So many people have been tackling me about the other Twilight fanfictions I've been writing. To those people- ease your minds, I haven't given up on them! J In fact, a lot of them have chapters written that are almost ready to be posted. My biggest problem is that I have so many stories floating through my mind that they distract me from other projects, and if I don't write them out then I risk losing them! And think…would we really want to lose Howa and all the other puppies of prettiness? I think not!
So, no worries! I'll get to them slowly but surely!

Chapter Two : Ripples

Arrow

By this point in his life Arrow was used to Howa's late arrivals. They didn't bother him though. It gave him time to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere of the night. In a home with five other people it was the only time he really had to himself.

Arrow was an interesting individual. He had a gift. His senses were exceptional, allowing him to smell and hear further distances than any others he'd met before. It was something that began to develop at a younger age, maturing within the past few years. He used his abilities to his advantage, learning to track and hunt down animals and people. He'd heard of the infamous 'trackers' of other species, shuddering at the thought of what many of them would give to have his talents. If he chose to, he could be lethal- more lethal than those such as himself and the pack members already were.

His gifts had a disadvantage, however- sometimes he could learn a lot more about the people he knew, along with those he would meet, then he would ever want to. He remembered smelling one of his packmates on that girl's clothing. He knew what sweat smelled like. Other times her would try to push aside the scent of his brothers' hormones every time a gorgeous woman walked past. Some things were best left unsaid, but Arrow still knew…

Leaning over the small embankment, the youthful canine peered into the running water of the small river. This particular creek branched out as one of the tributaries of the Missouri River. This was one of his favorite places to escape to and listen to the peace of the night. Him and the other's of the reservation had come here often to fish, no worries in their mind except being caught without a fishing license. Of course, at ten or eleven years old they knew nothing about that sort of thing anyhow. They never held onto all of the small fish they caught, at least.

Faintly smiling at the memories, Arrow tossed a small stone into the waterflow, watching as it skipped twice before disappearing beneath the gentle current.

After a bit of time passed, he stood and ventured further down the river to where the water collected to a small pool. He threw another pebble into the still water, contemplating life. A deep thought, yes, but that was one of the things Arrow was good at. He reflected on everything that was going on around him- humanity's lack of respect on the nature that enveloped him, how much he enjoyed being here as a child, and how much he wanted to escape it from time and time again.

When he was young he'd loved the way his childhood was set up. His father had taught him the old ways of their people, brought him up with respect and rules. That was youth, the time when the biggest concern you had was if your closest friend was going to be allowed to spend the night, or if your mother was making macaroni and cheese again for dinner.

Those days were gone.

He sighed as he looked out at the distant mountain range, wondering what wonders rested past them that he had yet to explore, what cities awaited him, the bright lights…all of it. There were so many jobs out there he could prosper in. Any police force would benefit amazingly from him.

His thoughts were suddenly derailed as a sound caught his ear. His jaw set from it's comfortable position as his head snapped in the direction of the noise. Someone was approaching. Then the scent passed his nose and he relaxed just slightly. He was still a bit rigid, unfortunately. He loved Howa like a brother, but for the past couple years there had been a break in their friendship. Here's a hint- female, 5'5", long black hair, beautiful green eyes, a love for exotic birds. She had the most intoxicating scent, too.

There had never been any true relationship between Arrow and Neta, but the young male had certainly spent some time trying to woo her behind the backs of his pack mates. Then Howa had come along and scooped her up without much effort at all .It hardly seemed fair. Yet, Arrow could not fault his friend for having wonderful taste, especially when he'd never voiced his feelings aloud. Everyone seemed happy. That was what mattered, right?

"Arrow!"

"Over here," he answered unnecessarily. Surely Howa had picked up on his scent already.

Howa all but bounded over, energy bundled up with him, anxious for the run. There was a devious spark in his eyes that Arrow had come to recognize as a sign of pride. He'd just come from his lady love's home, so it was obvious what the smug vibe meant. Arrow found himself having to look away before jealousy threatened to prod at his mind. "Are we ready?"

"Yes! Let's go! I found a trail when I was out with Kohe earlier. I'd love knowin' where it leads."

