What is Love?

Two

Divandoes not have us wait to start heading south. He is waking up Huennow. I sit behind Mika and Neva with Faladae curled up between mypaws. He is still a pup and wants to sleep more. We decide that Iwill carry him until he can walk by himself. Divan wants us to moveas fast as we can until we get to a place where he says a heard ofelk are waiting.

Huenis climbing to his paws, his white fur doesn't look as stunninglybeautiful as it once had, but I am glad Divan has decided to let himcome with us. I stand, waiting for Divan to start moving back intothe storm. Mika and Neva start moving, but Huen waits until I pick upFaladae before following them. I walk out of the den for the lasttime and follow my new alpha. I wonder if we will all make it to anew den.

Wehave been walking for four days, but there is still no sign of theherd. However, we do see some strange green things Divan calls trees.There were trees by the old den, but none of them were so fat andgreen looking. Huen has gotten a little bit better, but he still lagsbehind with me. Divan keeps giving me weird looks, as if he isconfused by something.

We'vestopped for the night in the open by a small patch of dead trees.Faladae is eating a rabbit Neva caught for him, and Huen is staringback the way we have come. Divan is sitting next to me, with Mika onhis other side.

"Mana,are you the omega?" Divan asks me, tilting his head to the side.

"Iwas. When Alpha- I mean Numi- died, no one else wanted to take over,so I did." I tell him and Mika sighs

."Mana wants to go back to being omega. She thinks that is her placein the pack." She growls and Divan chuckles.

"Toobad, I was hoping she would be my beta!" He exclaims, standing, histail wagging.

Iam so surprised I have no idea what to say.

"It...Itwould be an honor!" I sputter after s moment of stunned silence,and Mika smiles at us.

"But,why not pick Neva or Mika?" I have to ask, also standing up.

"I'vealready trusted you with one important decision, and I'm glad Idid." He tells me, and I remember that time in the snow storm, whenI had disappointed him.

Iglance over at Huen who is now playing with Faladae. The two werepulling at the rabbit, and I know it's about to rip apart.

Divanwalks over to the two and leaps onto Huen's back as Mika and Ilaugh. After a moment, the two of us run over and join in the fray asNeva wakes up from his nap. He doesn't join in; he's tired fromcatching the rabbit. Faladae is so excited now that he has the chanceto play with the adults. It's so much warmer here, just four daysaway from our old den. Our pack is beginning to get closer.

Itis time to hunt again; all of us are getting hungrier. Divan tellsHuen to stay behind with Faladae as we go into the trees. Neva saidhe had seen many small animals; including the rabbits, birds,squirrels, and mice, inhabit the area. Nothing big, but there are alot of them. It seemsthat there has been very little hunting done here over the past fewyears.

Itdoesn't take too long or too much of an effort before we have afeast set out before us. Divan had us each catch as many as we canbefore we got tired. Now he is howling, calling to Huen and Faladae.I start to think Faladae is just about old enough to begin hunting aswell.

"Mana,how old is Faladae?" Divan asks me after he has finished.

Ichuckle, and tell him.

"Good,I want him to try out hunting here." Divan chuckles and I wag mytail.

"Allowme!" I whine to him.

Faladaecan smell our excitement in the air, and he begins to also get hyper.

"What'sgoing on? What's going on?" He asks over and over as the adultseat.

Iwatch as Huen sits down outside the rest of us.

"Huen,come eat." I call out to him.

Hesitantly,with a glance at Divan, he limps closer to us. I move aside, and callto Faladae and move farther into the forest.

Awayfrom the sounds of the others as they eat, Faladae beings to calmslightly.

"Faladae,you have grown old enough to hunt with the pack." I tell him,sitting down.

Heis silent, looking up at me with trusting eyes. "

Areyou ready to give it a try?" I ask, and he nods.

"Followme." I smile, and crouch to the ground.

Ilook for any sign of a rabbit, and swiftly find one.

Ipoint out the rabbit to Faladae, and he slowly slinks forward. Therabbit does not smell or hear him at all. I know already he will be agreat and silent hunter. He decides, however, to try and strike toosoon. He is not close enough to reach the rabbit in time before itflees into the safety of its underground den. Frustrated, Faladaedigs at the spot where the creature had vanished.

Iget up and lightly nudge him.

"Youstruck too soon. You must be closer," I tell him, "you have towait until the second before the animal notices you, wait until youare close enough to leap out and land on its back."

Faladaestares up at me for a moment.

"Isthat true?" he asks, and I chuckle.

"Notalways, but for now it is the best idea. When we hunt elk we willwork as a pack and choose the weakest animal to kill."

Wetry again almost five more times before Faladae finally gets hisfirst kill.

"Idid it! I did it!" He howls, his tail wagging excitedly.

"Soyou did, my little one." I smile at him as he grabs the neck of therabbit.

Ifollow him back to the rest of the pack, his head held high andproud.

Divancongratulates Faladae on his kill, but I keep finding his eyes on me.I wonder what he wants. I glance at him myself, and he stands up. Itrot, again, away from the others, so we can speak in private.

"Mikasays you would do well as my alpha-ess." He tells me, circlingaround me.

"Ithink she is mistaken. Mika is strong, and a lovely hunter." I tellhim as he comes to a stop in front of me.

Helooks at me for a moment, and then he chuckles.

"Iwill decide who my alpha-ess will be later. For now we must find aterritory that will sustain us." He tells me.

"Ithink we should stay here and sleep tomorrow. That way we will haveenergy to travel for the entire day when we do move out." I suggestto him, trying not to show my conflicting emotions to him.

Hesnorts and stands back up.

"Maybe,but I think we should get moving while the weather is still clear."He replies.

"Yes,Alpha." I nod, and also stand up.

"Don'tgive me that! Divan is fine!" he snaps at me, and I can't helpbut to wag my tail.

Iwill really like this position, I think.