Kalla✒️

"Little pup, I'm going to name you Kalla," the pup listened intently to her new fathers words, "but not because I find you cold, but because I want you to be like a cold wave over your younger brothers burning coals. He needs you, okay?"

Kalla hadn't realized then that this was quite a selfish request from the grown wolf, but of course she could not have known under which circumstances this decision was made.

-
At first, she thought the pup was really nothing special. She was tasked with keeping an eye on him, so she did. She was bigger than him, older than him and with her confidence she could handle anything. She would, playfully of course, mess with him. Appearently this pup needed a lesson in who's in charge around here so she decided to show him that. She only did it in good fun though, and she started to actually like the little guy even though he was weird.
But around the time that Himle became an adolescent and started growing bigger than her, she found out from other young wolves gossip why everyone was so cautious around this seemingly harmless wolf. The rumor was, Himle was born an only pup due to being cursed, and when Lusse and Tola got him an adopted sibling, he killed the pup and left it to the coyotes. After that, a different pups sibling that was adopted around the same time also died. The story was told in the dark, in a secret grove these pups had taken her to. To them it was just a scary story, and they giggled nervously. Was it true or not? It didn't matter much to them. But Kalla felt uneasy. After that night she became more wary of Himle, and stopped hanging out with him like she used to. She didn't feel comfortable teasing him anymore, thinking he might get his revenge now that he was bigger and stronger.
They both became adults, their parents and Himles guardian died. Their older siblings took over the care of the caves puppies. There was no one left to keep watch over this mysterious wolf and so Kalla reluctantly started spying on him. There was a rumor again, that Vår, the packs beta, was mourning a puppy. Kalla sought out Ygg, who had helped to inspect the body.
"He must've wandered off with some other packs pups and gotten in trouble," Ygg explained, and Kalla immedietly started thinking, did Himle tell the pup it was okay to go to other packs? She needed to know more.
"Why do you think so?" She asked carefully.
"Well he was found pretty far away, and the wounds definitely looked like an adult wolf had done it. Must've been a territorial pack," Ygg talked, but then his dark eyes shifted to her and he went silent, "I shouldn't tell you more, I don't want Vår to hear any horror stories."
Kalla nodded. This was even more suspicious, but could Himle really be so cold hearted to kill a pup like that? Kalla started keeping an even closer eye on him.
One night she was stalking him under the moonlight when suddenly he stopped, stood still for a bit and then turned around.
"Who's there?" Shit. She must've stepped on a branch or something, and her first instinct was to run. She got quite far before she started noticing his footsteps behind her. Fuck, he was faster than her. While Kalla ducked under a fallen tree, she saw his body fly over her and land on the other side. Kalla wasn't quick enough to turn around and he got closer. Kalla threw herself on him and they started wrestling, and luckily for Kalla, she was still slightly stronger than him. She ended up on top, holding him down firmly. It wasn't easy, but she managed. Himles moon white eyes stared up at her and he laughed.
"What are you doing?" Somehow his question made Kalla rethink her actions, almost as if she was ashamed or doing something wrong. In her moment of doubt, she was distracted and he broke free.
"What's going on, Kalla? It's me, Imla. Did I frighten you?" He was walking towards her while she backed away. She shook her head and remembered why she was there. Right. Dead puppy. She stood up tall and looked him in his white eyes.
"I heard about our aunts tragic loss, and I wanted to make sure you were okay," she lied, and the wolves started circling eachother. Himles eyes turned suspicious.
"It is sad, but I did not know the pup personally."
"Did you ever meet him?" Kalla asked, trying to remain careful, but maybe she had been too bold because Himle stopped moving and looked at her.
"What are you implying?" His tone hinted that he already knew the answer, but he wanted an answer anyway. If she lied she would be defeated, he would know she was scared of him. Kalla did not like the idea of anyone having that kind of power over her. She kept moving around him.
"Did you do it?" She finally said quietly, but unwavering.
"You believe their stories?" Suddenly he had the upper hand again and was moving towards her, "I thought you were smarter than that."
Shooting two quick glances around her, she realized she was cornered, one one side the fallen tree and on the other a large pine tree stood tall. Kalla didn't know what to say anymore, she was confused. A silent moment passed.
"You're looking so intently at my eyes," he said in a low rumble of a voice, and Kalla felt embarrassed, "what are you thinking of them?"
"They're so cold, like snow," Kalla spoke, but she felt like someone else was speaking for her. Himle rolled his eyes at her, the nerve!
