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The wind howled and groaned on the top of the mountain. The trees shook and the full moon shown in the sky. You could almost not hear the whimpering of a small animal in the thorny bushes.
A small grey and white head emerged out of the snow…a wolf pup. Its eyes were the color of ice blue and its fur looked as soft as a bunny’s. It had a strange silver marked on its left shoulder. It looked shyly up and saw the moon. Then the wolf pup howled.
From every cave wolves got out of their nests and listened to the sound. Their fur spiked with worry. An old she-wolf replied to her son, “That is the cry of an abandoned wolf.”
The young wolf looked questionably at his mother, “But mom, why don’t we go out there and find the wolf? I mean…it’s out there in that storm…shouldn’t we bring it here for safely?”
The mother wolf shook her head and replied, “The Wolf Law was changed dear son…in my days each wolf would help each other. But now it is not so now, for every wolf wants power over another. Many wolves want your father’s place as the lead wolf. You must be careful Koda, for when you take your father’s place…it will not be easy.”
Koda nodded but then asked another question, “What happened to my real mom, Zada?”
Zada did not answer the question but replied, “Enough questions for tonight, now off to sleep with you.”
Koda laid his head in the feathery den. He pondered about the young wolf for quite a while. Then he made a big choice… I will go after the wolf.
As quite as a rabbit, Koda padded out of the den and started up mountain.
It was a steep climb, wind blew in his face which blinded him and heavy snow clung to his pelt. Finally, he reached the top. He saw a small lump of grey and white fur. He went over to it and saw a young she-wolf cub. Its eyes were closed but soon opened. She stared at the pure black wolf with amazement . But then before she could whimper anything she drifted back in to sleep.
Koda sighed and then grabbed her by the scruff. As he picked her up he noticed her shadow. The shadow was a huge wolf that was…howling. Then he looked at her…she hung limply from his mouth and her mouth was not open.
Koda shook his head and then turned down the mountain back to his cave.
***
Koda, lumped with snow, returned to the cave with a pup in his jaws. He had no idea how to explain to Zara what happened but he would try his best.
“Zara?” Koda called quietly.
Zara lifted her head, “What is it Koda…what is THAT!”
Zara was now completely on her paws. Her eyes looked blankly at the she-wolf pup.
Koda sighed and then barked, “This is the abandoned wolf Zara…”
Zara didn’t say anything but Koda could tell she was annoyed. Then at a closer inspection of the she-wolf pup she exclaimed, “ It can’t be! She has the mark…”
“What mark?” Koda asked but then he stopped. His eyes gleamed with horror and confusion. He looked at his shoulder…he had the same mark. Then he realized…My father has the same mark…We are sister and brother.
***
Moons passed and the young she-pup grew and grew. Her name became Zelda meaning “shadow”.
Zelda grew into an excellent fighter. She was the cleverest of the pack and she always made the right decisions.
Her father, Sanoie, was paying very close attention to her. She did not know that he was her father yet. And the time came for the new leader. His bones were weak and his eyesight was failing him. He could not choose who would become the new leader. Koda or Zelda? It was impossible to pick. Then when his pack asked him who was the new leader he replied in a old and feeble voice, “I will let the Shadow tell.”
So when the full moon rose all of the wolves lined up. Each of their shadows was the shadow of a regular wolf’s but then it came down to Koda and Zelda. Koda stepped out. His shadow was bigger than most and many wolves believed it was him. But then Zelda stepped forward.
Her shadow was the biggest of all the wolves and her neck was arched back in a yowl. She was the leader.
Zelda looked at Koda her eyes filled with pain… “I thought it would be you…” she could not say anymore. She couldn’t even utter a word.
Koda looked at her, “I am not hurt by this. I knew it from the first time I saw your shadow.”
Zelda barked questionably, “What?”
Koda came closer to her and drew his tongue over her ear, “You are my sister.”
Zelda stared in surprise. “Then my father is…” Zelda nevered finished. At that moment she saw her father lieing on rocky ground of the cliff. Many wolves were huddled around him.
Zelda rushed over to him, “Father…”
Sanoie growled happily and said, “My dear Zelda…leader of the Wolf Pack…I am going away. Take care of the pack and remember these two things…The true Wolf Law and that I will always love you.”
The wolves took the dead Sanoie to the icy river. And placed him in. Zelda struck with grief watched as her father floated down the river and got plunged down the waterfall.
Then she turned to HER pack. And barked, “You heard what he said, ‘Follow the Law.’”
Then all of the wolves raised their heads up to the moon and howled. They howled the cry of an abandoned wolf.
And now all wolves pass down the story of the Shadow of the Wolf.
2 comments:
I kinda wish Koda was the leader.
Aww! Great story! Yeah, I sorta wish Koda was leader, too.
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