The Legend of Good-Warrior A story about the brave wolf from Golden Tree Valley

In a great valley between two massive mountains a wolf pup was born… It was April in Golden tree Valley, the flowers were blossomed pink, the grass at its brightest green, and the famous trees a beautiful gold. This pack was under the rule of a monarchy that descended down many, many generations, the new alpha was named Beng, he was new to ruling, but he proved to be much stricter and fiercer than his father. Unfortunately, this year, Beng’s mate had failed to give birth to any strong pups, all had died. So Beng decided he’d take the pups from the only pregnant wolf in the pack, Nava. That lovely spring-day her litter of puppies was born. Nava, a beloved member of the pack, had given birth to four lovely wolf pups. Nava held her newborn babies close to her, overwhelmed with joy, she was silent, but her eyes showed how much she loved these young pups even though she had just met them a few minutes ago. Her green eyes stared lovingly at the tan and black puppies. One’s nose wriggled in its sleep, she couldn’t help laughing; but she quickly caught herself when realizing that he would probably grow up to be a warrior. The alpha-male stood by her side he said to Nava, “Which is the pick of the litter?” She said calmly, “Garnel”, and then wrapped her paw around the mostly tan pup. Nava licked the four other pups on the head and said goodbye. The alpha-male nodded solemnly, then gathered the rest of the pups and brought them to his mate. It was heart-breaking to watch your children being taken away. Nava’s eyes stayed locked on her puppies following Beng. She knew that the alpha-female would take good care of them, but those puppies were the only thing she had close to a family. But she remained quiet and calm; she decided to think of something else. Garnel was an ancient name of her packs’ land meaning: truth. She closed her eyes and wished Garnel would grow to be truthful to her. She snuggled him close into her warm fur, and whispered to her baby, “Don’t be like your father”…

Pick of the Litter

Nava

Nava and Garnel

Garnel and Nava

Before Nava’s eyes, Garnel was growing up to be a strong, independent wolf. He had lost all of his brown color and was now pitch-black with a patch of white on his chest. Since his father was not around, Garnel depended on his mother, which was very tough for Nava. When Garnel was old enough to begin hunting, the alpha-male forbid her from teaching Garnel. Females were not allowed to hunt. He suggested she find a teacher for the pup, but no male had time to teach a naive wolf like Garnel, so Nava instead taught him how to speak; not only the modern wolf language but also: traditional, Greek, ancient, panther, and Egyptian-dog. He was doing well for his age. But it still made Nava’s heart brake seeing Garnel with his father’s eye color, a deep scarlet. Garnel loved to frolic with the other wolf pups in his pack. He didn’t realize that four of them were his brothers and sisters. The older pups taught him how to pounce on small game like rabbits and mice. Although Garnel wasn’t the most experienced hunter, he was the only pup in his pack that could speak other languages…

<Kainite <Sarbo Garnel> Windsong> Garnel> <Garnel <Narcissi

Lessons Learned “Da Bore. 'n glws ddiwrnod achos helfa dont dybi?”, repeated Garnel. “Very Good!”, Nava stated excitedly. There was a pause, Garnel sighed and finally said, “Ma. When are you going to teach me to hunt? All of my friends are going on their first elk hunt next week! And I haven’t even started!!” Nava looked down at the dirt, “I’m sorry Garnel, but master won’t let me teach you…” “Well why not? It’s probably just a misunderstanding…I’ll go talk to him.” Garnel began to walk away. Nava shouted after him, “Don’t anger him!!” Garnel slowly walked towards Beng’s Oak Tree, he could see Beng’s silhouette. Garnel had never talked to Beng face-to-face. He always admired him from afar, a noble, strong, and fearless leader. Maybe Garnel would be like Beng one day…

Garnel strode up to the 175 pound alpha-male, while he was only 104. He calmly questioned, “Why can’t my mother teach me to hunt?”. Beng glared at him, then barked, “Females have NO strength, they are WEAK! Weak I tell you!! If you want a proper teaching find a male with TALENT!!”. Garnel had stepped back, of fear of being struck. He averted his eyes from the widened scarlet eyes of the alpha, and said, “But my ma has loads of talent, I’ve seen her take down an elk when you were away…” Beng’s eyes flashed and his teeth bore. He jolted towards Nava and grabbed her neck and threw her to the ground. Garnel ran after him barking in fear, he jumped on Beng, but got jerked off. He quickly returned to his feet and positioned himself in front of his mother. Beng lunged forward and Garnel went for his neck. Again Garnel was thrown to the ground. Other wolves from the pack gathered to watch the fight. Beng clawed at Nava’s face, neck, and shoulders. Nava cried out, “I’m sorry!-I’m sorry master-Please-!!” Garnel rammed Beng, he stumbled, then pushed Garnel again. Garnel stood strong and rammed him again. Beng lashed at cut Garnel’s face. Nava harshly shouted at Beng in Egyptian-dog. Garnel didn’t recognize the angry words, but he knew she was mad and hurt. Garnel dug his fangs into Beng’s shoulder and Beng yelped and backed away. Beng limped over to Nava and lunged at her rib cage, listened to the rewarding SNAP! He smiled then rolled off laughing. Nava screamed with agony. Garnel hurriedly gathered up his mother and brought her away from the menace.