"They're the same colour as our alphas eyes," he sat down calmly in front of her and looked away, "she's not a bad person, is she? Are her eyes cold?"
No, her eyes weren't cold. Kalla had met her, and her eyes were like two full moons, beautiful and determined. They made you want to howl in respect. Kalla shook her head. Himle laid down on the mossy ground and licked his paw, and Kalla was confused, standing in her corner. He looked up at her and he didn't look threatening at all, so she slowly walked away.

Some days later, Kalla came home to the den after a nightly swim, and by the outskirts of the territory sat a dark figure.
"You're still in heat," his bold question almosg made her gasp.
"What kind of wolf asks such a thing?" She snapped at him and he giggled.
"I was just sure you'd have mated by now," he kept talking boldly, leaving nothing to interpretation. Kalla walked right past him and he started following her. She sighed.
"I found no male interesting enough," she answered.
"Oh, is that so," he sounded cocky and teasing, like they had been when they were younger. But they had never spoken about something like this, as they were supposed to be siblings. She had never felt like his sister. Lusse was her father by all means, despite being adopted, but the pup had just been a pup. But she had always assumed she was like a sister to him. She felt his nose brush against her tail and she spun around and showed her teeth.
"Why are you acting like this?" She hissed.
"Ah, I'm sorry," he said and backed away, bowing his head down to her, "I couldn't help it. Punish me if you wish,"
She huffed at him and continued walking and entered their family cave with him close by. She heard the others were sleeping and went to her own section, expecting him to follow, but when she looked, he was gone.
-
"You don't need to trust me Kalla," this time she had sought him out, "I don't care, really."
He was resting in the sunlight. She was sitting down next to him, looking away.
"Why not?" she said after a long time. He sighed and got up, and started walking away into the forest. Kalla followed him.
"It's simply not necessary. Whether you trust me or not, it is all the same to me."
Kalla was quiet for a bit more.
"If you didn't kill your sibling, then what happened," she asked, and he let out a growling sigh.
"If you did kill her.." Kalla slowed down, and spoke quieter, she wasn't sure he could hear, "did you plan to kill me too?"
Himle stopped, then he turned around and walked towards her, eyeing her. Her heart beat faster.
"Why would I want to kill you?" He asked calmly, while looking into her eyes. She had no answer, so she shook her head. Himles eyes turned soft, "you shouldn't think such things. I would never hurt you."
Kalla looked away and pondered over why she had this feeling. He drew her gaze when he tilted his head.
"Hmm.. You're not satisfied with that answer?" what was that supposed to mean? She furrowed her brows in confusion, "maybe you want me to chase you down?"
Himle had a playful look in his eyes, he play bowed slightly before getting into ambushing position and creeping toward her, his eyes intensely making contact with hers.
"Stop it," Kalla laughed at his sillyness but he crept further, "Ahh!"
Kalla started hopping away from his front paws, then she started walking, then running, and just like that she was being chased again. This time Himle seemed slower, just as she looked back he nipped softly at the fur on her tail.
-
Kalla was in heat again, and she cautiously walked around the territory looking for Himle. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but deep inside she was hoping he would scent her and mate with her. But she couldn't find him anywhere.
-
Kalla was put into a new hunting party, she was a fine stalker and they needed one. But when she met up with them before their first hunt together, she saw a familiar face.
"Imla..?" she whispered to herself. Among the others, a lean, dark wolf was resting in the sunlight. Yes, she recognized his white eyes, and he looked at her as if he knew her, and she scented the air. It was Himle, but he wasn't wearing his mask and creepy outfit. Kalla became shy at first, but she observed him. He wasn't the most handsome wolf ever, and he was one of the chasers, not a finisher like most of the handsome males she had seen. She handled her job well, and ignored him for the most part. One day after a hunt, she heard his steps behind her.
"Hey, good job," he said as he caught up to her. She looked at him, in broad daylight he wasn't scary, or entizing, was he?
When she stood up to him, her teasing nature and jokeful arrogance had turned into true feelings, she didn't want him. She didn't want this. She didn't want to pine over someone who would disappear like that, she didn't want to spend time chasing someone who wasn't even worth it. He didn't have the looks or the personality to gain her love. She didn't say anything else, she only told him she didn't want him anymore. But his eyes shifted, and so did his stance.
"You don't like me anymore, just like that?" He followed her as she started trying to walk away.
"Yes, you," she tried to come up with a good reason, despite knowing she didn't need one, "you just disappeared on me."
