Kalil still hadn't fallen asleep. He found it to be near impossible, for he wasn't tired at all. Which doesn't make sense, he thought, his eyes still closed, I was beaten unconscious and I've been travelling with little sleep for days! Suddenly, he smelled another wolf in their den and recognized it immediately. Kelia. He opened his eyes and saw her staring at him. Ooooook... he thought, slightly confused and smiled up at her. "So, am I that interesting when I seem asleep?" he asked sarcastically. Kelia was snapped back into reality and blushed, her ears lowered against her head. "I-I'm sorry..." she said sheepishly, "I was just coming to see if you two were alright, and... I'm sorry." Kalil chuckled and sat up. "It's alright," he said and shook his pelt off, "I wasn't asleep." Kalil then noticed a light blue crystal necklace hanging around her neck. "That's interesting," he complimented and pointed at it, "Where'd you get that?" Kelia smiled and placed a paw on her necklace. "My Mom gave it to me... just before she passed away..." she said slowly and Kalil immediately started to apologize, but she held up her paw to stop him, "It's ok. She passed away peacefully in her sleep. She'd been sick for awhile and I think it was better that she wasn't in anymore pain..." Kalil nodded slowly and smiled at her, suddenly feeling unlike himself. What's going on with me? he thought and felt his heart warm when she smiled back at him.

"Well, I'd better get going. I didn't mean to disturb you," she said softly and quickly turned and left. Kelia walked through the woods until she stopped in a clearing and sat down. What's wrong with you Kelia? she thought and sighed, her mind still reeling with thoughts. Suddenly, she heard a rustling in some bushes nearby and gasped, but sighed when she recognized the wolf coming through them. "Oh, hi Ryder," she said, not looking at him. "Hey beautiful," he replied and walked towards her. Kelia shifted uncomfortably as he neared her. He's always had a crush on me, Kelia thought, But why won't he just accept that I won't be his mate? "So, you sure you don't wanna be my girl?" he asked her, sitting down a couple of feet away. "Yes, I'm sure..." she answered, wishing he'd give up and go away. "Why not?" Kelia quickly tried to come up with an excuse to make him leave. "Because, I-" she started, but was cut off when another wolf entered the scene, a wolf she was glad to see.

Kalil watched her leave and opened his mouth to stop her, but just sighed sadly instead. For some reason, he liked to spend time with her. Why do I get so nervous when I;m near her? he thought, then remembered his father telling him about having a crush. "You usually blush or get flustered around her." Kalil shook his head and stood up, giving Najan one last glance before walking out of the den. He sniffed around and found Kelia's scent, following it until he reached a clearing. He pushed his head through some bushes and saw her there with another male. Her boyfriend, perhaps? Kalil thought and felt his heart drop, but felt it rise when he heard their conversation. "So, you sure you don't wanna be my girl?" Yes, I'm sure..." "Why not?" Kalil saw her pause, trying to come up with an excuse. Time to help her out, he thought and pushed his way through the bushes. "Because, I-" she started, but stopped when Kalil sat down beside her and put his paw around her. "Because she already has a mate: me," he finished, hoping that Ryder would believe him.

Kelia and Ryder both looked at Kalil in surprise. "Who... are you?" Ryder asked, irritated by Kalil's intrusion and presence. "I told you, I'm her mate," Kalil answered cooly, keeping a straight face, despite the fact he was blushing under his fur. Ryder looked from Kalil to Kelia. "Is this true Kelia?" Kelia nodded and smiled, resting her head on Kalil's shoulder. "Yep! We've been meeting in secret for the past two months. We're madly in love and my father just accepted him as my mate!" she lied. Fortunately, Ryder was gullible and scowled. "So be it..." he said bitterly and stood up, "I hope you two have a horrible time together!" Without another word, Ryder turned and walked away. Kelia sighed, relieved that Kalil had shown up when he did. "Thanks..." she said timidly. Kalil smiled at her and blushed again, not sure why. "No problem... So, friends?" Kelia returned his smile and nodded. "Friends." For a moment, there was a silence between the two.

