The White Wolf

Rowena is a rare white wolf who sets out to find a mate and become alpha of her pack.

The White Wolf

 

Life was simple for the wolves in the boreal sanctuary. The Dark Masters raided the nine other packs around the lake and the smallest pack, Kyran and Emerald's pack was always going to get picked on. But one day Emerald, the pregnant alpha female, went into her den and didn't come out for two whole hours. Her mate, Kyran, was feeling useless sitting outside the den waiting for her howls of pain to stop. When they did he heard his mate say one thing.

 

"Kyran." her sweet voice was barely a whisper.

 

Kyran entered and saw his mate with a litter of 7 puppies cuddled up to her. Looking closer he saw three black, one grey, two brown, and one pure white one.

 

Kyran's eyes widened. White wolves were rare. Especially in a boreal forest.

 

"What are their names?" he asked wanting to now the gender and names of the pups.

 

"There are three girls and four boys. These ones are Wakeman, Kaleb, and Adolpha." Emerald pointed her nose to the black ones.

 

Kyran nodded. Two boys and a girl. Emerald continued.

 

"This one is Kerrin."

 

The grey one was a male. Emerald poked the brown ones.

 

"These two are Nasrin and Wallaby." Emerald turned to the white one, "And that's Rowena or Snow."

 

"Emerald. A white wolf is rare. If the Dark Masters pack finds out they'll stop at nothing to get her. Dead or alive. Besides, she's a runt and runts always die." Kyran said, "We might as well kill her."

 

"No!" Emerald snarled, "A white wolf is too rare to kill. I'm going to protect her like the whole world is after her."

 

Kyran pulled back a bit, "Ok. Don't get all worked up. It was just a suggestion."

 

"That doesn't matter. I know you would kill a runt or a white wolf to save you the trouble of future deaths." Emerald replied, "Besides, it's a lot more fun with a complete family. So don't even try to kill her. Rowena's too precious."

 

After that Kyran left the den his mind buzzing with thoughts. Seven puppies and four of them were boys. That more guards and warriors. Three girls meant more puppysitters for future litters. But Rowena was a white wolf and white wolves had a very small chance of surviving. Kyran worried about Rowena. He loved her and wanted to protect her.

 

He shook it off. The white wolf would be fine.

 

One night, when the pups were a week old, the Dark Masters pack raided Kyran's pack. A fight took place! The raiding pack wanted more land. Kyran's pack wanted to keep their home. Emerald had been out by the stream when they attacked. She fought greatly until her mate saw the den was unprotected.

 

"Emerald! Get to Snow! NOW!" he yelled.

 

Then something clicked into the raiding pack. Denny, a mean, black wolf saw two puppies at the den entrance. He saw Emerald take the white one into the den and then he took the black one.

 

"NO!" Emerald screamed, "WAKEMAN!"

 

Denny squeezed the black pup and the ate it in front of its mother. Emerald screamed.

 

"NOOOO!"

 

Denny grinned evilly with his blood covered mouth then left with the other raiding wolves.

 

The next week the Dark Masters raided again the exact same thing happened. Denny took Adolpha, killed her, and ate her. The third week nothing happened, but on the pup's fourth week of existence, Denny took Nasrin and Wallaby's lives. The fifth week was the worst, though. Denny was about to grab one of the three remaining puppies at the mouth of the den when Emerald got in the way.

 

"Surely four pups are enough." she growled.

 

Denny just smiled evilly again and prepared to pounce. Emerald pounced first, but Denny was ready and grabbed her throat. He ripped out her esophagus as she fell limp in front of him. Kyran then ran in front of the den, hoping his mate was ok. Then his hopes died when he saw Emerald lying on the ground, dead, and her esophagus in Denny's mouth.

 

"You son of a B***H!" he yelled.

 

"You can't beat me." Denny growled.

 

"I can't. But we can." Kyran replied as the rest of his family joined him.

 

Denny's eyes widened. He growled and backed up before running away with the rest of the raiding pack. Kyran looked down at his mate's body, then at the three pups at his feet. Were they aware of all this? Rowena was watching her mother. She looked up slowly. What was she watching? Kerrin was expecting his mother to get up, and Kaleb waited for something to happen. Something that obviously didn't happen.

 

Kyran sighed, "We have a great loss today. Emerald was murdered by a Dark Masters wolf. May her spirit be remembered and her soul keep us strong."

 

Kyran howled sadly. The entire pack joined in. The pups just watched, unsure. Rowena tried out a howl. Kaleb and Kerrin followed their sister's action. When they stopped everyone was sad.

 

"Take her away." was the only thing Kyran managed.

 

Emerald's two brothers, Farkas and Justin, dragged her away. Kyran's brother's, Jet, Yong and Iagan, helped by picking up her rare end. Rowena watched them go. She knew what had just happened. She knew her mother was never coming back.

 

*19 Wolf Years Later*

 

A shadowed figure raced through the woods. A herd of moose took no notice of it. The shadowed figure crouched in the grass and leapt towards the moose. The moose panicked and ran. The figure gave chase. An old straggler fell back from the panicked herd and the figure took this chance to bring down the female moose. The wolf leapt on the moose's back slowly making its way for the throat. The moose was bucking in circles, terrified, before finally falling down in exhaustion and dizziness. The wolf bit down hard on the moose's throat until it stopped moving.

 

"Well done Snow!" a brown wolf cheered.

 

The wolf, Rowena let go of the moose's throat.

 

"At least Kenya had something practical to teach me."  she said.

 

"Hey!" Kenya, a young, brown wolf, replied.

 

"Get over it, Hottie." Yong muttered.

 

The brown wolf, Hannah, rolled her eyes.

 

"Come on guys. This moose ain't gonna eat itself." Rowena called and the entire pack over.

 

In the pack was Kyran, the black alpha male, Jet, Yong, and Iagan, Kyran's brothers, and Wilda, Kyran's only sister. They were black. Then there was Emerald's sisters, Vashti, Hannah, and Kenya. They were brown like Farkas and Justin. There also was Udolf and Quorra, a pair of grey wolves with mager crushes on each other. Then there was Kerrin, Kaleb, and Rowena. Almost everyone called Rowena, Snow, though. As the pack dug into their meal Kyran took an attempt to talk to his daughter.

 

"So Snow, I was thinking maybe someone from the Eastern Fields pack would suit you." he started.

 

"Uuuugh. Not this again." Rowena groaned.

 

"Look Rowena, if you don't find a mate then you won't be able to take over the pack." Kyran explained.

 

"But I can do things just fine on my own, Dad." Rowena replied.

 

"Being the alpha takes teamwork, Snow. Just like hunting." Kyran continued.

 

"But I just took down an entire moose by myself." Rowena pointed out.

 

"The moose was lame, Snow-" he got cut off.

 

"I don't CARE! If you think I can't take care of myself and a pack, then FINE! I'll go find a mate. I'm leaving at dawn."

 

And with that Rowena left in a huff. Her friends and family watched her go before continuing their meal. Only when they were finished eating did Kaleb go to search for his sister.

 

"Rowena, there you are." he said seeing her on a hill.

 

Kaleb got no replied and tilted his head curiously. Was Rowena sulking? Kaleb walked over to his sister and sat down.

 

"Hey, Ro'. What's eating ya?" he asked.

 

Rowena sighed, "I don't know. I told Dad I'd leave at dawn but I don't think I can."

 

"I'm sure you would if you had to." Kaleb stated.

 

"Yeah, but I'm choosing to do this. I promised him I'd been gone before he woke and now I think I'm going to get lost out there or something." Rowena said dropping her head further, "Kaleb?"

 

"Yeah?"

 

"Can you come with me? When I leave?"

 

Kaleb smiled, "Sure Rowena. Anything for my only sister."

 

Rowena smiled slightly and stood up. Kaleb did the same and licked her face.

 

"You smell like moose." Rowena whispered.

 

"Well that's your fault then." Kaleb replied.

 

The two laughed walking down the hill towards the den. In the morning Kaleb woke his sister and the two were off. They headed for the Eastern Fields pack, just south of them. In order to get there they had to cross a river. The Eastern Fields pack was usually quite nice. The wolves were mostly grey wolves in the pack but Kaleb and Rowena had only seen the alpha male a female of the pack.

 

"Kaleb!" Lovell the alpha male exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"

 

"My sister needs a mate so she can take over the pack." Kaleb explained.

 

"Your sister?" Lovell looked at Rowena, "Snow is it?"

 

Rowena nodded.

 

"Good. Come. I want you to meet my pack."

 

Kaleb and Rowena followed Lovell to where the pack was. Then he got them to line up so that the siblings could see them.