"And you went through such a trouble trying to find me, didn't you?" She became uncomfortable and stayed silent, "Such a good stalker, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find a wolf, you're lying, you didn't even try did you?"
Kalla tried to stay silent and walk away but he was blocking the way and she ended up going the wrong way just to keep moving.
"Where are you going? I thought we were going home, do you have another place to be?" He kept teasing her, he knew what she was doing, and she wanted to keep it inside but suddenly it burst out of her.
"I'm trying to get away from you!" She yelled at him.
"No you're not, I just wanted to walk with you," his manipulations always made her confused but when he came closer, uncomfortably close, to her and looked tenderly into her eyes, she had enough. The confidence she used to have came back to her and she smacked him in the face. He let out a whelp and before she knew it he had a death grip on her neck. She panicked and fought for her life, she kicked him in the face and somehow it worked! She didn't take any chances, she ran. It felt like forever, she ran and ran, and she thought to herself, "should I stop running and fight? I'm stronger than him." But the indecision never faded. She heard something behind her but she continued on until she was home in her cave. Ygg and Agi were there, and Kalla burst into tears and and hid between them. They both embraced her and comforted her. Kalla didn't leave the cave, she whimpered like a puppy when Ygg or Agi tried to leave her side, until the day after when she heard that a guard had a fight with Himle last night.
"Why, what happened?" She asked, needing to know.
"This guard is Auds son," Agi explained, "If you ask me, he was probably looking out for you."
Kalla dared to leave the cave. She had to find this guard, appearently his name was Borg? Kalla didn't know much.. or anything about the other royal families, probably due to Himle keeping her to himself. Well, it was time to meet the rest of the family.
She asked around the pack and was directed to different locations but she couldn't find the guy! A few days later, she did see him, but from the crowd as he was announced to be the next alpha when Gerd dies. She wanted to talk to him then, but was intimidated by his new status, and the crowd around him.
Not much later, Kallas hunting party was about to be dispatched to a hunt, but there was a problem. Himle wasn't there, they were a chaser short.
"We should wait for him, he's probably late," one of the others said.
"Too busy courting some female," another sighed. Kalla sat down and waited, and she was nervous, dreading to see his face. A dark figure approached and Kalla looked away, until she heard one of her team members whisper,
"Alpha."
Kalla looked up. It was Borg. Gerd must have died without Kalla hearing about it.
"You all must have noticed there's someone missing in your team," Borg said and the others nodded respektfully while he looked them over, "don't wait for him, he will not be joining you on any more hunts."
Kalla let out a sigh of relief.
"I hope it is okay that you hunt without a third chaser today," Borgs eyes met hers but only in passing, and Kalla couldn't help but wonder if this had anything to do with her.
-
Not long after, Himle was kicked out of the pack, and Kalla felt like she could start living her life again.
Ygg and Agi, her protectors, died not long after, and they left three puppies behind. The pups had no one else, so Kalla took them in. One day, a pair of glowing yellow eyes came to visit. The puppies were Borgs cousins.
"I hope I'm not intruding," he whispered, and upon hearing his voice, one of the sleeping pups started stretching and yawning and blinking her eyes open. Skugga. She must've recognized his voice from when he saved her life.
"Not at all, come in," Kalla said as steady as she could. Finally she were to meet him for real. He approached and sat by the pups, Kalla immedietly got up and bowed her head down.
"I've been wanting to thank you for what you did for me several weeks ago. I don't know what he would've done if he had caught up to me," she was nervous and spoke quickly. He nodded in response and Kalla sat down.
"I have heard of the issue your cave has been having with the pups, and I'm here to tell you that I'm willing to take them in and raise them," he raised his gaze to meet hers. Kalla shook her head.
"No," she blurted out, then she cleared her throat and calmed down, "I can raise them. Ygg and Agi did so much for me, I'm repaying them now."
"Very well," Borg stood up, ready to leave, "but if you ever need help, I'm available, always. And I will be visiting those pups as often as I can."
Kalla realized she would have no privacy until the pups were adults. Jeesh. The alpha nodded her a goodbye, and left the cave.
-
Kalla slowly gained her confidence back, and her adoptive pups grew up and didn't need her anymore. Meanwhile she met another wolf with the same profession as her. He was extremely handsome. At first he was arrogant, thinking he was better than her, but after getting to know eachother he became very proud of her skills! A love blossomed, and as Kallas adoptive pups became real adults, Kalla longed to have pups again. This time, of her own.