Chapter Ten
Avey II
The gifting of a pup from another pack was a longstanding tradition for Avey’s pack. Their father never mated with them as the other pack leaders would do with their daughters to further the growth of their packs, so the sisters hadn’t produced litters of their own. The only way they could grow and survive was to trade pups. Their father would offer fire to the other packs, a fire that if kept well would warm a den for an age at least. This had not always been their way, though, as Avey knew.
Nearly three ages ago, their pack had been much larger, but when the Goldbacks came down from the mountain, they nearly wiped them all out. Avey and her father were the only members of their pack to survive, and out of love for her father, the other pack leaders made an agreement with him. Rivendale would give them all a fire to keep in their dens, and when that fire ran out, they would have to offer a pup in exchange for a new ember. Only one pack’s fire had gone out since that time. It was about an age ago that Silver’s pack had sent a messenger to see Avey and her father. Back then it was just the two of them, but she remembered going on the long journey through unmarked territory and coming home with Sky.
Nearly three ages ago, their pack had been much larger, but when the Goldbacks came down from the mountain, they nearly wiped them all out. Avey and her father were the only members of their pack to survive, and out of love for her father, the other pack leaders made an agreement with him. Rivendale would give them all a fire to keep in their dens, and when that fire ran out, they would have to offer a pup in exchange for a new ember. Only one pack’s fire had gone out since that time. It was about an age ago that Silver’s pack had sent a messenger to see Avey and her father. Back then it was just the two of them, but she remembered going on the long journey through unmarked territory and coming home with Sky.
This time they would have to travel far south, near the forbidden forest, which Kato’s pack was charged with watching over. It was Alsatin legend that beyond the forest lay death and torture. No Alsatin had ever even dared to venture beyond the forbidden forest; they all took their rules very seriously. When a pack leader commanded an Alsatin to do something, they did it without question or hesitation, lest they find themselves without a pack. Her father told her that Kato led the largest pack in all the Startelm, and so his territory was the largest. Even once they had arrived on Kato’s land, they would still have a day’s journey to his den, and so they would need to stop and rest.
“The sun will set soon,” Rivendale said. “I think we should rest, maybe hunt for the evening.” He motioned to the messenger who had come with them. His name was Kline and he looked similar to Avey. He was a male, so he was larger, but he had a sleek black coat like hers, spattered with beige markings on his chest. Sky’s old pack all looked different from Avey. They had much lighter fur, like Sky, and slenderer bodies. Avey did not stand very tall, but her body was much more solid than her younger sister’s.
“These lands are ours, Rivendale. Allow me to bring you a kill,” he insisted.
“I would very much appreciate that, Kline. Avey! Sky! Accompany him, see that he need not drag back his kill.”
“Yes, Father,” Avey complied. “Will you be well here alone?”
“Of course I will. Now go! I crave meat.”
“The sun will set soon,” Rivendale said. “I think we should rest, maybe hunt for the evening.” He motioned to the messenger who had come with them. His name was Kline and he looked similar to Avey. He was a male, so he was larger, but he had a sleek black coat like hers, spattered with beige markings on his chest. Sky’s old pack all looked different from Avey. They had much lighter fur, like Sky, and slenderer bodies. Avey did not stand very tall, but her body was much more solid than her younger sister’s.
“These lands are ours, Rivendale. Allow me to bring you a kill,” he insisted.
“I would very much appreciate that, Kline. Avey! Sky! Accompany him, see that he need not drag back his kill.”
“Yes, Father,” Avey complied. “Will you be well here alone?”
“Of course I will. Now go! I crave meat.”
As the three Alsatins went off into the woods, she could see her father spit a fire onto the ground. It was a chilly night, but since they had come south, there was no longer snow on the ground. Her father always needed fire to keep himself warm, though, probably because his fur was not attached like theirs. Avey’s fur was very comforting and warm; often her father would sleep close to her or Sky on bitter nights.
It was not long after they left that Kline came upon the tracks of a boar.
“Boar!” he exclaimed as his ears went erect. “Your father will love the boar our land yields, I know it. Do you hunt much boar near the mountains? I did not smell any while I was up there,” he said, following the hoofprints with his nose.
