telling them that their father, or brother, or mate isn't coming home. ...because I wasn't paying attention. I... I can't do that Nick. I have a responsibility."

Nick shook his head. "No... Ami please..." He looked up at her as tears glistened in his eyes. "...I love you. I don't care about anything else. We just need to be more careful."

Ami sighed. "Nick..." Then she fell silent and shook her head.

Nick scoffed and sighed. "You know... I don't get you Ami." He said. "...just last night you were all cuddled up next to me and..."

"...and that was wrong!" Ami said. "I shouldn't have Nick, I liked it, but it shouldn't have happened. We can't always have what we want."

"Why not Ami?" Nick asked.

Ami sighed and a tear ran out of her eye. She tried to stop, to resume her strong stance, but she could not. The first tear was joined by another, and then a third. She pulled her head up and looked at him. "...I'm sorry." She said.

Nick let out a shuddery sigh. "Me too," he said, in a voice that cracked with sadness. "...me too." He shook his head and then locked his body. "I'm sorry that you made this decision without talking to me at all. I'm sorry that you have to throw me out like some unwanted garbage, and above all I'm sorry that I told you all this in the first place."

Tears threatened Ami's eyes, but she held them back, vowing to stay strong. "Nick... don't say that." She said. "I love you."

Nick shook his head and a tear rolled down his muzzle. "...how can you say that to me?" He asked. "After what you've said here how could you tell me that?"

"...because it's true." Ami said. "I love you Nick."

Nick winced as if he'd been struck. "...don't... Ami, either keep me or throw me away, but don't dangle me out there like this."

"...Nick..." Ami started, but Nick cut her off. "Ami, I do love you. I'd do anything for you, fight anyone, or anything, even this blasted rule, that's what love is. You don't love me, because you are giving into the system, a system that tries to tell us who we can and can't be with. If you support that system, then you don't love me. I don't even want to hear it anymore."

Ami nodded, the tears even closer now. "Personal issues aside... do you understand your orders Nick?"

Nick nodded. "Yes Ma'am I do."

Ami sighed. "...Nick, please..."

Nick remained impassive. "...last time I checked you were a Lieutenant Ma'am."

Ami shook her head. "It doesn't have to be like this Nick."

Nick had tears dripping down his face now, but he remained at stoic attention. "Yes it does Ma'am." He said. "It has to be this way because you made it this way."

Ami sighed. "...Nick, carry out your orders, you're dismissed."

"Dismissed, Aye Ma'am." He said. Nick stepped back and then looked up at her. "...good evening Ma'am." He said, then he turned and walked stiffly out of the chamber.

Ami waited until she was sure he was out of hearing distance and then she let her tears flow free. She slid to the floor of the chamber and sobbed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 10:

 

 

When Jack and Kalia topped the hill in front of them Kalia spotted a familiar wolf down below. She smiled and turned to Jack. "That's mom!" She whispered excitedly. "...she's alright!"

Jack nodded. "She seems to be." He said. "...but we're going to err on the side of caution. It could be a trap."

Kalia nodded. "...good idea." She said.

Down below June turned and tossed her head forward, then she began walking down the holler. Pretty soon a few other wolves walked into view.

"Hey, those I recognize too!" Kalia whispered. "...mom must be leading a hunting party or something." She paused. "...can we go and see her?"

Jack looked the wolves over and then nodded. "I don't see any black wolves amongst them so I guess it's safe."

Kalia grinned and jumped up. She took off down the hill at a dead sprint.

"Okay..." Jack said to himself. "...not exactly how I'd've done it, but..." He hopped up and took off after her.

 

June looked behind her and saw the rest of her group coming up behind her. She turned back around and was about to take a step when suddenly she heard a crashing sound to her right. June whirled around, teeth bared, ready for a fight. "Why didn't I see them?" June thought. "They were right up on the hill and I never saw them!" She saw the wolf tearing down the hillside, another hot on it's heels. She couldn't make out any details about the wolf, but she snarled and readied herself for a fight.

The wolf stopped. "...mom?" She asked.

June stopped growling as soon as the wolf spoke and a wide grin split her muzzle, for she'd instantly recognized the wolf's voice. "...Kalia!" She called.

The wolf smiled and ran toward her and June could see her clearly.

Kalia nuzzled her mother fiercely and then pulled back. "Mom, I was so worried about you!" She said. She nuzzled June again. "It's so good to know you're alright."

