Author's Note: As I will be travelling the next few days, I'm posting this a little early. Unfortunately, my vacation is over. Sad day. Next update will be 10/21.

Disclaimer: I own nothing- not the characters or the premise. Period. Cruel fate!

-Chapter 4: Harsher Than It Sounds-

That night, as Kim tried to sneak out of the den, Rone confronted her about the Go Alpha. The crimson wolf had been expecting it but she still hadn't managed to come up with anything to say. While part of her didn't care for Shego's amendment that she keep the trade off of teaching a secret, the overwhelming majority demanded she do so to protect the honor of her pack. Her parents had always taught her to respect all wolves, even ones she didn't particularly like.

"It isn't like you to keep secrets, Kimber. What's going on?" the golden wolf half demanded, half begged. He truly didn't like acting antagonizing towards the pack leader, especially since they were best friends, but he felt it was justified given the abrupt appearance of the black and green shewolf earlier in the day. While the Possible pack rarely engaged in territorial battles, they had never been exactly friendly towards the Gos, and he was certain the feeling was mutual.

"Rone," Kim sighed, disliking hearing her full name from the omega. It was a sure sign that he was worried and that he wouldn't just let the topic drop without good reason. She appreciated the concern but, at the moment, she truly didn't need it. There was already a voice in the back of her head trying to convince her to just stay in the den and forget about the Alpha's hunting lessons altogether. As usual, that voice was being overridden by the possibility that she might help her pack. "I'm trying to keep us alive. Shego is going to help, but I have to help her too. It's for the best."

"Shego?" Rone visibly pulled back, slightly shocked. His mind was racing; he knew that name from somewhere. Then it hit him, leaving the omega feeling slightly foolish for not seeing it before. "Isn't she one of the next pack leaders for the Gos?"

"I don't know, Rone, I didn't ask," Kim growled, glancing up at the sky. The moon was starting its climb, meaning she would have to run to make it to the meeting place early. She didn't want to give the pale wolf an opportunity to mock her. The golden omega seemed slightly hurt by Kim's response, so she added in a more gentle tone. "Please, Rone, don't worry. It's for the best, for all of us. She isn't the nicest wolf I've ever met, but she's trying to help us."

"I understand that Kim, I just, y'know, don't want you getting yourself killed out there," Rone turned his muddy brown eyes on the crimson wolf, wearing a sad smile. "I don't think the pups could take losing you too. None of us can."

"I know," Kim winced, dipping her muzzle as she thought of the risk she was taking. There was no way she could trust the pale wolf but she needed the hunter's training. Besides, she'd already fought the Alpha and barely lost- surely she would win now that she was getting her full strength back. In her mind, the gains outweighed the risks, and it was as simple as that. "Keep an eye on them for me?"

"Of course," Rone instantly replied, stepping closer to nuzzle the crimson wolf a little, a comforting gesture Kim was grateful for. "Just call for us if anything happens. We're always ready to fight."

"I will," Kim shook her head and smiled, a confident gleam in her olive orbs. "Besides, if she does anything stupid, I'll just drag her back here by the scruff of her neck and let the Tweebs annoy her to death."

Rone laughed. "That would be a far worse fate."

Kim smiled, then turned back down the path away from the den. She hadn't gotten far when Rone called out again.

"Hey, Kim... may Fenrir watch over you," the golden wolf solemly called, a hint of unease in his voice. He didn't like the idea of Kim leaving to meet the pale Alpha by herself and it had little to do with doubting his best friend and pack leader. Gos were known for their ruthlessness and their killer instinct.

"I'll be fine, Rone," Kim gave him a confident grin, trying her hardest to set the omega at ease. Making a point to glance up at the moon, which looked full at a glance, the crimson wolf returned the farewell with its standard response. "Fhang will guard me."

After that, Kim set back on the trail, a little sad she hadn't spoken the words near as often as she once did. Her mother was the spiritual leader of the pack, always telling them stories of the wolf god Fenrir and the wolf goddess Fhang. The crimson wolf remembered clearly those puppyhood nights when she was curled up with her mother- sometimes Niqe, Wade, and Felix would join her, and later Ron and Yori- and the Alpha shewolf would tell as many stories as she could before the pup drifted off to sleep. Those were the days.

The moon was rising high when Kim finally made it to the ridgeline, the northern boarder of the entire territory. It was a long drop to the plain below, which stretched north for as far as the eye could see, but the view was fantastic. The crimson wolf only had a few minutes to admire the grassy plain before she heard claws scraping against rocks, her ears flicking around at the noise.

"Well, I'm pleasantly surprised," Shego padded over to the Possible omega and sat on her haunches, a slightly amused expression on her muzzle. While the conversations prior to her sleep had been unpleasant, to say the least, Shego woke to her brother being chewed out, quite literally, by Presgo. She had never seen the black and blue wolf so scared; it was nearly impossible to break her mood with the sight of the hulking Alpha running away with his tail tucked between his legs. Kim, on the other hand, frowned, unhappy with the pale wolf's implication and apparant mirth.