 

"Kaleb, Snow. This is Conall, Lani, Lensar, Lykaios, Bay, Beau, Bence, Bruno, Paz, Philomena, Primrose, and Magena." Lovell said.

 

In order there was a male black wolf, grey female pup, a red and black male wolf, a mostly black male wolf, a male brown wolf, a female grey wolf, a yellow-orange wolf, a younger brown wolf, a female grey wolf, a female black wolf, a female blue-grey wolf, and a female grey wolf.

 

"Conall is my only son. Lani is my youngest daughter. Lensar and Lykaios are just tag-alongs. Bay, Beau, Bence and Bruno are our warriors for the pack. Paz and Philomena are my twin daughters. Primrose is their slightly younger sister, and Magena is my mate- the alpha female of the pack." Lovell explained.

 

Kaleb was staring wide eyed at Paz. Rowena nudged him.

 

"Wha- oh. Um, hi. Nice to, uh, meet you all." Kaleb stuttered still staring at Paz.

 

Rowena rolled her eyes.

 

"So, how's your day been." Kaleb asked Paz- not that she knew.

 

"Don't answer that!" a female voice said.

 

Everyone turned to see three wolves. A red wolf, a yellow wolf, and a blue wolf.

 

"Oh, and this is Lynn, Xanthus, Bardo." Lovell said, "Lynn is head guard, and her brothers are the other two guards."

 

Lynn looked Kaleb right in the eye. Kaleb pulled back a bit. Lynn kept staring.

 

"Uuh. Could please tell your head guard to back away? It's, kinda starting to freak me out." Kaleb asked nervously.

 

"Lynn. Stand down." Lovell commanded, "Kaleb is from Kyran's pack."

 

Lynn pulled back, regretfully. She looked at Kaleb and growled.

 

"I don't trust black wolves." she said meanly.

 

Kaleb lowered his ears as far down as possible. He was nervous but wasn't about to stand down to a girl. Lynn turned to Rowena.

 

"Who are you, whitey?"

 

"I'm Snow. The white wolf." Rowena replied politely.

 

"Hah. I highly doubt that. The last white wolf died the day before I was born." Lynn said, "I'm 22 so you can't be the white wolf. Only Wakanda the Hero ever made it to adulthood. But she died before she could start a pack."

 

"I'm 19." Rowena mentioned calmly, "I was born three years after the last white wolf died. I know a lot about white wolves."

 

"Hmf. We'll see about that. When was Wakanda born?" Lynn questioned.

 

"1510." Rowena answered.

 

"Hmm. When did she die?"

 

"1515. She died in an unstoppable stampede. She was trampled to death."

 

"Ok, How many white wolves have there been?"

 

"4,530."

 

"How many white wolves were born before Wakanda?"

 

"2,264. Wakanda was the 2,265th one."

 

"How many after she was killed?"

 

"2,263. I'm the 4,530th white wolf. One white wolf was born during Wakanda's life."

 

"Hmm. Well then, how many white wolves lived to adulthood?"

 

"Two. Including me. One excluding me."

 

Lynn squinted. The others gaped. Even Kaleb was taken aback by Rowena's answers.

 

"Fine. But you have no proof that you're the next white wolf." and with that Lynn left with her brothers.

 

"How did you do that?" Kaleb asked.

 

"It just came to me." Rowena muttered.

 

"Well, I think you are the next white wolf." Lovell said, "And as a treat I'll let you watch the hunt. It starts in five minutes."

 

Lensar, Lykaios, Beau, Conall, Philomena, and Paz went to find the moose they would hunt. Primrose took Lani to have her nap, Lovell and the others in his pack went sun bathe, and Rowena and Kaleb went to watch the hunt. The hunt took place in a canyon. Rowena and Kaleb watched as the hunters crept through the grass towards the canyon wall and the herd of moose. Paz was knew at this and accidentally stood on a twig.

 

SNAP!

 

The moose leader looked up. So did the rest of the herd. An older male moose looked Conall right in the eye. The leading moose shot his tail in the air and the herd ran… towards the hunters. The wolves ran! The canyon was long and narrow, but the moose still ran. The wolves were slowly getting caught in the stampede.

 

"They're trapped!" Rowena yelled.

 

"What do we do!?" Kaleb asked rather panicked.

 

Rowena ran along the side of the canyon wall trying to keep up with the stampede below. Then she saw a log.

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Back at the den, Lani was having a vision in her sleep. Her white marks started to glow as she whimpered.

 

"A herd chases… a pack runs… but they don't see the log…"

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Rowena ran faster so fast she outran the stampede. She saw a spot where she could jump off and into the canyon.

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Primrose saw Lani's marks glowing.

 

"A herd swallows a pack… a pack never survives… a herd dosen't stop at the lake…"

 

Primrose was getting scared. She decided to wake the pup.

 

"Lani wake up."

 

Lani was up in an instant.

 

"The hunters are in trouble."

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Rowena leapt off the edge of the canyon and landed near the pack. She ran in a straight line slowly getting closer to the hunters. They saw her and backed away, still running from the moose. One of the wolves tripped sideways. The others spotted the log and all six dove behind it. There wasn’t enough room for Rowena so she kept running. Her lungs were burning.

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Primrose and Lani arrived at the top of the canyon.

 

"What's going on?" Primrose asked.

 

"Rowena’s stuck in the canyon with moose stampeding behind her." Kaleb replied.

 

Lani gasped, "ROWENA!"

 

"SNOW!" Primrose yelled.

 

"ROWENA!" Kaleb also called.

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Rowena ran. Her lungs were on fire and the lake had already appeared.

 

'The moose can't swim.' something inside her seemed to say, 'Do it.'

 

Rowena powered for the water. The moose kept running, causing dust to fly up.

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The rest of the pack had arrived and Kaleb's heart was pounding. He saw his sister power forwards and he saw he stop at the lakes edge. But then the dust consumed the scene.

 

"NOOO! ROWENA!" he screamed.

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Rowena reached the lake and spun around. She growled. The moose stopped, rearing up. She didn't know it, but her fur turned black and her eyes glowed pure white. Only the moose saw this. The dust had hidden everyone else from view.

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"Rowena? Rowena!" Kaleb and the rest of the pack had come down and were now looking for Rowena.

 

The hunting pack came out of hiding and joined in. Lovell and Magena smothered their son and daughters with love and Beau joined the other warriors, getting a hug from Bence. The other two hunters came over to Kaleb.

 

"Where is she?" Kaleb asked.

 

The males shook their heads. They didn't know. Lani and Primrose walked over.

 

"Sorry about your sister." Primrose said.

 

Lani looked out towards the lake. As the dust cleared she saw something.

 

"Look!"

 

It was Rowena. She was lying on the ground. Kaleb ran over.

 

"Rowena! Rowena? Rowena are you alright?"

 

He got no response. She seemed to be dead.

 

"Oh, no." he whispered.

 

Paz walked over. She sat down next to him.

 

"It's ok Kaleb." she said and licked his cheek.

 

Kaleb, eyes closed, barely noticed it. He let a tear fall down his other cheek and sighed sadly. Then he heard a weak groan. Opening his eyes he saw Rowena open her own.

 

"Rowena." he muttered, relief filling his body.

 

"It's ok Kaleb." she whispered, "I'm alright."

 

Kaleb gave his sister a hug and let her get up.

 

"I thought you were dead." he muttered.

 

"But I'm alright." Rowena replied, "Aren't I?"

 

"Yeah, you are." Kaleb smiled.

 

The pack cheered.

 

"Three cheers for Rowena!" Paz yelled.

 

Later, after the hunters managed to take down a juicy moose, the pack was feasting on the body and had let Rowena choose what part she wanted to eat first before they engulfed the carcass. Paz and Kaleb were munching on a leg when they accidentally touched noses. Lynn wasn't at the meal though. Instead she was sitting next to a lonely tree in a clearing wanting some time to herself. Kaleb had been curious about where she went so he took some meat and went to find her.

 

"Hey." he said through the moose meat when he found her.

 

"Hey." Lynn replied, leaning against the tree.

 

Kaleb walked over to her and put the meat down.

 

"Thought you might be hungry. So I got you some food." he said.

 

Lynn looked at him and smiled. He didn't notice her blush.

 

"Thanks." she replied, "Not even my brothers are that considerate."

 

Lynn gobbled up the meat. Kaleb noticed something.

 

"Hey, you seem so much nicer. Why's that?" he asked.

 

"I was near the lake when the incident happened and I saw your sister." Lynn explained, "When she spun around, she turned black with white eyes and some sort of glow came from her."

 

Kaleb's eyes widened.

 

Lynn sighed, "At that moment, when all the moose reared and panicked I felt… fear."