Garnel carried his bludgeoned mother on his sturdy shoulders to a field far away from Beng. “Ma? Are-are you ok? Are your ribs broken? Ma?” She stuttered in reply, “Beng…Beng is--go get away from Beng…go-far away…g-”, and she died just like that, her eyes glassed opened and her head drooped, she died in front of her pup, and he didn’t know what to do. “Ma? Mom!? MA!!?!?!” He lay by her side all night. He didn’t know if she would come back, but he promised that he would fulfill her wish and leave the pack. When the long night finally ended, he awoke and sat in front of his deceased mom. Garnel howled for her, and heard no reply. He was alone. He licked Nava’s head and walked away. Into nothingness. Garnel walked and walked, he felt like he had died along with his mother. His head was screaming, he wasn’t sure if he was screaming out loud. “Where’s mom?”, he muttered in a trance, Garnel answered himself, “Garnel was too weak to save her… It’s all his fault.”, he repeated as he walked. Garnel didn’t know how long he had been walking since he left Nava, but he was tired, and parched. Garnel couldn’t go on any longer and collapsed in the never ending field. Dreams of Nava filled his head.

A Savior “Hey. Are you ok?” Garnel opened his teary eyes to see a white wolf looking down at him, head-cocked. Garnel replied, “I-I think so…” She replied, “You’re covered in blood. You’re not okay.” He attempted to rise but fell to the ground. The white wolf got down in front of him and started licking the gash on his face. He jerked his head back and yelped. “It’s gonna sting, just relax” Garnel tried to, but it hurt so bad. She stopped tending to his wounds, “My name’s Kai, by the way, I’m from, or WAS from, the Articas.” Garnel asked, “You’re a snow wolf?” “Yes” “Wow. I’ve never met a snow wolf before. I’m Garnel, of the Golden Tree Valley.” “You’ve come a long way, haven’t you Garnet” “Garnel” “Oh sorry” “Um...where am I?” “North Canada” “Canada!?”, Garnel stared in shock. “Yeah. Good thing I found you or you woulda froze to death.” “…death…”, he repeated. She waited. “My mother died yesterday, Beng killed her. She told me to get away from him before she died.” “I’m very sorry…” She continued to lick his wounds. Garnel sat there for a moment letting the sting on his forehead burn him, he whispered, “Me too…”

* Kai and Garnel * * Kai and Garnel – Best Friends *

Garnel and Kai had been traveling together for three weeks. Kai taught Garnel to hunt, and Garnel taught Kai to speak other languages. In Golden Tree Valley marriages were arranged, but Garnel had left before he was assigned. He had the power to choose his own destiny. He loved Kai, he knew it, but he wasn’t sure how she felt about him. He also didn’t know how marriages were approved in the Articas tribe. “So… what’s life like in the Arctics?”, said Garnel trying to fill up the awkward silence. “Oh…well it’s a lot harder out there than it is here… it’s always cold, always night…” “Always night?” “Yeah, we don’t see the sun for month’s at a time.” “Oh my…” “But our ancestor’s taught us the skill of fire.” “You know how to make fire!?” “Yeah, my grandfather taught me.” “Wow…” There was a pause, Garnel thought to himself, fire is a human’s weapon, how did wolves master the art? Kai finally broke the silence, “I didn’t like my tribe…” “Why not?” “There weren’t many other females, we were taken advantage of. And I just couldn’t take being lower than my own species any more…so I left…” “That’s a brave thing you did… you-you could have died…” “If Felix wanted me to die, then I would have died.”, Kai said looking up at the sky. Garnel scooted closer to her. Kai turned towards him, and licked his nose. He sighed and offered a shoulder for Kai to rest her head on. After a minute or two, Garnel whispered into her ear, “I love you” Kai and Garnel, in their travels, found a lovely in-tact cave beside a river and a lake, hidden from predators by a thick forest. It was perfect, they decided this is where they wanted to settle down and start a pack. They named their home Waybrooke. Their home was just right for starting a family, there were many hiding places to hide from hunters that might come along. The lake was full of salmon, and there was also a herd of elk living in the forest. And the next year, they got their pack, four new wolves entered their lives: Gunther, Shri, Mango, and Dingo.

