Shadow shook his head. "...so it was you pulling me here?"

The wolf smiled. "...something like that." He said. Then his tone became serious. "Shadow, it is very important that... I know that Aleu's..." The wolf sighed. "That Aleu's death was hard on you, and it shouldn't be any other way, but... you must go back now."

Shadow shook his head and sighed. "Lightning... I can't." He said. "I know I should, I tried... but I can't."

"Why not Shadow?" Lightning asked.

Shadow sighed and turned away from his friend. "Everywhere I look I... I see her." He said. Shadow closed his eyes and sighed. "I can still see her there, I can smell her, hear her..." Shadow opened his eyes and turned to Lightning. "Why can't I just let her go?" He asked. "Why does she have to linger like this..." His voice trailed off and he fell silent.

Lightning sighed and walked over to his friend. "Shadow, I've never seen a pair of wolves as close as... as you and Aleu were, never heard of it. You two were connected in a special way, besides just being mates... it was more than that, it was spiritual. ...and now... now that she's gone you feel a hole in yourself that you're running from. You don't want to face the loss you've suffered. You're running away, both mentally and physically, and... you must stop. You have to return Shadow... to face this, to truly let her go, you must face her loss, and you must return home."

Shadow sighed. "I can't Lightning." He said. "I tried, I just... I can't."

Lightning walked in front of him. "Shadow, when have you ever said those words before?" He asked.

Shadow smiled slightly. "...not much." He said.

Lightning remained persistent. "Try never Shadow. You can, who was it that told me that the only time you can't do something is when you say it, hmm?"

Shadow looked up at him. "...Lightning, this is different." He said.

Lightning shook his head. "No, not it's not Shadow. You only think so because finally something has hurt you. Finally something has come into your life that seems insurmountable. You've never had to face something like this. You only think it's different because you're afraid to face it."

Shadow glared at him. "...of course I'm afraid." He said. A growl entered his voice as he continued. "Aleu was... was my mate, my everything. I can't just let that go!" He turned away and looked out over the valley. "I can't..." he said quietly.

Lightning walked up to his friend's side and put a paw on his shoulder. "Shadow... you must." He said. "..of all the wolves in the world you and Aleu should know the far reaching consequences of the one's actions."

Shadow's voice was gruff as he replied. "What does that have to do with anything?" He asked.

Lightning sighed. "Shadow... if you don't return you will destroy everything that she worked so hard to build, so hard to preserve."

Shadow shook his head. "...how?" He asked.

Lightning locked gazes with him. "Lytion is still out there Shadow. He is unlike any other the Talbourne has ever faced. He threatens not only the Talbourne, but every wolf in every part of the world. He must be stopped."

Shadow shook his head. "...he's too strong. We can't win that battle. We saw that already."

Lightning stamped his paw. "Listen to yourself Shadow?!" He yelled. "You've given up, you're retreating, why?!"

Shadow looked away from his friend and sighed. "This war has cost too much already." He said. "...I've paid a price I wasn't willing to, that I wouldn't have. If I'd known that... that she'd be killed... I'd've taken her away from him, away from the war, and ***** the Talbourne."

Lighting's mouth fell open slightly in shock. "Shadow... what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I would've let the Talbourne fall for her life, okay?" Shadow said. "I'd've been willing to give any price, any at all, except that."

Lightning sighed. "Shadow... what do you think Aleu would be doing right now... if it'd been you in Nome?"

Shadow sighed and looked away.

"Shadow, why are you looking away?" Lightning asked. "Why aren't you answering

me?"

Shadow sighed. "...because..." Lightning cut him off. "...because you know she wouldn't be out here, don't you?"

Shadow sighed. He started to speak. Then he lowered his head and nodded.

"Where would she be Shadow?" Lightning asked softly.

Shadow sighed again. "...she'd... she'd be at the cave, stepping into the Alpha's position again... leading the Talbourne."

Lightning nodded. "She would, and you should." He said. "It's not that she wouldn't have mourned you. She would've missed you horribly. ...just as much as you're missing her now. ...but she would've carried on Shadow. Do you know why?"

Shadow sighed.

Lighting leaned around his friend and looked into his eyes. "Shadow, she knew that the fate of the Talbourne was more important than anyone, you or herself included. You said that you would've taken her away from the war if you'd known the price she'd pay, do you know what I have to say about that?"

