did.” She had figured out a long time ago that her dream/vision had led them from her birthplace in the Aleutian Islands to here, near Nome. “But hundreds, thousands of wolves were dying! There were helicopters that shot bullets from guns sticking out of the windows, and ravens were everywhere. You know ravens feed on the dead…”
“Where was it?” Aleu breathed.
Remus shut her eyes tight, trying to remember. The horrific image filled her mind again: the black, squawking sky, the gunning helicopters, the smell of fresh blood…and two boulders in the mountainside that formed the head of an eagle…
Remus’s eyes shot open. “Eagle Pass!”
Aleu sucked in her breath. “Eagle Pass…”
“Do you think the pack there needs help?” Shaila asked.
“There was more than one wolf pack there,” Remus said, shivering. “There were hundreds of wolves. And humans, with guns!”
“Guns?” Flint said, suddenly alert as he joined them. “I thought wolf hunting was down.”
Aleu shook her head. “Where have you been? We’re being hunted more than ever. The humans are blaming us for poor game, and with all these new things like armed helicopters, they’re trying to get rid of us.” She looked strangely sad and angry at the same time. Remus remembered her mother had lived among humans. She was sympathetic, but now wasn’t the time to sympathize! Now was the time to act!
Shaila padded over and leaned against Aleu comfortingly. Aleu nudged her gratefully and said in a soft voice, “That’s why I was going to announce tomorrow morning that…we should move north.”
“What?” Flint said, taken aback. “Aleu, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew you would object,” she said sharply.
“Look, Aleu, we’re fine here. We’ll have to move sometime to follow the caribou, but it’s too soon for that. You know we’re safe! No one’s come after us with a gun, and they know we’ve been here for months.”
“I would just feel better away from a town,” Aleu said in a tired voice.
“Could we get back to the matter at hand, please?” Remus cried, “What if the Eagle Pass pack needs help?”
Aleu sighed. “It’s too late for this, Remus. We’ll be thinking clearer in the morning.”
Heat licked at Remus’s throat. “So you expect me to sleep while wolves might be dying? I have to go! Mother!”
“No,” Aleu muttered.
“But–”
“I SAID NO!”
Remus felt the sting of her mother’s anger. She retreated, but inside her rage still bubbled and boiled.
“I am not having one of my daughters chasing some dream when wolf hunters are out there set to shoot the first thing they see!” Aleu cried, “You will not leave this cave until I do! Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Remus murmured, but inside she thought, ‘But that doesn’t mean I have to obey.’
Aleu trooped back to her place and lay down, staring fixedly off into space. Flint gave Remus a long look. Remus tried not to glare at him, but rage popped inside her. How could they ignore her vision? Wasn’t her safety a small thing to sacrifice for the lives of a hundred wolves?
“Remus…” Flint sighed and shook his head, and went to join Aleu. Shaila glanced at her as she trotted over to Quicksilver and lay down beside him. Remus still stood, frozen.
Well. So much for family support.
Quicksilver’s voice filtered through the quiet. “So. You do have visions. Even about wolves outside your family.”
“Yes. Why? Does that make me a psychic or something?” Remus asked.
“A Seer.” Quicksilver smiled, and his face fell into shadow as his glowing eyes closed.
“A Seer?” Remus whispered. The word felt strange on her tongue, like it contained a certain mystery and power she didn’t feel capable of. “I’m a Seer.”
The revealed truth and title filled her with determination. She was able to have visions for a reason. Perhaps helping others was that reason. Her mother’s worry was not going to hold her back from her calling.
She waited until the cave was silent except for deep breathing. Then she stood up and silently padded over to the cave entrance. The night was cold, with a small snowfall drifting over the whispering wind. Remus hesitated.
The wind suddenly whirled into her ears with the intensity of the dying howls of wolves. She sprang forward, only to be tackled from behind. She and her attacker rolled down the hill in a flurry of struggles and muffled cries, and when they stopped she immediately jumped up and placed her paw on the neck of the other wolf. Before she could growl a threat, she looked at his face. And groaned. “Shade!”
Her brother grinned wryly and got up. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not, and why would you want to?” Remus asked, bemused. Why did Shade of all wolves want to follow her into danger.
“There’s safety in numbers,” he said.
