Family Tails

A Story of a Mixed Family in the Genetic Age

---

Names of actual businesses, their products, etc, are the property of their respective owners.

Story and characters © 2013 Ronald J. Lebeck

---

Chapter 31

Miriam Swiftcloud's housemate drove her from their home in Sequim, WA to the Sea-Tac International Airport, on the south side of Seattle. The two had talked about this trip ever since Miriam showed her the photos of the wolves in the "press release" given to the various animal rights groups. When Miriam was asked how she knew they might be the same ones recovered in the raid all those years ago, Miriam dug through her stash of photos, and found a few old Polaroid photos of the release. Sure enough, two of the young wolves had the exact same colors and markings as the two older ones in the recent photo. Miriam's housemate, Siam (formerly known as Anne Parkwood, before changing her name during the 1960's), still doubted they could be the same ones.

"Wolves can change colors as they age, and they usually only live about six to eight years in the wild. Those photos you took are over twenty years old--they're probably the great grandchildren of the ones in your photos," Siam tried to explain.

"They look exactly the same, though, even the look in their eyes. I'm telling you, there wa something really different about those two. During the whole trip, it was like they were watching us and listening to everything we said...and they seemed like they understood us. I'll never forget the look they gave us when we drove away, they just stood there looking at us, and it was like they were trying to get into our minds. On the way back, we couldn't shake the feeling that we abandoned children in the wilds. It's haunted us to this day, though we tried to convince ourselves that they were better off up there than being experimented on," Miriam said.

"So you want to find them and see if they might be the same...and then what?" Siam asked.

"If I can find them, and if they're the same ones, there's only one thing I can do," Miriam replied. "Beg forgiveness."

When Miriam arrived in Fairbanks, she rented a small RV, and bought some camping gear from a military surplus dealer. She detested anything and everything about the military, but she grudgingly admitted that the equipment was durable and the price was affordable. While cruising through the downtown area, Miriam spied an alternative bookstore and decided to stop in. The store didn't look like much from the outside--most don't--but inside, aside from the usual range of books and other printed material, clothing made from organic materials and certified fair trade from small co-ops around the world, there was also a decent selection of organic foods. Miriam stocked up on supplies that she might need, bought a copy of the current "Mother Earth News"[1], and checked out the bulletin board to see what kind of events were held and anything else that might be of interest. Almost buried behind postings that are more recent was an article about the very wolves she sought. While Miriam was reading the article, one of the store clerks noticed and made her way over.

"Awesome story, eh?"

"Yeah. I read about it on the Internet," Miriam said, and then reached into her bag and pulled out some papers. "I wouldn't mind thanking the person that came to their rescue."

The papers she showed the clerk was a printout--on 100% recycled paper--of the information disseminated to all of the animal rights groups. The store clerk recognized it, knowing that the format her customer's copy was in, never was sent out to the public at large, only to a special "ring" of websites used by the animal rights groups. The clerk herself had an identical copy.

"You're on the 'Fur Alliance" web ring, too, eh?" the clerk asked quietly.

Miriam looked at the clerk in mild surprise.

"Yeah, I write the 'Call to Paws Action Alerts'," Miriam said, glancing quickly around to see if anyone else was nearby.

"That's so cool! The owners here are off taking part in the demonstrations in California this week. I wish I could have gone with them, but classes are starting up at the university, so it's back to school for me," the clerk said excitedly.

"We all so what we can," Miriam agreed.

"So, do you have a special interest in that story about the wolves?" the clerk asked.

"A personal interest, yeah. I'm pretty sure I've seen those two older ones before, up near the Brooks Range. I'm going up there to see if I can spot them and take picures to see how they're doing," Miriam replied.

"Rumor has it that the vehicle belonging to those hunters was found between Livengood and the south edge of the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, off the east side of the road. That's a ways south of the Brooks Range, but maybe they found a home on that side of the Yukon River," the clerk said.

"Hmm, you're right, it is. Well, thanks for the tip, it'll be a place to start looking," Miriam said with a grin.

"Be careful out there--there's all kinds of stories floating around about that area, and several of the G.E.L.F. people have been spotted coming and going around there," the clerk cautioned.

Miriam made her purchases and thanked the clerk again for the information before leaving the store.

Wasting no time, Miriam loaded her supplies into the rental RV, and set out. While driving through town, she spotted an Internet café and decided to stop in so that she could use the Internet. It seemed like a comfortable place--it reminded her of some of the coffee shops in Seattle, with booths, easy chairs, tables, and a selection of coffees, teas, chai, and food. Not having eaten since getting on the plane, Miriam ordered a cup of herbal tea and a vegetarian sandwich that she found delightful. The one unique feature of the place was that although the theme of it seemed Early Renaissance, it had a computer repair shop.

