This is the new version of my older story, The Broken Road. Some things are going to be the same but I'm also going to revamp it a lot. So I hope you enjoy just as much, if not more, than its predecessor. I wanted to change my character's name, but I don't want to confuse anyone, so she's just going to stay 'Fae.' Unless anyone has any suggestions? I'd love to hear them.

Wolf's Rain © BONES

Fae and other OCs © Redmoonfae

Prologue

It was cold. Very cold. The storm had only lasted a short time but it was enough to nearly freeze her small body. Now the sky only omitted a scattering of snow flakes, falling slowly and lazily from the clouds. A small chocolatety brown form staggered through the never ending sea of white, a small shining trail of red winding away behind her into the distance, already being covered by a new blanket of white. The small wolf pup stopped, quivering, her small legs shaking terribly. Finally they gave out from under her and she landed softly in the snow.

Her green eyes were barely open, staring unseeingly toward the horizon. Just visible against the light of the fading sun was the shape of a very large dome, looming over the barren landscape. The saying 'so close and yet so far' stung bitterly. It was much more comfortable to just lay here. It wasn't as cold as it was before. The new warmth was making her drowsy, something more ominous than sleep nipping at her heels. Her eyes began to drift shut, mind becoming fuzzy, so peaceful…

A cold breeze danced around and away from her, picking her damp fur up, going beneath and licking the skin. The pup's black nose twitched, taking one last sigh before sleep. And then those green eyes snapped open. Ears too large for her head pricked up before being forced back down by the wind, now stronger. But the wind brought something else with it, a kind of long lost memory. Pale as the moon, closed up tight, slowly opening and hailing their sovereign high above.

She suddenly wasn't so tired anymore. Her legs felt stronger and more sure of where they were leading her now. The pup got to her feet steadily, standing for a moment to be sure of her balance. She was going the right way, she knew that now, knew it more than anything else. It was so close…just to the horizon. She placed a timid paw in front of her, feeling and hearing the soft crunch as it dented the perfect surface of the awaiting landscape. Her head turned slowly and looked back behind her.

Could she really do this alone?

The sun seemed to be sinking faster now.

Could she really make it?

The snow was no longer floating lazily, but dropping more rapidly.

Could she finish this journey when none of her family had?

A strong wind buffeted her front, laying her fur flat upon her body, making her ears lay flat as well. There it was. That scent.

Yes, she could do this. She had to.

She turned and faced forward again. She took one step, and then another, and another, and then she was running. The last rays of light were now dying, fading slowly to a dusky blue. The wind whipped across the ground, urging the wolf pup forward while the snow covered the bloody trail, leaving the landscape a perfect solid white once more.

It was full dark by the time Fae reached the entrance to the domed city. There were men at the doors, holding long black sticks that smelled horribly. Very few other humans were entering the city, even fewer leaving. The pup sat and waited and waited. Finally, the doors were opening. She almost forgot the plan she was told a moon ago as a shining, metal square like object came through the doors. She stood quickly and made to bolt away, tail tucked firmly between her legs. She sniffed the air nervously and was surprised. The thing was not alive. She vaguely remembered someone telling her about these things. She thought she remembered they were called 'ka-aars.' She stared at it curiously before remembering what she had to do.

Untucking her tail, Fae sprinted toward the 'ka-aar,' staying as low to the ground as she could. The 'ka-aar' had stopped just outside the doors which were now slowly swinging back shut. She put on a burst of speed and skidded through the narrow gap left between the two halves. A dull thud behind her signaled they were now closed. She sat panting, small chest heaving fast.

Fae looked around, nose twitching and ears swinging around in every direction, trying to take in the whole city at once. It was huge, more massive than any forest she had been in. It was extremely noisy, even for night time. Engines, shouting, banging, thudding, and crashing sounds all berated her ears. And it smelled horrible.

But worst of all was the scent of human. It was everywhere, like a sickness—she cut her thoughts off. She was smart enough to know she must find shelter; although it was much warmer inside the dome, it was still very cold.

Fae stood again and headed off in a random direction. Her tail hung low to the ground and her ears remained perked for any sound of humans too close to her for comfort. Aside from a nasty alley cat who thought Fae was small enough for a meal the journey was uneventful. Her mind was beginning to doze off again, her eyelids drooping heavily and her walk becoming staggered.

"Hey look what I found!"

Fae nearly jumped out of her skin. She bolted for the nearest hiding place, knocking over a trash bin in the process. She sat shaking, eyes wide open now, her hackles raised defensively.

"Ahh, no way!"

"Lemme see, lemme see!"

"Hey, poke 'em with that stick!"

