Free 3 Among the Wolves by Helen Thayer

Alpha giving one last mournful final howl that rose to a pitch above all others. The wolves remained on the ridge, still silently watching the southern expanse. Soon a faint howl from a long distance to the south pierced the silence. Each wolf immediately stood and listened intently. In a few minutes the distant howling stopped. Alpha again led a song. After a short silent interval, a single howl quickly joined by many others responded, still from the south.
    As the last notes died away, one by one the pack strolled down the ridge to take up restful positions around the den. Mother disappeared inside to tend to the pups. As we listened to the wolves’ voices rise from earth to sky, filling this great valley, we understood why North American Indians believed that when wolves howl, they are talking with the spirit world.

Ravens
    I T WAS THE LAST WEEK OF MAY. The days had gradually been growing longer ever since we’d set up camp near the den, and now darkness had ceased entirely to fall. We would have twenty-four hours of light for several weeks, making our observation of the wolves easier. Day and night blended together as the pack went about its activities, often hunting in the cooler hours. We occasionally lost track of time and were surprised to find that it was already past midnight. Long days have an invigorating effect on the human body, making it easy to continue working but difficult to keep to a normal schedule. The Inuit of the far northern Arctic often stay up all night during the summer, energized by the sun.
    As we watched the wolves’ games and family interactions, we could see that they were intelligent animals with the ability to plan and think. Playful by nature, they would carry back to the den various toys such as sticks, stones, animal hides, and bones. Toys not used immediately were carefully placed close by, ready for use later.
    The wolves often teased each other into starting a game or taunted a pack mate to get a response. Those in the middle of the pack’s social order often harassed Alpha. We noticed, though, that he was always allowed to win the game eventually; no wolf overdid domination when Alpha was involved.
    Several ravens lived in the spruce trees and in crevices in the cliffs close to the wolf den. Ravens and wolves are both sociable creatures, and although we would have thought them unlikely companions, they appeared to enjoy each other’s
company. The ravens liked to tease the wolves and sometimes initiated play with individuals.
    While the wolves dozed comfortably one day, a raven appeared as silently as a shadow, landing a few feet from Klondike. It sneaked up behind her, pausing now and then to make sure it had not been detected. When the raven reached the end of Klondike’s tail, the bird gave it a quick jab with his large beak, then quickly flew away with a loud squawk and perched atop a six-foot-high rock.
    Klondike leaped to her feet in indignation. Seeking revenge, she made futile efforts to scramble up the steep rock. But she slid to the ground each time, her claws leaving long scratches in the rock. Finally the raven flew onto the ridge to await further opportunities. After a few minutes, a disgruntled Klondike resumed her sleep in the protection of a dugout.
    Not even Charlie was spared. One day as he lay asleep alongside the stream, two ravens crept up behind him in waddling unison and, as if on cue, both nipped his tail at once. With a loud yelp Charlie jumped up, ready to kill, but the clever birds flew to the ridge where they strutted and cawed, elated at their success. Charlie’s indignant bark brought all the wolves to watch and, we supposed, to sympathize as he railed against his tormentors.
    One evening when Charlie was engrossed in eating his dinner, three ravens acting as a team swooped down from the cliff. A particularly bold individual led the attack, diving at Charlie’s head. When he left his bowl to race after the first bird, the