Family Tails

A Story of a Mixed Family in the Genetic Age

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

Story and characters © 2013 Ronald J. Lebeck

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Chapter 34

Kapik's children were given the names Aurora and Fionn with due ceremony, and welcomed by the G.E.L.F.s and humans now living in the vicinity of the Daugherty home. Besides the now six children in the home, both Dave and Lizzie, and Jeff and Tacey, had little ones of their own. Lizzie, the blue morph Arctic fox G.E.L.F., had three younglings, two of whom favored their mother in appearance, while the third favored his father. Tacey, the coyote G.E.L.F., had two little ones, one of whom favored the mother and the other favored the father. All of the children grew quickly, even the two who favored their human parent--an ability passed on through the genes of their G.E.L.F. parent.

Sierra, Cormac, Chrys Ann, and Violet began the first grade in school, three years younger than their human classmates did. Human children can be notoriously cruel, and there always seems to be those who will try to bully others. One such boy made the mistake of harassing Cormac a bit too much, mistaking Cormac's calm demeanor as being an easy pushover, until the boy learned the hard way that Cormac was stronger, quicker, and had his father's awareness. Cormac, acting in typical wolf fashion, quickly pinned his tormentor to the floor and snarled with bared fangs at the boy's throat. It scared the would-be bully so much that he messed himself in front of his peers, much to his humiliation. Cormac had no desire to harm the boy--he just wanted to send a clear message that he would not be the subject of abuse. This was the first of several times Ron, Lupina, and/or Rosie would be called to their children's school.

Before the holidays came around, there was so much interest with having a large gathering, several chipped in to purchase a plot of land on the other side of the old fire road and build what would in effect become a community center of sorts. Ron humorously dubbed the building "The Gelfheim Mead Hall"--it is a log structure with a large all-purpose common room with two large fireplaces, one on each side, a kitchen, game room, restrooms, and a small stage. Ron thought that the building wasn't complete until he made a medieval-style painted wooden sign to hang by the front door. The sign depicted a rather buxom furry serving wench holding a pitcher of mead with a sly grin on her face. In large letters the sign read, "Gelfheim Mead Hall", with a caption in smaller letters under the picture that read, "What's in your horn?" The serving wench happened to bear a striking resemblance to Mina, the Icelandic pony mare G.E.L.F., and at the dedication, she cheerfully dressed and acted the part.

As far as holidays went, the G.E.L.F.s generally adopted whatever the local human customs were, although they did create their own special observance--International G.E.L.F. Day--to mark the date that the G.E.L.F.s first joined the world at large. Because every G.E.L.F. held in his or her heart a closeness to the natural world, despite having been created in a lab, they as a whole tended to gravitate towards the Nature orientated spiritual paths. Some suggested that it was because their spirits would always be tied to the Earth, just as their four-footed cousins would be, though that was a subject for debate among the philosophers, thinkers, and mystics for years to come.

Little Aurora and Fionn grew and learned to walk, and soon began speaking their first words. Kapik's children had the limited telepathic ability of their mother, and their father's awareness, as they became more adept with their mental abilities. The range increased, and a new talent emerged--they could communicate mentally with wild animals, and with non-enhanced humans. Aurora and Fionn had to be taught to use care when speaking mentally with humans, and not to broadcast whatever thought came to mind. Human children sometimes will blurt out whatever words come to their mind, sometimes to the embarrassment of their parents. Aurora and Fionn sometimes did so, too, though when they did, it was often mentally and directly to someone, which tended to unnerve people who were unfamiliar with them.

When the month of May arrived, the kids were looking towards the end of the school year, and so were Miki and Helga, both of whom would be graduating. May also brought some exciting news from Dr. Nemeth--thanks to the DNA samples from Atka, Sesi, and their pack, and from the time away from the lab up in Alaska, she was able to isolate the specific gene that gave the telepathic ability, and had found a way to replicate it. It wouldn't be much longer before it would be ready to include in the generation protocols for future G.E.L.F.s, and to be given to others.

