Thank you all for the nice reviews. Again I don't own Wolfblood, but you knew that. :P
Shannon's alarm sound off early in the morning, she had set it for four am. It gave Tom and her enough time to get home before their parents would notice. Looking around the room she couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Tom, limbs stretched out in all directions and mouth opened wide. When her eyes found Maddy she smiled, her best friend was coiled around Rhydian, head on his chest. The two looked peaceful and after four months of being apart they deserved it. Shannon crawled closer to Tom attempting to wake him. "Tom?" She whispered sharply. She began shaking his shoulder. "Tom." She said again.
It was Maddy she woke. Head lifting off Rhydian, sleepy eyes looking at her. "What time is it?"
"About four." She whispered back.
Maddy sat up but Shannon noticed she kept one hand on Rhydian, she probably didn't think this was real yet. "Are you guys leaving?" She sounded sad.
"Yeah," She started shaking Tom again. "We need to get home before our parents find us missing." Tom wasn't moving. "I'm glad your back, if you have to leave again please come find us." Shannon kept her eyes on Tom.
"I promise." Maddy said, than her hand shot out smacking Tom in the chest. He jolted up so fast, looking around in confusion. Shannon couldn't keep her laughter in, Maddy join her.
The sound woke Rhydian, blinking hard to shake the sleep away. "What is going on?" He asked looking around.
Shannon tried hard to stop laughing. "Maddy smacked Tom awake."
Rhydian smiled, he lay back down. "You'll cover for me with Mr. Jeffries?" He asked while yawning.
"Of course." Shannon said softly as she aided Tom to his feet. "Let us know what happens." She said pulling him to the door. "See yea later." She called out over her shoulder. As Shannon closed the door she saw Maddy lay back down next to Rhydian, enjoying the sleep before her parents got there.
As they talked last night Maddy was sure her parents would arrive by morning meaning by the time school started Maddy would be getting in trouble by her parents. Rhydian wasn't going to leave her side until they sorted it all out. Shannon was worried they might not get to say good bye but her priority for the moment was to get her and a sleepy Tom back to their homes. With a heavy heart Shannon mounted the bike and rode away from her friends' house.
Shannon had successfully made it home before her parents woke up. She was meeting Tom in front of the school before first bell. They weren't really sure how to cover for Rhydian.
They walked in to the usual mess of students scattered about the room. Jimi and his group were huddled round a game and the K's were chatting loudly among themselves. Mr. Jeffries walked in to class and called for attention. Shannon and Tom hurried off to their seats. Jeffries looked around and sighed. "Right, has anyone seen Rhydian?" His eyes slightly glanced over at the two, but after Shannon's comment the last time he asked, he didn't dare.
Tom cleared his throat. "Rhydian…um…"
"Rhydian forgot his books at home, he went to get them; should be back soon." Shannon finished for him. Shannon breathed a sigh of relief when he accepted it and started class; she just hoped Maddy and Rhydian were doing okay.
…
"Maddy Smith!" The extra shrill at the end of her mother's voice made her cringe. She and Rydian were sat at the table waiting for them. Turning around they saw the Smith's standing in the door, huffing; anger filled their faces.
Maddy dared make eye contact with them. "Hi mum." She said in an unsure voice.
"Hi, that is all you have to say?" She walked closer, wolf in her eyes. "Do you have any idea how it feels to wake up and find your child gone?"
Maddy tilted her head down so her hair made curtains in front of her face. "You knew where I was going." She mumbled.
"That is not the point!"
"Maybe it would be best if you left Rhydian." Daniel called out more calm then his wife, but tone still dangerous.
Rhydian looked him in the eyes. "No sir, I think I need to stay. This concerns me as well."
"This is a family matter." Daniel said through gritted teeth.
"He staying dad." Maddy looked to her parents. "This is pack business."
"We have come to collect our run away daughter, in no way is this pack business." Her mother crossed her arms.
"But mum," Maddy began.
Her mother crossed the room fast followed by her dad. Maddy stood up took meet them, all on the edge of wolfing out. Rhydian came between them. "Everyone just, calm down." He said arms stretched out.
"Clear off Rhydian!" Daniel snapped at him.
That was enough for Maddy she pulled Rhydian behind her. "Will you just listen to me for one minute?" The tone in Maddy's voice seemed to send the wolf away in her parents, as angry as they were, they were still her parents.
Eyes reverting back to normal, the Smith's took a step backward. Silence took the room as each member attempted to calm down. Maddy felt Rhydian's hands on the sides of her arms; she backed up so her back found his chest. "Dr. Whitewood is gone." She said in a normal tone.
Both her parents' heads snapped up. "What?" Her mother asked.
"Dacia offered her a job at Segolia, she has to keep the secret now." Rhydian added.
The smith's took a moment, taking in the new information. Daniel looked over at the way Maddy was standing with Rhydian, he didn't look pleased. "Alright, maybe it would be best if we sat down and talked about it." He looked over at Maddy again. "As a pack."
Maddy let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. She was glad he included Rhydian. They made their way back to the kitchen table to talk about the new information, and Maddy's new punishment.