Back at the cave, trouble was brewing. Night-shade had been paying attention to Aleu's training, and was beginning to get jealous. An alpha should have to rise to power, not be handed it! She had been discussing her rise to power with her supporters. Night-shade was seeking to climb to the rank of beta, and then immediately challenge Aleu, believing now was her last chance for the power she believed she deserved.
Not everyone believed she was in the right however, as it was becoming apparent within the pack that most of the wolves supported Aleu for her knowledge-ability and friendship. Since they had arrived, Aleu had, in two short weeks, managed to secure a large territory with enough food for generations, fight off two bears, and all without any prior training! She was as kind as Nava, and was growing stronger than Niju ever was. In addition, she had even taken in two rogues, and their single surviving puppy, Amaqjuaq, or strong one in their native tongue. She was growing to become a truly successful leader.
Night-shade also realized this, however, her drive for avenging her sister and for power has made her completely blind. 'Today, once Aleu returned from her hunt, Night-shade would challenge one of her betas, and KILL Aleu immediately after. She would have the power and respect she deserved!'
After the incident during the hunt, Aleu felt as though a weight had been lifted from her. She was longer terrified of hunting prey so her pack could live. Not only that, but the secret that she could speak with animals of other kinds, and commune with spirits had been let out of the bag. Her entire hunting party knew, and yet, she didn't care. She had decided that her powers were like her destiny. They were great, and should be embraced, not avoided.
Aleu had long since sent Gale back to report the kills. It was no longer necessary to carry food back for the elders. They were more than able to retrieve their share of the carcass themselves. As such, Aleu now walked alone on her way back to the den. She was currently exhuasted, mostly psychologically, and cared for little more than the thought of returning to her soft, safe bed of cedar boughs, which Nagu had always ensured were fresh, just for her. He was so sweet a wolf. Aleu often found herself thinking about him in distracted ways these days. Not long ago, she had been in the middle of a conversation with Whisper. It was something inconsequential, but she still held her friend's comments as valuable. However, Aleu noticed Nagu come into the cave that day, and she just lost all of her concentration on Whisper in a single moment. She had felt sorry when Whisper had to snap her back to reality. She just giggled at Aleu's lapse of attention, and decided to go on her way.
Now, Aleu found herself lapsing in her attention yet again, but she needn't go so far, as Nagu jumped forth from the tree line she was following to join her. The surprise of seeing Nagu suddenly when she was just thinking about him made her face and ears hot all over. However, she had learned not to bother hiding her emotions, as it only distracts oneself, and often makes it more obvious. Thus, she ignored her emotions and greeted Nagu. "Hey there Nagu. Thanks for walking with me." She quickly said to him. He responded in kind. "Hello to you too Aleu. I heard about the success on your hunt! Congratulations!" Aleu knew he knew her secrets by now. In fact, Nagu had known for a while. Thus, she said, "Thanks for your support Nagu, but you can drop the act." Nagu was slightly shocked to hear her rebuke, but wasn't surprised to hear what came next. "You know perfectly well that for me, killing another animal is like killing someone I know. It's as close as I hope I ever have to get to murder." She was looking down at her feet while they walked, until now. She looked up, and felt sorry for laying it on Nagu so hard. He was only ever helping and supporting her. She felt a pang of sympathy for him, and even a feeling of longing. She still felt hollow, some how, like she had lost a part of herself on that first big hunt. She didn't mean to recall the memory of Marigold, but she couldn't help but relate this feeling of sorrow with that first incident of death on her watch.
Aleu wished she hadn't rebuked Nagu so harshly. "I'm sorry." She apologized before he could say anything. "The hunt may have been successful, but it was so painful. It was worse than my first blood. Muru says I probably won't have as much remorse again, but I think it would be good to keep just a little bit. Thanks though, for being there for me Nagu." As Aleu finished, she rubbed her cheek against his neck fur, and gave him a single affectionate lick on the cheek. He paused, almost dumbstruck. Aleu couldn't help but let out a small giggle. She continued toward home. After a moment, Nagu regained his composure, and pulled even with Aleu.
Suddenly, a nearby bush shook as an animal was passing through it, making it's way out into the open. "Who's there?" Aleu growled, baring her teeth, her ears lying flat. The cynical laugh of a lunatic was her answer. It was Night-shade.
