The Howling Rite

Stunned

***KORA***

There's not much to say about Nephi, Utah. That was exactly the point, I imagine. As far as mountains go, Nephi has a pretty small one. It's a fine place to settle though. Parts of it are flat and clear, perfect for watching sunsets with the clan. Dense forests creep up the sides- perfect, I would think, for night hunting as a pack. Civilization is far enough away for optimum privacy but still close enough to watch over. Close enough to melt in with normal human life. You can stand on a low platform in the mountain and see all of Nephi from end to end, and still be hidden inside the camp.

Stepping into a Runner camp is like stepping back in time. Of course, they're normal around the Vollmenschen; the full humans. But special events and holidays, births and deaths are all celebrated in full gypsy mode. Tents in the woods, flowing skirts, jingling coin scarves, campfires; everything is decorated and celebrated to its fullest extent. May 1st, in the year 2000 brought the biggest celebration the runners had ever seen. I should know, I was there.

Mount Nebo was alive with anticipation from the pack; my adopted family. A camp was built in a crevice on the mountain side the night before with two massive tents at the head. Each one was decorated in dark green and copper colors, the colors of our crest. They were erected in my sister-in-law's and my honor. Silk scarves and banners hung from the poles. Handmade quilts lined the tent walls protecting us from the last of a harsh winter. Leather straps strung with copper coins jingled in the night breeze and dream catchers and talismans of good fortune hung everywhere.

Via Bach, the pack Elder, stood between our two tents. She was majestic and regal as ever. Her long silver hair was braided and tied up in a silk scarf. Her shoulders were draped in furs and the weight of it looked like it should have knocked the tiny woman over. She was accepting gifts on our behalf. Wooden figurines and stone carvings were made with love for the coming babies. Every so often, Via would turn and disappear into each of our tents.

"There now," She would say to us. "This pain will not be forever." Her voice was strong and gentle and did the impossible job of calming us soon to be mothers.

She would break the tension by saying, "You are lucky. At least you are expecting only one. I had to do this twice in one night!" This would earn a tired and raspy laugh as we labored.

Outside bonfires were being lit. Men passed around strips of dried venison and women handed out cups of blackberry and peach wine. I could smell them from my own tent. The smell did nothing for my twisting stomach and I held tighter to my husband's hand as I forced in a ragged breath. The older kids practiced shifting and hunting and brought fat rabbits to offer the Elders. The new wolves, kids on the cusp of adulthood, tracked a stag in the dense forest far from the celebration. They worked as a group, honing their skills. I could hear the snapping of twigs as they leapt for their kill. They offered it to the Alpha and his twin hoping to impress them and gain favor.

The young children didn't understand what was so special about this night but they knew it was important. Every few minutes one of them was sent to present Via with a small gift. Via then entered one of the two tents and presented the gift to calm either my sister or

myself.

Throughout the evening large pots and cast iron cauldrons of water were boiled over the fires. The older women prepared fresh towels and blankets as the men bickered and gamboled over the s*x and weight of the coming babies. The whole thing did a number on my fraying nerves. Everything was so busy. Yet I was lying on a bear skin rug, grasping for breaths through the pain until my head buzzed. It may have been a primitive practice, but it's our tradition. Besides, being that we are half wild, it really is the safest solution for us as a pack. We can't have women in the delivery room of a hospital shifting into wolves, mid-push. What would the Vollmenschen say? Not that it was an issue for Inga or myself, being that we are two of the few Neverwolves in the pack.

Neverwolf- never shifting, but still part wild.

As night fell, the screaming started in earnest. I vaguely noticed a hush fall over the camp, and I thought finally, I can focus! I wondered if the partying outside bothered my sister in the other tent as well. Our combined screaming continued in spurts for hours. Every pair of eyes were trained on the tents, or so Henry told me. Via had been going back and forth between us. Each time she emerged from a tent there was a collective holding of breath until Via shook her head. The babies weren't here yet. I knew this was happening because I'd attended a birthing before. Only, then I'd been at the party on the outside.

One of the Tanzer women and her very young daughter were tending to me. The older woman gave me some kind of bitter drink for the pain, and the sweet little child, Ferra, held a cool cloth to my head. It was the only relief I felt.

Finally, just before midnight, the screaming stopped for good. Via, who'd been aiding Inga's delivery emerged from the other tent. She peaked in to check on my progress as a new kind of screaming was heard. Via went back to her post between the tents. The fire illuminated her soft features as they revealed a wide smile. I could see her shadow faintly cast by the firelight from inside the tent as she threw both hands into the air. A mad rush of applause and cheering echoed from the crowd. Two healthy, strong babies had been safely delivered.

A tall man with broad shoulders and strong features emerged from Inga's tent on the right. He held a small bundle to his chest and a small hand was clutching at the red hairs in the man's beard. Boris Bach was the Alpha's twin brother, identical to the last birthmark. He smiled ear to ear as he handed his first born son to his mother. In our family, the Elder names the newborns. Via held the wiggling baby up and looked over his features. She turned the boy to face the clan.

She announced to the crowd, "I present to the Bachlaufer and our patron god, Fenrir, Alecxander Bach! Welcome, first son of Boris and Inga Bach!"

I smiled as a second wave of cheers and applause erupted as Via took the baby Alecxander to the waiting arms of his mother inside the warm tent next to ours. As tired as I was, I was very pleased for Inga. I knew she'd wanted a boy. Boris, blushing with pride I assume, stood to the side of our tent's entrance. He anxiously waited to congratulate the arrival of his brother's first born.

Henry Bach, Alpha and my husband, grinning like a fool, exited the tent with our own bundle of joy. He gave his brother a small peek at the bundle. Boris's eyes went wide, I'm sure, and behind his surprise, his mind must have been churning. Via came and took the baby. As she looked into the opening eyes of the future Alpha, she couldn't help but laugh. She turned the baby to the anxious runners and held it up proudly.

"I present to the Bachlaufer and to our patron god, Fenrir, Lena Bach! The first born child to Alpha Henry Bach and his mate, Kora. And the first daughter of the entire Bach line!" It was then that I laughed too. A daughter. Well how do you like that? She'd be a legend.

There was a brief moment of stunned silence before the entire mountainside exploded with cheering and howling from every one of the Bachlaufer. The Bach brothers shook hands and hugged tightly before returning to their babies and us; their tired mates.

The following week was a very busy one for the new parents. We followed a new schedule that I'm sure, most new parents do. The new mothers were exhausted from fussing over the newborns. Mother and baby would fall asleep and the fathers would fuss over us. We woke three hours later to feed the babies as the fathers slept. Three hours later the fathers woke and fussed over the babies, and so on.

Via and her husband Berthold would visit now and then. The two Elders brought food for the busy and tired parents and would insist on watching the little ones for a few hours. We would always take the opportunity for a break. In these precious moments, we could be together as husband and wife.