Wolves • George Weasley

Chapter Ten; Secrets From the Past

The Battle Spirits didn't celebrate Christmas in the way most would expect. There were no gifts, decorations, or special music. Truth be told, Marvella and her kind didn't believe in a God, leading them not to celebrate in the common Muggle way. Lupus was said to be the guide of all wolves, the one who would take them through the stars and over the moon once they passed on, but he was no more than a kind soul who the wolves believed deserved to be recognized. Was that what a God was? Marvella didn't define it as such.

Instead of the Muggle way of doing things (of which Accalia tried her best to stay away from in most circumstances regardless), the Battle Spirits showed their gratitude to the Universe by howling. Though wolves howled all the time, this howl was particularly special. On the twenty-fourth night of December, the wolves raised their noses to the sky and sang a song so eerie and beautiful it could be disguised as the wind. The Long Night Moon would shine brightly on the snow, lighting up the glade as Marvella and her fellow Spirits wailed to the stars, and Lupus and his moon would listen.

It was now that Marvella let the emotion rise from her chest and soak into the night rain falling on a pond. The Battle Spirit didn't care that miles away were people she despised, singing and laughing in merry light with their loved ones. The only light she would ever need was the light of the moon on her fur.

When the howl was over, Marvella lowered her snout and silently retreated to her den, where she slept the night away under the peaceful guard of the night sky. In her dreams she saw snow falling outside the windows of a cozy kitchen, flickering candles, and a face that made her paws twitch as she slept, warm fiery hair.

The morning soon came, though, and the dream was lost in the haze. Marvella stood up and shook out her ruffled pelt, smiling wolfishly when she noticed snow floating from the sky. She stepped outside of her den and grinned as she was immediately knocked over by two balls of snow-covered fur.

"Happy Christmas!" The two pups shouted in unison. Marvella huffed with laughter and rolled off of the ground, shaking the white stuff from her coat. "Happy Christmas, Larka, Miya," she responded warmly.

The wolf trudged through the powder across the glade towards Arnou's den. She grunted as her paws sank with every step. Normally, the Battle Spirits stayed on top of the snow due to their wide feet which carried their weight evenly. But the powdery snow was less than cooperative and Marvella huffed as she anticipated pulling clumps of the stuff from between her toes later on.

Reaching Arnou's den, Marvella peeked her head in. Arnou's ears flickered as the slight wind blew a few cold snowflakes onto them from outside and they groaned, blue eyes blinking open.

"Morning, sunshine," said Marvella teasingly. "Happy Christmas."

Arnou slowly got to their feet and stretched leisurely. "Happy Christmas, Vells," they yawned. "Had to let the cold in, did you?" The black wolf grunted playfully. Marvella grinned and stepped back into the glade so that her friend could exit the den. "You know nothing else would wake you!" She woofed. "You sleep like a log, Arnou."

Arnou shook their head with a slight smile. "I'm not giving you satisfaction with that one," they grumbled. Marvella nudged her friend's shoulder playfully. Arnou's ears perked up as Larka and Miya shot past, barking about how many snowflakes each could catch on their tongue. The black wolf's eyes glittered with amusement. Marvella nudged their shoulder again.

"Hey, say we go on a little rabbit hunt competition?" She proposed. For the first time in a while, a wicked grin set itself upon Arnou's sharp features. "You're on," the black wolf said. Both friends shot out of the glade, kicking up snow on whoever was unlucky enough to find themselves behind them.