Because of my friendships with Marcus, Klaus, and Derrick, the choice to work together was a no-brainer. Though each of us may be from different packs, we chose to break with the traditions of our forefathers and decided to run things as if we were all one pack. Instead of the vicious backstabbing mentality, where each pack leader is only concerned with their own people. Our friendship resulted in a tetrarchy that ended up leading our packs into a thriving community, with the sole purpose of serving our people as a united front. Any and all decisions require the four of us to agree on the final verdict. Much to my displeasure...
A prime example of an instance where having a unanimous agreement bit me in the ass was when I proposed we give the Summit a better name one year. It seemed like an obvious choice to me, because clearly, we should call it “The Council of Elderon.” I had zero votes behind my proposition. In fact, they all laughed at the suggestion and went on with business as if I wasn’t serious.Apparently, I’m the only one with good taste in my group of friends. Go figure.
The trickling sounds of a stream pulls me from my thoughts, I hope I’ll find it soon. This is the perfect thing to distract me, I need to take a break to hydrate. The moment I spot the water, I run and plunge halfway into the stream. Out of pure laziness, I wade deep enough to where I don’t have to bend my head down to lap at the crystal clear water, drinking it until I've quenched my thirst. Despite the heat of the summer days we’re experiencing, the water is cool and refreshing.
Once I exit the water, I shake my whole body, trying to dry off my fur as much as possible, then continue following the path my internal map indicates I should take. I wonder who I'll find first this time around?
My friends and I have known each other our entire lives, although we didn't form a friendship until we were much older. For whatever reason, Marcus is the center point of where our friendship began, and he somehow ends up always being the unofficial leader of the group. It happened suddenly one day, an unexplainable ache within me, an emptiness I had no idea how to fill. The same day, my instinct led me to Marcus. Klaus and Derrick describe having similar experiences. We now have an impenetrable bond, one we formed around a mutual ache of something missing in our lives. Our friendship hasn't replaced the sensation, although it has helped soothe it considerably.
Marcus… a spine-tingling chill runs through me when I think about what could’ve happened. My soul hurts for him at the thought. I can’t imagine what the void must feel like in your soul at the loss of something so great. Marcus comes off as your basic textbook definition of a psychopath, utterly void of emotion. You know that person who can watch a heart-wrenching tear-jerker movie and feel absolutely nothing? The kind leaving you sobbing with snot bubbles, and they sit next to you with a bored look on their face? Yeah, that’s Marcus, but ten times worse.
When our kind finds it impossible to experience emotions, ninety-nine percent of the time it means their mate has died after their bond had begun to form. Those who lose their mate become a shell of who they once were. It makes sense honestly, a portion of their soul does die. None of us can remember what Marcus was like in our youth. We only know this cold, methodical, straight-to-the-point version of him. The other one percent is made up by Marcus, only because he’s been adamant he’s never met his mate, and the lack of a mate mark does kinda prove his claims.
I let out a deep sigh, trying to expel the weight from my chest. If Marcus truly never met his mate, what happened to turn off his emotions? I want to support my best friend and help him heal in any way I can. It’s so tragic… I need to do something nice for him soon. Man, these balls of emotion that keep getting lodged in my throat make me feel like I have no balls at all.Can’t be losing ‘em, gotta keep those boys free and ready to go.
Enough morbid thinking. Woods, trees, rocks, running, Derrick. Derrick is most certainly a safer topic. Let’s see here… Derrick, the youngest, was the last one to join our circle, making it feel complete. He’s the prankster, always happiest in life when he can gain a laugh at our expense. If I’m being honest with myself, his pranks do bring us all joy, even when you're the butt of the joke. If he isn’t pranking us, you can most likely find his nose in a dusty historical text, or under a pile of scrolls, researching some boring topic from our past.
About a hundred and fifty years ago, we started going on a yearly trip together. This park was coincidentally the first place we all wanted to visit when we each made a list of places we would like to see. There was just something about it that attracted all of us. Unfortunately, there always seemed to be some reason or another getting in the way of us coming here. To the point, we gave up on the idea... until now. Karma must finally be smiling down on us, allowing everything to line up perfectly. So, here we are!
An owl hoots off in the distance, and the sound reminds me I’m not alone in these woods. I’m surrounded by the hum of wildlife, the crisp air, and the feeling of complete and utter freedom. If I ever expect to find the guys, I’m going to need to stay focused on what is in front of me instead of my thoughts.
It’s been about a mile since I stopped to drink from the stream, and suddenly I get a feeling I can’t quite explain. It’s a kind of... instinct telling me to head a bit more to the right. I’m not one to ignore a feeling like this. Something similar led me to my brothers after all, so I listen to what it tells me.
I make it about thirty feet when an odd tingle sweeps its way through my entire body, starting from my snout until it makes its way to the end of my tail, still dripping water. I’m completely energized, almost like a pup who has endless amounts of energy to chase its prey. I spot some fresh deer tracks and decide to chase after them.
