Light the Night

Tuwawi kept her promise, and Malachi kept his. Despite the trilling excitement that ran the young man through and through when he spotted the family on the distant horizon, he greeted the group with only a few sweeping wags of his tail and a pang of longing in his heart. When he looked at the tired faces of Tuwawi and Njal and at their quartet of squirming children, he couldn't help but see his own family reflected in their weary eyes.

That had been half the reason he'd stuck to the rear of the group throughout the duration of their travels. He'd busied himself by watching for stragglers, and though the adults outnumbered the pups, he did not let his attention wane for even a second. His concentration kept him silent for much of the trip and he helped where he could, knowing he'd joined the group for the harsh and final stretch. Though interacting with the children made him wary, he'd gathered the courage to scoop tiny Maera off her paws in attempt to still her discomforting whines. He had watched Njal pick up Larus earlier that day, and had tried to copy his movements but fell short and graceless. Though he hadn't hurt the girl in the process, the same couldn't be said for himself. He could still feel the burn in his neck from his inexperienced maneuvers.

He'd been watching Jökull drag herself across the ground when Tuwawi's voice cut through the still night air. He flicked a gaze of tired amusement toward Týrr as both sisters tumbled into the earthy wolf's legs, then fixed his attention on Tuwawi and Njal, though he did not linger long. He sucked in a breath as his eyes met the sight behind them. The licking flames of the setting sun danced against the glacier's face and set the whole mountainside on fire. At the sight of the living ice Malachi found the pain in his neck and the weariness in his legs forgotten. It had been so long since he had seen something so beautiful.

It was then Tuwawi began the claiming chorus. She rose her voice alongside Njal's, both sharp and clear in the coolness of the night, singing with a power that first brought silence to Malachi's throat. One by one each wolf lifted their head to the heavens, weary as they were, and let the voice which made each wolf their own mingle in the chilling air to become one, united and whole. The fire in their calls danced a warmth into his soul he hadn't felt since leaving his pack three moons ago.

He could still remember his last group howl, haunting on the air as he'd torn himself from the only land and life he had ever known. How different his howl sounded now as he waxed and waned his voice until he fell in harmony with every wolf around him. Sorrow still weighed his heart, but something new had entered since: a hope as brilliant as the glacier lit by the setting sun and the power in the voices of every wolf who gathered round. These wolves were pack, these wolves were family, and here their hearts would dance.

Sorry for the lengthy post. I got a bit carried away!