A/N: Hey, guys, welcome to the last chapter of Satellite Heart before the epilogue. I was going to write three more chapters, but it would just be stalling and pointless information that would be needed in book two. Then I was going to split this chapter up into two separate chapters, but I had no idea what to add or how to split it up. So, this is the last chapter, and soon the Epilogue will be up and the story will be over. But don't be sad for long, because I've been working on Burned by Two and that'll be up within a week or so. So... enjoy Chapter Thirteen,
Dream and love, Donna
So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home"~ Chief Tecumseh
She was standing in the forest, about to meet Death itself. Collin looked at his imprint helpless; dirt smeared her face and dirtied her clothes. Collin tired walking to her but his feet wouldn't move, it was like standing in cement, and his wolf was fast asleep not even worrying. Trees were on fire and it rained ashes, the moon and fire were the only light, even his heightened vision couldn't see through the pitch black nighttime sky. Clouds were moving fast, rushing to cover the moons light like they were in a marathon. Screams were heard in a distance, growls and howls made Collin's ears ring. Phoenix was looking straight ahead, not even noticing Collin shouting her name and attempting to break free from the cement.
He followed her gaze after numerous failed attempts to break free and get her attention. Slow movement of an object caught his attention, he couldn't see what it was due to the pitch blackness and the object seemed to blend in perfectly with it.
"Please…" Phoenix cried, tasting the salty tears in her mouth, her voice was broken and hoarse like she'd been screaming. "Please, just leave me alone! For once! Just leave me alone…"
The moon's light was gone now, the only thing allowing him to see was the fluorescent fire blazing orange, red, yellow and blue. The fire was expanding north and the trees were burnt to a crisp, all the leaves burst into ash, making it seem like it was raining ash—now water. Soot was in Collin's hair and plastered on his face, the oxygen was hot and low, forcing Collin to take deep slow breaths and try to save what's left of the oxygen. Collin finally saw the shadow move closer and eyes came into view, a deep rich blue that resembled Phoenix, but it wasn't Phoenix's eyes, not even close, the shade might have been the same but Collin would never associate those eyes with Phoenix because those eyes were burning with rage and repugnance.
Collin watched the thing get in the light, "dad… please…" Phoenix begged shaking her head and having a rush of tears fall to the ground. The wolf was black, so black it was almost blue, his ears perked up when Phoenix sobbed and a hint of pleasure passed his eyes. Collin began calling profanities at the wolf, yelling at him to back off or he'll be torn to pieces. But the wolf ignored him like he wasn't even there, and maybe he wasn't.
The wolf shook his head at Phoenix and her knees began to shake, he snarled and showed his teeth. Then the wolf lunged at Phoenix, a glass shattering scream filled the air and then stopped, all that left to hear was the crackling fire and the growling of the wolf. Collin's heart shattered, he began to shake out of rage. The wolf howled like he was laughing and backed away from Phoenix's body. She laid against a tree, blood pouring out of her chest; claw marks started at the top of her chest and ran down along her waist. A bite mark was on her neck, and her face was turned away, shoved in the mixture of dirt, ashes, and her own blood. The wolf turned and looked at Collin, a wolf smile painted on his face, showing his sharp teeth stained blood of his now dead imprint dripping down them.
Collin woke up sweating and gasping for air, he clutched the edge of the couch to help him sit up. A multi-colored quilt was on the floor in a ball and the pillow he was sleeping on now clutched in his hand. His ear twitched and he heard, what he guessed to be, the shower running and coffee making itself in a pot. He looked around and noticed he was in the living room of Phoenix's house. A large screen television was right across from him and two reclining chairs were next to him, in front between him and the television was a glass coffee table, a glass of water and a magazine were placed on it. Water trickled down the glass like it was sweating from being too cold, Collin inquired that the glass must have just been put on the table.
Collin moved his feet to the floor and tried to get up but a pounding in his head was too much for him a handle and his knees gave out. He plopped back down on the couch and rested his head on the back of the couch; he brought his hands to his head and gave out a big sigh. It felt like someone was knocking on his brain and poking it with wires. He opened his eyes and everything swirled around like a painting.
He heard the shower turn off and he wondered if Phoenix had stayed at the house with him and the person in the shower was Mark Parker or Cammie.
Collin looked down the hallway and saw the, what he guessed to be, the bathroom door open and out came Phoenix wearing shorts, a white tank top and a black leather jacket. She had her hair to the side and was drying it with her towel as she walked towards Collin.