Eventually, when the news broke about the availability of a treatment that could give people the limited form of telepathy, the expected pandemonium ensued. Government officials and others at first demanded that the ability be immediately banned and research materials seized (while desiring to have it for themselves), until it was learned that every G.E.L.F. and some species of animals already had it, along with a number of humans. Some humans began to demand that all those with the ability be rounded up, sterilized, and locked away into concentration camps. The resulting outrage quickly quelled that movement before it could gain any traction. The G.E.L.F.s and The Center and its subsidiaries, had kept the ability a secret until it was time to announce it. By that time, however, the world's G.E.L.F. population was already numbering in the tens of thousands with more coming. There was also a large and growing portion of the population who were the children of G.E.L.F. and human parents, after that "enhancement" was made available earlier. Conspiracy theories abounded, though they were all pointing fingers every which way but the correct one--the universe itself was setting up to give the human race a much needed attitude adjustment. It took some time to educate the world's population about the nature of the limited telepathy--it only worked with those who already had it, it could not be used to "eavesdrop" on a person's private thoughts, it could not be used to control the thoughts of anyone, and the range had a limit. The ability allowed for an "open" sending of thoughts similar to a public address system or a "private" mode either to a single individual or to a selected few. The abilities of Aurora and Fionn, however, would become legendary.

Ron, Lupina, and Rosie were among the first to given the enhancement that gave the limited telepathy ability. Unlike the last enhancement Ron had received, this had no violent side effects, and gradually developed over a period of time. With Kapik's help, they learned how to send their thoughts to each other. Rob finally agreed to receive the enhancement, though he remained skeptical. After he and Helga, along with their friends, had all received the enhancement, once the ability took hold he was finally able to hear the wolves and Magnus. Magnus was happy when he found out that his adoptive human parent could finally hear him in his mind.

One day, Magnus begged Rob to come with him--alone.

"Where are we going, buddy?" Rob asked when they got outside.

"Magnus show. Made promise, must keep. You see."

"But where are we going?" Rob asked again.

"You see. Come this way," he replied and headed into the forest.

Rob rolled his eyes and caught up to the still young looking male lynx. Rob wondered why they were going into this particular part of the forest because there weren't any paths here. Just before he passed by the first trees at the edge of the yard, Rob looked back towards the house...and suddenly had an eerie feeling that he had gone this way only one time before, and then it had been winter.

"Is this the way Sesi led me that one time? I never did find that path or our prints in the snow among the trees," Rob thought to himself.

Rob tried to keep his eyes on Magnus as they walked along, though just as it had been with Sesi, it seemed as if Magnus was there and not there, only to reappear again just when Rob thought he had lost him. When they came out into the open, it seemed almost as if a door had opened and he stepped through it and into the glade...and then promptly shut behind him. When Rob turned around, there was no sign of disturbance among the green, growing things--it was as if they had just appeared out of nowhere.

"Okay, now that is spooky!" Rob thought to himself, feeling a little shiver pass through him.

When he looked down to see where Magnus was, Rob almost choked--they were standing next to where he had buried Lola several years earlier.

Trying his new telepathic ability, Rob asked, "Why have you brought me here?"

Magnus looked up to him and said, "Magnus promised momma, if someday could talk, to give you special gift."

"And what might that be?" Rob asked.

"Sit, and I give."

Feeling somewhat nervous, Rob sat down on the ground, wondering what this was going to be about. He thought he had put all of this behind him when he decided to be with Helga. When he was seated cross-legged on the ground, Magnus sat down in front of him.

"This what momma wanted you to know..."

Rob's mind was filled with thoughts, images, feelings, memories, scents...all had been Lola's. She had imparted her innermost thoughts, feelings, desires, hopes, and dreams concerning Rob in the days before she had died, hoping that someday they could be shared with him. Rob had felt a special connection with Lola, though he had always thought that she was just a special animal friend--he had no idea that she was also part human, and had had human feelings towards him, however impossible Rob thought it could be. He began to understand something about the wolves, especially what Ron had tried to tell him about Kapik. Lola had wished that Rob could have given more, but when her days were coming to an end, she fervently hoped that he might find someone one day that he could give more to. As Magnus showed him, at least one of Lola's wishes did come true when Rob met Helga. When Magnus was finished, he rubbed against Rob affectionately.

