Secrets of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst

Author:Dorothy Hearst [Hearst, Dorothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: !Fantasy, #Amazon, #SFFeBooks
ISBN: 9781847392312
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
Published: 2011-08-03T23:00:00+00:00

The pack was silent as I led TaLi and NiaLi into Fallen Tree. NiaLi stood at my left flank, TaLi at my right as we walked slowly through the wide gap between the oak trees. The two humans stopped, then waited politely for the leaderwolves to invite them into the gathering place.

Ruuqo and Rissa stood, but the rest of the pack sat or lay flat so as not to intimidate the humans. I realized belatedly that I hadn’t told the humans how to greet the leaderwolves. I needn’t have worried. NiaLi was as gracious as any visiting wolf. Clutching her walking stick in one hand and my fur in the other, she lowered herself to her haunches. TaLi, following her example, flopped down on my other side, making a cloud of dust rise up around her.

Ruuqo and Rissa started forward, then stopped, staring at me. I looked back, not understanding what they wanted me to do. A look of annoyance flashed across Ruuqo’s face, but Rissa laughed.

“You can stand aside, Kaala,” she said. “We won’t hurt them.” I realized I had taken up a guard stance in front of the two humans. Abashed, I stepped away. I was lucky that Rissa was amused. It could have been seen as disloyal to the pack to stand with humans against them. I licked Rissa’s muzzle in apology, then, ignoring Unnan’s outraged growl, walked over to the flat sunning rock. Marra and Ázzuen were waiting there for me. We had agreed that we would let the other wolves of the pack examine the humans.

It was Rissa who greeted the humans first. She walked calmly to where NiaLi crouched and stopped half a wolflength away. “Welcome to Swift River pack,” she said formally. “You are welcome here and will be safe.” She took a few steps forward and sniffed NiaLi.

“Thank you,” NiaLi said, just as formally. “I am grateful for your welcome and will treat your home with respect.”

Rissa’s ears shot up in surprise. I had told her that NiaLi could understand our language and would reply to us in her own, but it must have been a shock to hear the old human answer.

Ruuqo came forward then, sniffing NiaLi first and then TaLi.

TaLi smiled. “Hello, wolf,” she said, her natural friendliness winning out over her fear. She held out her hand to him. Startled, Ruuqo stepped back, then jutted his head forward. To my surprise, he licked TaLi’s outstretched hand, then her face. TaLi laughed. I felt my mouth drop open. Ruuqo hated the humans.

Rissa whuffed softly, and stepped aside. It was the signal for the rest of the pack to greet the humans. Marra and Ázzuen shot from my side like rabbits running for the shelter of a warren. Werrna and Minn started forward more slowly, then trotted to the humans with an impatience that surprised me. They had both so often spoken of the humans with contempt, but now there was no mistaking the eagerness in their gaits. Soon the humans were surrounded by wolves.

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