"Ok." He led her onward. His paws began to feel heavy. He was tired of Demon’s arguing. He wished that she would just accept him and work with him. But he knew he would have to struggle for her full trust.

Demon trudged behind him through the snow. She was tired and homesick but she wasn’t homesick enough to cry or pout. She’d get over it. This was her time for revenge.

Lithor looked over his shoulder at Demon. More than anything, he wanted her to trust him. No one really trusted him. He wanted someone he could talk to, who wouldn’t laugh at him or tease him. He wanted a true friend, who he could count on. He had a feeling inside him that his desired friend was her. He wouldn’t give up easily.

"What are you looking at, flea?" Demon spat.

"Nothing," Lithor said. He stood still and turned around to face her. "Will you stay with the pack after the battle?"

"I don’t know," Demon sighed. It wasn’t a lie. She didn’t know. She felt like it was where she needed to be so she’d see what happened from there. She walked onward so Lithor walked backwards.

"Oh," he replied.

"Watch out!" she barked. Lithor had forgotten that they were in mountains and he had fallen over the side of a cliff because he hadn’t turned. Demon ran to him since he was hanging on with one paw. She grabbed his scruff and pulled. She finally had him up. "Never walk backwards again," she panted. He grinned.

"I won’t," he said. "Why’d you save me? I thought you hated me."

"You’re my guide," she said. "Shall we continue?"

"Yeah," Lithor sighed. They stood up and walked onward, side by side.

That night, Demon woke up suddenly. She had just had a nightmare of Glacier following her and killing her. She shook her fur and looked around. She almost expected him to leap at her but she reminded herself that she was being stupid.

"Are you okay?" asked Lithor, standing up. "We can start moving again, if you want."

"Okay," Demon replied. "Let’s do that." She was shocked that she found herself smiling at him! She replaced the smile quickly with a frown and flicked her tail at him, walking ahead.

Lithor raised an eyebrow. So she did have a soft side. He trotted after her. "So, Demon, where do you come from?"

"The question," Demon snapped, "is where do you come from."

"The Tryluns," Lithor said. "The place I’m taking you."

"Didn’t know it had a name."

"Every place has a name."

"I guess."

"What about you?" Lithor asked. Demon snorted and rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, you can’t barricade yourself forever!"

"Watch me," she growled. The sun was slowly lifting into the sky.

Lithor froze. "Demon, scent the air."

"What?"

"Do it," he growled. Taken aback, she sniffed.

"Glacier," she gasped. "Lithor, we have to go."

"Why?" Lithor asked. He blinked. "Is he in your pack?"
"Was," Demon growled. "Can we fight him?"

"The pack might be with him," Lithor replied. "We keep our guard on but keep moving. Revenge comes later."

Demon nodded. "Fine. Let’s go." She caught herself then. Was she beginning to respect him? Or maybe even like him? Of course not. She was being stupid. Was she?

"You okay?" Lithor asked.

"Fine." Demon said. "Hurry up. I want to get to that pack of yours." He nodded, smiling. "What?" Demon snapped. "Why are you smiling?"

"Just happy," he replied, padding on.

"What about?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Being with you."

The moon had risen into the sky and stars had joined it in its vigil. Demon kept her eyes on the path ahead. Since Lithor had said the comment about being together, they hadn’t exchanged a word. She wasn’t exactly angry about the comment but yet she wasn’t exactly pleased. She was confused. She had been so rude to him and yet he said he was glad they were together. Why would he say that? Either he was lying or… or…. She shook her head, not wanting to think about it. She felt horrible, tired, and alone. But yet…. Demon shook her head again; not sure she liked where her mind was going with this. But yet, continued her mind, I don’t feel as alone anymore. Not with Lithor anyway. I actually feel… whole. Like I belong and I have a place to go, a friend. At this, Demon froze.

"You okay?" Lithor asked.

"Yeah," she said slowly. Then her eyes widened. "You’re leading me to a rebellion!"

"So?" asked Lithor.

"Glacier’s following! He’ll follow us there!" she cried.

"Oh, no he won’t!" Lithor spun around and snarled. "Come out and fight, coward!" Suddenly, a white wolf flew at Lithor, knocking him over. Lithor yelped as Glacier grabbed his scruff and threw him against the side of the mountain.

"No!" Demon threw herself at Glacier, knocking him over.

"Keep out of this! Your turn comes later!" Glacier kicked her off, sending her to the path’s edge, about a meter away from the cliff’s edge.

"Leave her be!" Lithor sped to Demon and stood infront of her, blocking her from Glacier. The white wolf advanced on him, baring his large teeth.

"Why are you sticking together when she’d stab you in the back without notice? Demon is a traitor who cares for no one but herself," Glacier growled.

"I don’t care what she thinks of me," Lithor snarled. "But my thoughts of her aren’t changing. I-" He didn’t get to finish because Glacier rammed into him and pinned him, lowering his long fangs toward his throat. At this point, Demon had gotten up and walked behind the wolves, so that she was facing the cliff.

"No!" Demon threw herself at Glacier. She had planned this even though she knew the outcome. Biting and scratching, she herded him to the cliff’s edge. Looking back at Lithor one last time, she smiled then leapt at Glacier, toppling over the edge with him.

"Demon!" Lithor raced to the edge, staring over. Demon was on the ground, motionless. "No."

By the time Lithor had reached her, Demon was fighting for breath. When Lithor bent over her, she looked at him, her eyes pleading.

"Is he dead?" she murmured. Lithor looked at Glacier and saw that his chest was still.

"Yes," he whispered, bending down beside her. "Please, don’t die, Demon."

Demon smiled softly. "But I must. I see Tundra coming for me."

"No." Lithor looked at the sky. "You can’t have her yet! Please, don’t take her from me."

"Lithor," Demon whispered. "Do not mourn me. Enjoy life, move on, raise a family."

"No," Lithor said firmly. "I can’t."

"You can." Demon looked at him sadly but smiled again. "I want to tell you something."

"What?" Lithor asked, coming nearer. "I’ll always listen to you. I’ll never leave you and you’ll always be in my heart," he said before she could speak.

Demon smiled as she remembered their first meeting. "So let me speak," she said kinder than she would have if she had been speaking to anyone else. "Lithor-" But he never heard anymore. For Demon gave a sigh and left him alone as rain suddenly began to pour. He lifted his head to the moon and let out a slow, mournful, respectful howl, as rain crawled down his fur.

Demon’s words still ring through my head. I’ll never move on but I’m strong now. I’m strong enough to continue down this hard path of life. She was a wonderful friend, a great wolf, and she knew what was worth saying and what was not. She knew more than I ever did and I will always respect her and know that her spirit is within me and is always ready to return to the fight.