The Wolf Folk Series: The Adventures Of Jeremiah Tate

As their final semester began, Franklin and his staff came down and held a ceremony, installing Daniel Terrence Tate (Chub) as First Counselor to the Prince Alpha. It was a ceremony full of pomp and history, dating back to ancient times. Jeremiah was invested with the authority of the Prince Alpha of the Most Ancient Line. His words were to be considered as those of his Father. By the time it was completed, Jeremiah was the second most powerful wolf on the planet. His Circle was now known as his Council of Advisors. Peter Franklin Tate, Wolf, was named Privy Counselor to Jeremiah.

They had just completed rearranging the Manor, Jeremiah's office was complete and the new barracks were invested with 50 Warrior Wolves. Jeremiah was dictating a letter to his private secretary, Janice Elms, a wolf and new graduate of the University.

Jeremiah's hair stood on end, he heard a frantic call from Prince Alpha Carlos Montoya of the Mexico Clan, "Lord Jeremiah, BROTHER, we need you. They tried to murder my Father and we are barricaded in the residence. We cannot hold for long. We beg your assistance."

Jeremiah replied, "Brother Carlos, WE COME!"

Peter had also heard the call and had alerted Chub and the Council of Advisors. Chub called out the Warriors and chose 12 of their number to accompany them. Jeremiah called the pilots and told them to ready the plane for an emergency trip to Puerto Vallarta.

Chub and Jeremiah packed all their needed clothing and accessories for an OFFICIAL VISIT by the Heir of the Most Ancient line.

By the time they got to the airport, Jeremiah's temper was barely under control, his eyes were glowing bright ruby red and only the soothing thoughts of his brother, Peter, was keeping him steady.

As they embarked in the aircraft, Jeremiah instructed the pilots that it was an emergency mission and they were to stop only to take on fuel.

Both pilots recognized the tenseness of those boarding and they bowed, saying only, "Upon your orders my Lord, Prince Alpha Wolf. They both noted Jeremiah was wearing his Wolf's Head Emerald ring and it was glowing brightly, they knew an emergency was in progress, as the ring was known to reflect its wearers mood.

They took off as soon as they received clearance and requested a straight-line course to El Paso at maximum speed. The flight was a little rough and the plane was protesting its throttles at maximum.

They discussed what would have to be done as soon as they reached the villa, first priority was the security of the Alpha and his heir, if heads had to roll, then, so be it.

They stopped briefly in El Paso to take on fuel and Chub made a quick telephone call to the villa to check on Carlos and his Father. He did not want to use his cell phone for fear it could be intercepted, the scramblers he had set up with Carlos and his Father did not work on cell phones.

The steward grabbed some sandwiches while the plane was being fueled and they continued their headlong dash to Puerto Vallarta.

When they arrived, Jeremiah used his Power of Coercion to speed their way through Customs and Immigration. The Mexican Agents never really saw them, so strong was Jeremiah's Power of Coercion.

Chub ran out to the Transportation Lobby and arranged for three large SUVs to take them to the Montoya Villa. He slipped the dispatcher $1,000 to make sure the vehicles were available as soon as they cleared customs.

Chub was fluent in Spanish and, perhaps, some of Jeremiah's Power of Coercion had rubbed off on him, as the dispatchers and the drivers ran flat out to retrieve their vehicles and get them to the curb by the time Jeremiah was ready to depart.

The vehicles bolted from town and sped towards the nearby mountains. Jeremiah had telephoned Carlos from the airport and told him they were on their way up the mountains to Montoya Villa. Carlos told him they were still safe, but was worried about how long they could continue to hold out.

They made the trip up the mountains in three hours of tire screeching turns and rapid accelerations. At last, the villa came into sight. The lights were out and there was a crowd trying to break the gates down at the Alpha's Residence. Chub held Jeremiah's hand to help him maintain control over his temper. Jeremiah was so angry, the leaves on the trees were curling up and dropping off as he walked by them.

Chub sent the Warriors into the crowd, cracking heads and breaking arms as they cleared the way for their Prince. His Warriors were wolves among wolves and they made short work of the disorderly mob.

