Wolf Lover: Konochur (New Scotia Pack Book 2) (2 page)

For werewolves, killing without need was tantamount to sacrilege.

Over the centuries, human resistance to dragons had evolved from spears to arrows to drones, which meant that humans climbed past the dragon shifters on the power chain by perfecting artificial, but dramatically superior wings, claws, and fangs. And their radar was more sophisticated than any engineered by nature.

The Lunark werewolves had only spears and arrows. They were determined that there would be a planetary ban on any device with gunpowder or a computer chip, anything that demanded large amounts of unnaturally generated power. It was a law designed to protect their beautiful wilderness and the old ways in perpetuity, but as it turned out, it might also be their undoing.

Hunters began to report to their respective alphas, SilverRuff, Stalkson Grey and Liulf, that game carcasses had been picked over or simply left to rot in open fields. Worse, the dragon shifters were building a fortress type dwelling on the stone face peak of the highest mountain, high above the tree line. That vantage point would give the dragon shifters a full turn view for miles around.

SilverRuff, alpha of the original Lunark colony, had founded an intertribal Council after she’d given permission for two other werewolf tribes to migrate to Lunark. Each territory was represented by the alpha, two seconds, and two pack elders.

The Council normally met on the first day of the new moon every month. They would certainly have called an emergency meeting had it not been for the fact that the new moon was only a day after alarming reports began to come in.

Liulf, alpha of the New Scotia Pack, had two brothers who stood as his seconds. Konochur, and Cinaed, informally known as Conn and Ken. On the day of the new moon, they had human hands strap packs onto their wolf forms carrying clothes they would wear to the Council meeting. In their case, kilts, boots, and long sleeve Henley type shirts made from locally grown hemp.

Council meetings were typically more social than business. Once they had decided that unity was a good thing, the werewolves took to cooperation and compromise as an extension of the core social animal that they were and quickly came to value and appreciate goals and policies that served the entire population, not just their tribe.

On that particular new moon, the mood was somber and serious as the discussion at hand.

Liulf’s own mate, Rain Falling, occupied a unique position. She was mate to the alpha of the New Scotia Pack and daughter to SilverRuff, alpha of the First Colony pack. She had been one of SilverRuff’s seconds before mating Liulf, and chose to retain her rank as second to the First Colony contingent. To date that had not presented a problem, but Liulf recognized that being on opposite sides of an issue could make for an interesting dynamic in his home.

Rain Falling was incensed that the dragon shifters had taken up residence without asking her mother’s permission, and was so impassioned that she stood to begin the discussion.

“It’s not just a matter of disrespecting my mother. It’s a flagrant challenge to all of us, everyone who lives on Lunark.
All
shifters, even bloody dragons, know better than to do such a thing. And that can only mean that they are being deliberately provocative. They want a war.”

Her passion was contagious and her words were followed by murmurs of agreement throughout the tent. Everyone waited to see who would speak next. After a time, Ken stood. All the wolves waited for him to speak with a concentrated focus. Ken was known for his keen mind and his inventive approach to problems. He didn’t send waves of alpha power ahead of his speech, although he could have. His philosophy was something along the lines of
let those named alpha be alpha
.

“I’m wonderin’ if we might no’ try a diplomatic mission.” There was a moment of stunned silence followed by a din that rose as wolves turned to their neighbors to give their first reaction to the outrageous idea. Ken waited patiently for quiet, then added, “Before we go off half-cocked.”

“I never go anywhere
half
-cocked,” shouted BigTooth, who was SilverRuff’s other second. To be sure everyone got his joke, BigTooth grabbed his package and gave it a shake for emphasis.

Everyone laughed, which Ken appreciated, because it relieved some of the tension.

Again Ken waited until the laughter had died down before continuing.

“I know ‘tis no’ a typical notion for werewolves, but we’re formin’ a new way of bein’ here. If we can avoid a war with dragon shifters, ‘tis in our best interest to do so. I’m no’ sayin’ we can no’ win such a conflict, but we can no’ win without givin’ up some of the thin’s about our way of life that we hold dearest.”

The room went perfectly quiet and still because everyone present understood exactly what Ken meant. After a few minutes of silence, Stalkson Grey stood up.

“My nephew by marriage makes the kind of good sense we’ve come to expect from him. And we can’t ignore it. If we can persuade the dragon shifters to live with us peacefully and follow a few rules regarding the hunting of game, that would be the best outcome by far. None of us wants to contemplate what going to war with dragons would mean to our way of life.”

As Stalkson Grey sat down, there were hushed murmurs as wolves whispered to those near them.

Next, SilverRuff stood. “I agree with everything that’s been said. It’s true that diplomacy is outside typical consideration of options when it comes to strategy. But as both Ken and Grey have suggested, in this case, we have
a lot
to lose. I propose that we make Ken head of an exploratory mission, the object of which is to find out if the dragons are amenable to living in harmony. I propose that he take a contingent of six werewolves, two from each tribe, to accompany him and report back to the alphas.”

SilverRuff sat down. BigTooth said, “Will there be any more discussion before we call for a vote?”

When no one answered, BigTooth called for the vote. There were eleven for and four against.

SilverRuff stood again. “Ken. Do you accept a Council commission to lead a group to the dragons and learn their intentions?”

Ken stood. “Aye. I’ll go.”

SilverRuff nodded. “In that case, I think you should be the one to choose who will accompany you. Two from each tribe. You’ll go day after tomorrow. This Council will reconvene the day after that to reevaluate our position based on the results.”