"Magnus go, see later. You sit with momma a while."

And with that, Magnus got up and disappeared into the forest.

Teary-eyed, Rob leaned forward and put his hand on top of the place where Lola was buried.

"I didn't know you...felt that way about me. I...I think I understand now, you helped me more than you knew, my dear friend...more than you knew."

Rob stayed there until he heard Helga call to him.

"Rob? Supper's ready, dear."

After her graduation and board certification exams, Helga had additional letters to add after her name--"MSN" for Master of Science, Nursing, and "FNP" for Family Nurse Practitioner. Helga had decided to go into family medicine with the idea that she could be one of the first to deal with G.E.L.F./human families. Human children seemed to enjoy the novelty of having a Norwegian forest cat G.E.L.F. as their primary medical caregiver. At first some parents were leery of having any kind of G.E.L.F. providing their family's healthcare, but there were soon impressed with Helga's abilities, knowledge, and skills--and she had quite a knack for calming little ones.

"Must be the purr," Ron had said with a smirk to Rob about it one day when they stopped in to bring her lunch.

"You may be right, old friend. It seems no matter how trying a day might be, all she has to do is purr and I melt," Rob agreed with a grin.

During the summer, Ron and Rob spent some time fishing along the Yukon River, taking Cormac with them. They managed to catch several nice sized fish--even Cormac caught a couple pan-sized fish, just large enough to be keepers. Nearly every weekend, the family would be doing something outside--weather permitting, of course. They spent time hiking around the property and camping in some choice spots. Ron taught the kids how to identify edible wild plants, and wood lore. Sesi told him on one outing that she wished they could have met soon after they had been abandoned in the mountains.

"I know ol' gal...I wish we could have, too," Ron said mentally, putting his arm around her.

The short summer went by quickly, and soon Sierra, Cormac, Chrys Ann, and Violet were back in school starting the second grade. The kids, especially Sierra and Cormac, were getting a little taller than their human classmates were. The one boy who had tried to bully Cormac in the previous grade steered clear of him and his sisters for the entire school year. In fact, Cormac kept an eye on the boy as often as he could, and if he saw him hassling any of the other kids during recess, all Cormac had to do was to come near, and the boy would back off. Cormac was never hostile towards anyone, and he began to get a reputation of being fair during games. During lunch, the kids had quickly learned to swap meat and veggies with each other, though the person acting as lunchroom monitor had tried to make them eat what was on their tray, with no swapping. Ron, Lupina, and Rosie went to the school the next day to have a little chat with the principle about the dietary requirements of G.E.L.F. children.

"We're required to serve balanced meals in our cafeteria...," the principle started to say.

"Yeah, but your requirements are for human children--ours have species-specific dietary needs. We wolves are carnivores, that means we eat meat--lots of it," Lupina started.

"And we skunks are omnivores, though we tend to eat a lot of veggies and only a little meat," Rosie added.

"And they all eat well at home--we grow our own vegetables organically in our own hothouse. We have wild caught salmon and other fish and game in season. Nothing loaded down with preservatives or other artificial junk. Now, if we need to, with a phone call, we can have a panel of biologists, dieticians, etc., who specialize in G.E.L.F. physiology come and instruct your dietary staff, you, and the school board if necessary...and I'm sure that we could probably get the state Health Department in on it, too," Ron finished.

"There's no need for that, Mr. Daugherty," the principle said a little sarcastically.

"I'd hope not. If necessary, we'll have our kids bring their own lunches from home, and no one had better dare touch their food," Lupina shot back caustically, giving the principle "the stare" for several seconds before getting up. "Come on, dear, I think we're through here."

Ron grinned as he got up and followed Lupina out of the office. Rosie lingered just a moment to lean over the desk to give a little parting advice.

"It's not a good idea to come between a she-wolf and her cubs...heck, it's not a good idea to come between a mother skunk and her kits, either," Rosie said softly, and then she flashed a feral, toothy grin and gave her tail a couple of noticeable flicks for good measure.

