by Jane H Wood
‘You did well, my pups. Now let me feed your mother and brothers.’
With the noise and excitement of Father’s return, Tuke and Glyth had also woken up, but felt too sore to join in the reunion. Joel surveyed them with fatherly concern.
‘Here, my sons, eat… Mira too. You all need your strength.’
The three of them ate greedily while Skeena and Kegg sat passively. Although they were still hungry, they knew that their mother and brothers needed it more.
The storm intensified, with the wind roaring through the trees, sending their branches swaying madly in the night sky. The rain persisted, pounding on the cabin roof, while outside the open doorway the earth was drenched, and deep puddles were forming in the hollows. A streak of light pierced the darkened skies, illuminating the distant treetops momentarily, and seconds later an ominous rumble rolled across the skies. The vibrations caused the cabin roof to rattle, and several tiles slipped from their positions and teetered on the edge, threatening to fall. Instinctively, Mira drew her family closer, but the pups were bigger now and only managed to hide their heads into her warm belly.
Joel inclined his head, understanding everyone’s unease, but he wasn’t particularly bothered by the wind or the rain, although the thunderous noise was alarming. So, without a word he lay down by the open doorway, his position one of protection. He was in the dry, and his family could sleep in safety. With his muzzle resting on his outstretched paws, he closed his eyes.
The night drifted by. Mira awoke and yawned lazily, her gaze resting on her sleeping family. Joel stirred, sensing his mate’s movement, and opened his eyes. The rain had stopped during the night and now everything smelled fresh with the scent of pinewood and damp earthy bracken and ferns. He stood up and tentatively stretched his forelegs, then arched his back, testing his aching joints and muscles. His neck wasn’t so sore now; the worst of the pain had subsided.
Feeling awake and positive, he wandered over to Mira and nuzzled her cheek fondly.
‘We should move from here. Are you able to walk?’
Mira slowly got to her feet and attempted to stretch her back, but stopped halfway. She didn’t feel much better and her bones ached too. But she smiled, not wishing to worry Joel further.
‘I’ll be all right once we get moving, but I’m concerned about Tuke and Glyth. Their hindquarters; I’m not sure they can walk very far. Can’t we stay here a little longer?’
Joel wasn’t so sure it was safe to stay there any longer than necessary and nudged the pups gently.
‘How are you feeling?’
The first to respond was Skeena. She jumped onto her paws and began bounding around the cabin. Joel ignored her exuberance and turned his attention to Tuke and Glyth.
‘That’s it, come on, try to walk!’ he encouraged, watching his two sons cautiously taking a step. His firstborn looked up at him and answered a little shakily.
‘I don’t feel too bad, just stiffness in my hind legs,’ he lied, trying to hide his worried expression.
‘Me too. I can walk, but do we have to go now, Father?’ pleaded Glyth, his little voice quivering slightly. He gulped a breath, trying to steady himself… then sneezed unexpectedly, causing the yellow hairs on his ears to wave from side to side and touch the corners of his eyes. Kegg was sitting beside him, watching him with his ears dangling untidily over his face.
‘You look so funny,’ interrupted Kegg, his eyes bright with amusement. Glyth shook his head, flicking his ears sideways.
‘Take a look at yourself, Kegg. You are the same… We’re freaks, remember?!’ He scowled at his brother. Then his own eyes filled with tears, seeing the hurt in his brother’s eyes staring back at him.
‘We are not freaks, Glyth. Uncle Frez said we were special… I heard him say that. It’s true, isn’t it, Mother?’
Mira looked at her two young sons.
‘You are all special to us. Your father and I love you all no matter what. No one is a freak. Your ears are different but beautiful too; they are what make you special. Be proud, for your Uncle Frez is wise.’ Mira stopped, her breath catching in her throat. ‘He was a gentle wolf… I will miss him,’ she added softly.
Everyone went quiet, remembering the last time they saw him. A whimper came up Skeena’s throat.