"That's a little different," Miriam thought to herself with mild amusement.

Miriam sat down in a booth along the wall, plugged her laptop in, and connected to the Internet. While she ate, Miriam logged into her favorite instant messenger program to see if a certain friend of hers was online--he usually was, so she was able to contact him right away.

nativeshield_ff3: "Hey Chad, do we have anything on G.E.L.F. activity in AK?"

[nachadneuzer_ff2]: "Hey Mir, thinks so...lemme check."

Miriam continued to eat and sip her tea while waiting for her friend Chad to pull up the information she wanted.

[nachadneuzer_ff2]: "Back. It's not much, just that since they passed that law up there, there's been two recorded marriages with humans, that concert given by the mouse guy, and the birth of 4 GELF/human children. Other than that, it seems pretty quiet. Oh, wait, there was one incident involving the Rev. Blackburn in an assault case where he tried to do something to a wolf GELF and ended up hitting another guy, who busted him up."

nativeshield_ff3: "Blackburn probably deserved it. For a preacher, he seems to hate everyone."

[nachadneuzer_ff2]: "True. What's with the info about GELFs in AK?"

nativeshield_ff3: "Something I heard--I'm in Fairbanks right now."

[nachadneuzer_ff2]: "Whatcha doing up there?"

nativeshield_ff3: "Something I've been wanting to do for a long time."

[rachadneuzer_ff2]: "What's that?"

nativeshield_ff3: "It's about those wolves we released. I've got a tip from a local supporter about them, and the last place they've been seen, just happens to be where a lot of G.E.L.F.s have been hanging around."

[rachadneuzer_ff2]: "Mir, that was over 20 years ago."

nativeshield_ff3: "Yeah, I know. I swear two of the pups from back then are the two older wolves in those photos. I've got to find them and see for myself otherwise it's going to bother me until I die."

[rachadneuzer_ff2]: "Still a stubborn old mule, aren't you? Well, be careful in case whomever it is that's watching out for those guys don't take kindly to anyone poking around. They probably could have easily killed those humans instead of leaving them tied up by the road."

nativeshield_ff3: "Damn straight, and yeah, maybe so. I'll either call or check back online in a few days. Ciao."

[rachadneuzer_ff2]: "Later, Mir."

Miriam closed out of the message program and concentrated on eating her sandwich. While she was munching on the second half, she looked up when she heard voices approaching--and nearly dropped her sandwich. Four people walked over and sat down in the next booth, two men and two G.E.L.F. females, who obviously seemed close. Miriam just happened to be facing the booth the two couples sat down in. The G.E.L.F. female sitting with her back towards Miriam wore hospital "scrubs" and had her long fur-hair in a braid. The other G.E.L.F. female and her man were sitting facing her. She was obviously a wolf-type, and didn't seem to take any particular notice. Both of the men, however, did notice Miriam, and they acknowledged her with a quick nod and smile. Miriam had never been in the presence of a G.E.L.F. before, so she wasn't sure what to expect.

Ever since she was about fourteen years old, Miriam had been interested in animal rights, quickly becoming involved in the activist movement to ban animal testing of products. Decades later, when the news about the G.E.L.F.s broke, she and many other activists were completely stunned--how could they have missed this? If they had known about the program to make animals into people, they certainly would have lodged protests, organized demonstrations, even attempt to shut the operation down if they could. Surely, this had to be a form of animal cruelty, forcing animals to be something they weren't meant to be. The more Miriam tried to find out about them, the less solid information there seemed to be. Miriam never trusted the government, let alone the corporations who she believed are, as a whole, evil--just some are more so than others. These two G.E.L.F. people seemed happy enough in whatever roles they must fill. She could for the life of her understand why anyone would want to act like they were in a relationship with an animal that mimicked humans.

The little bell over the front door of the establishment dimly registered in Miriam's mind as she wondered about the implications to human society concerning the G.E.L.F.s, though the sounds of children running and shouting "Momma!" and "Daddy!" got her attention. Four very unusual children came running towards her direction, followed by another G.E.L.F.--this one a skunk! Miriam watched with an odd fascination as the four G.E.L.F. children nearly pounced on the man with the female wolf G.E.L.F., hugging, nuzzling, and even kissing him in human fashion--two looked like wolves, and two looked like skunks. After the skunk woman herded the children into the next booth, she leaned in and kissed the man with the wolf G.E.L.F. on the lips, which he returned, in a loving manner, just as any human couple would under similar circumstances. Miriam wasn't sure if she should feel happy for them, or sick to her stomach. This was a whole new thing to try and wrap her mind around. Miriam didn't realize at the time, that these people were the ones who knew exactly where the very wolves she sought to find were, or the connection of what she did in the past to their present lives. However, the universe has its own way of doing things, and it will make sure that their paths cross again--soon.

