Among The Wolves

Rememerance

I held a handkerchief on my lap and waited for the proceedings to commence. Duo'Lae sat on my left with Sho'Jy, my mother-in-law, on the other side and Vae'En sat on my right with Kay'Rha,Wey'Don's mate on the other side. Both Ty'Bin and his sister were not present with us, they had to help with some part of the speech. I did not really know what exactly, but we all were about to find out.

It was a pleasant sunny day, two days away from the second full moon since the battle. Which meant tonight Vakusian girls from all over Wos'Theon were being brought here. They would stay the night and in the morning they would be sent home. Thereafter the POWs would all be exchanged. It would be barely timely but it was timed well. From what Ty'Mee discovered in the lab the wolfbloods from Wos'Theon who stayed in Vakusi, namely Joinervetti had depended on a liquid medication to keep their strength despite the lack of a Wos'Theian full moon. Being behind bars for all this time they were prohibited from medicating themselves. So bringing them over just before the second full moon would ensure that they were all weakened to an extent and make an escape less plausible, but not hold them too long that they'd all end up dying. I visibly shook my head, remembering those side effects of moonlessness.

The sunny day also provided a cheerful outdoor weather in which many chairs were placed in front of the porch. The porch was the platform and the many chairs were the seating for the packmembers.

And so the Speeches began. Alpha M'est'r walked up to a makeshift podium. He looked tall, broad and powerful. The true Alpha who was victory itself. His ruddy, brown hair, sharp, yellowish eyes, bulging, trained muscles, and staunch face was very similar to when I first met him at the base but my perspective of him was... oh, so different. Even though the power could be felt from his aura, I could see the resignation in the windows of his soul.

There was no indication, no news, nor rumor of any such thing but I did wonder if this he-wolf was getting close to handing over the baton he carried so well. He killed the person responsible for the brutal murder of his mate. No doubt that brought about restrained emotions and memories from thirteen years ago.

"Good morning to the BlackAxis Pack!" The Alpha's bold voice reached all the ears that listened for him.

"Good morning!" Came the chorus from the people. Some whistled, some hooted but all responded positively. No one had enmity with this Alpha.

When the clapping subsided he looked down at the papers that were stacked. "Let us take a moment to think... to remember those we've lost." He closed his eyes and bowed his head even lower.

Immediately, my eyes watered. I held the handkerchief close to my face as the air quickly became heady with grief. The heavy hearts of the pack weighed down the previously cheerful attitudes. As my throat swelled as it had done a thousand times since the battle, I ignored the other tears around me. It was so long ago when I had told myself that I was done with this drama, this unsettlement and it was still unsettled! Would healing and peace ever come?

Alpha M'est'r never looked up during the silence. After the crickets had sung a substantial amount of their song he lifted his head and spoke up again. "Lar'Riv!"

I jolted at the outburst and it seemed that I was the only one. A he-wolf a few rows from me stood up. I did not think I had ever met the guy but his features were warmly familiar. Baring the younger version of features of my father-figure.

We all watched him move from his seat and walk up to the BlackAxis leader.
Beta, who stood behind the Alpha stepped forward and handed the Alpha a small object. He took it and faced Lar'Riv.

He began to speak softly to Hem'Lar's son. I could not hear but everyone's attentiveness told me that they could pick up the gentle words that were being spoken.