‘He was kind too, wasn’t he, Mother?’ she managed to say before her voice trailed away.
The adult pair held eye contact, their expressions sad, each reflecting on what the wolf had told them. Nothing made sense. Joel shook his head, baffled but also relieved that the strange disfigurement was confined to only two of his sons and not the whole litter. But, despite their peculiar ears, he couldn’t help but love them.
‘We must leave here now; it’s not safe. We are not far enough away from Gower, for he’s taken our pack and is now the alpha male!’ spat Joel, unable to dispel the anger that resided in his heart.
‘We’ll go back to the deer carcass, eat our fill then continue east until we find a place to settle.’
He gazed at Mira for her approval. She gave a small nod of agreement and followed her mate outside, encouraging the pups to remain ahead of her. Glyth moaned softly, feeling the discomfort in his limbs immediately they were asked to move. His little face furrowed in concentration, searching for the easiest route through the vegetation.
‘Come on, Glyth,’ encouraged Kegg. ‘Stay behind me. I’ll help you if I can.’
‘Thanks, Kegg, but I’ll be all right, really I will,’ answered Glyth slowly, trying to sound brave.
The pace was agonisingly slow, but finally they arrived at the clearing. Joel stopped beside the bushes, wary of the bear he’d glimpsed the day before. He sniffed the air and, not detecting any threat, turned to Mira.
‘I’ll go first. Wait here for my signal.’
He moved like a ghost, creeping silently in the shadows, and emerged beside the deer carcass. The bear had eaten a large proportion of the body, leaving just the head and a small amount of meat on its thin legs.
Joel scanned the trees and listened. A flock of birds were singing nearby, and a few bees buzzed lazily, dipping onto each wild flower in turn. Everything looked calm and reassuring. He lifted his head and gave a small yelp.
Mira responded in an instant, guiding the pups towards the carcass. Her offspring were hungry and immediately began to feed, pulling small pieces of meat off the legs while their parents watched for danger. Gradually Mira relaxed and allowed herself to feed.
A few more peaceful minutes passed, and Joel let his eyes drift away from his watch and, dipping his head, ripped an ear off the dead deer and began to chew the tough skin.
A clatter of wings, accompanied by several loud shrieks, as a flock of birds launched themselves into the skies, was all the warning they had. It happened in the blink of an eye! And a bear charged out of the shadows, limping, its eyes crazed with pain.
Joel spun round to face the attacker, and with a show of teeth he stood defensively in front of his family. The grizzly bear came to a standstill, and in one swift movement lifted its weight onto its hind legs so that it towered over the wolf, bellowing in fury.
Undeterred by the bear’s size Joel charged, aiming for the animal’s soft underbelly. As his teeth pierced its flesh, the bear let out a deafening roar, simultaneously swinging a paw to dislodge him. The bear’s swipe was on target, striking Joel squarely on the shoulders, the impact sending him reeling backwards.
Dazed… Joel gave himself a moment to regain his senses. In that second Mira leapt, aiming for the bear’s throat, but it was surprisingly quick and turned sideways. She missed her target and fell tumbling on the ground. Before the bear could change position to strike her, Joel pounced and grabbed hold of its front leg, ripping into it savagely. The bear bellowed and swayed, trying to break his grip. Mira regained her balance, turned and attacked again, sinking her teeth into the bear�
��s rump. The bear was swinging madly from side to side, bellowing in anger and pain, trying to land a blow on its tormentors.
With agility, brother and sister darted forward to nip at the bear’s legs, their small young frames working to their advantage. The distraction was helping their parents, forcing the bear to retaliate, only to find the young wolf pups had jumped clear of its twisting body and flailing paws. The noise of growling and yelping escalated as the fight continued.
Tuke and Glyth had crept backwards, unsure what to do. They knew they’d probably be killed if they tried to help.
Among all the noise and confusion Joel called out, his voice full of urgency, ‘All of you, run! Run now!’