Miriam spent the night in a motel, and early the next morning, she checked out and drove up to the area the store clerk had told her about the day before. She found what looked like an old logging road and turned down it. The road was gravel for part of the way, but soon turned into a dirt road. Miriam drove about as far as she dared, before stopping. She found a reasonably good spot to park, hoping that the vehicle wasn't somewhere frequented. She loaded the backpack with what she thought she might need, including the small tent and sleeping bag, just in case she might have to spend the night out in the open. Satisfied that everything was in order, Miriam locked up the RV, and struck out. She headed towards the ridge to the north with the idea that she could watch over a much wider area for the wolves, or maybe even hear them if they should howl. Miriam had unwittingly driven down the old fire road that went towards the homes of the very people she had seen the day before in Fairbanks. Like most people, she had completely missed seeing the turnoff for the driveway up to the houses of those she had met the day before, and went a good ways past. Using the topographical sectional map for reference, and relying on an old-fashioned compass, Miriam hiked towards the ridge, enjoying the view and the fresh air. Even though as an experienced hiker, Miriam knew that she shouldn't travel alone, especially in unfamiliar territory. However, this was a personal quest that she felt couldn't be shared with anyone--it would bring either redemption or failure--and failure wasn't something she found acceptable.

Miriam took her time hiking, carefully noting landmarks, making notes in a little notebook she had brought along, watching out for any unsafe footing, and she had made sure to wear a "bear bell"--a little bell attached to a mesh "cup" that would keep her from surprising a bear. When it was necessary to move quietly, the bell could be placed into the cup and the magnet in the bottom would keep the bell silent. It was a nice climb to the top of the ridge, a bit of a challenge, but it didn't require any technical climbing. After resting for a bit at the top, Miriam decided that it was time for a cup of hot tea and a little snack. She took the little single burner stove out of her pack, attached the fuel canister, and soon had some water heating in the Sierra[2] cup--a long-time favorite of hikers and backpackers. The wind carried the scent of the strong, spicy chai tea in a westerly direction, towards the favorite hunting area of a certain male lynx.

Magnus was enjoying his bit of sunlight while stretched out on his favorite rock. His mother first brought him to this place when he was old enough to go hunting with her, and sometimes her friends would come, too. Nowadays, though, Magnus came here by himself or sometimes with his adopted human parent, if he wasn't busy with his new mate. Magnus liked Helga, and enjoyed her company, even though she looked odd for a cat. He wished his human parent could hear him like his wolf friends, the tall furries like Helga, and his other man-friend, Ron. He was just about to take a little nap when a faint, strange smell came to him on the breeze. He almost shrugged it off, until he realized the direction that the wind was coming from. The big people wouldn't be home yet, so he wondered what else could make odd sweet smells.

"Magnus go see, find smell, tell wolf friends."

Having made up his mind, he got up, stretched, and sharpened his claws a little before heading off to discover the source of the strange smell.

Following paths few others knew about, it didn't take Magnus long to traverse the ridge, and find the source of this curiosity. Using his natural stealth, Magnus got as close as he dared. It was a human, but not one he had ever seen or scented before. There was nothing at all familiar about this human, so he watched carefully, not wanting to give himself away. Keeping hidden in the shade of some rocks, Magnus watched as the dark-haired human occasionally put something up to her eyes and acted as if she were looking around. Magnus remembered his human parent do something like that when they went roaming together.

"It helps me see a long ways," he recalled his human parent say.

"Maybe human lost. Not look like hunter humans, no sharp-noise stick."

Magnus thought a while about what to do with this human.

"Go find wolf friends, they help."

With that, Magnus silently slipped away.

As luck would have it, the wolves were napping in the glade near the little pond when Magnus came looking for them.

"Atka! Sesi! Found strange human!" Magnus shouted mentally.

He was just within range of them hearing him when he was at his man-friend's house, sniffing for their scent. Atka and Sesi both raised their heads quickly at the news.

"By small still water," Atka called out mentally to Magnus, meaning they were at the pond.

Magnus ran quickly from the house to the glen where his wolf friends met him.

"Show us human," Sesi ordered.

Magnus sent the mental image and memory of the scent of the strange human he had seen, first to Sesi, and then to Atka and the others.

"Atka know this human! Took us from old place, left us in big rocks past long water!"

