27 Ch 27 Wolf Pointe

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."

I was back to wolf then, pouncing at the ground in front of them and leaping away like I did the first time. He got up and shook his head. It was good to see his wolffish laughter. He nudged his companion behind him, then pounced at me, swatting awkwardly with his paw.

I laughed again and ghosted up to him. I partially shifted so I could hug him, putting furred arms around his neck.

"Come meet the others who heard the call," I said, giving him a tug. I shifted back to full wolf and headed toward the others, still ignoring his companion.

You could smell the fear and uncertainty on Lone Wolf's companion. The fear wasn't only current, it was underlaying. It was like when you ate a lot of garlic and sweated it out. His very musk held the taint of fear. The uncertainty and caution was obvious in the way he approached the others. He stayed crouched down, showing teeth, acting like he was going to get attacked any second.

Lone Wolf just kept walking. He would glance up at me now and again. For the most part his eyes stayed on the path in front of him, trying to figure out where to put his feet.

Dad, Arctic, Lobo, and businessman, all still in man-form, grew silent. Old Grey, Cherokee and the shy one, still wolves, turned their heads as one to face the newcomers. The smell of fear from the two even from a distance was disconcerting.

It was as if there was a silent signal once Lone Wolf and his companion stopped. All three of our two-legged guests shifted to wolves at once. All of them shifted in under a minute. Dad stopped in mid-shift.

I couldn't stop my small private smile when the smell of fear spiked. Lone Wolf couldn't help pushing himself into the dirt, head tucked in, piddling of course. The sight of so many "royals" was too much for him.

His companion wasn't much better. I'd never seen a shocked expression on a wolf before. He cowered down then struggled to stand upright. He tried to hold himself as if he had some sort of authority.

I walked over to the far side of Lone Wolf and laid down beside him, placing my head over his neck. I sighed.

"Shift," Dad said to Lone Wolf's companion. Dad was still on two legs, part wolf, enough for fur to cover his body.

The shy one suddenly moved off to the side, pacing, ready to run. I had told him it was his choice. Dad's command to Lone Wolf's companion made him nervous.

It took a bit over a minute for the wolf to become a young man. Dad didn't hesitate. Even before the shift was totally completed dad was moving swiftly forward and engulfed the young man in a hug.

Dad held him while he briefly struggled, starting to fight. Dad just held him tight, his grip preventing the young man's arms from moving. The young man smelled of panic until he realized he wasn't being attacked.

His fear was still strong, but he held still finally, unsure what to do. Dad merely gave him a slight squeeze, the nature of a hug, before slowly releasing him. The young man looked down at a still cowering Lone Wolf with me lying protectively over him.

"What do you want?" He asked in a shaky voice, looking back to dad.

Dad laughed. "What the wolf always wants. Little Wolf?"

I lifted my head and shifted my throat, keeping myself mostly wolf. I stayed down next to Lone Wolf. When I spoke I could tell I freaked the poor young man out, wolf speaking man words. His fear spiked again. My voice was rough and slightly growly, but the tone was peaceful, reverent.

"Sun on our backs, ground beneath our feet, to hunt when we're hungry. The companionship of friends and family, our song across the sky," I said.

"It is all a wolf needs," said dad. "It is all a wolf desires. But more has been asked of you, demanded of you, than ever should have been. Not this night though, and not by any here. Come, join us if you wish. Come and know what it is to live as the wolf."

Dad finished shifting to wolf then, a sudden drop to four paws that took mere seconds. He strode away, over to Old Grey, nudging the old wolf with his nose.

I rose, shifting to two feet. I put my hand on the young man's shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. I smiled at him. He looked like a rabbit ready to bolt.

"It's all right," I reassured him. "This is a gathering of true wolves, summoned from around the world by Spirit Wolf himself. You heard his call and came. You should know your alpha heard it too. He refused to come. Since your alpha refused to show, we might as well enjoy the night. The sky is wide and the stars are clear. Who can appreciate the beauty of the night like the wolf?" I asked, finishing the question as I shifted back to wolf.

For some reason it seemed important to demonstrate our superior ability to shift.

Old Grey sounded out then, his old voice loud and clear. His song held an invitation for all true wolves to join together in the night.

Dad let loose next. I heard the ethereal song that joined his from across the river even if no one else did. My own song was filled with the love I had for my family. It included my connection to all wolves as my song joined with dad's.

There was a long pause.

I had to smile when Cherokee let loose his howl. It was the song of a life of freedom, and protecting those who needed protecting.

There were more pauses, silences that were as much a part of our wolfsong as our howls. From each of them their song rang out true. They sang from their hearts, from their very beings.

The small yellow and black Lobo wolf sang out. His song spoke of his joy in the wolf's ability to travel thousands of miles as it followed the migration of its prey. His love of traveling was a note held throughout his howl.

The strength in the struggle to survive in the harshest of environments and the surety of family came from the Arctic Wolf as his howl sang out in the night.

True wolves, all of them. The others waited.

I howled again, letting that alpha know I saw him, and disapproved. My song this time spoke of the truth of being wolf, of the wolf's justice.

It was a song that reverberated in the businessman. He lived by a code. He would protect his young charge with his life. It was strange, but small parts of his song sounded incomplete or slightly off-key. I wondered what his concept of justice was.

The shy one sounded out next. He sounded resigned, tired of hiding, willing to accept the judgement of the wolf. The wolves around him found nothing to judge. He moved off, hiding himself from view when the silence grew. He had been expecting a challenge and sobbed in relief when there was none. I hoped in time he would find the courage to share his story.

I was surprised when the old wolf rose. His grace in movement was exquisite. His shift as he approached the shy one was seamless. He put an arm around the shy one as the sobs continued. The old one whispered briefly to him, his words unclear to anyone else. The shy one nodded, got himself under control, shifted to wolf once more.

They both walked back to the pointe, the old man's hand resting on the other's wolf shoulder. The old one's seamless shift back to wolf once more as he approached the rock was a work of art. The old wolf lay back down.

The shy one was aware of us behind him as he stood at the edge of the pointe. You could almost see the effort it took him to set us aside, to focus on the night sky. I smiled when I realized he was reaching out for Spirit Wolf, finally ready to be what he should have been all along. Free.

The howl that split the night was filled with old pain and despair, shifting into years of hiding and loneliness, ending with a release into a new life that he was desperate to live. The poignancy in his cry was heart wrenching.

I walked up to the pointe to stand next to him. I stood there for a moment before letting loose a howl. It was a song that spoke of the joy of life on four legs and the oneness all wolves shared.

The wolf next to me was quick to join that song. It came from the depth of his being.

All of the wolves around us joined in that eternal song of the wolf. We sang of the joy in life we had as part of Spirit Wolf's pack, a pack all wolves belonged to. We could hear wolves in the distance joining our song.

The wolves I didn't hear were the young wolf who had yet to sound out in the night and Lone Wolf.

Lone Wolf couldn't howl. The young wolf had his jaws around Lone Wolf's throat.