Silver Mane - Part 9

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     It was well past moon rise when the pack came to their final stop. They were way up North. The air smelled of salt and it had a real chill on the winds that raced through the trees. The pack had finally found its new home. A massive grove of trees on the other side of a field. There were lots of game trails and fresh running water. It was peaceful. There was even a town not far off. “Perfect.” Stela sighed as she took in the sights. Even in the dim light of night the wolves could tell it would be a great place to settle down. At least for a bit. The pack let out a howl and settled into a cave for the night.

     Dawn rose up the next morning, like it has for every day of their lives. It was bright and clear and the wolves all came out of the dark cave blinking their eyes. Stela rose up to her full height and started to speak. “Today we explore our new lands. You have all day, I want a full map and marking of our new territory. Keep it reasonable and keep yourselves safe.” She looked around at her pack and there was a smile on her face. She knew them all so well. When her eyes met Ana’s they lit up even more. “Also remember, we now have one more advantage, we have a human that can also go into towns.”

     Realization set into the pack. Ana was more than just the alpha’s lover, but also a great tool to them as well. There had been many times where they needed someone to go. Yes, Kavos was able to and he would, but there was still always that fear that he would be caught at any moment. Not with Ana. The pack had little gold to their name, but there was some they had gathered up over the years.

     “Ana, if I,” Stela stopped herself and corrected. “If we could ask a favor of you. I will give you some coins, could you go into the market and pick up a few things?” It was the first time the alpha had asked for a favor instead of telling someone what they should be doing. She was always so kind with Ana.

     Ana looked around at her pack, her mind flashing back to the last time she was in the village and she wondered if this one would be any different. “I will, but won’t they just attack me like the other village?” She didn’t know why she thought the wolves knew everything, but she hoped they at least had some insight.

     The wolves drew in closer to her. Each seeming to hold their breath for another to answer. All eyes moved towards Stela. She didn’t bother to square herself up, the slight look of defeat on her face. “They might. Kavos can go with you.” That wasn’t a question but a command. “Either way we won’t know until someone goes to at least see how the town reacts. From the sounds of it, it’s much larger than what we are used to and you might be able to blend in better. Remember how it was in Egypt?” Her eyes locked onto Kavos.

     The white male nodded. It seemed as though these two had had more than a hand full of adventures together. A long deep bond that could have stretched over only a few years, or perhaps a few lifetimes. Only the two wolves would know it for sure. A smile graced the males face. “I remember, those were good days, hot, but good.” He mused.

     “Then it’s settled, you two will head to the village and investigate, the rest of us well start our claim to the surrounding lands.” Her tone was that of a leader. Without another word the other wolves nodded and took off running. She turned to Ana and pulled her woman into an embrace. “You my little one, stay safe for me.” She softly kissed the top of her head. 

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Silver Mane - Part 8

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     Ana’s heart sunk as she realized how little her pack had, in luxuries as far as humans were concerned. She looked around at the wild pack around her and realized how happy they all were. They were laughing and joking, snarling over their food. It was life to them and they didn’t seem to even care about the things they were missing. It sunk in at that moment how different their worlds really were and how much she still had to get used to, being a woman in a wolf’s world.

     Stela found her woman curls up, knees to her chest as she walked over, belly full of meat. “What is wrong little one?” The large wolf sat down and pressed her muzzle into the girl. Her own way of trying to show concern. Her eyes held more than enough in them, but the animal didn’t know if Ana would notice. The girl was still adjusting.

     Ana looked up at here and sighed before she untucked herself. “Just realizing how different this all is.” The tears started to well up in her eyes. It all came crashing down on her all at once and she let herself become buried. The tears fell.

     Stela found herself not quite knowing what to do. She was born into the pack, the pack was all she had ever known. People were just as new to her as the wolves were to this woman. She looked around at her pack, yet they were all still finishing off the meal that was still fresh. She was on her own to figure this out.

     The wolf pulled herself in close, wrapping herself around the crying woman. Stela pulled her close and held her there against her chest. Her fur was thick and warm and her breathing steady even though panic was brimming up inside her, threatening to spill over. Words had never been her thing, but right now she needed to figure them out. “Ana, what can I do to make this easier on you?” She didn’t know what needed to be fixed, this was her way to correct it.

     The phrase too the woman by surprise. She wasn’t expecting any of this to be easy, actually, she hadn’t expected any of this at all. She started to stretch herself out, small bits at a time. Ana had never wanted to be born a slave, she never wanted to be sold. Her mind raced and tears welled up in her eyes while her wolf sat there waiting, giving her all the time that she needed. The girls life ran behind her eyes. The night she left her old master came to mind.

     She remembered running. The wild wolves on her heels, how she thought she was about to die by their teeth. Then as her mind slowed down, it focused on the more recent events. How her wolf had saved her. She thought for a few moments on how her life was flipped upside down. She missed home, she missed her normal life. Ana took a deep breath and realized that those days were gone. That part of her life was dead. A warm tear rolled down her face. Ana finally found the courage to speak. “I don’t know.” She took a few deep breaths and turned to look at the wolf that still sat behind her.

     There was a deep sadness in Stela’s eyes. It was a cold hurt. The hurt of someone that had blocked off the world because it was too sharp. The wolf’s eyes went wide as there was a soft thump against her chest. Ana had pressed herself into her savior. Her fingers laced into the fur and she let herself fall apart. She cried as the animal held her, the rest of the pack gearing up to leave again. They all waited without a word.

     Stela reached out to her small human. The woman looked so fragile in that moment. Her arms wrapped around Ana and she just held her and let her get it out. She waited as the moments ticked by and once the sobbing stopped she felt brave enough to ask her. “Would you prefer to go home?” There was a deep sorrow in her voice. As if the great hunter was holding back her own tears.

     Ana pulled herself back and looked into the wolf’s eyes. She seen something there that wasn’t there before. There was a human look to them and it sent a shiver down her spine. She looked over the animals face, and realized that she was home. It was the best home she had ever known. She was warm, and safe, and loved. Ana couldn’t help but smile as she threw her arms around the wolfs neck, her face pressed into the thick fur. “I am home.” She said. Her wild emotions finally becoming stable again. “Let’s go find that new home.” Ana forced herself to smile, each day it became a bit easier around the wolves, and with Stela’s support, she started to really believe the wolf loved her. 

Part 9

Rejection and Resubmission

     Well it finally happened, as I expected it to. I got my first rejection letter. It's not going to be a badge of honor. I'm on my way to becoming a writer. Only 999 more before I get a yes.

     On that note, I'm going to submit it to a different magazine and see what happens. This is another reason why I need a beta reader or two.

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