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Chapter 20

Kilyan knew immediately that they were surrounded by river wolves. They were a nomadic tribe that followed the river, thus their name. Zaldon had told him the story of the river tribe a year ago when they were traveling together, how the river wolves cursed those of the winter with perpetual snow. They looked exactly as Zaldon had described them and it was as if they had walked out of legend. For the river wolves were very reclusive and hated outsiders - to the point that it was rare anyone ever saw them. Like most tribes with magical roots, they had become something of a myth, with merchants arriving at the summer village with stories of having traded with strange wolves along the river, who spoke in a strange language and had wild, curly manes.

The river wolves stood still as trees, surrounding the camp with fur such a pale blue it was almost white. Their manes were indeed wild, sticking up in rigid curls as if battered by constant wind. Their slanted eyes swirled green and blue . . . the color of the sea.

"Kel!" Hris hissed. "Gurwin - get up!"

Kilyan got to his feet and saw the others doing the same. Ohana clung to his arm and looked at him, frightened. Yzlo grimly took up his spear, but Keeno and Hris, who had been on watch, lowered their spears uncertainly. The river wolves did not appear to be armed, and what was more, they did not appear hostile. Kel came to Hris and they looked at each other, as if they were not certain what to do.

Gurwin seemed certain what to do. He came forward with empty paws lifted. Kilyan's ears pricked forward when his grandfather spoke a string of foreign words. It was a language Kilyan had never heard - not even among the various foreign wolves in the sun village market.

The river wolves watched Gurwin with their ears pricked forward and it was clear that they were startled that he knew their tongue. They stood carrying what Kilyan realized were thin fishing spears - not weapons. Many also wore big baskets of fish strapped to their backs, while others carried pups in pup carriers, and still others were strapped with huge traveling packs that dangled with pots and pans. The smell of fish was repugnant. Kilyan also heard nervous baaing and noticed a dozen or so sheep at the back of the procession, herded close by a few young girls with staffs and dogs. The dogs were deadly silent as their owners traveled with them in the night, and Kilyan knew they had been trained to be.

A river wolf came forward, a female wrapped in a long cloak against the rain. Many of the river wolves were wearing such cloaks. Kilyan saw small children wrapped in them as well, clinging to their mother's tails and peering at the strangers around their father's hips.

"Are you lost?" asked the female who had come forward. Her hood was down in the rain, and her wild mane stood defiant against the downpour, scattered curls tumbling as she looked from face to face. She was the village sorceress. Kilyan could sense it immediately. Tribes like theirs often did not have chiefs and councils but wielders of magic in power. Kilyan knew the winter wolves had almost become that way . . . because of Eloein.

"There are few wolves who would enter this part of the northern forest on purpose," said the sorceress, looking at them curiously.

Kilyan knew why: they must've been so far north that they were near the arrow tribe, and the arrow wolves were very possessive about their territory.

"Yes," Kel said firmly before Gurwin could answer. "We're lost."

Gurwin glanced at Kel, then stepped forward and said, "No. I come seeking Nikoma. She is my wife."

Kel's ears pricked forward. "You . . . what," he said through his fangs. He grabbed Gurwin's arm, forcing him to look at him. "Dad, you led us out here in purpose, knowing they would be in the area --!"

"Yes," Gurwin admitted quietly. "I did."

Kilyan's ears pricked forward. If Gurwin had stayed with the river tribe long enough to learn their language, it was likely he knew the patterns of their wanderings as well. He had brought them here hoping to find his wife, assuming she had returned to the river wolves and not the crow. Kilyan had to wonder if it hadn't been Gurwin's intention from the start. But did he really think an encounter with Kel's mother was going to make Kel forget everything and forgive? Kilyan snorted. He knew his father, and Kel did not forgive easily.

