Disclaimer: I do not own anything you can recognize from any book EVER. If you recongnize anything from any movie or book—anything, it isn't mine.

Chapter 9

Snake sat in his dark forest. He didn't want to actually destroy Maya, but only in the mental way. Take away her conscious and replace it with something more...deep. He'd get her to do whatever he wanted, so he was planning on going to the MacHeaths' after a while. But all he did now, was meditate. Brood about how his child was doing (guess who it is) and sigh.

After a couple of minutes past, he got up on all fours and ended up tumbling facedown into the ground. He snarled and white-foaming saliva escaped his mouth. "It's acting up again! Grr...being a former victim of Cags himself just as Maya's friend was is hard. It's rare that some are immune to such a disease as this one," mumbled Snake to himself as he got back on his paws. He snorted and then carefully toke each step at a time, with a slow pause when his sickness started acting up.

"It wasn't your fault, Maya," Marlo said, trying not to sound rude.

"But I allowed it to happen! Me! It is" said Maya, guilty eyes looking into Marlo's.

Marlo pressed his head against hers, nuzzling her. "What happened is what happened... there's nothing you can do about it." he looked into her cross-colored eyes. "But I promise this: I hope that I will be the friend Shadow was to you."

Maya smiled at Marlo, giving a small nudge. "Thanks...it's good to hear it from a friend for once in a lifetime," said Maya with a sooth tone, giving a signal to Marlo that she was calm now and there would be no more drama.

"Silverside, Maya and I are taking you to the Watch!" Marlo barked.

"YAY! Wait - what? Well um...we barely know more about him I think. All we know is that he lived with a bear and that he was saved by Shadow." Maya said as she scratched her head. She wasn't sure how Silverside was supposed to make it to the Watch.

"He wants to meet the Fengo. I'll take him to the Hot Gates and see if Fengo will come and speak to him." Marlo said. "Let's go."

"Okay, okay...so we'll do that and then he'll come" Maya said. Then she headed off, being the first to go to the Hot Gates.

"Hamish!" Marlo called. "There's a wolf here who wants to speak to you."

Hamish trotted towards them, catching sight of Silverside.

Silverside bowed, or lowered his head slightly

"Well my friends. This looks like goodbye. I'll make sure to visit once-in-a-while." Shadow told them before nodding his head to the Fengo and turning around to leave. "And Maya. Marlo. Kia. Take care of yourselves." Then he broke off onto a slow run before disappearing over the small hills that showed in front of the hot gates.

Marlo wished he could speak to Shadow more often. There was something off about him... a sickness inside. It wasn't fair that wolf did not get to go to the Watch.

As Shadow proceeded to his home in the MacDuncan territory once more, he couldn't help wonder if this would be the last time he ever saw his friends again. He took a silent oath to himself to protect those he loved after he learned his mother died because of him. He didn't want to lose anyone one else he cared most about. Oh... Kia? Marlo? Maya? Is it wrong for me to lose faith in my friends? Shadow thought to himself before turning and breaking into a full out run for the MacHeath's.

Arriving in time, he saw that he was welcomed by a byrrgis of maybe twenty wolves.

"What do you want?"

"Why are you here?"

"You should leave!"

"Where did my mother die?" Shadow demanded.

"You are in no position to make demands." A wolf said. At that, the wolf jumped on him and bit his ear.

Instead of entering the submissive like the law demands, he clapped his paws onto the wolf's sides and rolled her over until he stood over. "Where?!" He said, bringing foam up into his mouth. At that, some of the wolves panicked and turned tail running for the safety of their pack. "A-at Seagulls peak." She stuttered.

Barring his teeth one last time, Shadow took off towards Seagulls peak.

Maya's nose twitched. She waited for Hamish to reply to Silverside as he still bow in position. She didn't know if she had to or not, considering now that she was a Watch Wolf.

With Snake After Shadow Leaves MacHeaths…

"I need to know where Old Cags is. Tell me" he snarled, a she-wolf pointed her muzzle in the direction of where Cags was now held. He'd been moved to a different place, to The Pit as wolves called it now. He used to be a wonderer, staying among the MacHeaths' and giving them the disease, killing a lot of them. They had to move the Old Geezer, ha. Fools thought Snake as he walked to The Pit. He entered it and looked around.