Garnel loves Kai Kai loves Garnel

Garnel + Kai = Dingo, Gunther, Shri, and Mango

~*Kai and Pups*~

Back at Golden Tree Valley… “You worthless coward!!”, Beng shrieked as he threw his student to the ground. “If you can’t attack a rabbit then you won’t be able to hunt the elk!!!” “I’m sorry Beng! I just can’t focus!!” “WHAT!??” “I just can’t hunt small game!! I want… I want to…uh to-“ “Spit it out you impetuous waste of air!!” “ -to fight…Other wolves!! I know it sounds strange but-” “You want to fight…other wolves? ... Rixer!! RIXER! You genius!!” “Genius?” “Yes!”, puts paw around Rixer’s neck and whispers, “how about you be my hit man?” “Your hit man, sir?” “Yes, an old foe of mine ran off a few years back. I want you to find him…and kill him.” Rixer smiles. “You’ve got a deal, Beng. Who do you want me to find?” “His name is Garnel. He’s a large black male with a white splash on his chest, scar across this face.” “Deal, I’ll be back… with a dead body.” Beng started to walk away then he said under his breath, “But first I’ll go say good-bye to Nakita.” “Nakita? You awake?”, said Rixer walking up to Nakita in their cave. “Yea what’s up?” “Babe, Beng sent me on a quest, I’m going to be gone for a while. I came to say good-bye.” “What!? Master sent you on a QUEST!? Where? Why?” “Sorry Hun but…I…I got to go right now or Beng’s going to be angry. Good-bye.” She came crying into his arms, “How long will you be gone?” “I don’t know, but I will be back, don’t worry” He kissed her head and walked away nose in the air, searching for a scent, he turned around to look at Nakita once more, she was crying, Will this be the last time I ever see her?, but he shook the idea out of his head and trotted away.

Garnel’s Left Home Alone Garnel was feeling very uneasy on this brisk summer day. He paced around the cave, he was supposed to be taking the pups fishing but his mind just couldn’t stop racing. His mind was wandering to strange things too, like his mother and Beng, he wondered what Beng was doing right then, he wondered if any others had gone the same way his mother had. He couldn’t hear anything, all he heard were his old friends laughing, his mother teaching him other languages, and the terrifying SNAP of ribs breaking. All of a sudden Garnel heard a muffled sound almost like someone was talking to him. But who? His mind ran around searching for the answer. Nava? No. Beng? No. His old friend Windsong? No. Kai? Yes! Yes! Kai? Where are you? Garnel woke up from the horrible dream. “Garnel? You were having a bad dream. Are you okay Garnel?” Garnel sighed, shook his head and whispered, “No honey, I just feel a little weird today.” “You should get some rest. I’ll take the kids to the river, to go fishing. You just relax here.” “Thanks Kai.” Garnel was feeling on the edge that day like he was being watched. And having that nightmare made it even worse. Garnel paced the cave and walked outside, but wherever he went he felt weird. It wasn’t long before he fell asleep again, without any more dreams to wake him up. Garnel awoke when he heard breathing above his head. “Kai is that you?” The breathing continued. “Kai?” Garnel looked up. There was a strange, and very angry looking wolf staring at him. “Who are you?” Garnel said, standing up quickly. “Remember Beng?” Garnel growled. “I’m his Hit-man!” Rixer jumped at Garnel. Garnel side-stepped and Rixer fell to the ground. “I see your one of Beng’s students.” Rixer bared his fangs. He lunged at Garnel again and ripped his neck flesh, then landing on his back. Garnel yelped and bucked Rixer off, clawing his shoulders and back. Rixer kicked and scratched and howled with anger, he was a very loud fighter. Garnel, on the other hand, played it step-by-step. Garnel knocked him over and went for Rixer’s neck but Rixer kicked him off and got back up. Rixer ran at him. Garnel rammed his head into Rixer’s. That knocked him against the cave wall, Garnel was knocked back too. Garnel could feel a large gash on his neck bleeding profusely. Rixer had blood pouring out of his mouth. Garnel roared and dug his fangs into Rixer’s shoulders then slammed him into the wall. Garnel heard the terrifying SNAP of Rixer’s ribs. He fainted and Garnel stared at the butchered wolf in his cave, then fell to his haunches in exhaustion, barely breathing.

Rixer VS Garnel Garnel VS Rixer

I hope Garnel’s alright… Mommy! Mommy! Momma! Mama!

