confused look on her face.
"...there's a few other reasons I keep you around for.."
June smiled. "...such as?"
Dash smiled back at her. "let's say you have certain... talents that interest me."
June laughed. "Oh really?" She asked. "Is that all I'm good for?"
She rubbed her shoulder against his and slid her cheek up his neck and nuzzled him.
Dash grinned and nuzzled her. "Well it might not be all your good for, but you are pretty good at it."
June laughed and gently slid her leg over his shoulder and pulled him to the ground. The two of them rolled down the steps a ways and then landed hard, skidding across the rock to a stop. Dash laughed and June jumped on top of him, pinning him to the ground quite easily.
Dash grinned. "Alright June, you got me... now can I get up." He raised his head slightly, but June smacked it back down. "Ow..." Dash said. He tried to sit up and June smacked him back down again. Dash looked at her with a confused look on his face. “What are you doing?” He asked. He rolled over slightly and wrapped his front legs around her forelegs. He twisted sideways and tried to throw her off of him. The move went well… at first. Her forelegs lifted off the ground and she raised up on her back legs. It seemed for a moment that she would topple over, but June twisted her upper body until her forelegs came free and then she dropped them hard on Dash’s chest. The air exploded from his lungs and he had to really restrain himself from kicking her. He looked up at her, trying to regain his breath to speak. “June… what the… what the hell?” He asked. “That.. that hurt. What… what are you doing?”
June smiled at him. “…come on tough Alpha wolf, get away.”
Dash struggled again, and managed to get his head up, but then June slammed it down again.
“Is that really the best you’ve got?” June asked. “I thought you were some kind of fighter…”
Dash smiled at her and raised his back leg, then kicked her just above her right hip. She yelped in surprise and relaxed her hold on his shoulders. Dash immediately entwined his forelegs around hers and raised up, then he further unbalanced her by getting his back leg underneath her stomach. Dash kicked with his leg and twisted his body and June hit the floor fairly hard. He rolled over and came up on top of the startled female.
June was breathing hard. “What… what are you doing?!” She asked.
Dash smiled and leaned down, kissing her gently. “I got away.” He said.
June smiled. “...but… you hurt me.”
Dash smiled and kissed her again. “You hurt me…” He said.
June smiled. “Alright tough guy, let me up now.”
Dash just smiled and pinned her tighter.
“…come on Dash, we’re out here where everyone can see…” She said.
Dash smiled. “That didn’t seem to matter when you were on top.”
June laughed softly. “Alright Dash, you’ve got me there… but really, let me up, please?”
Dash smiled again and then June opened her eyes wider.
“Oh no June… don’t do that…” Dash said.
June turned her head sideways and her lip quivered.
Dash sighed and stood up. June followed him.
She bumped into him lightly and smiled. “See, I can always get you to move.”
Dash laughed and nuzzled her. “…well you’re right about that. I’m powerless against your almighty pout.”
June smiled and started walking up the steps, Dash followed. “Is your leg alright?” Dash asked. “I didn’t kick you too hard did I?”
June chuckled and shook her head. “No, I’m fine, I was asking for it anyway.”
Dash laughed. “Yes you certainly were.” He said.
June laughed and the two began walking back up the steps. It didn’t take them long to reach the Alpha’s Chambers.
They stepped just inside the entrance. June closed her eyes and nuzzled him. “You know with the kids gone…” She stopped and her eyes snapped back open. “…what’s wrong Dash?”
Dash sighed. A familiar scent had reached him. He looked beside him at June. “…wait here June.” He said
June nodded and Dash walked toward the side chamber. He ducked through the entrance and there he was, in the middle of the chamber. Dash sighed and started walking forward again. “Hey Shadow…” He said.
Shadow glanced behind him. “Oh, Dash… hey.”
Dash stopped and sat beside his friend.
“…guess you’re wanting to move in, huh?” Shadow asked.
Dash sighed and nodded. “…yeah, guess so.”
Shadow smiled. “Yeah, well it’ll be better for that big ‘ole family of yours.”
Dash nodded, but remained silent.
“You’ve done alright Dash.” Shadow said. “I feel secure in leaving the clan to you. I always knew you were destined for great things…”
“…you did?” Dash asked.
