Promise Of The Wolves Read Online Free PDF Page B

they dared not try to kill me again, Unnan and Borlla followed Ruuqo’s lead, attacking me whenever they got the chance.
    Three nights after the Greatwolves intervened to save my life, Ruuqo howled to assemble the pack, to tell them to prepare to journey the next morning.
    “ Ruuqo! ” Rissa raised her head angrily from where she rested by the den. “None of the pups are old enough for the journey.”
    “What journey?” Reel asked Borlla.
    “The journey to our summer home,” answered Yllin, the young female who had spoken up for us after the fight. She stood beside us by the large oak that shaded the den site.
    “It’s our best gathering place, where you can be safe while we hunt and bring back food for you. The den site is too small and too warm to stay in all summer.”
    “Is it far?” I asked.
    “For a pup, it’s far. Most packs have summer gathering places near their den sites, but our old den site was flooded last winter so we must travel farther.” She frowned. “Last year Ruuqo waited until we were eight weeks old to move us. I can’t imagine what he’s thinking.”
    Rissa narrowed her eyes, watching Ruuqo as he paced the clearing.
    “You want to get back at the Greatwolves,” she accused. “You want the pup to die.” None of us had to ask which pup she meant. She rose and walked to him, placing her nose to his cheek. “The decision has been made for you, Lifemate. You cannot defy Jandru and Frandra.”
    “No,” he said, “I cannot. But I cannot anger the Ancients, either. You know the wolves of the Wide Valley must keep their blood pure, or risk the consequences. If we allow her to live, the Ancients could send drought, or a freeze that kills all the prey, or a plague. It’s happened before. The legends tell us so.” He shook his head in frustration. “And where will Frandra and Jandru be if the other Greatwolves see her and do not like what she is? Or other packs in the valley? Greatwolves do not live with the same consequences we do, and yet they can force us to take action that could be our ruin. I won’t let my pack suffer.”
    Werrna, the scarred female who was Ruuqo and Rissa’s secondwolf, spoke up. “The Stone Peak wolves killed the Wet Woods pack—while a pair of Greatwolves watched—because they allowed a mixed-blood litter to live. And it’s not as if we can hide it,” she said, looking at me. “She bears the mark of the unlucky. She could bring death to our pack.”
    Rissa ignored Werrna. “Then we will carry the smaller pups, if they cannot make it across the plain.”
    “No pup is carried. Any pup that cannot make the journey is not fit to be a Swift River wolf,” Ruuqo replied. “If the Wolf of the Moon means her to live, so be it. But I will allow only strong wolves in my pack.”
    “I will not let you endanger my pups for your pride!” Rissa snapped.
    “It is not my pride, Rissa, it is our survival. And we journey when the sun rises.” Ruuqo almost never used his leader voice with Rissa, almost never bullied her. But when he did he made it clear that he considered himself top wolf. Rissa was several pounds lighter than he, and weak from giving milk to us pups. If she challenged him, she would lose.
    His voice softened. “We have known since we were young that we must honor the covenant, Rissa. And we have both made sacrifices to it before.” I had not heard sadness in his voice before, and wondered what caused it.
    Rissa stared at him for a long time and then stalked away. His ears and tail drooping, Ruuqo watched her go.

    Early the next morning, the pack set out. Rissa refused to take part in the leave-taking ceremony and stood aloof as the rest of the pack gathered around Ruuqo, each touching him and crying out for a good journey. I watched, fascinated, as the adult wolves wove around Ruuqo, touching their noses to his face and neck. He in turn placed his head on shoulders and necks, and licked outstretched faces.
    “Won’t you join us, Rissa?” he