Grimmer (Sequel to Kailin)

Chapter 2: Meetings

***

Ana

***

That moment when I stood on the rock with my brother, staring out at the many packs, was a moment I would never forget. There were twelve I had seen, as they had grouped themselves together so that each pack had it's own members together. I was surprised by not only the number of each of them, but how different they were. The wolves from sheer were taller, with light colors and slightly thinner, lighter frames. The wolves from the mountains on the complete opposite side of Dugrai (separating Cozner from the humans) were somewhat shorter and thicker, with heavier fur of dark browns and greys.

Even while the shifters were very different from the real wolves, they stayed together like family and the shifters took on the characteristics and adaptations of those native. I realized that most of the wolves there were shifters, and Tami explained to me that the majority of the real wolves had remained where they were for the balancing purposes of life in their respective territories.

After sorting through every difference between the animals in my mind, I watched how their eyes tracked me. Finding it interesting, I stepped forward on the rock, one step from jumping off just to look at them. I wanted to leap down there and talk with each and every one of them, not stand up there for them to see me.

I stole a quick glance at Erin next to a grayish wolf, his second, and Tami, one of his next highest ranks, before leaping off.

The moment I landed on the ground on my four paws, every body leapt up to their own. At first a knot built up in my throat and I felt intimidated. So many eyes on me at one time, each of them waiting for some kind of command or just showing respect....

I slowly stepped forward. Every pair of knowing eyes followed my steps. I wanted them to come to me, to surround me, and I wanted to give them each my friendship, my familiarity, and my loyalty.

When none of them moved, I swerved my head over to look at one wolf in particular. She was a mother, I knew, and one of her pups had come with her. She was a shifter in a pack from nearby. It must've been close for her to have been able to bring a pup. Her build and color told be that she was from there, also, with her brown and grey fur and large frame.

Hello, I greeted, showing my best smile in my shifted form.

Her ears perked forward a little higher. One of her dainty paws stepped to me, and suddenly I was being nuzzled by her large neck. It is good to see you and see that you are well, Daughter.

I am glad to be here, I replied, elated that she'd approached first.

Her son bounded forward, about a third of my size as he was just under a year old. He ran between our legs and yipped happily to his mother, who in turn looked over her shoulder to the rest of the wolves.

When she gazed back at me, her face lit up and she said, You resemble your mothers so much. Go on, greet the rest of your family. They seem to be waiting.

I whined happily at her reply and moved around to see the rest.

***

Hours later I had leapt and woven through many meetings, greeted many wolves, and spoken with as many of them as I could. With some of them I played and nipped as if we had known each other forever. We jumped and tumbled together, throwing snow everywhere and just having fun.

With the Sheerian wolves, I snuggled up into their sides as they were practically shivering out of their fur. Quickly after seeing me do that, many of the others trotted back into each other's packs and mingled. Somehow I had attracted a few pups that followed me around as I walked, playing and speaking with each animal.