The Way of the Wolf

I am Wolf. I lead the way. I am the knower and teacher of much wisdom. I hold a key to the heart. I am loyalty and love, though many perceive only my aggressive nature. I, the Wolf, mate for life - you can count my staying power in this tumultuous world. I am a fierce and loving protector. My senses are keen and my intellect calculating. I possess instincts beyond the ordinary and I am able to search out that which I pursue. I seek and I find. I am alert to the inner wisdom of all my relations.

I am your pathfinder. I lead the way. I have slipped into your affairs to become your tutor... to help you survive. If you will listen with the highly developed senses of Wolf, you will be 100 times more sensitive than those around you. Everything around you, the plants, trees, rocks, wind, and weather... are all your teachers, heed them. Remember to be teachable. My companionship symbolizes the loyality that is Wolf...

Taken from the Shaman Wisdom Cards created by Leita Richesson - All rights reserved

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DAMMIT!" yelled Jade, throwing the cards across the room at her closed door.
Just at the moment, her elder brother, Darryl, opened the door. He ducked just in time to avoid being brained by the deck of cards. He watched in amusement as the cards bounced down the stairs behind him.
"Problem?" he asked mildly.
Jade flushed. "Sorry."
He regarded her with raised eyebrows until she elaborated.
"I wanted them to say I was going to go out with Marc... But they keep saying I'm going to date Tristan!"
Darryl laughed out loud. "You can't *make* the cards say anything, Jade. And they do tell the truth."
Jade paused to consider. "Well... I suppose he *is* a real sweetie... And he's awfully cute..."
Dazz laughed again. "Come on. Mum wants our help clearing out the spare room."

Jade followed her brother out the door and down the stairs, pausing to pick up the deck of Shaman Wisdom Cards and throwing them back up the stairs to her bedroom. Their Mother was struggling to move the bed in the spare room, and Darryl and Jade moved to help her. Together, they managed to rearrange the furniture to their mother's liking, and then helped her cart the boxes of old junk she'd never wanted to throw out to the cupboard under the stairs, where they would be placed and no doubt forgotten about for another 5 years. Jade sneezed several times from the dust, then wiped her nose.
"Why the spring cleaning?"
Her mother pushed the door closed on the last box and wiped her brow.
"Your father's daughter is coming to stay."

Both Darryl and Jade were momentarily stunned. While they both knew that their father had left their mother for another woman whom he had been having an affair with and gotten pregnant, whilst she was pregnant with Jade, neither of them had ever been game to mention their father, his new wife, or their children to their mother.
"You mean..."
Their mother sighed.
"Yes, I've been in contact with your father. The woman he married is very sick... so we're having the daughter to stay with us."
"She's a girl? I have a sister?" asked Jade.
"Half-sister," corrected her mother sharply. "But yes. I don't know how long she will be here for. Probably a month or two... And I thought it would be nice for her to have a room, rather than sleep on the floor in your room, Jade."
Jade and Darryl exchanged glances.
"Where is she from?"
Their mother looked surprised. "I thought you knew where your father was?"
Both Darryl and Jade shook their heads. While they both received birthday and Christmas cards with $5 in normal US currency, they hadn't ever had any idea where their father lived.
"He and... his wife... moved to Transylvania soon after they... married."
"Transylvania?? You mean.... Like Dracula?"
Their mother laughed.
"Same place, but I doubt that they have anything else in common."

Darryl and Jade exchanged excited looks. They'd never met their half-sister, but both had wondered about her over the years - although neither of them had known she was a she until today.
"When is she coming?" asked Jade excitedly.
Their mother looked at them, then smiled.
"Tomorrow morning. I'll need you two to go out to the airport and collect her."

"Sure," replied Dazz with a grin. "Need us for anything else?"
"No," replied their mother. "You can go."
Sharing a silent glance, Jade and Darryl turned and headed outside.
"Back *before* dinner this time!" called their mother as the door shut behind them.
As one they waved over their shoulders, and headed into the woods.

