SINCE IT HAD COME TO THIS

4 MARCH, THURSDAY, CONTINUED

So we all know that Wolfgang was arguably the Last Fire Wolf in the plains. His clan had been wiped out years ago - by another two fire wolf clans. It was a very messy three-way clan war which wiped out the Fire Wolves in the Blue Packlands all the way to the Fire Wolf town along the borders of the Red Packlands. Fire Wolves were hot blooded and hot tempered and hot everything. When they fought (and they fought quite often), everything would burn down to the ground.

Alpha Gunter believed there might be Fire Wolves still held in captivity after the war, but Wolfgang was the last free Fire Wolf. At least he WAS the last free fire wolf. I kinda captured him when I had extinguished Wolfgang's fire and subdued his wolf in what was supposed to be our friendly fight.

"You went too far, Wolfgang." Alpha Gunter chided lightly, "It was only a friendly spar."

"How could I lose to a pup?" Wolfgang protested.

"Your pride destroyed you." Alpha Gunter informed the Fire Wolf, "You were the experienced warrior, she was only just shifted this year."

"All the more I could not accept defeat." Wolfgang insisted.

"The Alpha Princess is an alpha blade wolf." Alpha Gunter maintained, "Wolfgang, your only advantage was your greater experience, yet you ran head first at her. You underestimated your opponent and then you failed to recognize the gap between your strengths. You have no one to blame but yourself."

And then like all good old-fashioned wolves, Wolfgang could only bow and answer, "Thank you for your guidance, Alpha."

Alpha Gunter wasn't quite done, "Whatever happens from here was the consequences of your own folly. She certainly couldn't be expected to have known the implications."

Because now, according to Fire Wolf customs, I was Wolfgang's master, and the new fire he rekindled would serve me.

Before I could protest, Alpha Gunter held out his hand and politely requested everyone to hold back our questions until he explained the situation fully.

I was going to protest, not question, but okay... I sat back down and Alpha Gunter began a mini lecture on Fire Wolf History about how the first Fire Wolves were created. Let's skip that because as fascinating as it was, it was a long story.

Fast forward to after their creation story, the Fire Wolves quickly grew very powerful and numerous. They were an unstoppable force since most other wolves could not stand up to their heat. You know, because fire was hot and can kill wolves and destroy whole towns and villages. With great power, came great irresponsibility.

So the Moon Goddess set into their wolves a curse - you could think of it as a limit breaker, or a fail safe. Should a Fire Wolf go too far, a hero would rise up and upon extinguishing the Fire Wolf's flame, usually in an epic fiery battle, the righteous hero would become the Fire Wolf's master and peace would reign again.

This only worked for a short time, because soon the Fire Wolves found out they could subdue each other in the same way and clan wars broke out where one clan would try to enslave the other clan. Maybe with water bombs? Hahaha. No, but seriously, I don't know why the Moon Goddess didn't see it coming... it was bound to happen sooner or later.

This led to the second Fire Wolf custom. After subduing the other clans, sometimes the warriors might find a beautiful wolf among their captives. By covering the (presumably nude) extinguished captive with their coat, a warrior might claim the captive wolf under his protection. It was a mating thing, and very successful warriors often had many mates. Somewhat like war trophies. Shocking. I know. I was shocked too.

Unlike most other wolves, Fire Wolves practiced polygamy (which explained how they got to be so many in the first place). In fact, they still did to this day - at least within the Colored Mountains where there still existed small clans of Fire Wolves. Turned out that their efforts to subdue each other was good for their population control. So maybe the Moon Goddess did know what she was doing, even though it seemed like a rather brutal way to maintain population equilibrium.

In conclusion, I had accidentally dishonored Wolfgang very publicly and completely (even though, as Alpha Gunter kindly made clear earlier, it was his fault), and now we had to figure out an equitable outcome.

You know how I used to wish I could bring the Colored Mountain to the Green Packlands? Like make our land more magical and wonderful? I changed my mind.

{Wow. Sam's harem is expanding again.} Lizzy said.

It took a moment for me to realize that Lizzy wasn't actually speaking aloud. She was on mindlink - and not with me either.

Savy answered, {She's got good taste.}

Savy was joking of course! They both were. But I couldn't find it funny in the least.

I mean, how'd like being told that you just took captive the last free Fire Wolf in the plains, and then publicly humiliated him by claiming him as a war trophy? Omo.

"Well, technically..." Yes I was going for the technical argument now, "It wasn't really like that."

Immediately, I got everyone's attention.

"Oh, how so, Alpha Princess?" Alpha Gunter asked gently.

"For one thing, we aren't Fire Wolves. We weren't fighting a war either, it was a friendly tournament." I tried.

"The hero who extinguished the fire wolf's flame didn't have to be a fire wolf either." Alpha Gunter countered, "And friendly tournaments were historically peaceable ways for one pack to display dominance over the others."

"But that wasn't our intention." I protested, "We didn't intend any of this..."

"I'm sure we began with the best intentions, Alpha Princess. But what is done is done." Alpha Gunter sighed, "Our pillar has been ruined. Even though he was as much at fault, perhaps more so than you, we must do the responsible thing."

"What responsible thing?" I asked.

"Since it has come to this," Alpha Gunter demurred, "We will concede our defeat. Only allow us to redeem our pillar."

Yes, yes. Redeem your pillar.

"Okay. You can have him back." I agreed immediately.

"I'm afraid It's not so simple, Alpha Princess." Alpha Gunter informed me gravely, "Under normal circumstances, perhaps..."

