House of Wolf

~ THE GATHERING ~

Snow was falling. The air was crisp with the sound of snow crunching beneath his paws as they sank through the upper crust. Slipping through the quiet forest the Pack followed him as it had so many times since their arrival. Each member knew his or her own place in the great scheme of things. The Pack had grown of late and continued to do so as new members where taken in from the other House which they no longer found a home in.

Many of the members had fled to the Pack as their own respective Houses were overrun and consumed by one of the larger Houses of the Children. Already the Houses of Lynx, Fox, Sparrow and Beaver had passed from existence and those were just the latest to fall. It was rumored that the House of Tiger had already absorbed a dozen of the lesser Houses.

These were hard times thought D`Shyl to himself as his brother An`Quix padded from behind a bush to join him in surveying the valley below. An`Quix sat upon his haunches next to the Arctic Wolf and dipped his head in a sign of submission to the Lord of the House of Wolf. As usual, his black fur was as clean and lustrous as if he'd just run through a stream. D`Shyl nuzzled his brother, greeting his fellow Alpha of the Pack.

An`Quix's mind spoke to his brother and Lord privately. **Am I correct that J`Aril of the House of Tiger was the one to call the Gathering this time?** His mind voice echoed how much he thought this to be a waste of time. **The fool will try once more to urge his cause and further his hold on the Houses. Like we would ever give into him.**

**Brother** the Pack leader replied in kind, **He has cause in his own eyes to suggest a unification of the Great Houses.** Though D`Shyl did not agree with all the Tiger Lord had to say, he was not closed minded enough to not see the merit in his plan. **There is much fighting and waste of the lesser lives with this endless struggle between the Houses.**

**Lesser lives** scoffed An`Quix. **What care us for them? They are our creations to do with as we please, Brother. Just as the power the Mother has given us. After all, who would care if a few Elves, Dwarfs, Nermins and the like, are destroyed? They will just be replaced given the reproductive rate of their breeders**

**None the less** responded the Arctic Wolf, ** they are living, breathing beings. With the same feelings and similar thought patterns to our own.** An`Quix shifted slightly, turning his gaze on the gathering below in the valley, having had this particular discussion with his brother many times before, he knew the ending to it alread but D`Shyl turned the question. **How would you feel should the Mother decide we were not needed any longer and suddenly turned from us?**

This was a new twist to this argument and An`Quix was careful in his reply. **Should that happen, Brother, we would be able to continue on without her.** Quickly he added before his brother could respond to his words. **Mind you, we would be far less than we are now, but our Mother has well prepared us to make do for ourselves, in her infinite wisdom.**

**Much as the Houses have done for their lesser races?** asked D`Shyl. **They would be able to continue without us and in most cases would be better off without our interference in their day to day lives.**

**Surely you jest, Brother!** retorted An`Quix. **Without us to guide them, they would be lost and within a few short life spans of their kind, they would be no more. If it were not for our aid, our teaching and caring for them, they would have perished long ago.**

**Teaching?** came the quick reply. **Teaching them to fight, to hate, to destroy each other and everything around them you mean!** Others of the Pack were beginning to join them in the clearing over looking the Gathering place below. **If not for the meddling of the Houses, I wonder just what greatness they could obtain on their own, Brother.**

**Bah!!!! Greatness my tail!!!** replied An`Quix. They are incapable of greatness unless we give it to them. Yet, being that the House of Wolf had no part in their creation, tis none of our concern. Let the others worry about them, Brother.**

Both Alpha wolves regard each for a moment before turning and exchanging greetings with the others of the Pack. When a sufficient number of them had gathered, several hundred, the Pack leader turned to his brother. **Brother, will you announce us to those below so that we may proceed and then return to the Keep and our own affairs?**

**Only too gladly, Brother.** An`Quix responded. Moving to the edge of the clearing so that he would be visible to the Gathering below, he lifted his muzzle to the winter sky and let forth one howl, low and long. Below, heads turned as the wolf's cry split the air, all eyes turning in the direction of the call. Shortly, the cry of a hunter cat echoed back to the Pack signaling them to enter the Gathering. As one, the pack raised their muzzles to the sky and gave voice, announcing the arrival of the House of Wolf to the Great Gathering of Houses of the Children of the Mother.

