Damian sat quietly, waiting for Matchitehew to give him the okay and speak. The large saber eyed him angrily, as if he knew what Damian had done. Damian bit his lip.

"Report." His cold voice spoke.

Damian swallowed, "Nelida has given birth to five cubs, sir. Three boys and two girls. All are healthy."

Matchitehew nodded, "Continue."

"I've learned that she has strong bonds with the others in the group. She calls them her "herd". Her and Diego hunt at night and early morning and do not eat in front of the plant eaters."

"Interesting." The large saber whispered.

"Also, one of the cubs she gave birth to has the gift, sir." Damian said as quietly as he could. "She has a white swirl like her mother's on her right shoulder."

Matchitehew's eyes glowed with interest, "Really… how nice."

"Sir?" Damian asked, confused.

"Don't you see Damian? We could use this young cub. Obviously the witch will protect the fortune teller with every well being in her body. Taking her child from her and using the cub as bait will be easy."

"But sir, they're always with the mammoths and their parents. I don't suppose we could even get one cub out from their protection." Damian replied fearfully.

"Ah, but we have careful plans and strategies to take the fortune teller from her. Right from under their noses." He replied with blood lust in every word.

Damian flinched, "But sir--"

"No more buts Damian." He said hauntingly, "Now tell me. Which way has Nelida gone now?"

Damian swallowed once more, only to find that his mouth was dry. "East." He said quickly, hoping Matchitehew wouldn't catch his lie.

Matchitehew didn't notice, "Good. Follow them once more. Report when something interesting happens."

Damian nodded and quickly walked out. His brother met him at the mouth of the cave.

"You lied to him." Aidan whispered. "You told me Nelida went west."

"I just can't let him do that to Nelida." Damian said as he walked into the woods to keep from wandering ears. "I've never seen her so happy. Actually I haven't seen her in years."

"What are you gonna do when Matchitehew finds out you lied?" Aidan asked angrily.

"He won't. I'll go east from where I last saw the herd."

"And when you don't have his report?" Aidan continued.

Damian shook his head, "Oh he'll have his report."

Aidan stopped him, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Damian said as he sat down, "You'll go west and follow Nelida."

"No, Damian." Aidan said crossly, "What makes you think I'll do that?"

"Because she's your little sister." Damian whispered, "You can't let him steal your niece… or your nephews for that matter."

"And you can't go because..?"

Damian continued walking, "One, Matchitehew will follow my scent to get to Nelida. If I go west he'll know something's up."

"That's one but--"

"Two, Diego knew I was following them from the moment I started. If he catches me stalking them again he could possibly kill me."

"Damian I--"

"And three, they're being protected by wolfs."

Aidan stopped and looked at his brother strangely. "Wolfs?" He asked surprisingly.

"You've dealt with wolfs before, you know their motives and how their packs work." Damian answered. "If anyone can watch a group of wolfs without them knowing, it's you."

Aidan looked at him thoughtfully and sighed. "If I get killed by either Diego or the wolfs I'll come back to haunt you."

Damian nodded, "We'll go to the last place I saw them and we'll separate there. I'll try to make my path obvious so Matchitehew won't follow your path."

"What if this doesn't work?" Aidan asked. "What are we going to do then?"

Damian shook his head, "Just try to keep Nell and her cubs safe."

Aidan looked around and appointed to his brother, "Which way and how far?"

"South. About a two days journey to where I last saw them. Their heading for the Spirit Chasers; they should be there already."

His brother nodded, "Alright then." He said as he started off south.

Damian ran beside him, "Aren't they gonna wonder where you are?"

Aidan shook his head as he ran; grimly he said "They were going to kill me anyway…"


Maria walked slowly into the large cave, staring awestruck at the paintings humans had left on the wall. Avnar lead her deeper into the cave, walking slowly for her to catch up. They came to a wide chamber that had a hole in the ceiling, letting the moon light in perfectly. On the edge of the circle of light was an old white wolf that was peppered in black and grey spots. The wolf smiled as the children came up to him.

"Ah, Avnar. I knew someone would come and see me tonight." He said softly.

The grey pup sat in front of him and dipped his head. Maria came and sat beside him, Elder Wolf smiled at this.

"Oh, I see you've brought a friend." He said, "What is your name, young cub?"

"Maria." She answered quietly.

Elder Wolf nodded at her quietness, "There is no need to be afraid. My bite and my bark have faded with age."

Maria nodded as the old wolf lay down in front of them.

"I feel that you young ones came to ask me something?"

Avnar nodded, "Maria has a swirly on her shoulder, and I have a star on my paw. What are they? Why is they not the same?"

Elder Wolf smiled, "Those are marks of the angels. You have been given gifts from the sky above, you are meant to have them."

"Why?" Maria asked. "Why my sister or brothers don't have it?"

"The universe works in strange ways." He said shrugging. "Your mother asked me the very same questions; Why me? What's it for? Can I get rid of it?"

"Mama?" Maria whispered.

"Yes little one. You have gotten the gift from your mother, just as you've gotten your appearance from your father."

Avnar raised an eye brow, "Why I have it?"

Elder Wolf shook his head, "That I also do not know. Perhaps you are, quite literally, soul mates."

Maria yawned loudly, causing Avnar to yawn as well. Elder Wolf clicked his tongue.

"You little ones need rest. Why don't you stay here and we'll talk more in the morning." He whispered.

Maria nodded slowly and went to a corner with Avnar following. They fell asleep quickly, causing the Elder Wolf to sigh.

"Such a blessing it is… But a curse to put on cubs and pups at a young age."

The old wolf yawned and lay beside the kids, resting his head on his paws. "I just hope the universe knows what it's doing…"