Jeremiah led the way into the compound, his eyes and his ring glowing fiercely. They saw Carlos peek from the spy-hole in the heavy wooden door and the door flew open, Carlos was in Jeremiah's arms crying and trying to talk as he told his friend what had happened.

Jeremiah carried the boy, calming him as they strode into the Alpha's Compound. Alpha Ronaldo Montoya was laying in his bed, bandages wrapped around his head and his right arm in a sling.

He reached for Jeremiah, "My Prince, My Prince, again we must ask you to save us." He struggled to sit up and called his son, Carlos to stand beside him, "MY LORD PRINCE OF THE MOST ANCIENT LINE, I, RONALDO CORALIS MONTOYA, ALPHA WOLF OF THE MEXICO CLAN DO HEREBY PLEDGE MY ALLEGIANCE AND SEIGNORSHIP TO LORD PRINCE ALPHA JEREMIAH FRANKLIN TATE HEIR TO LORD ALPHA FRANKLIN JEREMIAH TATE, LORD OF THE PRINCIPAL CLAN OF THE AMERICAS. IN THIS I PLEDGE MY HEIR AND SON, CARLOS RONALDO MONTOYA AS TRUST OF OUR PLEDGE."

Carlos then dropped to his knees before Jeremiah and said, "LORD PRINCE ALPHA WOLF JEREMIAH FRANKLIN TATE, I, CARLOS RONALDO MONTOYA, HEIR OF THE MEXICO CLAN PROCLAIM THEE MY LIEGE LORD AND PRINCE, COMMAND ME LORD JEREMIAH."

Chub had assigned their warriors to secure the compound and refuse entry to all. Jeremiah had the servants prepare a meal for them all, insisting that Alpha Montoya eat food in order to restore himself. A wolf recovers quickly from injuries, but he must have calories from food to do so.

In two days, Alpha Montoya was up and around, slowly to be sure, but he was regaining his vigor. The young Prince Alpha stuck by Jeremiah's side like a leech, absorbing every word and mannerism the dominate young Prince did.

Chub laughed, he told Jeremiah that Carlos was going to be a mirror image of himself!

As soon as the Alpha was on his feet, Jeremiah led his warriors through the Villa, putting the fear of hellfire in all the inhabitants.

Peter wandered around the town as a dog, he was soon able to identify the ringleaders of the rebellion. The warriors rounded them up and hanged them, without trial, leaving their bodies to swing in the breeze as a warning to others.

As Jeremiah went about the Villa, putting the Clan to rights, the Wolf Folk cringed in fear as he passed. He and Chub, along with Peter, discussed the matter and decided to hold Conclave, with Wolf Prince Carlos presiding. They coached the boy on what to say and made him ready.

His father remained hidden in an alcove above the Conclave space so he could observe.

The Conclave opened, Carlos was seated in his father's chair, his young cousin acting as his proxy, "THIS CONCLAVE IS OPEN, LET NONE SPEAK IN ANGER NOR OFFEND ANOTHER. LORD ALPHA WOLF PRINCE CARLOS RONALDO MONTOYA PRESIDES. ALL STAND, THE PRINCE ALPHA JEREMIAH FRANKLIN TATE, HEIR OF THE MOST ANCIENT LINE, HEIR TO THE PRINCIPAL CLAN OF THE AMERICAS ENTERS. HAIL PRINCE JEREMIAH."

Jeremiah walked in, followed by Chub, who beat Jeremiah's staff on the floor at each step. Jeremiah approached Carlos and said, "I GREET THEE, LORD PRINCE ALPHA WOLF CARLOS MONTOYA."

Carlos stood and dropped to one knee, "WELCOME MY LORD AND LIEGE, PRINCE ALPHA WOLF JEREMIAH, COMMAND ME."

Those watching had a shocked look on their faces. When had they become subject to this American Boy? This child who came among them causing trouble?

Jeremiah continued, facing the assembled wolves, "I WARNED YOU AND YOU HEEDED ME NOT. NOW, YOU WILL EACH COME BEFORE ME AND SUBMIT, OTHERWISE I WILL HANG YOU. DO IT NOW!"

