Black Ice-Completed

Time turned into weeks, which turned into years and every winter Braytek would come and teach her the ways of the wolf. It didn’t take Nyota long, once she put her mind to it, to be able to track anything regardless whether she knew it was there or not.

As spring came, Braytek would leave, promising Nyota that he would be back in the winter. He was always in his wolf but it didn’t matter to Nyota, she would always hug him goodbye before she returned to the cabin to start her Aunt Veronica’s studies.

Arithmetic, language studies, diplomacy, hierarchy in history, and lessons on etiquette were some of the main lessons that were learned. Nyota wasn’t sure why she had to take these sorts of lessons or even how Aunt Veronica was able to get ahold of the books that held these lessons, but she studied diligently.

Afterwards, Nyota was able to wander around to discover more of the areas of the forest she lived in. In one such area she stumbled upon was a hut. It was so thick with brush and vines that a person would simply think it was part of the forest.

Walking cautiously around the hut she smelled Patou even though it was faint. Was this where he stayed during the winter? Nyota knew he didn’t stay with her and Veronica and the question of it never came about.

Doing as she was taught, Nyota looked at the ground to see if any activity had been in the area. She could see signs of deer passing by, a fox had dragged a rabbit this way but nothing was apparent. Going around to the other side, she climbed into the thicket and came upon a door.

She wondered what was inside and without a thought began to struggle in opening the door. When it opened, it would swing out so with all the vines around it, it was more hassle then what Nyota had thought, “Gods Patou,” she growled, “Why’d you have to make it so hard to get in?”

Finally the door had enough space for her to fit into, and she squeezed through the small opening. While she caught her breath inside the door, Nyota decided that she was going to run home to build up her stamina. This huffing and puffing was for the weak! She thought as she looked around the small hut.

Nyota wasn’t surprised at the simple furnishings, a bed, desk, and chair was all that was housed in the small room. For whatever reason, she gravitated over to the chair by the desk. On its back was a sword with intricate designs. The pommel was in the shape of a wolf’s head and as she touched it, she felt many howls reverberate back to her. One howl was louder than the others and she was curious if that was Patou’s howl.

Moving to the desk she fingered the parchment that lay strewn about. Looking through it, she frowned as she realized that the writing wasn’t Azgeta, the language of the North, or Iriskit, the language of the Desert people.As she used her finger to trace the writing, she felt power sizzle under her skin.

Startled, she drew back and moved away. The only other thing that could be seen on the desk was a medium sized box. Being careful, Nyota slowly opened it to find the loveliest red fur she had ever seen. She gently brushed her hand against the fur and sighed. This was the skin of a red wolf, which had been extinct long before the curse of the Black Ice nation.

Closing the lid to the box, Nyota looked around once more before leaving the hut and running home.

She visited that little hut every few days, wanting to decipher the language on the parchment or just tracing the designs of the sword and holster. She never opened the box containing the fur. It was too much of a temptation to claim it for her own. Deep down Nyota felt that the fur was hers, it was meant to be hers.

That summer went far slower than any other year. She was glad when the leaves began to change for she welcomed the coolness that followed. It was a balm on her soul and she knew she wouldn’t get sick so easily.

It was in the middle of the night after the first snowfall that Braytek had come through the door. Nyota had smiled in joy and started to rush towards him. She pulled up short though when his eyes had cut across her in anger.

“Patou?” she asked softly, wondering what she had done to make him angry already.

Leaping across the distance, he grabbed ahold of Nyota and roughly shook her as he growled, “You went into the hut! Why did you go into the hut?”

Nyota felt her teeth rattle as he continued to shake her and felt the bite of his fingers on her arm. The wolf in her skittered to the surface as fear seized her and before either of them could comprehend what happened, Nyota had lunged forward, snapping her teeth against Braytek’s arm and drawing blood.

Braytek cried out and instantly let go, glaring at his daughter as she jumped back and glared right back at him, her green eyes glowing in the dim lighting.