Remus snorted. “Two wolf-dogs instead of one. Two moving targets. Gosh, I feel safer already.”
“Did we come out here to save some wolves or not?” he demanded.
Remus studied him as she thought. For every minute they stood here, another life could be lost. “Fine,” she snapped, “C’mon.”
Two wolf-dogs stood at the edge of the mountain trail known as Eagle Pass. The stone eagle head lay embedded in the hillside, seeming to watch through the hole that made its eye.
The brown and black wolf-dog looked around. “Interesting. No wolves, no signs of battle, no nothing. Are you sure it was Eagle Pass?”
“Positive,” the black and white one said, “I told you I saw that stone eagle head over there, didn’t I? It…the battle just obviously hasn’t happened yet. That means we have time to warn them!”
Shade looked at her sideways. “And how are you going to do that? Waltz right in and yell, ‘I had a vision that you’re all going to die, so you better listen to me’? They’ll think you’re a crazy wolf, Remus.”
“What else can I do?” Remus snapped, “I am a Seer. I did have a vision. We’ll just have to try, Shade. Try, and hope they’ll believe us.”
“You! Strangers! Don’t move!” Eight wolves shifted from the darkness at the edges of the trail and circled them.
Remus raised her eyebrows. “You’re not exactly low on security up here, are you?”
“Remus.” Shade rolled his eyes.
“What are your names, pack, and mission?” a large gray wolf barked, “All unsatisfactory missions will be dealt with accordingly.”
“I’m a–” Remus began, but Shade nudged her hard.
“We’re from the Northern Lights pack,” he said, “We wish to speak with your pack leader.”
“On what business?”
“That’s for his ears alone.”
The gray wolf stared at them, considering. Then he turned and began padding away. “Follow me. You will have your audience with Everest.”
Remus kicked her brother none too gently. He smirked at her for a moment, but he became serious again as they followed the gray wolf, the other wolves boxing around them so they could not turn back.
Remus tried to think of what she was going to say, or more importantly how she was going to say it, but there really was no time. The wolf led them up the trail, and turned abruptly to enter the mouth of a cave hidden deep in the shadows. The darkness cloaked each of them completely. Remus stifled a startled gasp when the blackness seemed to blind her from her companions. The only clue she had that she was not alone were the soft footsteps around her and the musky scents that permeated the dark. They walked on, and just when Remus was convinced that the blackness would never end, they entered a cavern dimly lit by a large slice in the rocky ceiling where the morning sky and light shone through. The shadows invaded again only in the three tunnels leading off from the cavern, including the tunnel Remus and her escorts were standing in.
A white and rust colored wolf, whose authoritative demeanor could only label him as Everest, stood at the center of the cavern, conferring with a council of six other wolves. He seemed lost in an argument until his gaze flicked around the cave and rested on Remus. He seemed surprised, but not particularly interested. “And who is this?” His council turned to stare, too.
Remus’s heart punched against her chest, but fear would only get in her way. Who knew when the humans would come, with their guns and dogs and traps…?
She marched forward, pulling away from Shade’s reproachful grip. “I am Remus, daughter of Flint and Aleu of the Northern Lights pack. I am also a Seer, and I had a vision of your pack and others being brutally slaughtered by humans in the near future. The lives of your pack depend on what we do to prevent this massacre!”
Everest eyed her with faint curiosity and not-so-faint amusement. “A Seer?” he mused.
Remus nodded vigorously even as her stomach knotted with anger and fear. Was he laughing at her?
The uncomfortable silence continued, strained to capacity by the judgmental stares of the Eagle Pass wolves. Remus gritted her teeth, and waited.
Everest finally smirked, enjoying her torture. “I have heard of your mother,” he said slowly, “She led your pack from the Aleutian Islands to your residence near Nome, I believe. I had always wondered why.”
“The Ravens Wing pack she led with my father turned mutinous,” she told him, “But a vision of mine led us to the place near Nome where we now live.”
Everest studied her carefully. Then he quickly turned to one of the wolves. “Call an immediate council of all the alpha males of Alaska in the Grove.” The wolf appeared hesitant for a second, but a few months under Everest’s steely gaze and his mind was made up.
He slipped past Remus and trotted down the tunnel. His footsteps died away down the long passage, and there was a pause.