Jeremiah's Warriors formed a corridor and each wolf was required to declare his allegiance to Jeremiah and Carlos.

Those that hesitated were hanged then and there. By the time the Conclave was finished, the trees outside the Clan Alpha's house had bodies hanging from them like ornaments on a Christmas Tree!

Jeremiah set forth the terms and conditions under which they would live. There were wails and tears in households that had lost a parent, or even both parents, but Carlos now had rule over a loyal clan. Jeremiah made it very clear, Carlos would rule.

Jeremiah decided to spend a few days in the mountains of Mexico, it had been a strenuous trip and the nervous energy they had expended had nearly drained them all.

Carlos supplied them with horses and joined them in an overnight jaunt to the Springs of Magdalena. They were hot springs and baths that had been popular since the earliest days of humans and their cousins, the Wolf Folk.

It was about a half day's ride from the Villa, they brought half their Warriors, leaving the other half to protect Carlos' Father as Jeremiah did not, as yet, trust Carlos' folk.

Peter trotted along beside them happy in his freedom in a new place. Peter enjoyed his life now, he was complete and knew he had his brother's trust and love.

The springs were beautifully laid out with stately trees and flowering shrubs in profusion. The local people paid them no heed and the party found a pool that was not being used and they proceeded to undress and enjoy the warm waters.

Nudity was not a problem with Jeremiah and his folk and, apparently neither was it with the local people, there was not a single swim suit to be seen.

They spent a pleasant and relaxing afternoon soaking the tensions of the last few days out of their bodies. Even Peter had gone for a swim and had crawled up on a large rock and was sunning himself in the afternoon sun.

Suddenly, Jeremiah saw Peter's ears go erect and the hair on his neck stood straight up. Peter jumped down from the rock, sending to his brother, "A boy, a boy is hurt!"

He loped off into the trees, Jeremiah and his group running after them, changing into their wolf as soon as they were out of sight of the other bathers.

They found Peter curled around a youth, perhaps 14 or 15 years old. When Jeremiah smelled him, the boy was WOLF!

Chub and, of course, Carlos, were fluent Spanish speakers and they questioned the boy. The boy appeared to speak an Indian dialect, his Spanish was very poor.

The boy had a broken leg and kept speaking of his Irma and Mamma and Poppa. They determined that Irma was sister and the boy tried to explain where he had lived with his family.

Finally, Jeremiah shifted, calling up his wolf. He stood before the boy, who began crying, "Poppa, Mamma, Poppa...." Peter sent, "I think I can follow his mind picture, let us try to find his family."

Jeremiah remained in his wolf and Chub picked up the child as they started off. They followed Peter and Jeremiah for nearly an hour before they came upon the burned out hulk of a native home.

The embers were still smoking, but there was no one around. Carlos called out in Spanish, "I AM PRINCE ALPHA CARLOS MONTOYA, LEADER OF THE MEXICO WOLF CLAN, COME FORTH THAT WE MAY HELP YOU."

He whispered to Jeremiah, there are folk all around us and they are all of my folk, WOLVES!"

Timidly, three men stepped from the brush and looked at Peter and Jeremiah, Jeremiah called forth his human and stood before the folk, as naked as they were. He held out his empty hands to the men and Carlos said, "We are as you, please let us help you."

Slowly, the villagers came out of hiding, a man and woman came to Chub and the boy began shouting, "Mamma, Poppa."

After much effort, they understood that the little village had been overrun by labor raiders wanting human mules to carry their loads of narcotics. They had all run and Tecito had fallen down a cliff where they could not find him.

Carlos was able to convince the villagers to return with them and that he would protect them from the raiders. He would give them homes in his own village and provide for them as they became established.

Jeremiah retrieved his clothing and when he had put his ring back on, the villagers knelt before him saying, "El Viejo, El Viejo"

Carlos snickered, "They are calling you, OLD ONE"

Jeremiah replied to him, "It is the ring, it is more than 10,000 years old, it comes from the origin of our folk. It came with our Folk as they fled to the Americas!"