It was dim inside the pit, little sunshine at this hour. Snake spotted a figure, Old Cags. He laid on the ground of the cave he lived in. "Tell me, Cags, how did you learn to Moonblink wolves?" asked Snake, his voice grim and raspy. Old Cags awoke to Snake and let his usual strange grunts and snarls. As any crazed wolf would.

"Come on inside, friends: welcome to the Watch," Hamish turned around, leading the wolves inside. Marlo was closely next to Maya, hoping Shadow would return soon.

"He'll be fine. I'm sure of it," Maya whispered to Marlo, it was as if she could read him like a book. She knew that he was unsettled about Shadow, him not being able to come with her and the rest to the Watch.

Hamish stopped at a den. "Here; stay here for the night. We'll speak in the morning. Also, in the morning, you'll have your first watch. Then I'll speak to Silverside."

"Okay! But...is there at least something to gnaw on here? I kind've got used to that now..." Maya said, feeling embarrassed to admit it.

Winks suddenly burst into the den, a few bones in her mouth. She dropped them hastily on the floor, her tail thumping on the floor. "There! Sorry I was late."

Maya's eyes widened. "Uh...wow...great timing, Winker!" she said, her mouth dropped open.

Winks nodded, submitted, and ran out. She was very spry, especially for a Watch Wolves. Marlo thought they would be solemn.

Maya laughed. "It's so strange how things just happen for no random reason for nothing!" Maya said as she looked at Marlo.

Marlo tipped his head to one side in half agreement and half confusing. "To say 'for no random reason' means it has a purposeful reason. But I get your point; that was random."

"GAH! I'm tired again! Why! Why did we have to get tired so easily!" Maya let a fake moan of grief out and then sat down, shaking her head. Maya yawned.

Marlo curled up to get some rest.

Maya looked around. "Oh well...I'll just fall asleep where I am at...no sense in bothering anybody." Maya murmured sleepily as she snuggled down and shut her eyes. It was hard getting to sleep though...

Marlo could not seem to get any sleep that night. He got up, circled again, and lay down closer to Maya. He thought back to his days in the west, though those were long ago. They made him sad, too. Maya was his best comfort, along with Shadow and Kia.

Maya peeked one eye open. Restless just like me, Mar-Mar? Wonder what's with tonight...strange Maya thought. "Is something bothering you?" Maya whispered, she had felt better getting her past out, but she was always there to lend a paw for a friend in need. Always.

"Just... tired and stressed," Marlo muttered. "I'm worried about Shadow, and to be honest, you."

"It's ok. Whatever happens to me, happens to me. But with Shadow, I'd be as worried and stressed as you, too." Maya said as she looked at the moon from outside as it shined inside the den.

"I wish he were here," Marlo whimpered. He thought of his brother, mother, and father. "Where are your parents?" he finally asked.

Maya suddenly went quiet. "I...don't really know. I never knew them..." she said, it was a true fact that she had never knew them, but she had heard rumors of her being the child of a she-wolf named Lupe, but she didn't believe it one bit. They wouldn't know, only she would.

"I can't imagine what it would be like never meeting your parents," whimpered Marlo.

"Well...it's okay I mean...why would you want to see the people who let you die anyway?" Maya muttered, she frowned.

"I don't think your parents would want you dead. I think that they just can't break the law." Marlo whimpered, "My mum did."

"Well...your mother was the mate of a Chieftain! She could break the law anytime she wanted to. I'd never throw my own husband in jail...or in your father's perspective, 'throw my own wife in jail'!" Maya explained. She was brave, but why had her parents not been? If they had, why hadn't they just ran off with her?

Shaking his head not understanding why he was still bowing because nobody was there he wondered where the others went, Silverside vowed to howl each night before he got to the ring and after that each year on the night he was sent to the Fengo so Silverside started howling. "Oh great Lupus why did this have to happen?" Silverside started musically his howling sounded somewhat like a mellophone.

Marlo lifted his head, ears erect. "Do you hear that?" he whispered. "Silverside is howling... it's very beautiful if you ask me." he looked down at Maya. He felt so stupid a foolish; it was not until recently that he had began seeing her as beautiful beyond anyone else. What was this he was feeling?

"Yeah...but, very sorrowful and remorse" Maya whispered back, her voice had been getting distinct as she started to fall in a drousy trance of sleep.

When Silverside was finished howling he dug a small hole to make for a makeshift den

"Young'un, what are you doing? Get over here now." A taiga said, seeing Silverside outside. Nudging him into a den, he guided him to a couple of moose pelts.