Chapter 12, "Makes", aka, "No Words".

An entire year later…


"Hawklet! For the last time, please remember to deflect, not block."

Treckle's scolding made the timid little Eraser bow her head in shame. Hawklet was fully grown now, but she was much smaller than Treckle.

Chuckling, Ari stared around. Treckle had brought him and many of the youngest Erasers to a personal training session for fighting in low light, before dawn specifically. Hawklet was only one of the approximately twenty here.

Amongst the usual males, there were two females other than Hawklet and Treckle. They were a pair of golden-haired females that went by the names of Kasu and Katomi, and both were shy.

Sighing, Treckle called Kasu and a young male up to try their hand at sparring. Ari caught her eye as she turned back to go to her post. In response, Treckle grinned, amused.

The newest members of the pack were clumsy and relied on their instincts, like all did at that stage. For some, like the cocky Falco, this wasn't a bad thing. For others, such as Katomi, this was not the greatest move.

Treckle sighed as Kasu was pinned to the ground. The duel had been quick and not very impressive. The male that had beaten her used crude moves, none of the elegance of the older Erasers.

"Ari," she barked. Stepping forward, she shoved the pair of pups off the fighting ground as she faced Ari. She turned to the little ones, saying, "Okay, since none of you seem to be actually getting the fighting part of fighting, I shall demonstrate some of my favorite techniques on Ari."

Chuckling nervously, Ari strode forward to meet Treckle. She shot him a smirk, showing her teeth as she called, "Watch this, children, and learn from the professionals!"

Getting into the stereotypical karate pose, Treckle's eyes gleamed, even with the fact that there was hardly any light. She seemed to be waiting for Ari. With a gusty exhale, Ari tensed before leaping at Treckle.

She cackled as she side-stepped out of the way, swinging a hand into his side to send him crashing to the ground. Ari used the momentum to roll out of the way of Treckle's feet before getting to his own.

Treckle was in the air, poised to slam down on his stomach when Ari looked up. Thinking fast, he curled into a ball, hoping to somewhat deflect Treckle's foot.

It worked. Treckle hadn't been expecting this, so she skidded off Ari's arms. But her reflexes were good enough for her to immediately jump to her feet again. She gave a challenging little growl. "That all you got?"

Ari responded by tackled her at the waist, pinning her to the ground by her shoulders. Treckle relaxed, giving up. When Ari let his grip go limp, though, she surged upwards, ramming into his chest with her shoulder.

Giggling madly, Treckle was obviously sensing victory was in sight. Slamming Ari into a huge oak, she whipped a hand around to press it lightly against his neck. It wasn't enough to cut off air, just a warning that she could.

Even unmorphed, Treckle was dangerous. She was panting slightly, the thrill of victory gleaming in her eyes. Ari put his hands up, a signal of defeat. Removing her hand, Treckle said softly, "And that, children, is how fighting's done."

From the audience, Falco snorted. "I could've done better," he bragged.

Ari thought he heard Treckle sigh before she was suddenly wasn't next to him. Instead, Falco was on his back in the leaves, with Treckle's foot resting on his chest. Treckle specialized in little light, and in the woods. No wonder she moved so fast. "You were saying?" she inquired icily.

"N-nothing," he stuttered quickly, terror stretching his eyes wide.

Removing her foot, Treckle leaned close to him. "If you ever do something like that again," she hissed, "I will make sure that you are the Omega of the pack. Kasu, Katomi, and Hawklet, even, will be higher than you. You will have not even the most remote chance at all of becoming leader." Straightening up, she growled, "Am I clear?"

Falco nodded frantically, trying to get back on her good side.

Grinning triumphantly, Treckle stepped back. "You're dismissed," she said, "Do what you want until breakfast."

Letting out a cheer, the young Erasers charged out of the woods noisily. Ari thought he saw Falco assuming the head of the little pack before they disappeared into the trees. The Alpha turned to Ari. "We got some time, too. What should we do?"

Ari shrugged. Sighing, Treckle said sarcastically, "You're so helpful."

"It's what I do best."

Treckle laughed. "Oh, Ari. Here, I have an idea." With that said, she grabbed his hand and pulled him through the trees. Reaching a large oak whose leaves were just started to turn from the fall, she released his hand and started to climb the limbs.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Ari commented, watching her scale it easily.

Her green eyes glowed in the gloom, bright as a cat's. "Yeah. So? This is the best way to see it."

"See what?"

"Come and find out."

With a huff, Ari grabbed the nearest limb and pulled himself up. He wasn't a natural tree-climber like Treckle. Treckle giggled at the sight of his difficulties. "It's easier if you unmorph, like I did."

Ari did as he was told and found that scaling the tree was much easier without the added bulk of the extra muscles. Smiling, he found a branch, and slowly climbed the darkened tree.

Treckle reached a high branch before he did. "Come on!" she called down impatiently.

Finally reaching her side, Ari sat down on the branch she was sitting on. Leaning against the limb behind him, he realized the brilliance of this place.

There were sturdy branches, and this was one of the biggest trees in the forest. In front of them, visible through a huge gap in the leaves, stretched many low hills. They were covered in short grass that rippled visibly with pre-dawn wind.

The green leaves of the oak surrounded them, touched on the tips by the colors of a sunset. Fall was coming, as was Ari's birthday again.

Treckle stared out onto the hills. This was probably the most relaxed Ari had ever seen her. Following her gaze, Ari saw the stars start to fade into the inky black. Soon, that ebony color was touched by a dark blue, which lightened rapidly to a light blue that was framed with a pale gold.

Suddenly, the magnificent sun burst over the horizon, lighting the grass with gold that shimmered with the breeze.

The oak's leaves were stained faintly saffron. Treckle's face was illuminated by the sunrise, stroked by the colors of the sun. Eyes gleaming with the shine of gold and green, and hair blazing as brilliantly as the sun in front of them, Ari thought he'd never seen the Alpha look so powerful. So in control…

Her voice whispered softly, "This is my favorite time of day. Oaks are my favorite tree."

"They match your hair in the fall," Ari murmured.

"Yes. This… this is my favorite spot." Treckle raised her head to taste the wind. "And I chose to share this with you."


They walked home in silence. Treckle's feet barely crunched the already fallen leaves.

Ari padded next to her, feeling closer to her than ever before.

They were barely a minute's walk away from the field when Treckle slowed her pace.

"What is it?" Ari asked.

She shook her head. "Nothing," she replied. Her forehead faintly creased in worry. "I just felt a little weird. Actually, I've had this feeling all week."

"Hm," Ari said thoughtfully, "Did you consider going to the whitecoats for whatever it is?"

Treckle shook her head again. "Nah. Didn't want to irritate them. They'd just irritate me."

"Okay then. Come on, we don't want to miss our morning meal."

The Alpha nodded. "Right!" She stepped forward until she was by Ari's side again. Smiling at her, he walked forward again.

Treckle took one step and stopped.

Now slightly annoyed at this, Ari turned back to her only to see that an odd expression was on her face. "…Treckle?" He asked cautiously, getting worried.

She looked up at him, barely seeing him. Treckle's green eyes widened suddenly before she collapsed.

Panicked, Ari ran up to her, kneeling on the ground. "Treckle?" he called, "Treckle!"

Treckle lay limply on the leaves, face up. Her goldish green eyes started to droop close, as if from lack of energy, or she sensed something.

"Ari," she sighed, speaking barely louder than the wind.

"Treckle? What's going on?" Ari wailed.

Even as he held her head, he felt that she was fading fast.

Her last six words as her eyes finally shut were, "I'll wait for you… I promise…"