They led the families of the village to Villa Montoya, they had put the elders and small children on the horses and then had called up their wolf and trotted beside the caravan carrying the refugees.

Some of the older of Carlos' folk grumbled at them bringing outsiders to live with them, a sharp look from Jeremiah made them remember the hanging ropes and they quickly quieted down.

The children of the Villa, however, took the village children to their hearts, and like boys everywhere, they were all soon in the square kicking a ragged ball from one corner to the other. Girls sat on the corners, watching and giggling to each other. The children would join the two groups.

Jonal, Jeremiah's most fierce warrior gently carried the hurt boy, Tecito, into the house and laid him on a bed. He sat with the boy while the Villa Medico set his broken leg, holding his hands whenever the pain became too great.

Jeremiah smiled and asked the huge warrior, "Have you found yourself a son?"

The warrior replied, "Yes, Lord Prince, if his Mamma and Poppa will let me."

Two days later, Tecito officially became the son of Wolf Warrior Jonal Jeffery Helms. Tecito's Mamma and Poppa were happy that their son had a chance of a new life as a Norte Americano.

Jeremiah was very interested in learning of these new wolf folk who were not part of the Mexico Clan. They said their folk had always been there and they had legends of once belonging to a large family, but that had been long ago and no one knew who or what they were.

Carlos found some old records in the library that told of a Wolf Clan to the south of them and yet another in the Yucatan.

The rescued villagers all preferred to join those living at the Villa and Carlos performed an "Adoption Ceremony", making them members of the Mexico Clan.

Jeremiah mind contacted his father and told him of all that had taken place. They both agreed that a trip to the Yucatan was in order. Franklin was startled that his son had the power to reach him with such clarity.

After they had finished their conversation, Franklin sat down and pondered his son, He had awakened the power of Far Speaking, distances measured in continents rather than counties, thought to have been lost ages earlier.

He wondered, "What more shall my son bring forth?"

He would have his answer soon, frightening him in the process!

They left three Warriors to guard Ronaldo and Carlos accompanied them back to Puerto Vallarta to pick up their airplane. It was not a long flight to Cancun and they were there in time for lunch.

They had left Peter with the airplane, the hotel had strict rules about "animals" in the rooms. Jonal was staying with the airplane, Tecito had insisted on being with his new father and Jeremiah was not going to separate a father and his new son, a son who was soon to become an important part of all their lives.

They had plenty of food and water and there was a small apartment in the non-commercial part of the airport for the use of visiting pilots and crews. Most of the planes there had at least one guard staying with the planes, so they fit right in.

Wolf Warrior Jonal Helms was not only physically huge, he had superior intelligence and he had been around his Prince long enough to know how prized the talents of the ancients were. He had always known he was a bit different than his brothers, that he could project emotions to others, like fear or well-being. He used his power to make his new son giggle and they played a game of stones as they waited for the others to return. The boy was happy and giggling, despite his mending leg. It would be only another day or so and his leg would be fully mended.

At first, Jonal was letting Tecito win, but soon, Jonal found himself losing to his new son and there was nothing he could do about his diminished pile of captured stones. The two finished their game, Tecito grinning at the pile of stones he had won from his Father.

Suddenly, the boy looked, with terror on his face. The alerted Warrior cast around and discovered wolves nearby. He counted six wolves and they were not known to him.

Worried, Jonal cast his mind, trying to reach his Prince. He had never done such before but this was an emergency. Tecito became very frightened and grabbed for his Father's hand, as he did, Jonal could feel his mind force leap out in search of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah replied instantly, confused as he had not known Jonal had such powers. Jonal told his Prince of the nearby wolves and that they were not known to him.

Jeremiah told him to protect the boy and that they would be there as fast as their rented car could take them.

Within a few minutes, Jonal could hear the protest of tires being forced around turns at high speed. The door to the small apartment burst open and Jeremiah and Chub stood there, with questions showing plainly on their faces.

Jonal quickly related what he had sensed and the four of them went in search of the folk Jonal and Tecito had discovered. They found them in an empty hanger, trying to find a place to spend the night. They were all youngsters, none more than 20 years of age. Their clothing was little more than rags and they all clearly showed that they were starving.

