Spring 2031
The overgrown grass looked a Pale Yellow as Kody touched the dry dirt beneath it. He looked across the meadow that was no longer filled with the wild-flowers that his family once rolled amongst or where his young ones would challenge the tall lush green grass, like a high Jumper at the Olympics. Their home was once a picturesque haven bursting with fertility, but the last two springs the weather had shifted, becoming dryer and warmer than any springtime he had known, the summers lasting like eternity. The Elk were multiplying as if they were replacing the human race as the dominant species.
He sniffed the confused air, summer was upon them, he knew if he didn’t move the pack very soon wild fires and the choking air would soon consume the whole meadow ending life for everything in its path. Inuk Creek would be plunged into a formidable darkness with the air so hot and dry his home would no longer be Utopia. The summer sun would dry the River bed only leaving a salty veil behind, no fish or river creature to carry on their life cycle. Elk had completely robbed the flora of their life and existence. Sunrise will no longer be a damp quietness waiting to burst into song with the birds as her orchestra.
Kody turned to go back to the den when he looked straight into the Yellow eyes of his mate.
“When do we leave?” She sighed, slowly walking towards him.
Could he conceal the reality of this beautiful Steppe’s future from his mate?
“We shall set off at Sunset, we will move towards Pale Ridge, I will go ahead with Quimmiq to scent out territory tracks and markings, we cannot be crossing into Shallow Spring Territory”
She looked at him with surprise in her gaze; she never anticipated it would be so soon.
“Where are we heading”. The Alpha female wolf calmly replied.
“There is healthy territory, a moons travel away, past over-hanging peak”. He reassuringly told her.
She stalked towards her mate nudging his thick-mane, pushing him into a playful stance; he rubbed against her head, licking her ear. She looked at him with her huge wild eyes.
“I will gather the cubs and have Storm school them”.
As Sunset was upon them Kody and Quimmiq went on ahead whilst the rest of the Inuk pack followed tracing the single track the Alpha and Beta had made. The young Wolves loved that they were embarking on an adventure; they knew that wild cats and bears lingered in the darkness of the forest like a naughty child waiting to be forgiven. This was their time to show their father that they too were mighty like him, as they crept along the quiet trail following their mother.
The Beta’s head stood proud, his ears twitching like a radar searching for life. The Alpha female stopped, Kody let out a low penetrative growl, informing them there was foe up ahead. Storm stood beside his younger siblings sniffing the cool air, enveloped by the strong scent ahead, whilst Midnight seemed to be looking into the tree's. There stood two wolves shadowed by the canopy of the deep forest, a set of muddy Amber eyes staring back.
Kody stepped forward.
“We only want to pass through, we will re-route around the ridge” he said in his Alpha tone.
A large white wolf regally stepped out into the Moonlight, Quimmiq noted she was an extremely large female wolf; her coat shimmered in the light like the flecks that dance upon the Aurora in winter, whilst a smaller younger wolf stood behind her, he noticed Midnight watching the small wolf impassively. He sniffed their scent, standing bold watching her and he knew the young one was anxious.
“Why are you leaving your territory” She asked inquisitively in a formal tone.
Quimmiq informed them that the future of their plain was something they couldn’t undo, the spring air was far too warm and the summer will bring the Human’s red friend. Their meadow will no longer be able to provide food, water and safety. The Elk were not the only ones destroying their habitat, the threat of wild fires outweighed the plentiful of hunting.
She gave Quimmiq an impenetrable stare from her captivating eyes, Quimmiq thought she was beautiful and her scent told him she was unmarked. Kody released a formidable howl breaking the connection between the two. The Alpha male giving warning to his mate and the rest of the pack, they stepped forward, Kody did not trust this female Alpha. The White wolf stared hard lowering her head to sniff the scent ahead, she turned and looked quickly at the young wolf behind her and then she submitted, she wasn’t looking to fight. Kody looked to Quimmiq to move on and a look to inform him the interaction was interesting, when Quimmiq turned to catch a glimpse of her one more time, the white wolf was gone.
