After a bit of time, the storm becomes violent and the winds become harsher, lightning rages, and thunder bellows in the distance.

“A frightening storm approaches. You two best be smart and rethink your plans to journey out in a storm such as this.” Chippy says as he flicks his tail.

I look out to the raging storm and then at Nightfang. I head back into the cave and lie down listlessly. Nightfang approaches me and looks at me with an expression that was almost begging to lie beside me.

“If you will tell me more, you may lie beside me.” I tell him softly.

“I can tell you anything you want to know about my father’s story, but there are things in my own past I don’t want to tell, let alone remember.” He tells me softly.

“That is alright. I understand.” I say before allowing him to lie beside me. His warmth is welcoming and his nuzzling isn’t at all a bother. He is affectionate, I realize. He is also very sweet when he wants to be. We sit close together as the storm rages and he begins to tell me the truth that has long been shrouded by others’ rumors and lies.

“My father was very young when he was told that he would become the Alpha.” Nightfang began. “But he didn’t want to become the Alpha. He fell in love with a female wolf from a rivaling pack and wanted to be with her. My grandfather was a harsh wolf, old and bitter. He told him to stay true to his pack and his destiny. My father didn’t want any part of the legacy my grandfather had built.” Nightfang clenched his teeth together and sighed as he placed his head on his paws. “My mother had me not long after she and my father were planning to run away together. Grandfather knew there was a change in the air. The night my father was bound to leave, my grandfather followed him and tried to force him to stay on the path he had set for him.” Nightfang growled as he grinded his teeth. “They fought, blood against blood, and my mother got in the way…”

“No…” I breath.

“She was killed…” Nightfang says softly. “My father hated my grandfather more than he ever could and killed him as revenge. His mother, my grandmother, found her mate dead in the fields where my father stood. She was filled with anger and shouted at him with words she could never take back. She banished him and told him never to return before she left a scar on his face from her claws.” Nightfang whines softly before he sighs once more. “My father was never the same after that…I barely knew him, really…even when he died it was hardly a dark day in my eyes. It was actually a relief…I thought to myself, ‘At least now he’s with Mom. At least now he is at peace.’”

“Nightfang…” I say softly before I nuzzle my nose towards him. “I’m sorry…”

“Why? It’s not your fault.” Nightfang says with a soft laugh. He sighs and smiles weakly at me. “Like my father, I’ve never really belonged.” I lower my head against his and nudge him softly.

“You just haven’t found your place yet.” I say softly.

“Maybe, or maybe I just don’t have a place…anywhere…” He says as he gets up and heads deeper into the cave. “I want to be alone for a while.” He says before disappearing into the cave. Berry and Chippy watch as he heads deeper into the cave and they both turn to look at me.

“I shouldn’t have asked…” I say softly.

“Don’t worry too much. That boy always bounces back. He’s been through a lot, but he’s always been really lively.” Berry explains with a smile.

“He’s…very cheerful…for what he’s been through.” I say as I remember what he had told me before. Something about enjoying life. Enjoying it even through the hardships, I suppose.

“He can be a handful.” Chippy adds. “But his heart is in the right place.”

Nightfang is a lonely wolf, I think to myself. He lost his family, left his pack, and now…he is without a mate and struggles to even find one. He wanders this world without anyone beside him. I shouldn’t take pity on him. That’s not what he would want, but he is a poor soul, indeed. I sympathize with him, but lack empathy. I have a place to return to, as well as a family that still walks this earth. I lost my father, but he still looks after me. Nightfang’s father was indifferent and listless after the death of his mate. He probably did not care much for his son. He was lost in his own nightmare.

I wonder if perhaps, I too, am listlessly walking this earth. Before Nightfang, my indifference towards many things was immense, but with him I find myself more compelled by emotions that I was unaware I possessed. I am a bit tempered when I am with him, but feel content with this companionship I have formed with this wandering wonder. He is…kind…and passionate. But now, I have made him remember things that have made him disheartened.

I garner up my courage and head into the deeper part of the cave, a lower level that is ragged and filled with large rocks against the walls. Nightfang is lying on the ground solemnly. I join him and ask him if he is alright.

“I said I wanted to be alone.” He says a bit bitterly.