“Rarely,” Sky replied. “Father hunted a giant stag not long ago, though. Deer and stag are bountiful near the mountains. We used to hunt them all the time.”
“Used to?” he asked, puzzled. “What happened to them?”
“Nothing,” Avey said in an irritated tone. “My sister is just foolish. They are fewer in the snows and we have had many snows lately.” The happenings in their lands were not his business. He need not know their father hunted alone now.
“I envy you then. We have not yet seen snow this winter season. My brothers and sisters love to play in the snow and it makes for an easier hunt. Cold prey never seems to run as fast.”
“Blood?” Avey’s nose twitched with the scent. “I smell blood ahead.”
“Hmm.” Kline began to smell the air. “Yes, me too.”
“Me too,” Sky added, without even taking a whiff.
“Our hunters may have come up here. They are preparing a feast for Rivendale’s visit,” he said, making his way through the brush. “Brothers! I think you killed my—”
It was not long after they left that Kline came upon the tracks of a boar.
“Boar!” he exclaimed as his ears went erect. “Your father will love the boar our land yields, I know it. Do you hunt much boar near the mountains? I did not smell any while I was up there,” he said, following the hoofprints with his nose.
“Rarely,” Sky replied. “Father hunted a giant stag not long ago, though. Deer and stag are bountiful near the mountains. We used to hunt them all the time.”
“Used to?” he asked, puzzled. “What happened to them?”
“Nothing,” Avey said in an irritated tone. “My sister is just foolish. They are fewer in the snows and we have had many snows lately.” The happenings in their lands were not his business. He need not know their father hunted alone now.
“I envy you then. We have not yet seen snow this winter season. My brothers and sisters love to play in the snow and it makes for an easier hunt. Cold prey never seems to run as fast.”
“Blood?” Avey’s nose twitched with the scent. “I smell blood ahead.”
“Hmm.” Kline began to smell the air. “Yes, me too.”
“Me too,” Sky added, without even taking a whiff.
“Our hunters may have come up here. They are preparing a feast for Rivendale’s visit,” he said, making his way through the brush. “Brothers! I think you killed my—”
Before he could finish, he was brought to the ground by a Goldback. It slashed into his neck, pulling its crimson claws from his bleeding, black-furred throat. Avey placed her paw on Sky’s chest behind her, signaling her sister to be still. Five, there were five Goldbacks. This far south? It was one thing for them to be on her lands, near the mountain, but this far south was strange indeed. The sight of them left her more angry than afraid, but more puzzled than anything.
The one who had jumped on Kline looked up at her, hissing and licking its blood-coated paws. Avey showed her teeth. She could feel her sister shaking behind her. Sky let out a pathetic growl, but Avey could feel her inching back with every grunt. The other four Goldbacks stalked them, slowing making a move to surround the two sisters. Avey readied her claws for her assailants, and instead of waiting, took the fight to them. She lunged at one, aiming for its throat, but the nimbler Goldback flipped backwards. Still on her two hind legs in a defensive stance, they did not approach her. She looked back to see if her sister was well, but all she saw was Sky’s tail as she ran, leaving her sister behind. Two Goldbacks took to the chase.
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Typical! Her sister turned tail and ran, but that wasn’t important. Avey knew she had to save her, but first she had to deal with the three Goldbacks closing in. She had only ever seen a Goldback once, and her father had been the one to kill it. She knew nothing about them, only that she had to kill them.
The one she had attacked had fallen behind the other two, following her with its eyes. The two in front charged. She met them with her claws, grasping for their hearts, but they were larger than she was and brought her to the ground with ease. They did not bite or claw at her; they simply held her there while the other one approached slowly, picking its fangs with a claw. Avey struggled and freed one of her claws enough to dig it into the temple of the Goldback restraining her other arm, tossing it onto the creature on her other side.
