Ignis

“By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. There was a smell unlike the scent of the bonfires we danced around. The darkness of the smoke choked me and I was completely alone. I fell into the grass, gulping down my last of courage hoping to escape. When I awoke, the forest was ugly with the destruction done by the hunters. They wanted to weed us out, wanted to hunt us like animals. But they did not know it was just me, I sent the others to the river. By the time the fire was set, they had caught the scent and ran for their cover. But I was alone, and my pack was safe.” Keyon finally breathed out, looking at Teddy who rested in his lap. Little head resting on his chest. The youth was still thin, but healthy enough. Keyon was not worried, all of the cubs would grow into their bodies soon enough. “What’s most important to remember, my cubs is the safety of your pack is the most important thing in the world. Your pack will always be there for you, hug your babies tight, and love each other.” Teddy wrestled for a moment, curling his fist against Keyon’s chest. “Go on then! I have to tend to the whelps.” The others scattered to their tents, gear for the rest of the evening. The alpha ran his fingers through little Teddy’s hair, listening to him whimper in his sleep. 

“You’re adopting another stray?” said Archie, the alpha female of the Goldtails, an all-female wolf pack. She leaned over, looking at the boy herself. “Handsome enough, that one.” Strands of her long red hair brushed on Keyon’s shoulder. 

“He’s too young to be abandoned,” Keyon replied, looking up at her kindly. “Lazlo said he was ducked in a cave when they found him. Gunpowder all over his shirt.”

“Was he blinded?” 

“No, thank heavens no.” Keyon slipped one arm under his legs, adjusting his head, getting to his knees to set him into a sleeping bag beside his siblings. “Blasted hunters, cowards trying to attack children. What could a child ever do to a hunter and a gun?”

“Hmm,” Archie surveyed the collection all sleeping in a bundle. Each cub was a different color, shape, and size all from different regions of the world. Urban wolves mixed with ones from the mountains, ones from little villages, some who just lived about the woods. The oldest was at eight, and the youngest, now being tucked in, was the tender age of five. Archie noticed when Teddy’s left hand touched hers. She smiled, seeing how he whimpered. “Will there be adoptions soon?”

“Yes, Pack Council is rife with love.” Keyon paused, jerking his head up at the scent of fire. “What’s that?”

Archie went to the tent flaps, glancing out, “Hm, Mrs. Lovell is starting a fire for water. I think she’s doing her laundry.” He breathed out, feeling his stomach untwist. “She’s burning leaves, what a lovely sight.”

“Lovely?”

“The mash of colors, the smell of the bonfire, the glow of the light...it’s so lovely.” She turned back and looked at him. She saw his expression, “That story was real?” He pursed his lips. “My apologies then, every Elder I’ve met tells stories for the sake of pride.”

“I assure you I do not tell fables.” He murmured, looking a little annoyed. “It is not an Elder’s job to tell stories. I want to inspire us all!”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“You should go to bed,” Keyon offered. “I’ll need everyone ready for tomorrow morning. The kids will need us well-rested.” She nodded, turning herself to the outside, ushering in the smell of the fire. He recoiled at the graze of the wind, taking a deep breath to soothe himself. Keyon curled to his trunks, hunting for a bottle of something brown and tasting like cinnamon. Teddy turned over, opening his eyes for a second. “Mister?”

“Hello little one,” The cub squeezed his covers, hiding a little. “Are you okay?” 

“‘M hungry.” He offered. 

“Well, you’ve had a big day.” The Elder found the dried meat he had made earlier. “Here, it’s deer meat.” Teddy reached, receiving the strip. “It’s a little thick, but I think you’ll like it.” The little boy gnawed at the end, managing to yank the piece into his mouth. “What do they call you?”

“Huh?”

“What’s your name?”

“Theodore,” He murmured. “Mama called me Teddy.”

“Teddy huh? What a nice name, your eyes are rather brown too.” Teddy took another bite of meat, feeling shy. He went deeper into the covers. “Where is your Mama?”

“She’s in the home,”

“A home? Your home?”

“Yeah, it’s wooden and big. Mama and I stayed there together. She took care of me. She took me to the garden where she grew the food, and we slept in the big bed together. One day a hunter came, he had a gun and looked for Mama. I ran away like Mama taught me.”

