statement.

          June sighed. “I… I don’t think that’s a good idea Dash.” She said.

          Dash frowned. “…why not?” He asked. “I figured you’d like the idea.”

          June sighed again. “It’s just…” She paused for a moment, as if thinking. “It’s just bad timing is all.” She said. “You’re so busy right now…”

          Dash nodded. “Well yeah, I am, but you’re not. You could stay with them.”

          June shook her head. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” She said.

          Dash looked at her. He could tell she was hiding something from the way she spoke, but what… and why? “It just seems like ever since we decided to become mates I’ve been too busy with the pack to take care of you properly. I mean we haven’t umm…” Dash stopped, again unsure of quite how to word what he had in mind to say.

          June nodded. “I know Dash and I know you’re busy.” She smiled. “I knew you would be when I decided to be your mate.”

          Dash nodded. “…still, I want to be with you.”

          June sighed and nodded. “Well… it’ll happen when the time is right.”

          Dash looked at her for a moment before he spoke. “…June, is everything alright? …something you need to tell me?”

          June quickly shook her head. “No, everything is fine.” She said. “…just fine.”

          “It’s just that… we’ve been together for a while now and… you avoided that subject fairly abruptly.”

          June sighed. “Dash, I love you, and…” She paused for a moment and then continued. “…and I want to be with you too, but… the time is just awful, what with you being so busy and all.”

          Dash nodded. The last thing he wanted to do now that he’d found some time to be with June was argue with her, so he let the subject drop, but filed it away for later. He was sure that there was something she wasn’t telling him. “…maybe you’re right.” He said. “…so I talked to Aleu today… she’s not taking over as Alpha again.” He said. “She said I was doing a good job and that she wants me to continue.”

          June nodded. “I was afraid that was going to happen.”

          Dash looked surprised. “You saw it coming?”

          June nodded. “Well you are doing a good job. You led us through a really tough time, and with no experience or turnover… that’s not something that just anyone can do.”

          Dash smiled. “Thanks June.” He said. “I’m getting used to the idea… still afraid I’m going to let everyone down… but I guess that’s part of it.”

          June nodded. “The important thing is that you’re not telegraphing your doubts to the rest of the Clan anymore.”

          Dash nodded. “That doesn’t do anyone any good.”

          June nodded. “You’ll always have doubts, but as the leader you have to keep them to yourself and not let them influence your decisions.”

          Dash chuckled. “…listen to you.” He said. “You’d think you’d done it before, how do you know so much.”

          June smiled and nuzzled him. “I know everything, don’t you know that by now?”

          Dash laughed. “Yeah, I guess I should heh heh.”

          It was quiet for a moment and June led him to the corner where they both laid down.

          “…guess I’m going to have to learn to share you now hm?” June asked. A smile creeping across her muzzle.

          “…guess so.” Dash said. “…especially if these attacks keep coming…”

          June nodded. “…ever figure out anything about them?”

          Dash shook his head.

          “…not even who they are?”

          Dash shook his head again. “…nope. They hit us fast, inflict a few injuries and pull back before we can mount a response… it’s strange… and it worries me.”

          “Why’s that?” June asked.

          “…because if they attacked us and took a few casualties themselves before pulling back it would send a clear meaning, a meaning of war, of their intenion to take us on as a Clan… with this… I’m not sure what their motive is… what they hope to gain.”

          June nodded. “Maybe they’re just trying to get us scared… so that when they attack for real it will work better.”

          Dash shook his head. “…that’s not it… because it has the opposite effect. It makes us aware of their presence, strengthens our guard and puts us on the look out for them. They’d be better served by attacking the cave out of nowhere, with us unaware of their existence.”

          June nodded. “..guess I don’t know everything heh heh.”

          Dash laughed. “…well you haven’t had much experience as a tactition, so that’s to be expected.”

          June nodded and laid her head on his shoulder. “Dash… I…” She fell silent and just nuzzled him.

          “…what is it June?” Dash asked.

          June sighed and paused to consider her words. “…about what you were talking about earlier… I just… I want you to know that I do love you. I just…” She sighed.

          Dash smiled and licked her nose. “…don’t worry about it June.” He said. “I know you love me and I love you too… if you think it’s a bad time, then I’ll go with that.”

          June smiled. “Thanks Dash.” She said. “…I do love you you know.”

          Dash nodded. “I know.” He said.

          June yawned.

          Dash smiled and laid his head on her neck. “…you look tired.” He said.

          June nodded. “I am.” She said. “…went out with the hunters today. It was a good one, got four deer, enough to feed us for the day anyway, but it was a lot of running, and then I stayed up waiting for you, so…”

          Dash smiled and nodded. “I know, I’m sorry I was so late. It’s jut… I had to talk to my lieutenants. I feel really badly about their schedules right now… I know that they’re really harsh.”

          June nodded. “…but I think they understand that there’s no better way.”

          Dash nodded. “…they do, but their mates are a different story, or at least Timbre’s is.”

          June sighed. “…is Melody still giving him a hard time?”

          Dash nodded. “…apparently so. Ami had been on duty for two days already… and she was going to volunteer to take Fourth Unit out tomorrow morning, but Timbre wouldn’t let her.”

          June nodded. “…well after two days she must have been