Wolf And Man, Part 6

Gunderad woke the next morning, refreshed and feeling alive. He stood and stretched his leg, the strength of it clearly outweighed the strength of his other legs. His niece Tynamy had done a brilliant job.

Gunderad pondered for a few seconds about the possibility of his sisters four white cubs having the legendary powers spoke of only in myth, as inspiration to the
children. 'Nah' He thought, dismissing the possibility, 'It's not earthly.'

Gunderad exited his den and bolted quickly to the river, testing his strength. Dipping his tongue into the flowing water, Raj's voice spokesoftly behind him.

'I advise you drink plenty' He said. Gunderad turned sharply towards the ancient one. 'As I sense a bad year coming upon us. The God's have given to me visions; dry throats, rasping lungs and empty rivers. Death will ring in our ears and plague our noses. I fear that a portion of our pack will be lost to the elements.'

Gunderad stared. 'How can this be? We have been faithful to our God's, we have lived by the promise we made. What could have thrown the shadow over our heads?' He asked.

'I am under the understanding that the humans have something to do with it. Their great dens made strong by their witchery and their exploding poles. I am certain that the death of the wolf population will be brought upon by the humans recklessness.'

'Why should we suffer for their misgivings?' Gunderad questioned, his long silky black fur flowing around his body in the wind.

'That is where you come in; that human child. You didn't kill it, it is still living. The God's showed me this. It lies naked and bare, yet alive, in the forest not fifty wilers from here.'

Gunderad nodded, the owl had taken the child and deposited it, no doubt by accident, into the forest.

'I fear my time is coming to an end. With the birth of one, one also must die. You must decide Gunderad; it is me, or the child who must die. Without the death, we will perish absolutely. A sacrifice must be made to ensure our survival, for it is commanded of us by the Gods.'

'Well that's easy; the child means nothing to us. You mean everything; you bring wisdom to us, we need you.' Gunderad said, fretful for the possible death of his old friend.

'That may be, but I noticed the way you kept it alive that something is special about it. No wolf in his right mind would dare spare the life of a possible hunter. You see, I am in my old age, and the child only just entered the world.'

'Look into the future Wise One, and see how that child is special.' Gunderad suggested.

'I can not. I can not see the future of the child if I am alive, I can only see my own. For, if I survive, there is no future for the child for me to see. If I die, then I am not here to see the vision. The future is a confusing thing my friend, it's a twist of string, that can be pulled loose and reordered at a command. What you decide now, can be changed in your mind later, and therefore also is the future. It is not a set thing.'

'But of course I will spare you. We cannot possibility go on without you. We already lost Teremattas four cubs and Millisit is lucky to be alive. Any further losses will ruin us.' Gunderad paced around nervously.

'Yet that child may be the answer to the immense poverty the pack will endure. If you spare me, that child won't be there to be the answer.'

Gunderad fell to the ground, exhausted with the thought.

'How are we to decide?' He asked after a minute's thought.

'Among yourselves. I do not want to be involved physically in the conversation. Just explain the circumstances as I have to you.

'Yes Wise One.' Gunderad agreed reluctantly. Raj walked slowly back into the
forest nearby, leaving Gunderad to ponder the decision.

He couldn't do it; being the strongest in the pack he would have to do the deed and kill the child or Raj. Gunderad knew he could never kill Raj.

Jamaria, on the other hand, could do it for him.