She leaped to her feet, but the one approaching her had already reacted and lunged. The Goldback’s sharp claw slashed into Avey’s beige-patched chest, drawing blood. The two circled one another, both showing their teeth, while the other struggled to free itself from its now-dead companion. If Avey was going to strike, now was the time, but the Goldback guarded its throat with its razor-like claws. Avey knew she needed to drop this foe to the ground. She feinted a high attack and instead switched her offensive to a slide that led right into the Goldback’s thin legs. She knocked it right to the forest floor and went for the killing blow, but the Goldback reacted by tossing its thin hind legs in front of its body to defend itself, and launched Avey away. Avey lay dazed for a second, and saw the other Goldback standing above her. She could feel the pressure of its paws on her wrist, but then she felt an immense heat. The Goldback was on fire.
She saw her father’s flaming long claw slice through the Goldback’s neck, removing its burning head. Its neck spit blood on Avey’s stomach as the body fell forward on her. Behind her she could see the other Goldback moaning and hissing as the flames engulfed it. Her father stood over the live burning enemy and showed it no mercy. The weight of her headless attacker was lifted from her body by her smiling little sister.
“You ran, you bloody coward,” Avey yelled, springing up and throwing a heavy blow into her sister’s chest. “You left me here to die.”
Sky cowered before her sister. She had no response.
“And had she not come to alert me, then you’d both be dead,” her father said sternly. “Be grateful your sister’s cowardice saved your life today.”
“I was fine, Father. I had already killed one and was—”
“You were about to be killed, Avey. I’ve told you this before: You can’t take the world on! Stop trying to do things on your own. That’s not what being in a pack is about.”
“Might as well be, with this pack!” she blurted out. “Sky is all but useless and you! You don’t even want us around. I might as well be on my own!” She instantly regretted her words. Her father would not even dignify them with a response.
Sky cowered before her sister. She had no response.
“And had she not come to alert me, then you’d both be dead,” her father said sternly. “Be grateful your sister’s cowardice saved your life today.”
“I was fine, Father. I had already killed one and was—”
“You were about to be killed, Avey. I’ve told you this before: You can’t take the world on! Stop trying to do things on your own. That’s not what being in a pack is about.”
“Might as well be, with this pack!” she blurted out. “Sky is all but useless and you! You don’t even want us around. I might as well be on my own!” She instantly regretted her words. Her father would not even dignify them with a response.
Rivendale would not speak with Avey or Sky the rest of the way to Kato’s den. It was evident that he was upset with them and also concerned about the appearance of Goldbacks this far south. As the leader of a northern pack, it was almost his responsibility to keep the Goldbacks on their mountain. The other northern packs kept them at bay in their territory so they should be able to as well.
Upon their arrival, three black Alsatins greeted them. They looked like Kline had, like Avey still did. The middle one was much larger though, almost standing as tall as their father, and Avey assumed this was Kato. His face was pure black, with only slight greying in the brows and under his snout. His tail was a bushy black and brown and his paws were milky beige, just as Avey’s were. Behind them she saw countless numbers of Alsatins playing and skinning boar. Kato’s pack was massive.
Upon their arrival, three black Alsatins greeted them. They looked like Kline had, like Avey still did. The middle one was much larger though, almost standing as tall as their father, and Avey assumed this was Kato. His face was pure black, with only slight greying in the brows and under his snout. His tail was a bushy black and brown and his paws were milky beige, just as Avey’s were. Behind them she saw countless numbers of Alsatins playing and skinning boar. Kato’s pack was massive.
“Rivendale!” Kato said, greeting them. “Welcome, friend. It has been what, three ages since you last visited us? And this must be the pup you had with you then.” He turned to Avey. “She has the look of our pack. I’m glad we can survive in the north. And who is this here? Must be one of Silver’s.”
“Aye,” their father replied. “She was gifted to me nearly an age ago when their fire went out. I assume the same has happened to yours, old friend. But I’m afraid that I come not just with fire, but also with very concerning news.”
“I’ve noticed that Kline has not returned with you, Rivendale. Is that what your concern is?”
“It has to do with that, yes. He was hunting with my girls when they came upon a small pack of Goldbacks.”
“Goldbacks? This far south? Are you sure?”
“I killed them myself. I just barely managed to save my girls. I wish I could have saved the boy. He was a good lad.”