After 15 minutes walking in silence, Jade spoke.
"Do you think she'll be.... Like us?"
Darryl shrugged. "I don't know. I suppose it's possible... But she hasn't lived here with the wolves like we have."
Darryl and Jade had lived in their house in Northern America for as long as they could remember, and ever since they could remember, they had been able to... sense wolves. Darryl still remembered his mother's expression the first time she had come into the back yard and found Jade and him playing with 3 wolf pups. The scolding they had gotten for that particular stunt had ensured they only ever met the wolves in the woods. Two weeks after Jade's 13th birthday, when Darryl was 16, was the first time they had realised they could shape-shift. Over time they had learned to control the shifts, and both now knew exactly what they had to do to trigger one - and what to avoid.
"It might be genetic."
"You saw Mum's reaction when the pack came looking for us at the house."
"Maybe it's from Dad's side then."
"I guess we'll have to wait and see."
Jade sighed impatiently, then stopped by the side of the path.
"Let's hunt."
Darryl didn't bother moving off the path, and a moment later two wolves were running side by side down the path towards the river.

***

The morning dawned early, and Jade stirred in her bed, turning to look out the window. Then she remembered that today she and Darryl would be making the 2 & 1/2 hour drive to the nearest airport, to pick up her half-sister, whom she had never met. Slightly nervously, Jade picked out her clothes, then showered and dressed, and moved downstairs. Darryl and her mother were already up, and eating breakfast. Jade got her own, and ate it quickly, while their mother gave them hurried instructions, a description of the girl, and sign with her name on it. Then the two left, with Darryl driving, and their mother watching nervously from the porch.

***

At 9:00 the plane landed, and Darryl and Jade stood, leaning against a pillar, holding the sign their mother had made. Both felt wary being around so many people, probably because of the recency of their latest shift. Both ears and noses twitched occasionally, testing the air for sounds and scents of danger. People began to disembark, and they straightened, watching.

Jade leaned closer to Darryl
"You know I feel like those driver people you see on t.v"
"You mean chauffeurs"
"Yeah those ones"

They laughed.
It wasn't long before most of the crowd had desipated. There were a few people still left standing. One girl stood holding her backs and looking around. She stopped when she saw Darryl and Jade.

"That's her" he whispered
Jade looked up and gaped. Standing a few feet infront of her stood a young women who had the same taste of clothes as Jade. She gathered her bags and started to walk towards them.

"Love her clothes" Jade said to Darryl
"Jade, you love clothes full stop" He teased her
"Do not!" Jade pouted and Darryl laughed

At that moment the girl reached them. Darryl put down the sign.

"Hi I'm Kathryn but just call me Kat"
"Hi, I'm Darryl and this is Jade"

They stood there and then Jade made the first move and hugged Kat. Both Kat and Jade laughed. Darryl just smiled at them studying Kat's face.

"You look very much like Dad" He said silently
"Michael? Yes, about the only feature I have of mum's is her figure, thank god for that" She laughed

Jade looked at Darryl. He grabbed her bags and they headed for the car mainly talking about how their father was. However it wasn't long Darryl noticed before the topic changed to clothes. He watched Kat and Jade talk from the rear vision mirror and smiled.

"It's beautiful" Kat exclaimed as they neared the cottage

Jade and Darryl's mother was standing in the doorway twiddling her thumbs. She didn't move until Darryl got out of the car. She became her usual fussy self they way she always did when she was nervous.

"Hi Misses Stamp"
"Hello Kat, call me Irene. Was your flight alright dear?"
"Yes thank you"
"Yes well those international flights always tire you out. You must be very tired. Are you tired? Cos if you are then Jade or Darryl can always show you your room and you can go have a lie down"
"Mum relax, I'll show her around. How about you go make coffee"
"Yes good idea"

Irene turned and walked inside. Jade burst out laughing.

"Sorry about that Kat, mum's really okay, she is just nervous"
"So am I" Kat said under her breath "That's okay really" She said to Jade.

Darryl had already gone inside with the bags so Jade offered to give Kat the quick tour.

"Well Darryl and my rooms are upstairs, mine is the one on the right. You can't really miss it since it is has my name on it"
Kat laughed
"Anyway let me show you the shop"
"Shop?" Kat asked
"Yeah. Mum owns a naturalist shop. It's really cool. She sells all sorts of stuff. I make the clothes and do readings"
"Readings? What sort of readings do you do?" Kat asks curiously
"Mainly tarot. However I follow shamanism like Dad"
"Thank heavens"
"Pardon"
"I was so afriad that you wouldn't do stuff like that. Mum's pagan and well I have so many hassles about practising wicca"
Jade laughs
"You don't need to worry about all that. The whole town pretty much is into wicca. Mum sells most the herbs and stuff cos of the fact that we own most the forest and can grow most of the herbs and flowers needed"
"Is Irene wiccan?"
"Not any more. She stoped being in a coven after Dad left."

They walked in silence. A figure jumped out from behind a tree and grabbed Jade. Kat screamed in shock.