Shadow nodded. “Why else do you think I accepted a pet turned wolf into my teams?” ...and a wet behind the ears pup at that.” Shadow laughed and Dash smiled. “…but seriously though…” Shadow continued. “You’ve done really well Dash, you and Melody both. I’ve seen many pets try to make it out here… and I’ve seen a lot of them fail.”
Dash sighed. “Thanks… it’s… it’s good to have you back Shadow. I was starting to worry about…”
Shadow cut him off. “I’m not back Dash.”
Dash stopped as his mind shifted gears. “What do you mean Shadow?”
Shadow sighed “I only came back because it was my duty to do so… now it’s over.”
Dash took a step forward. “No, no it’s not Shadow.” He said. “We need you here.”
“I’m just another member of the Clan now Dash.” Shadow said. “You said that every member of the Clan had till tomorrow to decide whether or not to stay, right?”
Dash nodded. “Well… yeah, but Shadow…”
Shadow cut him off again. “Well I’ve decided to leave.” He said.
“…but… why Shadow?” Dash asked.
Shadow sighed. “I… I just can’t do it Dash.” He said. “I can still see her everywhere I look. I can still smell her, hear her voice… she haunts me here.”
Dash noticed then that the entire time he’d been talking to Shadow his friend’s vision had been locked on a rock in the middle of the chamber.
“…see that rock?” Shadow asked.
Dash nodded.
Shadow sighed. “I… I remember…” He stopped as tears started rolling down his face. Shadow closed his eyes and lowered his head between his forelegs.
Dash couldn’t believe this was Shadow he was talking to. Shadow had always been so strong. Dash had thought nothing could shake him… but now something had not only shaken him, but torn him down. The Shadow Dash knew was nothing like the wolf who stood before him. It made Dash feel uneasy he watched his friend, wishing there was something he could do, something he could say to comfort his friend, but knowing from personal experience that nothing anyone could do or say would console him.
As Shadow continued his head remained lowered and Dash could barely understand him he was sobbing so hard. “…I… I remember… I was… was standing right here… and… I’d… I’d just gotten back from a hunt… I rushed back… fastest I’ve… I’ve ever run… I walked in here and… and what I saw… it just… it… it stopped me in my tracks… I… what I saw was… was Aleu… her, and… and she was laying right there… right there against that rock… and… and curled up beside her was… were our two newborn pups…” Shadow became unintelligible at that point and slowly lowered himself to the ground, as he was shaking so hard he didn’t think he could remain standing much longer.
Dash knelt down beside his friend.
“Why would she do that?” Shadow asked. “I… I accept now that… that… she… that she took her own life… I.. I can’t stop seeing it. It… it plays over and over… in… in my mind. …but why would she do something like that? Why… why would she… why would she take herself away from me? …why would she do that? Why… why?”
Dash sighed. “I… I don’t know.” He put his paw on his friend’s shoulder. “I… I can’t tell you why she did what she did Shadow.” Dash continued. “…I wish I could, but I can’t, because I don’t know either, but…” Dash sighed. “I think Thunder was right.”
“…what?” Shadow asked.
“When he was talking today…” Dash said. “He said that… that he didn’t believe… Aleu killed herself because it was completely out of her character to be so selfish. Aleu never did anything to hurt her Clan or her family, least of all you… if Aleu really did kill herself… she had a reason of some kind.”
Shadow shook his head. “Why… why? I just… I don’t… I can’t understand.” He sighed and fell silent. “I’m sorry Dash.” Shadow said finally. “…it’s… it’s not that I don’t care about the Talbourne… I love this Clan more than my own life… but… I just can’t stay here… not right now.”
Dash nodded. “…look buddy… I… I know exactly what you’re going through… and I know it’s hard…” Dash sighed. “…look, take as long as you need. I’ll take care of them till you get back.”
Shadow nodded. “I’m sorry Dash… I wish I were stronger.”
Dash shook his head. “You are strong Shadow. You’re the strongest wolf I know… since I’ve been away from my father, you’ve been like a father to me. No one is ready for a loss like this, not
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