Chapter 31

    The cold season was upon the Wolf People, the leaves on the Broadleaf Maple Trees turned yellow and orange, then started falling to the ground soon after. At first a few leaves then as the coldness became freezing the leaves all rapidly fell.

    The times of light were almost down to nothing, just occasional brief periods in the darkness.

    The skies were overcast and snow was falling heavily. Lots of tiny white flakes mixed with large snow flakes that were very intricate and delicate looking. Some of these huge flakes were about a foot or foot and half in length and they would spin downward from the sky horizontally. These huge flakes drifted down lazily, falling every once in a while with the smaller flakes.

    The world of the Wolf People moved beyond their battle with the Others but they were very changed by it.

    What started with Louise having changed Pack tradition that seemed so long ago now had matured to the point where Packs now intermingled with one another.

     But not without ritual and order. When a Wolf Person wanted to visit another Pack a request was sent to that Pack and an answer was waited for.

    If a yes came back the visit happened or if they received an answer telling them they needed to wait for the visit they would wait until another message arrived telling them they could now come to visit. Likewise, if they received a message telling them they could not visit they wouldn’t visit.

    Each Pack designated those who were to deliver the requests and those who were to  receive the  requests, clear these requests to visit with the Pack Leader first then with the Wolf Person the visitor wished to see.

    Since Packs were friendly now an Official Second to the Leader was chosen for each Pack.

    Mr. Black’s Official Second to the Leader was naturally Mr. Stalker.

    Mr. Redwood and Miss Fern were frequent visitors to Mr. Black’s Pack.

    Mr. Redwood working his way closer to Miss Starfire and Miss Fern doing her best to get closer to Armand.

    Armand tolerated Miss Fern. He couldn’t deny he was attracted to her, but he was still suffering the loss of Miss Feather.

    She had been a part of his life for a very long time and he still found it hard to accept she was gone.

     He walked through the falling snow thinking of Miss Feather. He found himself doing that less and less lately and sometimes that alarmed him.

    Armand never wanted to forget her! Never! He felt like that would be betrayal.

    Mr. Thunder came running through the falling snow toward Armand. He punched a large snowflake as he went by it, sending it spiraling to the ground in tiny broken bits.

    “Hey Armand!” He said as he reached him.

    “Hey Mr. Thunder.” Armand said back.

    “You’re looking too thin Armand. You need to start eating again.” Mr. Thunder said.

    “Yeah, well, I don’t seem to have an appetite.”

    “Maybe you need to go into the Human World and eat a human.”

    Armand made a loud sound that was his laugh. “Sounds yummy!” But he said it sarcastically.

     “I’m serious. A lot of Wolf People are doing it these days.”

    “I know. A lot more than before. And they’re patrolling the Grey Veil between Our World and the Human World in threes to make sure no Others sneak back into Our World.”

    “As they should and it’s a good thing too that all the Packs are patrolling.” Mr. Thunder said.

     Armand walked by his house and headed toward the Douglas Fir and bare limbed Broadleaf Maple forest.

    “I wonder when Mr. Redwood is going to back off Miss Starfire.” said Mr. Thunder.

    “Never. He wants to Mate with her.”

    “I kind of like Miss Starfire.” Mr. Thunder said. “I know she’s soon to mature and I have been spending a lot of time with her.”

    Armand strolled along the forest’s edge, not entering its shadowy depths. “I’m sorry Mr. Thunder. Mr. Redwood really wants her for his Mate. Dad and Mom are agreeable to it.”

    Mr. Thunder growled. “I pay a lot of attention to her too! Doesn’t she or them notice me?”

    Armand stopped walking and faced Mr. Thunder. “I’m sorry Mr. Thunder. Anyway, Miss Starfire hasn’t accepted him and so far he hasn’t outright asked. Maybe you should be the first to ask her and get her yes.”

    Mr. Thunder stood in front of Armand. “I will! Thanks Armand. I’m going to head over to your place now. And try eating Armand. It’s been a while. You need to start living again and move on. Miss Fern is here and waiting for you.”

    Mr. Thunder didn’t wait for a response but turned and ran back toward Armand’s house.

    Armand watched him go and took a deep breath of air. Maybe I should just push forward. Miss Feather is gone. She’s with Kyle and the Others in the Human World. I won’t go looking for her. I won’t do that. Miss Fern is here and she is willing.

    He turned and faced the dark shadowy forest.

    A cold dark breeze rattled the leafless Broadleaf Maple tree limbs. A large snowflake drifted downward beside him, spiraling horizontally, its delicate patterns seeming luminous.

   An owl called from its lofty perch in a Douglas Fir tree. Another deeper in the forest answered.

    Armand decided to pursue Miss Fern. It was time he got on with his life and he thought Miss Fern pretty. He would Mate with her and make her his. He knew she wanted this as well.

    He headed back in the direction of his house.

    Snow was accumulating and the Village was criss crossed with foot prints, some of Wolf People in Human Form and some of Wolf People in Wolf Form.

    With the Packs visiting back and forth with each other Mates would be easier for Wolf People to find.

    Mr. Hunter would be Mating soon too. Armand was glad the Other Twins were out of Mr. Hunter’s and all of their lives. Those two had had their eyes on Mr. Hunter and himself too.

   Then there was Quetzal. He was still wanting Shasta. That one needed to be killed like Mandie and Joshie had been. Why Mr. Stonevalley allowed Shasta to live this long Armand didn’t understand.

    But the other Packs didn’t like having one of the Others still around so the pressure was on Mr. Stonevalley to kill Shasta or have some other Wolf Person kill her.

    Poor Quetzal. But Quetzal needed to move past Shasta and get on with his life just like Armand needed to do.

   

Reviews

[Black Cat Fever]

Time to move on. Is Miss Feather really out of Armand's life? Hmmm.

[Wicahpi]

Armand says he will not go find Miss Feather, when he could cross over.
I ask, why not? Can't be true love. lol I'm a romantic! I think he should
search until he finds her. Miss Fern will be happy!

Bizarre dimension these things live in. That's understandable, since the laws of nature do not have to apply in parallel universes...
Looks like Quetzal will have to deal with a wolf person mate like he should.

[Eric Cox]

The huge snowflakes that fall horizontally are a cool touch to the Wolf People World in winter. Very nicely done chapter.

[Star Wolf]

Life goes on after tragedy. But sometimes it takes a while like for Armand.