Jeremiah very carefully approached them, Peter was at his side. The young men were frightened, fearing these strange Gringos would hurt them or turn them over to the Policia.

Chub brought forth his wolf and showed the boys what they were, as he was shifting back to his human, the boys were hanging on him and flooding him with their tears.

Tecito arrived, breathless from running on his injured leg and began speaking to the boys in a not-quite Spanish language that included words in the local Mayan of the ancient people of that area. The boys had left their homes because their parents could no longer feed them, and their younger siblings were near starvation, so the boys left in order to try and make it on their own and let their younger sibling have the food that they would have eaten.

Jeremiah was stunned, these were the very folk he was searching for! They were the direct descendants of the Lost Clans!

He had Tecito translate and ask where the boys' families were and how far. That found out, Chub went to return their rental car for several larger models and everyone crammed into the larger SUVs.

They stopped at a native Bodega and bought them out of food and supplies that they would gift the boys' parents. They drove many miles on a progressively worse dirt road and it was late afternoon before the boys told them to stop. They were in the middle of a deep jungle, they could feel large wild animals nearby, but they fears the Wolf Folk and kept their distance.

The boys gathered up armloads of the food and told the others to remain in the car; that they would come back for them. They sat there for more than an hour, Jeremiah was listening to the boys speaking to their parents, he was surprised when he discovered that Jonal was doing the same.

Just as he was about to say something to Jonal, they heard the boys begin their return. Jeremiah smiled and said to Jonal, "Later brother, later." Jonal smiled and thought, "At last, someone who understands me!"

The boys burst from the trees, followed by astonished family members. Jeremiah stepped from the vehicle, his emerald ring glowing in the growing dusk. The ring was pulsing gently and cast a green glow over the young Wolf Prince.

The headman saw the ring and his eyes nearly burst from his head, he knelt before Jeremiah proclaiming, "El Viejo, El Viejo!" The headman sobbed, "Thou hast returned for us, cover us with thy mercy Lord of Wolves."

The villagers led them back to their village, there were starving children sitting in the dirt, their ribs showing and stem-like legs.

They had brought all the food they had purchased and gave it to the villagers, promising to bring more the next day. Using Tecito as an interpreter, Jeremiah asked if there were others of their kind nearby, the Headman sadly shook his head and told them they were the last in the area, no others had survived.

Jeremiah tried and was surprised he could contact his Father and it was getting easier to establish rapport. He noticed that Tecito was holding his hand again and his connection with Franklin became even stronger. Jeremiah reported the villagers' condition and Franklin told him to do whatever was needed, spend whatever monies that would put these people back on their feet.

Over the next few days, Jeremiah went to the Bank and established a merchant account and transferred $2 million from his account in Charlotte.

He strongly suspected that Jonal was forming an attachment with these people and he was going to ask permission to remain behind to help them. Jeremiah had already decided that he would allow it, if Jonal asked.

Chub and Jeremiah roamed the farm supply businesses and Farmers' Markets in search of healthy animals and fresh seed stocks to reestablish the villager's farms and gardens.

Before their eyes, the village children began to bloom, their bloated stomachs retreated and their little bodies began filling out with muscle and flesh. Their eyes lost that haunted look and they had the energy to laugh and play. The parents had tears in their eyes as they saw their children literally snatched from the jaws of death.

Young crops were sprouting in their fields and the warriors had the energy to hunt and fish, they even were able to take products and game animals to the weekly market for trade or cash.

Finally, they felt the villagers were on track for survival and Jeremiah was getting worried about Carlos and his Father.

As they were making preparations to leave, Jonal came to Jeremiah, with Tecito and both knelt before their Prince, "Lord Prince Jeremiah, we wish to remain here and help these folk, be your liaison in developing them and restoring their Clan. They once were Clan Cancun Maya and they can be again with just a little assistance."

Jeremiah hugged Warrior Jonal and his son and said, "Jonal, I appoint you Lord Ambassador to the Clan Cancun. I grant you access to the Merchant Account at Banco Nacional and ask only that you allow me to return when you are ready to reestablish their Clan status. You may spend the money as you need and I shall maintain the balance for your use."