"You're up, how are you feeling? I suppose you have a head ache, let me get you Advil," She walked past him and into the kitchen.
"What did you do?" Collin questioned as he heard Phoenix opening and slamming cabinet doors.
"Well, when you started to freak out I hit you in the head to relax you," she came back into view holding out her hand with four Advil. "You already have water," she pointed to the sweating glass.
"You hit me on the head?" Collin could have sworn that she was at least four feet away form him when he passed out, but he didn't want to think about it too much, his head was pounding and he knew now that Phoenix would tell him when she's ready. He took the pills and chugged his water, he didn't know how thirsty he was until he took the sip of the cold water.
Phoenix sat next to Collin on the couch, landing with a plop, and threw her towel on the table. She kicked her feet up on the glass and turned her head to Collin, she frowned, "have a bad dream?"
"How'd you know?" Collin let out a breath of air, he felt exhausted just thinking about the dream. It was the worst nightmare he's ever had.
"I get bad dreams every night, Collin. I know what someone looks like after they've had one," she pursued her lips, trying to sort out what she was going to say.
Collin stared at her, "it was about you," he breathed so she couldn't hear. He cleared his throat, "so you have chronic nightmares?"
Phoenix sighed, "insomnia, actually." Collin didn't expect Phoenix to have sleeping problems, but when she said that he finally noticed light, dark bags under her eyes, obviously covered by makeup. "It's okay though, I'm a night owl and sleeping was never my thing," Phoenix thought about her how good she slept last night knowing Collin was down the hallway sleeping on the couch. She felt safe and secure sleeping and she didn't have a nightmare at all, which was so relieving—she hadn't slept so well in ages.
Collin frowned, "you never told me that."
"You never asked, Collin. I never let you near me long enough for you to realize," she tried to smile but faltered. "Tomorrow is Halloween," she tried to change the subject.
"Yeah, I know, today's Devils night," Collin smiled and thought about how him and Brady used to cause destruction to people's houses on this day, before they phased and had to change. Before everything got complicated and life seemed to have more important qualities than just playing video games and making fun of other people.
Phoenix smiled and looked down, as if her smile was ugly and she didn't want Collin to see it. "You like Hell's night?"
Collin shrugged, "I used to, I mean I still do, but there are more important things to do at night. Patrolling and saving humanity is just so fun, I do it on holidays and practically all weekend," Collin was being sarcastic, but he was being honest too. Jacob and Paul usually make Collin patrol at least an hour on a holiday, and on his weekends his schedule is filled with patrol.
"It must suck," Phoenix mumbled. "I mean, bloody hell, do you ever spend time with your family? Do you like; see them for a brief five minutes when you practically crawl through the door from exhaustion?" Collin could see behind her smile that she was being serious. Phoenix never had a real family, at least one that was blood related and it would pain her if Collin didn't spend time with his family. Family is the only thing we have nowadays, everyone else relies on lies and fear, but family has known you since you were born, you share the same blood, and they are the only people you can count on.
"They know, they understand," Collin's lips got in a tight line. "Jacob makes sure that we all have out days off," Collin's family loved him, he knew that, but his mother and father were always fighting over every little thing so Collin has to spend time with them separately. He wished his parents could get a divorcee, as awful as that sounds. He just didn't like seeing the aftermath of the arguments—his mother crying and his father having his head in his hands, his parents need to stop putting each other in pain.
"Jacob?" Phoenix's head snapped up, "who's that?" Phoenix tilted her head to the side and scrunched her eye brows together. She's never met a Jacob in La Push and she thought she was losing her groove.
"Jacob, Jacob Black? He's the head honcho, you know, my Alpha," Collin was surprised that she hasn't heard of Jake yet, everyone talked about him all the time.
"Hmm," Phoenix hummed. She looked at Collin, "are you okay?" She looked genuinely concerned but quickly erased it off her face.
"No, I still have questions for you, but I'm going to wait. I need to think things through before I pressure you into an interrogation," he smiled but she knew he was being serious.
Phoenix was about to say something but a door was opening down the hall and she shut her mouth closed. The door quietly closed, as if someone was sleeping in the house and they didn't want to disturb them. Shuffling feet that could be heard a mile away came closer to the couple, a bump into the wall and a whispered ooff made Collin smile. This person should have just slammed the door because they were already making enough ruckus to wake the whole neighborhood.
