Ch 36 Marathon

"Rick!"

My boss motioned me over. "I need you to set up for the 5k, then make sure the route is clear of any debris. I have a special guest I need to spend today and tomorrow with."

"Oh?" I asked casually. I couldn't help wondering what special guest was code for now that I knew John was part of Mac's network of connections.

"It's exciting," chimed in Beatrice, the lady who worked the counter. "She's a make-a-wish recipient; thirteen year old with cancer who wants to see real wolves. She and her family are staying in one of the cabins for a few nights."

"I'm going to be taking them out in the jeep," John added, "see how close we can get to the wolves wearing the trackers. Oh," he said quieter, moving me off to the side, "your training class is set up for two weeks from now."

He looked at me with this narrowing of the eyes. I don't know what he was thinking.

"Thanks, John."

"Mac told me about your, a, condition, said you had a few concerns. Honestly, it's probably just a bunch of campers throwing themselves a party," he said.

I agreed with him, trying to laugh it off, but I was a wolf on the hunt now where those annoying odors were concerned.

I headed out to load up one of the jeeps with what I'd need to set up the check stations. I was loading up the last canopy and chairs when I saw her.

She was wearing a white knit cap with pink in the front even though the day was getting warm. She was literally bouncing in place. I assumed it was her mother with her. The two of them got in the back of the jeep, the mother throwing a blanket over the girl. I had to chuckle at the young lady's unlady-like comments expressing her exasperation at her mother's concern.

I was heading home for the day when they came back. The young girl was obviously exhausted, a fact her mother was quick to point out.

"No, mother, I'm not going to sit out tomorrow! I came to see wolves and to run in a pack out in the wild. Tomorrow's race will be the only chance I'll have! A human pack is going to be as close to what I want as I can get!"

In that moment I felt Spirit Wolf stir. Here was a werewolf candidate if ever there was one. Her desire to be one with the wolf was palatable. I felt his love for the child before he faded away again.

I thought about her and others like her as I rode home. I could feel the wolf about her. I wondered how many others were out there who would truly desire to be one with the wolf.

From what I'd learned from the other wolves, there were some that were called naturals; people who, when bitten, took to the wolf as if they'd been born to it.

Old Grey had mentioned a few for whom life with the wolf was just the opposite. Some of the people who had left with him, escaping the madness of a werewolf war, kept seeking ways to end their life, unable to live with what they had become.

Businessman had spoken of the intensity of the pain of his first shift, lasting for days. He said his had lasted almost a week. He had barely survived and was both weak and ravenous at first. Eating during that pain-filled week had been difficult.

That young girl, her body riddled with cancer, would never survive such an ordeal.

Ah, my brother, I thought to Spirit Wolf, find a way to grant her what she desires.

I was back again early the next morning. The station I got to man was 2kilometers into the marathon. I had a walkie-talkie, first aid kit, and a cooler of electrolyte drinks. And plenty of boredom.

I watched the runners go by, the faster and more serious competitors at the front. The good runners who ran just to run came by next. It was the back of the pack that might need something at this point. Many stopped to rest for a moment and got a drink, but no one needed any serious attention.

I watched the girl wave to me as she went by. Her dad was wearing a small backpack that I could guess was filled with anything he thought she might need. I smiled widely and waved back at her.

I waved to the tail runner when he finally went by, and radioed in that he had passed me. That was a job I had turned down. I would go nuts walking slowly behind everyone! I folded up the canopy and table, closed up the garbage bag, and got everything ready to load up for later. I picked up the two-way again. I don't know why they kept using such old equipment.

"Hey John, I want to double check that tree by the annex road, the one that's been leaning after the last storm."

"Sure Rick, let me know if I should load up a chainsaw when we bring the jeep around later."

"Will do."

I took off, strictly keeping to man-form. The last thing I needed was for someone to freak out over a wolf that close to everyone. I avoided the road the runners had used, making my way lithely between the trees. After watching so many runners go by, it felt good to let loose myself. I made good time, allowing myself slightly clawed hands as I ghosted through the trees.

I pulled up short when I heard what sounded like crying. Slowing down, I increased my hearing, making my face more wolffish in the process. I honed in on the distressing sounds. Wolf instincts kicked in as I moved to a position where I would be invisible to my prey.

"I am not going to just stop because everyone else outran me! I am going to see at least one wolf while I am out here! This is nothing like what I wished for! I am not going to cry! I am..."

I listened to her quietly rant to herself. My heart expanded just listening to her determination. The young girl in the knot hat had more spunk than anyone I could think of.

I don't know how she managed to get away from her father. They had to be worried about her by now. I couldn't help but be proud of her. Her parents understandably kept trying to coddle her in her sickness and she kept insisting on fiercely living. Not only live, but she was determined to live what was left of her life on her terms.

I was practically chuckling as my uniform came off, neatly stacked behind a tree. I moved to position myself in front of her, waiting for her to notice me. I couldn't keep my grin off my face, even as a wolf.

It was so worth it to see the look on her face. First her eyes got big, her breath drew in and she held it for what seemed forever before slowing exhaling and going "Ohhhhh!!!!"

Delight shown from her eyes. One hand stretched out toward me without her even realizing it. Once she was aware of what she was doing, she drew her hand back.

I moved slightly, as if I was slightly startled by her movement.

"Don't go," she whispered desperately.

I stood still, cocking my head at her. At her gentle and awed encouragement, I approached slowly, step by hesitant step.

We were only a few feet away from each other, her still on the ground where she had shed her unwanted tears, me standing before her. I slowly lowered my head, raising my rump, and started wagging my tail. I did a few small slow hesitant playful leaps back and forth in front of her, before coming in suddenly to carefully swat her with my paw and leaping further away.

