by Avery Kloss
Clan of the Wolf
Avery Kloss
Copyright © 2017 Avery Kloss
All Rights Reserved
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All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this book is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.
v1.01
“I am the bended, but not broken. I am the power of the thunderstorm. I am the beauty in the beast. I am the strength in weakness. I am the confidence in the midst of doubt. I am Her!” ― Kierra C.T. Banks
Contents
Preface
Books by Avery Kloss
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Preview of Chamber of Bears
Books by Avery Kloss
About the Author
Preface
A sweeping story about family, the power of love, and the will to survive.
Orphaned and shunned by her clan, Peta meets Ronan, who finds the girl enchanting, yet vulnerable. When tragedy strikes, Peta struggles to survive, eventually taken in by a gifted healer and hunter, who becomes her mentor. She has never forgotten Ronan, and, as a young woman, she embarks on a journey to locate him. With only a wolf for company, she employs wit and skill, determined never to give up on the dream—the life Ronan promised all those years ago.
Books by Avery Kloss
Caveman
Caveman 2
Caveman 3
Clan of the Wolf
Chamber of Bears
Chapter One
Voices woke me, a commotion occurring in the camp, although my mind felt groggy, clinging to a dream … the feeling warm and safe. Something moved beside me—a body—my sister, Ara, stirring. Despite not desiring to wake so early, I peeked out from one partially open eyelid, seeing nothing other than the darkness of the pelt. The barking of an animal ended any hope of slumber, Ara bolting upright and tossing the hide aside.
“Wake, Peta! Get up. Something’s the matter.”
Were we not with a group this size, that announcement might have produced fear, but I knew safety resided in numbers. “You go see what it is.” I snuggled into the fur, feeling the delicious warmth all around me. From this angle, I eyed her, her hair tangled and long, falling around her thin shoulders. “It’s nothing.” I yawned. But I knew why she feared any sort of disturbance, her expression watchful, tense. I sat up, wrapping my arms around her. “Lascox won’t let harm come. You know that.” I referred to the leader of our clan, the man having taken us in two seasons ago.
Grey tendrils of smoke from now defunct cooking fires hovered over us like a mist, the air pungent. The smell clung to my hair. A great meal occurred last night, the grilling of bear flesh, my belly grateful for such a feast.
Ara nodded, her thick brows drawn together in worry. “Perhaps.”
The arm around her neck emphasized the differences in our coloring, my skin lighter. Her hair, black as a starless night, contrasted starkly with my golden strands. I felt the warmth of the sun then, the camp positioned to take advantage of this, our fires scattered to one side of the river, while the other side stayed cold in the shadows until midday. All around, a great forest provided food and shelter, although it brought danger as well.
Those of our clan woke, the men first on their feet, most grasping spears, the tips made of flint, the blades sharpened to fine points. Some wore leather skirts around their waists, while others remained bare, their manhood hidden beneath a thick mantle of hair.
“Do you see anything?” asked Ara.
“No.”
“Where’s mamma?”
Eyeing the empty pelt next to us, I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Boys ran by, the older one, Luca, glancing at us, shouting, “Men come! Strangers!”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “The elders will take care of it.” Despite receiving a frosty reception from this clan two seasons ago, I felt a moment of relief to be among them, having been accepted into the fold. “We needn’t worry.”
Ara frowned, her dark eyes glinting. “Mamma!” she cried. Despite the noise of men, the sound carried, the girl’s voice sure and strong.
Movement caught my notice, a woman emerging, striding through a haze of smoke, her feet encased in fur, tied with leather strips. Short in stature, the others towered over her, her legs muscled and stocky. I breathed easily now, knowing all was well, our family intact. Our mother, Kia, held a sturdy branch, the wood having been her tool ever since I knew her, the object smooth to the touch, yet strong.
“Get up now,” she commanded, her dark gaze skimming over us. “You’ve slept long enough, you lazy little beasts.” A hint of a smile emerged, but it looked like a frown.
Crawling over the pelt, I grasped at her leg, clinging to her. “You mustn’t leave us.”
Her fingers drifted through my hair. “There, there. I can’t be with you every second, child. You’re in no danger here.” Ara jumped to her feet, hugging her. “The same goes for you, girl,” she murmured softly, holding her tightly.
“Yes, Mamma.”
My cheek against her leg, I felt the muscles beneath the skin, knowing my mother to be a woman of great strength. I had seen her once ward off a bear with her hands, the scars on her arms and chest testaments to that battle.
