Chapter 20 Wolves don't take kindly to strangers

Chapter 20 Wolves don't take kindly to strangers

The wolves yellow eyes gleam through the night, growing more intense as they get closer. A woolly grey wolf emerges from the treeline, flanked by two more wolves. I know there are more hidden in the tree line. I'm shivering, but not from cold. Their movements are quick and purposeful as they trot towards us. Pine ducks behind me, and I take a step closer to Jay.

The three wolves stop a short distance in front of us.

The grey wolf looks at us coldly."Leave now, trespassers. This is Solveig territory," he says.

Compared to the other two wolves, the grey wolf holds his head and tail higher. The others seem to take their queues from him. But I am not completely sure he is the alpha.

"We don't mean any harm, we're here to talk," I say. I have to force my voice to stay strong: showing any weakness to wolves can be a death sentence.

The grey wolf stares at me, as if he is waiting for me to do something. His lips peel back into a snarl, and he runs at me. I flinch and scrounge lower to the ground. The wolf stops, but the snarl remains on his face.

"You ought to learn how to address superiors!" he growled.

Fury flows through my veins. I don't care is this wolf is bigger than me, I am not going to allow anyone to talk to me like that.

"You ought to learn how to treat guests," I mutter. Jay whacks me with his tail; a simple message that means "shut up!"

"I don't know what kind of pack you come from, but around here, guests are killed for trespassing. I'm being merciful by allowing you to still be alive. Leave now, while I still allow it."

I raise my eyes to him. "But we need--"

The wolf cuts me off with a snarl, and I lower my gaze again. He steps forwards and sniffs us.

"You smell like wolves, but you do not act like wolves. How did you not recognize the scent boundary of our territory?why are you traveling with a fox and an owl?"

"I'm not a wolf," I growl, keeping my gaze low. "I'm a human shifter."

The other two wolves back up a few steps; even the grey wolf becomes hesitant. He must have never had contact with humans, because he now looks unsure of what to do. With a flick of his tail, he signals the other two wolves to circle us.

"Your kind is nothing but trouble. I gave you a fair chance to leave. I'm afraid that opportunity has now passed."

My gut clenches as the wolves surrounded us, eyeing us angrily, but keeping their distance. We are outnumbered, and had no escape. A deep growl rumbles my throat. The grey wolf's ears jut forwards aggressively.

"Such disrespect! Just another reason to kill you," he growls.

One of the circling wolves pauses. "Storm, perhaps we should let Bodolf know--"

Storm snaps at the wolf to silence him. "Bodolf has better things to do then deal with these rogues."

I do something brave--and also incredibly stupid. I stand up and meet Storm's golden eyes, all the while growling. The grey wolf flattens his ears and snaps at me. He lunges, but this time I don't back up.

"Ana, don't!" Jay whispers.

"We did not come all this way to get stopped by you!" I growl. "let us talk to your alpha!"

The wolf grins wickedly. "I am not entitled to hand you over to our alpha."

I'm going to die, I think. These wolves are going to rip me apart just like the caribou carcass. But right now, I don't have many options. The wolves are not going to let us go. Our options are to die quietly, or die fighting. Problem is, I suck at fighting, and Jay is injured.

The grey wolf leaps at me and grabs my neck between his teeth. If it not for my thick coat, my windpipe would be crushed. I wrench myself from his grip, and snap at his legs. He easily avoided my teeth, and knocks me over. I lay on the ground with my soft underbelly exposed. I'm as good as dead. Before the wolf can finish me off, Jay knocks him aside.

I get up on my feet. Pine cowers behind me. Luna hovers above the other two wolves, keeping them from attacking us. But it isn't enough. Storm stalks towards us. Jay and I can not hold him off for long. I doubt we'll be able to outrun him.

A howl from the forest makes everyone pause. More wolves melt from the shadows of the forest. There must be at least twenty, which is huge for a wolf pack. Leading them all is an old male wolf. His fur is white from age, but he moves with an air of supreme authority. Storm lowers his entire body when he approaches. Jay and I also get down; there was no way we'd stand a chance against a pack this size. If I was scared of the grey wolf, I am terrified now.

The old wolf looks at us calmly, then turns to the grey wolf.