Repent Garnel stood up in pain, his face was swelled up, paws covered in blood, ears bleeding, everything sounded muffled, and his neck was surging in pain. He lifted his pounding head and gazed at this so called “Hit-man” of Beng. All of his blood was dried to his face, neck, shoulders and feet. His face was covered with bloody-vomit. His stomach was collapsed, he was just barely breathing. Garnel looked around his once tidy, orderly and beautiful cave to see blood smeared and splattered all over the walls and ground. He hoped Kai and the kids would stay at the river all day so he could clean up and get this wolf out of his house. His head drooped and he coughed. More blood fell to the floor. Garnel’s head remained down, eyes closed he spoke slowly, and “Who are you?” His eyes half-opened and he stuttered, “Rixer”, he wheezed loudly and finished, “Of Golden Tree… Valley” Garnel didn’t move, “Beng, sent you?” “Yes” “And now look at you, half-dead on the ground, saying your last words to the enemy of Beng. I suppose you have a family, a woman, perhaps a pup, there is no way you could possibly go there to meet them again. You’re dead and I didn’t kill you, Beng did.” Rixer gave out a small sob and said, “Tell Nakita… I love her” Garnel peered into the dying eyes of Rixer just as he had done when his mother was dying. Garnel sat up, and watched Rixer die, he didn’t call for help, he didn’t give him air, he just sat there and watched. Rixer’s eyes closed, his lungs stopped moving, and his brain stopped working. Garnel limped over to the mouth of the cave and sat there watching the sights of autumn. Garnel peered back over his shoulder at Rixer and shook his head. Garnel looked up to the sky “Can you hear me Nava!? Look what I’ve become!! Guide me, mother!!”

Look what I’ve Become…

Hiding the Evidence Garnel slowly stood; regaining balance as he did so, he wobbled over to Rixer’s maimed and bloody carcass, he picked it up, stumbled at the taste of blood in his mouth, and heaved the body on his back. He had to get rid of the evidence before his family came home. Garnel limped out of his cave, through the trees, the forest, and picked a nice spot, far away from home, in the tall grass. He slid Rixer’s body off of his back and covered him up with a few leaves and branches. Garnel had no time to sit and feel sorry. He ran as fast as he could back to the cave. Kai and the pups still weren’t home. Garnel remembered the hunter that came by a year back that was only a few yards away, pretty close to the lake. There he could soak up some water in the man’s clothing and wash down himself and the cave. Garnel was throbbing in pain but the look on his kid’s faces if they saw the sight of the murder would hurt much more than his throbbing head or achy limbs. Garnel pushed himself to get to the lake, he jumped into the water, the cold stung his wounds, he got back out of the water shook then he removed the coat off of the decaying human and dunked it in the lake and jogged back to his house. Finally he made it back to the cave, Garnel speedily wiped the blood off of the walls and ground. Garnel ran out off the mouth of the cave and tossed the jacket in a crevice. He then grabbed some dirt, grass, and leaves to cover the stains on the floor. But right as he was about to run outside to get more leaves to put in the house Kai walked up the hill and said, “What’s the hurry, Garnel? Is something wrong?” “Oh nothing, honey, just getting some exercise”, Garnel lied, as he slowly walked, disguising his limp, to go greet the children. They all cheered, “Hey Daddy! We all caught the fish! To eat for supper!! It’s a big fish! You wanna see it Daddy?” “Why sure! Where is the sucker?” Kai dropped the salmon on the ground it flopped, gasping for air. The kids gathered around it tackling it, pawing it, and laughing. Kai walked over and stood beside Garnel, she licked his cheek and they both watched their pups play.

Kai was skilled in making fires, having lived in the freezing regions of the Arctic's. Dingo, Gunther, Shri, and Mango sat around the fire watching the fish simmer in the flames. “Garnel, why aren’t you eating?” Garnel had to think quickly, “Don’t worry Kai, I’m not sick, I’m just not hungry- I caught a rabbit when you were fishing.” “Oh, ok”, Kai said with a sigh. There was a long pause, the fire crackled and made ashes dance in the sky. Kai almost whispered, “Gunther, watch the fire while me and your dad take a walk, okay?” “Ok mum”, Gunther said, puffing out his chest. “Come on Garnel…” Garnel had a very bad feeling about going with Kai, he almost wanted to stay with the kids and have her go by herself, but he reluctantly went with her. Everything looked meaner at night, except Kai. She looked like an angel in the moonlight, but he tried not to look at her while they walked because he was afraid of what Kai might have seen. Garnel wondered what he looked like in the moonlight, probably more like a demon than an angel. Finally Kai said, “I know what happened, I saw you drag that wolf into the woods. I kept the kids down by the river so they wouldn’t see.” Garnel sighed, he had no reply, words stumped him. “Who was that?”, Kai questioned “I… don’t really know, he um…came and told me that Beng sent him. I believe his name was… Rixer?”, Garnel admitted. He sat down in the grass, Kai sat next to him. “What did he want? And are you okay?” “Beng wants a rematch, and I’m fine, Kai” “No you’re not”, Kai said inspecting the gash on his head “This reminds me of when we first met” “Oh Garnel.”, Kai sang as she began to lick his forehead. “I’m going to have to go back to Golden Tree Valley” “Why?” “I need to, to avenge my mother”, Kai didn’t say anything, it was obvious that she was chocking back tears, “Are…you sure you have to go” “I need to do this Kai, I can’t live knowing that he could hurt someone innocent.” Kai didn’t respond again. Garnel didn’t know what to say to her. Finally she whispered, “Please, come back, I know… that you are strong, but-but I don’t want to loose you…” “I will be back, you don’t have to worry about me Kai, I won’t leave you…” Garnel licked her nose and tried to smile, he licked her cheek. “Don’t make this, Good-Bye, Garnel”, Kai said beginning to cry. “Don’t cry Kai, I’ll be back.”

