The White River

Step Over the Sky

                     Chapter 1

  One cold September night, along the Sukhoma river in Russia, a pack of 10 tundra wolves lay under the stars. Zar, an old black wolf was the alpha of that pack. And he lay under a dead tree "Kotnik?" Called Zar. Kotnik was his younger brother "Yes?" Said Kotnik poking his giant grey face out of the den. "Have Rolko and Vetorgo come back from hunting yet? I need to talk to them. Said Zar. "They haven't come back they have been wandering farther off lately there is not much food left here for us." Said Kotnik. "Yes, that's what I wanted to talk to them about you se................." "Zar sir?" Said Rolko "Yes Rolko? I see you've found your way back?" Said Zar. Rolko smiled "We crossed the river and found some rabbits" said Vertorgo. "Yes, about the rabbits Vetorgo, where are the deer and moose's? We should head down river and find another place to hunt. I don't think I can eat anymore rabbit!....Call the others will you Kotnik?"Said Zar​. Kotnik poked his head back into the den where the others were laying "Ledya! Motya! Korsho! Tamat! Roylo! Karashni! My brother wants you to see him!" Yelled kotnik "Yes Kotnik" said Ledya. Ledya was solid white so she matched the snow perfectly, she was the most beautiful wolf of them all and Kotnik loved her. "Wheres Korsho?" Said Zar. Korsho was always disappearing whenever there was something to be done. "She is still lying inside father" said young Tamat of 2 or 3 the oldest son of Zar the younger ones were still to come as Motsya, Zars mate, was still pregnant "Leave her, if she does not want to come she can die here. There will be a time when the tundra wolf shall pass, but, it is not now we will not let her stop us with her faint spirit......Kotnik, Rolko, come here. Rolko and Konik have generously offered to find us a new land to plant the next generation. They will leave at once......You may resume yourselves now" said Zar.