After a bit of time continuing on our journey, we suddenly see shadows circling above us. I look up and notice the crows circling around us. They chat to each other before looking at us by turning their heads sideways before flying down towards us. They continue to dive down as if to strike us but then lifting themselves to the sky before repeating it all over again. Nightblood growls before he tries to capture one in between his jaws. “Get lost!”

“Wolves! Wolves!” The crows caw loudly, “Hungry for blood, looking for meat! Tear apart the flesh and let us feed!” They keep chattering and calling out to us over and over again. They are teasing us, I think to myself. “Lost and lonely ones wandering through the forests, looking for things they cannot see!”

“Damn flying feathered gossipers,” Nightblood curses, “we have to escape these chattering crows.”

“I’m not a fool, I know that,” I say to him with a growl, “and where do you suggest we escape to? It’s an open field as far as I can see.”

“Then, we run.” Nightblood says before he heads off in a sprint towards the mountains. I chase after him and feel the crows still flying over our heads and diving down before they finally find it too tiring to follow us. Although my paws are sore and I am having a bit of trouble breathing, probably still from the smoke, I don’t stop. Only after we enter the fields of short grass and rugged rocks, I stop for a moment to catch my breath as Nightblood sniffs the air. He climbs atop a boulder and catches the gust of wind that brushes through his fur as he closes his eyes in content. Even with his ruffly fur, he looks almost...beautiful... Nightblood continues, “The rains will be here soon. The clouds are travelling through the mountains to the east. They’ll be over us soon.” 

I am brought back from my strange thoughts and feel completely embarrassed. I turn my head away from him. “Well, you better head back then,” I say as I lie down in the grass to rest, “thank you for taking me through the fog. You’re no longer needed.”

“I don’t think so,” He says smartly, “you’re still a lone Alpha. I’m protecting you, remember?”

“From rabbits and crows?” I laugh.

“No, what about bears, buffalos, and boars? They don’t take kindly to wolves.”

“I can handle myself.” I say with a huff.

“Let me prove my worth. I might be a flawed one, but I want to prove to you, although ‘flawed’, I am perfect the way I am.”

“And why must you prove this to me.” I ask with a growl.

“Because you seem the most bigoted wolf prince I have ever met and the most unaccepting when it comes to flawed ones,” Nightblood says as he stares at me with an intense glare, “besides, it’s fun to tease you.”

“I assumed that was it,” I say as I sigh, “fine...Do whatever you want, but my pack will not welcome you with open arms when we find them.” Nightblood doesn’t respond to my remark as he looks out towards the mountains.

“If we get to higher ground, you can call out to them. It’ll reach farther.” He says as he stretches and yawns, “I have friends who will allow us to spend the night in their den for the night we are up there. We can make the trip there in two days.”

“Two days? And where are we going to sleep during the night?” I ask incredulously.

“Under the stars, Prince Snowheart.” He says teasingly.

“I’ve been impatient with your deliberate disregard for serious conversations since we met and you know this. If you continue, I will leave you behind.” I say angrily. He smiles before he begins to walk in the direction of the mountains. Just beyond those mountains might be my pack, I think. I miss them more and more with each passing moment and I am more and more troubled and annoyed by the substitute I have been left with. Nightblood, although a more adept wolf than most of the betas in my pack, has proven to me that he has not matured although he is already two years old. He is childish, annoying, cocky, and flawed. I am not enjoying any moments with him.

As we trek through the open field which seems to stretch on forever, we enter a dense forest with bushes filled with berries. Nightblood takes it upon himself to eat them after sniffing them. Wolves don’t usually eat such things. Meat is more satisfying. He acts like a bear.

“You have friends?” I suddenly ask as I remembered him mentioning we would sleep in a den that belongs to his friends.

“Are you surprised?” He asks with a smirk. He licks his lips to rid them of the berry juice before speaking again. “They’re not wolves, but they’re more loyal than any wolf I’ve met.”

“Your pack wasn’t fond of you either?” I ask with a snicker.

“Not particularly.” He answers softly. It seems to pain him to remember his pack. I notice his discomfort and feel a bit guilty for snickering.

“I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s fine,” He quickly says, “I don’t really miss them. They weren’t really my family.”

I was almost sure that Nightblood was a wandering wolf without a family, but having him say so is a bit disheartening. He is a bother and a mischievous tease, but no one deserves to feel like they don’t belong here or there. He is a capable wolf and could easily settle into a new pack if he wished, but being flawed surely does not help. No pack would accept him if they knew. If he didn’t tell and just mated with a female, he could surely make it, but I doubted he'd want to lie to others and himself.

“My friends are gonna think I’m finally bringing my mate.” He chirps happily.

“Well, I’m surely going to disappoint them.” I say as I roll my eyes.

“Not at all, you’re a catch.”

“I meant I’m going to tell them the truth and tell them we’re not mates.” I say with a glare.

“I know, I was just messing with you.” He says with a laugh.

“Of course, you were,” I roll my eyes again, “I doubt you can be serious for even a minute.”

