and why are we dashing away from my father?” Rallan sighed heavily and turned around to face her.

“Fantasy, your father found out something about me… Something I’ve tried to ignore and keep hidden all of my life… When I said my father and brother were murdered… well, I murdered them…” Rallan admitted slowly, “And somehow your father found out about this and now he’s trying to have me executed… But how did he find out?”

“Rallan, wait… Back up a moment… You murdered your brother and father,” Fantasy asked again, “I… I don’t believe that… You wouldn’t do something like that Rallan… I know you…”

“But that’s just it Fantasy! You don’t know me!” Rallan remarked quickly, sighing softly, “You only know half of me… Half of my life… The other half was tortured and tormented for a year until I killed my father… I was exiled a year ago… That’s my life… This is me…”

“Rallan, I can’t accept that! I know that isn’t you! It can’t be…” Fantasy said softly, on the verge of tears, “I love you, Rallan…” The gray-brown male sighed and shook his head slowly, staring into her blue eyes sadly.

“No Fantasy… You can’t love me… You can’t because you can’t accept my past… That’s what really happened and I’m not going to let it hurt anyone else…” Rallan replied softly, “Fantasy, if there’s anyone you should love, it’s Blizzard… He’s a great wolf, and I know you’d just die for him… I know he’s liked you since he first saw you… He thinks you’re the most beautiful thing in the world…”

“R-really?” Fantasy asked softly, “He said that?”

“Not in so many words, but that’s what he truly feels…” Rallan replied, looking back out and spotting Ocean running around, obviously looking for him, “Ocean’s out there… No doubt he’s looking for me… Fantasy, sneak back around and tell your father you managed to escape me… Find Blizzard and live your life happily… You won’t be seeing me again…” Fantasy nodded and turned away from Rallan.

“Thank you for everything…” Fantasy said over her shoulder, “Goodbye, Rallan…” Fantasy then turned and ran off. Rallan smiled at her as she vanished from sight.

“Goodbye, Fantasy…” Rallan whispered into the soft breeze, then looked back out at Ocean, “Time to finish what I started and get out of here…”

Rallan stepped out into plain view, eyes narrowed fiercely as he glared at Ocean. Ocean quickly caught his scent and turned to face him. The Beta growled at Rallan and slowly advanced on him.

“So, you’ve given up running then, have you?” Ocean asked, his voice deadly and vicious, “Brave and noble of you, but foolish! You die now!”

Ocean lunged at Rallan and managed to grab the wolf’s shoulder in his jaws, pulling him down to the snowy ground. Rallan grunted softly and slashed across Ocean’s chest, breaking the skin and staining his claws a deep red. Ocean yelped and backed off a bit before continuing his assault, grabbing one of Rallan’s front legs in his jaws and pulling, attempting to break the bone. Rallan cried out in pain and managed to land a strong blow onto Ocean’s head, knocking the white wolf away and into the rocks he had been hiding behind with Fantasy.

Rallan slowly got up again, a dull throbbing pin in his injured leg. Though the bone hadn’t broken, enough damage had been inflicted onto the muscle to cause Rallan to limp slightly. Ocean got to his paws as shook his head to clear the daze caused by his impact. He saw Rallan and both wolves charged one another, Rallan gaining the advantage when he grabbed Ocean’s neck in his jaws. Rallan tossed Ocean away, watching his opponent roll and skid across the snow and then down a hill.

Rallan kept up the fight, pursuing Ocean as he fell. Once the wolf had hit the bottom of the hill, Rallan was on top of him and took a bite out of the Arctic wolf’s shoulder, ripping through the flesh and drawing even more blood out of him. Ocean shouted out in agony and slashed across Rallan’s throat, barely missing any vitals. Rallan fell off of Ocean, gasping as a fiery pain burned from his neck through his body. Before Rallan could get up, Ocean was on him and pressing his muzzle firmly into the snow.

“Who did you think you were, Rallan?” Ocean asked mockingly, “A murderer pretending to be innocent or just a wolf who doesn’t even know who he is? Well, I can answer that for you… You are a lowly, scum-sucking piece of filth that has no place in a pack’s hierarchy or in life!”

Rallan growled viciously and pushed back, sending Ocean flying off of his back and into a snow-bank. Rallan moved with his honed lightning-fast reflexes, placing a paw on Ocean’s chest and dragging his claws downward through his torso. Once more, Ocean cried out as sharp pains ran through his body. But before he could retaliate again, Rallan placed his paw on the Beta’s throat, dug his claws into the skin, and pulled away, ending the Arctic wolf’s life in a quick gush of blood which stained his white coat and the snow beneath him.

