27 Ch 27 Wolf Pointe (1/2)

It was fun running with dad again, shoulder to shoulder, along a path we'd scratched out of the forest over the years. Even wild wolves followed this path on occasion. The pointe had a great view and the sound from there, well, you could hear and be heard for miles.

Dad and I weren't the only wolves in the woods tonight.

I could tell from the scents in the area that the wolf sent to represent the Arctic Wolf had been around for the last few days.

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The old grey was laying on the stone of the pointe. When I looked at him I saw only wolf.

There was another smaller wolf, friendly and unafraid, sitting on the trail. His coat was more yellow with black on its back and tail.

”A Mexican wolf,”said dad in surprise, shifting to speak. ”Rare in the world these days. Hola, Lobo,” dad said, greeting him in Spanish.

When I looked through Spirit Wolf's eyes I could see others gathering.

The shy wolf I had seen hiding, not wanting to be found, had come despite his fear. He was ranging at the edges of where we could scent him.

The young lady's representative was trotting toward us with purpose. He stood as her guardian. He would not risk her young self to this unknown so he came in her stead. I could picture a man in a suit and tie. He felt all business.

Angry Cherokee Wolf was coming, and not happy about it. I bet Old Badger Woman had sent him.

And Lone Wolf, struggling along the beginning of the path, the young wolf seeking his courage by his side.

I had to stop and take to heart the advice I had gotten from grandfather after I put Mahina in Anna's care. Derrick had already left with Chani. I had told grandfather everything, from my first use of my pipe.

Grandfather taught me and warned me. I didn't control Spirit Wolf, he helped me at his pleasure. The wrong attitude would offend him and he could possibly leave me. Respect was the key. He was not mine alone. He was my guide, not an aspect of my being the way man and wolf was.

Yet the wolf within me, that was me, related so easy to the spirit of the wolf. It was as if there was no border between us. The way I had shifted in the fire was proof of that.

Right now, after knowing Lone Wolf brought a companion, I really wanted to know where that alpha was! Spirit Wolf obliged me. The world moved under his feet until my vision focused on a city.

I was at attention then, ears forward, eyes focused on that distant point. I focused in on that alpha Lone Wolf had spoken of.

There was a room, a boy chained to the floor. The filth of the place, the condition of the naked wolves...

The coward would not come, too afraid to leave his city, too afraid of losing control of his captive pack. I couldn't tell if the growl that came from my throat was mine or Spirit Wolf's.

”If that's my greeting I have no problem leaving.”

I blinked, a few times. It was the angry Cherokee Wolf in front of me, already shifting back to wolf after speaking as man. I shifted enough to speak. I think I might finally be getting shifting my throat down pat.

”Not you, sorry, was looking elsewhere. You'll understand when you smell their fear. Please stay and meet the others. Arctic Wolf has travelled long and far.”

”So have I,” said the small yellow wolf as he finished shifting to a dark-skinned man.  ”I originally came from Venezuela. I thought the gathering of wolves was myth until I heard the call. It's fascinating to meet the other native tribes who live with the wolf. I am of the Wayuu,”  he said with a toothy smile.

”I am of the Yupik,” said the white Arctic Wolf, now also an Eskimo man. ”Our matriarch sent me. What myth?”

Cherokee stayed, shifting back to man. I could tell he was fascinated despite himself.

I spoke up, before those other wolves got close enough to hear.

”There are others coming who are not one with the wolf like we are. I don't know how much I would tell them about where home is and how many wolves are there. Excuse me a moment,” I said with a smile.

I shifted and loped to the one who wanted to stay hidden. I didn't approach too close, just close enough for him to hear me.

Thinking on what Lone Wolf had said about royals, I figured showing off my ability to shift wouldn't hurt. I rose, shifting to man, dropping to sit cross-legged on the ground, all in one smooth movement.

”Hello.”

He came closer, but not too close.

”You don't have to be shy, or afraid,” I told him, ”not with us. I can't speak for everyone who will be here, just those of us who are one with the wolf. We want only what the wolf wants. Sun on our backs, the ground beneath our feet, a good hunt when hungry. None of us will hurt you.”

I considered the impressions I had received from Spirit Wolf before I spoke again.

”Somehow you have some interest in this gathering. The rest have come to witness, and to meet each other. Please, join us, even if just as wolf. No one asks you to stand as a man. Who you are is your business. You don't even have to speak unless that is what you want. The choice is yours.”

I gave him a smile and shifted back to wolf. I gave myself a good stretch before wandering back.

Dad was introducing himself as being from the Black Forest. He had found his calling among these wolves, translating things as needed. He was switching between Russian for the Arctic Yupik and Spanish for the Wayuu Lobo from South America. I was just glad everyone seemed to speak English as well.

Old Grey watched me go by. I had a feeling he knew something about the underlying cause of why we were here. I didn't know if the old wolf could still find the man inside himself to tell us anything.

I headed toward the businessman. He wasn't like the rest of us. His movements were determined. He didn't glide through the forest like a wolf, he strode through the woods like a man in the shape of a wolf.

I ghosted up to him, brushing past and circling tight. I let my tail and demeanor speak for me. I was non-threatening and friendly. He seemed slightly amused. He was open, watchful, but not aggressive. I pranced forward playfully.

I left him when he was close enough to the others. Cherokee was back in wolf form. I didn't blame him considering the chill in the air. He was laying over by Old Grey, listening to the conversation between my dad and the two travelers who had come so far.

I turned my head when I heard someone crashing through the woods. I only knew one wolf that incompetent at walking on four legs. I shifted to man for a bit, running toward them. I waited until I was sure his companion could see me before I transitioned to wolf while running.

My dad might fuss about me showing off my shifting, but after what Lone Wolf had told me, I figured I might as well impress his companion enough so there was less chance he would cause trouble.

Lone Wolf braced himself at my running approach. He knew what to expect from our first meeting where I rushed him. He just laid on the ground where I knocked him down, stretching out his neck and rolling his eyes at me. His companion stood over him growling at me. I half-shifted back to man so I could speak easier.

”Good to know your companion is as willing to protect you as you are to protect him, Lone Wolf,” I said laughing. ”It's good to see you again, especially so soon!” I couldn't help smiling at him, ignoring the growling wolf.

”Dad wasn't sure you'd find your way. Don't feel obligated to shift unless you want. I know how hard it is for you. We'll probably be going back and forth between forms all night. Your choice.”