She giggled as only a young girl can do. I knew if I left now she would be on cloud nine for forever.

I needed to get her back on course, and soon. I did that obvious come-follow-me thing that dogs do. The last part of the marathon used a road that ran parallel to the first part. I could save her a lot of steps leading her through the woods.

When she didn't get up right away I came back. I was less hesitant, going up and sniffing around her. There was a slight smell of blood from a scraped knee. There were spots... I knew then I had just identified the smell of cancer. I closed my eyes, leaning my head into her. I was surprised at her words as her fingers worked their way into my ruff.

"Don't cry, it's ok. Some day I'm going to really get my wish. I'm going to be just like you and run forever on four legs. When I get tired of running I'm going to get a drink from a clear forest stream. Then I'm going to lay down for a while in a sun-filled meadow and watch the clouds."

I pulled back enough to look at her. Her fingers were still in my ruff. She wasn't at all afraid, talking to me as if I was her best friend.

"I'm not going to be alone either!" She continued. "There's this beautiful wolf there. You'll like him! He has silver eyes and grey fur, but it isn't solid grey. There are hints of red, yellow, black and white... hey, just like that little song! Do you know it? Red yellow black and white, all are precious in his sight! I never thought of that before!"

She grinned at me in delight of her little revelation. I grinned back but then encouraged her to move by pushing her up from under her armpit. She grabbed onto me, really leaning her weight on me as she finally stood up.

"Yeah, I suppose your right, I should get back. I don't want to though. I want to stay with you!"

I gave her a look she could decipher even coming from a wolf. She sighed dramatically and started to walk away from me, waving sadly. I shook my head and circled around to head her in the right direction.

"Can I really go with you?" She squealed excitedly.

I laughed at her sudden joy, pricking my ears up. I know she thought that was for her, but in truth I figured if anyone was around they would have heard that squeal! No one. I wondered how long ago she had managed to dump her dad.

We walked through the woods then, her hand on my head or on my back. She occasionally leaned on me, putting her weight on me as we went up small hills, or to steady herself as we went down them. I went at her pace, lifting my snout toward her on occasion to let her know I was still listening to her, for she hadn't stopped talking the entire time!

She told me about her cancer. She shared the pain of missing so much school because of being sick so much. She missed hanging out with her friends. She told me about how her mom quit her job to stay home with her, how her dad worked even harder. She told me how sad she felt for them, having to be burdened with caring for her. She shared the joys too, the family times that let her know those burdens she imagined were easily shouldered by her parents because of the love they had for her.

"It makes me feel bad, the way I yelled at dad to get my way. I told him I wanted to just be alone in nature for awhile and he should go on and wait for me at the next rest stop. I yelled at mom yesterday too. I shouldn't yell so much!"

I nodded sagely, giving a little huff. She laughed at me.

"I know, I know! I'll apologize to them when we get back. Both of them! Did you know mom learned to knit just so she could make me this hat? I always picture myself as a white wolf. White wolves are supposed to be special, but white is so boring! I always told her I'd color my fur with some pink so it would look like I was wearing a tiara, a pink tiara! I bet you think that's silly, huh?"

She went on as I sidetracked just a little to where I knew there was a small, very small, stream so she could drink. That elicited another "Ohhhh!!!"

After we had drunk some side by side I pushed her on.  It wasn't long after that I was able to hear people ahead of us. I led her up a small embankment, then pulled away.

"Noooo!!!"

I nodded yes, motioning with my snout that I wanted her to go on alone. She stood there a moment shaking her head no, tears coming from her eyes.

I came back to her, rising up to put my paws on her shoulders. I was careful to put my weight on my hind legs and not on her. I nuzzled her and licked her face in a gentle kiss. I put my forehead against hers for a moment. She gave a heavy sigh.

"I love you," she said sincerely. "I will always love you! Thank you for spending today with me!" She gave me a kiss on my nose, then we broke apart.

I dropped to all fours and gave her a playful nudge forward. She stumbled slightly and by the time she straightened up and looked for me, I was gone.

I watched as she slid down the embankment to the road. I watched as she waved down some runners, one of which ran back the way they had come. I wanted to keep watching, but this was the perfect time for me to truly slide away.

I dropped down from the tree I had climbed. It had never occurred to her to look up, and I knew how to be silent. I ran at my fastest speed back to where my clothes were.

I dressed quickly, not bothering with the socks, merely shoving them into my pocket for now. I had a sense of urgency for some reason. It had been building since I left her on the road.

It was as if Spirit Wolf was goading me on.

I ran, scenting her backward trail until I came to the place she had slid. There! My hand snatched the small rock of its own accord. I held it as if it was a treasure. If anyone were to look at me right now, I knew they would see wolf eyes in my face, black wolf nose even without much of a snout. This was something new for me but I barely gave it a thought.

All of my senses were focused on the small stone in my hand, half of it covered in her blood from where she had scraped her knee.

The blood of the innocent upon the land.

The words were a refrain in my head that kept repeating itself as I panted from more than my run. I felt as unfocused as I had the night of the fire. Spirit Wolf's presence was overwhelming.

The blood of the innocent upon the land.

I felt Spirit Wolf's calling within me. Soon it would be time for my new name. My feet were on the path. The events that would lead to that name were set in motion.

The blood of the innocent upon the land.

I would give my life to protect those innocents, guarding them against any who would dare try to spill that blood. I would fight to make sure that innocent blood did not spill!

My head went back, and my howl reverberated through the woods, echoing across the sky. There was no boundary in me between body, mind and spirit; no boundary between wolf and man. My song had gained new notes, new depth, new determination, as if the little sister's fierce song of life had become embedded in my own.

The blood of the innocent upon the land.

That refrain now echoed within me, with every beat of my heart, as much a part of me as my own blood that flowed within me.