"Night-shade? What are you do in that bush?" Aleu questioned innocently. Now it was Night-shade's turn to growl. "It's time I took my rightful place half breed!" Aleu's ears, which were back to normal once again lay flat on her head. "How dare you!" Aleu started. Nagu finished for her, saying, "Where is your respect Night-shade? Who do you think you are!?" Night-shade responded with enough venom to make them both flinch, saying, "I am going to defeat you Nagu! First I'll take your place, and then I rip the little twit's throat out!"
At this, Night-shade pounced upon Nagu. However, he was prepared for her move. As she landed upon him, he rolled over using their combined weight, and knocked her head against a rock. Night-shade roared in pain, and let go, only to jump back to her paws. Nagu, who was already standing, prepared to make his own move. He first shouted to Aleu, "Stay back Aleu! This is her right, and now I'll finish what she started!" Aleu started to protest, begging him to stop, in fear that he may not win; But it was useless. Night-shade had started her duel with Nagu, and there could only be a victor. The battle raged on, while Aleu watched horrified. It was not long before other wolves heard the kerfuffle, and came by to see what was happening.
The fighting was viscous. Both were nearly equal in skill. Night-shade managed to land a bite on Nagu's scruff, and attempted to throw him into a tree. Nagu was all too skilled for such an old trick. He threw of Night-shade's throw by running with it. He ran up to the tree as she released him, and he used his momentum to climb the trunk almost two meters. Everyone was astonished including Night-shade. Before the dark colored wolf could respond, Nagu sprung with all the force in his legs from his vantage point. He shot forth, colliding into the she wolf with his legs first, and kicked her with enough force that his own motion ceased. He landed softly, while she was catapulted into a tree. Aleu heard a sickening 'crunch!', and knew it was over for Night-shade. Nagu drew closer to the she wolf, to finish the fight; however, Aleu knew the rules of engagement well enough that she stepped between them.
"Enough Nagu!" She growled low at him. "She's had enough!" The fire which had been burning in Nagu's eyes was quickly extinguished by her own icy glare. He nodded, and pulled back, waiting for her to make the next move. She moved to examine the injured wolf, and saw that she had a single swollen shoulder. She guessed it must have been cracked by the impact against the tree.
She addressed the injured she wolf, standing over her. "Night-shade, why have you done this? Have I not been a fair enough leader to you? To all of the clan?" Night-shade, though submissive in her position, still had enough fire within her to look up to Aleu, and say, "You'll never be my alpha, you dog! You are nothing without your betas!" She spat at Aleu, but Aleu did not flinch. "Without them, you are nothing! Your not fit to be Alpha!" Aleu had one thing to say. "That's where you're wrong Night-shade. It's because of my Betas, my friends, that I have accomplished so much. Together we are strong, because we are together. We all play our part, and so we are all part of the machine that is this pack." Night-shade only looked away. Aleu could see she could not sway Night-shade. She made her decision. "Very well then Night-shade. If you will not accept me as your Alpha, then you are hereby banished from our territory. I will grant you one night of sanctuary so you can eat, and heal, but you must be off our territory by sun-high. Return, and you had better have a legitimate reason why we shouldn't kill you." Night-shade seemed to falter at first. Aleu saw this, and almost felt pity, but not before Night-shade regained her angry spirit once again, and renounced Aleu's offer. "I don't want your help!" She struggled to her legs, and walked eastward. Aleu ordered all to let her pass, but also had Nuk, and one another escort her off the territory.
Nagu addressed Aleu. "Aleu, I..." he was stopped mid sentence by a painful swat across the face by a strong, yet soft paw. "You idiot!" Started his attacker. He looked to see it was Aleu. His face displayed pure shock. Aleu continued, "Do you realize how afraid I was that I might lose you!?" Now he was even more shocked as she buried her face into his chest fur, on the verge of sobbing. "Oh Nagu, I was so scared! I thought she was going to kill you!" Now Aleu was crying. All her pent up emotions began an outpouring. All her fear of the future, all her angers, and her sadness; It all just came out through her relentless tears, soaked up by his thick fur. By now the others had gotten the message, and left them there to talk alone. They sat there, Aleu sobbing her soul out. Before long, it grew dark with heavy rainclouds. The two of them simply lay there, as the rain gently fell on them. After what seemed like almost an hour, Aleu finally had it in her to speak again. "I've never been more afraid of anything in my life." She said, shakily, now staring through him, as though visualizing some horrific scene. He could guess what it was."I'm... so sorry Aleu, but I'm not going anywhere. I promise." He spoke slowly, and deliberately. Aleu looked pleadingly into his eyes. He continued, "It's just that night-shade was a disaster waiting to happen. I had no choice, but to take care of her once and for all." Now she nodded, while looking down from his eyes, showing that deep down, she knew he was right. It was another thing she had no control of; But, he was still right. Now, if night-shade ever showed her face again, it would likely mean she would have to be killed, for the safety of all.