A howl echoed dimly down the tunnel to the cave, calling all alpha males to assemble in the Grove and for nearby packs to pass on the message to more distant clans. There were a few answering howls, all bewildered or fearful, but affirmative.
Everest looked at Remus. “We were considering holding a council, anyhow. The humans have started to worry us.” He turned to the remainder of his council and Remus and Shade’s escorts. “You may go.” They left, and the cave felt emptier than ever, enough to accommodate the truckload of tension building up between Remus and Everest.
Shade stepped forward. “Sir, I’m Shade, Remus’s brother. Thank you for your swift action in–”
“Your sister is a curiosity, Shade,” Everest said, cutting Shade off. He stared at Remus, and she could feel the fire in her blood. She wasn’t that much of a freak, was she?
“So you say you are a Seer, able to see visions of the future. This is a curious title you bear, Remus. I have only known of one other Seer in my lifetime.”
Remus stood tall. “And who would that be?”
“Aniu.”
Flint stumbled out into the late morning light at the sound of a warning howl. He listened closely, ears perked, and then groaned. Aleu padded out quickly to join him, blinking away sleep. “What is it?”
Flint avoided her eyes. “Eagle Pass. They’re calling a council for all the alpha males of Alaska.”
Aleu closed her eyes, the events of last night slowly coming back to her. She moaned. “Remus…” Suddenly her eyes snapped open. She threw herself back into the cave and searched every corner and crevice frantically, and reappeared with dirt smudging her nose. “Shade! Shade isn’t here!”
Flint’s eyes widened. “You don’t think…They wouldn’t…” He couldn’t even finish his sentence, he was so astonished and proud and angry and afraid.
Aleu pounded her head against the cave. “How could they…? I just didn’t think…! Oh!” She slammed a paw into the ground. “How could they do this to me? They’re going to get themselves killed!”
“Aleu,” Flint tried, but Linder was padding out of the cave. She looked back and forth between them.
“She’s gone?”
Aleu nodded wordlessly, thunderclouds over her head.
“With Shade,” Flint forced out.
Linder chuckled, a knowing smile tugging at her mouth.
Aleu whirled on her in a fury. “This is not a laughing matter, Linder! Have you lost your mind?”
Linder’s grin was small, but her golden eyes still laughed. “Your children are too much like you for their own good, Aleu. They know they should do what they think is right, and if someone objects they will try to prove them wrong. Sound like anyone you know?”
Aleu moaned and looked to the high heavens. “Now I know what I did to my father when I ran away. But Re’s dream…” She turned to Flint. “It was just a dream, wasn’t it?”
Quicksilver stepped out of the cave with Shaila at his side. “This has proved what I suspected all along,” he told Flint, “Remus is a Seer. She can use her visions of the future to help protect wolves from extinction by man’s guns.”
“Now, you know we’re not that far gone,” Linder scolded.
Flint looked around at them all. His face showed uncertainty and fear. He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, and let it out.
They waited.
He opened his eyes and addressed them as their leader. “There’s no time to argue now. The Eagle Pass pack is calling for a council of Alaska’s alpha males. When I go, I’ll bring Remus and Shade back.”
“We should all go,” Shaila said quietly, “They might not listen to only you.”
Ruska scowled at them from the cave’s shadows. “Idiots. You’re all morons. Why should we risk our necks trying to get Remus and Shade when they don’t even want to come back? Let them do what they want. If they get killed it’s their own fault.”
“Ruska!” Aleu gaped at her daughter in disbelief.
Ruska shrugged, but her golden eyes shifted uneasily. “What?”
Flint sighed in frustration. Since when did his daughter have a heart of stone? “Listen, I have to go. It’ll be safer with only me traveling. I’ll meet with this council, I’ll talk with Shade and Remus, and I’ll either send you word or come back. With Shade and Re.”
Quicksilver lifted his head. “No. Her place is with the council. Her abilities–”
“I don’t want to hear it, Quicksilver,” Flint growled suddenly, flashing his teeth slightly.
Put out, Quicksilver fell into a brooding silence.
