Promise Of The Wolves by Dorothy Hearst Page A

you.
    Raven always wins.
    Exasperated, I sat on the ground and glared at the bird as he regarded me. He blinked several times, and opened his beak again as if to speak. I was as surprised as he was when Minn almost caught him from behind. Feathers ruffled, Tlitoo retreated to the protection of the larger ravens. But he kept watching me with an intense and very unnerving stare.
    At some signal I did not see, wolves and ravens ceased their play. The largest, glossiest raven settled beside Ruuqo on the boulder that Borlla and Unnan had earlier claimed.
    “So, Sleekwing,” Ruuqo said, speaking to the raven as an equal, “what have you seen of prey in the valley? The Great Plain is empty of elk.”
    “The prey still leaves the valley, but there is some good hunting. The elkryn remain.” It seemed the ravens could speak normally when they wished. Sleekwing was an elegant bird, standing tall and proud. The other ravens were silent as he spoke. Now that everyone had stopped flying around, I could see that there were only seven ravens, not twelve as I had thought before, and that most of them were almost as small as Tlitoo.
    Sleekwing continued. “Stone Peak wolves and humans are taking whatever they can, but there is prey left for clever wolves. The horses are still plenty. The elkryn feisty.”
    “Just what we need,” Minn said. “Feisty elkryn.”
    “Ah,” said Sleekwing. “Last year’s pup.” More sober than Rainsong, he was still not above teasing Minn. “Feisty prey makes you work harder, keeps you from getting fat and slow.” He eyed Minn slyly. “The aurochs are tasty. A long-fang killed one for us just last week and it was splendid. Do you want to catch one, Minn-ling?”
    Trevegg had told us of aurochs. He said that one of them could feed a pack for weeks, but that they are large and dangerous. One of their males could be the weight of twenty wolves.
    Minn’s pride was wounded.
    “I can hunt aurochs!” He appealed to Ruuqo. “Why don’t we hunt aurochs? That would show the Stone Peaks who runs the valley.”
    “We do not hunt aurochs when we can find other prey,” Ruuqo said patiently. “Let the Greatwolves have them and the broken ribs that go with them. It’s bad enough we must hunt the elkryn.” He looked at the raven. “Leave him be, Sleekwing.”
    “What’s the fun in that?” Sleekwing looked as petulant as a scolded pup. “Since when are wolves so serious? ‘Mustn’t hurt the littlewolf’s feelings or he won’t hunt well. O poor little wolf.’” He cawed as Minn leapt to grab him.
    Slow wolf, dawdle wolf.
    Won’t ever catch the auroch.
    Poor hungry wolfling.
    “Sleekwing,” Ruuqo said warningly.
    Minn-ling scared to hunt.
    Wants to eat raven instead.
    Sad. Raven too smart.
    Ruuqo growled, and not entirely in play. He leapt at Sleekwing, who retreated to the fallen tree. Rainsong flew to his side.
    “You lack a sense of humor, Ruuqo,” Sleekwing said, preening his ruffled feathers.
    “No wonder you look like an oldwolf before your time,” Rainsong added. “No offense to you, handsome Trevegg.” She blinked her eyes at old Trevegg, who grinned at her.
    “Maybe pretty Rissa will find another mate,” Sleekwing said, raising his wings as if to fly at Ruuqo.
    “I said enough, Sleekwing,” Ruuqo snapped. “Now, unless you want to live on bugs and berries this season, tell me where the prey runs.”
    Sleekwing shook himself and settled back with an injured sigh. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the small raven, Tlitoo, creeping up to stand just beside Sleekwing. The leader bird must have seen him, but did not chase him away.
    “The humans and Stone Peaks drive prey from the Great Plain.” I was surprised to hear him suddenly so serious. Ázzuen pushed in beside me to better hear what the raven said. “Neither Stone Peak pack nor humans will share with us. And something is wrong.” He glared at Ruuqo as he started to interrupt him. “ More wrong, wolf, and no, I do not