Chapter 106: A Promise Across the Plains
As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, casting deep, purple shadows across the jungle, Zuri and Amara stepped forward. They gently wrapped their long trunks around Selka in a warm, collective hug.
"If you ever come back to the open plains, we will be waiting to meet you there!" Zuri promised softly.
"Just make sure you don’t get tangled up with the hyena packs on your way," Amara added, her deep voice rumbling against Selka’s shoulders.
"Haha, sure... though I believe I’ll now spend the rest of my days right here in the jungle, visiting all the lands I once traveled through in my youth," Selka said warmly as they finally let go of her. "But traveling to the plains and meeting your magnificent clan will always remain close in my heart!"
Both elephant sisters nodded, their large ears sweeping back. Down around their huge legs, a crowd of younger pups quickly gathered, looking up with wide, sparkly eyes.
Koda, stepping right up to the front, pointed a finger upward. "Hey! Before you go, can you blow on us with your big noses?!"
"Hehe, sure!" Zuri chuckled.
Both sisters instantly drew in a deep breath and blew a sudden, highly concentrated gust of wind straight down onto the younger pups.
The high-powered air blast sent their thick fur flying completely wild, turning every single little wolf into a hilarious, fluffy, static-filled furball with their hair standing entirely straight up.
"Whoaaa!!!" The pups chirped happily, tumbling over each other as they giggled. "Haha! If you ever come back to the jungle, you have to blow on us again!" Koda cheered.
Amara nodded down at the little furball. "Do not worry. I have perfectly memorized your pack’s every single member’s scent."
Hearing that, the silver-grey wolves standing in a large half-circle around them began to murmur and whisper in complete awe.
"Wow... every single person’s scent?"
"They say the Elephant Clan never, ever forgets anything!"
"Their memory is way stronger than anyone else’s in the wild lands."
"They literally never forget a friend... or a foe."
"Well, then, we will be taking our leave," Amara announced, turning her massive frame toward the border path.
"It was so much fun being here! We had a mountain of delicious fruits and leaves, and so much fresh water even in the dead of summer!" Zuri cheered, her trunk swaying contentedly.
"We were deeply honored by your presence in our territory," Elder Syra said, bowing her head respectfully.
"Yes, your stay here has tremendously boosted our clan’s reputation and struck fear into the hearts of the neighboring packs!" Elder Nyra added with a proud, toothy grin.
Tala stepped forward, her voice soft and heavy with emotion. "And we are profoundly grateful that you came all this way to help save the Witch... otherwise—"
"Otherwise, we might have never been able to forgive ourselves for our actions. We two will be in forever grateful to you both!" Lyra finished, bowing completely to the ground.
Amara looked down at the two sisters, her large amber eyes steady and wise. "Do not thank us. You have spoken well with your actions. But be exceptionally careful from here on out, kids. A brave and kind heart like Selka’s shouldn’t have to bear any ugly stains because of her children’s reckless actions."
"We will not! We promise!" Tala reassured them, her ears pinned back earnestly.
"We have truly learned our lesson!" Lyra added.
Both giants nodded in satisfaction, then turned their heavy gazes toward the giant silver-grey wolf standing right beside Nuan. "Well, furious one," Amara rumbled at Kael, "make sure that your future actions and decisions never put the Witch in any kind of threat."
Kael immediately lifted his wolf head high, his chest expanding proudly. "I will protect her with all of my physical strength!!!" he barked, before pausing and adding, "...And with my head!"
"Whoa, whoa, Kael, is that really you?!" Nuan blurted out, her jaw dropping as she reached over and began comically tapping his furry body here and there like she was looking for a hidden button. "Did you just mention using your brain? Who updated your software?"
Kael let out a proud, huffy snort from his snout. "I am Kael, Alpha of the Silver-Grey Clan! Of course I use my head!"
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say, big guy," Nuan giggled, giving his shoulder a fond pat.
"Well, then, we will be going now!" Amara said, taking her first colossal step forward.
"Bye-bye! Have a safe journey back to the plains!" Nuan called out, waving both of her hands high in the air. "Make sure you come finding my scent if I ever visit your territory—I do not want to get eaten by a whole pride of lions!"
"Haha! We will personally come to welcome you at the border, Witch!" Zuri trumpeted happily as they both turned fully toward the dark woods.
As their massive silhouettes began to walk toward the dense treeline, Selka stepped forward, threw her head back, and let out a long, beautiful goodbye howl.
Kael immediately joined in, followed by Koda, and within seconds, every single wolf in the clearing joined together in one loud, unison harmony.
"Awooo oooo wooooo!!!!"
"AWWOOOOOOO-OOOOOO!"
Zuri and amara walked deep into the thick brush, effortlessly parting the branches as they waved their long trunks back over their shoulders one last time.
"PRRRRRNNNNHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
They let out one final, thunderous goodbye trumpet before entirely disappearing into the dark night and the dense canopy of trees.
Whaaa!! Awooo!!!" Nuan giggled softly to herself, thoroughly enjoying the dramatic exit, before turning around to face the entire gathered pack.
She clapped her hands together to get their attention. "Okay, everyone! For the next few days while I am still staying here, I am going to be going out on hunts with all of you! And also, I’ll be crafting custom gifts for every single one of you before I go!" Nuan declared loudly.
The clearing instantly erupted into pure, chaotic joy.
"Yeyyyyy!!!!" Everyone chirped, tails wagging.