~ A TELLING OF CREATION ~

LordWolf looked up from the latest of documents from the noble of Lyric as there was a knock on the door. "Enter." The Steward of the palace in Lindavale, the capital city of Lyric, enters and bows to Wolf. "M'Lord Prince there is a gentleman here to see you. He claims to be a friend of your and brings news of Wolf Keep and distant Camelot." LordWolf glances at the setting sun outside and sighs laying the documents aside on the table top. "Did the gentleman give you a name, M'Lord Steward?". The elderly man nods once, "Aye, he did, M'Lord. Sir Poet is the name which he gave." Wolf rises as a smile slowly spreads across his face. "Be so kind as to show the good Poet in then, M'Lord." The Steward bows, "As you wish, M'Lord," and slips out only to return in a moment accompanied by Sir Poet.

"Poet! This is an unexpected surprise." says Wolf with a broad grin, extending his hand in welcome. Sir Poet returns the smile and quickly crosses the room taking the elder man's hand in his in a warm clasp of an old friend. "Well, Wenn sent me to check up on you, Wolf... you know how she worries." replied Poet with a twinkle in his emerald eyes. The Steward arches a brow at the lack of formality between the stranger and the Prince Regent but remains silent. Lord Wolf glances over and catches the arched brow. "M'Lord Steward, this is an old and dear friend of mine. Poet, this is His Lordship Andler, Steward of the Palace." Sir Poet turns and bows quite formally to the man, "M'Lord Andler, tis indeed a pleasure to meet thee." The Steward returns the bows and similar words and then to LordWolf, "Will there be anything else, M'Lord Prince?" "Aye," was Wolf's quick reply. "See that dinner is sent for two and I am not to be disturbed til morning light." "As you wish, M'Lord Prince." was the Stewards quick reply before he left to see to Wolf's instructions.

Time passed as dinner was served and removed and the two friends talked of the events of late and the happenings of Camelot and the Keep. As the hours slipped deeper into night, Wolf and Poet soon make there way to chairs arranged before the fireplace and are sipping wine as the silence between them lengthens. They sit comfortably, enjoying the warmth of the fire and their friendship.

"Do you ever wonder, Wolf, what's it all for? Or where it all began and where it will end?"

LordWolf looks to his friend and nods once. "Aye I do wonder at times where it shall lead us and why this or that happens. Though in truth, I know where it all came from."

Poet smiles, noting that Wolf as usual could follow his obscure thoughts without problem. "You mean you know where everything came from? Where life had its start?" there is just a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"Aye, I know for it is part of my family's history and hence it has been passed down to me."

Still not sure if Wolf is joking him or perhaps further into the wine than himself, Poet asks, "Then tell me my friend. Tell me how we all got here, if you know, that I might know as well."

For long moment Wolf stares into the fire as if searching for lost memories deep within the flames' hypnotic dance."

"Long ago there was the Mother, her true name is not one you would be able to understand or pronounce. We call her the Mother for she brought all life to this world. The Mother was so different from us then for she was a creature, if that truly applies to her, of pure energy. She traveled the byways of the worlds, slipping from one dimension to another for she, much like you Poet, was a traveler."

Wolf pauses a moment, a soft smile touching his brow as the outside world slips away and his mind drifts back, far back in time, to a point when he was a lad. Sir Poet waits calmly for the old Wolf to continue his tale, trying to commit all of it to memory.

"Now as she traveled, she happened upon a world, adrift in the vastness of the heavens and devoid of all life. Yet something caused her to stop and observe this world. She did not see life upon it yet deep within it she saw a promise, a chance perhaps, for greatness. Whatever it was she saw, she stayed a while and when it came time for her to move on once more, she decided to leave a part of herself behind. From her very existence she drew forth parts of herself and shaped them and placed them upon this barren world she had found. Then she blew life into them and gave them thought and free will. Those parts of her, when awakened into life, looked to her and their hearts sang of love and happiness. The Mother looked down upon her Children to which she had given birth and knew happiness and so she stayed a while longer.

The Children grew and learned, for they themselves were beings of energy and could take any form and do just about anything. The Mother watched as her Children covered the world and shaped it to their wills. Thus were the animals, plants and such brought to life. Finally a time came where she could remain no longer and so she informed her Children that she was leaving but that she would return. Though not pleased with the notion, her Children wished her well and went on about their labors, vowing that the world would be beautiful upon her return." "For long ages the Children awaited their Mother's return and she did not come. Soon the task of making the world beautiful was completed and it was indeed very beautiful to behold. They waited to show their Mother their work and when the Mother still did not return, they set about making what was already beautiful even more so. Soon, they were trying to out do each other in who could create the most beautiful of things, be they plant or animal. During this time the Unicorns, Dragons and other magical creatures were created and given life.

