from me. He imprisoned me in the boat and took Tiembe to the Outskirts.”

“…Josh did that?” Dusty asked.

“Yes!” Shanaea yelled. “Yes, and he’s going to kill him!”

Dusty frowned. “…surely Josh wouldn’t…”

Kodi turned to his mate. “…let me deal with this Dusty.” He said. Then he turned back to his daughter. “Why didn’t you go get Blaize Shanaea?”

“He rescued me from the boat.” Shanaea said. “He’s going to the Outskirts now. He told me to come get you because…” She stopped.

“…because what?” Dusty asked.

“…because Blaize is afraid he might have to kill Josh if you don’t talk to him.”

“…kill him?” Dusty asked. “…kill my son? Why would he have to do such a thing.”

Shanaea scowled. “Josh has lost it mom.” She said. He attacked us at our home, banded together with some big dogs from the outskirts and convinced them that Tiembe posed a threat to them. He told me he plans to kill Tiembe.” Shanaea turned to Kodi. “…please dad, we have to go.”

Kodi sighed and turned to Dusty. “I think I have to.” He said.

Dusty had tears in her eyes, but she nodded. “…go.” She said. “…try to talk to him.”

Kodi nodded and turned to Shanaea. “…let’s go.” He said.

Shanaea turned and followed her father out of the shed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 12

 

Dash turned to the wolves that were gathered in the Main Chamber. He looked out over all the wolves, friends and family; and knew that in the next few hours he would be placing them all in danger, asking them to be willing to give their lives for the continued survival of his clan. “…now I know why this job weighed so heavily on Aleu.” He thought.

“Good evening my brothers and sisters.” He said. “We the Talbourne are faced now with a danger which surpasses all we have ever faced. Lytion and the Shadowclan could destroy us all, not only the Talbourne, but all the wolves in all the world if he is allowed to live. I know that most of you are not trained fighters like those of our defense force, but the clan requires your participation in this coming battle for us to even stand a chance. We must stand, we must fight, and we must survive!”

The wolves all cheered and Dash smiled. “It is this purpose that has drawn us all here today, this reason which has joined all of us together against our common enemy. In a few short hours we will be joined in battle with the Shadowclan. I feel I must tell you that I have never been more proud to stand before a group of wolves, to lead them to their destiny. You have stood by me in my times of need, and now I will stand by you. I will lead you in this coming fight, and if Aniu is merciful we will survive. Though she is dead I believe her spirit still guides us, and in this belief I am not alone. Join with me now, stand, fight, die if necessary, but prove to Lytion once and for all that we will not go quietly into the night like some vapor in the wind, but that we will fight him with every bone in our bodies, with our last breath, with the very essence of our spirit. We the Talbourne will survive!”

The wolves cheered again.

Dash smiled. “Fall into your positions and ready yourselves to move out. The time is short.” He jumped down from his place on the rocks and walked through the throng of wolves to his Lieutenants, who stood by their units. He noticed one was missing. “…where’s Achak?” He asked.

“He won’t be coming.”

Dash turned and saw a red wolf/dog limping into the cave. “Who are you?” He asked.

“My name is Kiona.” She said. “I am…” She sighed. “…was Achak’s mate. They took him. He traded himself for me.”

Dash nodded. “I am sorry we cannot spare the forces to save him. He was a great help to us.”

Kiona nodded and limped past him.

Dash turned back to his two Lieutenants. “Who else is qualified to be a lieutenant at this time… anyone?”

The voice that answered him came from behind him.

“…how about me?”

Dash shook his head, sure that the voice he’d heard could not be right. He turned and a smile split his muzzle.

Shadow walked through the Main Entrance and up to Dash’s side.

“Shadow, it’s good to have you back.” He said. He stepped forward. “By all rights the position of Alpha is yours, you may take it if you want.”

Shadow shook his head. “I think you’ve done fairly good at that so far.” He said. “I’m just here to do what I can.” He knelt in front of Dash and cast his vision to the floor of the cave. “I pledge my allegiance to you my Alpha. I am sorry I forsook you for so long, but if you’ll have me, I’d be honored to lead our wolves to victory against Lytion and his Shadowclan.”

