Loved. I thought that there was something there. You know I could have killed you. When I heard you out in the woods talking to Iimos, I thought that I should tell my sister, then I thought about it. Shadow would’ve killed you. I decided to try to turn you. I expected to listen to you try to get me to betray my family, but never would I have guessed you’d hit me. Guess I was pretty stupid, huh?” Timbre just hung his head. “Don’t you have anything to say?” Nothing. “Timbre, I’m tired of this…” She was interrupted by Eiko. “How did you make it?” He asked as he entered the room. Then he saw Timbre on the floor. “Did you do it?” He asked. Timbre remained silent. “Oh well, someone will if you didn’t, I’ll deal with you later. He turned to Melody. “I suppose if you want something done right you have to do it yourself. Then he leapt at Melody, Timbre was ready and jumped in front of her, colliding with Eiko. The two of them fell, sprawling to the ground. Melody watched horrified as the two wolves began to battle one another. Eiko clearly had the advantage. He backed Timbre into a corner I the room and hit him several times. Timbre slumped against the wall and didn’t move. Eiko drew his paw back slowly for a final, single strike. Melody suddenly realized that no matter how much sense it made… she still loved him. She jumped at Eiko without thinking and landed on his back, throwing him to the side. She stood up and bared her teeth at him. “Bring it on,” Eiko said, as he leapt at her. Melody was suddenly very afraid. She’d not been in many fights and any she had been in, she’d lost. Eiko on the other hand was extremely good. All Melody saw was a flurry of paws and then she felt pain from what seemed like every part of her body, as his strikes landed. She weakly swung a paw at him. He dodged and added four of his own. Melody began to feel dizzy. She struggled to stay awake as he forced her back; there was a cliff behind her. She knew what would happen to her and Timbre if she did pass out. An especially powerful hit exploded against the side of Melody’s head. She fell, she couldn’t stand anymore. Eiko stood over her, smiling evilly. “I can see what Timbre saw in you,” he said, “I just might..” He was interrupted by Timbre, who had regained his feet. “Leave her out of this,” he said. “Do I really need to beat you again..” Eiko started. Timbre used this opportunity to jump at Eiko. He landed in front of him and let out a cry as he began fighting, fiercer and quicker than before. Slowly but surely he backed Eiko up against the edge of the cliff. Eiko was having trouble defending against the flurry of attacks that he was faced with, for once his arrogance was gone and he had to really fight to hold his ground as his rear paws suddenly reached the edge. “Timbre I changed my mind,” Eiko said, “let me go and I’ll let you and the mutt live. I’ll even call off the attack, come on!” He sounded genuinely afraid. “Alright,” Timbre said. He backed off. Eiko grinned, “you never were very smart Timbre,” he said. Then he jumped at Timbre. The two collided and rolled to the edge of the cliff. Timbre’s head was hanging off of the edge and Eiko was on top of him. Melody ran at them, then she stopped as she saw someone else walk up behind Eiko. Eiko felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and saw Aleu. “You,” he said. “You’re supposed to be dead.” He looked at Timbre, then back at Aleu. “Well I’m not,” she said. Then she hit him, once. He lost his balance and tripped over Timbre. He fell off of the cliff. Aleu looked at the floor far below. She could just barely make out Eiko’s body at the bottom of the drop. She shivered. Now that that’s taken care of, what are you doing with my sister?” Aleu asked Timbre. “I didn’t do anything to her,” he responded. “She…” Melody interrupted. “He saved me from Eiko,” she said. She looked at him and smiled. “I think we have the old Timbre with us now.” “I saw it all,” Aleu said. She turned to Timbre. “I suppose I can keep quiet about your being a traitor, if you’re planning on staying on our side this time.” “Would you?” Timbre said. Aleu smiled, “sure,” she said, as long as it’s over. “It is…I hurt too many people… people that trusted me,” as he said this he looked at Melody beside him. “I’m sorry.” “I appreciate loyalty,” Aleu said. “Just make sure you stay with us this time.” They all laughed. Dash came in then. “What’s all the noise about?” “Timbre’s back!” Melody said. “Really, what caused the turnaround?” “He fought Eiko to save me,” Melody said. “Eiko? I told you to yell if you needed help. Where is he, I’ll tear him apart.” “He’s down there,” Timbre said. Dash walked to the edge. “Oookay maybe I won’t go get him,” he said. They all laughed. “Hey Timbre what is the pack going to do?” Melody asked. “I don’t know,” he said, “I’m kind of second in command, but I don’t know how to lead a pack.” He thought for a moment. “Hey Aleu,” he said slowly, “think we could join you guys here?” “That’d be great,” Aleu said. Timbre walked out where the battle was still raging. “Eiko’s dead!” he yelled. Everyone stopped. It became very quiet. “This is our home now, I’ve negotiated with Aleu,” he paused, “and this is our new home.” “Who made you leader?” Someone said as they stepped from the crowd. Timbre, Aleu and Dash growled at him. He decided that now wasn’t the time to voice his concerns and stepped back, lowering his head in submission. “Now let’s quit fighting, this whole thing was so stupid anyway. If we needed food, we should have talked to Aleu’s pack a long time ago. They’re very nice.” The former combatants looked at each other skeptically. One of them started talking. Soon there was laughter heard, it was infectious. Everyone in the room was happy now that the fighting was over. Timbre tapped Melody on the shoulder and led her away from the group into a small chamber to the side. “I understand if you never want to see me again,” he said, “I… I just wanted you to know… that I’m so sorry. I caused you and your family so much pain… I still love you.” He said. She’d never been happier to hear anything in her entire life. “Like I said,” he continued. “I’ll understand completely if you just walk away… but you were right.. we did have something back then, something I want back.” Melody was on the verge of crying. I’d like for you to stay here with me,” he finished. This caught her completely off guard. “I… uhh.. I’d” she stuttered trying to find the right words. “If you need some time…” Timbre said. “No,” Melody said, smiling. “I’d love to.” “Really?” said Timbre. “Yeah,” she said, quietly. Their noses slowly drifted to one another and then touched. Melody opened her eyes and smiled. Timbre smiled as well, slightly embarrassed. “Well let’s go tell my mom and dad,” Melody said, She licked him on the cheek, “come on!” He followed her out of the chamber. He had never felt better. 

THE END