"I said I was going to come, didn't I?" It took effort to keep her tone civil, but Kim managed. Part of her groaned, thinking what exquisite torture the lessons would be if, barely a minute into being in the other's presence, they were already getting on the other's nerves.

"Well, yes, that I didn't doubt," the pale wolf honestly replied; the Possibles needed the food too badly for Kim not to come. Keeping her amused expression in place, Shego continued in a nonchalant manner. "I did expect you to tell Rone all about our little deal, though."

Shego laughed when Kim's face fell, shock and surprise showing readily in the crimson wolf's face. "How did you-?"

"It's called awareness, Kimmie, a hunter's skill. I'll teach you," Shego reigned herself in, turning a decidedly preditorial smirk on the omega. "But only if you can teach me."

Kim snorted, not appreciating how her 'howling apprentice' was acting. It was as if the whole thing was a game to the pale wolf which, Kim conceded, it might be. After all, what wolf couldn't howl? It had to be some sort of gimmick.

"Chop chop, Kimmie. I don't have all night," Shego taunted, further annoying the crimson wolf. It was a strange yet welcomed relief from the guarded Alphas of the Go pack. The shewolf was certain it was an omega trait, being unable to hide one's emotions, but she wasn't going to point it out; it was far too amusing to watch Kim get worked up.

"Can you at least call me by my name?" Kim growled, firmly sitting down on her haunches and slightly glaring at the Alpha beside her. It appeared to have no effect as Shego simply refused, citing some silly reason. Well, it was silly to Kim. With a sigh, the omega shook her head. "Are you always this difficult?"

"I'm an Alpha; I have a right to be as difficult as I please," Shego stated, a smirk on her canine features. Kim just rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Start by showing me what you can do," Kim relented, sensing she would get herself nowhere, save into a mind numbing argument, by pressing the issue.

For a moment, the pale wolf squirmed; this was the part she'd been dreading. Her previously good mood died as she tried her hardest to howl like Kim did. Unfortunately, the sounds she produced sounded exactly like her previous futile attempts, prompting the crimson wolf to grit her teeth. Kim wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or snap at Shego to stop torturing her; maybe the Alpha's inability to howl was sincere. She tried a few more times before the pale wolf's anger got the better of her.

"Damnit!" Shego growled, stalking away from the other shewolf. She wasn't planning on leaving; she just felt better when she could pace. Kim said nothing, simply watching the tense Alpha a moment. Obviously, Shego really couldn't howl, at least not in a pleasant way, and the lack of ability was grating heavily on the pale wolf's nerves. Some part of Kim wanted to laugh at the pacing shewolf but she stopped herself; she still needed the Alpha's help.

"Calm down, Shego. You're getting too worked up over this," Kim gently advised the troubled shewolf, imagining she was speaking to Niqe or Yori, wolves who didn't try to annoy her at every turn. Harsh emerald eyes glared at her, a snarl coming to the pale wolf's muzzle.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" Shego snapped, ready to knock the crimson wolf over the head with her paw. "I need to learn to howl!"

"And I'll teach you," the omega forcefully replied, meeting those fiery emerald orbs with her calm olive ones. "But first, you need to calm down."

"I am calm!" the pale wolf snapped again, resuming her angry pacing. Internally, Shego was trying her hardest to reign in her anger but was failing miserably. She wouldn't admit to that though, especially not to the omega.

Kim shook her head, wondering how she was going to teach the angry shewolf anything. She couldn't even remember when she started to howl; it was something she'd just known how to do. It was like breathing. How could any wolf not know how to howl? "Fhang help me."

"Who the hell is that?" came another angry snap, the only tone Shego could manage. Somehow, she thought simply being in the presence of the crimson wolf would magically endow her with the ability to howl. It was a foolish hope but she was getting desperate- she already considered herself at the end of her sanity if she was asking an omega for help.

"Are you serious?" Kim frowned, watching the pale wolf come to a standstill. Though she still looked angry, Shego was paying the omega enough attention to show that she, in fact, was being serious. "She's the wolf goddess. You know, the moon?"

Kim jerked her muzzle to the celestial body above, as if the visual cue might jog Shego's memory. Perhaps the Go pack had a different name for Fhang or maybe the pale wolf's anger was muddling her ability to think straight. Instead, Shego snarled, assuming the crimson wolf was trying to make fun of her.

"Stop talking nonesense! The moon is just a big star!"

Kim rolled her eyes, ready to give up on the pale shewolf. Considering she had never given up on anything- at least as far as she could remember- that was an accomplishment, especially since they'd barely spent an hour together. Without really thinking about it, the crimson wolf grumbled out a reply that she instantly realized should never have left her mouth. "You don't know Fhang and you can't howl. You're not a real wolf."

-To Be Continued: Learning Experiences-