“Aye, we will celebrate his passing at our feast tonight. Goldbacks though? I don't see—”
“Aye,” their father replied. “She was gifted to me nearly an age ago when their fire went out. I assume the same has happened to yours, old friend. But I’m afraid that I come not just with fire, but also with very concerning news.”
“I’ve noticed that Kline has not returned with you, Rivendale. Is that what your concern is?”
“It has to do with that, yes. He was hunting with my girls when they came upon a small pack of Goldbacks.”
“Goldbacks? This far south? Are you sure?”
“I killed them myself. I just barely managed to save my girls. I wish I could have saved the boy. He was a good lad.”
“Aye, we will celebrate his passing at our feast tonight. Goldbacks though? I don't see—”
“If you don’t believe me, here lies your proof.” Their father took from Sky a fur skin she had been dragging along containing a Goldback head. It’s swirling green eyes were left open and lifeless as it’s stubby whisker-covered snout hung open, revealing a prickly pink tongue. “Look upon it. Our enemy, the enemy that nearly destroyed my pack three ages ago. The enemy who murdered your son.” Kato stared into the lifeless eyes that Rivendale hung in front of his face. “I put your boy to rest, Kato. The fur that held this creature's head was his. We skinned him and howled for him. He is at peace, but the rest of us will not be if the Goldbacks think they can just migrate onto our lands at will.”
“Why though? They have only once ever tried to leave their mountain, and that ended in disaster for them.”
“As well as me,” Rivendale added. “Before I left my territory, I killed a lone one wandering in my woods. And I’ve been seeing them in greater numbers coming down from the mountains.” This Avey did not know. Why had her father never mentioned it before?
“And you say nothing until now?”
“Why though? They have only once ever tried to leave their mountain, and that ended in disaster for them.”
“As well as me,” Rivendale added. “Before I left my territory, I killed a lone one wandering in my woods. And I’ve been seeing them in greater numbers coming down from the mountains.” This Avey did not know. Why had her father never mentioned it before?
“And you say nothing until now?”
“We are a pack of three, Kato! How do I patrol the mountainside with a pack of three? When I realized what they were doing, I confined my girls to our den and did what I could to slay any Goldback with the courage to leave their mountain, but it appears that some have trickled down here. If I had more numbers, I could—”
“If you want more numbers, then I suggest you mate your daughters,” Kato sternly replied, as if they had had this conversation before.
“Things don’t work like that, Kato. You know this, and I will not take another male into my den, not again. Your pack is fruitful. Could you not spare at least a few—”
“One pup, that was our agreement. The agreement you and every pack leader came to. I will not dwindle my numbers because you cannot protect your lands.”
“Continue with that attitude and you may no longer have lands to protect yourself, my friend. You should show me more gratitude. After all, I was the one who let you come here those ages ago.”
“Another time. Another life. That debt is paid, Rivendale. One pup. That is what you can have. I will even let you pick the one yourself.”
“I call Pack Law, then. A meeting of all pack leaders. Send your sons to every pack. If you will not listen to reason, someone will.”
“You would call Pack Law in my den?”
“Yes, Kato, I would.”
“So be it then, Rivendale, but you will get no different response. You are accountable for any of my messengers who do not return.”
“Then I would not send them alone, if I were you. You have lost one son to the Goldbacks. I would hate to see you lose any more.”
Kato’s snout began to scrunch as if he wanted to show his teeth, but thought better of it. “Come, you’ll want to see the pups.”
“If you want more numbers, then I suggest you mate your daughters,” Kato sternly replied, as if they had had this conversation before.
“Things don’t work like that, Kato. You know this, and I will not take another male into my den, not again. Your pack is fruitful. Could you not spare at least a few—”
“One pup, that was our agreement. The agreement you and every pack leader came to. I will not dwindle my numbers because you cannot protect your lands.”
“Continue with that attitude and you may no longer have lands to protect yourself, my friend. You should show me more gratitude. After all, I was the one who let you come here those ages ago.”
“Another time. Another life. That debt is paid, Rivendale. One pup. That is what you can have. I will even let you pick the one yourself.”
