We left nothing, but our paw prints in the snow

Chapter 26

Chapter 26:

The smell of racoon had me wide awake. I saw his gleaming eyes at the opening of the den and bared my teeth at it, omitting a low growl. It scampered off in a rush.

The birds outside were singing cheerfully, and I felt compelled to join them. But after yesterday's incident with the foxes, I decided to stay as close to my cubs as possible. I waited until I was sure that everything was fine, then let myself go back to sleep.

My cubs pawing at me woke me up again. I turned and let them suckle. I knew I ought to eat, but I didn't dare leave the cave. I saw that Pup was looking at me with those inteligent human eyes of hers. I decided she'd have to help me. “You want to get me food?”

“Can't hunt.”

“Just tell Mate. He'll do it for you.”

“Okay. Where do I find him?”

“Just howl. He'll find you.”

“My howl's wobbly.”

“So he'll be sure to know it's you.”

“If you say so,” and she got up and crawled out of the den. I heard her running off and I waited to hear her howl for Mate. After a while, her unsure howl filled the air, calling for Mate. Of course, she didn't call him Mate. She called him Alpha. Soon after his call returned, and I knew he'd find her. I had nothing to worry about.

The coming weeks passed in mainly the same way. Pup coming regularly with food for me, my cubs sucking and growing stronger. Minor disturbances would make me uneasy for a while until I forgot about them. At some point, the cubs opened their eyes for the first time. One had two different eye-colours. My mum used to describe my eyes like that. I called her Two-Eyes. Another had tar black fur, and I called him Nacht. I'd once met a wolf who'd come from a long way away. He'd spoken a different language, and I vaguely remembered that being the word for night. The last cub was grey, black and white, with stunning amber eyes. I named him Shadow, because his pelt looked like it was cast in partial shade.

After a couple more weeks, I dared leave the cubs on their own while I go out to hunt. The smell of summer was now strong, and prey was easy to find. I knew it was time to introduce the cubs to the pack. That was happening tomorrow.

I wolfed down (no pun intended) my caught rabbit and returned to the now very crouded den. I licked my cubs and lay down, telling them, “Tomorrow you'll meet the others. I know it was maybe too long now, but...”

“Never mind, Mama. We're happy here,” Two-Eye barked at me.

“And just outside the den is quite something. What are those tall things called? They're good for peeing on,” Nacht asked me excitedly.

“Ew... Nacht. Why?” Two-Eye complained to her brother.

“Sh. They're called trees Nacht. What about you, Shadow? You had fun while I was out?”

“Yes, Mama. I had fun. Can you tell us a story. About how you met Dad?”

“You know that one off by heart,” I laughed.

“Please, Mama,” Two-Eye begged me. How could I say 'No' to these little creatures?

“Why don't you wait a bit, and ask Dad tomorrow when you see him for the first time?” I asked, trying to wriggle out of telling that story again. My cubs were already a moon and a half old, but because of my paranoid self, I didn't dare introduce them yet. Now it's gotten a tad late, and soon after my cubs and the pack meet, we'll have to move. But maybe just another moon, for the cubs to grow stronger on the meat I bring them. Or, I usually bring them. Today I'd eaten it myself, because the last time I'd brought them something, all they said was, “We're still full from last time. We don't want to eat now!” So, no food this time.

“Mama, you promised last night that you'd tell us the story tonight, because you were too tired,” Nacht moaned.

“Did I?” I asked, mocking disbelief.

Two-Eye gave me a withering look, “Yes, you did.”

“Shadow, your sister's lying to me, right?”

“What's lying?” Shadow asked innocently.

“Oh, it's something you should never do.” I'd forgotten that lying was something Pup had told me about. So far, only humans, I think, are capable of it. I wanted to keep my cubs away from that kind of information.

“That's not very speziftic,” Nacht complained.

“It's specific, dear, not speziftic,” I corrected. “And it's as specific as it needs to be.”

Two-Eye glared at me, then turned away in mock-humph.

“You are so charming,” I said, trying to get her attention again.

Two-Eye swiveled around and said proudly, “Shadow said that every male wolf will be after me some day.”

I saw out of the corner or my eye how Shadow turned away in embaresment. “Did he?” I asked, trying to keep the laugh out of my tone.

“He did, he did!”

Shadow turned around sharply and said, “It's true! Any male wolf in his right mind will want her when she's ready!”

“I hope you're not one of them,” Two-Eye said teasingly.

“Don't worry, Sis. I'll keep him away from you,” and Nacht stood up, puffing up his chest fur to make himself seem bigger. Shadow took the chalenge and stood too. They threw themselves at each other and play growls became audible.

“You guys. Boys! That's enough” She's your sister,” but they couldn't take me seriously because I was laughing at their cuteness.

“Don't, Mama. I kinda like it when they do that,” and Two-Eye settled down to watch her brothers fight over her.

I rolled my eyes and wondered where she got her vaneness from, but settled down too to watch my cubs, such strong cubs, play fight, develop important skills and muscles for later. They were both so proud in their own unique way. And Two-Eye. Such a pretty little thing. Her brother's right. One day, male wolves will be all over her.