 

Kaleb watched as Lynn seemed to choke out the words.

 

"I've never felt fear as strong as this before." Lynn continued, "But when she collapsed I realized she had never used her powers before. She's just a weak youth. An egg that's just cracked. I never thought that another white wolf had ever made it to adulthood. It's just, unusual."

 

Lynn leaned on Kaleb, catching him by surprise.

 

"I always thought that white wolves died when they were born." Lynn said into his chest.

 

Kaleb hesitantly rested his head on top of Lynn's. They stayed like that for a while before Lynn pulled away.

 

"What's wrong?" Kaleb asked.

 

"It's just, I never thought I would love someone like you." Lynn said.

 

Kaleb was confused but all his questions were answered when Lynn pushed her nose firmly onto his. He closed his eyes and felt her tongue slip out. He let his tongue copy and they touched. The moment was ruined, however, when Xanthus and Bardo came over. Then things got really messy.

 

"What the howl is going on!" Bardo yelled.

 

Lynn and Kaleb broke apart, tongues poking out.

 

"Kaleb, you'd better not be nosing my sister." Xanthus growled.

 

"Hey, guys. It's not what it looks like." Kaleb said backing away with Lynn behind him.

 

"Sure it is." Bardo growled, "You wanted to take our sister."

 

"Take her? No. No, not at all!" Kaleb knew what they meant.

 

"Guys, calm down." Lynn muttered.

 

"Why should we?" Xanthus growled, "He wants to be with you and we won't allow that!"

 

"Lynn. Run. Go get help." Kaleb whispered.

 

Lynn ran off. She leapt over Bardo and headed into the woods.

 

"Let her go." Xanthus said, "We need to give this one a little lesson."

 

Kaleb crouched and dropped his ears in fear. The two wolves leapt. There was a whimpering sound heard and then everything went black.

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Back at the meal, Lynn had just arrived. Considering that she was fast and that the den had only been a few hundred meters away, it didn't really matter that she was gasping for breath.

 

"Lynn what's wrong?" Lovell asked.

 

"My brothers… Kaleb… fight." Lynn passed out on the spot.

 

Rowena gasped, "Kaleb!"

 

She ran. The wolf pack followed. Rowena didn't have a clue where she was going, she just let her legs take her there. She started to smell blood and a fight between three wolves- no, it smelt more like a feast! Her legs powered, her heart pounded. She hoped that her brother was okay. Then she remembered how her father had high hopes in his mate being ok when that black wolf had killed her. Rowena shook it off. That wasn't going to happen. She reached the edge of the clearing and stopped. There by the lonely tree in the middle of the clearing was Bardo and Xanthus. They were standing over- no, they were eating something! The two wolves turned around. Their mouths were dripping in blood. Rowena saw a black figure on the ground behind them. Rowena recognized the wolf as her brother and everything changed. She growled, crouched low, and pounced. Running straight at Lynn's brothers who were suddenly very scared. What they saw was a white wolf turn black and smokey. Eyes blood red. Bardo and Xanthus turned and ran. Rowena returned to her normal form. She saw her brother lying motionless on the grass. She sniffed him and then placed a paw on his heart. She closed her eyes. There was a bright light between her paw and his chest. Kaleb glowed black and Rowena shone white. When the light faded Rowena opened her eyes. Her brother was healed and all he had was a scar on his face. Rowena removed her paw and waited. Kaleb groaned and opened his eyes slowly. He saw relief wash over his sister's worried face and smiled at her.

 

"What happened." she asked.

 

"I should probably tell you later." he replied.

 

Rowena smiled again and hugged her brother. Lynn came over.

 

"Hey." she said.

 

"Hey." Kaleb replied

 

"I guess your sister is the white wolf."

 

"You'd better believe it."

 

"After what I saw. It's hard to."

 

Kaleb got up and smiled.

 

"She always knew when to protect her family. Even if she didn't know it at the time." he said.

 

Lynn smiled and pushed her nose onto his. Kaleb was olny surprised for a second before closing his eyes letting what happened before happen. The pack cheered. Rowena smiled, and when Lynn and Kaleb pulled away from each other she knew they were meant to be. Later, Rowena was sitting on a rock and now had pink triangles below her eyes and two pink lines above each of them.

 

"Hey."

 

Her brother’s voice startled her. She spun around, slipped and fell in to a stream.

 

"Sorry." he said walking over to her.

 

"It's ok." Rowena replied, "The decoration is dry."

 

"Yeah, um, listen Ro, I just wanted to thank you for saving me." Kaleb explained.

 

"It was nothing really."

 

"But you're getting stronger."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"Well, when you stopped the stampede this morning, I figured you weren't strong enough to use your powers." Kaleb explained as they got out of the water, "But when you saved me I realized, you were stronger than ever. And so I thought that, well, maybe you could, I don't know, do this on your own."

 

Rowena's eyes widened, "You mean you think I could try to go around the entire lake without any help?"

 

"Well, yeah."

 

"I could try." then Rowena shook her head, "I need to think about this."

 

Kaleb nodded and returned to where the pack was. Rowena's calm face was replaced with absolute fear. She turned and ran. She stopped on a hill and sat down. She had no idea what she was doing so she just let instinct take over. She closed her eyes and sighed.

 

"I need you." she whispered.

 

When Rowena opened her eyes she saw another white wolf.

 

"Wakanda." she gasped.

 

"Yes." Wakanda replied.

 

"Why are you here?"

 

"You needed me."

 

Rowena tilted her head, "What are you?"

 

"I am a spirit, Rowena." Wakanda replied, "Only when a white wolf asks for help will I answer to their sight."

 

Rowena was confused. A comet flew through the night sky for a split second before burning up.

 

"You must be confused." Wakanda said, "Here let me help you."

 

The darkness disappeared and a bright sunny day took place.

 

"WHOA." Rowena exclaimed.

 

"This is the day I died." Wakanda said.

 

They were in a canyon. There was a herd of moose grazing on the grass and a few wolves creeping towards them.

 

"It's dangerous down here." Wakanda said.

 

The scene changed. Now Rowena and Wakanda were in the middle of the canyon, about fifty feet up.

 

"Whoa." Rowena whispered.

 

"I was planning to ambush the moose at the end of the canyon where the rest of the hunting pack was." Wakanda explained, "But the others had betrayed me."

 

Rowena saw the moose look towards a group of ten wolves running straight at them. The moose ran towards three other wolves.

 

"The black one was my mate and the grey was my sister." Wakanda said.

 

The black one and the grey one ran to the sides of the canyon. The white one still ran.

 

"The herd was too fast." Wakanda said, eyes closed.

 

Rowena watched as the moose swallowed up the white wolf. Then the wolf disappeared, but it's howls and whimpers didn't. When the dust cleared the moose were long gone and all that was left was a blood covered body. Rowena felt tears go down her cheeks. The other wolves approached the dead wolf. The black wolf ran over to his mate's body and started to cry.

 

"I never survived that stampede." Wakanda finished as the scene disappeared and the dark night returned, "I knew that someone would take my place, eventually."

 

Rowena looked at Wakanda. Wakanda continued.

 

"And now, 495 years after my death, you are born. You are my only hope, Rowena the Rare. You need to find a mate and repopulate the world with white wolves. If you die then I see no more hope for white wolves in a boreal forest."

 

"Wait. You mean I have to have pups!?" Rowena demanded.

 

Wakanda nodded.

 

"That's crazy! How am I going to find a mate anyway?"

 

"I can see you with a future pack, Rowena. But only if you take this journey alone. You will survive alone. But only alone."

 

Then Wakanda's glowing body disappeared. Rowena was left with her head spinning. She suddenly knew what to do.

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Kaleb woke up the next day to find himself next to Lynn. But when he looked around he didn't see any sigh of his sister.

 

"Rowena?" he questioned, "Rowena? Rowena!"

 

The rest of the pack woke up to see Kaleb rushing around looking for his sister.

 

"What's wrong Kal?" Lynn asked.

 

"Rowena's missing." Kaleb replied, "I can't find her."

 

"Ever tried using your nose? That's what it's there for." Lynn said.

 

"Good idea. Thanks Lynn."

 

Kaleb put his nose to the ground and started sniffing for her sent. He followed it to the hill Rowena had been on the night before.

 

"She was talking to someone." Kaleb told Lynn, "I don't know who, though. There's no sent."

 

"A spirit." Lynn said.

 

"What?"

 

"Spirits have no sent is what I've heard. She must of been talking to a spirit."

 

"How?"

 

"Only white wolves can talk to spirits. She must of been talking to Wakanda's spirit."

 

Kaleb returned to sniffing the ground. He suddenly ran towards the river.

 

"Kaleb, stop!" Lynn called.