She waited until her heart beat had gone back to normal. The human voices were young and rather high pitched, but all male. Fae took a step from her hiding place and peered around the alley wall she had just been walking down. Her green eyes flashed in the darkness, easily seeing the three human children making so much noise. They were all young and shabby looking, wearing patched fur Fae knew was called 'clothing.' She relaxed more knowing it would be easy to just sneak past them. She began to walk slowly from her alley, turning away from the human boys.

'Yipe!!'

Fae stopped, head turning to look back at the humans.

"Haha, do that again man!"

'Yipeyipeyipe!!'

Fae moved silently to the side, keeping her belly pressed to the ground. She peered around the boys to see what was making that terrified noise. The three humans were crowded around a small, dirty box. She could see bits of cloth and fur inside of it, making a sort of nest. Fae craned her neck over until she thought it would snap. Amid the fur and rags she could now see more clearly something she had thought to be just more fur. But the clump of fur also had eyes, ears, a nose, and a mouth, which was now opened wide as it yelped in panic and pain again.

One of boys had picked up a sharp looking stick and was jabbing the small creature hard in the side. Fae could smell blood. Rage boiled inside her fast, seething just beneath the surface. How could humans be so cruel? Wasn't it bad enough they had taken her pac—

She stopped her thoughts again before they could become dangerous. It was much easier to be blinded by her fury. Before she could register what she was doing, she had lunged for the nearest boy with a snarl, latching herself onto his exposed leg.

"AGGGGGHHHHH!!!"

Fae could taste blood as she clung on to the fleshy leg.

"GETIT OFFA ME!!"

The boy Fae had grabbed was thrashing wildly letting out its own yelps of pain as his thrashing just made Fae's teeth tear more. She let go before she wanted to as she felt a sharp pain on the top of her head. She leapt back from the boys, shaking her head hard. One of the other boys had brought his fist down hard right between her ears. She snarled more viciously than ever, trying to scare the boys off. Although she wouldn't admit it, she was no match against three humans, even if they were young.

"Get over here ya dumb dog so I can beat the crap out of you!" said the boy who had punched her.

Fae stopped growling. 'Dog?' Dog. DOG!? They thought she was a mangy mutt!? She opened her jaws wide and growled loudly, leaping at the boy. He fell backward trying to avoid her and fell over his friend, both of them crashing to the ground. Fae's teeth latched onto his arm, which was unfortunately covered with clothes. She whipped her head back and forth, trying to rip the clothes, or the arm, off. The boy yelled and pulled at her fur trying to dislodge her. She let go to get a better hold, but her jaws closed on air. The boys scrambled up and took off down the alley, shouting 'HELP' and 'RABIES.' Their friend whose leg was injured limped after them, screaming for them to wait up.

Fae stood panting and shaking for several minutes. The red finally drained itself from her eyes and she could see normally again. She shook herself all over and sat down, collapsing into a laying position. She heaved a tremendous sigh and her eyes closed again.

She was aroused from her exhaustion by a pain in her hear. She swiped her paw at his distractedly. She heard a yelp and opened her eyes. The small fur ball the humans at been harassing was lying on its back on a few inches from her muzzle. She lifted her head and stared at it.

"What?" she snapped, irritated the thing was being so ungrateful as to bite her ear.

It just stared back at her with eerie blue eyes. She waited for an answer and received none. With a 'harrumph' she laid her back down. But before she could fall asleep she felt something wriggling between her front legs. Her eyes snapped open to see the thing squirming into her chest, rubbing its face into her tan chest fur. Her lip curled threateningly at it, a low growl rising from her throat.

"Just because I saved you doesn't mean I like you." She growled.

It stared at her as if to say, 'like you would really bite me?'

Fae glared at the small creature before rolling her eyes. She stood, not paying a glance as the small thing toppled over. She walked into the box that its nest had been in, feeling quite cramped but much warmer. The kit trotted clumsily back into the box as well, snuggling itself into Fae's fur again.

"Tonight I'll sleep here. But tomorrow, you're on your own again." Fae told it sternly.

The fur-lump stared back at her before closing its eyes and falling into a restful sleep. Fae glared at it, snorted, and laid her head back down again. The weariness in her bones now seemed completely overwhelming. She now noticed how much her pads ached, some were still bleeding gently. Her eyes began to slowly drift closed as a small breeze buffeted the box, bringing the smell of the moon and memories.

She fell asleep and did not dream.

Well, what'd you think? Better? Worse? It is only the prologue. It's hard to tell just from this, but I've changed her fur color and her markings. The small poof ball, which is in fact a fox, is a tawny red and brown. He looks mostly like a fennec fox, but with a bushier, longer tail, and an all together fuzzier body. Hope this helps. Please review and tell me what you think!