Shadow shook his head.

"I think you'd have been alone still. She wouldn't have let you take her away, even if she knew in advance what was going to happen. Aleu was completely dedicated to the Talbourne Shadow... and you are too. I've seen it in you before Shadow." Lightning said. "This isn't the first time you've lost her." He said. "When she lost the battle with Shade you took over the clan, you pressed on. You didn't give up like this... why?" He asked.

"...because..." Shadow fell silent and then looked up at Lightning. "Lightning... she was... was..." Shadow's face twisted as he struggled to get the words out. Tears began to form at the edges of his eyes. "She was destroyed... I've never... I never wanted to see her like that.... ever. It was bad enough that she... that she died, but... but I had to see her like that? ...why, what was the point of that? ...when we.." Shadow fell silent.

"What is it Shadow?" Lightning asked.

Shadow shook his head. "...never mind." He said.

Lighting sighed. "Shadow... it's better for you to talk about it."

Shadow sighed and swallowed before continuing. "...when we went back... she... she came apart..." Shadow gagged as the images flooded through his mind again. He turned his head and threw up on the snow.

"Shadow..." Lightning said. "I'm sorry that it had to be so horrible for you. I really am, but... if you don't return all that she spent her whole life setting up will be destroyed... do you understand? You must go back. ...for her."

Shadow nodded slowly.

"...please Shadow."

Shadow sighed. "I'll try." He said.          

Lightning sighed. "With an attitude like that you've already lost. ...and without you the Talbourne is doomed to destruction."

Shadow sighed. "Alright Lightning, alright... I'll go back."

Lightning smiled. "They need you Shadow."

Shadow nodded. "I'm sorry for letting them down my friend... thank you... you really helped me."

Lightning smiled. "Shadow, you are my friend. Always was, and always will be."

Shadow nodded and for the first time in a long while, he smiled. "...yeah." He said.

Shadow closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he opened them and smiled again. "...Lightning, who sent you?" He asked. Shadow waited for a moment, but there was no answer. "...Lightning?" He asked. Shadow turned to look for his friend...

...but he was alone. Lightning was gone.

Shadow turned again and looked out over the valley. "Alright Aleu, I know what I have to do now..." He thought. "...don't worry... I'm going home."

With that Shadow leapt down off the top of the hill and landed on the ledge below, his legs filled with a new strength, the strength of purpose. "...I'm coming home."

 

"Steele..." Aleu said.

The black and white malamute grinned. "So I see you haven't forgotten me."

Aleu narrowed her eyes. "I will never forget, nor forgive the atrocities you committed upon my clan."

Steele smiled. "Well Aleu, you seem to be forgetting something..." He said.

"Oh yeah, and what's that?" Aleu snapped.

Steele chuckled. "I just saved your life." He said. "...or saved you a lot of pain anyway. You could at least be a little grateful."

"...grateful?" Aleu asked. "Are you serious?" She said. "Are you even aware of the pain you brought upon my family? ...especially my brother Dash... you took his mate from him. Shasta was a great wolf... grateful? Sure, I suppose it was nice of you to step in, but if you think that in anyway mitigates your actions... you're dead wrong."

Steele sighed. "Aleu, we don't have time for this.. it is important that I speak with you, but not here, we must move. The hunters know when one of them falls and soon there will be many of them here. Come, I will lead you to our chambers, somewhere we will be able to talk."

Aleu shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere with you." She said. "I never want to see you again." She stood up.

Steele sighed. "Aleu, please, I beg you to reconsider. Think of your purpose here."

Aleu glared at him. "I have no purpose here." She said sharply. "I'm here for the same reason you are."

Steele shook his head. "Aleu, you have a purpose here, and it's vitally important." He stopped and heard a high pitch howl in the distance. He looked behind him and then turned back to Aleu. "...we must hurry." He said. "...come."

Aleu looked behind her as the creature howled again.

"Aleu... please." Shadow said.

Aleu sighed. "...guess things can't get much worse here." She said. "Alright I'll come with you."

Steele smiled. "...great, follow me."

By this time the wolves who had been killed had revived. "...quickly, come." Steele said. The group ran down the hall and turned to the right, then Steele ducked into the fourth chamber on the left hand side. He ran past many

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