 

"What wrong?" Kaleb asked.

 

"We're not allowed on other pack's territory." Lynn explained, "Pack law."

 

"Oh. Well I guess we'll have to go back. Come on. I'll take you to my pack. You're allowed there."

 

Kaleb and Lynn headed off for Kyran's pack.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

Rowena was running through the forest on the other side of the river. She had no idea which pack she was trespassing, but she knew that whatever she did would anger them.

 

"Whoa!" Rowena skidded to a stop.

 

In front of her was a grey, brown, and orange wolf with a rabbit in her mouth. She started at Rowena before running off. Rowena watched her go, oblivious to the other wolf behind her.

 

"Where is she?" a male wolf questioned suddenly.

 

"WAAHH!" Rowena turned around, startled.

 

The male wolf was completely dark brown.

 

"Well? Where is she!"

 

"Where is who?" Rowena questioned.

 

"The grey and brown wolf that just ran through here! She had a rabbit in her mouth. Do you know where she is?"

 

"No, sorry." Rowena lied in reply.

 

The old, male wolf circled her. Rowena recognized it as 'smell check.'

 

"Well, you've been through a lot, haven't you." it was more of a statement than a question.

 

"Um, yeah. I lost my mother and most of my siblings, so yeah." Rowena replied.

 

The male wolf smiled.

 

"I'm Ralphy." he said, "Follow me."

 

Rowena followed the old wolf to a clearing where a den was. She could smell wolves and figured they were hiding.

 

"It's ok everyone. You can come out now." Ralphy said.

 

Out from behind the rocks came more brown wolves. There were 25 wolves from what Rowena could tell. An brown-red wolf walked up to them.

 

"It's good to have you back, Dad." he said.

 

"Good to be back." Ralphy replied.

 

"Did you find the outcast?" a dark brown female asked.

 

"No. But I did find a white wolf." Ralphy said.

 

Everyone went quiet. Everyone turned to Rowena, and everyone stared.

 

"Uh, hi." Rowena said nervously.

 

"Who are you?" a young pup asked.

 

"I'm Rowena. I'm from Kyran's pack." Rowena replied.

 

"That's impossible." a female youth cried, "White wolves have only ever been born in the Dark Masters pack!"

 

"Yeah! And any white wolves born outside the pack are found and killed!" a young male agreed.

 

The pack broke into arguments and conversations. The a howl from behind them broke the silence.

 

"Who's that?" Rowena asked staring at the brown female wolf.

 

"My mate, May." Ralphy replied.

 

The entire pack stared at the female as she approached them.

 

"What is the meaning of this!" she called out, "Everyone knows it’s against the law to fight within the pack!"

 

May came up to her mate and saw Rowena.

 

"Ralph, dear, who is this?" she asked looking at Rowena.

 

"This is Rowena. She's from Kyran's pack." Ralphy explained as his mate sniffed Rowena.

 

May pulled back suddenly, "When was the last time you had a bath? It smells like sweat and blood under that fur!"

 

"Yeah, that's because I'm looking for a mate and I need to get around the lake before I turn 20." Rowena explained.

 

"And why's that?"

 

"My mother died and I need to have a white pup."

 

"Well then, I guess that's ok. We've got lots of males here. I'm sure you'll find a decent mate." May said, "But first, you need to get clean."

 

Rowena followed May who stopped and looked at the pack. The pack left and the two continued. Later, May and the dark brown female were helping Rowena get cleaned up in the lake.

 

"So how about Phelan? He's quite a nice young wolf." May suggested.

 

"Mum, no. Not my brother, please." the dark brown wolf said.

 

"Why? He needs a mate sooner or later. Besides, Kendra, she's perfect for him." May turned her attention to Rowena, "Oh, you've still got paint on your face."

 

"Please leave it. It's my decoration I got last night." Rowena said, "Is Phelan an alpha?"

 

"Yes, he's my son, actually. I told him and Kendra, here, that the first one to get a mate would take over the pack." May explained.

 

Rowena got out of the water and shook herself dry.

 

"Sounds doable. And besides, Kendra, he'll be alpha of my pack, not yours." Rowena said.

 

"Good. I'll arrange for you to howl with him tonight. It is the full moon after all." May replied.

 

"Wait. Tonight?" Rowena questioned, "Tonight is the full moon?"

 

"Yes. Why?"

 

"I've never gone outside our den on a full moon before."

 

"Why?"

 

"My mother died on a full moon. Spirit Moon actually."

 

There was a sudden silence. Spirit Moon was a full moon that once every two human years. So if Spirit Moon was on that night then obviously Rowena would be howling for her mother and siblings, like every other wolf with dead loved ones.

 

"I gotta go." Rowena muttered before running off.

 

She ran and ran and ran until she reached a rock and just broke down. She remembered how much she cried on the last Spirit Moon and just let out all those tears again. She stopped crying when she heard a twig snap.

 

"Your that wolf I saw earlier." a female voice said.

 

"What?" Rowena turned and saw the wolf that had a rabbit in her mouth.

 

"I'm Galia." she said.

 

"Rowena." Rowena said rubbing her eye.

 

"I know why you're upset. Come with me."

 

Rowena followed Galia up a mountain and onto a cliff.

 

"You need to let it out. All your losses. Just howl." Galia explained.

 

Rowena looked at Galia, confused.

 

"Like this, oooooh." Galia let out a long, sweet howl.

 

Rowena nodded, she tilted her head back and howled, "Oooooh.

 

I can almost see it

That dream I am dreaming

But there's a voice inside my head saying

'You'll never reach it'

 

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking

 

But I, I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

 

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

 

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

 

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down

But no, I'm not breaking

 

I may not know it

But these are the moments that

I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

 

And I, I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on

 

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

 

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah!

 

Ooooh.

 

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Somebody's gonna have to lose

 

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah!

 

Keep on moving, keep climbing

Keep the faith, baby

It's all about, it's all about the climb

Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa."

 

"Hey, Galia. What's all the howling for?" a male voice said.

 

A brown and white, broad-shouldered wolf came out.

 

"Whoa." he muttered.

 

"Platon, this is Rowena." Galia said, "Rowena, my brother Platon."

 

"Hi." Platon muttered.

 

"Hi." Rowena replied.

 

Galia rolled her eyes.

 

"Listen, Rowena, you can't tell anyone about this, ok." she said.

 

"Ok." Rowena replied.

 

"Now go, GO!"

 

Rowena ran down the mountain and back to the pack. The howl would begin in three hours. Something didn't quite seem right. When she got to the pack she saw a horrible sight. The Dark Masters pack was fighting the Southern Stream pack! There was blood everywhere. Rowena saw a black wolf pull a protective mother out of a den and kill the two pups inside.

 

*Flashback*

 

A mean, black wolf saw two puppies at the den entrance. He saw a brown wolf take the white one into the den and then he took the black one.

 

"NO!" the brown wolf screamed, "WAKEMAN!"

 

The black squeezed the black pup and the ate it in front of its mother. The brown wolf screamed.

 

"NOOOO!"

 

*Present time*

 

Rowena saw the black wolf finishing off his 'meal' and then kill the attacking mother.

 

*Flashback*

 

"Surely four pups are enough." a brown wolf growled.

 

The black wolf just smiled evilly again and prepared to pounce. The brown wolf pounced first, but the black wolf was ready and grabbed her throat. He ripped out her esophagus as she fell limp in front of him.

 

*Present time*

 

Rowena growled and turned a smoky black with blood red eyes. She leapt ten feet and pinned the black wolf to the ground. The black wolf growled and tried to grab Rowena's throat. He missed. Rowena bit down hard on his jaw and he moaned painfully into her mouth. She let go and he lunged at her. She was knocked backwards but pounced on him. He fell and lost a large amount of skin on his back. She clamped down on his tail, he rolled over and she fell on her back. The black wolf was about to land on her when Rowena used her back legs to kick him out of the way. She rolled, leapt to her feet and saw the black wolf soaring at her again. She leapt higher and he fell head-first into the lake. Rowena landed on her feet exactly where she left the ground. The black wolf grabbed her leg and pulled her into the water. He tried to hold her below the water when another wolf dived into the water and pushed the black wolf further into the lake. Rowena swam to the surface and gasped for air. Looking into the water she saw another figure dive in and help the first wolf hold the black one down.

 

"Galia." she whispered.

 

Galia and Platon were kicked out of the way and the black wolf powered to the surface. He swam for shore and disappeared into the forest. The other black wolves retreated as well.

 

Rowena returned to normal and the two outcasts burst to the surface.

 

"Outcasts!" Ralphy yelled.

 

Galia and Platon climbed out of the lake, lay down, and rolled over.