The rest of the school year for the kids went well, with no real problems. The school had its various holiday programs, which Ron, Lupina, Rosie, and their friends attended. Dr. Nemeth came up to visit during Thanksgiving, and she brought with her doses of the enhancement that gives the telepathic ability for those G.E.L.F.s who had not already received it, including doses for the children and herself. It took several weeks for the ability to begin manifesting, though Ron and Lupina got a pleasant surprise on their fifth anniversary when all the kids--Sierra, Cormac, Chrys Ann, Violet, Aurora, and Fionn all wished them a happy anniversary--telepathically.

It took laying down some ground rules with the kids on using their new ability, in order for Ron, Lupina, Rosie, and Kapik to get any rest. With assistance from Atka and Sesi, it was impressed upon the children that thoughts could fly more swiftly and cut more deeply than spoken words, and one had to use the ability with care. It is not possible to lie--not even a little--with this ability, and unlike with the spoken word, it is not subtle--it is direct, plain, and can be very intimate. Atka and Sesi were born with the ability, as were their offspring, so they had worked out between themselves early on how best to communicate in this manner. Of course, they did tend to be rather intimate with the sharing of their feelings, not having had thousands of years of human hang-ups to deal with. It was because of this that they did not have the usual family squabbles that humans--or wolves for that matter--had. Atka's pack had learned how to settle differences effectively without the need for brute force, or statements like "because I said so"--they could also send mental images, feelings, and even memories to back up or explain their words quickly. Even being part human, Atka and his pack still had the wolf sense of family hierarchy and responsibilities, which they also instilled in the children, and others they taught. This would be passed down through the generations as parents shared what they had learned to their children.

Lupina and Rosie soon learned just how intimate things could get as they began to explore and share their feelings with their mate, and he with them. Without divulging military secrets, he was able to get across to them the intense feelings of loyalty and comradery he felt towards those he served with, and why he sometimes awoke in the night drenched in sweat. They came to understand the dreadful self-control all of the men wielded to contain "the beast within", which they saw rear its terrifying head when Ron had received the enhancements at The Center. Lupina understood how and why he had reacted the way that he did when the Rev. Blackburn had tried to attack her that one day. Lupina, Rosie, and Kapik all knew the strong, deep, and abiding love he felt for his mates, his children, friends, and of Nature. In other households where "Kapik's Gift" was given, a similar understanding was formed--Rob and Helga, Dave and Lizzie, Jeff and Tacey, Willie and Miki, and others, too.

On the day of the Spring Equinox, when night and day are in balance, all those who lived in the area that had been given "Kapik's Gift", gathered in the glade. Just at the moment of equinox, Aurora and Fionn both climbed upon the rock and did something extraordinary--together they touched with their minds all present, linking minds and hearts of G.E.L.F. and human, lynx and wolf, young and old, into a communion of spirit. And thus the Great Lesson began to be taught by the G.E.L.F.s to the humans, though the offspring of Kapik. Each year at the Spring Equinox, others would come as word quietly spread. Of the enhancement that was developed at The Center by Dr. Nemeth and her team, it was decided--and quite surprisingly so--that it would be made freely available to one and all (donations, of course, would be accepted). The big pharmaceutical companies spent a lot on lobbying, with much gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands. This time, however, they simply did not get their way--the people said "NO" loudly and clearly, once they understood that this was a gift freely given to everyone, regardless of position, status, ethnicity, politics, socio-economic background, or any other means used to categorize or separate people into groups.