"Marc, you know you shouldn't sneak up on me like that" She scolded
"Sorry. Who's your friend?"
"Oh, Marc, meet Kat my half sister. Kat this is Marc. He's the next door neighbour"
The exchanged greetings
"Okay Tristan, come out now"
Tristan jumped out of a tree landing infront of them.
"How on earth do you do that?" He asked but Jade just ignored him
"This is Tristan, Marc's younger brother"

***

Irene watched Kat and Jade walk down the path until they were out of sight. She must about the resemblence gave her a bit of a shock. She headed into the den and grabbed a photo from the wall and sat down holding it.

"You still miss him don't you mum"
"Yes Darryl, I do"

Darryl sat down beside his mother.

"I don't understand. Why did he leave you?"

His mother looked surprised at the question.
"Because he loved her more than he loved me, of course... Things hadn't been quite right between your father and I for quite some time... and when she got pregnant he decided to do the right thing."
"Oh."
"It happens everywhere, Darryl."
"Why didn't you remarry?"
"Because there was no one who I loved enough. Go and find the girls, please, they were heading towards the shop. Take them out for lunch, Kat is probably hungry."
Darryl realised his mother wanted to be alone, and left.

***

Jade, Kat, Marc and Tristan had decided to take the short cut through the woods, and Marc was busy telling Kat everything that she needed to look out for. Jade and Tristan had dropped back a little, and Kat could clearly hear Jade flirting with him. She smiled, and returned her attention to Marc. He looked to be the same age as Darryl, or maybe a little older, and was, like his younger brother, very cute.
"... and then there's the wolves. You have to be very careful about wolves, or they'll take you and we'll never find you."
Kat found this statement so ridiculous that she laughed out loud.
Marc looked slightly hurt.
"We have wolves back home, Marc," she said. "They only attack the farms and villages when the hunters kill or scare off all the game. My father takes me out hunting all the time."
Marc looked surprised.
"You can shoot?"
Kat hesitated just a second. "Yes."
Jade and Tristan caught up, and as the four left the woods, Darryl caught up to them. Kat breathed in sharply as he arrived, giving him a curious look.
"Been running?"
"Had to, to catch up with you lot!"
Kat made a noncommital noise as they moved out into main street.
"Are you insane?" hissed Jade to Darryl as they stepped into the sun.
"Well I didn't know you weren't alone, did I?" he replied testily.
Jade shrugged and walked down to the shop, followed by the others. Kat stepped in and the door swung closed behind her.
"Ugh!"
"What?" asked Jade, alarmed.
"Acacia... Can't you smell it?"
Jade *could* smell it, but she had always though it was because of her... talent.
"It is a little strong today," commented Darryl moving towards the back of the shop. "Someone's dumped half a packet onto the block."
"I can tell," Kat replied, then wandered over to the herb selection.
She fingered a few packets, then started giggling. Jade came over to see what was so amusing, and plucked the packet out of her hands.
"Hmm... Catnip. Or should that have a K?"
Kat laughed, and walked over to the books, still giggling.
"You really shouldn't let me near that stuff," she said, and resumed browsing.

They spent half an hour in the shop, then went down the street for lunch. Jade noticed that Kat seemed quite interested in Marc, but kept watching Darryl out of the corner of her eye. Darryl, in turn, noticed that Jade seemed to have taken the reading from the shaman cards he'd given her for her birthday at face value, and had attached herself to Tristan. The five talked over lunch, and as the afternoon wore on, they each got to know Kat - and in Kat's case, got to know everyone. After a while, Tristan and Marc excused themselves to go home.
"You coming to Sarah's party tonight?" Tristan asked Jade.
She smiled at him. "Probably. See you there?"
"Sure. See you later."

Shortly after they left, Darryl, Jade and Kat began the walk home. Half way through the woods, there was an eerie howl winding through the trees. Darryl and Jade exchanged glances.
"That's odd," commented Kat.
"What is?" asked Jade warily.
"That howl. There's no moon out, it's the middle of the day, and we're very near civilisation. And it sounded close. And distressed."
"Wolves howl for more reasons than at the moon," said Jade.
"I know they do, but not this close to civilisation unless they can't help it."
"A wolf howl can be heard for up to 10 miles," quoted Jade.
Kat gave her an impatient look. "Do you think I am stupid? Back home we have wolves. If you want to live, you have to be able to judge distance. That was close, and it wasn't for fun."
Darryl and Jade exchanged another look. Both knew how close the wolf was, and both had recognised that it had sounded in pain, but going near a distressed wolf with their new sister wasn't what either of them had in mind; At least not until they worked out exactly how she felt about the creatures.
The howl came again, and Kat stepped off the trail into the woods.
"Are you insane?" asked Darryl, grabbing at her elbow. "You'll get lost."
She pulled it free. "Not if you come with me. That wolf is hurt, and I am going to help it."
Jade and Darryl exchanged another look, and hurried after her.
"Think she knows what she's doing?"
"I hope so."
"Should I..." Jade trailed off.
"No. Let's go."

