Fang
Chapter 7: Surprise reactions

“I’m sorry for my absence LongFang. Can you again show me what happened just before her death?” This is a hard thing for Ian to ask as he will have to then witness her death again as well but he sits determined to see it through.

I get the feeling that she was as a sibling to him and I sympathise the pack having lost a young one a season ago to a bad flood. Since being born I had been raised by all as is the case with most of the pups but more so than them I viewed all the pups as my brothers and sisters.

LongFang complies and again shows my birth and my mother’s death this time he does so quickly trying to spare Ian some pain.“Understand that this was not something I wanted to hide but she demanded my oath and I gave it knowing it was her dying wish. I could not refuse such by custom and pack law or I would have send for you long ago.”

In Ian’s mind I see acceptance that what LongFang did was for the best but he is still very confused as to why my mother would have said the things she did and ask for the vow she did. Another part of him still grieves deeply and he is also very interested in me or rather the pup from the memory. He hasn’t yet connected the image to me and I try my best to stay off his radar for now hiding behind WindChaser and shielding my thoughts as Perseus had taught me.

Before LongFang continues he asks Ian if it would be safe for our hunting party to go out seeing as we had not done so since their arrival out of respect. For a while Ian does not respond still stunned by the memory when he moves though everyone is relieved to see determination in his mind.

“For the safety of your pack I will go with them and we can continue this after.” He decides.

I can feel what LongFang meant by Werewolf’s being as Alpha’s to the pack. Even though his mind is not taking charge and giving orders as an Alpha the pack responds as if he is. I stay behind with the younger members our safety not as guaranteed even with Ian along on the hunt according to DenMother.

I wish all of this could be over with quicker but I use every extra moment I have with my pack to its fullest. The more memories I carry of them with me the easier it will be for me when I’m too far from them to hear and see them clearly at least it shouldn’t take very long until I return.

Wolfs don’t gather things like my mother’s shiny things but lately I have taken to gathering things left scattered around and placing it with my mother’s things. I don’t understand this behaviour but can’t help myself. DenMother caught her tail on a branch outside the den and the tuft of hair left behind smelled so much of her it was the first thing I gathered. If I hadn’t been knowledge hunting with LongFang recently I wouldn’t even have known what I was doing but Bigfoot had been complaining about the things the Abonable snowwomen was gathering making it impossible to live in the same cave as her and seeing it myself I admit I was gathering too.

SunBeam has been observing my gathering behaviour and as all pups do she is copying me. She takes Ian’s departure as a sign to relax and immediately begs me to take her to the stream to play. With DenMothers permission we go as a group with a promise not to be gone long or go further than the stream. At the stream I watch her root around the shallower edge of the water pawing at the ground.

“What are you up to?” I ask confused.

“I’m replaceing you something of me.” She states matter-of-factly.

I scan her thoughts and am touched. After LongFang had shown me my mother’s things I have had dreams of them and she must have seen my dreams because she was very worried I would not have something to remind me of her to take with me.

“I could never forget you little butt.” I tease her gently but help her search.

When we return to the den I have a mouth full of little pebbles even though it tastes awful I do not care. They suddenly mean more to me than I can explain. No one pebble is alike and she ha named each as we gathered them. One to remind me of her with a yellow tint like the sun. One to remind me of WindChaser in the shape of the scar he has above his eye. There is one for each member of the pack. I hide them with mother’s things and head out just in time.

With Ian’s help it didn’t take the hunting party long to catch more than enough to last us at least two moons or so I thought until I saw the amount of meat Ian consumed. It was daunting or maybe he had just been really hungry after traveling so far then mourning as well.

The anticipation of what his reactions to the rest of the memories would be was definitely killing my own appetite. We all settled again in a semi-circle with our Alpha taking point and stayed as still as is possible for a pack to while LongFang recounted all our memories of me from after my mother’s death.

He started from when DenMother cleaned me showing how I had changed while being nursed, and then watching me grow showing me in each season that passed.

Slowly Ian’s sadness subsids and he’s mind pulse’s curiosity instead. He keeps sweeping the pack’s faces trying to pinpoint me but my milk brother is feeling a little over protective after watching Ian devoured a whole carcass by himself and staysbetween us as much as possible considering his smaller size. I think DenMother too wants Ian to stay focused on the memories and not me because se distracts him with pieces of food whenever his gaze settles on the spot I am hiding. My love for my pack grows with every passing moment.