The Journey Kai wrapped cloth around Garnel’s sore paws and around his achy shoulder. Garnel kissed Kai good-bye, licked his four pups on the head and left on his long trek back to North Montana. Garnel walked a few steps, stopped, and glanced back at his family. Shri and Mango were in tears, Gunther and Dingo just sat there, motionless. Kai sat close to her pups comforting them, giving a small, sad smile up to him. Garnel returned a fake smile and walked on. He walked through the forest then picked up a trot in the big-field. Garnel made it obvious that he was determined to get to Golden Tree Valley as fast as possible. Garnel only stopped once to drink some water from a puddle and fix his bandages. He was so tired by the time it got dark that he collapsed with his head between his paws, while wiping the dirt off of his face. Garnel was awoken by a loud “crashing” sound. “What the-!?”, Garnel shrieked soaking wet. “Oh good Felix, I better find shelter..” Garnel had no protection from the lightning storm.

The Storm Without any cave to take shelter in, Garnel could easily be struck. “I’ve got to think quick, and be resourceful…forget that…RUN!” Garnel ran for the woods. Quick, quick, quick, thought Garnel. CRASH! Lightning struck a nearby tree which almost immediately caught on fire, he dodged the flames and ashes and ran further into the woods. CRASH! Struck the ground behind him. Garnel felt like the storm was following him. “Why me, Felix!?”, Garnel howled into the dewy air. CRASH! Garnel’s bandaged paws hit the earth in unison with his heartbeat. A huge bolt of light flashed in front of him. Panting wildly, nostrils flaring, eyes shining, he dived onto the ground and dodged the lightning-bolt. Chest expanding out as far as it could go, Garnel gasped in huge gulps of air, legs stretched high in the air. Garnel’s eyes closed and he fell to one side, collapsing in fatigue.

The Scorch-Flame Tribe Garnel shook awake, he was so hot, he couldn’t move. He opened his weary eyes and saw a strange tan-ish wolf with a feather behind her ear looking down at him. “Well, ‘ahllo Sleeping Beauty!”, she exclaimed cheerily. “Where…am I? Who are…you?” “Oh you poor little thing, you. I Hutakei-Maw of Scorch-flame tribe.” “An Indian tribe?” “Yes, young traveler, now rest your head and let me tend wounds, Good-warrior.” Hutakei-Maw took very good care of Garnel, she re-wrapped his paws, stitched up his open wounds, from his battle with Rixer, and healed his burns and bruises. Garnel had never been treated so good before, he almost felt like a god himself. And Hutakei-Maw was putting some strange liquid on his burns Garnel said, “How could I ever thank you enough, Hutakei?” “Oh Good-warrior, It was my duty to heal you, Felix and wolf spirit sent you to me. Come, come, Good-warrior, come to Sabbog.” “It would be my pleasure.”, Garnel said as he bowed before his healer. Sabbog was a native-tribe’s way of worshipping the spirits and the almighty Felix. They bowed and prayed before the tribe’s totem pole, then ceremoniously danced around it. Garnel followed along with their rituals although he had not the same customs. “Sobeit”, all of the tribe members finished simultaneously. The alpha-male stood in front of the totem pole and announced, “Our great healer, and speaker to spirits, would like to proclaim the appearance of friendly-stranger in our lands.” The alpha walked down from in front of the totem pole and welcomed Hutakei to the front. Hutakei-Maw stated, “We have one of far-away places worshipping the good Felix,” “Sobeit”, said all of the tribe members at the same time, “He is strong of feature, mind, and strength, agile and cunning is he also. I would like to make known a nomad of the states: Good-warrior Garnel, and we shall present him with warrior necklace to guide him in journey” She placed the necklace over his head. All of the wolves howled with praise. Garnel stood and bowed feeling better than ever.

