Part 3

For the next couple days Blake was almost totally confined to bed, her mate, as she now thought of Foxy, literally holding her there for the most part. The pair spoke of things however, making plans after all was said and done. The fox wanted to travel and possibly meet the wolf he had heard about, a commotion in the main room looking up, hearing Hayley and Diane, who had been helping out, speaking with someone, the older woman coming back into the apartment and peeking in. "Foxy, could you let Blake get up and get dressed please? There's someone here to see her."

The redhead cheered internally before getting up, heading into the bathroom after grabbing some clothes and getting cleaned up, Foxy easing out of bed and finding a new set of clothes on a chair. He lifted them up and went into the bathroom after his love came out, shifting to his human form and getting cleaned up before changing, the trio heading out. Blake blinked at the male with braided black hair, a feather tied into the end. "Ohanko?" she asked, chuckling as he gave her a quick hug before she looked at the others. "Everyone, this is Ohanko Numakiki, my Spirit-Brother."

She introduced her friends to him, Ohanko blinking at the male next to his Spirit-Sister before bowing. "It does my heart good that my sister has found the other half of her heart in you Foxy." He said in a rich and mellow voice, his dark eyes seeming to stare right into the other male before speaking. "One with two forms-like my spirit-kin is now." He blinked, shaking his head. "I come because Sharpfang has asked to see her."

The redhead blinked. "The wolf is wanting to see me?" she looked down, wondering why now after all this time, not realizing she had spoken out loud until hearing him speak. "The Tribe felt what you have done here sister." He intoned, smiling at her gently. "The Elders knew you had become strong-they and Sharpfang wish to honor you." He looked at Foxy. "And because you are bound to her Foxy, you would be permitted to come."

The red-headed male blinked, looking down at her and smiling. "We would be honored." He said, bowing his head. "I was just saying t' the lass that I would like t' meet this wolf."

The Indian chuckled, setting one hand on his shoulder. "You are strong Fox-Sharpfang would see you as kin of her own." He led the way outside, Goldie winking at the girl as Diane chuckled. "His teleportation is impressive Blake," she murmured, watching her student grumble as they got into Ohanko's van and headed out, shaking her head.

~Timeskip~

It took them about an hour to get to where they needed to go, the group stepping out and following their guide into the forest a ways, stepping into a clearing. There was a clear howl behind them, Blake turning around only to get tackled by a large white wolf and giggling as she was nosed on the neck. "Hello to you as well Sharpfang," she cooed softly, her hand going to where the wound had been after the wolf got off and checked the area, nodding. "It healed up nicely." She said, Sharpfang getting up and looking at Foxy, sniffing him carefully. He stayed still after kneeling down, relaxing as she nosed his cheek. "She be amazing Blake." He said, awe in his voice as he gently pet the large canine and watching her eyes close gently. "This be a great honor to meet a friend of me mate's." He spoke the words with honor in his voice, bowing his head in respect.

Blake got up finally, the wolf leading them into the small village, the pirate blinking at the group. "Amazing..." he breathed, turning in a circle to look around him as his mate giggled. "So many people here."

"Indeed lad," an aged voice answered, an Indian with iron-gray hair coming over and smiling, his eyes a brown-gold color. The redhead bowed to him. "Soaring Eagle-the years have been kind to you. May the spirits bless you with many more."

Soaring Eagle laughed, nodding to her. "It is good to see you Blake," he intoned. "And from what I sense your destiny is unfolding." He looked at the male behind her. "And I welcome the one who has captured our spirit-kin's heart as well."

Foxy bowed. "Thank you Elder." He said, touching his love's shoulder gently and walking with her into the hut they were led to, the wolf sitting down as the old man followed, exhaling. "Since your destiny is unfolding Blake, as well as you being part of the tribe..." he stopped, exhaling slowly. "Sharpfang wishes you to be marked with that of the wolf-your mate would gain similar markings. Your power is strong enough to allow it to take."

