The Wolf Pack's New Leader

(a completely original fable by Ben and his son, David)

My friends, prepare for an emotional and intellectual journey, which I hope you will enjoy.

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Once upon a time in the forest, there were two wolf brothers.

One was called Egar.

The other was known as Mlac.

Each brother hoped to someday lead the Wolf Pack. The two wolves had long shared this hope, since they first played together as pups . . . many moons ago.

Late one night, while the Pack hunted the deer herd, a terrible accident took place.

As daybreak neared, and the moon fell asleep behind the hills, every wolf sensed that their lives were about to change forever.

No signals were given. No words were spoken. None were needed . . . not among creatures with senses so keen.

Every wolf in the Pack knew what to do. One by one they came, gathering in silence beneath a grove of the tallest evergreen trees in the forest. They met at the place where the first rays of sunlight burst through the trees and spill down onto the forest floor.

The Pack had not met here, at this sacred place, in nearly a full wolf life.

This place was saved for one event only – a happening so rare that the eyes of most wolves there were about to see such a thing for the first time.

Not a wolf was missing. None dared to be absent. The Pack sensed a lasting change was about to take place - a change that would mean either survival or death for them all.

The wolves stood as silent as the trees. Every head was turned toward something which lay below them on the forest floor. Each wolf looked down in pity, fear, and horror - emotions rarely shown by the Pack when circling another animal.

On the forest floor, spread out on a soft bed of evergreen needles, heaving and panting for every breath, lay Rekniht, the Pack's great leader.

He lay mortally wounded, this great old wolf who had guided them wisely for many moons.

Rekniht struggled to raise his head. "Brothers and sisters, hear my words," he said. "During last night’s hunt, a young buck deer felt that he should turn around and introduce himself to me. As you all know, I usually welcome such a greeting with open jaws.”

Rekniht tried to laugh. Instead, he coughed up a chunk of flesh and blood.

“Cough!” the old leader shuddered. “A young buck’s antlers . . . cough . . . finally got the best of me.”

Out of deep respect for their leader, the wolves said not a word, nor moved a muscle. Every ear turned toward Rekniht, who now spoke again.

"Brothers and sisters, hear me well. Each breath I borrow from the trees . . . cough . . . may be my last. Indeed, before the full moon rises tonight, my spirit will leave me. Already I can feel it reaching upward for the stars.”

Rekniht paused for a moment to fight back the pain and catch his breath. Then he continued.

“The sun, our Day King, now rises to give us light. But I must tell you . . . cough . . . before the moon, our Night Prince, returns tonight to shine through these same trees, the Pack must choose a new leader."

Rekniht breathed deeply and coughed up more blood. Then he prepared to speak the most important words he had in his long life yet spoken.

"Who among you dares to face the Test?" Rekniht asked the Pack.

The wolf called Egar immediately leaped forward far into the circle and gave a sharp bark. "Wise and honorable Rekniht, the wolf who speaks to you dares to face the Test."

Then the wolf called Mlac took one step into the circle and spoke. "Wise and honorable Rekniht, the wolf who speaks to you dares to face the Test."

None of the other wolves moved.

Rekniht smiled and said, "To see you two makes my tired eyes twinkle. I've long known you both, since I named you as pups. Come closer now, and I'll grant you each my blessing."

Egar and Mlac walked over together and bowed low before their leader. Rekniht reached out and placed his front paws on the top of each head. Then he took a deep breath, wheezing and rasping with pain.

But the brave old wolf still managed to speak. He knew his time was nearly gone. "Young wolves who dare to face the Test, may honor and courage guide your hearts . . . and may the spirit of wisdom guide your minds."

Rekniht had no fear but one, that he might not live to help the Pack choose a new leader. He was weak, much too weak, and he knew it.

Then suddenly, Brother Wind, the unseen friend of all, swirled in beneath the evergreens and swept once across the forest floor.

This quick fresh burst of air served to revive Rekniht, and led him to stand up. The Pack’s old leader began to speak with the voice of a wolf half his age . . . and twice his strength.

"Many nights, with only the stars and moon as my witness, I have prepared the Test in my mind. Fellow wolves, it is my sacred duty to create a true Test. As you all know, since ages ago, each leader must create his own new Test to prove who will follow him as leader of the Pack. The Test must prove which wolf among us will lead us best. For if the Test proves the wrong leader . . . the Pack will not survive."

Egar spoke up. "And what will be the Test?" he asked.

Rekniht's eyes brightened yellow and round. Excitement made his face grow young again. "Look, young wolves, with eyes keen!"

Rekniht raised one front paw to point the way. "Look yonder, deep into the darkest part of the forest . . . toward the forbidden thorn thicket."

There was nothing but silence for a moment.

Then Mlac spoke up. "Wise and honorable leader, do you mean the thicket so filled with thorns that never even a deer has seen?"