“I call Pack Law, then. A meeting of all pack leaders. Send your sons to every pack. If you will not listen to reason, someone will.”
“You would call Pack Law in my den?”
“Yes, Kato, I would.”
“So be it then, Rivendale, but you will get no different response. You are accountable for any of my messengers who do not return.”
“Then I would not send them alone, if I were you. You have lost one son to the Goldbacks. I would hate to see you lose any more.”
Kato’s snout began to scrunch as if he wanted to show his teeth, but thought better of it. “Come, you’ll want to see the pups.”
The back of their den was lined with litters of pups, all Kato’s. His pack functioned much differently from theirs. Certain females were only meant for breeding; their sole purpose was to produce litters. Avey never understood why their father did not mate with them, but she guessed it was because he needed her and Sky to hunt, though Sky was almost useless on a hunt and he had since taken to hunting on his own. Their pack was small and it seemed that its size was bothering her father, so she didn't understand why they could not just mate and grow. It would make their pack much stronger, even if just her sister produced litters. On second thought, she figured her sister had best not reproduce; a pack of Sky’s pups might be more hurt than help.
The puppies were tiny black fuzzballs, some of them still yet to open their eyes. Avey liked seeing the pups. They had an innocent look to them that was a relief after the violence she had just experienced.
The puppies were tiny black fuzzballs, some of them still yet to open their eyes. Avey liked seeing the pups. They had an innocent look to them that was a relief after the violence she had just experienced.
“Avey.” Her father turned to her. “You will pick and you will raise this pup. You will name her, and you will feed her. Her successes will be your own, as will her failures. Do you understand me?”
“Me?”
“Yes, Avey. You. I have raised my last pup, and it’s time you learned. I won’t be around forever, and this pack will be yours one day.”
This pack, he said. A glorious pack of four Alsatins. She surveyed the litters of pups, looking for the right one.
“How about that one?” Sky shouted, pointing to a large black pup nuzzling its mother’s teat. It was the biggest one of its litter, but Avey did not like her. Maybe it was because she seemed so timid or because Sky liked her. Either way, she was sure that pup would not be the one. No, it would have to be the toughest. As her eyes surveyed the river of fluff, she saw one pup off on its own. She had black fur but light beige paws; it could have been Avey’s own pup, had she had any. She was growling, or letting out a cute high-pitched howl directed at her bigger brothers and sisters as they tried to play with her.
“That one.” Avey pointed. “I choose her.”
“She’s a runt!” Sky yelled. “You can’t take a runt.”
“Me?”
“Yes, Avey. You. I have raised my last pup, and it’s time you learned. I won’t be around forever, and this pack will be yours one day.”
This pack, he said. A glorious pack of four Alsatins. She surveyed the litters of pups, looking for the right one.
“How about that one?” Sky shouted, pointing to a large black pup nuzzling its mother’s teat. It was the biggest one of its litter, but Avey did not like her. Maybe it was because she seemed so timid or because Sky liked her. Either way, she was sure that pup would not be the one. No, it would have to be the toughest. As her eyes surveyed the river of fluff, she saw one pup off on its own. She had black fur but light beige paws; it could have been Avey’s own pup, had she had any. She was growling, or letting out a cute high-pitched howl directed at her bigger brothers and sisters as they tried to play with her.
“That one.” Avey pointed. “I choose her.”
“She’s a runt!” Sky yelled. “You can’t take a runt.”
“I remember you as a pup, sister. Very big, I think the biggest one of your litter. I’ll take my chances on a runt. What’s the worst she can do, run away and leave me to die?” Her father even chuckled at that one as Sky held her head low and cast down her eyes. “We will take her.”
“Very well,” Kato said. “Her mother is strong and she will serve you well.” He went and grabbed their new sister by the nape of her neck and carried her over to Avey.
“What will we be calling her, Avey?” her father asked.
“Haley. I will call her Haley.”
“Very well,” Kato said. “Her mother is strong and she will serve you well.” He went and grabbed their new sister by the nape of her neck and carried her over to Avey.
“What will we be calling her, Avey?” her father asked.
“Haley. I will call her Haley.”