"The ritual tattooing..." Diane said, looking at them. "You think she is strong enough now."

He nodded. "We follow the animal spirits-and Sharpfang has not guided us wrong yet Diane-your student's power is evident to us."

The pirate blinked. "Might I ask what the Mark of the Wolf is Elder?" he asked respectfully, looking at him. "I merely seek to understand this and mean no disrespect."

Soaring Eagle held out his right arm, focusing for a moment as tattoos appeared on the skin. "It is a focusing tool of sorts-the lines guide the energy." He explained calmly. "Your mark would merely tie you two together." The old man smiled. "Your questions are good Foxy-we ask to learn. You did not offend me as I can understand our ways are not what you might be used to."

Blake giggled, petting the large wolf who kept nosing her side playfully. "You show proper respect mate-I was curious myself the first time I met them."

The elder smiled before gently laying the girl back, taking a pot and starting to paint a design on her right arm, starting at her shoulder and working down as he chanted. Foxy held her other hand, remaining quiet and watching what was being done, watching the pattern sink into her skin a bit as she winced slightly, taking strength from him and smiling as she bit her lip a little, focusing herself. Soaring Eagle smiled, finishing after about 2 hours. "All right Blake," he said. "Allow your power to flow through the tattoo."

Blake slowly got up, exhaling once before directing her power through her body into that arm, her eyes glowing gold as she watched them light up, hearing yelling. She turned and walked outside, staring at the men that stepped out of the woods, knowing what they were there for. "You will not take the wolf!" She screamed, running at them after grabbing a smooth stick.

The hunters stared at her, the girl managing to take one of them down before the other recovered enough to knock her aside, levelling his weapon at her, only to blink as she rammed the stick against the ground, the same markings on her arm snaking down the stick before the male was blasted off his feet, Foxy coming out as his love stood over the man, the stick raised. "Stop lass," he said, glaring down. "Ye will be no better than him if you do." He kicked the gun away from him, the villagers tying up the other hunter. Blake growled before stepping back, panting. "You're right love…" she said, her voice icy as she spoke to the fool on the ground. "And you know better than to come here, plus, at last check, wolves are a protected species."

Soaring Eagle came over and bound the man. "We will call the police. Ohanko, take them home please."

The hunter near the elder looked up. "You're wrong," he said, bowing his head. "We were not after the wolf." He ignored his partner telling him to shut up. "We were after you, Blake Belladonna-there are those who wish you out of the picture...we did not ask the reason."

The red-head turned to the male, eyes as hard as the gemstones that shared the same color. "Should have let us believe you were after the wolf-you have attacked a member of this tribe."

She walked away with Foxy, getting into the van with him and Diane, Ohanko getting into the driver's seat and heading back to the Pizzeria.

~Timeskip~

After they got back, Blake went straight to her room, flopping onto the bed and thinking as she gazed at her arm, the markings having faded slightly and nodding to herself before examining the stick she still held, noticing golden lines flowing down the length. "It will act as a focus should you need it." A voice said, Ohanko standing in the doorway and blushing slightly. "Foxy has his marking already-you are so closely aligned that while yours was being done, his was appearing on their own."

The redhead sat up, placing the stick across her lap as she thought about what the hunter had told her. "There are only a few people who even knew I was part of the tribe...so it shouldn't be all that hard to figure out who it was."

"Was your landlord one of them lass?" Foxy asked, walking over and looking at her, feeling a little possessive at the moment as he watched her.

"Actually, now that I think of it, yes-if he had got into that diary and read about it, he would have known."

"Protect her, Brother Fox." Ohanko said softly before leaving, the pirate sitting down next to her and wrapping his arms around her, watching her doze off. "I will Ohanko..." he murmured, gently taking the stick and propping it against the wall before laying his love back and removing her shoes and socks, tucking her in and climbing in next to her.

(A.N.: Blake having a focus for her power is going to be important-plus I wanted to do something relating to the story Diane told Foxy in Chapter 1)