Veronica, who had been outside gathering fire wood, rushed back inside. Confusion made her frown as she looked between Braytek and Nyota, “What’s going on?” She squeaked though when she noticed the bite mark on Brayteks arm, which was bleeding profusely, “Hold on one moment while I go get the medic kit, and don’t move!”

As Veronica bustled around, Nyota and Braytek continued to glare at one another, neither saying a word or so much as move. It was an old challenge that young wolves would do as they grow up. Sometimes the challenges would turn into fights other times the young would look away. It let them know how far they could go with their elders.

Veronica came back and gently pressed a rag that was soaked with medicine against Braytek’s arm. It instantly make him flinch causing him lose eye contact with his daughter.

Nyota felt her wolf’s satisfaction before it disappeared and she too felt satisfied that she had won that challenge. Maybe Patou wouldn’t be such an ass now.

“Now what’s going on Braytek? Why are you so angry?” Veronica asked as she bandaged up his arm.

Braytek looked back at Nyota, anger still evident on his face, but deep down he was really proud of his daughter for getting herself out of his hands. If there had been any doubt that Nyota was a wolf it was now settled as he watched her glowing eyes fade back to her usual emerald.

Instead of answering Veronica he growled low at his daughter, “Why did you go into the hut, Nyota?”

Nyota’s eyes narrowed and her face hardened into a mask of anger, with a growl she spat out, “Because it’s in my territory and I was curious!”

“What if it had been a hunters cabin or a slave traders hut, you could have been-“ Braytek started to growl but Nyota’s rumble caused him to pause, “I am your Alpha and father, how dare you-“

“I dare because I can. Yes, you are my father and teacher but you are no Alpha of mine. I am not a part of any pack and I went in knowing it was your place. Your scent is all over. Quit treating me like I am stupid!” Nyota snarled as her eyes began to glow once again from rage.

Had Nyota been on pack land, Braytek would have disciplined her the wolf way. But he knew she was right and it aggravated him, “You are to never go there again!”

Emerald clashed with blue once again and Nyota bit her lip to keep from growling, instead she quietly began, “Why can’t I-“

“Please Nyota, just do this one thing for me!” Braytek yelled, rushing forward to shake his daughter once again.

Nyota lunged forward and nipped at his hands as they came much to close and Braytek paused, heaving in air to try to calm his panic.

His daughter was angry at his abuse, she was in defensive mode as she watched him. He could see her eyes calculating his every move. Sighing, he rubbed his eyes and blinked as blood was swiped across his face. His hands were bleeding where Nyota had bitten him.

“Please Nyota,” he said, trying to get the need across to his daughter.

“Why?” she spat, trying and not succeeding in calming her anger.

Braytek sighed again, why did Nyota have to be exactly like him? Why couldn’t she have been more like Analise and accept what he said? “Because in case I am followed, I don’t want your scent in the area so they won’t be able to find you.”

Nyota accepted what he said and promised to not go back to the clearing, now knowing why he didn’t want her near it.

It was a rough winter that year. Not so much due to the weather but more of the fact that Nyota was still angry at Braytek, who tried to be patient, knowing he had lost some respect from his daughter. He didn’t think that it would cause so much trouble but he was wrong. It hurt immensely because at every turn Nyota was challenging him much like his sons back in Azgeta.

He didn’t stay the full winter, instead he left with nothing said. Bryatek wasn’t one to apologize and Nyota’s anger towards him increased. Instead of staying with Veronica the rest of the winter and constantly getting lectured about driving Braytek away, Nyota stayed out in the woods, making camp well away from home.

Nyota would come every few weeks, to check on her aunt, or to drop off rabbits or deer meat so that her aunt would stay full. But afterwards, Nyota would retreat back into the woods where she felt at peace. She stubbornly refused to believe that the only reason she was surviving out in the woods was because of Braytek and his teachings.

After several months, Nyota thought about returning to her Aunt’s house in spring, but instead stayed at camp through spring, summer, and fall. She felt like herself, where she didn’t have anyone’s expectations weighing her down. She had peace and that was where she was going to stay.