More time passed and there were those who now felt that if their work was the best then they would surely be rewarded for their labors by the Mother upon here return. Like children trying to outshine their siblings for a parent's praise, they soon were fighting amongst themselves. Many things were covertly destroyed during this time while others were taken and hidden away deep within the ground. While still others were taken to the forest and hidden there. As more time passed, sides were drawn up and the fighting was growing quite ferocious. Now being creatures of pure energy, there was no way to actually kill each other, but it was found that the energy could be drained away and consumed by another.

And so it stood when the Mother did return. She found her Children fighting amongst themselves. She could read within the fabrics of time what had happened. She was upset and very concerned for her children. She let them know in stern terms that they were not allowed to fight. That they were there to create and beautify the world so that one day it would bear life for countless others. The Mother set them to making the world beautiful again. Ages passed and once more it was time for the Mother to leave yet her memory was vast and she did recall what had happen when last she had left her Children to themselves. Once more she pulled from within her and gave life to parts of her whole. These beings she called the Powers that Be and she gave them control over all things, including her Children. Secure in her knowledge that her children would be cared for and protected from themselves, she once more left to explore that vastness of all that was.

For countless ages, the Powers that Be shepherded the Mother's Children. Yet as time passed the Powers that Be did change and take on the characteristics of the Children and fighting once more errupted upon the world. Now the Powers that Be were greater parts of the Mother and hence their strength far surpassed that of the Children. The Powers soon collected the children to them and their individuals causes. With the Mother's absence, the Powers that Be soon felt that each of them should take her place. So they fought to see who was strongest and should lord over this world in the Mother's absence. The world trembled under the onslaught of energy in the struggle that followed. Land masses sunk and oceans ran in while still other land masses arose and forced the water to shift and overrun other areas. Great cracks broke open, spilling forth the world's firey core. The very fabric that held the world together started to unravel and come undone. Yet still the Powers fought and the Children chose with whom to sides.

The Mother finally returned to the world in which she once saw such hope and found the trust she had passed to her Children and the Powers was betrayed. The Powers trembled at her anger and the Children hid themselves. The Mother told the Powers and the Children that she would save them from themselves and stretching forth a part of herself she changed the Children, no longer would they live on forever but they would now be able to be no more yet they would not feel the effects of time. The Mother then turned her anger to the Powers and tied their very existence to the Children and she told them in her anger that their very energy would hence forth flow from the Children. Should the Childrens' faith in them, their belief in them, their trust in them ever stop, they would be no more. Yet she still placed the Powers over the Children to guard and shepherd them. By this she hoped to establish a Balance between the two with each needing the other.

So, as the world shook and threatened to destroy itself, her Children and the Powers cried out to her to save them. With a mother's compassion, she sent herself out til she surrounded the world. Then she sent tendrils of herself out and wrapped the world in lines of pure energy. As the lines criss crossed, some passed through the world while others spanned the skies and still others supported the very bedrock of it. As the last line was cast out, the Mother, stretched farther than she could, slipped away, leaving her energy in place to hold the world together. No more would she travel and explore for from this time forward she was tied to this world.

Poet swallowed heavily, "She... died for her children then?"

Wolf looked up with a start. "No. No, she is still here and still holds the world together though she has changed over the ages. Now she is known as the magical weave that surrounds our world. From the weave there are bands of energy called ley lines which crisscross the world within, without and above. Where these lines touch each other, they form nodes of magical power."

Wolf stops to take a sip of his wine only to find the goblet empty though not remembering the drinking of it.

"And the Powers and her Children? What of them?" inquired Poet.

"They too have changed. The Powers that Be are now known as the gods. Her Children... many have changed and others have passed away never to return."

A puzzled look crosses Poet's face for a moment. "But then how did we get here? And the Elves and Dwarves?"

Wolf pauses for a moment before answering. " The Powers that Be did create the various races in an attempt to remake the beauty that once was. Though because they themselves have the gift of free will, so do their creations. So their attempts have worked to some degree for there are those that are good and full of light and yet there are those that are dark as well. Though all the races do have their very beginnings in the Mother's Children for it is from there that the Powers did create the races."

Poet sits and ponders all he has heard for a time as Wolf stares off into the flames once more, lost in thoughts of times long ago and of the Sundering.

"Wolf..." inquires Poet after a time.

"Aye, Poet?" replies Wolf.

"Are.. are there any of the Children left?"

For long moments Lord Wolf looks into the flames before replying in a voice so soft that Poet has to strain to barely be able to catch his reply.

"Aye...there are a few of us left."