Origins: Silver Mountain

Prologue

Over a century ago, Silver Mountain was nothing more than a secluded place, with many natural resources that remained untouched. With its snow-covered tops and jagged terrain, no one dared make the trek. Anyone brave and stupid enough to attempt to hike the mountain was never seen again. It was an unspoken rule that they’d be presumed dead. 

Details about just how it became home to a pack of blessed wolves have been mixed up in the retelling of the oral history of Judeah Vincent Lévesque. 

It has been said that a young wolf, whose entire pack was slaughtered by vampires, managed to escape. His pack was special to the Moon Goddess. Most of its members were healers in one way or another. He ventured far until he stumbled across a crystal blue stream at the base of a mountain. Growing weary from his long journey, he decided to set up camp for a few days. The hike to find suitable territory was daunting. 

By the end of the second day, he collapsed from exhaustion. A woman appeared as he slipped in and out of consciousness. 

“This will be your new home. My only request is that you take care of other refugees as this mountain will take care of you.”

Assuming he was dying and giving in to what he figured were hallucinations, he agreed. The woman smiled and faded into a sparkle of bright yellow stars. 

He was awaken the next morning by the sunlight beaming down into his face. He sat up slowly, feeling a rush of energy overtake his body. He stood, feeling better than he had in weeks. 

His hike continued, as he thought about the star woman. Like fate would have it, he walked into a vast space of smooth rock, rich soil, springs, and pine trees. It spanned for miles and miles. His mind worked, planning for the future. If he was going to take in refugees, he was going to make sure they felt at home. 

He worked the land for years; building homes during the day and learning the terrain during the night. 

It wasn’t until almost seven years after his arrival that he took in some wolves from a pack that had been destroyed. By then, he had built several homes and cultivated enough of the land to produce food for hundreds of wolves. He kept up his end of the agreement as he met more wolves and as they arrived to Silver Mountain. 

They were able to co-exist in peace; the pack of refugees they had grown became a loving community. 

That all changed when a hybrid, Lukas Talon, was discovered at the mountain’s base, barely clinging to life. He was carried across the rough and jagged mountain into the town. Judeah had a team of nurses tend to him. As Lukas began to regain strength, he paid close attention to the pack’s dynamics. Eventually, he left and life went back to normal for the Silver Mountain wolves. 

In the middle of the night, some weeks after his departure, Lukas returned with an army. They ambushed the town, seizing power. Judeah fled, disappearing into the night.

Despite opposition and protest, Lukas only doubled down on his position. His army was too powerful. The refugees were not prepared for such a display of a hostile takeover. They chose self-preservation over fighting. 

Lukas declared himself King of Silver Mountain.