“I see.” He whispered, feeling his heart stop after a moment. “And...you have not seen Mama yet?”

“I tried to go back, but I heard the fireworks. Mama said not to go to the fireworks.”

“The fireworks?”

“Yeah! You know, the loud bangs? Makes an echo, it’s so loud.”

“Yes…” Keyon resisted his tears, for his sake at least. “Yes. A terrible thing, those fireworks.”

“Mama said don’t go back if we get separated. She said we’ll be together forever, even when we’re apart.”

“Yes, of course, you are,” Keyon replied. He asked him if he wanted more meat, and Teddy nodded. 

“Are you gonna take care of me?”

“Well, if not me, then someone of the pack. Someone who will take very good care of you. That’s what packs do, we take care of each other.”

“Uh-huh,” He continued to gnaw at his meat, turning to his back and looked up at the ceiling of the tent. Keyon grabbed a cloth roll, settling beside him. “Like the smell of the fire. It’s nice.”

“Oh?”

“It smells like the home, smells like the fireplace in the big room, it’s warm and safe.”

“Hm,” Keyon saw his expression. “Well, someone has to like it.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The morning came quietly but with great excitement. The youngest ran around the tents, darting and playing to tag the other. Teddy chased after the leader of the bunch. The leader, Taylor, was stronger but Teddy was faster. His wispy legs carried him as he tackled Taylor to the dirt. They gleefully growled and wrestled the other, Teddy getting a firm nibble at his ear lobe. The adults watching laughed at them, seeing the delight they could freely express. Archie skirted past with mayhem with her bundle of laundry, seeing them laugh and fight. Keyon whistled at Archie to come over, “Coffee? Just made it.”

“Thank you,” She balanced the basket at her hip with one strong arm, the other hand took the tin cup he extended. “Oof, bitter like my soul.”

“Your soul is as bitter as a cup of milk.” He snorted at her. “I haven’t had sugar in months.”

“Next time I’ll make sure we get plenty from the Rez,” She declared, taking another sip. “Nan and Rainn love to make pound cakes. We haven’t had any in months.”

Taylor, now on top of his adversary, began to use his greatest hand of aggressive tickling. The younger pup howled with laughter, trying to wriggle his way out of the hold. “God, could you imagine being so free?” Laughed Archie, finishing her cup. 

“I remember when I was like that.” Keyon murmured. “It was a long time ago, but...I remember. I think I will adopt the littlest.”

Archie snorted, “I knew it. He does seem….a little young. Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” He answered. “Will you be taking in a youth?”

“Well, I’ve talked it over with the pack. We’ll take a look.”

Teddy rested in the grass, attempting to recover and breathe. He watched the trees rustling to the wind: seeing the oranges, purples, pinks, reds, and browns. Every color floated to the Earth mixing the grass. He reflected for a moment, remembering when his Mama would rake up big piles and they would jump into them together. He always trusted her when she would pluck him up and toss him into the piles. He’d land on his back, seeing the waves past his sides. He leaned back on his hands, eyes studying the colors drift. Teddy was the first to smell the unfamiliar scents, scrambling to his feet, and ran back to the tents. Keyon found the scent as well, recapturing it in his mind. “Oh...looks like some of our friends are coming.” He said very happily to soothe the worries of the children. 

Archie looked at Rainn, second oldest of the pack, “Must have come from the river, maybe we can barter.”

A group entered the eye-line, bright-eyed and arriving with heed. Keyon walked forward with both arms open. “Hello, my friends.” He beamed. 

The leader returned the bright expression going into the embrace. “Hello brother, I’m Edith. The company and I have traveled from the mountains, and just left the trails of the rivers.”

“Well, you are welcome here to rest.” He told her, squeezing her hands.

“We would like to recoup and perhaps trade some supplies. Furs, fish, some tools, and such.”

“Feel free to ask around.” 

The company wandered about the camp, greeting their comrades. The children of the company harmonized with campers, some ducking behind the legs of their parents. Teddy spotted a girl of his same age holding her mother’s hand. She saw Teddy’s look, immediately offering a polite and soft, “Hello.”

“Hi,” He decided. “I’m Teddy.”

“I’m Shanessa.” She replied. 

“Where are you from?”

“The mountains, we had to move because of the hunters.”

“Yeah, me too.” 

“You’re from the mountains?” 

