Jesse has inherited his Grandfather's ranch and now must fight his father to keep it while on a quest to find Coyote and his spirit animal.

Thank you Hope for your help in editing this Chapter. Any additional errors are mine alone.

Hugs, Barb

Chapter 9 The Elders

Jesse was led further up the trail to the base of a palisade cliff system. Here, the wolves had been able to find small caves among the rocks for dens. The caves were lined with old leaves and fur. These were quite warm and comfortable. Some of the other wolves came out to see who the stranger was that was being led into their domain. Night Runner turned to Jesse, Black Paws and Silver Ears. {{It is late and many of the pack are either out hunting or asleep. The oldest of the elders will want to speak with you and hear your story, but he is asleep and may not wake for long tomorrow morning. He is ill and his condition worsens each moon. The three of you should sleep until I call for you. The council will convene and speak together before I call.}}

Silver Ears led the females to his den. There they would sleep. Black Paws' pups that had yet to mate were still in the den. Their father asked them to go hunt and find some food for their guest. Three of the males and a female left to find the food. The pups that were too young to hunt on their own crowded around the adults begging for attention. They would nip at their mother and father trying to get them to play.

Jesse was confused by this pack of wolves. She was taught in school that a wolf pack had one leader. The leader and his mate were the only breeding pair or the Alpha male would breed the other females. This pack was different. The Alpha male was not selected by strength alone and there was a council of elders that made decisions for the pack. These wolves acted more like a small village with tribal elders than a wild pack. Jesse would think on this more in the morning. The excitement of the pups was dying down and they were snuggling in close to their parents to sleep. Jesse found a quiet corner and curled up to sleep.

Late in the night, Jesse started having the nightmares again about being pursued by the larger males in the pack. She was growling and whimpering as she struggled to run away from her stalkers in her dreams. The smallest of the pups woke up upon hearing Jesse's noises. She walked over to Jesse and nuzzled her nose gently to wake her.

{{Were you having a bad dream?}} asked the young pup.

{{ Yes, I was little one. It was a dream I have had before. The dream is a warning about taking a mate among the pack. Coyote told me not to.}}

{{You met Coyote? Wow!}}

{{Hush little one before you wake the others. I'll tell you about it in the morning.}}

{{When I have bad dreams, Momma snuggles with me until they go away. Do you want me to snuggle with you? Maybe the bad dream won't come back}}

{{Yes, that'd be nice. No one has snuggled with me since my Grandmother died. I'd like it very much}}

Jesse let the young pup snuggle into the crook she made as she lay on her side. The pup lay her head on Jesse's foreleg and was soon asleep. Jesse listened to her breath a few minutes then reached down to lick her muzzle. When she did she notice a strange tingle. It was almost like a static shock, but not quite. The little wolf fell into a deeper sleep. Jesse knew some sort of healing was going on in the little wolf's body, but she didn't know what was the cause of the healing. Jesse could feel a special spirit with this pup. She laid her head next to the pup's and slept soundly the rest of the night.

The next morning Black Paws found Jesse and the pup snuggled together for warmth against the cold morning. The other wolves of the den had just returned from hunting during the night with fresh kills of some smaller game. They had found a yearling deer and had brought it back as well. The family would eat well today.

Black Paws gently woke Jesse who managed to disentangle herself from the young pup. {{Good morning, I heard you had a bad dream last night. My smallest daughter tried to be quiet, but you know how children are. I hope she didn't bother you}}

{{I'm glad she came over. She woke me from a bad dream and then snuggled with me to keep it from coming back. She said she learned it from you.}}

{{She being the smallest of the litter has had a struggle most of her days. Her brothers and larger sisters push her away from the meals we bring in. I have to work hard to make sure she gets something to eat. Even then I am not sure she gets enough. She has not been growing properly.}}

{{I noticed when I kissed her last night a small spark seemed to move between us. I could feel the healing leave me and enter her. Maybe she will be better and start growing more. What is her name.}}

{{We usually don't get names until we are presented to the elders. These pups have just become old enough to leave the den. It's time we presented them to the elders and the rest of the pack. We'll give them names then. My mate and I decided we would present them after you have been accepted into the pack and we are finished with the task of bringing you here. Today you will meet the elders. They will give you a name that we will use in the pack as we can't speak your human name easily. Then my mate will make a time with the elders to present the pups.}}

As Black Paws was speaking the elder that Jesse met the night before came to the den entrance. {{It is time for the white wolf to meet with the elders. Silver Ears bring her to the council area.}}

Silver Ears led Jesse from the den to outside the council area. {{You must wait until I come for you.}} Jesse sat while Silver Ears walk into the council area.