"Sesi know, too! Not used to white cold, Sesi's brother go sleep, not wake up. Bad humans come, used sharp-noise sticks, hurt momma. Bad time."

"Man-brother come, he good to us. Bring friends good to us. We help. Man-brother smart, he know humans better, keep bad ones away," Kapik said.

"Man-brother not back yet. Who else here?" Magnus asked.

"Iluq know! Holly-friend in den, we get her!"

Atka and Sesi looked at one another for a moment, and then Atka made the decision.

"We tell Holly-friend, maybe she know."

All six of the wolves and Magnus, trotted to the house.

Holly had stayed home to do laundry and do some tidying up around the house while Rosie had the kids in town. Holly had just put the last load in the dryer, and then went upstairs to get something to drink. No sooner than she started to reach into the refrigerator, she heard a voice in her head.

"Holly-friend! Strange human come, up on rocks behind den!"

Holly nearly bumped her head--the suddenness and force of the sending startled her. She heard someone scratching at the door, so she shut the refrigerator and headed to see who it was. On the way past the large windows that looked out over the deck, Holly saw the wolves and Magnus.

"Okay guys, what are you yammerin' about now?" Holly asked when she got the door opened.

"Magnus, show Holly-friend," Kapik said.

Holly's vision was temporarily replaced with a scene of a human female sitting on the rocks up on the ridge behind the house. The woman Magus was showing Holly had a backpack, a hiking stick, and was drinking something with a strong, spicy smell. The woman appeared to be a hiker, but she was alone, and looking around with a pair of binoculars. When Holly's sight returned to her, she shook her head and rubbed her eyes a moment.

"Geez, that was weird!" Holly muttered to herself.

"Sesi know human, long time ago. Took us from other place, brought us here. Human left us in big-big rocks way across long-water. Sesi show Holly-friend."

Again, Holly's sight was replaced with memories of the laboratory she, Atka, and their siblings were born in. She watched in amazement as a quick succession of images of people coming one night and taking animals from the lab, including several wolves that she somehow knew or felt were parents and siblings, and also a female lynx. The images went on to show the memories of a long trip, ending up being released in a mountainous area, and watching the humans drive away, leaving them to their fate. Holly also was privy to the intense feelings of abandonment, the memories of trying to figure out how to survive, the sorrow of losing first her brother to starvation and cold, and then her mother to human hunters. When the images were over and her own sight returned, Holly felt a tear run down her cheek. She wrapped her arms around Sesi's neck and hugged her for a while.

"Geez, you had a pretty rough time, getting dumped like that out in the wilds. Rosie told me about it, but seeing and experiencing it is a whole different thing! At least Ron and Rob came along and looked out for you guys."

"Sesi happy man-friend Ron come, bring other friends. He know us better than other humans, better than other wolves not like us."

"So this woman up on the ridge...she's one of the humans who dumped you and your family up in the mountains years ago, right?"

"Wuff!"

"I wonder why she's back...you think maybe she's looking for you?" Holly asked.

Sesi and Atka looked at each other in confusion.

"Do you know why they took you from the lab and brought you all the way up here?" Holly asked, trying a different question.

"No. Humans don't hear us, can't talk to them. Only Man-brother Ron hear us," Sesi replied.

"Tall furry people hear us, too," Atka added.

"I bet you have some questions that you would like answers to--maybe we can get them from this human," Holly suggested.

"Need man-friend Ron's help--he know humans better," Sesi insisted.

"Okay, I'll give him a call and let him know that somebody's roaming around his place," Holly said, and then she went to get the phone.

[Holly]: "Hey Ron, it's Holly. Um, we've got some human woman wandering around the place. Magnus spotted her up on the ridge. I don't know who she is, but Atka and Sesi do--they say she's the one who dumped them in the mountains years ago."

Ron: "Okay, we're on our way home. I'll let Rob know, too. Keep an eye on the person, and if you can, don't let her leave. If she's armed, though..."

[Holly]: "Yeah, don't worry, we won't do anything too stupid."

Ron: "If there's more than one, call Dale--his number is on speed dial; just tell him that we've got trespassers again."

[Holly]: "Okay, we'll keep an eye out in case there's more. See you when you get here."

"Okay guys, Ron and them are on the way home. He said if we can, to keep her from leaving, but if she's got a gun, not to do anything stupid. You guys understand that?"

"We do," they all sent.

"Let me get something on and grab a few things first, then we'll go find this human," Holly said.

The wolves and Magnus waited for Holly to put on a t-shirt, a pair of hiking shorts, a vest with lots of pockets, and a daypack. She grabbed a few things such as a couple of water bottles, first-aid kit, cord, duct tape, pocketknife, and one of the two-way radios from the charger. After scribbling a quick note and sticking it on the inside door, Holly locked up the house and they were off.