There’s a current of air flowing through my coat, caused by the speed at which I’m running through the woods. I can’t complain because the water clinging to my fur acts as a cooling system. Perfect, since it’s hot as balls out right now. My run takes me across a human hiking path, and I can’t stop the sneeze tickling its way up my snout. I catch a whiff of the lingering smell the humans left behind. It’s a mix of sunscreen, bug spray, laundry detergent, and plug-ins they often use in overabundance. The scent is repugnant and one I prefer to avoid, especially when in my wolf form, considering all the heightened senses.
My heartbeat accelerates as I run at full speed through the woods. I’m no longer chasing the deer tracks, but running for the joy of it. The energy flowing through me continues to invigorate my spirits. This euphoric sensation, almost like a drug, keeps increasing the farther I travel into the park. It’s like I’m literally chasing after a high I’m desperately seeking.
Unexpectedly, the map in my mind changes in appearance from what it usually looks like.Odd.Instead of showing me where to place my paws, it now has a highlighted trail for me to follow, similar to driving directions. Now, I’m seriously considering the possibility I might really be high.Have I eaten any mushrooms recently?
I can’t be certain I’ve chosen to follow the directions myself or if there's an outside force leading me along. I just know I chase it like a puppy after a treat.
I dodge a stump and jump over a V-split in a tree trunk. Without warning, a fox springs from its den on my right, causing me to put my nimble paws to the test as I veer toward the left, preventing a collision. My long strides are eating up the miles with the pace I’m going.
I run out of the dense trees and find myself on the side of a cliff with a wall of rock to my right, and a steep drop to my left, giving me no other option but to run forward. My path brings me up a hill and back down after reaching the crest. I continue to follow the path directed on my map, around a curve and over another creek. Ahead of me is a downed tree, caught halfway by another tree so it forms a ramp. I run up the naturally formed ramp and jump off the end, sailing over some rock formations.Man, this is starting to feel like an obstacle course. Fuck me!
I keep following my internal map and head up a jagged slope covered in rocks. My paws cause loose rocks and pebbles to shift and roll down the slope as I venture up. I plunge into another expanse of trees, weaving left and right, another test of my agility. Suddenly, I’m no longer dodging trees, but facing a prairie. The five-foot grass is softly waving with the slight breeze blowing through the open area. I don’t want to give up any momentum, so I continue forward and speed into the grass.
The long coarse blades whip me in the face as I run through it. However, I don’t let it slow me down. I run for another mile before I’m hit with an overwhelming need to slow down. After running for miles, the new pace I've adopted makes me feel like I’m going at the speed of a snail. There’s a slight shift of the wind and, suddenly, I catch the scent of a human. Not one from earlier today but more recent, I would say possibly within the last hour or two.
Something feels significantly… off. There shouldn’t be a human out here, especially at this hour. Not to mention, I can tell at this distance his scent trail seems to unexpectedly disappear. I need to investigate this, if for no other reason than to appease my curiosity.
Stealth mode it is. I crouch down toward the ground, staying low in the grass to make sure I’m not seen. Now I’m more than happy to crawl forward at the pace of a snail.
I feel like I’m a lion stalking an invisible prey. Call me Mufasa, King of the Prairie. Wait… he died. Call me Simba! Although, he was a kid for a good portion of the movie. What’s another film with lions? Hmm, there was a lion in Oz… he was missing courage, which is most definitely not me. Narnia! Yes, that’s it. Call me Aslan, King above all Kings in Narnia!Much better than Simba.
The grass is becoming a bit thinner, and I spot a clearing in just a few feet. My instincts demand I don’t lose the cover the blades provide. When I get as close as I dare to the edge of the grasses, I lay down and keep my eyes on the spot where the scent disappears. All I see in the area before me are a few small bushes, weeds, and short sprigs of grass with some kind of vine-like ground cover.
I sniff again, just to make sure I haven’t completely lost my mind and actually did smell something. No, I’m confident, one male human walked past here at a leisurely pace a little over an hour ago, and the scent just disappears. His trail most certainly did not double back as if he changed his mind and turned around.
I prick my ears forward and tilt my head, straining to catch any sound that may give me a hint as to what I may be missing. I pick up several types of insects, the slight breeze rustling blades of grass, a deer who is just peeking out of the woods off in the distance, and the slight hum of electricity.
Wait, that’s what I’m searching for. I shouldn’t be able to hear electricity out here in the middle of a park like this. I glance out into the distance, all around me, in every direction to double-check that I’m not just hearing some power lines buzzing close by. Nope, the skies are clear of any power lines as far as I can see.
I continue to listen, but for now, I’m not picking up anything else. Well… I may as well get comfortable for the long haul. Decision made, I lay my head down on my paws, making sure I maintain a clear view of the open area in front of me. I’m not willing to give up this mystery.
The powdery dirt puffs up around me as I huff out a sigh. Who knows how long this will take? I should’ve investigated a bit before getting comfortable. Maybe a closer inspection around the site would have answered some questions, especially where the scent disappears. I could have found some clues to what’s going on.But no, instead, I’m too lazy, and just plop down to wait and stare as if I can magically will the answer to appear in front of me.I roll my eyes at myself for not thinking things through.
