Arctic Moon

by Lynn Landes

  “Amarok,” his grandfather had whispered. They saw a God, Sam saw a chance to become a God. He has never stopped trying to find the wolf that would give him that gift.

  Sam shakes the memory off and stomps off in frustration. The wolves have been playing with him, leading him around these woods for hours. He knows what must be done, the girl will be his “Bait.”

  Chapter

  12

  Makenna looks at Archer and asks the question that has been bugging her. “What do you mean your time grows short, Archer?”

  “And how did you turn, uh, are you a werewolf?” Caleb wonders moving closer to Makenna.

  Archer watches him move protectively towards her and wonders how to explain this.

  “I am not sure, exactly. Makenna, I need to move my pack to safety. We are the last of the Arctic Wolves and a hunter has been killing my pack. I must protect them, and you.”

  “Why does she need protecting, Archer?” Caleb demands glaring at him.

  “I do not have all the answers…” he starts to say but Makenna’s whisper cuts him off. “Sam! He saw the picture I drew and my Dad... I know what we need to do.” She says excitedly running back into the house she comes back with keys.

  “Kenna, what are you doing?” Caleb asks watching her go to the shed. She opens the door and smiles.

  “Last night Dad asked if we wanted to meet him for breakfast at Kari’s café. We meet him, tell him about Sam and he can move the wolves!”

  “You think he can move the pack?” Archer asks with hope.

  “I’m sure of it, Archer. It’s what he does. He protects the animals!”

  Caleb is already moving. He climbs onto one of the snowmobiles, and grins when she tosses him the keys.

  Archer leaps in front of Makenna when Caleb turns the key. He stops growling when her hand touches his. His silver eyes snap to hers and she pulls him gently towards her.

  “Don’t worry, I will keep you safe. Put these on,” she says handing him gloves and a helmet. Getting on the other snowmobile she instructs Archer, “Put your arms around me and hold on.” She pulls her helmet on and he follows her directions.

  Caleb is watching and waiting. He knows his cousin and he laughs when she yells, “Catch me if you can, cousin!” She takes off throwing snow his direction. Archer’s arms clamp on around her waist as she laughs, and tears off in the direction of town.

  They use the snowmobiles to go the five miles to the café. It has been a few years since Caleb has driven one of these, but he does not have the extra weight of a wolf boy, so he passes them easily.

  Makenna watches him pass her and slows down a little. She feels Archer relax his hold on her waist and she decides to enjoy her time with him, he said his time was short. What does that mean? He will leave with the pack, or will he stay human? She is confused, she shouldn’t have feelings for him but she can’t help it. No one has ever looked at her like he does. All too soon they pull into the café parking lot beside her dad’s truck and she kills the engine.

  Archer climbs off the snowmobile and pulls off the helmet, copying Caleb’s movement. Lucky for them the café seems empty, except for her father. She hangs the helmets on the handle bars and they move inside. The bell rings over the door when they enter and an older woman greets them from the counter.

  “Hello, welcome. Please come pick a table.” She offers with a smile. Archer removes the sunglasses and the woman gasps and backs up into the counter.

  “Amarok!” she whispers before stepping towards him for a closer look. Makenna blocks the woman with her body and slips his glasses back on, before turning around. Archer rests his hands on her shoulders and stares at the woman.

  “I’m Makenna, I am looking for my dad, Eric?” The sound of laughter floats from the kitchen and Sakari returns from the back with her father. Makenna smiles in relief.

  “Hey there, Nugget, Caleb.” Her father calls out walking over towards her. He looks at Archer standing with his hands on her shoulders and asks quietly, “Who’s your friend, Makenna?”

  “Hi Dad, this is Archer. Can we talk?” she asks stepping towards him. Archers grip tightens on her for a moment, but Caleb takes his arm.

  “We will get some breakfast, I am starved!” he says pulling Archer with him. Sakari watches quietly before noticing her grandmother.