Flint embraced Aleu and nudged his two daughters, staring for awhile at Ruska’s hardened expression. “I’ll be back,” he told them, “Stay safe. I love you.” He nodded curtly to Linder, ignored Quicksilver, and slunk painstakingly across the hills, sticking to what shadows he could find. He slid behind a ridge and was gone from their sight.
Aleu sat down in defeat. The wind muttered as it skittered across the top of the cave, throwing the pale snow up in handfuls. Shaila bit her lip in worry, and then froze, ears cocked. Did she hear a soft, metallic click?
Quicksilver looked up, and his serious eyes drilled into Aleu’s soul. “Flint underestimates Remus. You do, too. Can’t you see the great power your daughter has been given? She could save lives, if only others would listen.”
Aleu’s blue eyes were fretful slits as she looked out at the horizon, hoping for another glimpse of Flint. “I really don’t know what to think. I didn’t know what to think when she was a pup, and I don’t know now.”
Meanwhile, Shaila was whirling around, straining to hear over her mother’s words. What was that crunch? And another.
“Mom,” she tried, her soft voice weakened further by her fear.
“I know it’s been said before, but I’ll say it again,” Linder declared, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
And then a shot rang out.
Remus stood trembling in the ring of pack leaders slowly forming inside the Grove. It had been almost a week since she had come before Everest with her announcement, and since then they had been waiting for Everest’s order to be obeyed, for all the alpha males to gather in the Grove for a grave council.
The Grove was a small spit of open land closed in by red mountains on one side and thick forest on the other. It was hard for the humans to get to without their flying machines, and so it had become the meeting place for the most serious of gatherings.
Remus’s heart pumped wildly. Blood spun through her head so fast she felt sick. She closed her eyes and bowed her head, wishing for Shade’s support. But for the past few days her brother had been elsewhere, helping the Eagle Pass wolves prepare for the arrivals of Alaska’s wolf leaders; at least, that’s what he told her. But Remus had other ideas as to what his activities might be, many of them concerning the attractive females she had seen him gawking at. But, whatever his whereabouts, he was not here to support her now, when she would have to face the council. When she would have to face their father.
Another alpha male slid out of the heavy mist and took his place in the ring. Remus almost jumped at his sudden appearance, but she caught herself and shivered instead. The Grove was hung with a thick curtain of silver mist. Wolves appeared and disappeared like ghosts through it, and it unnerved Remus so much she couldn’t see how the other wolves could stay so calm.
The ethereal feel of the place did not help her fear of appearing foolish in front of the most powerful wolves in the North.
The circle of wolves was almost complete. Everest cocked his head to listen to the whispered words of his beta wolf, then dismissed him and drew himself up. “Word has just reached me that the last alpha male has arrived.”
Remus suppressed a fearful shudder. Flint.
“Since he will be joining us momentarily, we can begin the council,” Everest continued.
An old gray wolf with white front paws and black patches around his eyes growled irritably. “There better be a good reason for this, Everest. I’ve traveled a long way.”
“Patience,” Everest said coolly, “I would first like to make sure everyone knows each others’ identities. The wolf that just spoke is Iceberg, leader of the Pacific pack, the southernmost pack in Alaska.” Everest went on to introduce the other wolves: Swift of the Red Aurora pack, Silver Arrow of the Anvil Creek pack, Cyan of the Midnight Sun pack, Jaydor of the White Storm pack, and Everest himself of the Eagle Pass pack. By this time everyone was staring at Remus, but before Everest could say anything about her Flint ran into the Grove and completed the circle of leaders.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he panted, “But my pack was shot at by hunters. I had to bring them to a safer place…so I brought them here. Remus!”
“What?” Everest cried.
Remus forgot about appearing afraid and stupid and just rushed into her father’s embrace. Flint hugged her as hard as he could and kissed her forehead. Then he backed up and stared at her, worry tainting his golden eyes. “Where’s Shade?
“He’s fine, Dad, he’s fine,” Remus babbled, “Dad, you were shot at? Is anyone hurt? Is anyone…?” She gulped and swallowed the word she was afraid to hear. It scraped down her throat like a dagger of ice and froze her mind.
Flint shook his head and opened his mouth, but before he could say another word Everest said dryly, “This is Flint of the Northern Lights pack. Now, you say your pack is staying in one of my caverns at this very moment?”
Flint nodded.