Scorch-Flame ceremony

Back at Waybrooke Kai sat stooped over Garnel’s post (a stump Garnel sat on when looking for elk or watching over the kids) sobbing in the snow. It had been over four weeks and Garnel sent no sign of existence. Kai hadn’t gotten down from on top of the cave for days now, the pups began to worry because Kai was weak and was very skinny. She was too worried to eat anything that the pups brought back for her. If Kai did manage to fall asleep, Garnel was there in her mind beckoning to her: Where am I? Come save me, Kai, I’m lost. All of her memories would fade before her eyes and before she woke up a flash of Garnel’s dead body would appear before her, and Kai would mope and wail in agony. “I just can’t live with this pain of not knowing if he’s still alive, it’s killing me!” Mango tip-toed up to her mother and nuzzled into her fur. “Don’t worry, Mommy, Daddy’s still alive, I can feel it.”

Faith “What is wrong, Good-warrior?’’, asked Hutakei-Maw picking his head up and peering up into his eyes, “Why you not eating your welcome fruit and salmon? You are sickly? Tell what is wrong to me.”, she said. “I-I just miss my family…” “Oh, Good-warrior, you must be strong, you have miles to go still and you can show no weakness when facing your enemy. You will go back to your family, good-” “How do you know that!?,” Garnel snapped, “What if I don’t come back!? Huh!?” “Oh, Good-warrior, you can’t be so angry. I have faith in you. Come, eat up you must eat and rest well before you go again. Safi! Kirra! bring our guest a platter of fine fruit and fish.” Two lovely young wolves sauntered over to Garnel balancing the platter of food on their backs. They placed the array of treats in front of him. “Does he need aiding of the feeding?”, one asked Hutakei-Maw, “No, he is a warrior he is strong does not need help, now be off with you!” Both trotted away, and Hutakei pushed the plate closer to Garnel’s mouth. “I must be off as well, Good-Warrior now eat your foods, rest your head, and be on your way. Sobeit, Good-Warrior. I have faith in you.” “Sobeit, Hutakei-Maw, and so long.” Garnel ate some of the fresh food, and then slept for a good fifteen minutes. His dreams consisted of Kai, his pups, and Nava. He awoke, wrapped his paws up once more, and then walked solemnly on south. I won’t stop until I see the Golden Trees after I get over the great hills, he said to himself. “Good-bye scorch-flame and HERE I COME BENG!”, Garnel roared into the air. Garnel burst into a full on sprint and was on his way, back to his homelands. Hutakei-Maw sat on the totem-pole hill and said, “Felix is with you, Good-Warrior” then howled out good luck to him.

On the Horizon It was early morning on a powdery day in February, Beng remained sleeping under an oak tree, the sargeant came up to his resting body and whispered, “Sir, sir, wake up”, Beng woke up, but while doing so snapped his teeth right in the sargeant’s face and growled, “WHAT!? Could be SO important to wake ME up BEFORE SUNRISE!?!??!” “I’m so sorry, sir, but there’s an intruder alert, guards posted on the outskirts have detected an unknown scent, a wolf, coming over the hills” Beng unclenched his teeth and said, “An unknown scent, you say. Take me to head-quarters I wanna get a piece of this.” Beng and Sgt. Roarue walked up to the big hill, known as head quarters, and just as they did so a wolf’s silhouette appeared on a hill coming out of the woods. Beng, drew in a whiff of the unidentifiable wolf’s scent. Beng paused then lied, “My…good sprits, It’s… my old buddy, Garnel! Here to visit me, aww how sweet. Bring it on old boy…” “So your saying, let him pass?” “Yes, Roarue, send out the signal tell me when he’s in the nuke. I’m going to take a nap.” “Yes, sir.” Aroooooooooo, Sgt. Roarue let out the signal to inform that the stranger was a brother of the pack, he got four replies. “All’s in order, captain”, he said to the wolf walking up behind him. “Good, sargeant. You’re in charge for the week, my wife is having our puppies and I need to be there. And this Garnel figure is no friend of Beng’s more like an enemy, from what my father told me; post some guards in the nuke.” “Yes, captain.”