Kelia shuffled her paws nervously and looked back up at him. Kelia, you like him, she heard her inner voice say, Start a conversation, take him around your home, do something! "Hey Kalil, wanna take a walk?" she offered and he smiled at her. "Yeah sure!" he said happily and stood up, "That'd be great! Let's go!" Kelia took him around, showing him the home she'd lived in since she was born, ending the tour at the Syn River, which ran through their lands as well. They both sat down and shared stories of when they were pups and friends they had. "My best friend is-" Kelia said, but was cut in when another voice was heard behind them. "Me!" said a cheerful voice. They both turned around and saw another female wolf, smiling at the two of them. "Hey Moonlight!" Kelia said and looked at Kalil, "That's Moonlight, my best friend! Moonlight, meet Kalil. Kalil, Moonlight." Moonlight walked up to him and bowed her head, he followed suit. "I haven't seen you here before Kalil, are you a traveller?" she asked and Kalil nodded. Then Moonlight gave a smirk at Kelia, "I thought you said you didn't have a mate..." "He's not my mate," Kelia said at the same time Kalil said "I'm not her mate." Moonlight laughed at the two of them. "I was just kidding! But hey, you never know!" she said and walked off.

Kelia shook her head and looked back at Kalil. "Don't mind her," she said with a laugh, "She's been bugging me about getting a mate, since I just turned one." "Oh really?" Kalil said, "I turned one a few months ago." Kelia smiled at him and looked out at the river. "That's the river that carried Najan and I down to River Pack territory..." Kalil told her and winced as he realized she'd want the whole story. As expected, Kelia turned her attention back to him. "What? Why? What happened?" she asked and Kalil sighed. "My brother and I... we're really not supposed to be here... Our other brother... He pushed us off a cliff into that river and we drifted 500 miles downriver... Now we need to get back to our pack: The Sanarins. That's why we were travelling north through your lands," he explained and looked back at her. "So you've been walking for about 400 miles?" she asked, amazed at his strength and endurance. "Yep," Kalil said, then counted in his head, "Actually, it's more about 350, but you get the idea..." "That's impressive..." she said and stared into his eyes, losing herself again, but she pulled herself back into reality, but not before Kalil noticed. Kalil blushed and looked back out at the Syn River. Go now, make your move! his inner voice said and he sighed. "Kelia..." he started, still looking at the water's surface, "What would you say if I said I liked you?"

Kelia felt her heart stop when he said those words. "What would you say if I said I liked you?" Time seemed to stand still for her as she thought. He likes me... He likes me... Go on! Stop sitting there and tell him! "I'd say..." she started and looked at him, a smile on her face, "I like you too." Kalil was stunned by her response, but not so stunned. She'd been pretty easy to figure out. He turned to look at her and found himself pressing his muzzle to hers, both of them locked in a passionate kiss. After what seemed like an eternity, the two reluctantly pulled apart and gazed into each others eyes before kissing each other again. "I love you Kelia," Kalil said in between their kisses. "I love you Kalil," she replied and smiled at him. From a perch on a nearby cliffside, Bacar watched the two of them, a smile on his face. "I'm glad you've found the one, Kelia," he said into the wind and smiled.

Later that night, Kalil was lying down on his back on his elk skin, thinking of Kelia. Najan noticed his brother, deep in thought, and smirked. He silently crept over and leapt onto his brother's exposed belly. "Gotcha!" he shouted triumphantly and laughed. Kalil was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a weight suddenly press down on his stomach. He looked up, saw Najan, and laughed back, picking Najan up with his paw and laying him down on his back, tickling his belly. "No fair Kalil!" he said amidst the endless laughter. Kalil stopped and sighed. "Alright, time for bed!" he said and Najan caught his breath, lying down on the other elk skin and quickly falling sleep. Kalil rolled over onto his side and closed his eyes, starting to fall asleep. Kelia looked down at Kalil's den from the hill she was sitting on. I love him so much, but am I ready for the next step? she thought and sat there for a few minutes before