Promise Of The Wolves Read Online Free PDF

around at Borlla and Unnan for assistance and Ruuqo swatted him.
    “I did not ask your littermates, I asked you. Well?”
    Reel said nothing, just rolled over on his back and whined.
    “Yllin,” Ruuqo said, “please explain the difference.”
    Yllin’s ears and tail lifted. “Challenge fighting is the fighting a wolf must do to win his or her place in the pack, or the fighting a leaderwolf must do to discipline pack members, to keep order. And you hurt your opponent only as much as you must,” she said. “In a fight to kill, you are trying to hurt or kill your opponent. You only fight to kill when you have no other choice.”
    Ruuqo whuffed in approval. “All wolves must know how to fight or they will have no place in the pack,” he continued. “But only leaderwolves may kill or tell others to kill a pack member. And we of the Swift River pack will not kill another wolf unless we are being threatened by a rival pack or if pack lives are at stake.”
    Ruuqo struck Borlla when she tried to rise. Unnan and Reel had more sense and stayed low. Then he turned to the smallpup and me. We lowered ourselves to the ground and awaited his blow. He nosed the smallpup gently. He did not even look at me.
    “There is more to being wolf,” he said, “than the strength to win a fight, or the speed to catch prey.” He spoke loudly enough for the whole pack to hear, but his words were clearly directed to the pups he had disciplined. “Size and strength and speed are all part of what makes a wolf worthy of pack. But courage and honor are just as important. The interests of the pack come first, and every wolf must serve the pack.” He spoke directly to Borlla, Unnan, and Reel. “Wolves who cannot learn that are not welcome in the Swift River pack.”
    I know it wasn’t kind, but I have to admit I took pleasure in the trembling and whining of Borlla and Reel, and especially of Unnan, who had lowered himself so far to the ground I thought he might disappear into the earth. But what Ruuqo did next surprised me. Usually, when a pup is not given a name, he waits as long as three moons to be accepted into the pack and then is almost certain to be low ranking. Ruuqo turned to the smallpup, and spoke softly.
    “You have shown courage, honor, and strength of spirit, all qualities of a true wolf. And I welcome you into the Swift River pack.” He took the smallpup’s muzzle in his jaws.
    Rissa eagerly stepped forward, tail high, her white fur shining in the sun, and spoke before Ruuqo could continue.
    “We name you Ázzuen, a warrior’s name, the name of my father,” she said. “Carry your name well and do honor to the Swift River pack.”
    And just like that, the smallpup became pack. It had happened so quickly I couldn’t untangle my happiness for him from my jealousy—my mother had given me a name, but no one would call me by it. I had fought more fiercely than Ázzuen, but Ruuqo had snubbed me, would not acknowledge my courage. For just a moment, I’m ashamed to say, I wanted to take Ázzuen by his neck fur and shake him. But as he walked back to the den, his little tail whipped proudly back and forth so temptingly I couldn’t resist it. I felt the meanness in me dry up and I snuck up behind him, leapt, and playfully nipped his tail. He turned in surprise, and I grinned at him and ran into Rissa’s den. With a bark louder than should have come from so small a pup, he leapt after me, into the milk-smelling earth. I could never bring Triell back, but in Ázzuen I had once again found a brother.

    Ruuqo would not defy the Greatwolves and kill me outright, but he would not accept my name and did not make it easy for me to survive. The first time we pups fed outside the den, he stood glowering in front of Rissa, stepping aside to let the other pups pass by to reach their food, but growling and snarling when I tried to do so. It took all of my courage to wriggle past him to get my meal. Every time he saw me, he growled. Though