As they made ready to leave, the villagers held counsel and asked Prince Jeremiah to attend. When Jeremiah arrived, Jonal and the Headman were standing there, waiting for him with a boy of about 10 summers.

Jonal translated for his Prince, "Lord Prince Alpha Jeremiah, this is Tosco, he is a powerful mindspeaker and very smart. We ask that you take him as your son and raise him. Teach him to be a modern man as yourself that he might someday return to us and help his people grow. He is the Prince Alpha of his folk"

The boy knelt before Jeremiah and placed his head in Jeremiah's hands. Jeremiah heard, "Lord Prince, teach me, teach me how to be a proper wolf. Teach me how to be a modern man that I may lead my people out of this jungle of darkness and into the light of the world."

Jeremiah hugged the boy and said, "Let's go home, son."

After spending several months in the jungle with the Clan Cancun, they returned to the city of Cancun, where Jeremiah had to use his Power of Coercion to obtain an emigrant visa for Tosco as his adopted son.

He gave orders that the Merchant Account would be regularly maintained with deposits and that Jonal Helms was the new owner of the account.

It was with mixed emotions they made ready for their departure, they had the plane fueled and serviced for a flight, first to Puerto Vallarta to check up on how Carlos and his Father, Ronaldo, were doing.

Jeremiah had made it very clear that Carlos was Regent and would rule in the name of his Father until it was time for Ronaldo to step down, then Carlos would become Lord Alpha of the Mexican Clan in name as well as fact.

It was a joyous reunion in Villa Montoya when they returned, the new wolf folk from the south had "leavened" the original clan and it was now vibrant and full of energy and industry. New farms and businesses were everywhere as they drove up the mountain road from Puerto Vallarta.

The local Clan was building a commercial meat packing plant and "Wolf Meat Products" was shipping beef and pork over a wide area of the country. The Clan was also building a Resort Hotel at Magdalena Springs and there would be a World Class Golf Tournament there every year.

Jeremiah and his group were tired, but they all had a good feeling of satisfaction at helping others of their kind and bringing them into the modern world.

They returned to Puerto Vallarta and made ready to continue their journey home, Tosco was wide-eyed at all he saw and he had early established rapport with Peter, who explained everything he saw to the boy.

By the time they landed in Charlotte, winter was well in progress, Tosco had never seen that white stuff, snow, and was amazed at how it covered the land. He touched it with his hand and was surprised that it was cold and wet.

Jeremiah outfitted his son in all the proper clothes that he might be introduced to the Lord Alpha. Franklin insisted that it be in Conclave, with full ceremony before the entire Clan!

So it came about that they traveled to Flat Rock and stood waiting at the door to the Conclave as "Uncle" Chub announced them.

As the door opened, Chub stomped Jeremiah's Staff on the floor three times, "ALL RISE, LORD PRINCE ALPHA WOLF JEREMIAH FRANKLIN TATE, AMBASSADOR PLENIPOTENTIARY, ENTERS WITH HIS SON, LORD PRINCE WOLF TOSCO JEREMIAH TATE. ALL HAIL PRINCES JEREMIAH AND TOSCO."

As they made their way across the floor, there was utter silence. They stood before their Alpha and bowed low, as they arose, Franklin said, "I SEE THEE, PRINCE JEREMIAH, I SEE THEE PRINCE TOSCO, BE WELCOME IN MY RECOGNITION OF YOU AND I ASK THAT YOU SIT AT MY SIDE."

As they seated themselves a great shout went up from the assembled wolves, greeting this popular and famous Lord Prince Alpha and his son.

Jeremiah looked out of the corner of his eye at Tosco and saw his shape shimmering. He thought to himself, "Lord of Wolves Above Us All", he is but 10 summers and already his wolf is struggling to come forth!"

Our Young Wolf Prince and his even younger son shall continue to collect and rejoin the wolf folk and see to it that they are successful and thrive. More of the once thought lost Powers of the Ancients will resurface in these two Princes.