Life went on for the families of Ron and Rob and their friends. Helga became pregnant, and she had a boy and a girl, Arthur and Sigrid, both of whom favored their mother. The following year, Helga had their third child, a boy named Elric, who also favored their mother. By the time Sierra reached the fifth grade, she took an interest in the sport of archery, after it was introduced in Physical Education class at school. Ron took her to a sporting goods store and with the help of a very knowledgeable clerk, bought Sierra her first bow and two dozen target arrows, along with other items necessary for the sport. Between her father and Rob, both skilled with a bow, Sierra quickly became proficient enough to join a junior archery club. In school, Sierra was getting her homework finished by the time class was finished, and she was the first to finish her tests--and making straight "A's" in the process. Cormac also consistently made high grades, so they were given a special test to see if they might qualify for the gifted student program. They both easily scored high enough, and were placed into the program. Chrys Ann seemed to have inherited her father's artistic ability, and became quite the budding artist. Violet, however, took after her mother, and was quite a little flirt with the boys. She loved to help in the kitchen and didn't mind doing her share of the chores. Aurora and Fionn did well enough in school, and they spent as much time as they could with their side of the family, especially with their grandparents, Atka and Sesi, who were definitely feeling their age at this point in their lives, and no longer hunted with their family. J.D., the porcupine, was still around and finally became accustomed to having more people about. He came with a mate one day, and with a little coaxing by Aurora, she began to hang around, too.

In the fall of 2020, Atka's health declined--he had trouble standing and often walked with a limp, along with developing a bit of a cough.

"He's got arthritis in his shoulders and a bit of fluid in his lungs," the veterinarian said when she came out to check on Atka's condition. "I'll write out a prescription for some medicine, and you can pick it up the next time you're in town. It's a good thing he's got you folks to care for him, because he wouldn't last long in the wild like this."

"Thanks, Doc, we really appreciate you coming all the way out here to see Atka," Ron said quietly. Walking the vet to her truck he asked, "How much time do you think he's go in him?"

"Hard to tell, if he's as old as you say. If he responds to the medicine, he might make it through the winter as long as he stays warm and eats good. If you notice any changes, let me know right away," she replied.

"Okay, I sure will. I'll come by in the morning to pick up those meds. Thanks again for coming out," Ron said.

After the vet left, Lupina asked privately, "What did she say?"

Ron put his arms around his mate--she didn't like the look on his face.

"She said that if Atka stays warm, eats good, and responds to the meds, he might make it through the winter."

A tar formed in Lupina's eye and ran down her cheek. She buried her face into Ron's chest and heaved a sigh.

"He's not going to be with us much longer, is he?" she asked mentally.

"No, luv, I'm afraid not. Sesi probably won't be far behind him, either. You know she never lets him out of her sight for long. She just couldn't bear to be without the love of her life," Ron replied.

Lupina looked up and met her mate's eyes. The look the exchanged said more than any words could.

"Nor could I," she said after a moment.

Ron simply nodded his head and then they hugged each other tightly.

Sesi could sense the change in feeling in her and her mate's longtime friend, no matter how he tried to hide it. She knew that winter was coming for her mate, and her, too--she could feel it. Sesi stayed close to Atka's side, afraid to leave him alone for even a minute. Ron put the meat and vegetables through a grinder when it came time to feed Atka and Sesi, making it much easier for them to eat. Some days were good days, and Atka would want to go outside for a while to walk around the yard. Although Sesi didn't show any signs of problems, such as limping or the like, she felt a heaviness in her chest at times, and would have to catch her breath.

Ron, Lupina, Rosie, and Kapik all kept an eye on Atka, and Sesi, too. Ron knew her well enough to know that she was fading right along with her mate. Thanksgiving came and went, and Yule was right around the corner. Ron called a family meeting one evening during the first week of December. When everyone was gathered, he paused for a moment, looking down at the floor with a somber expression.

"There's no real good way to say this, but you all need to know if you don't already," he began. Everyone was silent. "Atka and Sesi...won't be with us a whole lot longer. We won't know for how much longer, but soon they'll make The Last Journey, and I wanted everyone to be ready for it."

"Are grandma and grandpa dying?" Sierra asked, a tear running down her cheek.

"Aye, baby doll, they are."

All of the adults silently hung their heads, and the kids clung tearfully to their parents and each other.

"I know it's going to be hard, but we should each spend some time with them while we can, and share our love with them. Not all at once, just one at a time--make it special."

Over the next couple of weeks, everyone took a turn, not following any set schedule, to spend some quality time with both Atka and Sesi. When Rosie took her turn, she couldn't keep from crying.

"Why make eye water?" Sesi asked, touching her mind gently.