 

"Please don't hurt us." Galia said.

 

"We came to help Rowena." Platon agreed, "She was pulled into the river by Denny…"

 

*Rowena's Flashback*

 

Denny, a mean, black wolf saw two puppies at the den entrance. He saw Emerald take the white one into the den and then he took the black one.

 

"NO!" Emerald screamed, "WAKEMAN!"

 

Denny squeezed the black pup and the ate it in front of its mother. Emerald screamed.

 

"NOOOO!"

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

"Surely four pups are enough." she growled.

 

Denny just smiled evilly again and prepared to pounce. Emerald pounced first, but Denny was ready and grabbed her throat. He ripped out her esophagus as she fell limp in front of him.

 

*Present time*

 

"…Well I guess you can join our pack then." Ralphy finished as Rowena recovered.

 

That night all the wolves in the Southern Stream pack were howling when the Spirit Moon was full.

 

"Go." Rowena said to Galia.

 

Galia got up and the other wolves stopped howling. Galia barely noticed as the almost full moon shone down on them. She was standing in front of Phelan. She started to sing.

 

"Looking out a dirty old den,

Down below the moose in the canyon go rushing by,

I sit here alone and I wonder why,

Friday night and everyone's moving.

I can feel the heat but its soothing heading down,

I search for the beat in this dirty pack.

 

Downtown the young ones are going,

Downtown the young ones are growing,

 

We're the wolves in America."

 

"Whoa." the other wolves howled.

 

"We're the wolves in America."

 

"Whoa."

 

"Everybody live for the howling go round,

 

Bright Lights,

The howling gets loader,

Look boy don't check on your list, Not another glance,

I'm not leaving now honey not a chance,

Hot shot give me no problems,

Much later baby you'll be, saying 'never mind,'

You know life is cruel,

Life is never kind,

 

Kind hearts don't make a new story,

Kind hearts don't grab any glory,

 

We're the wolves in America."

 

"Whoa."

 

"We're the wolves in America"

 

"Whoa."

 

"Everybody live for the howling go round."

 

"Naa, na na na na na. Naa, na na na na na, say! Naa, na na na na na."

 

"Come closer honey thats better,

Gotta get a brand new experience feeling right,

Oh, don't try to stop baby hold me tight,

Outside a new day is dawning,

Outside suburbia's calling, everywhere,

I don't want to go baby,

Rocky Road to Eastern Fields,

There's a new wave coming, I warn ya,

 

We're the wolves in America."

 

"Whoa."

 

"We're the wolves in America."

 

"Whoa."

 

"Everybody live for the howling go round,

We're the wolves in America."

 

"Whoa."

 

"We're the wolves in America."

 

"Whoa."

 

"Everybody live for the howling go round."

 

When Galia stopped a bunch other wolves started to howl. Rowena looked up and saw the moon turn blood red. Everyone stopped howling. They all stared at the moon. It overpowered the stars and aside from itself the entire sky turned black. A few wolves screamed, some passed out, but most just trembled before the light as a wolf face appeared.

 

"YOU HAVE SOMETHING OF MINE." it said, "GIVE IT TO ME AND I WILL LEAVE YOUR PACK IN PEACE."

 

Ralphy fainted.

 

"Oh no." Rowena whispered.

 

Then without knowing what she was doing she howled at the moon. It didn't take long for other wolves to start howling. The wolves that passed out awoke and started howling.

 

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

Kaleb and Lynn stopped walking in the middle of the river.

 

"What's that?" Lynn asked.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

Kyran's pack was heard the howling too. They saw the red moon.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

The Eastern Fields pack saw the moon too. Lani shuddered.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

Rowena and the brown wolves continued howling as all the other packs around the lake stopped whatever they were doing to listen. Some glowing, white figures appeared around the moon.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

Kaleb and Lynn started howling. So did Kyran's pack and the Eastern Fields pack. All the other packs started howling too.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

The white wolf spirits were now challenging the moon's glow as they shone a silvery shine. Every wolf in the sanctuary kept howling.

 

"NOOOOO!" the wolf in the moon yelled.

 

The wolf disappeared and the wolf spirits returned to the forms of stars. The moon returned to normal. The wolves stopped howling and looked at the moon. Rowena forgot the rest of that night and ended up waking in a den with daylight shining through.

 

"What happened?" she asked when she came out.

 

"You collapsed after the moon stopped it's redness last night." Phelan said.

 

"Yeah. We thought you were having a panic attack or something." Kendra agreed.

 

"Oh, that's why my head hurts." Rowena muttered.

 

"Listen, Rowena, you may have a wolf pack chasing you so we all agreed that you should leave." Platon said.

 

"We know it's mean but we can't let an entire pack fall to death because of you. Go to the Misty Meadow just north of the stream and you'll find another pack. They're completely grey there, but that doesn't matter. Just as long as you find a mate." Galia explained.

 

Rowena nodded, "I'll go. Protect your pack and don't let anyone gain power over you."

 

She left. Heading north for the stream, and Misty Meadow.

At the meadow, Rowena realized why it was called 'Misty' Meadow.

 

"OW! That's the sixth sharp rock I've stepped on so far."

 

She checked her paw and continued walking. Suddenly she hit a stump.

 

"Whoa-AAH! OOF!"

 

Rowena tripped, hit the ground and got a splinter in her paw.

 

"Stupid stump." she muttered.

 

"Ahem." a sudden voice said.

 

Rowena looked up and saw a male grey wolf.

 

"Need help?" he asked.

 

Rowena let him help her up and that's when she noticed the splinter.

 

"Ow." she lifted her paw off the ground.

 

"You ok?" the male wolf asked.

 

"I'm fine." Rowena put her paw on the ground only to raise it up again.

 

"Let me look."

 

The grey wolf looked at the underside of Rowena's paw and pulled out the splinter.

 

"There." he spat the splinter out of his mouth, "All better."

 

He walked off and Rowena followed. After a while she got curious.

 

"Hey, who are you?" she asked.

 

"Name's Bakari." the grey wolf replied, "It means promising."

 

"Rowena." Rowena replied, "Where are we going?"

 

"To my pack. My sister's going to be mad if I'm not back soon." Bakari answered.

 

"You have a sister?"

 

"Yeah. There's 29 wolves in our pack. Plus one golden wolf. We use our senses to get around here. If you're not careful-"

 

"WAAH!" Rowena tripped over a log.

 

"-Then that'll happen."

 

Rowena shot up and continued walking. They came to a clearing from the mist. She couldn't quite see clearly but she could still make out the shapes and forms of other wolves.

 

"Ok, over there is Balfour, Bali,

Valiant, and Michael. They’re the four omegas. Michael is the only omega allowed to have a mate. His mate is the light grey wolf over there, Michelle." Bakari explained, "The alpha over there is Balram. His soon-to-be mate is Lucy, the golden wolf. Balram's parents are Senior and Coco. Over there is my sister, Lilac, and her boyfriend, Ballard."

 

"Bakari! There you are! I thought you went hunting." Lilac called.

 

"I did go hunting." Bakari called back, "But I found someone you might know."

 

All attention went to Rowena in a split second. Rowena felt the pressure of gazing eyes and lowered her ears, embarrassed. She was starting to hate being white. Her cheeks went red and all she could to was close her eyes.

 

"This Rowena." Bakari said, "She's looking for a mate and is known all around the lake."

 

'Smell check.' Rowena thought.

 

She spotted some male wolves drooling over her. She rolled her eyes- inappropriate.

 

"Now listen wolves. Rowena needs a decent mate so she's moving on." Bakari said.

 

"WHAT!" everyone (including Rowena) yelled.

 

"Look Rowena. it's an honour to have you present, but most of the males here are typical omegas." Bakari explained.

 

"You could work." Rowena replied.

 

"Sorry, I'm becoming head guard in two weeks." Bakari said.

 

"Oh, well can I at least rest here for the night?" she asked.

 

"Sure."

 

That night, when Rowena was fast asleep, a cheeky omega decided to take her for his own. He snuck over to her and crouched over her sleeping body.

 

"Hmmm." Rowena moaned slightly.

 

The omega considered his options for a second. If he got caught he would be exiled from the pack or drowned as a punishment. He decided he didn't care and prepared to take her.

 

"Hey."

 

The omega looked up. (Aw crap). Bakaria was standing there.

 

"I'm watching you." he said.

 

The omega ran off with a whimper. Bakari walked over to Rowena and lay down next to her.

 

"I'm not letting anyone get you." he whispered.

 

In the morning Rowena yawned, stretched, and saw Bakari next to her.

 

"I thought you were becoming head guard in two weeks." she said.

 

Bakari woke with a start.

 

"I am. But Balflour was going to take you when I caught him." he explained.

