Spirit of the Wolves Read Free Page B

TaLi’s grandmother had made TaLi promise to reach the krianans outside the valley to tell them what was happening here. BreLan, the boy both TaLi and Ázzuen loved, was already there, waiting for her. Before I could get to my mother, I was determined to see TaLi safely there. I licked her hand, and tasted sweat and dirt.
    â€œNow can we go, wolflet?” Tlitoo quorked. “We do not have time to dawdle.”
    I couldn’t argue with that. We had less than a moon to find my mother and return to the Wide Valley with a way to fulfill the Promise. I tried not to think of what might happen to Rissa and the rest of Swift River in our absence. I couldn’t help them by staying in the Wide Valley.
    I took a deep breath. I was only ten moons old. For most of my life, older wolves had made decisions and led the way. That time was past. TaLi shifted her pack on her shoulders. Ázzuen and Marra watched me expectantly.
    I yipped once, and led my packmates from the aspen grove. We had no time to waste.

2
    A s we neared the banks of the river that marked the edge of Swift River lands, Ázzuen, Marra, and I kept the humans between us. The riverbank was exposed and a good place for an ambush. But the only one waiting for us there was a friend, a tall, broad-chested wolf with fur the color of summer grass.
    â€œSo Ruuqo and Rissa wouldn’t come?” Pell didn’t bother to hide his disdain. He was larger than the wolves of Swift River and well-muscled. At nearly three years old, he was supposed to be the next leaderwolf of the Stone Peak pack, a rival to Swift River. Instead, he had chosen to come with us, though he had no fondness for humans. Marra said it was because he wanted me for his mate. I thought he just craved adventure, as many youngwolves did. I was glad to have such a strong wolf with us on our journey.
    â€œNo,” I said. “They think the Greatwolves will protect them.”
    I told Pell and Marra what had happened with Milsindra in the aspen grove. I was afraid that Pell would say something contemptuous about my birthpack. He’d always thought them weak. Instead, he licked the top of my head and nipped me lightly on the ear.
    â€œYou already knew that Milsindra wanted to kill you, Kaala,” he said. “We just have to get to your mother quickly.”
    Marra yipped in agreement and splashed into the river. Ázzuen and Pell charged in after her and began to paddle across. MikLan waded in until he was up to his chest, then swam.
    I looked at TaLi in concern. She couldn’t swim. She had grown taller since I’d found her clinging to a rock in the rain-swollen river and she’d crossed the river many times since. Still, it made me nervous every time she did so. She was tired and injured, weaker than I’d seen her in a long time. The river was as wide across as thirty wolves standing nose to tail, and fast-moving after the end of winter rains. I wished I was strong enough to carry her across.
    â€œI’ll be fine, Silvermoon,” she said.
    She stepped onto a rock in the river and then leapt to another. I swam as close to her as I could. To my relief, Ázzuen, who had reached the far side of the river, waded back in so that he was standing at the spot right before it got too deep for a wolf of his size to do so. The water pulled at his chest, but he kept his footing. I remembered him as a smallpup, struggling the first time we crossed the river. He had been the weakest wolf in the Swift River pack. Now he stood as strong and steady as the most dominant youngwolf.
    When Pell saw Ázzuen standing in the river, he looked atme and then splashed in, too. TaLi was more than halfway across.
    â€œI don’t need your help,” Ázzuen said to him.
    Pell ignored him. He was taller than Ázzuen and could wade a full wolflength farther into the river. Ázzuen, trying to follow him, lost his footing and fell into the water.
    TaLi, watching them, fell,