“I doubt you can be compassionate for a minute, then.” He says with a smile. I glare at him before he trots further ahead. I follow him and run ahead to keep my position as leader. He smiles at me and shakes his body to rid his fur of dust. 

We walk farther for a while before I sniff the air and notice a strange aroma. It’s faint at first but then becomes more and more apparent and close. I turn around and notice Nightblood rubbing himself against a bush of flowers. “What are you doing?!” I yell as I paw him and sneeze as the fragrance becomes too irritating.

“I like to keep myself smelling nice. Lavender is great for that.”

“Are you trying to impress someone?” I ask as I lie down and rub my nose with my paws.

“There’s a beautiful wolf in this forest that I’m quite fond of.”

“Oh, is there?” I ask as I sneeze again.

“But it looks like he’s allergic to lavender.” Nightblood says as he smiles at me.

“You’re unbearable,” I say as I glare at him, “and please stop trying to court me. I have no interest in you.”

“I’m just having a bit of fun. I’m not trying to court you,” He says with a laugh, “besides, there really is a wolf I am trying to impress, but he’s a bit…tough to get close to…”

“Why? Is he bigger and stronger than you that he might beat the living daylights out of you?” I ask nonchalantly.

“No, he’s not flawed, so it’s a bit fruitless.”

“Wouldn’t it just be better to try to court a female?” I ask.

“I don’t like females.” He says simply. “It’s impossible for me.”

“What’s so good about males?”

“I love their scent, their power, their beauty.”

“You’re quite strange.” I mutter.

“Why don’t you court a female?” He asks as he trots happily beside me.

“I’m just not interested in mating with anyone.” I say simply. I stop in my tracks and stare sadly at the ground. “I’ve never felt much for anyone except for my family…”

“Well, you’ll find someone one day someone who makes you feel all kinds of emotions. They’ll stir up feelings in you that you thought you could never feel for someone else. They’ll make you wonder how you could have ever lived without them.” Nightblood says dreamily. He seems to be referring to someone and it shows on his face how much affection he feels for them. “And then, when you experience heartbreak…you’ll wonder if you could ever love someone again, but you will…one day…” He mutters softly.

“Nightblood…” I begin softly.

A loud sound booms through the forest as the birds fly up towards the sky in a panic and alert us to a close danger. They vocalize their fear and continue to echo their calls and chirps as they flee from the area nearby.

“A gunshot.” Nightblood says before pushing me in the opposite direction of the sound. “Let’s go. Hunters are close.”

“Hunters? What kind of animal could make such a sound?” I ask fearfully.

“A human.” Nightblood says with a grimace. “They’re probably out here for deer. If we get close, though, we’ll be dead. Let’s go.” He says again as we head off in the opposite direction. I walk closer beside him. I’m scared and want to be reassured that we will be okay. “See? And you want to wander out here alone?”

“You’ve been travelling alone.” I remind him.

“Not like I have a choice and it’s not like I want to be alone.” Nightblood says sadly. His eyes are sorrowful and I feel like cheering him up would be the best response, but I hesitate as I wonder what would be an appropriate action. I settle for nuzzling below his chin, but I assume he’ll counter with a smart remark. When he looks at me, however, he smiles genuinely and thanks me without another word. Perhaps, he is not such a bother.

We make our way through the forest somewhat, but we are still nowhere near the base of the mountain. Nightblood finds a small den-like area in the ground, probably a place where a mother wolf had raised her pups but has since abandoned it. I dig a bit deeper to feel the cool earth and settle into the den as I sigh contently. Nightblood sits on a boulder nearby and keeps a lookout. He looks serious in that moment of focus. His eyes survey the area sternly before he notices me staring.

“Night.” He says simply before turning away from me.

“Goodnight.” I say softly. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep for a couple moments before something stirs me awake. I suddenly worry that perhaps Nightblood is taking this moment to make a move on me, but when I open my eyes, I see nothing but dense forest and Nightblood still at his post with weary eyes. He yawns and lies his head down. I look around and wonder what that noise was and where it came from.

“You okay?” Nightblood asks as he notices I’m awake.

“I heard something…”

“The wind stirred the brush.” Nightblood says. He looks at me for a moment before he lifts himself from his post and stretches a bit before yawning. “You want me to keep you company?” He asks without any mischievousness in his tone. I am weary from sleeplessness and am unaccustomed to sleeping without companions. I offer him some space beside me and ask him to lie next to me. He smiles and obliges as he snuggles so close to my body that I can hear his heartbeat and feel his warmth. It soothes me to sleep and I do not awaken in the middle of the night. 

I suppose it is not strange to think that Nightblood is perhaps not as bad as I once thought. He can ask such questions without any ill-intent or maliciousness, although he can be quite mischievous in nature. I do not want to believe that I am becoming fond or accustomed to his antics, but during my time of need, he is the one who saved me from the fire and has offered to take me as far as it takes to get my back to my pack. If he is not doing this to gain something in return, then why is he doing it? Out of the goodness of his heart? I am most certainly confused, but curious. Perhaps I will soon know much more about this mysterious wolf who loves to tease and bother me.