 

"Oh. That makes sense." Rowena replied, "I guess I should be heading off now."

 

"Yeah, I'll take you to the river." Bakari got up and led Rowena west.

 

On the way there Bakari decided to explain a few things.

 

"River Lane is the pack you'll be going to." he started, "They're a group of red wolves who only care about the survival of the pack. If you get caught they'll tie you to a rock and dump you in the river."

 

"That sounds mean." Rowena replied.

 

"It is. It's-" Bakari stopped walking, "It's how I lost my girlfriend."

 

"Oh. I'm sorry." Rowena said, "I lost my mother and most of my siblings to a black wolf."

 

"It's hard to live like this. Sometimes I wonder what it's like to be one of the humans dogs. You know, like those huskies that pull sleds or a Dalmatian that saves burning people." Bakari sat down, "Best of all, they get fed two meals a day with snacks in between. For a wolf you're hungry almost all the time."«23

 

"Yeah." Rowena agreed.

 

"She was a husky." Bakari didn't need to say who 'she' was, "She told me about all the different dogs and the jobs they got. She was in a pound. When someone to put her down she used the small piece of wolf left in her to get away. That piece of wolf wasn't quite enough to keep her curiosity out."

 

Rowena's eyes turned from blue to gold.

 

*Vision*

 

A purple and white husky was talking to a grey wolf. They were on the lake's edge in the sunset. Then the scene changed to the husky in cage with bars made of cold, hard steel. A human was cornering her. She was growling at him. She bit his hand then ran. The scene changed again. Some red wolves pushed the husky into the lake. A rock tied to her tail pulled her down to her death.

 

*Present time*

 

"Her name was Heather." Bakari concluded, "She was killed a month ago."

 

Rowena's eyes turned blue again and she looked at the sad male.

 

"I think she would proud of you." Rowena said, "Keeping her in your heart but still going forward in your life."

 

"Boy what I wouldn't give to see her sweet face again." Bakari said standing up and turning to Rowena.

 

"You can in my presence." Rowena replied.

 

"What?"

 

Rowena suddenly turned into the beautiful husky that Bakari was talking about. She let the words that Heather wanted to say come out of her mouth.

 

"'Bakari, I love you.'"

 

Then Heather's mind told Rowena one thing and one thing only. Rowena pushed her nose against Bakari's and let him enjoy Heather's long desired kiss.

 

When Rowena pulled away she returned to her normal form and left. She ran across the river and into the forest of River Lane. In River Lane Rowena knew that she would need to be careful. She crept through grass, hid behind rocks, and even disguised her sent. But maybe she was a little too careful. Cause when she was backing away from the temptation of food she backed right into a red wolf.

 

"Are you going to eat that?" he asked.

 

Before she knew it, Rowena was captured and tied to a rock. A pack of red wolves surrounded her by the lake. They pushed her in and all she could to was struggle and fail to rise. She sank to the bottom and started to close her eyes. As she started to enter the endless sleep and a glow appeared around her body a familiar female voice called out to her.

 

'Don't die, Rowena! You’re the only chance anyone has of seeing a future white wolf! Don't die Rowena the Rare! Don't die, don't die, DON'T DIE!'

 

Rowena opened her eyes which were glowing a golden colour and rose to the surface. The rock that had been tied to her tail had slipped out as she started becoming a spirit. When she reached the surface she flew out of the lake and landed on the opposite side of the red wolves. They stared in disbelief as she ran off in the form of a glowing blue wolf with gold eyes. Had they underestimated her powers? Obviously. She ran across another shallow water river and onto the land of a yellow wolf pack called, Stampede Valley. Why? Because all the moose stampedes. Rowena carefulness was important so she stayed away from any signs of food. She was getting around easily when she came across a ditch, lost her footing, and fell in.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

On one side of the canyon a pack of yellow wolves were slowly preparing to pounce of an unsuspecting moose herd.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

"Crap." Rowena punished herself.

 

'Run Rowena!' a voice called.

 

"What?"

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

The pack had surrounded the herd almost entirely and leapt forwards. The moose panicked and ran.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

The ground started to shake where Rowena was.

 

'Run Rowena! Run! RUN!' the voice screamed in her head.

 

Rowena turned to see the stampeding moose come around the corner.

 

"Oh no." she ran.

 

The moose ran behind her and behind them the wolves chased the moose. Rowena ran around another bend and saw the other end of the ditch.

 

"S**t." she whispered, still running.

 

"Don't let them get away!" Rowena heard a male wolf call, "Phoenix, Sahara! Round the sides!"

 

"Got it!" a female voice called.

 

Rowena made her own choice. She stopped running lay down on her side and turned into a yellow wolf. The herd ran past her and the wolf pack spotted her.

 

"Hold up! What's this?" the male wolf said.

 

The pack walked up to Rowena and she knew her plan wouldn't work. There was only one male in this pack and he was obviously the alpha male.

 

"Girls, we don't know what this is. Stay out of it." the male said.

 

Two yellow wolves went up and sniffed Rowena.

 

"Phoenix! Sahara! Back away." the male ordered.

 

"No!" Sahara yelled, "This wolf is hurt and I'm not going to let her die!"

 

"I dunno Sahara. All I can smell is the stampede and this wolf lying on the ground. She could be dead already." Phoenix replied.

 

"Well I'm not letting any wolves die because of the stampede." Sahara yelled back.

 

Phoenix growled, "Fine! You can just stay here and die with her! Exile."

 

"What! No! Dad."

 

"Your sister makes a good point. If you are not willing to let a wolf die then you can die with her." the male said.

 

'Ouch.' Rowena thought, 'Tough father.'

 

The pack left and Sahara stayed with Rowena.

 

"I know you're special, wolf." Sahara said, "My acute sense of smell uncovers all hidden information about your life. So stop pretending and show me your true form, Rowena."

 

Rowena looked at Sahara and turned back into her white self. She stood up and looked at Sahara again.

 

"You have a good nose, Sahara. Better than mine." she said.

 

"Yeah it's all about the way I use it though. If I'm foolish with it I lose a lot of stuff. But if I use it for good then I can gain quite a bit." Sahara explained.

 

"That's cool. And since your now an exile, do you want to come with me?" Rowena offered.

 

Sahara brightened, "Sure! Come on, I know the best way out."

 

Rowena and Sahara climbed out of the ditch and went north to the Rocky Road pack. The place was full of hills and bumps. When they found the pack, the two wolves were exhausted. The pack was full of golden wolves.

 

"So that's where the golden wolves were." Rowena muttered.

 

Then she spotted two black wolves, 'Crap.'

 

"What are you doing here, Sahara?" a male wolf question with a growl.

 

"I'm looking for a new pack with Rowena the white wolf." Sahara replied.

 

Everyone stopped to stare at Rowena. She could feel pressure again but this was different. Instead of cowering she boldly stepped forwards.

 

"I'm looking for a mate." she explained, "My mother died for me and my last two brothers. Dad says that I need a mate so that I can become alpha of the pack."

 

The crowd broke out into arguments and conversations. It lasted a while before a new wolf broke the racket.

 

"Ok what's going on here?!" he demanded.

 

The wolf stood in front of Rowena.

 

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" he questioned.

 

"I'm Rowena the white wolf. I'm looking for a mate. Let me pass." Rowena said calmly.

 

Everyone was crouched low before the red-gold wolf. He was huge! Even for a male wolf.

 

"You're small. How could you hope to pass me without getting hurt?" he asked rather meanly.

 

"Just because I'm a runt doesn't mean I'm weak and useless." Rowena stood still, tall, and calm.

 

The male wolf laughed, "You are small. So you must be weak and useless."

 

"Really?"

 

Rowena suddenly leapt up and landed on the other side of the entire pack.

 

"Big things come in small packages, Alpha." and with that Rowena turned and left.

 

Alpha growled and turned to Sahara. He smiled at the crouching wolf.

 

"You may join the pack." he said kindly.

 

Sahara got up and slinked over to the golden wolves.

 

Rowena, on the other hand, was walking through a shallow part of the river when she fell.

 

"AAAAHHHH!" she screamed.

 

She landed in a pool of water and swam to the surface. She climbed out and noted that there was a few waterfalls like the one she just fell down. Turning around Rowena saw a half burnt forest.

 

"Death Ditch." she muttered, "It's nosier than I expected."

 

"That's because of the life down here." a male voice replied.

 

Rowena turned with a gasp. A wolf stood in the shadows of the wall of the ditch. He seemed to be black.

 

"Please don't hurt me." Rowena said shaking in fear.

 

"Me? Hurt you? Why would I do that?" he asked.

 

Rowena cocked her head confused. Then the wolf stepped out of the shadows.