They carried on their travels as dawn was now chasing them, they crept out of the dense shade of the forest into a lush green opening and there was no scent of another pack. A stream ran strong nearby; they could hear the water being teased through the granite.
Kody and Quimmiq marked a tree close to where they stood and scratched it with their powerful paws; first light was beaming down onto the yearlings that leapt into the grass with their older brothers, the dew catching a ride on their fine hair as they rolled around playing. Kody stalked towards his mate, Luna lay amongst the over- grown flora staring into the clearing ahead, there stood a spectacular log cabin. Luna looked at Kody, as he gently nudged into her he proceeded to rub his huge body against her, she knew then they were home.
Quimmiq watched on from the fringe of the woodlands, he let out a long sorrowful howl into the glistening air as Kody licked the moisture from his mate. Kody looked up sharply, he watched his brother retreat into the thick dense forest as another howl some distance away could be heard, Kody knew his brother had found his mate and he hoped it will work out, for the future of the pack.
‘Do you think he will return with the White one’. Luna said whilst looking on towards the mountain ridge.
The Alpha male turned his head towards his best friend, he laid down and with a long sigh as he watched his pack playing and sniffing out the house he looked back towards Luna.
‘He has to Luna, our pack will be stronger, plus with what changes lay ahead of us, we are safer here at The Meadow’.
Luna sat up, looking down at Kody, choosing her words carefully as not to rile him up but she had concerns and needed Kody to understand where she was coming from, as a mother and the Alpha female but Kody cut into her thoughts as he grufly spoke in a low tone.
‘It has been over 10 months since we shifted'. Kody snapping his head at towards Luna, waiting for a comeback on that bit of information, it didn't come. Kody carried on talking, watching Luna's body language.
'The cubs have not been schooled in the history of the Inuk pack or what entails in the shift, we have to prepare them, the only one to fully shift with Quimmiq is Storm, Midnight has only completed one shift, I will gather them all and inform Nanuk we are to move into the house at sunset’.
Luna was surprised to hear that her eldest had completed his shift cycle and had now transitioned and that her mate wanted the changes to happen so quickly for Midnight and the pups.
‘Are you not to wait for Quimmiq to return and how has Storm managed to shift so many times. And ten months, it cant be, really, oh wow'? Luna looking at Kody with a raised eye, the white fur above arching, Kody loved that shape, loved it from first time he met Luna.
‘Firstly, no, if he returns with the White one he will know when he sees the light from the house. Quimmiq has been checking on the place at end of each summer for the last 8 years and so have I, Storm and Midnight have been accompanying him and they've stayed in the Lodge aswell as experienced the den'. Kody cleared his throat and lowering to his growly tone. ' And secondly, Yes it has been ten months Luna, we must be getting old’. He chuckled, tilting his head to the side watching Luna.
'The time has gone so quickly since the pups, Ive not thought about shifting, even with Blue, how can I have not realised this'. Looking into Kody's eyes 'Well that is obviously going to change now'. Letting out her devious giggle.
Kody stood, stretching his powerful long body, flexing the claws attached to his huge paws all the while watching Luna trying to deflect that little bubble of pissed off raging inside her and also that deviant side to her when it came to her prowess towards him.
Luna standing regal sniffing the house, turned looking back at Kody with a disdained squint, she took in his deep Amber eyes with the Green honey flecks watching her aswell as he was stretching in a downward dog position as his tongue licked his nose and muzzle. She knows Kody's tricks of deflecting her, she shook her head and laughed then turned back towards her family, gazing at her pups 4 in total nearly 1 years old and the yearlings more then 5 summers ago, her gaze sharply moving across to Storm and Midnight play fighting, who will be 7 years old, only those 2 knew of the transition.
‘I know what you’re thinking Luna’. Kody stated in his Alpha tone.
‘Do you, because I hope you know we are in for a bumpy ride’. Kody nipped Luna on her muzzle with a low growl.
‘Hey, there is no need for that, I am just stating the obvious, don’t get all ultra alpha on me now, as you know I can be extremely stubborn as a human, Kody’. Luna showing her teeth making sure Kody knew how she felt.
