November 17, 2002
When the new wolf cubs meet the tribe for the first time, some of them bond immediately. Others take a little longer to find their bond elf.
As usual, Lonewolf stayed in the background as the new wolf pups met the tribe the first time. The first thing he noticed about the litter was the twins. Two little females, identical all the way down to their golden furred socks on their front paws. Lonewolf smiled as he watched the pups play and wrestle under the watchful eyes of Mooncrier. He saw that he was not the only one who had noticed the twins. Little Echo had noticed them, too. And unless Lonewolf was totally wrong, it seamed like the young girl was boding with one of them. Once again Lonewolf smiled. The expression on the cub's face as she turned towards the Holt to inform her parents, and anyone else within sending range, could light up the darkest night.
Settling in amongst the branches of the tree he was in, Lonewolf turned his gaze upward. Peering up at the darkening sky, he yawned. It had been a long day and he was getting tired. Absentmindedly he listened to the voices and sendings of his tribe mates below. Another yawn escaped him and then sleep claimed him.
It was an uneasy sleep. One filled with dreams about passed bond wolves and loved ones. Dreams that made Lonewolf twist and turn in his sleep. It was in the middle of a dream about Darkspot, his first wolf-friend, that Lonewolf's tossing and turning finally caused him to fall.
Luckily the tree he had been sleeping in wasn't very high, and some rather soft branches broke his fall. But even so, he took ground knowing that he'd have bruises to remind him of the incident for quite some time. He looked around, hoping no one had seen him fall. To his relief there were few elves around, and as far as he could tell no one had noticed his less than graceful decent.
Getting to is feet and dusting himself off, Lonewolf rubbed his right arm. 'That's going to leave a mark,' he thought to himself. He was just about to leave when a feeling of being watched came over him. Turning around he saw the red furred twin pups looking at him, and they weren't alone.
"Did it hurt?" Echo asked, her clear blue eyes wide with surprise.
"Not to bad," Lonewolf answered. "I've survived worse," he added with what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
The little girl was sitting on the ground with her legs crossed petting one of the twins.
"I see you found your first wolf-friend," Lonewolf said as he sat down beside her, hoping that talking about her new bond would make her forget about his fall.
"Yes! Her name is Sunray. We're going to be friends forever, and soon we can go hunting together. Mother says that she's to young to go hunting now, but soon she will be old enough." Echo managed to say all this in one breath. Lonewolf tried in vain not to chuckle at the cub's excitement.
"What's so funny?" the girl asked, suddenly sounding defensive.
Lonewolf smiled at her. "I just enjoy seeing the happiness in your face, Echo. Now, there is no harm in that, is there?"
Echo shook her head and continued to tell Lonewolf about all the things she and Sunray were going to do. The adult just sat there smiling the whole time.
Later that night Lonewolf was once again tossing and turning in an attempt to get some sleep. This time in his own den. Soon he gave up; it was no use. Sleep would simply not come this night. Lonewolf felt as if something was missing. He felt lonely. He always felt lonely this time of year. Every time new pups were born to the wolf pack, he felt the need to bond. But bonding meant getting close and letting someone get close, and that in turn meant having someone to loose. Besides, it was too soon, he told himself. Fire Eye's death was still painfully fresh in his memory. But the loneliness wouldn't leave him.
Normally he would seek out his best friend and former lovemate to ease his loneliness but this night Snowspear had taken a handful of hunters with her and gone out to hunt. 'Maybe I should do some hunting of my own,' Lonewolf thought. 'There is nothing that clears the mind like a good hunt.'
Deciding that a hunt would be a good idea, Lonewolf left his den. As he passed the wolves' dens a faint whimper caught his attention. A closer inspection revealed the wolf cubs engaged in some fairly rough wrestling. One of the twins, Lonewolf thought that it was Echo's wolf-friend but he couldn't be sure, was trying to withdraw from the struggle. But the other twin pounced her and the first one growled. Lonewolf stood there and watched them for a while as Sunray (he was almost certain it was Sunray now) tried to escape her sister.
The second twin, however, didn't stop tormenting her littermate, and before he could stop himself, Lonewolf picked the little fur ball up. The careless elf was immediately rewarded with a snarl and a full set of sharp cub teeth sunk deep into his forearm.
Holding the pup firmly by the loos skin at its neck, Lonewolf yanked his arm free of its jaws, tearing his own flesh in the process. Then, holding the red furred little menace at arm's length he locked eyes with it.
Elf and wolf cub stared at each other in challenge. They both growled. Then, suddenly they both calmed down as they realised that they belonged together. Lonewolf slowly sat down, letting go of the cub. The little wolf looked at him, tilting her head, then she licked his bleeding arm and then his face. Lonewolf embraced his newfound bond-wolf in a tight hug.
**I think I'll call you Bite,** he sent to her. The little wolf barked in reply and wagged her tail.