(A.N. Okay so I've got a basic idea of what I'm gonna do this chapter otherwise I'm just making it up as I go along just like the rest of the time. BTW hint is in the title. I'm listening to ME series tribute to Shepard doesn't fit very well with writing a non extremely violent story does it?) Chapter 3: A life for a life (P.O.V.: Andre) I have to get out of here if I get caught here the rangers will throw me in jail! What would I do? I can't run off into the woods I'll never survive, I can't go back to the class camp because my gun will give me away, I can't stay because any ranger that heard the shot will be coming here! I gotta dump the gun and wash my hands yeah that will work! Now where's the nearest lake? I thought as I set off to find the closest body of water in the park and came upon a medium-sized river which I first threw the rifle into and then began to wash my hands and face in the cold mountain spring. "It's not a lake" I thought aloud, "But it will do." Cupping a handful of water I began to drink a little, when I put my hands down I saw how haggard my face looked and noticed the blood staining my clothes. I would have to wash that out before returning, plus my face could use a good wash in the water. As I began to wash up in the river I allowed my mind to again wander back to what I had just done. While I was thinking I thought about what I was about to do to that wolf. Do animals deserve to live as much as humans? I stood there washing and pondering philosophy for about half an hour before realizing it was getting dark and I was clean again. "I better get back to camp before dark because I don't have a flashlight" Andre thought as he set off in the direction of the camp. (P.O.V.: Kate) All I could do is wait. Wait until someone showed up to get me back to the pack. Wait until my dad showed up. I was helpless, I wasn't used to that, it wasn't something I ever wanted to be. All I could do was sit and endure the pain while waiting for a rescue. So I waited until I fell asleep. Time Skip: 10 minutes I woke up to the gentle prod of my fathers head as he tried to wake me up, and succeeded. I yawned and lifted my head to look at him. "My front leg is broken dad, I can't walk." I said with a hint of depression in my voice over the fact. ( I don't think dogs and wolves can walk with a broken front leg, a back leg sure but a front leg no because more of their weight is in front. But I haven't researched this so I might be wrong.) My dad ordered one of the Alphas to carry me and another to carry Hutch's dead body and we slowly began our trip back to the pack. I felt so depressed having to be carried like some cripple. Oh yeah, I am a cripple. I silently fell asleep to the rhythmic swaying of the other alpha's movement. (P.O.V. Humphrey Status: Dead) I opened my eyes with a start. "What the he..." I began just to be cut off by another voice. "No not hell, not heaven either. You are dead I assure you of that, but you won't be long." said a voice that sounded smooth like new paper, yet with an inflection that I wouldn't associate with the apparent youth of that voice. "Who are you? Where are you?" I asked to the disembodied voice. "I am Adolph, and I'm right in front of you." The voice said as a gray furred wolf materialized right in my face. "Whoa!" I yelled as I stumbled back from the unexpected close encounter. "But if I'm dead why am I here?" I asked the wolf who obviously knew more about me and what was happening than I did. "Because I like you Humphrey. You willingly risked and lost your life just to save a single wolf. That kind of courage and nobility is rare in humans and even more rare in animals. I want you to go back because of the rare personality you possess. You will share your courage and nobility with those around you and eventually the ones you love." The wolf was very sure and smug saying this but I was very confused. As I was thinking a single thought that stood out among the rest. However, as I was about to speak Adolph made a shocking answer to the unasked question. "You will be revived of course like I said you won't be dead long." This was actually starting to scare me, how did Adolph know what I was about to say? "You will take the shape of my body from when I died but with no wounds or sickness. I will feel what you feel and see what you see, but you will control all actions. Now it is time to return you to Earth." Adolph touched my forehead with his muzzle and I passed out. When I woke up I had a pounding headache. I put both of my hands to my head to get it to stop, but I fell forward on my face. When I tried to stand back up I was much shorter. I looked at myself and I was covered in fur. So, it wasn't a dream. There was an invasive sense in my mind and I heard, well sort of heard in my mind a voice say. "Of course not. You will have at least nine years of life as a wolf ahead of you. Your about the same age as that beautiful alpha who you saved..." I was starting to get angry as he rambled on about what he'd like to do if he were alive and in control. "Just shut up, and get out of my head!" I said fiercely, my body wasn't here so I figured it was part of the deal. Well, I heard there was a pack of wolves around here so I figured that that was my best chance of surviving. The invasive presence was gone now and I sniffed the air. Oh I've never been able to smell so much. I picked up a bunch of scent's and some footprints and followed them hoping I'd end up where I was going. A.N. Hope you liked it. If you liked it then review and read Battleground: Jasper my other story. Review both and the Sequel to Battleground: Jasper will come out shortly.
