I turn my body towards the entrance of the cave and witness the rain in all its beauty. The droplets remind me of the days when I was a pup, only a few months old and wondering why water was falling from the sky. Fierceclaw, being a bit more knowledgeable than me, told me that it was rain and it made the grass grow and the burrow-dwellers happy to graze on the lush, green grass. And then, Sweetsong would tease me and tell me that I was always depending on Fierceclaw’s knowledge. I didn’t mind whatever she told me. Fierceclaw is like a big brother to me and I miss him dearly. Sweetsong, although a bit insistent and lively, is someone I miss too. But the one I miss the most is my mother. I worry if she is well, if she is safe.

“Missing your pack?” Nightblood asks as he sits beside me.

“Missing my family, my friends…” I correct him. “A pack is not just a group of wolves; we’re a family.”

“Sure, but even family has its limits to their ‘unconditional love.’ If you can even call it that.” Nightblood says bitterly.

“What did your family do to you?” I ask. He looks at me with his gold eyes and I can almost tell just by his gaze of the pain and turmoil he had experienced. His gaze shakes my very being. “I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have asked…”

“Sometimes, I wonder what my life would be like if I had been born normal…” He whispers softly as the pitter-patter of the rain drowns out all other sounds. I shift in my spot a bit and look at him gazing out towards the fields and the rain. I suddenly feel a bit saddened. I approach him slowly and nuzzle below his muzzle a bit. He notices my genuine concern and presses his muzzle against me. It’s an action that my mother, Fierceclaw, and Sweetsong would do whenever I felt fearful or troubled as a pup.

“If you say something intolerable, I won’t do this ever again.” I mutter with a growl.

“I wasn’t going to say anything.” He says as he rubs his muzzle against mine with a look of complete content and comforting aura. Although he’s a bit of a bother at times, Nightblood did save my life. I am indebted to him. “You’re warm and your fur is very soft, silky even.” He says as if in a dreaming state. I am a bit flattered by the compliments and turn my head in embarrassment. “You should be more confident, Snowheart.” I walk away from him and lie down at the corner of the cave before I look at him with a look asking him to join me. He obliges almost too readily and excitedly as he lies down beside me and looks at me with a goofy grin.

“This will not be a frequent thing we do.” I inform him.

“You’re just feeling cuddly tonight?” He asks as he rubs his scent onto me. It is pleasant but it makes me feel uncomfortable. I push him with my nose and glare at him. “Sorry.” He says with his ears down. “I used to do that to my family.” He says before he scoots away a bit sorrowfully. I feel a bit guilty and nudge closer to him so our bodies are touching.

“What happened to your pack?” I ask softly. “If you don’t mind me asking…”

“I left them to find my own place.” He says sternly, his eyes filled with anger and pain.

“Did they know about you being…graced…?” He smiles at the word and lies his face down to the ground.

“Yes, they did, which is why I left.” He says softly. “I don’t know if they’re all still alive or if they’re well, but I hope they are.” He says as he lies on his side and closes his eyes. “You know, Snowheart? You’re beautiful inside too. Perhaps, you should have been named Warmheart instead.” I feel myself becoming a bit more self-conscious as he compliments me. I turn away and sigh as I brush my face against his head before placing it on top of crook of his neck.

“Goodnight, Nightblood.” I say softly.

“Goodnight, Snowheart.” He responds back happily.

Morning does not bring the sunlight, but the rain has lightened a bit. Berry and Chippy are gone and Nightblood is sleeping soundly beside me. Unconsciously, I lick him to wake him up. He stirs before he yawns. He is unaware of the action I have done until he looks at me with a curious look.

“Did you just—”

“We should head out. My pack travels farther than most. They might already be over the Howling Hills.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Nightblood says as he shakes his body. “Most packs will head over the Howling Hills to regroup with lost wolves from their packs.” He says as he stretches. “Which is why I never head over the Howling Hills.”

“You don’t want to see your previous pack?”

“I’m a wanderer. That doesn’t mean I am lost.” He corrects me as he heads out in the rain and begins to get dew on his fur. “It’s not that heavy, but if we head out now, it might get pretty rough. Mud could slow us down and the soft soil doesn’t make for good hunting grounds, especially since our sense of smell will be muddled.”