We Meet Again A large grey wolf greeted Garnel on the closest hill to the valley, “Hello, stranger, I am Sargeant Roarue, we welcome you to our lands.” “Humph”, he replied, “If you’re welcoming me then why do you have guards posted at every corner.”, Garnel said peering left and right. “A precautionary, strange-wolf, we are a very protective pack…come let me escort you down to the valley.” “No thanks Sarg. I can find it on my own. But you can tell me this: Is Beng still alpha here?” “Yes, his family’s been in charge for centuries, why ask?” Garnel paused and then said, “I’m his son.” Garnel left the so-called Sargeant at his post and walked down the hill, himself. He was greeted by another guard, For Felix’s sake!, “You the wolf on the hill?” “Uh…that’s me, who’s askin’?” “I’m just a sentinel, sir; Beng’s the one looking for you.” “Where is he?”, Garnel said, holding back a growl “Right over there”, the wolf said nodding his head towards the same oak tree Beng slept under when Garnel was part of the pack with his mother. Garnel said nothing and walked over to Beng, he could see his figure sitting on a rock under the tree. Garnel walked right up to his face, teeth bared, and eyes glowing. “So, we meet again”, said Beng, calmly. “Looks like someone got control of that anger-management problem.” Beng stood up, clearly angered, but caught himself and said, “Hmm…clever, I see my hit-man paid a good toll on you”, indicating Garnel’s bandaged feet, where is the fellow anyway?” “I killed him.”, Garnel said dryly “No, not sweet little puppy Garnel.”, said Beng, mockingly. “I’m not who I used to be, I’m stronger, and smarter; I obviously took nothing from my father’s side.”, Garnel said. “What are you saying, dog.”, Beng whispered, tensing up. “Hey dad”, Garnel simply said before lunging at Beng and grabbing hold of his neck.

Father Against Son Many wolves rushed over, most sentinels and guards to stop the fight, but every time they came close, Beng lashed at them to stay back. “THIS IS MY FIGHT!”, Beng would yell. “So the fight continues,” said the captain to another elder. “Oh my! You don’t mean to say this is the pup that tried to save his mother years ago?”, said the elder in reply. “You bet, and I heard that the young one is Beng’s son.” “You don’t say, well we better stick around for this one, who knows, we might get a new alpha here, and get rid of that nasty tyrant.” “Now wouldn’t that be the day, we best just sit down and wait to see who wins.” Beng had gotten Garnel on the ground, they wrestled there for a bit, Beng tugged at Garnel’s ear and ripped off a piece, he howled in pain and kicked him off. Beng tumbled to the ground. Garnel darted to Beng, who was slowly getting up and grabbed a big chuck of his throat in his mouth and yanked him to his feet; Beng gagged and jerked his head back, releasing himself. Beng lunged for Garnel, but he jumped into the air and landed on Beng’s back, clawing into his sides and pulling him to the ground again. Beng kicked him in the stomach and slashed his face with his fangs. Beng got equal abuse from Garnel. Beng’s blood leaked from his face pouring onto Garnel. Garnel grabbed his throat and managed to get over him. Beng turned around and attempted to buck Garnel off but he threw his head back biting Garnel’s throat but in turn smashed his head into Garnel’s jaw, knocking him out momentarily. Garnel seized the moment, backed up and sprinted at full speed, to ram into Beng’s rib cage. For the third time in his life, Garnel heard the treacherous SNAP of ribs breaking. Beng howled in agony, neck stretching out, legs kicking out at his sides, lungs going mad. Garnel felt so good, but then he remembered his mother and how much pain she had to go to but once more he thought of who made her get into so much pain…Beng…his father, his father? How could such a wonderful mother and pack-member-in-general deal with such a horrible man? Garnel let Beng’s pain soak in. He stood there just staring, the pain on the left side of his face was unbearable, and he could feel the wounds on his back, neck, and shoulders begin to sting. He tried to forget the pain. A pool of blood was forming around the mutilated corpse of Beng.

A Tough Decision The crowd of wolves around the fight scene was struck dumb-founded that someone finally killed the beast that ran their lands for the longest time. Garnel stood looking down at his kill. The guards and sentinels passed a glance from one to the other then two rushed in and hauled Garnel in between them, both grabbed his scruff in their fangs. Garnel didn’t lash at them; the two sentinels dragged the alleged “murderer” to head-quarters and said to the sargeant, “What should we do with him? Let him go? Dub him alpha? Lock him up? …Execute him?” “You say you are son of Beng.”, questioned Sgt. Roarue. Garnel looked up, “Yes, I was.” Roarue stood there for a moment, not saying anything, he looked at the guards and said, “Ask him. One should get to choose their own destiny”, the sargeant turned back around and gave a long howl informing the lands of the death of their king. Garnel kept his head down, he didn’t know how to feel, what to do. He knew he had to contact his family, he wanted to stay with his family, yet thoughts ran through his mind: Should I just end it now, put an end to the pain and misery? This land needs order; it can’t have another like Beng rule them again. But…Kai. What would Nava say? What would she want? What would Kai want? My kids… What about Hutakei-Maw, she wants me to be strong, but which is stronger leaving my family behind to save a dying race or leaving them and going back to my family? What should I do!?