  “Gram, are you okay?” she asks with concern.

  Her grandmother is staring at Archer and wringing her hands, “I know you.” she says in the Inuit language.

  Sakari looks at the boy and back at her grandmother. They are all stunned, when Archer speaks back to her in her native language.

  Her grandmother relaxes and laughs before urging him to a table with Caleb. “I’m fine, just old. Can you get me some water?” Sakari hurries to get the water and returns to the table where they are sitting. “Here Gram, drink this. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m sure. I will just visit with these two handsome boy’s, you take care of your customers.”

  Sakari looks up at the sound of the bell as new customers enter. “Okay, but if you need anything call me. I will be back to take your order soon.”

  Archer watches her leave before leaning forward to speak to the older woman. “Thank you, for protecting me.” He says quietly.

  “I know you, Amarok. They are in trouble, again?” she asks quickly. Archer nods yes, and looks at Makenna to make sure she is safe.

  “Why do you call him, Amarok? What does that mean?” Caleb asks quietly.

  True surprise shows on her face as she looks back at Archer. “They do not know why you have come?”

  At Archer’s nod, she sighs and begins to speak in a deep gravelly voice. “For four thousand years our people have lived with the legend of the Arctic Moon. She is more than a moon, she is the protector of the animals and especially the Arctic wolves. For years she watched as humans began to destroy her beautiful creatures. The methods have changed. Once they were hunted for meat or warmth, now they are hunted for sport. The land they call home has become polluted, and stripped of the trees for treasurers the earth holds deep underground.” She pauses when Kari brings hot tea and menus.

  “Unable to stand it any longer she chose a protector from the endangered pack to lead them to safety.” She says sipping her tea.

  “However, this time it is different, Grandmother.” Archer tells her. “This time the guardian must protect someone else as well.” With that he looks at Makenna across the room.

  Caleb feels his stomach drop. “What are you saying?” he demands.

  “The hunter who destroys my pack, will do whatever it takes to get to me, including use a human.” Archer replies softly.

  Makenna sits where she can keep an eye on Archer. She knows Caleb will look after him. “So who is this Archer and how did you meet him?” she hears her dad ask.

  “Oh, I met him at the game reserve. He works with the wolves. Dad I need your help, Archer told me that a hunter has been trapping and killing wolves! He says we need to move the pack and get them to safety before it’s too late.”

  Her dad listens, sipping on his coffee and wondering who this boy is. “Archer should let the authorities handle this. I can promise you, we are doing everything to keep the wolves safe.”

  Frustrated she reaches across the table and takes her Dad’s hand, “Dad, you know I am not the kind of person to jump to conclusions. We believe Sam is hurting the wolves.”

  “Okay, tell me what proof you have of that?” he asks just as his cell phone rings. Makenna looks back and sees the three of them talking. “Yes, I am three miles from there. I will meet you.” Her father stands up tossing a couple dollars on the table and looks at her, “You are coming with me. I will drop you back off here, to take the snowmobile home.”

  “Who was that?” she asks jumping up to follow him. Archer and Caleb rise to meet them at the door. “I need to go with my Dad, I will meet you back at Grandpa’s later, okay?” Makenna tells Caleb and Archer.

&n
bsp; Caleb stills Archer with a hand to his arm, “No problem.”

  “I must keep her safe, Caleb. How will I do that now?” he demands after she leaves.

  “She can take care of herself. Tell me about this wolf pack and how we can get them to safety?” Caleb says returning to his table. “Can you tell me the rest of the story now?” he asks Sakari’s Grandmother.

  “In the past Mother Moon has chosen a protector and gifts them with certain abilities. In the case of Archer, wolf becomes man to protect the pack.”

  “Move them if you can Archer, hide them if you can’t, but protect them from the hunters. Archer your pack is the last of the Arctic wolves. If your pack is destroyed or captured, they will be gone forever.”