 

"Hi. I'm Tomi." he said kindly.

 

Rowena sighed. Tomi was just a white wolf with red markings. One each of his sides was a red eye with a line over it.

 

"I'm Rowena." she replied.

 

"Pure white too. I've heard of you." Tomi said.

 

"Thanks."

 

"You look thin. Come on, the pack just made a kill."

 

Tomi lead Rowena to a spot where a pack of wolves were feasting on an old moose's body.

 

"Rowena this is the pack." Tomi introduced, "We call ourselves the Outcasts. Everyone here was either made an outcast or born in the pack."

 

"Oh." Rowena said, "How can you survive down here?"

 

"It's like living up there, but you have to limit your kills. We make one large kill a month and try to keep ourselves at five small kills a week." Tomi explained.

 

"So you're hungry most of the time? That must be hard."

 

"No, we have slowly worked our stomachs to a smaller size than the average wolf." Tomi smiled, "Our lungs grew large enough to allow us to live down here, too."

 

"I see." Rowena observed, "What about the half burnt forest?"

 

"Humans. We were raided and lost our own den quite recently. Most of the pack were either captured, killed, or burnt. We're the only ones left. All of us omegas- except me."

 

Rowena looked at Tomi. Tomi drooped.

 

"I became known as Tomi the leader here but I'm just an ordinary dog. I'm nothing special."

 

"Wait, dog? You're a dog?" Rowena questioned.

 

"No I'm half dog. My father was a dog and my mother was a great alpha wolf. My sister was always trying to throw me out. I was… proud, to be in the alpha part of the pack."

 

"I see. Guess it's hard for you then, huh?"

 

"Yeah. I hated my sister but now I actually miss her smart remarks and rude words."

 

"I lost my mother." Rowena said sadly, "A black wolf killed her. I still remember it as if it just happened. I was only five weeks old then."

 

"Then it's true. The war is going to come to an end and you're the one to end it." Tomi replied.

 

"Yes. I thought I was just ordinary until I met Wakanda." Rowena sighed, "I miss my siblings."

 

"Where are they?"

 

"Dead."

 

"Oh."

 

"I only have Kaleb and Kerrin left. No sisters and no mother." a tear rolled down her cheek, "I need some air."

 

Rowena got up and ran off. Tomi watched her go. It was sunset. He worried about how she would find her way back but then remembered that she was a white wolf. He let her go. Rowena ran to a waterfall and sat near the pool. She cried and cried and cried as the memory of her first five weeks of life replayed itself in her head. It was dark when she stopped crying and grey streaks were lined from her eyes to her nose.

 

"I thought you would never stop." a young male voice said.

 

Rowena turned around to see three wolf spirits standing there.

 

"Who are you?" Rowena asked as she cleaned her face with her paws.

 

"Don't you remember us, Ro?" the female asked, "We were with you all the way."

 

"Nasrin?"

 

The female nodded. Rowena looked at the others. Wakeman and Wallaby.

 

"It thought wolves stayed in the form they were in when they died." Rowena said.

 

"You're still alive." Wakeman replied, "We grew with you."

 

"We were with you every step of the way." Nasrin added, "Just waiting for you to open your heart."

 

"But I didn't call you." Rowena said, "How could you be here?"

 

"See this necklace?" Wallaby indicated to the dark blue gem on his neck, "It allows me and the others to travel on and off the earth. If I want to I can make us invisible. Or I could reveal myself to you."

 

"But why not sooner?" Rowena asked.

 

"Your heart didn't open enough to let us show ourselves." Nasrin said, "If you were to only cry and not replay those memories then you wouldn't be speaking to us right now."

 

"You opened your heart and we took our small chance to see you." Wakeman added.

 

"Were in your heart when you want us. So let it lead you. It will never fail you." Wallaby concluded.

 

"But where's Adolpha?" Rowena asked.

 

"She's probably plotting against us with the Dark Masters pack." Nasrin replied.«28

 

"You mean she betrayed us?!"

 

"Leave it Rowena. Adolpha is my duty."

 

Rowena watched as their spirit forms disappeared in the darkness before returning to Tomi's pack. When she got there everyone was fast asleep so she just lay down next to Tomi and let dreams fill her mind.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

Thunder and lightning filled the sky. A black, white, and brown wolf was wandering through unusual territory. The smell of black wolves and torturous death was overpowering. She could hear barks, yips, and growls coming from the trees. A lightning bolt struck the earth and sent a bear running. It ran to the wolf and let out a small growl. The wolf stopped walking and turned around.

 

"Uh, hi?" she said quietly.

 

The bear roared and rose up on its hind legs. Lightning struck again, this time sending a tree down. The wolf didn't notice the tree until it was too late.

 

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

"AAH!" Rowena shot up panting.

 

When she recovered she looked around. It was dawn. She remembered her dream. The tree had fallen on the bear… and the wolf.

 

"I thought you were lost." a male voice said suddenly, frightening Rowena.

 

"What?" Rowena asked.

 

"I thought you were lost." Tomi repeated, "You didn't come back till everyone was asleep."

 

"I know." Rowena said, "I needed some time to myself and came across my sibling's spirits."

 

"If you needed time to yourself then you could've just asked." Tomi replied.

 

"Oh my wolf!"

 

"Don't say that."

 

"No listen. My dead sister, Adolpha, is plotting against me!"

 

"Oook." Tomi said unsurely, "That's bad, right?"

 

"Yes, it's bad." Rowena replied, "If I can see my other passed siblings then the Dark Masters can see Adolpha!"

 

Tomi's eyes widened, "That's really bad."

 

Rowen looked up and said, "Please don't reveal yourselves. Wallaby, protect me. Nasrin, get Adolpha- put a stop to this. Wakeman, be the strong wolf I know you are. Just don't visit me."

 

"What the bark was that for?" Tomi asked.

 

"I don't want to die because my siblings want visit me." Rowena explained.

 

"Oh."

 

"If the Dark Masters discover I'm coming then they'll kill me. They'll know what form I'm in."

 

"Hey, I've got an idea. Follow me."

 

Rowena followed Tomi to a clearing near the dead half of the forest.

 

"You're a white wolf right?" Tomi said.

 

Rowena nodded.

 

"Then you can camouflage as a black wolf."

 

"But I'll glow." Rowena pointed out, "They'll know it's me."

 

"Oh. Well I tried."

 

Rowena looked past him.

 

"Hey that's it!" she cried.

 

"What?" Tomi watched Rowena run past him.

 

"The ashes! The soot! The burnt wood! I can camouflage myself in it!"

 

"Ooo-k." Tomi walked over to Rowena, "Do you think this will work?"

 

"Of course." Rowena leapt in the soot and rolled around.

 

"Uuh…"

 

Rowena leapt out, "Look! I'm a black wolf!"

 

"Mostly black wolf. You still have a few white streaks going though you." Tomi replied.

 

"Yeah but it's cool, ay?"

 

"Yeah, it is."

 

"Now all I have to do is climb the wall."

 

"Won't that be hard?"

 

"Nope. I'm a white wolf." Rowena turned to leave, "You coming?"

 

"No, I'm quite likely to get killed." Tomi replied.

 

"Oh, ok. Well you can make to my pack. It's just across the lake, Kyran's pack." Rowena said.

 

"But, the fastest way there is across the lake."

 

"Not if you run."

 

Tomi nodded and Rowena went to the wall of the ditch. She leapt up and clung to the wall. She slowly climbed up one paw at a time. Then she slipped.

 

"WOAH!"

 

She dug her claws in as far as they would go and regained her control over the wall. She eventually reached the top.

 

"I'll meet you at Kyran's pack!" Rowena called.

 

"But I don't know how long it'll take me!" Tomi replied.

 

"You'd better start running then!"

 

Tomi obeyed and headed for a southern wall. Rowena turned a walked across the shallowest part of the water. The sky darkened with storm clouds. Thunder and lightning filled the sky. Rowena wandered through unusual territory. The smell of black wolves and torturous death was overpowering. She could hear barks, yips, and growls coming from the trees. A lightning bolt struck the earth and sent a bear running. It ran to Rowena and let out a small growl. She stopped walking and turned around.

 

"Uh, hi?" she said quietly.

 

The bear roared and rose up on its hind legs. Lightning struck again, this time sending a tree down. Luckily, Rowena remembered her dream and spotted the falling tree. She dove out of the way and it landed on the bear who roared in pain as he was squashed under the weight. Rowena discarded the scene best she could as blood leaked from the body. She moved on. Next she came across a male red wolf.

 

"Halt!" he growled getting in front of her, "Who are you?"

 

Rowena didn't let him catch on to her sudden nervousness and quickly thought of a name.