"Nikoma?" said a male, coming forward. He stopped, peering hard at Gurwin. A large traveling pack was strapped on his back and he carried a fishing spear. Fish bones were woven in his mane, and he wore a choker of them around his throat. He was a tall male and, like the rest of his tribe, had a wild curly mane and very pale blue fur. His slanted eyes swirled with more green than blue as he took in Gurwin. "You knew my Nikoma?"

"Knew?" Kel repeated hoarsely.

"Your Nikoma?" Gurwin repeated angrily.

The male's face hardened. "Yes, my Nikoma." His eyes narrowed on Gurwin. "I . . . remember you, crow wolf."

"Don't call me that," Gurwin warned. His ears flattened and one twitched irritably. "I am crow wolf no longer dammit!"

The male nodded. "So you made it south." He glanced at the sorceress. "Forgive me for holding us up, Fedesda, but . . . I would like to speak to these . . ." He glanced from face to face. "Summer wolves."

The apparent Fedesda nodded. She looked at Kel and Hris. "Is it alright if we rest in your camp then?"

Hris smiled. "Make yourself at home."

Fedesda smirked and eyed handsome Hris with interest. Kilyan wanted to tell her Hris was a tail chaser, but her lusty looks of appreciation were just too amusing. She turned to her tribe and shouted in her language. The river wolves slowly started dropping off baskets and traveling packs, opening canteens and searching for places to sit. Some dropped wearily right on their tails. Kilyan smiled when he saw little children playing with the dogs.

The male who had been speaking to them gestured behind him, and Kilyan's ears pricked forward when two black wolves broke from the throng and came their way. The wolves were females and carried curved staffs: they were shepherdesses.

One appeared to be Kel's age. She had bright gray eyes and a long curly mane. Her expression was gentle and thoughtful, almost dreamy. The male introduced her as his daughter Alo. She looked at Kel and Gurwin and nodded, the dreamy light glowing brighter in her eyes when she looked at Kel.

The second female was very young, and Kilyan was stunned by her strong resemblance to Zalia. She had the same glossy black curls spilling to her backside, the same teeny waist and teeny feet, the same haughty aura. Her eyes were gray like Alo's but were also slanted with mischief. She lifted her chin proudly when the male introduced her as Alo's daughter Myali. She was fourteen.

"Stop staring at me!" Myali said loudly to Kilyan and Keeno. "It gives me the creeps!" Her jaw stood out hard, and in that moment, she looked exactly like Kel.

Kilyan glanced over and realized Keeno had been staring at Myali, open-mouthed. No doubt she reminded him of his wife . . . which probably meant she no doubt turned him on. Keeno cleared his throat and looked away, scratching his ears.

"And I am Payan," finished the male. He put an arm around Alo and rubbed her shoulder.

"Nikoma remarried," Gurwin realized dryly.

Kilyan looked at his grandfather sympathetically and had to wonder what he had expected. For Nikoma to never move on?

Gurwin frowned miserably. "What happened to her?"

Payan glanced at his daughter and granddaughter, as if he didn't want to discuss it in front of them. No doubt they knew what had happened to Nikoma, but he probably did not wish to upset them. Alo looked a little sad each time her mother's name was mentioned, but Myali looked indifferent, and Kilyan realized she had never known their grandmother.

"She . . . died in childbirth," Payan said and his throat tightened. "She died with my son."

Gurwin nodded dismally, and Kilyan was surprised when he clapped a comforting paw on Payan's shoulder. "Did she ever speak of me?" he asked heavily.

Payan removed his arm from Alo and jerked his head. "Come. Let us speak of it in private."

Gurwin nodded and followed Payan to a tree.

Kel stood blinking sadly to hear that his mother had died. After a pause, he looked at Alo and smiled. "You are my sister," he said, laughing lightly.

Alo grinned. "And you are my brother!" she cried, taking a step closer. She hesitated and took Kel's paw. "Mother used to talk about you all the time. She called you Kelli. Little Kellian."

Kel's ears flattened and his green eyes darted back and forth, almost frantic. "Shh! No one knows about that . . ."

Alo laughed. "Your secret is safe with me then . . . brother."