She touched my face, a smile appearing, which softened her features somewhat. “It’s two strangers—men. They appear friendly enough. Everyone’s gone to greet them. Why don’t you come? There’s no need to hide. Be brave, my children.” Then she frowned. “I worry you’ve grown soft being among this clan. I’m guilty of it too, but … you’re both so young. You must always be wary, ready to fight.”
Ara nodded vigorously. “I am. I’m not afraid, Mamma.”
Finding that statement ridiculous, I snorted. “She’s scared. I’m not afraid.”
“Ha!” Ara shouted, anger flaring. “I’ll show you!” She reached beneath the pelt, withdrawing a short length of wood, with a stone tip sharpened to a fine point. “I’m ready to greet the strangers. Where are they?”
Her bravado mad
e me laugh. “You’ll scare them witless, no doubt. You think you can best two men with that little toy?” I stood, and despite being far younger than my mother, I faced her, our eyes meeting. “Do I require a weapon too?”
Kia scowled. “No, but if you and your sister don’t make haste and gather food, I’ll beat you both soundly with this stick.” To illustrate her point, she pounded the end into the ground, making a thumping sound. “Come meet the strangers, so we may forage. We’ve been asked to provide for the meal today. We must do as we’re told.”
“Very well.” I picked up a basket. “I’m ready.”
A group stood at a distance, men and women gathered to assess the newcomers, which reminded me of the day we had walked into camp, although at that time, we met them on a vast prairie. “I wonder who they are?”
“Weary travelers, no doubt,” murmured Ara.
The dense coolness of the rampant greenery on the other side of the river made me shiver, the trees massive. Barefoot, I trod upon coarse sand, mixed with the bone fragments from many meals, some of the bits feeling sharp. The group had already begun to disburse, although our leader, Lascox, and a few of his men remained, speaking with the strangers.
Drawing nearer, Lascox’s voice rang out. “You must have permission to take a woman. Most have mates. I don’t wish to provoke anger and discord.”
“Enwan and I don’t want your women,” said the taller man, his face hidden beneath messy, blondish hair. “We’re passing through. We follow game.” He held a spear and wore animal hide tied at the waist and neck, his legs filthy from having traveled far. “We desire to rest for a while. Enwan and I will do our part for your clan, if you allow us to stay. We won’t cause trouble.”
Judging from the look on Lascox’s face, he did not feel as confident, a frown emerging. Nearly the same height as the lightly colored stranger, his hair appeared more reddish than brown, and the beard just as heavy. Any casual observer would think they came from the same clan, their build and appearance similar.
“With more men than women, there’s always trouble.” He glanced at Mannoc, the man older than anyone else, healer for the clan. “What is your opinion?”
He eyed them judiciously, thick brows furrowing. Lifting his chin, he nodded briskly. “Give them one chance to prove themselves. If they fail, they must leave.”
“That’s sensible,” murmured the stranger, his gaze straying to Ara and my mother. A questioning look appeared at the sight of them. “You’ve brought in outsiders before. We’re certainly not the first.”
Since settling with the clan, I was often reminded of how different my family was, my mother and sister shorter and darker than anyone else.
“She’s without a mate,” stated Lascox, pointing at Kia. “But, you must still have permission to take her.”
“I weary of this conversation.”
The man called Enwan patted him on the shoulder. “It’s of no matter, Ronan. It’s settled.” He glanced at Lascox. “With your blessing, we shall make a fire and hunt. We do not desire your women. We only wish to rest for a while. You’ve a nice spot here with plenty of fresh water. We've seen the tracks of great beasts nearby. We can help provide for your people. Ronan and I are experienced.”
As he spoke, the man named Ronan opened a small leather pouch, withdrawing what looked like stones. He knelt before Ara and me, holding out his hand. “Here you are. Gifts from a wanderer.”
Two small stones lay in his palm, one purple in color, reminding me of the fragrant flowers in the woods. I took it, closing my fingers around it. Meeting his gaze, I smiled. “Many thanks, stranger.”
He sat back on his heels, a grin playing around his mouth. “You take what you want without hesitation. I like that.”
Ara eyed the other stone. “Where did you get them?”
“A river far from here. A place where the earth is red. The hunting wasn’t good.”
My sister took the remaining stone, colored grey with a thin green stripe down the middle. Nodding, Ara grunted, murmuring, “Thank you.”
I held up the gift, admiring how smooth it felt, how the color pleased me. “I pray I don’t lose it.” This was the most precious thing I had ever owned.