“No Ocean… I know precisely who I am…” Rallan replied in a cold, fierce voice, “I’m Rallan, I’m an exile, and this is my life… This is who I am…”

            The southern border wasn’t as far as Rallan had expected; just a couple dozen minutes from the sight where he’d fought and killed Ocean. As he reached the border, he could tell he’d made it. The snow simply ended and bright green grass grew past it. Flowers blossomed and trees were green with life. Giving one last look back at the frozen home he’d come to know for six months, Rallan sighed heavily and walked past the border and into unknown territory.

The first major difference Rallan noted was the change in scenery. Where the Icicle Pack lands had been cold and covered with snow, this place seemed like every other forest in the late spring: green, sunny, and full of color. The second thing Rallan noticed was the warmth. The sunlight felt good against his brown-gray pelt and even the breeze, yet cool, was still warm enough to be comfortable. The air was hinted with the scents of many variations of wildflowers and birds sang happily as they flew by.

Rallan was in awe by the amazing beauty he’d just walked into. The Icicle Pack lands were great as well, but this place was all natural. Whereas their lands had been winter year round, this place had seasons and everything one would need to live happily. It all seems to perfect! Rallan thought, then frowned slightly, A bit too perfect… Things always start off great for me, then go downhill suddenly… Better be aware of that…

Rallan continued to walk through the lush grass, smiling as he passed all the nature along the way. It felt so great to actually see this much color after half a year of pure white snow. He walked up and down a couple of hills until he came to a calm stream just running its way through the land. Everything seemed so simple and serene around here and Rallan loved it. Walking to the bank of the stream, he bent his muzzle down and took a long drink of the cool, clear water.

On the opposite side of the stream, a brown and white wolf had also come to get a drink. Both he and Rallan had bent down at the same time and had just missed noticing one another by a couple of seconds. However, when they both pulled back up, their eyes locked and they noticed one another. Both males seemed frozen in time as they stared at one another, assessing the other.

“Um, hello there…” Rallan replied calmly, still not sure what to make of the other male, “My name’s Rallan… I’m kinda new around here, I hope I’m not intruding…”

“Oh, no… No pack has been here for a long time…” the brown-white male replied, still scanning Rallan for any signs of aggression, “I’m Kalgorn, by the way… Welcome to the lands, Rallan…”

“Thanks Kalgorn… It’s a pleasure to meet you…” Rallan said, looking around, “So I guess you’re not going to harm me?” Kalgorn chuckled slightly and shook his head.

“Nope… Not unless you give me a reason to harm you…” Kalgorn answered, “So Rallan, are you passing through?”

“Actually, to be perfectly honest, I’m looking for a new home…” Rallan said truthfully, “I kinda just left my old one for the benefit of others, so I came here looking for a new place to stay…”

“Ah, well perhaps I could show you around maybe…” Kalgorn said warmly, “I’d be happy to introduce you to these lands…”

“Sounds great Kalgorn! I’d love to see around this place… It seems lovely…” Rallan replied, looking around at the lush green landscape surrounding him, “Do you have any friends around here I might meet?”

“Oh… Um, no, not really… I’ve kinda lived alone for- most of my life…” Kalgorn admitted slowly, “But I’d like to show you around…” Rallan smiled and ran across the shallow stream up beside Kalgorn.

“Well, what are we waiting for Kalgorn?” Rallan asked eagerly, “Let’s begin, shall we?” Kalgorn smiled back and led the way forward.

“Sure Rallan, let’s go!” Kalgorn replied, leading Rallan around. When Kalgorn finished his tour, the sun had already begun setting. “Well, what do you think of this place?”

“It’s fantastic Kalgorn! Thank you so much for showing me around…” Rallan said appreciatively, “So… Friends?”

“Friends…” Kalgorn replied, grinning at Rallan.

“There’s only one thing I’d have to say about here though…” Rallan said, looking around before looking back to Kalgorn, “I didn’t see many dens around here though… That could prove a problem for me…”

“Yeah, it probably would…” Kalgorn remarked, thinking to himself for a moment before a slight smile spread across his face, “Um, Rallan? If it’s not a problem with you, you could stay with me for a while… I don’t have any problems with that…”

“Kalgorn, I can’t begin to thank you enough!”