Feel The Thunder

In an instant everything changed as his eyes fixed beyond the gathering wolves, and into the distance where a lone streak of white was quickly closing in. His heart leapt, his eyes widening with joy, any doubts he may have had were gone in an instant at his brother bolted toward them and took his place beside him, where he always belonged.

He looked forward at the wolves who had answered his call, his expression filled with certainty. “Fellow wolves...” He greeted, his voice booming over the roar of the wind filed with confidence. “For uncounted generations the leadership of packs has followed the bloodlines of its founders, regardless of whether or not future leaders were capable, or even willing. For uncounted generations the word of an alpha has been absolute, disregarding the will of its followers or the wisdom of those with more experience.”

He paused momentarily, looking each of them in the eye then continued, addressing them all at once: “I come to you all a bastard, born of rape from  a pack that was no different from the countless that came before it. Yet all my life I wanted to lead…” He took a deep breath, trying to keep himself from getting too overwhelmed and then continued. “I worked and I strived, every day, learning whatever I could, hoping that someday my hard work would be recognized. The leadership of my birthpack fell into the hands of a stranger, a friend of the former alpha, and I hoped my dream would come true… But when I turned a year old, that stranger told me I would never lead, the daughter of the former leader was to inherit the pack, not because she was capable, not because she was wise, but because it was her birthright.”

He paused again and swallowed hard, his head dropping slightly for dramatic effect and pent up rage as the resentment he felt for Vali grew. “I was to be given the role of messenger boy, and that would be the role I would live and die in.” It was a lie of course, but no one else had heard Vali’s conversation with him in that temperate summer. No one else could say otherwise.

He sucked in a breath and raised his head again, his eyes firm. “I have called for the strong, not because I wish to use you for my own gain, or because I am weak and wish to have others fight for me, but because the strong, the truly strong, don’t deserve to be ruled by leaders who will never recognize their potential or their abilities, like I was.” He lashed his tail proudly sending a spray of water out from his fur. “And yes, I am young and have little experience, which is why as my first act as your Sergeant Major is to ask that you go among yourselves, and select three of your own whom you believe should guide your leader, advise him, and counsel him on the matters he is far too young to understand.”   He awaited their response, what if they refused? What if the changes he had founded his pack on were unwelcome? What if all of them including Cloud and Aranea and his mother shook their heads and left. And worse yet, what if those three left too.