LongFang stops the memories just before Jenny’s visit to our pack and tells Ian that he is going to skip over a memory for now. Ian cocks his head and frowns but nods acceptance. I wondered why LongFang would do such a thing until he shows Ian how injured he had been and then my coming of age ceremony. LongFang wants Ian to understand that no matter what happened in the past I am a full-fledged member of his pack.

Ian stands up as the last image fades away. “Enough beating around the bush LongFang. Please introduce me to my nephew. My heart longs to see him with my own eyes. Already I am proud of him seeing the trust, love, and protection you all afford him.”

There was no need for LongFang to call for me to come forward I did not fear this Werewolf who’s thoughts where so honest and who had not yet witness my killing of another member of his pack.

Walking out from behind WindChaster I replace myself suddenly cut off from Ian by three older pack members and DenMother as well. Unlike me they are not sure that any of this is a good idea at all. LongFang issues a soft growl and reluctantly they move out of the way. I make my way to Long Fang’s side and lay down next to him.

“A son…Jessie.” He thinks of my mother fondly grinning wolfishly while studying me. “You have her eyes.” He swallows pain flashing across his mind. “Only sixseasons have passed.” He is amazed by my rate of growth for some reason but puts the thought aside for now. A lot of questions run around his head but he doesn’t ask them instead he says. “As your mothers sibling I have to tell you I think from what I have seen of you through your pack’s eyes she would have been very proud of you.”

“Thank you.” I grin back getting up; unable to help myself I stand a little taller and study him more closely as well. His fur is mostly black but has white streaks that matches the other Werewolf male’s fur.

“A trait of our bloodline, Jessie.” He thinks and it takes me a moment to realize he means me. “The white can be a little trouble when it comes to stealth at night as I’m sure you would have found out by now seeing as you are all white but definitely a bonus in snow.”

My grin widens at his joke, he is trying to put me and my pack at ease and it’s working. Then I think of his reaction to my mother’s death and I move back to slightly behind LongFang. If that is the same we can expect from him when he replaces out about Jenny’s death I do not wish to be too close.

Ian frowns andturns to LongFang. “I do not know what memory you skipped over but judging from the anticipation in Jessie’s mind I feel I should assure you and your pack that he is now under our protection as well as if he had been born with us. No harm will come to him as long as I have a say in it. He is blood of my blood and is assured his place amongst us.” He’s slight Alpha tone highlights this promise and colours it with truth and conviction.

But his words are not as comforting as they should be to me. I still didn’t want a place amongst them and why would he even bring that up now before LongFang has even had a chance to ask him to take me to the Tribunal. If not for that there would be no need for me to go with them ever. At least that is what my heart tells me.

LongFang however is satisfied and ask that Ian watches the whole memory before judging or doing anything rash which Ian does. I suffer silently through the memory watching Ian’s every move. His face is stoic and unchanging through it all. In the end he actually feels ashamed and extremely curious only. This rattles the whole pack. Ashamed and curious of my actions is the last thing they expected.

“No, you misunderstand.” Ian says sighing. “Not ashamed of Jessie. Although I am very, very curious to know how he changed into our natural enemy and back again.” His eyes actually sparkle as he contemplates my change. “Can you show me his transformation again a little slower this time?” He focuses intently. “I see ..” Ian says coming to a decision. “He changed into a wolf from the moment he tasted the milk and he changed into a vampire the moment he tasted her blood. Interesting.”

“I have lived too long to be overly upset by the abilities of most creatures. The possibilities . . .” His thought trails away. “That is a study for another time though. I understand now why you have summoned me LongFang. I would ask that you and yours help me keep this one secret for now. That he killed Jenny is a fact and he acted within the rights of pack law, she was out of line and paid the price his actions are justified by Jenny’s actions when she attacked. I will make the Tribunal and my pack see it as I do.” He pauses a moment. “But how he killed her could cause problems for him that I need time to think about first. For now he killed and the reason he did so,is enough of an explanation.”

Ian hangs his head for a moment. “The reason for my shame though is difficult to explain since what I am ashamed of is a very personal matter for me. Also I will need my Alpha’s permission before elaborating. He is the male that accompanied me here. Will you LongFang please give me some time to go and talk to him now?”

LongFang tells him to take all the time he needs still baffled by Ian’s strange response to this death compared to that of my mothers. But hopeful that everything will turn out alright.I too am hopeful now.

As Ian races off to go and replace his Alpha the rest of the pack settled down to sleep it being very late even for the adults. I curl up with LongFang and WildHunt at the entrance to the den for a change wanting to know as soon as Ian is back.