Week One: Birds of a Feather
Call of the Wild
Tonight the Wolf Moon will rise above the plains. The pull on my litter mates and me will be undeniable. It will also be deeply spiritual. This year will change everything. As a new adult, tonight I will be allowed to choose between a life with my pack or a life in the human world. A world that I want to join so badly I can taste the pollution of the city in my mouth and feel the thrum of human life all around me.
“Kiowa,” calls one of my brothers, “what’re you going to choose?”
It’s Niwot, twin of my birth. It’s not uncommon for our kind to have two and three sets of twins in one litter (ours has two sets and a single). It’s more uncommon to have twins of opposite sex like Niwot and me. Male twins are the rarest of all. Our family hasn’t seen any for at least nine generations. Sets usually include twin girls and a single male. We’re not sure why and there aren’t any were-scientists out there to ask.
I wink at him. “We’re not supposed to say it out loud until tonight.”
“We always tell each other everything.” He actually looks anxious and it breaks my heart.
This year marks not only our sixteenth, but we’ll be the last litter to howl at the Wolf Moon for another decade. The nearest pack with ankle-biters is two state-lines away. Life for werewolves in the 21st century hasn’t been easy. We’ve had to assimilate. Our parents have gotten tele-commuting jobs, we’re home-schooled, and the delight of what we are is deeply hidden in rural areas. I don’t want to have to hide any more, but I also can’t imagine having my pack - my family - stripped away from me the moment I choose to become a human.
I pat Niwot’s arm. He lowers his eyes and scuffs his shoe on the wood floor. I know his pose as though I’m looking in the mirror. Instead of saying anything, we stand close to each other; me trying to comfort him with my presence and him trying to escape the distinct possibility I might not be here tomorrow, but a hundred miles away on the streets of Denver.
Peoria and Yuma burst through the cabin’s front door. Their faces are flushed and strands of their long dark hair are pasted to their necks. Trouble, it always follows my sisters, will be close on their heels. Female twins seem to be more inquisitive and reckless, while male/female twins balance each other out. Niwot calms me down while I keep him thirsting for adventure. Our other brother, Ouray, always feels left out of everything. I hope one day Ouray becomes a were-scientist and builds a school so he won’t be so alone. He spends enough time studying, sharing little, and becoming the smartest of us.
Yuma keeps giggling while Peoria’s looking at me with a big stupid grin plastered on her face. She’s gesturing for me to come closer. To leave Niwot. Sooner or later I’ll have to leave him for good. Why does it have to hurt this much to increase the distance between us right now when I know it’s only temporary? As if he can read my thoughts, Niwot gives me a half-hearted grin and turns to go.
“Someone’s got a really good secret for you. I’ll be upstairs reading.”
He retreats up the stairs. If there were an actual string connected between both of our hearts, I would’ve felt a sharp pain the moment he reached the top. Even if I didn’t wish so badly to join the human world, in a couple years Niwot and I would go our separate ways. Our future mates will keep us busy with families of our own. We must grow up someday. Only someday is tonight and difficult choices must be made by both of us.
With a heavy sigh, I turn back to my sisters. My calculating, trouble-making, beautiful sisters.
“Don’t be mad, Wa-wa.” Yuma uses my baby name. She couldn’t say my first name until we were all nearly five. Peoria picks up the thread of conversation from her twin, “Daddy says that Taos and Wabash are coming tonight!”
Noises that sound like squeals follow this news. Taos and Wabash are five and six years older. They live near the border in Kansas. Neither of them have mates yet.
“I wonder how many other First Moon Ceremonies they’re not going to attend to be here with us,” I say. Secretly I wonder if they know the kind of madness they’re getting themselves into when they begin to court my sisters.
Yuma slips her hand into Peoria’s. Their eyes are bright with anticipation. This exact moment is something I want to carry with me always, but I know when I make my choice all memories will be ripped from me. My ability to walk as a wolf will also be taken. The pack will leave me in heavy winter clothing, with some money, but no ID at the nearest hospital. Everyone will fade back into the safety of the night and anonymity. Thankfully for me, there will be no painful memories of family. Of Niwot. Unfortunately for them, they will always have a Kiowa-sized hole in their lives. It must be this way.