Darryl and Jade caught up to Kat and the three worked their way through the underbrush towards a stream. There, Kat paused a moment, before walking forward to a low bush, and pushing the branches aside. They both heard her gasp of surprise, and exchanged another glance.
"Darryl... Get some water?"
Exchanging a final glance, Darryl moved down to the stream and collected some water in his hat, while Jade moved over to Kat. Darryl caught Jade's gasp, and the wolf's soft whine. As he reached the girls, he got another surprise.
"Don't worry\fret, little brother, I\we will get the sharp-thing-that-bites from you."
Jade and Darryl exchanged extremely started looks.
"Give him some water."
Darryl put his hat in front of the wolf, then moved around to where the steel trap had caught the wolf's hind leg.
"Hold his head, I'll open the trap."
Kat placed her hands firmly around the wolf's muzzle, explaining to him why she was holding him and that there would be some pain. Jade lay across the wolf to keep him still, and Darryl got a good grip on the trap.
"Ready? One, Two, Three."
On three, the wolf whined and squirmed, and Darryl pulled the trap free. Together, the three carried him to the stream, where they rinsed his leg, and Jade made a poultice to stop the wound from becoming infected, which they tied on with one of the scarves Kat had in her hair. Then, after getting a lick of gratitude from the wolf, the three went back to the path.

They walked home in silence, and went up to Jade's bedroom as one, and sat there looking at each other in silence.
"It's not that uncommon up in the mountains," said Kat finally.
"Talking to wolves?" asked Jade, trying to be certain.
"Yes."
Jade and Darryl exchanged glances.
"Ask her?" Jade asked in wolvish.
"May as well."
Kat stared at both of them with slightly wide eyes.
"Are you a shape-shifter?" asked Darryl.
Whatever Kat had been expecting, that hadn't been it, because she jumped like a startled deer.
"Me?"
"Yes," Jade replied. "You."
Kat frowned, looking at them both cautiously. If worst comes to worse, she finally decided, I'll have have to kill them. Somehow though, I don't think I will...
"Yes."
Jade jumped up in delight and threw her arms around her half-sister with great enthusiasm. "I knew it! It has to be hereditary!"
Kat returned the hug in some bewilderment. "Are you saying that you two are... and Irene is..?"
Jade sat back.
"Just us," said Darryl. "Not Mum."
"Someone else... like me..." breathed Kat.
Jade caught that, and looked surprised. "You mean Dad isn't?"
Kat shook her head. "No, Dad is... But not naturally. He taught himself."
"Do you think that means Mum..?"
Kat shook her head. "No. We have different mothers remember? I'd say it was Dad, even though it's not natural in him..."
The three sat just staring at each other for several long minutes.
"So you're wolf?" asked Jade finally.
Kat shook her head again. "No. I have been, which is how I learned wolvish, and I think wolves are great... But I'm more solitary. I prefer panther."
Jade looked startled. "You can shift into more than one animal?"
"Just two. Panther is easiest, because it's my familiar. Wolf is ok, because Dad is, and he taught me."
Jade and Darryl exchanged glances again.
"We never even thought about anything else..."
"I don't recommend it. I'd say that both of you would have wolves as your familiars, yes?"
Darryl and Jade both nodded reluctantly.
"Well unless you have someone like Dad, I strongly advise against trying anything else. I tried to be a bird once... I was physically sick for 5 weeks afterwards... That's when Dad explained that I was a panther, and I could be wolf because he was and he'd taught me, but if I tried to be anything else... well... I was lucky that I'd only tried to be something small. Trying to turn myself into a dragon probably would have killed me."
Darryl and Jade exchanged glances again, both glad they hadn't tried anything else.
"I'm glad you didn't," Jade said, with a smile.
Kat smiled in reply. "So am I."
There was another pause as the three observed each other in wonder.
"Does Irene know?" asked Kat finally.
"No," replied Darryl.
"What about anyone else?"

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