“Ummm, okay we need some ground rules,” Caleb says shoving him back away from Makenna, only to snatch his hand back when Archer growls at him, again.
“Archer, catch!” Makenna tosses a piece of rolled up fish, then laughs in delight as he leaps up and catches it in his mouth.
“That’s good. More!” He replies.
“Okay, No!” Caleb snaps, taking the plate from Makenna. “Humans do not leap in the air to catch food with their mouths, Archer. We use utensils. Let’s start from the beginning, rule number one: No growling at humans.”
“Yes, I have one, No sniffing humans, any parts of their body!” Makenna says getting excited.
“Only you. I like the way you smell.” Archer says to Makenna as he takes the plate from Caleb and squats on the ground. He continues eating and listens carefully. She blushes and looks away feeling pleased.
“Definitely, No urinating in public or howling at the moon!” Caleb says trying not to laugh.
Archer stares at the two of them, reminded of the moon he says, “My time grows short, and we must talk.”
The smiles fade and Caleb asks, “How is it possible for you to speak to us?”
He wipes his hands in the snow and picks up the plate and walks towards Makenna, “Because we are one.”
Makenna stares at him with butterflies in her stomach. “What do you mean, we are one?” she asks softly. She shivers as a cold wind blows her hair around her shoulders.
Archer looks at them and struggles with how to explain it. “Inside the shell that each spirit wears, we are the same. Some carry shells that are human, some carry shells that are bird…”
Excitement builds and Makenna understands. She looks at Caleb in awe, and he says, “So all animals and humans are the same, spirits inside of bodies?”
“Yes and No. Not just animals, but All living beings.” He takes Makenna’s hand and pulls her towards the trees, he places her hand on the bark of the tree. “Alive! Do you understand?” reaching down he picks a piece of grass from beneath the snow, “Alive!” Turning over a rotted tree stump he points at the bugs beneath, “Alive!”
“Okay, now I’m confused. How can we be the same, they are each unique beings.” Her scientific mind is struggling to keep up.
“Makenna, he means inside we are the same. The spirit or soul of each living creature is the same, from the same source.” Caleb explains and points to the sky.
Archer looks at Caleb with surprise, “I have decided to like you now.”
“It’s about time.” Caleb snorts.
“The same source, like heaven, Archer?” Makenna asks.
He smiles at her for the first time and places her hand over his beating heart he replies, “We are one.” Looking up at him she whispers back, “We are one.”
Chapter
11
Sam stalks the wolf pack through the woods on Dr. Slade’s property. He knew the girl would lead him to the pack. Once you see the Arctic Moon reflected in the eyes of the wolves, you never forget it. As a child Sam was taught the legend of the Arctic wolves from his grandfather. He was Inuit, some call them Eskimo. He never really believed the stories until he saw it with his own eyes.
Sam was eight when his grandfather captured a wolf in a trap. The wolf pack had been causing problems for the hunters for months. A few of the wolves had attacked some of the women and children. Many wanted to move, but his grandfather refused. It was the night of the Arctic Moon. The big blue moon glowed brilliantly in the sky and reflected off the snow, giving everything a touch of blue.
The trap was dug deep, and layered with grass, twigs, and topped with a powder of snow. No one believed it would work. More traps were laid, some with rope, some dug holes, all for the same reason. If the Alpha was stopped, the pack would move. They caught a wolf, but it was not the one they were hoping for. The female lay in the bottom of the trap howling for her mate, jumping to get out. She was not strong enough. The wolves came to her aid and so did the hunters. Sam followed with some of the other boys, excited to be on their first hunt.
The pack circled the hole trying to figure out how to get her out. When they smelled the hunters they began to growl. They would not leave her. The hunters faced the wolves with the trapped wolf between them and lifted their spears. Now they would take care of this growing problem. His grandfather drew back his arm to throw the spear but a brilliant beam of Arctic moon light touched the Alpha male. He threw back his head and howled, the howl turned into a scream. He fell onto his side and began to change! The pack backed away in fear, their leader was in distress. Not sure what to do they ran away into the woods, yelping. Only the she wolf and her mate remained. He lay twitching on the cold snow and the hunters dropped their spears and fell to the ground in amazement. A tall man stood up from the ground, where the wolf once was.
His silver eyes flashed with anger and he growled low in his throat. No one moved as he reached down into the hole to pull his mate to safety. He placed her gently on the ground never taking his eyes off the hunters. He runs his hand through her fur, checking for wounds. Sam never took his eyes off the pair. The she wolf sniffs the man with the silver eyes and sinks her teeth