Tuke and Glyth obeyed without question and ran the best they could towards the cover of the trees. Within seconds, Skeena and Kegg turned and raced after their brothers, and together the pups disappeared into the forest.
In pain and frustration the bear roared repeatedly, and continued to swing its strong paws, in a determined effort to dislodge the two adult wolves.
‘Mira! Get ready to run!’ Joel yelped at the top of his voice, dodging the random sweeps of the bear’s forepaws. Working together, the alpha pair prepared to disengage from the fight.
‘Now!’
Timing their withdrawal to the second, they simultaneously leapt clear of the bear’s lethal claws, running full pelt after their youngsters.
The bear was exhausted and in excruciating pain. It lowered itself onto all four legs, its breathing coming in rapid gasps while it watched powerless as the wolves disappeared through the undergrowth. A deep mournful groan resonated from its throat, the sound drifted through the trees. Its left forepaw ached with each movement as the blood-soaked rope tightened around it and burrowed mercilessly into its flesh.
Joel and Mira found their four youngsters huddled together in the shadows of a group of maple trees, everyone panting hard. It had been a frightening experience and their bright eyes were wide in alarm.
‘We need to rest, Joel,’ said Mira, her head low while she panted in distress.
His mate was right, they couldn’t go on like this, Joel thought, seeing the exhaustion on their faces. He scoured the area quickly for a suitable hiding place and noticed a group of fallen trees a short distance ahead of them, their trunks lying askew among a thicket of shrubs and stinging nettles. They approached the area, and Joel stood back to let Mira inspect its structure and suitability as a hiding place.
With caution, Mira scented the air… then, deciding there was nothing already hiding inside, she crept into the central space. It was cramped but adequate. Satisfied they would be hidden from view, she gave a small yelp, beckoning the pups to join her. The little family crept into the darkened space between the shrubs and lay down, too tired to complain. Joel had remained outside, making sure everyone was undercover. He poked his head between the stems.
‘Stay here and rest. I’ll search ahead… see where we can go from here.’
4
Silently, Joel made his way through the trees, maintaining a south-easterly direction. Ahead in the distance was a strange whining sound, deep, gravelly and intermittent.
He stopped and listened, baffled by it. Lifting his muzzle, he scented the air. On the wind was a combination of woodsmoke and tree sap, and something else he couldn’t identify. It was a foul smell, mingling, almost masking the sweet fragrance of pine. He sneezed, not understanding what had caught in his nostrils. Disgusted by the noxious fumes he changed direction, heading north-east. This was the farthest south he had ever ventured, and it felt hostile and uncomfortable.
He made his way up a hillside, weaving between the trees, and cautiously emerged into a small clearing on the brow of the hill. Visibility was good from up here – a place where he could look down over the treetops and survey the lie of the land. To his right was the southern boreal forest; it was similar to where he was standing, with clusters of deciduous trees among a vast sea of evergreen conifers. He spotted a narrow column of smoke drifting up from the treetops, hanging momentarily before dispersing into the skies.
The sounds of distant water drew his attention to the foot of the hillside. He observed a river twisting through the trees. On the opposite bank he spied a herd of elk grazing in a clearing near the water’s edge. The sight made him feel hungry, and he licked his lips in anticipation of a tasty meal. Dragging his attention away, his eyes trawled down the slope again, searching for a trail that would lead him to the riverside. Finding a likely route, he prepared for the descent, his paws teetering on the top edge before setting off through the dense undergrowth.
A while later he arrived at the grassy bank and surveyed the river. Protruding midstream were islands of jagged rock, their random placements diverting the natural course of the current; the water swirled and buffeted into the rocks before continuing downriver. He lingered a while, listening to the power of the surging waters. Finding a safe place to cross was imperative. With a snort, he decided to look upriver first.
He travelled quickly, covering roughly half a mile, then stopped. The river was wider at this point, and the current seemed calmer, but it also appeared deep. He shook his head in bewilderment as he surveyed the scene. Swimming across was not an option.