The relentless sobbing had only exhausted Aleu all the more; she simply couldn't bear to walk all the way back to the cave. However, Nagu convinced her to walk over to the shore of the only a few hundred meters from where they were before. Once there, Nagu promptly dug out a respectable den for two, and furnished it with new Cedar boughs, and reeds. They lay down together there, watch the rain drops splashing on the surface of the lake. They listened to the distant thunder, and to the sounds of the forest.
Aleu was very tired. She lay her head down beneath his. Nagu gingerly began cleaning her fur where there were still remnants from her hunt. She smiled inwardly as the gentle rhythmic rasping of Nagu's tongue on her fur was the perfect lullaby for her. She was at first worried slightly about what the pack would do overnight without them, but she convinced herself that Gale was still there. Within a few short minutes, Aleu fell fast asleep.
Aleu awoke to find Nagu nestled against her. She had to admit, he looked adorable when he slept. She regretted that she had to wake him. She nudged him gently on his ear, and called him to wake up. He didn't budge. Aleu thought it odd, but tried again. Still no response. Now Aleu was worried. She nudged him harder now, but he still didn't move. Starting to feel desperate, Aleu shifted to have a better angle. She sniffed at his slightly pale face. Something wasn't right about his smell. He smelled like... DEATH!? "No, no, no, NO! How Why?" Aleu was beginning to tear up now. She jumped out of the den to view his face more clearly, but saw a sight to horrible to describe. She couldn't cry anymore. She was too overtaken with shock to cry. Then, Aleu heard a horrible, familiar cackling. She turned behind her to see Night-shade standing there with Nagu's head gripped in her teeth. Only... it wasn't night shade!? It was the body of a grizzly, but with Night-shade's face!? She dropped Nagu, and crushed him with her massive paw, resulting in a crunchy sound that actually made her sick. "You should have killed me when you had the chance Aleu!" Again, she cackled. Night-shade Burst into flames, and jumped for her, biting, and clawing her, burning her. "Aleu!" she screamed. "Aleu!"
"Aleu!... Aleu!... Aleu wake up! You're having a nightmare!" Aleu awoke with a start. In a horrible panic, she looked around, panting and screaming in terror. Then she saw Nagu's face, his eyes worried, but stern, wise, and deep. She hung on to the look in his eyes for dear life! It was her anchor now. All her senses of logic were gone at the moment. She looked into his golden, brown eyes.
"Aleu... Take a breath." She did as he said, not being able to think for herself. She took one breath, and held it; then, after a moment, she released it. With her breathing and heart rate returning to normal, she once again was able to think straight. She looked away from his eyes, calmer now. She began remembering everything, who she was, the battle which occurred yesterday, the previous night, just everything. Now, Aleu found she couldn't remember much of what had happened in her dream, or why she had awoken so terrified. She was almost back to normal now, and she looked back to Nagu. His concerned look hadn't changed.
"Aleu? A... Are you alright?" She looked at him with her own concerned look now. Now she remembered her dream, and she knew it wasn't a good thing.
For a moment, all she could do was stare at Nagu. Now she was afraid again. She feared that the dream might have been an omen. She looked out to the lake in front of them. The sun had only just started to rise. It looked as though it was going to be a beautiful day. She started speaking slowly, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I had a dream Nagu." She looked down at her outstretched forelegs, and continued. "Night-shade brought a hideous monster back with her, and destroyed everything." Not wanting to worry him excessively, she left out the part of seeing his severed head crushed by her paw. Nagu let his ears twitch, showing he had understood her meaning about the dream. "Well, there's only so much we can do about her now Aleu." He began, trying to comfort her further. "She's long gone by now. If she is going to show up again, we'll just have to be better prepared for her." Aleu nodded somewhat to herself, as if trying to convince herself that he were right.
"Nagu?" She began. "Is there a way I can talk to Anyu?"