‘It is what we are and it will keep us safe Luna and don’t remind me how pig headed you can be, but we have to protect the heritage line and we need to know who is pure and who is hybrid. Quimmiq has kept his ears to the ground, with a contact he has known since 2028’. Luna frowned.
'The pun indeed, but it's the truth, you know me and Quim grew up here, it was my grandparents place'. Kody chuckled as he licked at her muzzle where he had previously nipped her.
‘Come with me to the stream Luna, I need to re-mark our territory’. The Alpha male would do anything to make his queen happy, he loved Luna with everything he had.
They trotted towards the stream watching the pups chasing butterflies both gazing adoringly at their new home.
Luna trotted towards Storm and Midnight, both her sons stood up as their mother approached. Kody stood watching Luna trot with such finesse as her thick Cream and Silver coat with the Black and Honey Grey tipped cape running down her back shimmered in the sunglight, her coat was extraordinary he thought even after 11 years together. Her small thick furred ears twitching as she glided through the long grass.
'Midnight'. She called out. Midnight tipped his head surprised his mother called him first. Storm was normally the leading mid-rank.
'Yes Mother'. Midnight replied as Storm watched adoringly at his mother.
Midnight was a year older then Storm, although Midnight was slightly larger in body, his brain wasn't in the leading with intelligence side but was the most fun and at times liked to act like a cub and had got them both into sticky situations in the past and in another was fiercely loyal with amazing fighting and hunting skills. There were times their father was not impressed and their mother secretly loved this about them, it gave them character she would argue, but both boys knew since the upheaval of leaving their only home they knew, they had to step up to the new challenges that lay ahead. Luna was protective of Midnight and this bugged Storm at times.
'Please watch over the pack with Storm, as I know Kamotz and Anubis like to prank whilst I go with your father down to the stream but I will take Matsi and Raige with us. Storm, have Blue help out, she could do with over seeing you with the pups'. As she nuzzled and licked her son's muzzles.
She turned and walked towards Matsi and Raige who were already bothering their father with their antics, Kody rolling around on the floor, she stood looking down at them. How the heck was she going to explain her two eldest children to the town folk, she hoped Quimmiq will return soon, even though he was oldest brother he was the Beta and they had no aging uncles or aunts in their pack. Her and Kody had been busy, she had dealt with three litters, where one was very unfortunate.
They had 4 dispersers, two female and two male. Mai was nanny over the pups who they had met eight winters ago, bleeding out on the roadside. Then there was the Omega Shadow, who was also Luna's best friend from college, Agouti is Kody's best friend and ex team mate. Silver the Mid ranking hunter and Agouti's cousin who actually is the oldest but how old Luna didn't know, she suspected he was closer to 40 years old. They were known as dispersers because they had chosen to make an allegiance with a new pack instead of their heritage line and then that left Blue, Kody's half aunty, his mother's half sister and was same age as Kody, Quimmiq is Kody's older brother which does not mean he automatically becomes Alpha, the heritage system is an unusual one, but Alpha's are chosen by the Moon spirit.
Then lastly there is Nanuk, the only full canine, Luna's high content wolfdog but somehow she knew exactly what her job was, from the day Luna met her, a true loyal companion. That was her family now and has been since the Winter of 2023.
Luna picked Matsi up by the scruff of his neck and proceeded towards the stream. Kody jumping up, tapped Raige forward.
'Walk on son, follow your mother'. As they proceeded towards the stream Kody walked next to Luna, Luna let Matsi down as she watched both her pups run ahead, neck biting each other as they ran.
'It's beautiful here Kody, I loved the first time you brought me here, Thanks Giving break. Actually! it was the only time when you brought me. The view through wolf eyes, you see far more than a human would even I thought it was the most magical place even back then who would of thought, there are those who take for granted what's in front of them'.
'I remember, I was nervous as hell but Jaden did say you were my mate as soon as he met you in the College library that day and Agouti's idea to bring you here, so I did and look what it has given us.' He sadly said as he peaked at Blue laying with Storm and Midnight. They watched Raige trying to catch a Salmon bigger then him. 'Plus, we have the best of both worlds Luna and I cant wait to have some of our family in human form, it's going to be crazy'.