Jaydor exploded. “You’ve led the humans to us, you idiot!”
“Hey, give him a chance,” Cyan cut in, “He’s hardly had time to explain anything.” He glanced at Flint. “Besides, he doesn’t look that stupid.”
“Because he doesn’t look like you!” Jaydor snapped.
Cyan was still. Building anger throbbed in his blue eyes.
“Enough of this,” Everest tried, but Jaydor ignored him.
“Why are you even here, Cyan? Call yourself a pack leader? You have two, count ‘em, two wolves in your pack!”
Cyan slowly shook his head. “No. At least three. Destiny is with pup.”
“Destiny?” Jaydor inquired, “You mean–”
“Luna.” Cyan’s eyes were hard, his face set with a cool, dangerous anger. “Listen. You can make fun of me. You can jeer all you want at me. But make fun of Destiny, or lay one paw on her, and you will end up like your poor mother.”
Jaydor glared at him, and then stared sullenly at the thin grass.
“Would you two shut up?” Iceberg complained, “I’m tired enough as it is. Your arguing’s making me fall asleep!”
“Quiet, all of you,” Everest growled. When all were silent he turned to Flint. “Did the humans pursue you?”
“Yes, but we evaded them so that we lost them before we reached Eagle Pass,” Flint explained.
Everest exhaled slowly in relief. “Good. Where does your pack normally reside?”
“Directly outside Nome,” Flint said, “But apparently we’ll have to go somewhere else until this wolf hunting craze is over.”
“I fear it will never end,” Swift said quietly, “until every wolf in the North is dead.”
The sickened silence was as thick and heavy as the mist.
Silver Arrow coughed. “But what’s Remus doing here?”
Remus stared at him suspiciously. But he wasn’t accusing her; he was simply curious. She liked him almost at once.
Her stomach churned as once again all eyes turned upon her, but she shook herself and tried to stand proud. Fear would not help anything right now. “Everest asked me to tell you of my visions of a great battle between wolves and humans, but I think it’s obvious there’s already a conflict between us and them.”
“…Visions?” Cyan said, sounding a little startled.
“Yes. I am a Seer.” Remus waited for Flint to comment, but he didn’t. Her mind switched to worry mode. Why couldn’t Flint tell her if anyone had been hurt? Was this too sacred a place or too serious a time? Of course, if anything was seriously wrong Flint wouldn’t be here. But still…
Her thoughts raced. The quickest way to end this meeting would be to come up with a solution. How could they protect all wolves from hunters?
“…I just don’t know,” Everest was saying, “Our species moves closer and closer to extinction every–”
“Wait!” Remus almost jumped as an idea hit her with a jolt. It was simple. So simple. Probably too simple for any of these leaders to think of. She fixed her gaze on Everest. “One pack is already here, right? So bring the other packs, too!”
Swift was already shaking his head. “That will never work. The humans will suspect something right away.”
“Not if we’re careful,” Remus insisted, “The larger packs can come section by section.”
“But where would they stay?” Silver Arrow pointed out.
Everyone looked at Everest, but it was Cyan who said, “Isn’t there a valley around here completely surrounded by mountains? If there’s some sort of passageway from here to there, they could stay there, and it would be hard for the humans to get to it. I don’t even know if the humans know about the valley.”
“Windsong Valley!” Iceberg said thoughtfully, “That could work…”
“One problem,” Jaydor said, “This is Everest’s place.”
All eyes shifted to Everest. He was standing very still, glaring at Remus. “This is impossible.”
That glare made Remus waver a bit. She took a step back, and she felt her father beside her. She looked up at him, and he nodded with a proud gleam in his eye. That buoyed her spirit, and she turned back to Everest with a fierce smile. “No, it’s not. It can be done, if we can just use your territory.”
“And what are you going to do with all these packs?” he inquired, “Leave them here and let them feed off my land forever?”
“No,” Remus told him, “They won’t be here forever. Once the humans see all the wolves are gone but the amount of game isn’t getting any better, they won’t blame us for poor hunting anymore and we’ll be able to go back to our separate territories without worrying about being shot at.”
“In a perfect world, maybe,” Jaydor sneered.
Everest looked around at them all. His face showed torn mindsets.
Cyan shrugged. “It’s the only plan we have.”