  “I am trying to understand, the moon changed you into a human?” Caleb asks eating his eggs and bacon. Archer sniffs the meat and copies Caleb. He closes his eyes in pleasure at the first taste.

  “Our history shows, that the moon changes the wolf and a bite from his mate, changes him back.” Archer stops chewing and looks at her. “My pack has never accepted me, they killed my mother and left me to die. Makenna protected me and I will do the same for her. I will trust Mother Moon to tell me the rest when she is ready. For now, the pack must be moved and my girl, protected.” He says as his eyes flash a silver blue.

  Chapter

  13

  “Who was on the phone?” Makenna asks once she buckles up.

  “They found a dead wolf, I need to get to the clinic and I want you with me.”

  “What! Where did they find it?” she demands looking back at him. He sighs and rubs his neck.

  “This isn’t the first wolf we’ve found dead. Someone is hunting them, electrocuting them. We aren’t sure why, but it isn’t safe for you to be running around the woods right now with strange boys. I want you to stay close to home or grandpas. I trust your judgment, Makenna but whoever is doing this is sick. Promise me!” he demands.

  “Okay, Dad but Archer isn’t involved in this. His family protects wolves. Dad, he’s been around them all of his life.” She explains carefully.

  He glances at his daughter and smiles. “You like him? Anything else you want to tell me about him? Like why he keeps touching you?”

  “Dad! I…Yes, I like him.” She says laughing at the look on his face. “We are friends and he is very protective. I think it is an Inuit thing.”

  “No that is a male, thing.” He says pulling into the clinic parking lot and switching off the engine. “Be careful, baby girl. I don’t want you to get your heart broken.”

  His words echo in her mind later as she stands looking at the dead wolf. She was supposed to wait in her dad’s office, but she was curious.

  “Electrocution? What kind of sick human being would do this to an animal and why?” she heard her dad say from the office of his partner.

  Makenna has seen dead animals before, but not like this. His fur matches Archer’s, the same beautiful thick, silver, and black that she has ran her hands through so many times, these last few months. Her tears begin to flow, and her heart begins to pound heavily. “Noooo…” she moans as she touches the side of the still wolf. This is what will happen to him if Sam catches him!

  “Makenna? You were supposed to wait for me!” her dad says drawn by the sound of her voice. He pulls her into his arms and holds her tight. “It’s okay. We will catch whoever did this!” His partner pulls a sheet up over the animal.

  “How many have you found like this?” she asks pulling away from him.

  Eric looks at her and tells her the truth. “Three in the last few days.” The horror in her eyes mirrors his feelings. “I know it sounds bad, Makenna but…”

  “It was Sam! Dad there is something about him, I know it is him!” she says desperately.

  “Makenna, we have to have proof before we accuse someone. You know that. I will drop you off at home and we will talk about this more tonight. I don’t like him any more than you do but for now, you need to trust us to do our job.” He pulls her gently from the room and leads her to the truck.

  “Just drop me off at the café, I will pick up the snowmobile and head over to Grandpa’s.”

  “Good idea, I would feel better if you weren’t alone, anyway.”

  Pulling into the café they see the other snowmobile is gone. So she heads straight to hers without going inside.

  “Straight to Grandpas, Makenna.” He tells her. She nods to him and waves before pulling off. This is her favorite part of the day. The sun is high in the sky and the snow glistens like diamonds. She flies, fast, and free across the sea of white and from the corner of her eye she sees something. Slowing down, she cuts the engine and pulls off her helmet.

  Her dark blonde hair, blows across her eyes and she stares hard into the woods that corners her land. “Almost home,” she tells herself. When she goes to start the engine she hears it, the sound of a puppy or young wolf in pain. “Oh, No!” Images of Archer as a pup flash through her mind. “Not again.”

  She climbs off her snowmobile and steps into the thick snow and heads in the direction of the noise. “Arrrr, Arrr, Arrr...” It screams for its mother. Recklessly she runs towards the sound and as it gets louder, she skids to a stop.