Once they got to the edge of the trees, Magnus, being the smallest and stealthiest among them, went on ahead to try to find the woman again. The plan was that he would try to keep the woman's attention focused on him, while the wolves surrounded her. Holly would come up from behind and be ready to use her spray if necessary. It didn't take Magnus long to find the human again since she was still on top of the ridge, though she had moved a little more to the west. While she was looking off to the north, Magnus signaled his wolf friends. One-by-one they worked their way up, being careful not to be seen. Holly did her best to stay hidden behind various rock outcroppings--a skunk's distinctive black and white fur pattern was, after all, meant to be seen. By the time they were all in position, the human woman decided to have her lunch.

"Still no sign of them, though if they're around here still, they'll howl eventually and I'll know where to go look for them," Miriam said aloud as she wrote the words down in her little notebook. Putting it away, she decided that it was time for lunch, so she got the little stove out again and heated up another cup of water for tea. When it was ready, Miriam pulled a sandwich out of her back to eat. Since Miriam is a strict vegetarian, her sandwich was made with dairy-free bread, avocado slices, tomato, cucumber, spinach leaves, alfalfa sprouts, and a little olive oil and lemon juice. Miriam didn't see the eyes that were watching her intently. She had been looking in the distance for the wolves that were surrounding her only meters away. With her mind occupied with thinking about her reasons for this trip, Miriam was startled when she happened to look up from where she was sitting to see a lynx staring down at her.

"Oh...crap...," she whispered, suddenly nervous.

If Miriam had had the ability to hear Magnus in her mind, she would have heard him telling her that if she stayed still his friends wouldn't hurt her. Instead, her ears heard "R-r-r-eow-r-r-r-r" as he sat hunched down in a pose that looked as if he could pounce on her in an instant. A wild cat over one meter in length could do some serious damage, if it had a mind to, Miriam knew.

"There's no way I can out run it, and I don't have anything to protect myself with," she thought to herself. "N-N-Nice kitty...," Miriam said quietly, slowly lifting her hands and wishing that her back was up against the rocks.

Just as she thought about scooting backwards towards the rock behind her, Miriam heard a very low growl and felt hot breath on the back of her neck. Very slowly, she looked in wide-eyed fear at this new threat behind her. Just twenty centimeters away stood a wolf.

Miriam wondered what bad karma she had earned to get her into this predicament.

"What the frak am I going to do now_?_" she thought.

When she thought the situation couldn't get much worse, more wolves appeared, approaching silently from around the rocks, surrounding her.

"Aw, geez...going from a cat toy to wolf chow...," Miriam muttered, totally afraid now.

"What's the matter, human, feeling cornered like prey, are we?" asked a pleasant sounding female voice. When she didn't respond right away, the voice asked, "What's the matter, cat got your tongue?"

Miriam heard a snicker from somewhere behind and above her.

"W-W-Who's...there...?"

"Why don't you turn around and see?" the voice replied. "It's okay, she won't bite...as long as you don't do anything stupid."

Miriam slowly and very nervously turned around, wondering if she was going to be ripped to pieces at any second. When she got turned around enough to fully see the wolf that had been behind her, Miriam felt her heart leap into her throat. An all-white wolf was standing there, looking rather intently at her.

"Oh...my...," Miriam whispered.

One of the wolves she had come to find was standing practically nose-to-nose with her.

"What's your name?" the voice asked softly.

"M-M-Miriam."

"Got a last name, Miriam?"

"S- Swift-c-cloud," she stuttered.

"Well then, Miriam Swiftcloud, my friend here that rather up close and personal is Sesi. Her mate is Atka, and he's just off to your right. I think my friends have a bone to pick with you, Miriam--you see, you and your friends abandoned them in the mountains, and left them with nno food, shelter, and no idea how to survive. Oh, that's right, stupid human, you didn't think about the fact that the wolves you made off with were bred in captivity, and wolves have to teach successive generations how to hunt, and so forth. They only knew life among humans, and they trusted you...but no, you thought that you were doing them a big favor. Instead, many of them starved or froze to death the first winter, which actually starts in September up here and lasts until April. Sesi's mother got shot by human hunters, but she didn't die right away--it was a slow, painful death. Yeah, so much for the 'noble animal rights activists' b.s.! Hey, look up here while I'm talking to you!"

Dumbfounded, Miriam looked up and saw a black and white furry face looking down at her.