“I have not known you long, Nightfang, but I know enough to know that being alone isn’t what you want.” I say as I push his face with my nose. “Let me tell you a story.” He looks at me with curious eyes and listens attentively. “Long ago, there lived a powerful and brave wolf. He was without a pack and without a family, but he claimed his stake in this world and found a beautiful young female and mated with her. He sired many pups, but the oldest was the one he wished would one day lead his pack. This father wolf was the most famous wolf in all the lands for his wisdom and strength, his nobleness and valiance, but his son was nothing like him. He was smaller than most of the wolves in their pack, he wasn’t as vocal and he lacked the enthusiasm of his father. He was in essence, a disappointment. One day, his father told him he’d have to lead the pack one day soon. The young pup, only a year, didn’t think much of it and didn’t think twice of the meaning of his father’s words. His father passed on not long after…

“His father left this world and left his pack into the paws of his son who had never wished such a life. His mother managed to keep the pack together, but it was inevitable that the young pup had to take lead and become the alpha of the pack. He had not a single desire in this world, not even towards the females. He needed an alpha female at his side, his mother and many other wolves within the pack reminded him of this simple duty, but in this task too, he was a failure.” I smile at Nightfang as he begins to understand the story I am spinning. “In an unlikely turn of events, the disappointment of a son meets a bothersome wolf who saves his life in a dangerous fire. He and this strange wolf don’t get along at first, but the alpha begins to realize the many wonderful adventures they have and the many emotions he experiences in this journey alongside this wolf.” I pause and smile more brightly. “He begins to believe that their paths have crossed for a reason. Perhaps, they are meant to walk this path together, wherever it may lead them.”

Nightfang’s eyes become aglow with a fire of passion and immediately pounces me out of sheer joy. He does not attempt to mate with me, which I had assumed he was doing at first, but he wags his tail happily and thanks me for cheering him up. He licks my face and nuzzles my cheeks; nips my ears and tells me sweet things I am embarrassed to relay back to anyone. Finally, he gets off of me and apologizes for his brash actions. I tell him it’s alright.

“Are you sure?” He asks with a smile.

“I’m sure.” I say as I feel a bit of tightness in my chest in the way he looks at me. “Let’s rest, tomorrow we will be travelling a far distance.”

“Together.” Nightfang adds with a warm smile, one I had not seen on his face before.

“Yes, together.” I agree as I head back to the upper level of the cave. Nightfang hums and follows me happily as we watch the storm raging. He is in a better mood and I can’t help but feel happy about it. Although he is not the kind of wolf that I’d ever believe myself to keep as company, he is becoming more and more charming in my eyes. As I steal a glance to look at him beside me, I find that his features, besides the scruffiness of his fur, is appealing. He would fair well if he asked for a female mate. He is strong and sweet, gentle and kind, extremely mischievous, but somehow fun to be around.

We watch the clouds casting shadows over the fields and notice some brave creatures wandering through them in as carefully as possible. Others are hidden in their dens waiting for the storms to pass. Nightfang presses his body as close to mine as possible and smiles proudly at himself for succeeding in making his movements as sneakily as possible, but I noticed it. He is fond of me and I am beginning to think that the thought of it isn’t as terrible as I once thought.

I am not as averse to the thought of his affections towards me as I was before and I begin to think that I am becoming quite strange. He seems to have this effect on me that I can neither explain nor understand. He doesn't remind me of any of my pack members, nor my friends. He is quite different than them, but perhaps that is the reason why I am drawn to him. He is nothing like any wolf I have met so his unique personality traits and physical qualities are intriguing and a nice change to what I am accustomed to. 

But perhaps it is something more than that. Knowing that he is the son of the infamous Blackfang might be what is most appealing? I feel like I am in the wrong for travelling with him, but that makes me feel as if I have denounced tradition and have paved my own path like a rebel. Although it is bad, I feel excited by the thrill of doing it. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would come across this wonderful opportunity to travel the lands of the earth with the son of such a wolf as Blackfang.

Despite the more terrifying and tragic truth of the story of Blackfang, I find myself more sympathetic towards Nightfang than fearful. He isn't like his family. He is not a killer. He is not a mongral as I once said...

He plays like a child, speaks like an uncivilized pup, and flirts like a tease...He is nothing like his grandfather. I could assume he is more like his father in that he would do anything in his power to protect those he loves and is more of a hopeless romantic than anything else. He is social and wants others to understand and accept him, to love him.

I turn to him and watch as he plays with Chippy, a game of tag I begin to notice. He is happy and laughing. His laughter fills the cave and echoes in the very deepest parts of the cave. It seems to capture me in a way I hadn't noticed before.

He is most handsome when he is happy, I think to myself. I find myself watching him for much longer than I intended, which finally results to our eyes meeting. He looks at me with the fondest look on his face, not a teasing one, nor a cheeky one. He is sincere in this look he gives me. 

I don't intend to return his look, but I feel as though I am making a face I am not in control of. He goes back to playing and I feel like I have somehow changed. Have I?