Loneliness Kai sat on Garnel’s post like she did everyday looking over the tree-tops into the big field, Kai looked for a small black silhouette come over the hill tops, but it never came. It had been around 7 months, more than half of a year, since Garnel left her. “Oh please, Garnel, come back, you’re not dead, you’re too strong, you have to be alive; for your kids, for me…please”, Kai cried. Her kids could hear her pleas. “Man, I just can’t listen to her in so much pain, I want to go up there and comfort her, but I just don’t know what to say.”, said Shri to Gunther. “Tell me about it, she’s been like this forever; I wonder if she’ll ever get better.”, added Dingo. “I wonder if dad will ever come back.”, said Mango with a sigh. “I don’t know, sis, but I hope, we all hope he will.” The kids were all getting older, they were strong, smart, and good hunters. Next year, they were old enough to leave home, and start a new pack, but they couldn’t leave their mother like this. They all vowed to stay with their mom as long as they could until their father got back. Kai was hysterically crying again, “Oh, I just can’t listen to that, It’s so sad and frightening. I’m going to the lake; I can’t stand it.”, said Mango, “I’ll come with you”, said Dingo. Shri sighed and said, “Do you want me to go up there and talk to her?” “No, she needs time by herself, mum feels guilty when we see her cry.” “Okay, let’s catch up with Mango and Dingo.” “Fine.”

The twins – Mango and Dingo Gunther – Gray wolf Shri – Black wolf

A Shadow in the Distance Kai sat on Garnel’s post all day; she fell asleep and slept through the night. When morning came, the kids went up to Garnel’s post and helped their mother into the cave. “You have to stop falling asleep up there, here lay on this soft grass and dirt.”, said Dingo. “Thanks kids.” She laid there motionless, eyes open, after a moment or two, Kai sighed, “No. I just need to be outside, it’s my-my comfort zone. Thank you for caring for me but I just like it out there.” Kai picked up a mouthful of grass-straw and brought it up to Garnel’s post. The children looked at her with sadness, she was loosing weight, Kai needed to eat and sleep; but she couldn’t, she needs to hear word of her mate. The children left Kai alone, after being rejected while trying to help her. Again, she did not come down for hours, the kids were hunting mice near the lake when they heard their mother scream. All came running. Kai was sprawled over the edge of the cave eyes locked on the hills. Shri looked to the hills, “Guys, she’s just hallucinating…Oh my lord! Dad! DAD! HE’S BACK!!” Kai jumped down from Garnel’s post and ran at full speed into the woods. Shri, Mango, Dingo, and Gunther following after. The mysterious wolf coming over the hill was walking slow, with a limp, they could not yet tell if it was truly him. Kai and her children came bolting out of the mouth of the woods into the field, the unidentified wolf saw them approaching he began to trot to them. “Garnel!!”, shouted Kai…

At Last “KAI!!”, Garnel screamed back. “It really is you!!!”, Kai cried. Garnel and Kai embraced, neither let go, both had tears streaming down their face. “I missed you so much.”, whispered Garnel. “I did too. Oh god, I love you so much” There was a long pause, they both just sat there, hugging, crying. Finally Kai said, “Please, please, never leave us again.” “Oh, trust me, I never want to again.” They kissed once more and Garnel turned to his pups. “H-how, you’re all grown up…” Garnel said crying, “I don’t want to know how long I’ve been gone,” he stuttered gathering up his children in his grasp. Dingo and Gunther supported Garnel as they slowly walked back to Waybrooke, Garnel couldn’t take in all the sights. It was almost a miracle to see his family, and his home… he felt like he was in a completely new place. The trees looked so friendly and the grass looked so soft. The grass in Golden tree Valley almost looked razor-sharp to him. Kai was staring at him, in disbelief, as if Garnel had died and was resurrected. Garnel and his pack walked through the woods, past Rixer’s grave which was covered in pansies and dandelions, they walked to the opening that lead to their cave. Everything looked so different. Garnel walked slowly to the fire pit, reminiscing, he looked over his shoulder at his family and smiled, He saw Kai looking at his necklace. Garnel sat down at the fire pit, hid children sat down too; Kai started a fire, and then sat down as it caught flame. Garnel took off his necklace, there were many different sized stones: of gray, pink, black and white, and a small carved piece of wood dandling at the end. Garnel realized that the carving was of Hutakei-Maw, Garnel and the alpha around the totem pole. He looked up at Kai, Shri, Dingo, Mango, and Gunther and said, “Good-Warrior was born in April, in a small pack in North Montana…”

The End