 

"Sevati." she answered.

 

"Hmm. Well, you’re black enough to be here." he said, "Are you an outcast?"

 

"What?"

 

"An outcast! Are you?"

 

"Um, yes."

 

"Work on your lying and sent covering, Rowena."

 

Rowena was caught by surprise.

 

"Don't worry. I'm an outcast so I won't tell anyone." the red wolf said.

 

"You have green scratches on your eyes." Rowena commented.

 

"I know. Scars I got as a pup. The never healed and the blood turned green."

 

"Does it hurt?"

 

"Sometimes. Come on, I'll take you somewhere safe."

 

The wolf led Rowena to a cave. They were soaked with rainwater when they got there.

 

"This is my home. An old bear's den." he explained, "I've lived here for years and no one ever comes near it."

 

"I'm not surprised. You do a great bear impression when you growl." Rowena said.

 

"Rowena! That soot! It's come off!"

 

"What!?"

 

Rowena looked herself over. He was right, her underbelly was still brown from the dirty wall of the ditch but other than that she was mostly white.

 

"Oh howl." she muttered.

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"If the Dark Masters catch me I'll be snapped in two."

 

"Oh. Well, if you stay here a while then the rain should stop and you can go home."

 

"Yeah. But-"

 

"Don't say it. The shortest way home is through the pack."

 

"Yeah." then Rowena realized something, "Hey, you never told me your name."

 

"Edom, it means-"

 

"Red."

 

"Um, yeah. How…"

 

"I honestly don't know. These things just come to me."

 

"Oh."

 

An hour and a half later the rain stopped. Rowena left the cave and Edom pointed out where the pack was.

 

"Best to avoid the dense forest." he had said, "But don't go into the clearing, bears."

 

Rowena was doing her best to avoid the dense forest but her paw-steps led her there uncontrollably.

 

"Hey you!" a deep voice yelled.

 

Rowena gasped as she saw a male black wolf running for her.

 

"Aw crap." Rowena ran.

 

She ran through the forest, forgetting to use her nose, and ran right into the pack. Everyone stared. A red female stood up.

 

"Well!?" the male chasing her called, "Don't just stand there! Get her!"

 

The entire pack leapt for Rowena. She had nowhere to hid… but she did have somewhere to run. Rowena leapt up and landed in some dense forest.

 

"Smell her out!" the red female ordered.

 

Rowena ran southwest. She looked behind herself as she came around a tree and ran right into a familiar black wolf.

 

"Denny." she whispered.

 

"Hello Rowena." Denny smiled evilly, "You've been busy these past few weeks, haven't you?"

 

"What do you want!"

 

"I want to help you."

 

"Help me?" Rowena was confused.

 

"Yes. I can end your journey and give you a pack all in one action."

 

Rowena's eyes widened, "You want to take me."

 

"Yes. And you can do nothing about it."

 

Rowena was now backed up against a tree. She slid onto her back and exposed her belly. This was her only protection against Denny. In this case anyway. Then she noticed something. Her hind paws were in line with his rear. She pushed her hind paw up. Denny felt pain run through his body. Rowena smashed his jaw with her front paw and he backed away. She shot up and kicked him like a moose before running. Denny picked himself up off the ground and chased Rowena. His plans had changed. Rowena came to a cliff and skidded to a stop.

 

"That's a long drop." she muttered, looking down at the stream going by.

 

"Yes it is."

 

Rowena spun around to see Denny.

 

"And you can take it as an escape route if you want."

 

"I'm not going to let you penetrate me." Rowena said.

 

"Oh I'm not going to do that."

 

"What? But you said-"

 

"I know what I said! But I've changed my mind now." Denny grinned evilly, "I'm going to kill you instead."

 

Denny leapt. Rowena took a step back and lost her footing. The two wolves fell down the side of the cliff.

 

"AAAAAHHHHH!" they both screamed.

 

Rowena hit the ground on her right side. Denny was facing the water in a straight line and broke his neck. He also snapped his lower jaw. Kyran's pack caught interest in the scene and walked up to the stream. Kaleb recognized his sister and rushed over. Tomi arrived gasping for breath.

 

"Is this Kyran's pack?" he asked before spotting Kaleb, "Oh no."

 

"Rowena? Rowena get up. Please." Kaleb whispered.

 

Blood from Denny's body flowed through the water, staining Rowena's fur as it did. Tomi walked over to Kaleb. They both sat down.

 

"I'm sorry." Tomi whispered.

 

Kaleb let some tears fall.

 

"It's ok. I'm sure she'll be ok with the others." Kaleb replied looking up.

 

'Her siblings.' Tomi looked up too.

 

"We have a great loss today." Kaleb started but his voice was lost.

 

"Kaleb?"

 

Kaleb and Tomi looked down at Rowena. She was alive!

 

"Rowena!" Kaleb exclaimed.

 

"That's me." Rowena lifted her head up, "Tomi. You made it."

 

"Yeah. Only just." Tomi felt tears of joy fall down his cheeks.

 

Rowena got up and saw Denny's dead body.

 

"He's defiantly paid for his crimes." she said, "Toss him."

 

Jet picked up Denny by his tail and threw him into the lake.

 

"Thats better. Now he's gone for good." Rowena looked at Tomi.

 

"Did you find a mate?" Kaleb asked.

 

"Oh, I'm sure I found one. The perfect one." Rowena answered still looking at Tomi who smiled.

 

That night was Mate's Moon. A new moon. All the wolves in Kyran's pack howled. Vashti and Jet howled, Hannah and Iagan howled, Kenya and Yong howled, Wilda and Justin howled, Farkas and Kyran howled together as brothers-in-law.

Udolf and Quorra howled, Kerrin howled with an outcast black wolf named Kite, Kaleb and Lynn howled, but above all Rowena and Tomi howled. Actually they sang.

 

"Lyin' here with you so close to me

It's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard to breathe

Caught up in this moment

Caught up in your smile." she sang.

 

"I've never opened up to anyone

So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms." he sang.

 

"We don't need to rush this

Let's just take it slow." they sang, "Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight

Just a touch of the fire burning so bright

No I don't want to mess this thing up

I don't want to push too far

Just a shot in the dark that you just might

Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life

So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight."

 

"I know that if we give this a little time." she started.

 

"It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find." they continued.

 

"It's never felt so real." she sang.

 

"No it's never felt so right." he sang

 

"Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight

Just a touch of the fire burning so bright

No I don't want to mess this thing up

I don't want to push too far

Just a shot in the dark that you just might

Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life

So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight." they sang, "No I don't want to say goodnight."

 

"I know it's time to leave, but you'll be in my dreams." he sang, "Tonight."

 

"Tonight." she sang.

 

"Tonight." they sang, "Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight

Just a touch of the fire burning so bright

No I don't want to mess this thing up

I don't want to push too far

Just a shot in the dark that you just might

Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life."

 

"So baby I'm alright." he sang.

 

"Whoa-ooh." they howled.

 

"Let's do this right." she sang.

 

"With just a kiss goodnight." they sang.

 

"With a kiss goodnight." she sang.

 

"Kiss goodnight." he sang.

 

They ended the song by pushing their noses together in a wolf kiss. All the other wolves howled and celebrated the soon-to-be-mated couple. Rowena and Tomi left the group and Kaleb and Lynn took over.

 

Rowena could hear her brother howling with his own mate-to-be as she and Tomi went to a special spot of the forest.

 

"So this is the place wolves come to be alone together?" Tomi started, "It's nice."

 

"Thanks. It's a favorite spot of mine." Rowena replied.

 

"So we going to do this?"

 

"Yep."

 

Rowena was already waiting. Tomi stood over her. She was wearing a necklace with one of Denny's teeth on it as her new decoration. She also had a black circle with four lines pointing away from it. Her old decoration was no more. They were both ready. Tomi started the ritual.

 

*Two months later*

 

Tomi walked into a den.

 

"Rowena?" he asked.

 

"Tomi. Come here." Rowena called quietly.

 

"What is it?"

 

"Look."

 

Tomi looked over Rowena and a litter of 5 puppies cuddled up to her belly. One blue, one red, two brown and one white.

 

"Wow." Tomi muttered, "I'm a father."

 

Rowena chuckled, "Yes, and I'm a mother."

 

They smiled and nuzzled each other. Outside Kaleb and Lynn were handling their two pups. Kerrin and Kite were supervising their pup, so were Udolf and Quorra. They all knew that there where challenges lying ahead. But they could only wait for these things to happen and hope they were good things.

 

The End

Author's Note

This is my first story on writers cafe so I would like some ideas on how to improve my writing skills. My wolves have their own words to replace swear words and other things so it may be a little confusing.