"That's better! Yes, these are two of those wolves you abandoned up here years ago. There's a bit of a story behind all of this, and you're going to hear all about it. Atka and Sesi I'm sure would just love for you to know the pain and suffering you caused them and their family. All in due time, miss righteous human, all in due time. Now, we are going to take a little trip, and you are going to come along all peaceful like. You're going to be lucky if the folks who own this place don't have you arrested for trespassing--you're on private property, and the last three humans who came here without permission did get shot at. You see, the guy whose house we're going to, was a special forces guy in the military...and he's not a hundred percent human. Seriously, you'll see when you meet him. By the time we get there, he and his family should be home, and they already know about you. So, c'mon, off your tail, and nothing stupid, okay? You can't outrun six wolves and a lynx, and I've got my own particular way to deal with idiots that's pretty nasty...and I don't miss!"

"Um...uh...what's your name?" Miriam asked meekly.

"What? Oh, I'm Holly...I'm a skunk G.E.L.F.," she replied, hopping down off the rock. "Don't worry about the pack--I'll carry it--you just keep your hands out in the open, and follow the lynx. C'mon, guys, let's go see Ron."

As they made their way down from the ridge, Miriam was at least glad that she wasn't tied up, or worse. It only took a little over thirty minutes to make it to the house, following paths that Miriam thought she would have missed. When they stepped out from the trees, there were several people waiting on the deck--the people she had seen the day before at the Internet café, plus several others.

"Well, I had to find out what happened to those wolves...I guess it's time to face what's coming," Miriam thought.

Miriam would rather face a line of cops in riot gear at a demonstration than having to stand before thee people. At least cops were something 5F had trained its members to deal with--humans and G.E.L.F.s connected to animals they "rescued" from experiments wasn't something they considered.

"Miriam Swiftcloud, I presume," stated one of the men as she walked up the stairs of the deck.

Miriam was surprised.

"How do you know my name?" she asked.

"My friend told me," he said with a grin.

The white wolf walked right up to the man, who knelt down and gave her a hug.

"You see, I'm the one who gave Atka and Sesi here their names. These two and their children are very special, as you're going to find out, but first let me make the introductions."

Miriam was surprised yet again to learn the relationships between the G.E.L.F. people and the humans, and that the two men she saw the day before, were the owners of the Internet café she where she had stopped in to eat and use the services.

"It's a rather interesting juncture of place and time we find ourselves in, Ms. Swiftcloud," the one named Ron Daugherty said. "What do you know about the G.E.L.F.s?"

"Not much, really. We were taken by surprise when the news broke of their existence right along with everyone else," Miriam replied.

With a little snort, Ron said, "Replying in the plural when the question specifically asked for an answer in the singular, could lead people to believe you either have multiple personalities or are schizophrenic. I'm not interested in 'the party line' of your organization, Ms. Swiftcloud, I'm interested in what you know, think, and feel."

"Why?" Miriam asked.

"Well, let's just say that on a hunch, I don't think you came here with the intent of committing any crimes, even though technically you already have. Trespassing is a crime, and I could have you arrested, though I think maybe there might be an issue that's more important than merely walking around on private land without seeking permission first. Since you came here alone and in a rental RV, I suspect that you're not from here, and since you were observed being on the highest point of land on our property, and looking around with a pair of cheap binoculars, I don't think you came to spy on us for a tabloid or something. No, I think you came for some other reason, one that has to do with our wolf friends. You see, Atka and Sesi know you---from a long time ago--when your paths had crossed once before. So, I'll ask you again--what do you know about the G.E.L.F.s?"

Miriam thought quickly, suddenly having more questions than she started out with.

"Well...very little. I haven't found anything reliable enough," she replied slowly.

"Okay, good--honest answer to a simple question. Now, this next one I want you to think on. Why did you take the animals out of that lab at U.C.-Berkley over twenty years ago?" Ron asked pointedly.

"How do you know about that?" Miriam asked in surprise bordering on shock.

"I know all about 5F, Ms. Swiftcloud, but that's beside the point at the moment. Sesi had told both my mates and I about it one evening. Yes, Atka and Sesi are that old, they were each from one of the two unrelated pairs of wolves in that lab. I mentioned that they're special--they're more special than you realize. Now, please answer my question," Ron said with a quiet firmness.

"We...I believed that they were being experimented on, used to test drugs or effects of chemicals, or such. I've seen what happens to lab animals, they live a horrible existence just to satisfy some curiosity or to further corporate g reed," Miriam replied haughtily.

"I know, and in some cases it's been true, but wolves and a lynx aren't your typical lab animals, are they?"

"Well...um, no, not really," Miriam replied, becoming a little confused.