Lascox took a step towards us. “It’s settled then. You may stay, unless you prove untrustworthy. We have few rules, but those we do have are important for clan harmony. I’m not an unreasonable man. Choose whatever fire you like. We have some empty pits.” He brushed past Kia, his eyes drifting over her for a moment. Then he moved on.
The pretty oval stone glowed, the purple showing deeper in places and lighter in others. Meeting the stranger’s gaze, I smiled again, delighting in the gift and feeling oddly special.
He stood, ruffling my hair good-naturedly. “What’s your name, blue-eyed girl?”
“Peta.” I pointed. “This is my sister, Ara.”
“I’m Ronan.”
Chapter Two
His grin widened. “You hardly look like sisters.”
I did not know how to respond to that, frowning.
Ronan eyed the camp, his hands on his hips. “We need to find a place to put our things.”
“Come, girls.” Mamma ushered us away, her hand at my back. “My belly tells me I haven’t eaten today. Let’s forage. We’ve wasted half the morning at it is.”
Clutching the precious stone, I thought about where I might hide it for safekeeping, slipping it into a small pouch and tucking it beneath the pelt. While the newcomers searched for a fire pit to call home, I wrapped thick pieces of fur to my feet, securing them with strips of leather. Ara did the same, preparing to trek into the forest for a meal.
The other members of our clan worked at various tasks, the sound of stone scraping, someone sharpening a spear tip. Two men strode into the river, holding spears, while another joined them, the water rushing to their knees. A group of women and children disappeared into the forest, their laughter drifting over. We foraged alone, and I never questioned why, finding it odd that the other women did not seem to like my mother, treating her with indifference.
“Here you are.” Kia gave me a basket, the edges sharp.
I took it. “I’m ready.”
Her attention lingered on me, a smile appearing. “You need a bath, Peta.”
“I do not.” I eyed the river, hating how cold it felt. “I’m just fine the way I am.”
“You’re a dirty, stinky little thing.”
I snorted indignantly. “So is Ara.”
“I’m aware of that. I plan to see you both clean before the day’s out.” That idea did not appeal to me in the least, my bottom lip protruding. She laughed at the sight. “You’ll do as you’re told, Peta.”
I grumbled under my breath, glancing at the men in the river, who did not seem to care about the frigid water. I preferred it heated in a skin-lined pit, having had a bath that way in the past, although it happened more than a season ago when we lived in a cave. Our clan moved frequently, following game, never staying too long in one place.
The three of us set out in another direction, to escape the other women and children, seeking an untouched part of the forest. Staying on this side of the river, we trod over moist earth, the fur on my feet dampening. I still preferred this to being barefoot, as rocks and thorns did not hurt as badly, the fur keeping the worst away.
“We might have to go further than yesterday,” said Kia. “We’ve been here before, or someone has.” She pointed to a broken branch and a small footprint.
“Shall I set a trap?” asked Ara. “We can check it on the way back.”
“If you do it quickly.” Kia eyed the thick canopy above us, the leaves rustling in the wind.
I waited for Ara to set up a trap, using sticks and a heavy stone, leaving a few nuts as bait. Satisfied with her handiwork, we continued, a chill setting in due to the dense foliage, which produced shadows. Following a natural path, it led to a bog, wetness glistening beneath the trees. The snap of a branch startled several birds, one s
quawking noisily. Not wanting to step in the mud, we left the path, venturing further to collect whatever food we might find.
Kia stopped every so often to listen. “What do you see?” She glanced at me expectantly. With poor vision, she could see things nearby, but not at a distance. Ara struggled with this as well. They relied upon me to help them.
Everything seemed fine. “All is well.”
“We should look for nuts or seeds,” said Kia, frowning. “It’s too quiet today.”
“Or we’re too loud.” I regretted stepping on a branch earlier, knowing that any sound would alert the animals to our presence. “I’m clumsy.”
“We’ve time,” she said, waving us on. “This way.”
We each held several baskets, intending on filling them with different items. Ara searched for herbs, while I gathered knotty wood, the thorns used for a variety of purposes. When thirsty, I stood beneath a low-lying branch, bringing a leaf to my mouth, capturing clean water. Ara did the same, quenching her thirst for the moment, Kia venturing ahead. Trees with pointy needles grew here, scratching my arms and shoulders, the sweet aroma of pine filling my senses. Another odor drifted to us as well, one of smoke—something burning.