“There is a passageway, isn’t there?” Silver Arrow asked.
Everest barely nodded.
Flint cleared his throat. “I would hardly believe you would be so selfish as to withhold your land from us when you could save the entire wolf species. Your name would go down in history as one of the greatest wolves who ever lived.” He turned slightly and winked at Remus.
Everest stared off into space, thinking. Then he snapped to attention. He gestured with his paw, and his beta wolf came running up to him. “Send messengers to every remaining pack in Alaska,” he said in a low voice, “Break the White Storm, Red Aurora, and Pacific packs into thirds and bring them to Windsong Valley one third at a time. All other packs can come as one.” He paused. “Go! Now!” The beta wolf backed up with an astonished look on his face, and then scrambled to get out of the Grove. The mist swallowed him as he exited.
Everest gazed around at them all with burning eyes. “This council is adjourned.” He stormed across the Grove, pushing past Remus and fading into the mist.
Remus looked at her father. “What a conceited jerk!” Flint shook his head sternly, but his eyes were laughing.
Flint and Remus padded into the rocky outlet leading from the Grove to the Eagle Pass tunnels, only to bump into an agitated Shade.
“Dad!” he exclaimed, “So you did make it! What went on in there?”
“If you had been there like you were supposed to, you would know,” Flint said, arching an eyebrow.
Shade grinned weakly. “Oh. Heh heh. Sorry, Re.”
“Where were you?” Flint demanded.
Remus felt satisfaction as Shade rubbed his paw in the dirt and flicked his gaze nervously around the tunnel. He might be able to lie to her, but he couldn’t lie to Flint.
“I was…helping to prepare for the leaders’ arrivals?” he said, turning it into a question.
Flint sighed. “You can tell me the truth later. Right now we have to find your mother and the rest of the pack. I left them in one of the caves along this passage.”
“The pack’s here, too?” Shade exclaimed, “Why, what happened?”
“Hunters came after us,” Flint explained, “Now come on!” They flew down the passageway, and Flint turned into a small cave on their left. The scene before her stopped Remus cold.
Aleu, Shaila, and Linder stood gathered around a fallen Quicksilver. Linder licked a wound on his leg that dribbled blood down his limb, staining it bright red. Quicksilver’s face was contorted with pain and pale under his gray fur.
Remus barely heard Aleu’s startled cry, and she was dimly aware of being nuzzled and scolded at the same time. She brushed past her mother and stood over Quicksilver, staring sorrowfully.
He opened one eye, and his face slowly started to relax. “Remus. You’re here. And taking charge, I hope.” His voice was softer with a bit of a rasp.
Remus sank to her stomach beside him. “Are you going to be all right?”
“My time hasn’t come yet,” he said gruffly, “Don’t worry about that. But this is the reason why your visions are so important. They can warn us of what’s to come and even save the wolf race so other wolves don’t end up worse off than me.” Suddenly his eyes squeezed shut and his jaw clenched. He groaned, and Remus felt so powerless as she watched him fight the pain.
At last he seemed to settle, and he was panting as his eye opened again.
Remus searched her mind for something to say, anything. “Where’s Ruska?” she blurted out.
Quicksilver looked grim. “She ran when she heard the gunshot. She’ll be in great danger as a lone wolf. I don’t know why she ran from us, but she won’t survive long out there the way wolf hunting is now. Whatever you’re planning to carry out, do it quickly. Ruska’s life is in danger, as are countless other wolves.” His eyes closed, and a long, heavy sigh escaped from his lips. “Your choices determine whether your visions are a gift or a curse. Use them in such a way that you save lives, Remus.”
Remus stood, speechless. She had set a plan in motion, and now she was responsible for the lives of many wolves. And her plan would have to succeed. For Ruska. For Quicksilver. For all the wolves in Alaska.
She felt the burden lift and then settle on her shoulders. This was the price of being a leader, but hopefully she could learn to bear it with pride.
The hoarse cry of ravens rang through her ears. With eyes flashing fire, she thought, ‘Let the humans come. I’m ready.’
Flint, Quicksilver, Linder, Remus, Shade, Shaila, Ruska, Everest, Iceberg, Swift, Silver Arrow, Cyan, Jaydor, and Destiny © redwolf03