"You didn't know that by taking those animals out of that particular lab and turning them loose, you set the G.E.L.F. program back a bit, did you?"

Miriam's jaw dropped.

"I didn't think so. If you had known about the G.E.L.F. program, what would you have done about it?" Ron asked.

"We would have done everything we could to stop the exploitation of animals."

"I see, so you think our mates are nothing more than lab animals, eh? What kind of 'lab animal' can earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, or a B.S. degree in Nursing? If you had known about it and did what you would have done, you would have denied my children their right to exist, you would have denied our mates their right to exist. The G.E.L.F.s are intelligent, sentient beings, just as humans are. If any of them would have died by actions committed by either you, your group, or by anyone else, then you and/or anyone else involved would be guilty of pre-meditated murder, and then dealt with accordingly. Back to our wolf friends here--they were part of the early stages of the G.E.L.F. project. Atka, Sesi are intelligent, sentient beings, as were their siblings. You essentially kidnapped them, and cruelly left them to die in an environment they weren't prepared to survive in. It's only by sheer luck and determination that Atka, Sesi, and their lynx friend Lola, survived to have little ones of their own. Their families died because of you, Ms. Swiftcloud. They're not just lab animals, they're part human. They understand English, and they can talk in English--telepathically. Yes, you heard me correctly. So far, only themselves, the G.E.L.F.s, and myself can hear them in our minds. The only reason why I can is because I'm not all human--I'm part wolf." Ron stood close to Miriam so that she could see his amber colored eyes, and his wolf teeth, which she found somewhat shocking. "You took those wolves and the others to 'keep them from being hurt', but you ended up hurting them far more. The only good thing to come out of your actions is that Lola--the late mother of Magnus here, Atka, and Sesi eventually met me and my friend Rob over there, and that you only delayed the G.E.L.F. program a little, enabling Lupina here and I to meet when and where we did--the rest is history, as they say. Now, as for what to do with you...I guess that's going to be between you, the wolves, and the universe, Ms. Swiftcloud--I'd suggest that you think it over carefully, in fact, it might be best if you sleep on it tonight. I know a really good place where you can be undisturbed by anyone, all we ask is that you respect it with reverence, because Nature is going to be watching."

Miriam as totally speechless, the revelation that the animals they took from that lab all those years ago were involved in the G.E.L.F. program, and that the wolves at least are sentient...it was almost too much for her to handle. One of the other humans present, a young woman with long, black hair by the name of Miki, stood up and walked over to Miriam.

Speaking in a soft, accented voice, the young woman said, "You're from one of the First Nations tribes in the lower forty-eight, if I'm not mistaken."

"Um, I'm Shoshoni, mostly," Miriam said quietly.

"Do you follow the ways of your ancestors?" Miki asked politely, though Miriam found that there was something about the soft-spoken young woman that she couldn't resist.

"I...probably not as I should," Miriam replied reluctantly.

Miki gave a characteristic quick smile and said, "Easy enough to lose touch with the old ways if you spend most of your time away from your people. Some among my own people have turned away and they have become lost, and we all suffer for it. The ones who are not careful may anger the spirits, and they will seek vengeance unless they can be appeased."

"Do...you know a lot about the old ways?" Miriam asked.

"When the time comes, I will take my grandfather's place as our village's angakkuq, or shaman," Miki replied.

"Oh."

"You said that you didn't know much about the G.E.L.F.s--come inside and we will tell you what you need to know," Ron offered, gesturing towards the door to his house.

Miriam was surprised by the hospitality shown her, and also at seeing how the G.E.L.F.s and the humans interacted. She saw how they were a very close-knit group of family and friends, and the wolves--the two oldest, Atka and Sesi, kept a bit of distance between them and her, while the youngest two played with the children as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Miriam learned about the G.E.L.F.s, along with how they worked to find their place in this world of humans. The one named Lupina, told Miriam about how she came to be in Alaska, and that if it wasn't for meeting Miki, she would have had a much more difficult time just trying to survive...and might not have met her mate and husband, Ron. In turn, each of the G.E.L.F.s present told their story to Miriam--Lupina, Rosie, Helga, Holly, Lizzy, Tacey, Willie, and some others who arrived later. Miriam watched highlights from Willie's concerts, and learned about Dr. Sumter. When she saw Edgar's speech, and the casting of votes, Miriam couldn't keep herself from crying. When it was just after sunset, Miki, Lupina, and the wolves led Miriam to the glade.

"This is a sacred place, Miriam, many spirits come here. Perhaps we will find what you came here to seek," Miki said softly.

"I hope so," Miriam said.