June nuzzled her daughter in return and then stepped back. "We've been worried about you too honey." She said. "What happened? Where've you been?"

Jack caught up to Kalia and stopped slightly behind her. He paused for a moment, trying to catch his breath before he spoke. "Kalia... you... you really shouldn't have run off like that."

Kalia turned her head back to him and smiled. "I know..." She said. "I'm sorry."

Jack smiled back at her. "Well nothing happened, so it's alright. Just keep it in mind."

Kalia nodded. "I will." She said.

June grinned. She recognized the look on their faces. "So, what's been going on between you two all this time?" She asked.

Kalia smiled. "Jack saved my life mom." She said. "I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for him. He carried be away from the battle and took me to a cave just north of here." She stopped and turned back to Jack. "...didn't you Jack?"

Jack smiled and nodded.

June grinned back at him. "Well then we are in your debt Jack." She said.

"...but there's more mom." Kalia said. She turned and smiled at Jack.

He smiled back and stepped up beside her.

"I can't be sure yet." Kalia said. "...but you may be a grandmother soon."

June started to speak and then stopped. "...but who..."

Kalia nuzzled Jack and June smiled. "...you two?"

Kalia smiled back and nodded.

June grinned. "Oh sweetheart that's wonderful!" She said.

Kalia smiled. "I'm glad you think so." She said. "What do you think dad is going to say?"

June smiled at her daughter. "Well I'm sure it will come as a surprise but I'm sure he'll be... supportive." She said. "...let's find out." She turned back toward the group of wolves that had respectfully kept their distance from the trio. "...Sammy?" June called.

A red and gray wolf stepped forward. "What is it June?" She asked.

June smiled. "Take charge of the hunting party will you?" She turned to look at Kalia and Jack. "I'm going to take my daughter home."

Sammy nodded. "...sure thing June." She said. She turned to the other wolves. "...come on." She said. "I'll lead."

The wolves nodded and followed Sammy over the hill.

June watched them until they dissapeared over the hillside. Then she turned back to Kalia. "Let's go see you father." She said.

The three wolves turned and set off down the valley.

 

June stepped into she and Dash's chambers. "Hey Dash, you here?" She asked.

Dash stepped out of a side chamber to June's left. "Yeah, I'm here." He said. Dash walked up and nuzzled her. "You're back from the hunting party awful early aren't you?" He asked.

"Yeah," June said. "They're still out there I left Sammy in charge."

A surprised look came over Dash's face. "...oh?" He asked. "Why? What's the trouble?"

June smiled. "No trouble." She said. "...but I ran into someone out there."

"Who's that?" Dash asked.

Jack and Kalia stepped into the chamber then. "Hey dad." She said. "

Dash ran over to Kalia and nuzzled her. "Kalia!" He said. "You're alright!"

Kalia nuzzled her father back and smiled. "What happened during the battle?" He asked. "When you went missing your mother and I feared the worse."

Kalia smiled. "Jack saved me."

Dash looked up and seemed to notice his presence for the first time. "Oh Jack!" He said. "Sorry, I didn't even notice you there."

Jack smiled. "It's alright, gien the circumstances I understand."

So you saved her?" Dash asked. "What happened? Why did it take this long for you to return?"

Jack sighed. "Kalia was fighting four of the Shadow Clan when I first came upon her. I tried to asssist her, but they got her down before I could reach her. They left her there for some reason and I took her away from the battle. She was hurt, and hurt bad, certainly in no condition to continue fighting. I took her to a cave I came across before you found me. She actually recuperated pretty fast, given the extent of her injuries, but I feared the clan might have fallen during the battle and I decided to hole up in that cave until I knew it was safe."

Dash smiled. "well I am in your debt Jack." He said. "Thank you for saving my daughter."

Jack nodded.

June stepped up and looked at Jack and Kalia. "...but there's still more to tell." She said. "Go ahead Kalia, tell him what you told me."

Dash looked at his daughter. "What is it Kalia?" He asked.

Kalia smiled. "Well I don't know for sure yet..." She said. "...but there's a good chance that soon you'll be a grandpa."

The smile on Dash's face faded. "...what did you say?" He asked.

Jack stepped forward. "Kalia and I.." He looked back at her and she smiled and stepped up to his side. "We wish to become mates." He said.

Dash frowned. "...sounds to me like

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