They smiled at each other and fell to talking as easily as if they had known each other all their lives. Kilyan was glad to see it when Alo actually had Kel laughing.

"Mom sure did love three-letter names," she said, laughing with Kel.

"So," said Keeno, eying Myali, "do you have a husband?"

"Keeno!" Kilyan warned, as beside him, Ohana giggled.

Myali made a face. "No!" she cried, annoyed.

"Do you want one?" Keeno went on and wagged his brows.

Myali relented and giggled. "No!" she repeated and drew herself up, thrusting out her perky little breasts.

Kilyan glowered when Keeno's eyes went to them. "Stop ogling my cousin!" he hissed.

Keeno shrugged innocently. "But she's so hot."

Myali giggled again, her mischievous eyes crinkling up girlishly. "I like females," she said, startling them all, "but I would make an exception for you." She eyed Keeno and bit her lip, twisting her shoulders back and forth as she appraised him.

Keeno gave her a half-smile. "There's a nice bush over --"

"Keeno!" Kilyan snarled. He looked at Myali. "He's joking." He looked at Keeno. "You're joking," he informed him.

Clutching his spear, Keeno held up a paw in surrender, and Myali laughed again. She looked at Kilyan. "We are cousins. My mother speaks often of your father. She has always wanted to meet him. What is your name?"

"I'm Kilyan. This is my wife Ohana," he added, and Ohana nodded politely, looking very amused by the conversation. "And this," said Kilyan irritably, "is my best friend Keeno. Stay _away_from him."

Myali laughed. "Duly noted." She glanced over Kilyan's injuries. "If you come with me, Fedesda can heal you."

"Go with her, Kilyan," Yzlo said. He stepped up and clapped a paw on Keeno's shoulder. "I'll keep an eye on my wretched son."

Keeno bit his lip guiltily.

Kilyan and Ohana followed Myali through the camp. The river wolves had set up many little fires and were cooking, laughing, and singing as their little ones raced back and forth. When they finally found Fedesda, she was sitting at a fire between two males. Kilyan was startled to realize one of the males was Hris!

Keeno's uncle was chatting up Fedesda and making the sorceress laugh. Fedesda fluttered her lashes and flirted, but Kilyan could see that Hris was really aiming his attention at the other male seated with them. The other male was identical to Fedesda in every way but for the fact that he was male. Kilyan assumed he must've been Fedesda's brother. Her younger brother. He didn't look that much older than Kilyan himself.

". . . so I swallowed it whole!" Hris was saying as Kilyan and the others approached.

Fedesda and her brother broke into peals of laughter. Fedesda placed a meaningful paw on Hris' arm, but Hris hardly seemed to notice: he was looking at her brother. Fedesda's brother, meanwhile, was watching Hris steadily as he adjusted the long, loose fishbone necklaces around his throat. He wasn't even looking at what he was doing, though: his eyes were fixed on Hris.

"Most powerful ones," Myali said reverently and bowed slightly as she stopped before Fedesda and her brother. "I humbly ask that you would look upon the injuries of this one. He is my cousin, it seems," she added playfully and smiled at Kilyan.

Kilyan smiled back. It was almost like having Zalia with him. If Myali smacked Keeno later, he wouldn't be surprised.

Fedesda's brother looked away from Hris for the first time, and when his eyes alighted on Kilyan, he smiled a little flirtatiously. "I could heal this strapping young male," he said, eying Kilyan up and down.

"I would be grateful," Kilyan returned. "And so would my wife," he added pointedly and squeezed Ohana in his arm.

"Ah," said the male, lifting his brows. He looked at Kilyan in amusement. "Then perhaps you would be more comfortable with my sister."

Fedesda watched the exchange, looking as amused as her brother. "Yes, I will see to the boy's injuries. Why don't you go and fap somewhere, Cohoma?"

The apparent Cohoma laughed and got to his feet.

Hris got to his feet as well. "Or someone could do it for him."

Hris and Cohoma smiled at each other.