  The snow has been dug away from a hole in the ground. From inside the hole, comes the screams of a young wolf. Dropping to her knees she leans over the side and looks down. Confusion clouds her face, the hole is empty, except for a speaker. Afraid, she jumps up just as something sharp strikes her neck.

  “Ouch,” her hand covers her neck and jerks it free, a dart. Makenna stumbles to her knees as a wave of darkness fills her sight. She falls sideways into the snow and her heart beats loudly in her ears as she hears the crunching of boots in the snow.

  “Well, look what I caught! Just the bait I need to catch me an Arctic Wolf.” Sam rolls her onto her back and she stares up into the eyes of the hunter.

  He ropes her tightly to his sled and begins the journey to his truck. “Don’t you worry, I will take good care of you.”

  Makenna screams in her mind, unable to move. As the drug takes affect she can still hear and feel, but she is paralyzed. A short time later, the sled stops moving and she hears the sounds of whimpering.

  Sam opens the gate of his large truck revealing two large cages in the back. In one cage a wolf snarls and growls in its throat but can’t move. He opens the other cage and unstraps Makenna’s body roughly from the sled. When he lifts her body the bracelet she wears snags and beads explode dropping to the ground. Ignoring it, he rolls her inside the cage before slamming the gate shut.

  Makenna lays face down, staring into the eyes of limp wolf in the cage next to her. Their eyes meet and she screams in her mind and welcomes the darkness as she faints.

  Chapter

  14

  “For the last time, she will be here soon. Come sit down.” Caleb tells Archer again drawing him away from the window and the setting sun.

  “It is not safe for her to be alone, Caleb.” Archer insists. Fear for her has his head pounding and his skin itches and feels tight.

  “Enough of this! I am going to look for her!” he snaps and heads to the door. The sound of an approaching vehicle draws their attention. Archer runs to the window to look and sees Eric climb from the truck, but no Makenna.

  Caleb joins him and they head to the door to greet him. The door opens and Eric smiles, “Hey boys.”

  “Where’s Makenna?” Archer demands.

  Eric stares into his silver eyes and his smile fades, “She’s with you, right?”

  “No, she never came back Uncle Eric. Where did you drop her off?” Caleb asks pulling his coat on and tossing Archer his.

  “At the Café, she was riding the snowmobile here to be with you. Dad!” Eric yells and hurries to the kitchen to get his father. A few minutes later they all pile into the trucks and drive the few miles to the house. Halfway to the house they come across her snowmobile. Archer is out of the truck in a flash and sniff
s the air, following her scent, he runs into the woods. He hears the sounds of Eric’s voice screaming her name.

  “Eric, I will check the house. You guys check the woods, okay. We will find her.” His father promises as he hurries back to his truck. Eric grabs his shotgun and runs into the woods, following the boys.

  Caleb runs to keep up, but he loses sight of Archer. Turning a corner, he skids to a stop when he sees the hole and Archer pacing beside it. “This can’t be happening, Caleb he has her!”

  “Who has her?” Eric demands and Archer turns to find a shotgun pointing at him. “Where is my daughter?”

  “Uncle Eric, you have to listen. Archer had nothing to do with this.” Caleb promises.

  “Well, that’s not exactly true, is it Caleb?” Archer says softly and his silver eyes flash. The sun has set and the first beams of the moon shine down on the boy and the shift begins again. The pain is not as bad this time, it rips through his body and he falls to the ground curled in pain.

  Eric cocks his shotgun and steps in front of Caleb. “Where is my daughter!” he roars again. One single beam of moon light washes over the body of the boy, blinding Eric for a moment. In a blink the boy is gone, replaced by a wolf with silver eyes. The wolf stumbles to his feet and stares at the pair of humans looking at him with their mouths hanging open.

  “That is sick!” Caleb says smiling. “Never gets old!”

  Eric’s trembling hands lower the gun and he stares at Archer. “What is… happening?”