Ken had gotten to know wolves from other tribes at the fire festivals and had no trouble choosing. Before the Council dispersed, he told SilverRuff and Stalkson Grey which two representatives from their tribes were being drafted for the mission. He specified the place and hour where they would rendezvous and everyone was agreed.

Truthfully, most of the Council members left with little hope that Ken’s idea would be successful and preserve their corner of paradise, but each had a glimmer of hope that it would work. With so much at stake, the least they could ask of themselves was to keep an open mind.

Two days after the Council meeting, seven wolves emerged where verdant forest met barren stone near the top of the Lost Sky mountain range. The rapidity with which the fortress was taking shape was impressive. It was also daunting and clearly meant to be intimidating. It sent a message. The dragons intended to claim the mountain as their own.

Ken’s group was met by several large men whom they presumed to be shifters. The wolves quickly changed to human form and greeted the newcomers cordially. SilverRuff had named Ken leader partly because it was his idea, but she’d also learned to respect his keen intellect and even temper. She knew that, if a cool head became necessary, Liulf’s younger brother was a good bet.

Ken stepped forward and motioned to the other wolves. “We’ve noticed that we have new neighbors. ‘Tis quite a structure ye’ve begun.” Ken glanced upward to indicate the rock face outcropping. The men stared at Ken and the other wolves in silence, without perceivable expression. “I’m sure ‘tis a spectacular view.”

One of the men murmured something to the one standing in the forefront. The leader-apparent raised his chin and said, “Is that Scot we hear?”

“Aye. Like ye, I’m no’ a native. I’m Cinaed, New Scotia Pack.”

“We don’t like Scots.”

Ken could have taken offense, but chose to give diplomacy a chance. He chuckled, but didn’t look away. “Well, I’m sure ye have yer reasons. Perhaps Scots do no’ care for ye either?” Ken let that thought sit for a moment before proceeding. “’Tis a reason why we’ve climbed so high this mornin’. The alphas of the three tribes that have settled here
before
ye wish to extend an invitation to meet.”

The apparent leader smirked at that while the men with him engaged in a mix of laughter and sneering.

The wolves had heard plenty of stories about dragon shifters before, but none had ever been close to one in the flesh. It seemed that, when the dragons shifted to two leg form, they retained surprising aspects of their animal’s nature.

First, they had vertical pupils, which was unsettling, particularly so on a two legged creature. Second, when they opened their mouths to laugh, they revealed teeth that came to sharp points.

Ken could see it wasn’t going to go as they’d hoped.

“Shall we take that to mean ye have no interest in our hospitality? Would ye at least care to give a name?”

“Why would we want to become friendly with food?”

Ken suspected that he was unable to keep the look of shock from his face. He heard the changes in breathing of the wolves who stood behind him and knew that they had been baited, as a group, by that outrageously provocative statement.

A suggestion that shifters, even those of different species, might eat one another was so abhorrent, it was simply unthinkable.

“’
Tis how you want to be leavin’ thin’s between us?”

“Tell you what. If you and the mongrels with you, can reach the bottom of the mountain before we catch you, we might decide to be good sports and choose something else for dinner. ”

The other dragon shifters laughed at that.

With nothing left to be said, Ken shifted to wolf form. Determined to leave with dignity intact, he turned and trotted unhurriedly back to the safety of forest, with the others in the small contingent following. When they reached the bottom of the mountain, Ken shifted to human form so that he could speak.

“Just in case they were no’ playin’ games, we’re waitin’ here in the trees for cover of darkness. If we start across the open areas when ‘tis still light, they could take us and there’d be nothin’ we could do about it. The moon is new. ‘Tis still dark when the sun sets and the dragons will no’ hunt then. They can no’ see as well as we can in darkness. Then we go to our respective tribes and tell our alphas what we’ve seen and heard.”

“Tell your alphas that I requested that each of you attend the Council meeting, just in case the members have questions and want to hear yer impressions.”

The seven took wolf form, curling into each other for warmth and comfort. Feeling relatively safe under the cover of forest, they napped the rest of the afternoon away.

Ken woke to the sound of a howl. It was dark and their families were very likely getting worried.

He poked each wolf with his nose and then dashed out of the woods in the direction of New Scotia. Two followed. Two more headed in the direction of First Colony and the remaining two streaked for New Elk Mountain.

CHAPTER 3

The diplomatic scouts made their reports to their alphas and, as SilverRuff had declared, the Council met again the day after. The discussion on whether or not to overturn Lunark’s policy on technology, particularly arms, was far from consensus. The first day was a volley of raised voices. By the second day, everyone who had something to say had been given the opportunity to speak and talks were devolving into heated argument, fueled by the resistance of the First Colony contingent.

Liulf had been silent for the duration, carefully listening to the various points of view, trying to evaluate each on its own merit. By the afternoon of the second day, he was ready to add his opinion. When he stood, voices quieted immediately. He was not only one of three alphas who carried immense respect and authority, but also an imposing figure even among creatures as impressive as werewolves.

He addressed the First Colonists directly.

“I have heard yer speeches and know that each of ye speaks from the heart. I understand why ye feel as ye do.

“When I first visited this world, I recognized it for the paradise that it was. No one of sound mind would argue that the old ways are no’ better for our kind, me least of all. If I could choose anythin’, I would choose to have Lunark forever remain as it
has
been.