“You focus on getting me over the hills. I’ll focus on how we’ll get food.” I say as I push passed him.

“Alright then.” Nightblood says as he trots beside me. Berry suddenly comes out from the brush of the forest and asks us where we’re going. “We’re heading over the Howling Hills.”

“Well, you two haven’t had breakfast yet. I brought some berries and fruits and salmon.” Nightblood looks at me pleadingly and I can’t seem to ignore the charm he possesses to change my mind. I sigh and return to the safety of the cave and shake the water droplets off my fur. Nightblood smiles and returns to the safety of the cave as well and trots to the delicacies he loves so much. They offer me a bit of the feast and I am a bit hesitant to refuse again so I join in and find myself enjoying the food more than I thought I would.

“Good, huh?” Nightblood asks with a smirk.

“I enjoy it…” I say softly.

“You’re cute when you’re shy.” He comments with a smile. I growl a bit at him before turning away with my fish.

“Stop bothering the poor boy.” Berry says before smacking Nightblood lightly on the head. “He’s lost, separated from his family, and all you can think about is flirting up a storm with him?”

“It makes him happy.” Nightblood tries to argue.

“It’s…alright, Berry…” I say shyly. “I’m a bit accustomed to his personality.”

“That means he’s been flirting with you the entire time. You’re shameless, Nightfang.” Berry says with a shake of her head.

“Nightfang?” I ask curiously. Nightblood seems utterly devastated by the look on his face and both Berry and Chippy seem completely mortified. Suddenly, the name reminds me of the story that my mother would always tell me. Blackfang. I look at Nightblood for a moment and notice the resemblance to the description my mother would give me, but it can’t be possible, could it? “You’re…?”

“Hold on a moment, let me—”

“You’re Blackfang’s son?”

“Wait—”

“The infamous black wolf who ran away from his family that caused his pack to disband and die?”

“Shut up for a minute!” Nightblood says angrily. “First off, my dad never left his pack, he was banished from it. Secondly, his pack never disbanded and died. Thirdly, what do you mean by ‘you’re Blackfang’s son’ as if you’re completely disappointed?”

“What?” I ask incredulously.

“Damn rumors; they never tell the story right.” Nightblood says bitterly. “Look, yes, my name is Nightfang, I am the son of Blackfang and Greymoon. I was part of the Fang pack, but I left it all behind because of how they treated me after finding out that I'm flawed. So, there, now you know everything.”

“Certainly not everything.” I say bitterly. “I’ve been travelling with the son of Blackfang and you didn’t even think to mention such an important detail to me?”

“Why would it have mattered?” Nightfang asks. He then looks at me with a flirtatious grin. “Do you have a thing for rebels?”

“No, you insufferable scruff! If you had mentioned it…” I suddenly pause and wonder what difference it would have made. Although Blackfang is known in many pack circles as a rebellious and notorious rogue, how true the story was never really crossed my mind. Besides, I was always sort of fond of the story seeing as I myself wished to wander about alone as a child. Although being away from my pack is a bit disheartening, travelling around with the son of the infamous Blackfang is quite the story to tell. “Perhaps…I’m overreacting.” I admit.

“Yeah, perhaps.” Nightfang says simply. “Look, if it mattered all that much, I would have told you, but every time I tell someone, or they recognize me, I find myself in such a mess and often times they just hate me automatically without even giving me a chance.” Nightfang says sadly. “I didn’t want you to do the same.” Nightfang’s expression was sincere and I found myself unable to ignore the feelings that his expression stirred inside me.

The feeling of not belonging or feeling out of place was not unknown to me. Being the strange one in my own pack, I found myself understanding a bit of Nightfang’s discomfort, but not his pain. Although my family pushed me to do such a thing as find a mate, they were not harsh or bitter about it. Sweetsong was the only one who came close to being a bit hurtful in her mannerisms and words towards me regarding my strangeness. I went over to Nightfang and nuzzled him again. He nuzzled against me in response and whined as if he were harmed.

“I don’t think anyone knows the truth behind your father’s story, do they?”

“No.” Nightfang says with a bitter laugh. “They really don’t.”