Then she rolled the opposite way and pulled him on top of her. She smiled and nuzzled him. "Hey, glad you're back Jack." She said.
Jack smiled and raised his head, still somewhat shocked. "You're in a feisty mood today."
Kalia smiled. "...somewhat." She said.
Jack smiled back at her and nuzzled her. "...so I take it you're feeling better?" He rolled off of her and stood up. He shook himself off and then sat down again.
Kalia pulled herself to a sitting position, favoring her left foreleg fairly prominently. "...yeah, quite a bit." She said. "My leg still hurts, but it will for a while. I think I'm going to survive."
Jack grinned. "...good to hear." He said. "It's actually really good that you're feeling better, we might have to move tomorrow."
Kalia's smiled disappeared. "Why's that?"
Jack sighed. "While I was out hunting I ran into a group of black wolves."
Kalia gasped. "...the Shadow Clan?"
Jack nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
"What were they doing out there?" Kalia asked.
"I don't know." Jack said. "I didn't stick around to find out. There were at least twenty of them, maybe more. For all I know they could've seen me. We need to be careful. I don't think anyone followed me back, but I don't know for sure."
Kalia nodded and moved to nuzzle him, but Jack stepped back.
Kalia frowned. "What's wrong Jack?"
Jack sighed. "Kalia, I've... I've been doing some thinking and... I mean I love you, don't get me wrong there, but... I just... I don't know how a relationship is going to work out between us."
Kalia stood up and turned away from him as her heart fell to the floor, then jumped up in her throat. "...this can't be happening." she thought. "...not after last night, he can't just..." She turned and smiled, trying to hide how much his statement had hurt her. "...why wouldn't it?" She asked.
Jack sighed again. "Kalia, look at us, tell me you don't see a difference."
Kalia smiled. "I'm looking at you Jack, and I see nothing wrong with you."
Jack sighed. "Kalia, you know what I mean... I'm old enough to be your father."
Kalia's calm disappeared and she lost control at that instant. "...and that matters now?!" She yelled. "After... after last night, you're having second thoughts?! What the hell is your problem Jack?"
Jack sighed. "Kalia... I love you..." Kalia cut him off.
"...then stay with me Jack." She said. "If you love me and I love you then that's all that matters. Screw what other people think. I love you Jack."
Jack shook his head slowly. "Kalia... what about your father?" He asked. "What's he going to think?"
Kalia smiled and stepped toward him. "Jack, you don't get it." She said. "I don't care what my father thinks... I care about you, that's all. The rest of the world can go straight to hell if they think they can tell me that's wrong."
Jack smiled. "...you're stubborn Kalia, you know that?"
Kalia smiled. "...runs in the family."
Jack sighed. "...but seriously Kalia, this is something we need to think about... what are we going to tell him?"
Kalia smiled. "We're going to tell him that you saved my life, that we love each other, and that maybe, just maybe he's going to be a granddad."
Jack smiled. "Okay, we don't know that yet."
Kalia smiled back at him and nuzzled him, this time he didn't pull away from her, but laid his head against hers. "No..." She said. "...but after last night it's possible right?"
Jack smiled. "Yeah... yeah, I guess it is."
She smiled and picked her head up, looking into his eyes. "That's what you wanted wasn't it?" She asked.
Jack smiled. "Yeah... I mean... I certainly wouldn't have a problem with it."
Kalia smiled. "...good, me too."
Jack smiled.
"...so Jack, you said we might have to move tomorrow, right?" She asked.
Jack nodded. "Yeah..."
"Well if we do... do you think we can go back to the Talbourne?" She asked.
Jack sighed. "Kalia... I don't even know if they exist anymore."
Kalia sighed. "Yeah... do you really think the Shadow Clan killed everyone?"
Jack shook his head. "I don't think so... I mean... there were a lot of them, but that would take more than a lot... you know?"
Kalia nodded. "Jack... do you think I'll ever see my family again?"
Jack sighed. "I... I can't say." He said. "Your dad... well he was outside the cave, so I'd think he is alright, but..."
