The storm does not lighten throughout the day. Dark clouds hover over the fields and the mountains around us. We hide in the shelter of the cave and wonder when the storm will calm. Lightning strikes the earth with a deafening booming of thunder trailing behind it not long after. I whimper a bit as I wonder if my pack is okay, if they are braving the storm or if they have found a shelter. I hope it is the latter.

“Snowheart.” Nightfang wakes me from my thoughts and I look to him. “Once the storm fades, we can head up near the peak of the mountain and you can call out to them. Even if there are no replies, we will not give up. I promise.” He says with determination in his eyes that had been absent only hours before. He was bright with a sort of warm and inviting glow as if he had accomplished an impossible task and wished to gloat about it. He was chipper and alive with passion. I was thankful that my story had struck some light inside of him. Although we are not very close, nor do we know each other that well, I find it hard to watch him sulk or lie in a depressed state of mind. He is far too cheerful for that.

“Nightfang…” I say softly as I lie my head on my paws. “You left to search for a mate, did you not?” He is a bit taken aback, but he musters up his courage and sighs.

“I could never…find someone who could even think of me in such a way who was just like me. No one in my pack was flawed.”

“Graced.” I correct him. He smiles and nuzzles my face a bit. I don’t mind it and nuzzle him back.

“Yes, no one was graced like me. When I discovered I was not like the rest, I feared they would ultimately banish me. I didn’t want to experience what my father had gone through. I left on my own terms and hoped I’d find my mate somewhere else. I’ve been wandering this world for a year with only hope and a fighting spirit to guide me.”

“You have traveled far and wide?”

“Of course,” he says with a smirk, “lands that only the brave of heart could ever face. The ocean, the forest, the mountains, the fields. I have seen almost all of it.” He pauses and looks at me with a bit of hesitance in his mannerism. “Even in the lands of humans.”

“You…” I say breathlessly. “You have been in the lands of humans?”

“Yes. It was dangerous, but food is plentiful in those lands and I was very hungry. Most humans I encountered were fearful and would cry out in terror, but I’d always escape before they could react in much more terrifying ways.”

“And what of the loud noises they cause? You never were harmed by one?”

“No, but I was almost struck by a mighty impenetrable beast that they go inside. I could have been killed, but I suppose fate had other plans.” He looks at me warmly and whimpers a bit. “I suppose, fate wanted me to save you.” I look at him fondly and feel myself compelled to give him affection, but I hesitate and relinquish the thought. I turn my head away from him and wonder if I am just going mad or if this is somehow a ploy that he has led me into. When I look back at his disappointed expression, I find myself wanting to nuzzle him softly, lick his face, or press my body beside his for warmth. I settle for licking his cheek before he turns his attention towards me again.

“Do not say anything.” I tell him softly before licking him over and over again, on his cheek and his neck, around his ears, and near the top of his head. He hums in content and allows me to be affectionate. I am baffled by my own actions, but I can’t stop. Somehow, it feels right. I stop abruptly as I begin to remember that such things are often what mates do with one another. I turn my head and wonder if I am being strange. I begin to wonder if I, too, am graced… Before I have time to clear any misconceptions, I notice Nightfang is asleep. I look at him sleeping and feel as though I would not want any harm to come to him, physical or emotional.

“Howlingwind…” Nightfang mutters softly.

My heart suddenly sinks and I am left with a feeling of pain and disappointment; the reason I dare not think about. I whimper a bit as I try to fall asleep, but I keep flickering my eyes open to look at Nightfang’s sleeping face. He is peaceful and dreaming of embracing and sleeping with Howlingwind. I am not in his thoughts and it somehow bothers me. I lie down away from him and whimper as I feel my heart ache.

The following morning, I awake to the bright sunlight that we had been waiting for. The storm has finally passed and I get up and head outside the cave to assess the environment. Damp and misty, but alive with the beautiful sunlight beaming. I turn to look for Berry and Chippy who are still asleep and then notice Nightfang is missing.

“Morning,” he calls out as he drops a good chunk of a deer carcass in front of me, “breakfast is served. I’m going to stick to the salmon, so dig in. It’s all yours.” Nightfang says before he headed back down the mountain.

“Where are you going?” I ask as I trail behind him.

“Heading to the river to wash my face.” He explains as he looks at me curiously.

“Why do you act so strangely to meat?” I ask as I follow him to the river.

“I saw my father tear apart my grandfather in front of my eyes,” he answers dryly, but a bit bitterly, “meat hasn’t been appealing to me since then.” I lower my head and ears and apologize for asking once again. “I eat more like a bear.” He trails down the mountain briskly before he reaches a small stream. He thrusts his muzzle into the water and lifts it up before shaking it to rid it of the water and blood. He twitches his ears and whimpers as he explains he got water inside of them.

“Why do you bring me meat, then?” I ask.

“You need to eat and I’m an excellent hunter," he explains, “as long as I don’t eat any of it, I won’t get sick to my stomach…”

“I appreciate your sacrifice…” I say softly.

“Don’t mention it.” He says simply before he leads me back up the mountain to the cave.

When we arrive, Berry and Chippy are conversing amongst each other and a little creature that looks vaguely familiar.

“Ruby!” Nightfang calls out happily.

“You two.” Ruby says as he smiles his cheeky smile. “The pair of wolves that are not a pair. I’m glad I caught you.” Ruby picks up something off the ground with his mouth and approaches us before placing the same object on the ground at our feet. The object is black and heavy as I try to move it slightly to inspect it. “I thought I’d warn you if I found you.” He says a bit more seriously. “I found this in the woods, a black rock, like those humans use to strike and kill our fellow forest brethren and prey.”

“We heard the booming sound a few days earlier.” Nightfang says.