They took a seat on the ground several paces from the large rock, with the wolves between it and Miriam. Lupina sat between Sesi and Kapik, and Miki sat off to the left with her qilaut--a hoop-shaped drum with a skin stretched tightly on one side, and a handle to hold it, played by holding a beater in one hand and holding the drum by the handle with the other hand. When the drum is struck, the player rotates it about the handle in a back-and-forth manner. When everyone was situated, Miki closed her eyes for a minute, clearing her mind. As her thoughts stilled, the forest around the glade also became still. Slowly, Miki began striking her qilaut--dum...dum...dum--the rotation adding an eerie quality to the sound. Soon she began chanting in her native Inupiatun, though in an old form of it, as her grandfather had taught her. In the dark, many eyes turned towards the seated figures in the glade, watching and waiting. After a time, Sesi lifted her head and began to howl--a long, plaintive howl, which Atka soon joined in with his mate. Together they sang, recalling the memories of parents and siblings, and friends long gone from this life. The younger wolves listened and saw in their minds the images, sounds, scents, and feelings their parents sent. Lupina also shared in the memories of Atka and Sesi, and she wept--for their loss, and also because she would never have any such memories of family, for she had come into this life with none of her own.

The drumming, chanting, and howling of the two wolves began to stir something in Miriam's soul. She had the sensation that they were not alone, that others were about, and she began to feel their presence. Miriam felt a shiver run through her body--the air was cool, but it felt more like something touched her inside. Opening her eyes a little, Miriam thought she saw...something. A mist was beginning to form in the glade, and within it, she thought she saw movement, vague shapes drifting about. She closed her eyes, and then somewhere in the back of her mind, quiet voices spoke.

"Where are we?"

"Why we here?"

"When we go home?"

"Why you leave?"

"We go too!"

"We want go home!"

"What we do?"

"We lost, far from home place."

"Momma, when we eat?"

"So cold..."

"Humans come, maybe they help."

"Pain!!! Momma hurt...bad humans!"

"Momma, wake up! Why you no move?"

Miriam began to cry. What the G.E.L.F. named Holly and the man named Ron had told her was weighing heavily on her heart. She had no idea what the consequences were of the actions she had taken over twenty years ago would be. The other lab animals they had "rescued"--what of their fates? Was it the same for the animals of other labs they had taken? Had they all met similar fates? They thought they were saving them from torturous experimentation--maybe for some, but what of the ones from the lab in Berkley? They were part of an experiment, yes, but they were cared for. Ron had said that the wolves were part human--was that why these two were still alive, do they have a longer lifespan because of it? Would the others still be alive if they had someone to care for them?

"If we...if I hadn't abandoned them...," Miriam thought.

She leaned forward, putting her hands on the ground in front of her, and sobbed.

"I'm sorry...I'm...so...sorry! I...didn't know! I didn't know..."

At first Miriam didn't notice that Miki had stopped chanting and beating her qilaut, she was full of guilt and remorse for what she had done to the wolves. The sound of feathers rustling nearby caused her to lift her tear-streaked face. The large dark figure standing before he, illuminated by the light of the now risen moon, was straight out of the stories she had heard as a child.

"You have admitted your guilt--that was your first step on the path you are now on; that you are sorry was the second. You must do one more thing before you may begin your journey of redemption, Miriam Swiftcloud--you know what you must do. Ah, not to me, it must be to others who are present--speak to them from your heart; ask, and we shall see."

Miriam saw the dark shape take a step aside, and felt something drape across her back.

"Go to them."

With tears still flowing down her cheeks, Miriam crawled on her hands and knees towards Atka and Sesi. When she reached them, she assumed a submissive posture with face down to the ground and the back of her neck exposed.

Choking back sobs, she said, "I...was wrong...to leave you. I...didn't know...I thought...I was doing right, but...I wasn't. I'm...I'm sorry...terribly sorry...for what happened. I didn't know. I...can't bring...them back, I wish...I wish I could! I'm sorry. I had to...come back...to look for you. If...if there's any way...any way you...can find in your hearts...I ask...I beg your forgiveness. Please?"

Miriam cried quietly for a time, not moving. When she felt a slight breeze pass by her, Miriam looked up. Through tear-filled eyes, she saw shapes form on the large rock before her from out of the mists. She thought she saw the misty forms of wolves--adults and young--and a large cat. When she blinked her eyes, they were gone, and the two wolves--Atka and Sesi--gave Miriam a gentle lick on her face.

"We forgive."

Days later, Miriam quietly left her home in Sequim, WA and returned to her parents in Colorado. When asked why she wanted to come home after all this time, she had a simple answer.

"I've been away from my people too long."

---

[1] http://www.motherearthnews.com/

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_cup