The downpour was overwhelming. The rain fell down in ferocious torrents, plastering Kai's fur to his body. Lightening flashed, once, twice, before an ear-splitting thunder clap shook the earth.

The major disadvantage the rain had on him was that it made footing treacherous. He found himself slipping a few times as he cleared felled trees and giant-sized boulders. The deer path wasn't one traveled quite often. He had stumbled across it during one of the many midnight walks he'd taken alone while Barry was passed out flat from drinking excessively.

Not much further up the road, he knew of a little-traveled path at the left fork. Sixty yards beyond was an old, rotten trunk that was concealed from plain sight where Kai had hidden a small stash a few days ago for this very reason. Back then, he'd felt guilty for planning a getaway that didn't involve carrying his brothers along, but when he eventually sat down to think about, he convinced himself that was what the Northern Alpha was for. To save them.

Now, he was certain about that. Somehow, he knew that there was no way Barry could take down Ian. Not while that former was drunk, at least.

Lightning flashed from the sky again. The crack and pow of thunder right on top of it indicated the center of the storm was close now. The rain came down so hard and fast that he could barely see more than a few feet ahead.

Instincts warred within him. The more logical part of his mind wanted him to push to the tree and the backpack he had stowed there. The irrational, wolfy part of him urged him to find shelter first, as quickly as possible. Thankfully, in either case, he decided to lay low until the worst of the storm whizzed past.

Eventually, the human side of him won and Kai pushed on to retrieve the stash. He rounded a sharp curve in the path and leapt up to launch himself off a rock to propel him further. There was a good chance Barry wasn't right on his tail, but fear weakened Kai's senses, infused a new strength into his heels. He didn't want to risk looking back.

His paws didn't get a good grip on the rock. They slipped from beneath him and his momentum carried him over the top of the rock to bounce down the steep embankment on the other side. He tumbled down clumsily, trying to find a way to get back on his feet. It didn't happen until he came to a stop at the bottom of the ravine.

The water came down thunderously now. It was unlike any rainstorm Kai had ever experienced before. Beneath his paws, as he steadied himself, a trickle of runoff water covered his toes. If he was still in human form, it could have irritated him a great deal. But in wolf form, it was oddly comforting.

Still, as a wolf, there was no way he could make it back up the embankment.

The climb was too steep and he didn't have time to get lost if he choosed to follow where the ravine led. He needed the backpack he had stowed away because it contained money he'd lifted off Barry when he had the chance. It wasn't a lot, but it would be enough to get him to the north without a hitch.

Shifting to his human form, Kai's shirt stuck to his chest. He tried to pick a path up the embankment that would get him back up to the path.

A few times, he slipped. The dirt, now deep mud, was soft beneath his grip and it came away from the hillside in large clumps when he slid back down to the bottom. Each time, he made it a little farther, spotting things he could hold on to that might support his weight until he could get to the edge. A root jutted from the embankment, just beneath a large tree. If he could just get his hands on it, he could lift himself the rest of the way.

But climbing was exhausting, and the physical exertion was alien to his delicate body.

Perhaps it was worry that prevented him from being at full strength. Maybe it was the stark, disturbing fear that Barry would catch him before he could get into town and find a good place to hide.

Maybe it was the stupid rain that made footing so difficult.

Finally able to get his rhythm and figure out how to dig his feet into the softening hillside, Kai pulled himself up further, putting him in reach of the root.

He grunted as he stretched out to get one hand around it. Just one hand, and he'd be free.

Was that too much to ask for?

His fingers slipped the first time and he slid down. It was sheer determination and willing his body weight not to slip that kept him from sliding any further than a few steps before coming to a halt.

He clawed his way up this time more brazenly than his previous attempts until his fingers grazed the rough wooden root.

With a final heave, Kai launched. Both hands gripped the root as his feet broke free from the embankment and he dangled briefly, face mashed into the dirt and mud until he could get a foothold again.

Holding on for dear life, he began the last climb, hand over hand, muscles protesting and shaking with each inch he climbed.

There was a reason why people were warned never to look down when up high. Kai focused so hard on not looking down. But it didn't work.

Once he felt wet, slick grass beneath one palm, and knowing he'd finally reached the edge, he gave in to the urge to look down.

His eyes widened in fright. He was up much more higher than he realized.

If he slipped now, he would have to wait a while to regain enough energy to try again. The only solution now was the ravine. He had to follow it and take his chances.

He didn't have much time, especially if Barry was still in pursuit. Kai knew the Alpha would not stop until he was dragging him back on one shoulder.

Courage seized Kai's chest. No. He was never going back. Ever.

Suddenly, something strong gripped his wrist, startling him. His other hand slipped and he cried out in panic and surprise. No. It couldn't be. He couldn't face Barry again.

He wouldn't!

He grunted as he was being lifted from his miserable position and dumped like a sack on the grass. He pushed out, rolling away and scrambling to his feet. Snatching up a nearby broken branch, he swung it with reckless abandon at whoever pulled him up from the edge.

The branch connected solidly with him. It was satisfying to hear and terrifying at the same time. Either it knocked Barry out flat, or it aggravated him the more.

But it didn't matter to Kai. He didn't stop swinging wildly as he backed away. This time, Barry would have to carry his corpse back home, because there was no way Kai was going back with him alive.

“I won't do this any more. I won't go back with you!”