Luna took a long sniff of the fresh air. 'But...we still have to explain to the pups why their pack has gone from four legs to two and they've still got four and fur. Have you thought that part too Kody or am I even considered in your equation and at times they will have to sleep in the den. As I sure cannot fathom why your doing this'. She stared at his retreating form as he took a drink from the stream.
Silver was laying on the streams bank basking in the sun, one eye on Raige, another on Blue in the distance he chuckled as he jumped up and trotted towards Matsi and Raige but he had caught the tail end of Luna and Kody's conversation. How Kody was going to break the news to Luna was going to be a spectacle in itself even before the transitions started.
'What you doing there Raige, you having a hard time catching that big fat Salmon there'.
Matsi tipped his head at Raige. 'No sir, we are playing, Salmon is too slippery for us ain't that right Matsi'. He said matter of factually as they jumped left and right like they were walking on lava.
Silver stood watching, dipped his head into the water and Snap! Lifting his huge head shaking along with the movement of the Salmon he held tightly within his mighty jaws, the black fur of his ruff rotating to control the fish. He turned walked towards Kody and Luna, winking at the boys as they ran after him.
'Uncle Silver, why is this a stream and not a river' Matsi asked quizzically looking at the bigger river far up ahead and the course of streams behind him whilst Raige looked up at the mountains that looked down upon them both like hard jagged walls of protection.
Silver turned looking down at Matsi and Raige, wondering to himself the questions these two are going to have very soon and dropped the Salmon and placed a huge taloned paw on top of his prize.
'Err well, they are all bodies of running water, River, stream, creek and brook just vary in size and how they are made. A river is a large body of running water and a brook is a very small one. However, streams are normally formed due to hills and like those mountains, if you look at the peaks you can see the last sprinkle of snow on the Black peaks even though it is start of Summer so through the season changes that water has made it's way down hill via those streams, creeks etc then run into the river or even underground. Does that cover your interest, oh and stay away from the river.' He said in a commanding tone. Both boys looked down towards the river and back at him as Silver picked the Salmon up.
Kody shouted 'And you boys know the rules to any watercourse and plus that is how you catch Salmon' as he trotted across the stream back towards them. He let out a howl and Agouti and Silver made their way over, Silver dropping the Salmon's head at Blue's paws and tossed the tail at Kamotz and Anubis, as they watched him tear the flesh from his snack.
'We need to mark our territory perimeter, last I heard the Sawtooth Pack were the closest to us here at The Meadow and we need to check out the land and mark before they decide to drop by, especially if the River and streams is bursting with food plus we can gage on the bear activity and any other predators'. Kody informed them, looking at his pups all now chowing down Salmon Silver had given them.
Luna watched Kody's line of sight and made her way back towards Blue and Shadow, laughing at Kamotz trying to get a grip on the huge fish tail, whilst Anubis just toyed with the fin, Anubis or Anni for short was her only girl and the only one who had the exact coat markings as Kody but with her eye colour, huge slanted bright yellow orbs of her mothers. All the others had Amber Orange like a fire glow well except Midnight he had bright Amber with green tint like Kody's but Anni's glowed even in the sunlight. She often wondered what Anni would look like in human form with excitement but also with dread but she knew it was a few years before that could happen, her understanding was not until they hit teenage years that was around six in human years, she should of guessed that Quim and Kody would prepare Storm and Midnight but she hadn't seen what her son's looked like in human form, she knew she had to mentally prepare herself for that.
'I know something is going on and I will get to the root of it' she grumbled to herself. She knew something serious was happening.
Luna sat down next to Shadow, looking on at the pups with their dad.
'I really want to know what Kody and Qim are upto'. She said to Shadow.
'Hmmm, what you say, sorry Luna. Miles away, I was just thinking about the day we first met'. Shadow smiled at her best friend.
'Hahahaa that is a trip down memory lane, you never did tell me what happened at the fountain that day'. Luna replied with her quizzical look of raised eyebrow, a look she was now known for.