"Tell me, Storm, what has happened?" He says in a low voice.

"Trespassers, sir. They had killed a caribou on our land. The girl claims to be a . . . human shifter."

At those words, the other wolves start anxiously pacing, and whispering to each other. With a slight raise of his tail, the old wolf silences them. He looks back at us, curiously.

"That would explain why you are traveling with an owl and a fox, as well as your poor manners. Even now, you look up at me when you should avoid your gaze." The wolf's voice is firm, but kind.

I lower my eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Do either of you wish to tell me what you are doing in my territory?" He asks.

"My friend seeks acceptance into your pack. We were traveling here, when we decided to stop and try to hunt some caribou. If we knew it was against the rules, we wouldn't have," I say.

The old wolf seems to become more relaxed. The others grow calmer as well.

"Tell me, were have you come from?"

"The mountains," Jay says. "My pack was killed, so I though I could join yours."

"I am from the village. A group of Fenrir Warriors captured me, and brought me to the other side of the mountains. I met Jay in the mountains, and we've been traveling together ever since," I explain.

At the mention of the Fenrir Warriors, another wave of anxiously sweeps over the pack. This time, the alpha ignores it.

"You both show incredible bravery, coming here tonight after traveling through the mountains. That bravery and honestness I must respect. Stand up, travelers, and tell us your names so we may welcome you."

Jay and I slowly stand, and tell the wolves our names. Pine comes out from behind me a little, but still stays close. Luna perches on my back.

"I am Bodolf, " the old wolf says when we finish. "Alpha of the Solveig clan. I grant you safe passage through our territory."

"Does this mean you'll let me join?" Jay asks.

"I'm afraid joining the pack will require much more from you. We must be certain our wolves contribute to the pack. In order to grant a place amount us, you must complete a task."

Bodolf then turns to me.

"I'm just heading home. If Jay is all set up, then I guess I better go," I tell him.

The old wolf smiles. "Perhaps you best wait until morning to leave. You've both had a long night, and deserve some rest. You can stay with the pack for the night. Besides, you may be able help Jay in his task."

Jay looks at me hopefully. I really want to get home, but one more night out here can't hurt. Besides, now we are in a safer place, with the dangers of the mountains behind us.

"Alright. I'll stay for the night."

Bodolf nods. "Come with us them, to the den grounds."

The wolves fall in line behind Bodolf. Jay, Pine, Luna, and I take the rear.

Jay nudges me with his shoulder. "'Maybe you ought to learn how to treat guest.' You and your mouth could've gotten us killed."

"Excuse you, who got you a chance to join the pack?" I glare at him. "Plus, I didn't see you backing down and being obedient. I thought you knew how to act in a pack."

Jay looks away. "I guess it's been while, I'm a little rusty about proper behavior."

"The point is," Pine pipes in, "we're safe now. I bet my tail that nothing else will go wrong."

We reach a small clearing deep in the woods. The rest of the pack disperses, but we continue to follow Bodolf over to an earthen den. A stunning white wolf sits regally in front of the den. She has the same powerful air as Bodolf.

Bodolf turns to us. "I'd like you to meet my mate, Winter."

He sits next the the white wolf, and licks her nose affectionately.

"My dear, we have guests tonight. Jay and his friends have come a long way to seek a place in our pack. Ylvana is a shifter, and will only stay with us for this night before traveling to the castle. Their etiquette may be a little rusty, but they are no harm to us, I assure you."

Winter nods, and studies us with gentle, yet powerful golden eyes. "Welcome to our pack. I suppose my mate has told you that acceptance into the pack will require completion of a task. Normally, the task is done by ones self. But given the circumstances, I will allow you to have help." She smiles. "You'll need it."

She barks, and two little wolf pups stumble out of the den. They must be somewhere around six weeks old.  They are little, with furry grey bodies, pointed ears and snouts. They stumble over their long legs as they come to sit in front of their mother.

"These are my sons, Archer and Aiden. Your task for tonight will be to watch them while the pack if away. Any injuries, or if anyone missing, will mean failure."

"They're pretty cute," Pine whispers to me, "this can't be the worst task ever."

Jay nods at Winter. "I swear I'll take good care of them."

Winter smiles and stands. "Then we'll be off. Have a nice night."