Dash smiled. “…of course Shadow.” He said. “Please, rise.”

Shadow stood. “Where would you have me sir?” He asked.

Dash smiled. “Take control of Third Unit.” He said. “…talk to Ami, she’ll bring you up to speed on our plan of attack.”

“Yes Sir.” Shadow said.

He turned to Ami. “So, what’s the plan?”

 

Kiona walked through the throng of wolves as if they were not even there. Indeed, she could not see them in her mind’s eye. Her vision was flooded by one face, one name…

Achak.

All of the times the two had been together sped through her mind in the background of his proud face. She felt the chilling cold of the snow that had been falling when he’d found her, saved her from almost certain death. She felt the warmth of their love, the pain of childbirth, but then also the sense of pride, of purpose that had swelled within her when she saw the three small balls of fur. She heard Achak’s voice as he told her to stay with them, to protect them.

Her ears drooped.

She stumbled through the cave as if in a daze as her memories continued almost overshadowed by that strong face that still persisted in her mind.

She saw herself sneaking after him, getting discovered, yelling at him, fighting with him.

Kiona walked into the chamber where Achak had slept the last few nights. Now that she was out of the public eye she allowed a tear to drip from her eye. It was soon joined by several more.

The scene in her mind shifted now as she recalled her mate’s words to her just a few moments ago.

…his parting words.

…his last words.

“You didn’t listen to me and when I tried to correct you, to help you to understand my reasons you ran away. You ran into enemy territory and got yourself captured. Now all that’s left is for me to fix it. …and the only way I can do that is to go with them, to give my life to save yours.”     

The face in her mind’s eye contorted in pain and red shot across her vision as the eyes went slack.

The face fell.

Kiona was no longer able to stand and her legs buckled. She fell to the ground and laid there on her side. She could hear her breath in her ears, rushing through her body. “It’s my fault.” She thought.

The body of the silver and gray wolf fell to the snow.

“…my fault.”

Time seemed to stop for the wolf/dog. She could no longer hear her breathing. She couldn’t hear anything, all was silent.

Suddenly she sprang to her paws, not noticing the pain this caused in her leg. She stood ram-rod straight and growled.

“I’ll be ***** if I let him die!” She thought. “To hell with his orders! He is my mate first, Alpha second. If he has a problem with that he can take it up with me later but for now…”

Kiona turned her head and looked out at the forest beyond the main entrance of the cave and blinked away her tears, replacing the look of sadness on her face with one of pure purpose. “…I must save him.” She thought.

Kiona sprang away from the rocky floor and sprinted out of the chamber. She dodged wolves left and right and even leapt over one that remained in her way.

Nothing would stop her.

Nothing could stop her.

She ran through the entrance and headed off into the forest. It had been a while, but she picked up his scent almost immediately. “Don’t worry Achak.” She thought. “I have made mistakes; I know that now… but I’m not going to let you die for them.”

She leapt over a fallen tree in front of her and landed on another. She ran along its length and then jumped back to the snow.

“I have to disobey you one last time Achak. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Kiona found she could run faster than ever before as her love for her mate pushed her farther and faster toward her onrushing destiny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 13:

 

Aleu and Steele sprinted down the stone corridor. She saw the T up ahead and ran at the wall, trying to imagine that it wasn’t there. Trying to imagine the room beyond that Steele had spoken of.

She heard the squeal of the Hunters and looked back to see two of them rushing along the hall.

She turned to Steele. “We seem to have attracted some attention.”

Steele smiled. “I thought we might. Don’t worry. I’ve taken care of it.”

Aleu heard a howl and turned her head to see ten dogs burst into the hall, smashing into the sides of the hunters, knocking them to the ground. She heard the noise of battle and then turned her head back to the front as she heard yelps of pain.  They were approaching the turn now.

“Remember, run straight through it.” Steele said. “It’s not a wall. It just looks that way.”

Aleu nodded and steeled herself, trying not to think of it as a wall.

She increased her speed and yelled as she ran into the wall…

…and passed through it.

Steele and Aleu slowed to a trot. The sounds from the hall could no longer be heard.

No growling, no yelps of pain…

…only the rush of flames.

Steele stopped

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