"...mom was there." Kalia said.
Jack nodded. "...but she's not a member of the teams so..."
"...you think they left her alone?" Kalia asked.
"...hopefully." Jack said.
Kalia nodded.
"Tell you what..." Jack said. "We'll get close and I'll go scout the area and see if they're still there. If the clan is still in power then they should have sentries out beyond the entrance... if it's clear then I'll come and get you."
Kalia nodded. "Alright... sounds good to me."
Jack smiled.
Kalia sighed. "Jack, there is one thing I want to talk to you about."
Jack grinned. "Sure, go ahead Kalia."
Kalia sighed. "Jack... I know... I know that you just lost your mate of four years..." Kalia stopped as the smile disappeared from his face.
Jack sighed. "...go on Kalia, what is it you wanted to ask?"
Kalia shook her head. "I'm sorry Jack, it's not important."
Jack sighed. "Kalia, it is important, otherwise you wouldn't have asked." He said. "...now go on, ask."
Kalia shook her head. "No Jack, it's... I don't want to hurt you."
Jack sighed. "Kalia, you're right." He said. "This is a valid topic that we have to address, now go on and ask."
Kalia sighed. "...okay." She said. "...do you think you're ready to move on already? I mean... do you think it's going to be a problem?"
Jack sighed. "Kalia... I..." He stopped, unsure of what exactly to say. "Kalia, I loved Kami... I loved her very much, and we were together for a long time..." He paused. "Your dad talked to me when we first met. I guess he recognized something in my eyes that told him something bad had happened... anyway, he told me about your mother... then I couldn't even think of moving on. He said that I would eventually, but I didn't believe him... then I met you. I can't say that you will ever replace her in my life because... well I never want to forget her... but... but I'm sure that I can move on, that it won't be a problem. I know this for a fact. Because... because I love you Kalia... with all my heart. I would give my life for yours in less than a heartbeat." Jack stopped and sighed as tears came to his eyes. "When... when Kami... when she was shot she... she was pregnant..." He trailed off and fell silent.
Kalia sighed. "I'm so sorry Jack... I... I had no idea."
Jack nodded. "Well I mean... I guess everything happens for a reason... but... but I miss her, I miss her a lot, for a long time..." He stopped and hung his head as the emotions swirling inside him finally won the battle. He sighed and looked back up at her, his cheeks wet with tears. "...for a long time there was a hole in my life, something that I never thought would go away... but when I'm with you I'm... I'm free Kalia, It's like... like that hole is covered up and I can breathe again... and it doesn't hurt so much... that's how I know I love you, and how I know that... that I will never leave you, no matter what that means for me."
Kalia stood and walked over to him. Then she nuzzled him and he laid his head on her shoulder, sobbing against her fur. She sighed. "I'm sorry Jack I... I shouldn't have brought it up."
Jack nuzzled her back and raised his head. He shook it once to clear his mind and took a deep breath. Slowly he began to regain control of himself again. "...no, it's fine Kalia." He said. "...it was a valid concern... plus... well it's good to talk about it to someone. I've kept those emotions bundled up inside for too long... just too stubborn to let them go I guess."
Kalia smiled. "...runs in the family." She said.
Jack smiled. "Yeah... yeah I guess so."
She nuzzled him and slowly pulled him down to lay down beside her. "I love you Jack." She said. "I mean that more than anything I've ever said to anyone."
Jack nodded and smiled back at her. "Yeah I... I love you too Kalia."
She smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. "We're going to need to get some sleep." She said. "...got a big day tomorrow if we're leaving and all."
Jack nodded and laid his head on top of hers. He placed his paws on top of hers as well and pulled her close. "...goodnight Kalia." He said
Kalia smiled. "...night Jack."
Then Jack closed his eyes and quickly sank into a deep sleep.
Kalia watched him for a while, a smile on her face. "...just wait and see Jack." She thought. "...you'll see, everything will turn out great... everything will be fine." She snuggled up against him and closed her eyes. Not long after she too slipped into the calmness of
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