“Actually, we think that Taos is here to court you,” says Peoria. Yuma nods, the grin never leaving her face. She adds, “Peoria has the hots for Wabash, which is too bad because Wabash and Wa-Wa go together.”
They both lean against each other laughing, so easily amused. I can’t help but return a small smile. Wabash is strong and gorgeous. He would make a good mate if I were staying, which I’m not. He’ll make a better match for Yuma. I say as much out loud, omitting any hint that this our last shared conversation.
Yuma’s mouth turns down a little. She releases Peoria’s hand and walks toward me. “We really don’t think he’ll pick me when he sees how sexy you’ve become these past few years.”
This makes me laugh. If anything I’m probably more lanky and definitely more dirty than the last time Wabash visited with his pack. I’d rather spend my time with Niwot out in the woods than in the basement learning math, history, or English. I’m about to tell them as much when Dad walks in.
“Hello, my favorite daughters,” he says, smiling wide. His chest pushes out with pride. Pride that he’s raised a litter of pups into strong adults ready to take their rightful places as full weres. “Get your brothers and go down to the clearing. The First Moon Ceremony begins at dusk.”
When we get to the clearing, I can see many faces I know including Wabash and Taos. Even Nokomis has joined us. She’s so old that we’re her great-great-great-grandchildren. And there’s something about her that catches the breath in my mouth. It’s not longevity that’s kept her alive; it’s love. Her family thrives because love courses through it.
The ceremony begins and we’re asked one by one which life we wish to live: human or wolf. Ouray, Yuma, then Peoria each choose to stay with the pack. Niwot’s before me.
“Father, I wish to choose the same as Kiowa.” A gasp. This has never happened before.
“Kiowa, how do you choose?”
My heart catches. I look at Nokomis one more time and make my final decision.
Tonight the Wolf Moon will rise above the plains. The pull on my litter mates and me will be undeniable. It will also be deeply spiritual. This year will change everything. As a new adult, tonight I will be allowed to choose between a life with my pack or a life in the human world. A world that I want to join so badly I can taste the pollution of the city in my mouth and feel the thrum of human life all around me.
“Kiowa,” calls one of my brothers, “what’re you going to choose?”
It’s Niwot, twin of my birth. It’s not uncommon for our kind to have two and three sets of twins in one litter (ours has two sets and a single). It’s more uncommon to have twins of opposite sex like Niwot and me. Male twins are the rarest of all. Our family hasn’t seen any for at least nine generations. Sets usually include twin girls and a single male. We’re not sure why and there aren’t any were-scientists out there to ask.
I wink at him. “We’re not supposed to say it out loud until tonight.”
“We always tell each other everything.” He actually looks anxious and it breaks my heart.
This year marks not only our sixteenth, but we’ll be the last litter to howl at the Wolf Moon for another decade. The nearest pack with ankle-biters is two state-lines away. Life for werewolves in the 21st century hasn’t been easy. We’ve had to assimilate. Our parents have gotten tele-commuting jobs, we’re home-schooled, and the delight of what we are is deeply hidden in rural areas. I don’t want to have to hide any more, but I also can’t imagine having my pack - my family - stripped away from me the moment I choose to become a human.
I pat Niwot’s arm. He lowers his eyes and scuffs his shoe on the wood floor. I know his pose as though I’m looking in the mirror. Instead of saying anything, we stand close to each other; me trying to comfort him with my presence and him trying to escape the distinct possibility I might not be here tomorrow, but a hundred miles away on the streets of Denver.