And they were off, a daily ritual that they'd played out for years now. You see, Howa was the one who lead them across the lands they prowled. He was their alpha, the first one of their generation that had transformed in his maturity. Those older than himself had long since moved on, off to build lives outside the reservation. This left him to lead the pack, to guide them through the change that they were destined to. Arrow was the alpha-minor, the second in command. If anything should happen to Howa he would take over the position. He'd taken the position with honor and pride, though in the back of his mind he never imagined he would truly be assigned to the position of pack leader. After all, Howa was an amazing alpha; who would dream of having him replaced?

Large paws padded the ground as they sniffed upon unexplored ground. When he was in canine form Arrow's senses were even more heightened. It's safe, he thought and looked over his broad fur-coated shoulder to the large male behind him.

Howa's enormous form slinked past him warm gold eyes flicking his direction in appreciation for promising their safety. In these bodies Howa's was the largest, his fur a rich reddish-brown that shined against the moonlight. Arrow's was more sleek, so dark it seemed nearly black in the darkness. His eyes, however, were alert and full of life. Neal had once told him he seemed more like a fox than a wolf. Arrow didn't mind the vulpine compliment one bit.

The trail proved to be long, but full of obstacles- fallen trees, large rocks, all things their muscular bodies could leap over easily.

I have to lead a run through here!

Arrow looked to Howa, who's voice had just filled his mind. He nodded once in response, even though he felt such a thing should wait until they traveled further on to see where the path lead.

You don't think that's a wise idea, Howa stated as he observed Arrow's muzzled face.

I think we should be careful, if we do. Who knows what rests at this trails end?

Good point, Howa agreed, then bounded along further in the direction they were headed.

Regardless of Arrow's suspicions, the path proved safe, winding it's way along the river. At one point Arrow paused for a quick break and lapped a bit of the cool water from the river's edge. It quenched his parched throat and he sighed in relief. His enjoyment was short-lived when another scent lingered past him. His eyes flickered about until he noticed the large indents on the ground- footprints. No. Hoof prints. He slipped closer, investigating. They were much too large for any sort of deer.

Cattle, he confirmed to himself. This must be the path that the farmers drove their herds over the river on. His intuition reared it's ugly head, but he forced it back into solitude. It wasn't often that cattle moved at night, and that was the only time the pack ran. They would just have to keep an eye out and be careful.

"So how was the trail?"

Arrow shrugged, his mind still clouded with sleep as he picked up an armload of sun-baked firewood. After he'd returned home the night before sleep hadn't seemed willing to come to him. He'd tossed and turned for hours, more than anything else.

The male beside him rolled his eyes silently and just smiled, helping him with an armload of wood. "Let me tell'ya, yer' such a joy in a'mornins."

This was Crow. Him and Arrow had never been the closest friends in the universe, but it probably had a lot to do with the fact that their personalities were so completely opposite of one another that they clashed from time to time. They hardly ever argued, though.

"It was a trail, like any other," Arrow answered, simply. He yawned a bit and dropped the firewood beside the empty fire pit. The reservation was having a bonfire tonight and he was offering his assistance with the festivities. Everyone pulled their own weight, this was how their community worked.

"Yer' lookin' tired," Crow pointed out. The corners of his lips frowned a little, dotted with brotherly concern.

"I didn't sleep well." That was an understatement.

"Mint tea."

"Excuse me?" Arrow raised a brow just slightly and looked to the other.

Crow just smiled in his usual friendly manner and repeated with that thick accent. "Mint tea. Mel says 't helps her all'a time when she can't sleep."

"Oh." Mel was Crow's younger sister. Arrow nodded, pondering that, then just sighed. He saw his friend's pride in knowing such a type of information falter a little and gave one of his personal half-grins, since he hardly ever truly smiled. "I'll try it, but I don't think this is that sort of insomnia."

"What d'ya mean?" Crow asked as he reloaded his muscular arms full of pine.

Arrow just shook his head and tossed more wood by the unlit fire, listening to it clatter together as it hit the ground. When he actually had fallen asleep he'd had unpleasant nightmares, though he couldn't remember a single one of them. It was always this way before something unsettling happened to someone close to them. He'd learned to take it as a sort of forewarning. "I don't know, Crow," he said quietly. "Something's going to happen, I can feel it."

Crow looked at him with a puzzled expression, but said not a word. His attention focused again on their chores. He didn't tell him not to worry or that he was just being silly. Somehow that made Arrow even more uneasy.