"Indeed", answered Rekniht. "The thicket so filled with thorns that not even a rabbit will enter. Enter there, young wolves, with legs swift and hearts brave. Enter the forbidden thorn thicket. Then smell, young wolves, with noses keen. Smell for the White Rose climbing high in the hidden clearing at the center of the thorns. Then return, young wolves who would be king, one petal of the White Rose back to me."

Both Egar and Mlac crouched low and coiled their muscles, awaiting Rekniht's signal for the Test to begin.

One wolf, more ready to race than the other, set his eyes toward the thorn thicket.

The other cast his eyes on Rekniht, who spoke once more.

"Remember, young wolves, the best leader must be a strong thinker. Let not anger rule your mind, no matter how difficult a problem you may face. Remember, too, that we wolves can learn from every creature of the forest. Above all, never . . . and I do mean never . . . forget your brothers and sisters of the Pack."

Then Rekniht pointed his nose toward the sky and howled toward the rising Day King.

Every wolf in the Pack did the same.

The Test had begun.

Egar reached the forbidden thorn thicket first, a few steps ahead of Mlac.

"No need to waste time!" growled Egar. "A leader must be swift. A leader must be brave. Headfirst, I'll leap into these thorns. Sheer power and courage will carry me through to the center."

Egar was right. Snapping, crackling, and ripping through the thorns, he cleared a path toward the White Rose. Egar made the noise of ten wolves.

"Pain and anger!" he snarled. "Ha! I laugh in the face of both. Pain and anger only make me stronger!"

Nothing stopped Egar. The thicket crumbled at his touch.

But . . . Egar paid a high price for his fearless attack. Rising now and then above his fierce snarling came the sound of . . . whimpering. The sharp thorns carved his flesh and soaked his gray coat red.

Still, the brave wolf Egar struggled on toward the White Rose.

Meanwhile, Mlac studied the thicket from all sides. He circled and searched for a better angle of attack.

He found none.

It was then that Mlac remembered the words spoken by Rekniht. "We wolves can learn from every creature," he whispered.

Mlac fell to his belly and crawled beneath the thorns. "Like Black Snake, I slide and twist and turn."

But as Mlac slid deeper into the thicket, nearer the White Rose, the thorns grew thicker and closer to the ground. So he remembered again. "We can learn from every creature."

Mlac began to tear at the earth below the thorns with his paws . . . tunneling beneath. "Like Mole, I dig and rake and claw."

By the time he reached the hidden clearing, no more than a thorn or two had even touched Mlac.

Both wolves reached the White Rose together.

Egar leaped high and ripped the White Rose from the bush. Then he collapsed in a bloody mess, the Rose held tightly in his jaws.

Mlac sniffed the surrounding ground and found a single petal. As gently as if he were lifting a newborn cub, Mlac picked up the petal with his teeth and turned to go. He glanced back to give one last look at Egar.

Mlac stopped. "Never forget your brothers and sisters," he whispered. "This brave brother of mine must not be left to suffer. Not when I can help."

Mlac gave a friendly bark toward Egar. "Brave Egar, follow me out of this thicket. I'll show you a better way."

The wolves returned to the Pack together.

By now it was the Day King’s turn to fall asleep behind the hills. The Night Prince was soon to rise and shine down through the trees.

Each wolf lay at the feet of Rekniht what they had gathered of the White Rose.

Egar brought nearly the whole Rose, crumpled and torn, like him.

Mlac brought only a single petal.

The Pack again circled the three wolves.

Every ear stood raised.

Every paw held still.

Rekniht spoke. "Egar, the red marks of courage coat your fur. And you were the first to touch the White Rose. All howl to Egar, the swift and brave!"

The forest echoed with the howls of the Pack.

Then Rekniht raised a paw to signal silence.

The wolves once again fell silent, but no longer could remain still. Every paw now stood prancing. The Pack was prepared to crown Egar as their new leader. The wolves knew time was very short and waited only for Rekniht to howl his final approval.

Instead, their old leader surprised them one last time. "Wolves, be patient. The truth is sometimes difficult to see, even for a Pack of sharp-eyed wolves."

The wolves again stood silent and still.

Rekniht turned his head toward Egar. "Brave Egar, turn the sound of your name around and speak."

"Rage," answered Egar.

"Rage," repeated Rekniht. "A name suited to fit you like your fur coat. A name filled with anger, courage, and swift choices. The Pack needs wolves like you, my friend. Never forget that."

Then Rekniht turned to face Mlac. "Mlac, turn the sound of your name around and speak."

"Calm," answered Mlac.

"Calm," repeated Rekniht. "Today you followed well the ways of Nature. Any wolf, even our smallest pup, could have followed your path to the White Rose. Few, if any, could have followed Egar."

The wolves' eyes grew wide and round, like full yellow moons.

"And you, Mlac, bring only a single petal, not the whole Rose. The Pack must kill only what we need."

Rekniht then looked again toward Egar and wondered whether this strongest of all wolves would now find the strength within himself to do what was best for the Pack.

Egar stared down at the crumpled White Rose . . . and thought of how much he’d suffered to become the leader of the Pack. Pain and anger began to tell his mind that the Test was not fair.