Important Moments of Pack Life

• Pair Bonded to Megera


• Proficient Herbalist


• Mentor


• Sibling to Camael

A Tale of Brothers and Dreams

How strange. Do you see what that pup is doing? Unusual. You shouldn't associate with pups like him. He doesn't belong in this pack. You know what he did. Murderer.

Almost on repeat and daily these words bounced around in Haniel's head. Every since he turned 3 months and began looking into his path in this pack, it seems many had it out against him. It started when the Herbalist, Artemis, noticed his knack for foraging and picking out herbs, but apparently Haniel took it to far. He arranged the herbs in order from smallest to largest, and brightest to darkest. Most of the pack could live with that, had it not been for his imagination.

Often times he found himself obsessing about arranging them in ways that made sense to him. Put to the pack that wasn't his only flaw. Daydreams or day visions often danced in his head. He often found himself telling his siblings stories of wolves that roamed the skies. He would paint a pack of wolves gleaming in blues, purples, and whites that roamed the great above chasing jade rabbits and sapphire deer. Often he would claim shooting stars and meteor showers were great hunts or chases of the celestials. The pack indulged his 'imagination' they claimed it would make him a valuable herbalist.

After spinning many tales, his pup mates took it upon themselves to react a scene he had once described, the fall of Morningstar. This particular tale revolved around a wolf that was cast out of the cosmos in a shooting star which landed on earth to strike out on his own to lead a pack. While Haniel had shared that dream, it wasn't his idea to climb the cliff that day. It wasn't his idea for Mikail to ask to be cast from the cosmos by Nsab. It wasn't his idea for Nsab to thrust Mikail into the air.

No one tells you about the sickening thud that accompanies a body when it smashes into the ground below. No one tells you about the bright blood that pools steadily beneath a body. And, no one tells you about the light slowly draining out of your siblings eyes. The wails and howls when the pack found out about Mikail, echoed through Haniel chilling him to the bone. Followed by glares that burned holes into his skin. If he hadn't had shared that tale after all, no one would have had the idea to climb the cliff and pretend to be cast from the cosmos.

After that, Haniel kept himself isolated in the herbalist cave to hone his craft away from others. Any mention of celestials or his dreams and he was cuffed on the back of his head or shoved into solitary. No one acknowledge his existence and before long Haniel just stopped trying to exist in the pack. Going through the motions he foraged, crafted, sorted, and stored herbs from morning to night. He always waited until the pack hoard had cleared out before sneaking to take either a rabbit or fish for himself. Just enough to stave off the hunger. Nothing more nothing less. He resigned himself to not being a burden, counting down the days to exact his plan. On the final moon of his adolescence, he had decided he would set off to find a pack he belonged to. He had been having dreams again of a wolf he thought he knew. In his dream, the wolf had connected to two other individuals. They seemed to hit it off and appeared to be searching for a place to form a pack. Silver city….. Those words echoed through his head. That's where he wanted to be.

No one would miss him anyways well except for Camael. As if on command, blue eyes followed with a grey mask appeared before him. "Hello Han" barked his brother roughly, "I hope you're excited for the ceremony tonight. Getting to take over as herbalist is a big deal."

Wordlessly, Haniel closed his grey eyes and dipped his head in a nod. He felt the roughness of his brothers tongue over his muzzle and let out a soft huff. Cam was alway able to read his subtle body movements and mannerisms. Now began the biggest act. Haniel allowed himself to wag his tail and return a soft lick behind Cam's ear.

"I'm telling you brother things are about to change for you. I'm going to be in a hunting party soon, no more fish or rabbits for you. Yes I noticed. You deserve to eat with your family sharing a deer or elk or whatever you want. Once I'm in a hunting party, no one will be able to stop me from sharing kills with you. Once you're the herbalist no one can deny you a spot in this pack." Words excitedly left Camael as if the dam had been released on the thoughts and plans he had made.

Looking through gray eyes, Haniel reached out and nipped his brother lightly on the shoulder. After tonight, he would never get to thank him for all he had done. Haniel knew it was him who convinced the elders to not chase him from the pack to fend for himself at barley 5 months of age. It was him who stopped the other adolescents from throwing rocks and sticks when travelled too close to the pack during meal times. It was him to kept him tethered to this earthly plane. Camael didn't know how close Haniel had gotten to taking a plunge from the cliff himself or jumping into the rapids that flowed near by, but every time these thoughts entered his mind he imagined the loving look in his brother's eyes and that grounded Haniel. With one last nip, Haniel encouraged his brother to go get prepared for tonight's festivities. Cam responded with one last excited lick across Haniel's muzzle, before bounded to the pack clearing.

I am sorry brother….but I cannot let you stay chained to me. The thought breezed upon his mind. Grey eyes closed, all thoughts and memories away. You have one thing correct, after today I will have a clean slate. I will be free.

The barks and yips from the clearing echoed clearly through the night. Haniel stared up at the brilliant moon as it seemed to light a path out into the forest. He had spent time gathering just a few herbs necessary to make this journey. It wouldn't be easy for a lone wolf, but the calling tugged deep within him. He had to know if his dreams were true. He had to know if there was a different life out there for him. Excitement coarsed through his veins, as he bounded freely into the forest. Trees and shadows swallowed him in a hug. By the moonlight he picked his way through the trees embracing the song of the night. Chirps, hoots, and gentle breezes tickled his ears. His absence surely would have been noticed by now, but honestly only one wolf would miss him. A brief pang of sorrow caught in his chest as he slowly let out an exhaled breath.

"I can't believe you'd leave without a goodbye."

Whipping around Haniel saw the silhouette of his brother. It was his voice and appearance that clued him in, but what bothered him the most was the look of hurt the followed the mournful cry. "I understand why you did this, but to think you wouldn't ask me to join you pains me."

His vision began to obscure, as Haniel felt warm liquid prick at his eyes. Tears. How long had he been holding back tears. Months. Many months. Rage, anger, fear, and despair began to tear their way to the surface after being buried for so long.

"I could not ask you to throw away your life for me brother. I've been a burden to you for far to long. I've been having more dreams and deep down they've been calling to me. My life was never with that pack." This voice. How long had it been since this voice spoke.
Haniel looked up at his brother to see not a face of anger, but rather a huge grin.
The dark brown wolf leapt happily, towards Haniel licking his face excitedly.

"I never thought I'd hear your voice again. It's as sweet and gentle as I remember it. Han, contrary to what you think, my life was never in that pack either. How can I dedicate myself to a pack that doesn't see a mistake as a mistake. How can I dedicate myself to a pack that doesn't forgive? What happened was never your fault. We were pups. Please, let me come with you. Let me protect you."

Haniel felt the weight of those words slam into him and whined. He couldn't stop the tears now as all his emotions tore through him. So much he had kept from his brother in order to not burden him more than he already had. Before he knew it, he felt his head tilt upwards towards the moon as a low clear howl excited his chest. It wasn't just his howl ringing in the air, but the mellow low howl of Camael joined in. Their song rang out through the forest, chilling the remainder of the night. Gaining back control over his emotions, Haniel pushed his head into Camael.

"Come then Cam, we have much to talk. I've been dreaming again and I think I know where we belong". Haniel let a low grin spread across his mouth, as Cam reached out to give a gentle nip.

"I look forward to your stories brother."

With a bound both wolves raced off into the night.


Learning about Herbs Yabi


Art by Kassiopea



Art by BLUE