“No, I had to move ‘cause of the hunters.”

“Oh,” She concluded. “Mommy?” She looked up at the woman, and the woman looked down. The woman, dressed in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, bending down smiling at the pups. “This is Teddy.”

“Hello, Teddy.” She said, adjusting her locs behind her shoulders. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Noel.”

“You’re pretty.”

“Thank you, that’s very nice of you to say. I think you’re pretty too.” Shanessa giggled loudly, covering her mouth. “Where is your Mommy, Teddy?”

“Oh...I dunno. We got separated.”

“Well, we can find her, where did you see her last?” Noel stood up completely.

“No, I mean. She’s in the woods, I can’t find her anymore. We got separated when the hunters came.” 

The woman paused, seeing his eyes, clicking in her mind when she realized what he meant. “I understand. Now...who takes care of you? I’d like to meet them.”

“Oh, okay,” Teddy took Noel’s hand, she took her daughter’s hand and they all traveled to Keyon. Keyon began to barter with a couple who carried an infant in tow. The woman was nursing her baby, and all three were discussing the furs they held. Keyon was greeted by the cub, who introduced his new acquaintances. Noel greeted Waya and Awenasa then greeted the Elder. 

“Mommy can I go with Teddy?” asked Shanessa, glancing at the children now gathered at the middle of the grounds. 

“Stay close, where I can hear and see you.” She told her. “You remember what to do when you need me?” The girl nodded. “Alright, you can go.” They fled to the center, meeting the others. 

“What can I do for you sister?” Keyon asked her when she sat beside him. She took the flask of water he handed to her.

“Nothing in particular. Teddy is your boy?” She took a long sip of the water.

“Not...yet. We are adopting the pups we have found. I hope he will have me.”

“His mother...was she one of us?”

“From what I have gathered, yes. He describes her broadly, but...I think she was.”

“She was hunted?”

“I also believe that as well. He called the shots, fireworks.”

“That’s what I have told Shanessa, my girl.” She murmured softly. “It’s...better to be safe than sorry of course.”

Waya grazed the head of his infant, “We will be telling Adahy the same.”

“Hmm, should we be worried brother?”

“More so than usual?” He offered. “Hunting season will be over soon. Then we will just worry about those far too determined….or demented.” There was a shout of glee from one child, landing in the leaves. Some bundles of leaves were hurled at the others, performing some form of tag. “Which one is yours?” He smiled at her warmly. The woman nodded to her daughter now being chased by a group of girls. “How sweet.”

“My husband is with his father’s pack, doing some recon to ensure we can pass through the next mountain. We meet at the Randevu point together.”

“I hope your path will be clear,” Keyon said whole-heartedly.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

The barter had been surprisingly plentiful. The company regrouped and declared good-bye to head into the future. Teddy watched Shanessa return to her parent, looking back at him with a long wave. He waved back, watching them go. Archie adjusted the furs she had traded for, plucking up her needle to begin the adjustments. Teddy returned to Keyon, seeing him chew on the stem of a pipe. “Keyon?”

“Hello Teddy, did you have fun today?”

“Uh-huh, where are they going?”

“They are moving on, hoping to progress as we all will.”

“When will we move on?”

“Soon enough. Not for a couple of days though.” Keyon removed the pipe from between his lips and placed it in the pack. “Would you like me to take care of you?” He asked, warmly.

“Like Mama?”

“Yes, I’d say so. I could not replace her, but I can try very hard.” Teddy sat down with him, receiving Keyon’s flask of water. He drank it, watching Keyon’s hand muss his hair. “I will take care of you.”

“Okay.” Teddy decided, wiping his face from the water dribbling down his chin. 

“Okay.”

Keyon looked up at the trees. The sun was now beginning its dip to the horizon, dinner was being prepared, everyone was winding down. The trees were a fiery red from the sun’s rays. Flashes of fire spread in his mind. He felt his heartbeat for a moment, but he shook down those thoughts. He remembered where he was, who he was with, pointing at three things around him. Teddy’s brown hair, the corked end of his pipe, the faint green color of the grass. Alive and safe, surrounded in the safest place in the world. The safest because of all the people he was around. The boy gently presented the flask now empty. He took it, thanked him, and asked him softly if he liked the trees. He nodded. “Yes...I think I am starting to like them too.”