Wolves of Black Pine

Ambush

THE DAWN brought a cool breeze as Gray Shadow's pack loaded into the two vans he'd rented for the round trip from their home territory to the gather. Cousins and some of Caius' own family members were opting for an early departure, and would be leaving with Gray Shadow and his family pack. Laughing cubs, grouchy and snarling teens, and resigned and annoyed parents all made as much noise as possible while Gray Shadow watched indulgently from the porch of the Red Fern clan leader's cabin, his great head resting on his paws. Gray Shadow was large for a shaman, nearly the size of the average alpha, as if his body reflected the level of spirit and earth magic that hummed under his skin. He was gray, the basis for his name, yet he was every shade of gray, from the dark dust of shaved metal to the vague wisps of fog that spun through the pines in the early dawn light. His age was merely hinted at in this form, a spattering of white furs lightly spread throughout the dark fur of his snout.

He'd spent the night as a wolf, running through the pine forests of the park, enjoying the peace and quiet to be found under the fragrant boughs. He seldom slept anymore, his mate long dead now this past half-century, dying not long after giving birth to Josiah. So he had no one to return home to when the moon set each morning, his hours his own. His children were grown, his shamanic duties over for now, and he found himself at loose ends more and more. Usually he would run with Caius, but the Clan Leader of Black Pine was busy with the other Greater Clan Alphas, and he didn't want to disturb his friend's political maneuvering.

His kind were not bound by the cycle of the moon as most legends spoke of by the humans, and could Change whether it be day or night. Some few legends spoke of monsters who could conquer the moon and walk as man or beasts regardless of the time of day or the moon's phase. Those legends were very close to the truth, and tended to pop up in human populations near clan homes and territories.

A tiny hand suddenly gripped one of his ears, and Grey Shadow held still as his grandson used it for balance as he climbed over his grandfather's lupine form. Luca sat on his grandfather's shoulders, and Gray Shadow hid his wince as Luca let go of his ear and grabbed the fur on the back of his head instead. Luca was small for a cub of five years, and his weight was slight, but like all young children, he tended to be unintentionally rough. He was taking after the stereotype that shamans were smaller, slighter than their beta or alpha counterparts, and Gray Shadow was glad for it as the little cub tugged on tufts of fur and heels energetically kicked at his ribs.

"C'mon Grandpa! One more ride?" Luca bent down and draped his slim arms over Gray Shadow's muzzle, whispering loudly in his sensitive ears. Gray Shadow let the wolf equivalent of a grin pull back his lips back from his fangs, and he sneezed, making Luca squeal with giggles and sit back.

*Hold tight, little cub.* Gray Shadow whispered softly in the mind of his grandson, the telepathy shared by all wolfkin strongest in their lupine forms. Luca giggled, and squirmed as he grabbed another handful of fur.

Gray Shadow carefully stood to all fours, and balanced the weight of his grandson on his shoulders. He waited to make sure Luca had a solid grip, then sauntered down the porch steps towards the vans. Everyone was seated, the side panel doors open as they waited for Josiah to double check everything before departure. Gray Shadow paced alongside the vans, and Luca blew a raspberry at his older siblings, who groaned in jealousy at the sight of their baby brother getting a ride wolf-back.

"Dad, you spoil him," Josiah said without heat, peering into the first van, securing a pup's seatbelt. He grinned down at his father and son, and went to take Luca from Gray Shadow's back.

*As is my prerogative, whelp. Grandfathers are meant to spoil their grandchildren.* Gray Shadow archly informed his son, a short wave of his tail taking any sting from his words. He pranced back from Josiah, and Luca squealed again at the movement, laughing. *I'll take him for one last run through the woods. I should be able to beat the vans to the park gates.*