“Yes, they were close to the fields, hunting the swiftfeet and antler-headed ones. They have not left the area yet. I found this thing this morning. The crows told me that they might be heading for the top of the Howling Hills to call fellow wolves.”

“We were going to begin making the trip there today, yes.” Nightfang explains. “We will have to be extremely careful.”

“Hunters…” I breathe out fearfully.

“Don’t worry, I have dealt with humans before," Nightfang says proudly, "I will protect you.”

“You might have run into humans before in their lands, but when they’re out here, they’ll shoot and kill anything that moves. They will not hesitate like the mild ones you have met in their own lands.” Chippy says.

“I hardly think the ones I met in their lands were mild. Anyway, we’ll take extra precautions. Thank you, Ruby.”

“No problem.” Ruby says as he turns to leave. “Oh, and be careful of the Howling Clan. They are not kind to wandering wolves, especially your kind Nightfang.”

The Howling Clan with the Alpha of the pack being Howling King is a notorious wolf pack that kills mercilessly. Their pack of a little over twenty is powerful and unfriendly. They are more like monsters than reasonable kin. My father told me of a friend of his that was killed when he had separated from his pack. Howling King was said to have been the culprit, but nothing could have been done to avenge my father’s comrade. Howling King had power in numbers and in strength. My pack of only twelve could be of no match to his and even more so could be said of just Nightfang and me alone.

“Snowheart,” Nightfang says. I turn my attention to him and he gives me a warm smile, “I’ll protect you with my life, so don’t worry.” I feel my heart pound against my chest as if I were falling ill. I turn away from him and wonder if perhaps I truly am attracted to my savior. “Thank you, Ruby.” He tells the cunning red before he leaves.

“You two aren’t really leaving to the Howling Hills are you?” Berry asks worriedly. “After what you just heard, you two should just stay put. Chippy and I don’t mind the company.”

“Not at all. In fact, we welcome it.” Chippy adds. I smile at them softly and thank them.

“I need to find my pack. They need me.” I say before looking to Nightfang. “We should head out now.” Nightfang nods before he turns to Berry and Chippy.

“Thank you both. I’ll return here again one day. I promise.” Nightfang says happily before nuzzling against Berry. She embraces him and Chippy jumps atop Nightfang’s head and nuzzles him before ruffling his fur. Berry and Chippy offer me a hug and I find I can’t refuse their kindness. We all hug goodbye before we head out into the wilderness again.

The grass is heavy and muddy with the overwhelming amount of water that was spread upon in for the last two days. Nightfang finds it a wonderous opportunity to play than to trudge carefully. He scampers along the path up the mountain as if he were a pup elated with careless joy. I find it amusing rather than irritating. I trail behind him a bit less gracefully than intended and fall in the mud. He laughs heartily before apologizing for taking joy in my misfortune. I smile cheekily as I throw mud on his face with my paws. He is a bit surprised by the action but laughs even more before running away from me at a brisk pace. I follow behind him with the intention of pinning him to the muddy ground. He escapes my pounces many times, but finally succumbs to the inevitable. He lies in the muddy ground and nuzzles my face that is near his as we are pressed against together. I look at him carefully. He licks my cheek and nuzzles me more before whining a bit for affection.

I get off of him and shake my body before sneezing. I turn away from him and tell him we shouldn’t fool around too much.

“Life is about having a bit of fun.” Nightfang reminds me as he heads in front of me. “What’s wrong? You’re a bit less affectionate than last night.”

“Nothing. Nothing is wrong.” I tell him curtly before growling. “We just need to get near the peak. I want to be with my family as soon as possible. I bet you wish to be in the presence of your precious Howlingwind as soon as possible too, right?”

“Um…why are you bringing up Howlingwind all of a sudden?” He asks curiously.

“No reason. We should head up.” I say as I try to climb the steep slope.

“No use going that way. It’s too steep. Let’s go around.” He says as he leads me through another path.

“It will take much longer that way.”

“Then it takes longer.” Nightfang says simply. “More time we can spend in each other’s company, anyway.”

“Is that your intention? To keep me with you as long as possible. To drag this out for as long as you can?” I ask angrily.

“Snowheart...” Nightfang says softly. “That’s not what I meant…” He nuzzles my face and tries to calm my anger. “All I meant was that I enjoy the time we spend together. If there is more time we can spend in each other’s company, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.” I look sadly at the ground and sigh.

“I’m sorry…” I say before nuzzling his face.

“So, why did you bring up Howlingwind?” Nightfang asks a bit more sternly.

“No reason…” I say as I brush the matter aside. “It’s just…you whispered his name in your sleep. Perhaps, you miss him.” I tell him a bit awkwardly.

We continue up the mountain, taking the much flatter path towards the peak. Nightfang is silent for a moment before he heads in front of me to stop me.

“Did that bother you?” He asks in a much more serious tone than I expected him to use.

“No, it just seemed…odd.”

“Odd?”

“I don’t know, Nightfang.” I say icily. “Stop interrogating me on the matter. I just don’t know. You were muttering in your sleep. I was just…”

“Bothered.” Nightfang repeats. “Your eyes seem different to me, now. You know that Snowheart?”

“Stop it.” I say as I push him aside.

“Your eyes are looking at the world differently. Face it. You have changed in such a short amount of time since I’ve known you.” He trots beside me and nuzzles me once more. “You are much more approachable now than before. You let me nuzzle and lick you.”

“I have become strange.” I say softly.

“It isn’t strange to feel things,” Nightfang assures me, “It’s beautiful.” He says joyfully. “You are beautiful.”

I feel a warmth in my heart after he says this. He has said it once before, but it feels much more passionate and different this time he says it. I don't mind compliments, but I am not usually affected so intensely by them. It is not a bad feeling. I like it.