Perhaps I lacked the imagination, but I could not think of any way that their fire pillar might have his flame extinguished "under normal circumstances."

Did he want his fire pillar back or not?

"But, since the Alpha Princess has claimed him for herself, it would be more complicated." Alpha Gunter said.

At this point, I was beginning to feel desperate, "I'm underage!"

"Not to a fire wolf." Alpha Gunter answered smoothly, "Girls are betrothed from their mating year, as is evidently practiced in your pack as well."

Well, yes, Savy and I were both betrothed, but this was only because we happened to meet our mates early! I didn't think of this argument when it happened though.

"He's way too old for me." I said.

"Wolfgang is mature beyond his years, but he isn't more than a decade older than you are." Alpha Gunter informed me, "Such a match is most respectable among nobility in Snow Moon and even the Colored Mountains. Adele and her betrothed are also ten years apart."

"Actually 12, alpha." Adele said softly, "Sir Cedric is 12 years my senior."

"Yes. Quite right. A dozen years is quite fitting." Alpha Gunter agreed.

No way. Adele was going to mate an uncle. I cast a quick glance in Wilhelm's direction. Adele was HIS soul mate right? But Wilhelm only smiled and nodded amiably.

I looked about the other wolves around me. Why wasn't anyone else protesting this? I don't mean Adele's match with some uncle who was NOT her soulmate, that was really too bad, but I had my own problems to deal with right now. Like wth was this? I glared at my Mate, but he only smirked back. Wth!

And then I suddenly remembered my newest scapegoat, "No, no, it's all a misunderstanding! A CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDING."

Ha! Take that!

Alpha Gunter shook his head, "I understand, Alpha Princess, but I'm afraid I cannot allow you to shirk from your responsibility."

My what...what now?

"No way! I don't want to mate Wolfgang!" I was this close to a meltdown.

It was Mum who spoke up, "Oh Sam."

And then to my horror, she turned to Wolfgang, "I'm so sorry Wolfgang. Our Sam is still young and does not understand yet."

Wth? Mum! Why? What?

Mum turned back to me, "Sam, as an Alpha you have to be sensitive and respectful of other cultures."

Who are you and what have you done with my Mum? Oh, wait no... This couldn't be really happening. I must have fallen asleep in the tub and this was all a bad dream.

"Since it has come to this, I would like to make a proposal." Alpha Gunter declared.

"Please do." Dad nodded.

No, Dad! Don't let the crazy snow alpha talk anymore!

"Since it has come to this..." Alpha Gunter repeated, sounding most reluctant.

Just take your pillar and go home! But of course I didn't say that out loud. Wouldn't want to be disrespectful to other wolves' stoopid culture now, would I?

"For the sake of Snow Moon's future security, I humbly request for the opportunity to redeem our pillar from the Alpha Princess. I do not ask this lightly, for I know Wolfgang's worth. He is indeed the Kingdom's treasure and is irreplaceable to the Snow Moon Kingdom. I would be grateful if you grant me the opportunity to redeem him as a mating gift to your sister." Alpha Gunter said.

Dad nodded just an iota, "That is not unreasonable."

Wth are you saying Dad? Just tell them to stop being stupid, take their stupid pillar, and go home! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Alpha Gunter continued, completely unaware of my internal tantrum, "Thus in four years, at the mating of my son River and your daughter, Savannah, I will return to redeem our kingdom's pillar."

Yes, as opposed to just taking him home right now.

"A life for a life. For Wolfgang's life, I will reconstitute you with two snow wolves of the highest caliber." Alpha Gunter promised.

Wait, what?

"Pardon Alpha, but might I remind you that slave trade is banned in the Green Packlands." Harvey raised his hand to remind everyone.

"Of course." Alpha Gunter nodded, "They would be TRANSFERRED to your pack and you may do as you please with them when the time comes."

"Also, since the Alpha Princess has claimed Wolfgang, I hope you will provide him with the appropriate honor during his stay here." Alpha Gunter continued, "When the time comes for his redemption, one of our female warriors will challenge the Alpha Princess for his honor."

For some reason, at this, my wolves did raise their hackles.

"You did not mention this earlier, Alpha Gunter!" Beta Lucas spluttered.

This was when I realized why the adults were taking everything so calmly. They had already hashed it out. So this meeting was just to tabulate everything formally into minutes so that we would have everything in black and white to generate some kind of Memo of Understanding (MOU). Sigh, it wasn't just culture or custom that created all sorts of extra steps in packs. In today's modern society we had something called PAPERWORK. At least that's what Beta Lucas called it.

"Please explain your rationale, Alpha Gunter." Dad said. It seemed like Dad had become very fond of asking Alpha Gunter to explain stuff.

"Ah, a formality that had slipped my mind earlier, but for Wolfgang to be reclaimed by one of our own wolves, there must be a challenge issued and duly won." Alpha Gunter answered, he quickly raised his hand as if to placate the other wolves, "The challenge will not endanger the Alpha Princess. As long as both parties agree to it, the challenge can be as simple as a game of rock, paper, scissors."

Oh! I brightened at that. I got it! So this entire thing about Wolfgang being my claim or mate or war trophy or whatever was just formality too, right? It would just be temporary until someone from Alpha Gunter's pack reclaimed him. Okay, but then I should do my part to ensure I lose smoothly for the return to take place.

"No, I always win rock, paper, scissors." I informed Alpha Gunter, "It would be better if I was challenged on something skill based. Particularly, if it were something I was bad at. So not fighting or anything too physical."

The last thing I wanted was for the challenger to lose - then wouldn't I be stuck with Wolfgang forever?