"I...I love you guys, even though you scared the heck outta me when we first met."

"Sesi sorry, didn't mean to scare."

"I know, you didn't know me and you were just checking me out. I'm the one who should be sorry, for actin' like a stupid little kit."

"Rosie friend smart, Sesi know! Rosie friend good person, Sesi like-like you too."

"Atka like-like Rosie friend, too! Atka miss Rosie friend. Be good mate, good mother. We see again in long sleep."

Rosie poured her love to to both Atka and Sesi, and they to her.

Lupina was the next to last to spend some time with both Atka and Sesi.

"I don't know what I would have done without you. You've been the closest thing I've had to a mother and father. I really appreciate all that you've done, and I'm going to miss you both."

Lupina hugged both wolves and kissed them in wolf fashion, sending her love and happy memories of their time together.

"Sesi happy to help, you part of our pack now, no longer without. Sesi like-like Lupina friend as own. We see again in long sleep."

"Atka like-like Lupina friend, too, like own. Atka miss you, too!"

After Kapik, her siblings, and her kids all had their private time with their mother, father, and grandparents, it was time for one more person to say his farewells.

"Well guys, despite a hard start, you gave it a good run, didn't you?" Ron said mentally with a little grin.

"We followed many trails with man-brother," Atka replied.

"Many hunts. Man-brother good friend, care for us. We care for man-brother, too. Now you mate of Kapik, make us happy. Sesi like-like man-brother, no want to leave, but where mate go, Sesi go, too. Atka can't find way around tree without Sesi."

Ron chuckled at that comment and said, "I knew there had to be a reason why you never let him out of your sight for long, all these years."

"Sesi best mate, we happy together. Man-brother Ron...Atka know, miss you, too."

"Atka, Sesi...I love you two with all my heart. You've been there for me when I've needed advice, even though I might not have been able to hear your thoughts. I'm really going to miss you, but I know we'll see each other again, and we'll run and hunt together in another place."

"We watch for you."

Late in the evening on 21 December 2020, just before the winter solstice, Ron, Lupina, Rosie, Kapik and her siblings, all gathered in the great room with their friends, sitting around the fireplace. Ron's special awareness told him someone was outside. The outer door opened and closed, and then there was a brief pause before a knock at the inner door. Lupina and Rosie both looked questioningly, wondering who it might be. Ron, however, had been expecting this particular visitor.

"Come on in, Edgar," Ron said quietly as he opened the door.

Edgar Corvus, the first true G.E.L.F., stepped into the house and removed the heavy cloak he wore.

"Are they...?"

"Not yet," Ron said, taking the cloak from him.

Edgar quietly said his hellos to everyone before crouching down by Atka and Sesi. It did look a bit strange to see him gently stroke their fur, for his fingers are normally hidden until he chooses to grasp something.

"I don't think it will be long...their candles burn dim now."

Ron sat down on the floor with his wolf friends, touching them both.

"Atka? Sesi? Do you hear me?"

"Man-brother Ron...so tired, cold."

"I'm right here, I'm with you. Feel the warmth of love, my friends."

Ron opened his heart to them both, sending a strong, but gentle feeling of love and warmth to them both. Aurora and Fionn came over, and placing their hands on their father, connected with everyone.

"We're all here with you now," Ron said along the link to Atka and Sesi. "You're not alone."

"We...feel...you. Man-brother Ron...we...like-like...we l-love...you..."

And with that, their thoughts faded and the light left their eyes.

"Be at peace my brother and sister...until we run together again."

Ron lifted his head and howled a long, mournful howl. Lupina, Sierra, Cormac, Kapik and her siblings, and Aurora and Fionn, all joined in the howl. Rosie, Chrys Ann, and Violet cried--Edgar looked sad as he closed the unseeing eyes of Atka and Sesi, knowing that their spirits now ran free of their Earthly forms. Edgar left a short while later; as soon as he was outside, he lifted his head.

"Caw! Caw! Caw!" he cried to the heavens above.

Somewhere in the distance towards the north, came the faint joyful howls of wolves reunited with their pack.