The Runestone Guardians book 1: Secrets of Sølvefalske

Chapter 16 Dinner for...Thirteen?

Along the Eastern base of the Hvitrfjella mountains laid a golden sea of tall grasses bordering evergreen forests. It was the picture of bounty and peace, but for a lone bull elk, it was the scene of his last stand.

He, as well as the rest of the herd, knew his days were numbered. As predators relentlessly pressed them, his legs grew stiff and his breath short. That day, when the others took off at the scent of wolves on the wind, he managed a painful jog that left him far behind safety. Despite his acceptance of the end, his instincts demanded to fight, so when the beasts closed in, he faced them with lowered antlers.

To the elk, they were terrifying, snapping and growling. Little did he know, Jay and Ylvana were just as scared of his towering bulk and sharp hooves. They darted around his legs, avoiding kicks and drawing blood, weakening him drop by drop. Jay attacked the bull's hindquarters while Ylvana sunk her fangs into his windpipe.

The elk kicked the black wolf with his hind legs, but the gray one's grip was too strong, and his vision darkened. Gasping and coughing, he hit the ground with a thud, and the rise and fall of his ribcage ceased.

A sense of accomplishment washed over Ylvana as she spat out wiry elk hair. She hadn't murdered; she had survived, and now she, Jay and Pine could have the first full meal in days. The only problem left was forcing herself to eat as much raw meat as she could.

While the pair congratulated themselves on the hunt, a howl rose from the trees in front of them. Primal fear froze the landscape. Ylvana and Jay stepped closer together, watching shadows form in the forest's darkness. One by one, in a flawless line, ten strange wolves loped into view and circled them.

"They want the elk," Ylvana whispered.

"Then let them have it."

"After all the hard work we did, I'm not just gonna give it away!"

While Jay lowered his body and tucked his tail, Ylvana stood tall and alert, eliciting a snarl from the pack. By now, Pine had returned, but upon seeing the angry wolves circling his friends, he reversed into the grass.

"We don't stand a chance against ten!" Jay hissed. "It's us or the elk, understand? Offense is suicide!"

"We need the food, we're starving."

The wolves' got bolder, bluff-charging to get them to run, since fleeing animals were easier to attack. However, Ylvana knew their snarls and snaps were for show. She remembered a lesson from biology class about how wolves were cautious hunters, especially around new enemies. Taking a chance, she shifted into human form. At the sight of a person, the wolves sprinted for cover. All but one male.

White in his pelt aged him, but he was still at the top of his physical ability. He could easily overpower a weaponless teenager.

The wolf crept forward. Listening to her instinct, Ylvana crouched on her knees and tried not to flinch from the wolf's hot breath. His nose swept across her face, reading her scents like a book. A wag from his tail cut the suspense.

Relieved, Ylvana's lips parted―a terrible mistake. An open mouth was an invitation for licks, as was the customary pack greeting. At least his breath was fresher than a dog's. Ylvana could cross off 'made out with a wolf' from her bucket list.

When the rest of the pack approached to greet the strangers, Ylvana and Jay were careful to keep their mouths sealed.

**********

As they ate, the old wolf introduced himself as Bodolf, patriarch of the Western Forest Pack. He was fine with them staying in his territory as long as they shared with his wolves.

"This is an impressive kill," he said. "In my experience, it takes at least four to take down an elk this size."

"You told me two wolves could do it easily," Ylvana said to Jay.

"Well... I may have exaggerated, but we succeeded, didn't we?" The conversation ended when a lanky twelve-week-old pup attacked him with licks.

His twin climbed into Ylvana's lap to greet her. When she tried to give him a few pets, he grabbed her hand and tried to run away with it. After a few tugs, he gave up and moved on to something more interesting: Pine's tail. The fox jumped up with a yip, and the two engaged in a wrestling match.

"Are they yours?" Ylvana asked.

"My daughter's, Winter." Bodolf looked over at a white wolf, gnawing on a femur. "She was planning on dispersing with her mate to a new territory, but..." he rested his head on his paws with a sigh, "he was killed. My wolves are not well. Men hunt us and our prey. Many of my sons and daughters should have left to form their own packs, but now we can't afford to separate."

"Can't you go somewhere safer?" Jay asked as one pup climbed on his back.

"We'd risk encroaching on other territories, and we're too weak to fight."

"Jay could help you," Ylvana suggested. "He's looking to join a new pack."

Bodolf approached Jay with a raised tail, signaling him to lower his gaze as a pup chewed his ear.

"He's no trouble-maker," the alpha said, relaxing. "I'm fine with him here, but it'll be my children's final say. That goes for you too."

When Ylvana realized the wolf spoke to her, she shook her head. "Oh, that's okay, I'm not joining, in fact, I should go." Long shadows crept across the prairie, beckoning the evening as the sun sunk behind the mountains. "Skoll's turning in2, and I need to get home."

"Then I bid you farewell." Bodolf gave her a couple parting licks on her cheek and nose, then left to join his pack.

Ylvana wiped her face with her cloak. "Thanks for not greeting me like that when we met," she said to Jay.

"Know where you're going from here?"

"Straight East. Keep the rising sun in my face, and in a few days, I should find the village trail. I'll stay in wolf form to avoid Crows."

"Well, it's been... exciting."

"I can't thank you enough," Ylvana said, kneeling beside him. "Don't freak out, I'm gonna hug you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, burying her fingers in his thick guard hairs.

Jay relaxed into her embrace, starved for physical affection. The smell of sweat and forest grime smacked his nose. "Keep your head up, Wolf Girl, get home safe. Maybe take a shower."

Ylvana laughed, shifting into wolf form. "Yeah, I'm burning red3, it'll be the first thing I do when I get there. Good luck, Bird Brain."

She called Pine, forcing him to abandon his new play-mate. When he noticed Jay hadn't stood up to follow them, he asked him why he wasn't coming with.

"Aw, buddy, a village is no place for a wolf."

"But we'll never see you again!"

"I wouldn't say never, crazy things happen." He gently shoved him with his nose and said: "Now go on."

A bitter-sweetness overtook him as his friends disappeared into the bramble.