Turning, he trotted back downriver, looking at the protruding rocks scattered across its width. He weighed up the possibility of stepping across, then noticed they glistened with water and guessed they were probably slippery too. There was no way that could work. After another half a mile, a possibility presented itself in the form of a fallen tree.
However, this stretch of river was narrower, increasing the strength of the current as it jostled downstream. Joel gazed at the tree lying horizontally, suspended, short of touching the water, apparently a victim of the previous night’s storm when its roots had been ripped out of the soft earth as it toppled towards the river. However, a single root held it fast, stubbornly refusing to yield. The trunk now rested at a slightly precarious angle.
He stood there gauging its stability, wondering if he should risk it, then deciding he needed to walk along it to fully make up his mind. With a cursory glance along the riverbank in both directions, then into the surrounding forest, he scented the air. Not an animal in sight and nothing on the breeze to suggest any danger.
With light paws he jumped onto the fallen tree, making it quiver under his sudden weight. He paused and rebalanced his weight, letting the tree trunk settle under him. He stared down between the lower branches, gauging the strength of water rushing underneath him, the noise of it filling his ears. With light cautious steps he moved away from the bank and progressed along the suspended trunk. To his relief it felt secure; encouraged, he continued along its length until he arrived at the far end where the tapering branches fell short of touching the opposite bank.
As he approached the finer twigs they dipped under his weight and lightly touched the water. He felt an immediate pull, and a warning tremble travelled along the length of the trunk. He took a hasty step backwards and, as he did, the topmost branches lifted clear of the water. But he was heavy, he thought; Mira and the pups were much lighter. He could see that the pups would have to jump the last few inches to arrive on the opposite bank. It was an ambitious plan but they should be able to manage it easily, he concluded.
Turning, he made his way carefully back along the trunk, then jumped onto the bank beside the tree’s torn roots. The trunk gave a tiny creak as he dismounted.
He watched it momentarily. Then, satisfied, for it appeared stable again, he turned and trotted along the riverbank back the way he’d come. Then a scurrying sound caught his attention; something was moving near the water’s edge. With lightning reactions Joel pounced, and with one bite through its neck the little creature was dead. He looked round for more, and within a few minutes he had three dead muskrats clenched in his jaws as he climbed the hillside back to his family.
A familiar scent alerted Joel of nearby danger. Without a sound he crouched among the bushes. Shadows moved around him, and he remained motionless, only the tips of his ears visible through the tall grasses. A bear was there, somewhere amid the trees; he could smell it. His mate was hiding just ahead, and he knew she would be aware of it and was keeping perfectly still.
Minutes passed; then the same bear they’d fought earlier that day limped past, groaning and puffing, unaware he was hiding only a few feet away. He let it pass, then silently crept into the secluded cover of the dark tangle of shrubs. Mira looked unnerved; the arrival of the bear had rattled her more than he’d expected.
‘Oh, Joel. We’re glad you’re back,’ she whimpered, and pressed the side of her face next to his.
‘You’re safe. Eat,’ he said softly, dropping the dead rodents onto the ground.
Without hesitation his family began to feed. Tuke and Kegg set about ripping the head off one of the light brown furry muskrats, while Skeena and Glyth shared the second one, enthusiastically ripping the legs off. Mira ate the third, pulling it apart and gulping it down.
Joel lay on his side, watching his family eating; although he was hungry, he could wait. He knew very well that they needed to regain their strength. The river would be a challenge, and they would have to muster all their courage to negotiate the fallen tree.
The food finished, Mira looked up.
‘Where do we go from here?’
‘If we travel down the hillside there’s a river. I walked along its banks and found a fallen tree suspended across the water. I saw good hunting on the opposite bank: elk, with young by their sides. We will cross the river and head north-east. The forest looks dense and green, so it should support plenty of game,’ he said, hoping Mira wouldn’t disagree with his proposal.
She didn’t reply, but her gaze said everything; she trusted him implicitly, although his idea frightened her. Joel nodded, thankful for her acceptance and willingness to try.
