Down in the valley, the Pack was gathering already, the moon already being near its zenith. My body tensed, my hair standing on end. My opponent was here. I could still remember.

~~~~

My prey was down, dead. Another kill, another point in my favor. The Pack would eat well tonight. I let out a long howl and I heard the answering howl. The Pack was coming, coming to eat the prey, this large moose that I had managed to take down by myself. I might have been old, but I was still the strongest. One day, I might go on my last hunt and not return, but this was not that time.

The snow swirled as the Pack, my Pack, came out of the lightly scattered trees, appearing as if by magic to surround my prey and me. I was alone, with no cubs to feed, so I took only a leg. None of the Pack could deny me that. I had made the kill, so I got first pick. Being the leader also helped.

However, one did deny me that. He was one of the younger wolves, but he had been trying to become the leader subtly, like a coward. Now he came over to me and tried to take what was rightfully mine. It wasn’t the fact that it was the best part of the kill. It was the fact that I had chosen it. He was determined to take everything that was mine. He knew he couldn’t beat me in the real challenge, so he tried to go about it like a thief.

~~~~

That time, I had tried to issue the challenge, but he had not accepted it, the coward.

I looked up. Damn, the moon took forever to move. This was how it was and how it had always been. The two wolves who would fight over leadership were to wait on the ledges on the mountains. There was another ledge, over on the mountain directly opposite of me. The snow had stopped a long time ago. There was now only a slick layer of ice on the side of the mountain and the soft, billowy carpet of snow in the valley below. It was part of the challenge. You had to make it down the face of the mountain alive or else why should you be the leader? I didn’t count on my opponent dying on the face. He was stronger than that. I had to give him that much.

~~~~

I watched as he and a few other young wolves played on the ice-covered lake. The layer of ice was thin, but those wolves were light, still too young to have put much meat on their bones. It was a pleasure to watch them slide around. I wished I had been younger, for I would have been doing the same. I watched unseen as they ran toward the river that took water from the lake. He jumped onto a block of ice that had broken off and was rushing toward the waterfall that was only yards off. He knew this and jumped off, into the river that flowed always, even in coldest winter. I watched, and he swam with all of his strength to the shore. I watched and I knew that he was strong when he pulled himself onto the shore and still stood. I watched.

~~~~

I had watched. I knew he was strong. I knew one day he would challenge me. It was bound to happen. He liked to be in control of things. Most do, of course, but it was worse for him. He drank in that control. He wanted power. I could feel it. I couldn’t let him take over the Pack. He would surely bring it to doom. He was strong, but he was still young and did not have the experience I did. He was still young, and did not like to take responsibility for his actions.

I, too, had been just like him, now that I thought about it. Just like him. I would dodge my responsibilities, always finding someplace to play. I had gotten a lesson in manners the hard way. I, too, had issued a challenge.

~~~~

I was only 3 years, still young for a wolf. I watched the leader of the Pack as he made kills. I knew that that was what I wanted. He had gotten everything, first of this or first of that. His word was Law. I wanted that. I issued a challenge to him. We had made our way down at the zenith of the moon. All it took was a swift nip at my legs and I was down with my throat in his massive jaw. But he did not bite down. I looked into his eyes and saw not only the power I had already known was there, but a great burden as well. He let me up… let me live. From that day on, I learned from him. He taught me everything.

~~~~

I remembered. I was just like my opponent. And I had learned the most important thing: with great power comes great responsibility.

The moon came closer, ever closer, to the point of zenith. I forced my body to relax. Always remain calm and relaxed. Never show fear. That was what the old leader had taught me. Never show fatigue. Never show or do anything that will give your opponent an edge over you.

The howling began, that haunting sound that signified the beginning of the battle. I looked at the mountain face and chose my spot. I leapt and slid down the mountain, all memories pushed out of my mind now that the battle had begun.

Trees came up, rushing at me, threatening to hit me, threatening to crush my body and break every bone in my body. I slid past rocks, sharp, jutting rocks, past bushes and thorns and death. Even death was behind me. I was too quick for it. I had chosen the good path.

Soft snow. I was at the bottom. I ran toward my opponent, the only things running through my mind the things that my teacher had taught me about this moment. I was calm. I was focused. He came rushing at me, panting and angry. I had forced the challenge and he was going to get back at me for that. I could see it in his eyes. His teeth were bared, ready for the kill already.

Some strange part of me wanted to laugh at that. Was he really so cocky? I waited until the last possible moment, and then simply stepped aside. He was going too fast and went slightly past me. I quickly went for the back paws. He tried to twist around to avoid my teeth and fell on his back. I was at his throat before he knew what had happened.

I saw the fear in his eyes. I backed off. Turning around, I started a long howl, but it was cut off abruptly. Mistake! He attacked my unprotected back, his teeth ripping into flesh, tearing me down. His jaws closed on the back of my neck and he tossed me aside. His claws raked through my fur. The snow was stained red… red with my blood. I went down.

He stared at me, waiting for me to get up. And I did.

It was hard for me, but I adopted a fierce look on my face. I could not let the Pack see me weak. I stood, and it took all my strength. But none of the Pack knew, because I would not let them see.

I crouched, ever so slightly, my own teeth bared. I lunged at him and he fell back. Now he knew real fear. Now he knew that I would not let him live. I came at him from underneath him. He, who was too inexperienced, never saw it coming. My teeth were at his throat before he could do so much as yelp, and then he was down, his own blood mingling with mine on the once pure white snow.

I stood over him and then began a long mournful howl. The Pack joined with me and we stayed there for the night. Then two female wolves came over and began to lick my wounds. Their tongues helped ease the pain of my flesh, but nothing could ever heal my heart. Soon, I would choose a wolf to teach and then, when I was sure he was ready… then I too would join the Pack in heaven.

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