Understanding Never

[Thalia]

Howl considered the question a moment. The tenets of the pack were simple; they valued good hunting, the safety of the den, and the joy of a mate and pups. There had been other things once, and would be again; things that spiked the hackles and bared fangs. But the Last Hunt was not close, even if things were stirring in new ways unseen by wolves with living memory. As such Howl was surprised to push his thoughts beyond normal concerns. Many things shared the dream, and the wolves knew which to avoid. In the waking world, too, there were changings, but there the dangers were nearly always ignorant two-legs and their ways. He was not sure exactly what Long Eye sought, but if there was a threat she may have his teeth. His very name reflected his desire to keep pack together. Equally, it was a name that made him wish to nudge her away from accidentally nosing into a thorn bush. Or worse, a hornet nest.

Many ancient things roam now that did not roam before, he told her eventually. If they do not snarl at us we do not snarl back. Why do you and your packmate seek one of the old ones? Many sleep still. It is not wise to disturb them.

Pack knows there is an old one below, Sure Foot interjected, sending an image of the lake frozen over in deepest winter, and a sense of shadows skirting below her swift-running paws.

Yes, below, Howl agreed. But it does not concern pack. We do not go below.

He stood and shook his coat, then moved to ruffle his nose in Long Eye’s hair and against her skin. His ears flattened a little, disconcerted but not alarmed, for he was only confirming the faintest tickle to his nose with a closer inspection.

You smell of the Twisted Ones, Long Eye, though only a very little. Have you passed them on your long travels? We see them rise from the water sometimes, on far hunts. They are stone dead things here, and cannot hurt us. A growl rumbled his throat, but it was only an inborn instinct against all things wrongly born. They are old things also, but you should not go near them, you or your packmate. Better to stick with pack, always.

Sure Foot nuzzled into Never encouragingly. Speak clearer, little brother, of whom do you speak?