{{Elders, I've brought the human as I was asked. She waits outside the area until I get her. Do you have any questions of me before I bring her before you?}}

One of the elders spoke, {{You say you brought the human that we sent you after, but I remember that we sent you after a male. You say you brought a female to stand before us. How can this be?}}

{{I went and called to the male as you instructed. His Grandfather had asked him to come into the mountains to seek Coyote. I escorted the male to a lake a days run from here. Then I came and told you that the male must seek Coyote before coming before you. While he was seeking Coyote, Coyote changed the male to a female. It was a request by his Grandmother before she died. Now the male is female. This is all I know.}}

{{Very well. Bring the human before us.}}

Silver ears turned and walked out of the council area. He walked back to where he left Jesse sitting. {{Please follow me}}

Jesse followed Silver Ears into the council area. She noticed that there were five males varying widely in age. They sat in a semi-circle. The oldest sat in the middle. Silver Ears led her to the five wolves and asked her to stand before them. Night Runner spoke first, {{Human you have requested membership to our pack. By what right do you seek such membership?}}

{{Respectfully, my fathers and mothers before me have been members of this pack. My father and his father before him did not run with you. I have chosen to follow the invitation of this pack and the instructions of Coyote to request membership.}}

The second elder responded, {{We sent the invitation to a male child of the Hartman pack, but you stand before us as a female.}}

{{I was changed by Coyote from a male to a female. The Great Spirit has decided that I should stay as a female.}}

{{You say that Coyote changed you. Do you have any proof?}}

{{I only have my word as a wolf and Silver Ears as a witness even though he did not see Coyote or the transformation.}}

The third elder then asked, {{What are your intentions in joining our pack? Are you going to remain among us and take a mate?}}

{{Coyote told me not to take a mate from among the members of this pack. I am sure that any of the eligible males would make suitable mates, but my mate is not on this mountain. My intentions are to learn as much of the ways of the wolf as I can in the few days that I have before I turn back into a human.}}

{{What will you do with this knowledge?}}

{{I will use the knowledge to help protect the pack and help the pack to prosper.}}

The fourth elder asked, {{How can a mere girl who is not much more than a pup protect the pack? We have lived on this mountain for many generations.}}

{{When my Grandfather died he left the ranch to me instead of my father. My father is fighting me to get the ranch from me. If he does, he will lead hunting parties into the mountain to kill the wolves that kill the cattle. My Grandfather did not care if you took a stray cow to feed your young. The spirits of our families run together. I will not stop you from taking what you need to feed your families as they are my families. But I must be a human to protect the pack.}}

{{I do not understand what you mean by left the ranch to you. Humans believe they own everything.}}

{{You are right. Humans do believe they own everything, but my Grandfather believed that this part of the ranch should remain wild. He believed that the animals and spirits own this land. But that is not the ways of the human elders. To protect this land from other humans, my Grandfather claimed ownership before the human elders. Humans were and are not to come on this land to hunt or live without my Grandfather’s and now my permission. If my father gets ownership of the ranch, he'll bring other humans into your home to hunt and kill the animals. He'll bring other humans that will kill you and your pups for killing the cattle and game animals. If I am to protect this land and the pack, I must learn the ways of the wolf. And to learn the ways of the wolf, I must become a member of the pack so that you may teach me.}}

Finally the eldest spoke, {{You've all heard the passion of the white wolf named Jesse in the human tongue. She will be a welcome member into our pack. Are there any that doubt her? Is there any that would deny her membership?}} The eldest looked from one elder to the next. None spoke against Jesse. The eldest looked back to Jesse. {{You're now a member of our pack. Silver Ears and his family will teach you the ways of the wolf. Though I doubt you have much to learn after standing before the council. Other members of the pack will help in your education. In the pack, you shall have the name of Far Wanderer as I believe your travels will take you far from us at times. This meeting of the council is over.}}

As the council members were leaving, the eldest asked Silver Ears and Far Wanderer to stay behind. {{Silver Ears you know my age. I still have the strength to hunt, but my mate was killed last season as we were hunting an elk. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wanted to show she could still take down the big game. She killed the elk but she was badly hurt in the effort. It is my time to step down from the council. I am going to put your name up as my replacement. There may be some who may challenge you for my position.}}

{{Strong Heart, you do me a great honor in selecting me. Are you sure I am the one?}}

{{Silver Ears your spirit is strong. You'd not have been able to speak to the human and bring her to us if it weren't. You're ready. You've shown that through your family, and how well you provide and protect them. It's the same for the pack just a few more to care for.}} After a short pause Strong Heart asked, {{How's your smallest daughter?}}

{{Jesse, Far wanderer has a healing power given to her by the Great Spirit. She has helped, but I do not think it will be enough. I'm afraid she may not survive another season. She is so small compared to her brothers and sisters. The only reason she has made it this far is her will to live. Far Wanderer was having bad dreams last night. The little one went to sleep with her. She is so brave.}}

The eldest then turned his attention to Jesse, {{Far Wanderer, do you know what is causing Silver Ears daughter to be so small?}}

{{I have looked as best as I can. There may be something wrong with her heart. It is not moving enough blood through her small body. I can take her down off the mountain to a healer who has great knowledge about animals. Maybe, he will be able to help.}}

{{What do you think Silver Ears? Would Black Paws let her daughter leave with Far Wanderer?}}

{{Black Paws is very fond of the little one. If there's is away the little one can have a happy life, I think she'd jump at the chance.}}

{{Far Wanderer are you sure this healer can help the little one? Then you must talk to Black Paws.}}

{{I will.}

{{I have waited many seasons for a member of your pack to come run with us again. My days are few. And now that you are here I may leave this world to join Coyote. The spirit in you is strong, Far Wanderer. I look forward to you accompanying me to meet Coyote.}}

{{Thank you. You're most kind. It'll be my honor to escort you to Coyote.}}