Peoria and Yuma burst through the cabin’s front door. Their faces are flushed and strands of their long dark hair are pasted to their necks. Trouble, it always follows my sisters, will be close on their heels. Female twins seem to be more inquisitive and reckless, while male/female twins balance each other out. Niwot calms me down while I keep him thirsting for adventure. Our other brother, Ouray, always feels left out of everything. I hope one day Ouray becomes a were-scientist and builds a school so he won’t be so alone. He spends enough time studying, sharing little, and becoming the smartest of us.
Yuma keeps giggling while Peoria’s looking at me with a big stupid grin plastered on her face. She’s gesturing for me to come closer. To leave Niwot. Sooner or later I’ll have to leave him for good. Why does it have to hurt this much to increase the distance between us right now when I know it’s only temporary? As if he can read my thoughts, Niwot gives me a half-hearted grin and turns to go.
“Someone’s got a really good secret for you. I’ll be upstairs reading.”
He retreats up the stairs. If there were an actual string connected between both of our hearts, I would’ve felt a sharp pain the moment he reached the top. Even if I didn’t wish so badly to join the human world, in a couple years Niwot and I would go our separate ways. Our future mates will keep us busy with families of our own. We must grow up someday. Only someday is tonight and difficult choices must be made by both of us.
With a heavy sigh, I turn back to my sisters. My calculating, trouble-making, beautiful sisters.
“Don’t be mad, Wa-wa.” Yuma uses my baby name. She couldn’t say my first name until we were all nearly five. Peoria picks up the thread of conversation from her twin, “Daddy says that Taos and Wabash are coming tonight!”
Noises that sound like squeals follow this news. Taos and Wabash are five and six years older. They live near the border in Kansas. Neither of them have mates yet.
“I wonder how many other First Moon Ceremonies they’re not going to attend to be here with us,” I say. Secretly I wonder if they know the kind of madness they’re getting themselves into when they begin to court my sisters.
Yuma slips her hand into Peoria’s. Their eyes are bright with anticipation. This exact moment is something I want to carry with me always, but I know when I make my choice all memories will be ripped from me. My ability to walk as a wolf will also be taken. The pack will leave me in heavy winter clothing, with some money, but no ID at the nearest hospital. Everyone will fade back into the safety of the night and anonymity. Thankfully for me, there will be no painful memories of family. Of Niwot. Unfortunately for them, they will always have a Kiowa-sized hole in their lives. It must be this way.
“Actually, we think that Taos is here to court you,” says Peoria. Yuma nods, the grin never leaving her face. She adds, “Peoria has the hots for Wabash, which is too bad because Wabash and Wa-Wa go together.”
They both lean against each other laughing, so easily amused. I can’t help but return a small smile. Wabash is strong and gorgeous. He would make a good mate if I were staying, which I’m not. He’ll make a better match for Yuma. I say as much out loud, omitting any hint that this our last shared conversation.
Yuma’s mouth turns down a little. She releases Peoria’s hand and walks toward me. “We really don’t think he’ll pick me when he sees how sexy you’ve become these past few years.”
This makes me laugh. If anything I’m probably more lanky and definitely more dirty than the last time Wabash visited with his pack. I’d rather spend my time with Niwot out in the woods than in the basement learning math, history, or English. I’m about to tell them as much when Dad walks in.
“Hello, my favorite daughters,” he says, smiling wide. His chest pushes out with pride. Pride that he’s raised a litter of pups into strong adults ready to take their rightful places as full weres. “Get your brothers and go down to the clearing. The First Moon Ceremony begins at dusk.”
When we get to the clearing, I can see many faces I know including Wabash and Taos. Even Nokomis has joined us. She’s so old that we’re her great-great-great-grandchildren. And there’s something about her that catches the breath in my mouth. It’s not longevity that’s kept her alive; it’s love. Her family thrives because love courses through it.
The ceremony begins and we’re asked one by one which life we wish to live: human or wolf. Ouray, Yuma, then Peoria each choose to stay with the pack. Niwot’s before me.
“Father, I wish to choose the same as Kiowa.” A gasp. This has never happened before.
“Kiowa, how do you choose?”
My heart catches. I look at Nokomis one more time and make my final decision.