"Shit," a female voice mumbled, falling into view tripping over her feet. The girl quickly got back on her feet and looked at Phoenix, "you're up? Good, did you make any coffee yet because I'm hella tired…" her voice trailed off as she noticed Collin sitting next to Phoenix. "Oh, hello, Collin," she smiled and slightly waved.
"Hey Cam…" he trailed off not knowing what to call her. If Kari was a fake name to Phoenix then Cammie must be a fake name to something.
She must have read his facial expression, frowning she whipped her face to Phoenix, "you told him?"
Phoenix nodded and stood up. She gestured to Cammie, "Collin, meet Harley. Harley, meet Collin," she smiled sheepishly, trying to make the situation less awkward as it was.
Furious, Harley asked to see Phoenix in the kitchen alone. Collin said it was okay and he'll just continue sitting on the couch. Once Phoenix and Harley left the room, or when Harley grabbed Phoenix's wrist and dragged her out, Collin's ears twitched as the "private" conversation went on in the kitchen.
Collin tried to not listen in, but curiosity got the best of him and he couldn't ignore the background sounds. They were talking in hushed, enraged, voices.
"Why the hell did you tell him, Phoenix? Are you fucking nuts? I thought you were going to leave!" Harley flailed her hands as she fired questions at her.
Phoenix put her lips in a tight line, noticing how choleric Harley was and chose her words carefully. "I didn't tell him straight to his face, Harley. He's quite the nosey one and decided to listen in on a private conversation between me and Clint. I was—am going to leave, Harley. But not right now, he knows everything about my—our situation." Phoenix didn't know what else to call it, so she left it at situation.
It took a few moments for Harley to digest this new information, her face was twisted with emotion and you could see that she was biting her tongue on the inside of her mouth, trying to keep her mouth shut. Harley hummed and tapped her foot on the kitchen tile, "and he understands the risks of him knowing this? Phoenix you have to erase his memory," she breathed the last few words so Collin couldn't hear.
"He's one of them," Phoenix whispered, "he is a… shape shifter. All of them are. Even Embry."
Harley looked dumbstruck, her jaw went slack, her arms went to her side, and her foot stopped tapping impatiently on the tile. She's never seen a shape shifter in human form; it was always in wolf form.
Phoenix didn't let Harley reply, she could hear her voice quiver as she spoke, "besides, it's not like I'm going to be around long enough for him to get to me in La Push. I'll be leaving and Collin and you and everyone else can just keep on living. And before you even open your mouth, you are not going with me," Harley opened her mouth but shut it.
"You're not the boss of me, Phoenix," her real name tasted weird; "I'm practically the boss of you! This is not acceptable, he cannot win, Phoenix! The more you push us away, the more you run away, the more he gains power and confidence. He's trying to make you leave everything you love so you can be alone and he can get to you, every time he gets to a place he's knows you've been and you're not there, he knows he's scaring you. He's scaring you so much that you have to run away from him and leaving everything you love, Phoenix, I know you don't want to be alone. Where ever you go I go, that's what friends are for, God damnit! Friends are to be by your side no matter what, and I'm going to be by your side with whatever choice you make." Harley's breath came out ragged, and fury was in her eyes.
Phoenix looked at her in the eyes, "what other choices do I have, Harley? Stay here and get you guys killed? No, that would be mental. Bloody mental." She looked at the door to the living room, Collin could hear their conversation and she knew it, but she didn't dare tell Harley.
"I think its better staying here," Harley had her mind set on it and nothing would change it, "they can help!" She pointed to the door which Collin lay behind, "they can help you fight him, Phoenix, please. Just listen to me for once."
Phoenix thought about it and sighed. She left the kitchen without saying a word back to Harley. When she walked through the door Collin tried to look inconspicuous, pacing around the room running his hand through his hair and whistling. Collin was looking at Phoenix out of the corner of his eye, she had a smile playing on her lips and her arms crossed on her chest. "You act so innocent, Collin. I'm not stupid, I knew you could hear," she walked over to him and stood in front of him, making him stop pacing. She had to tilt her head back to look him in the eye, "I said what I needed to say to you, in there," she pointed to the kitchen door, "now what do you have to say back?"
Collin muttered something under his breath and plopped back down on the couch. "You have heightened senses, like me," It wasn't a question, it was a fact.
"Yes, since my father is the toughest wolf in his pack and probably in anyone else's Pack his wolfness got transferred to me. He taught me how to listen carefully so on," Phoenix answered him, even though she knew what he said wasn't a question. Due to Collin's stressed expression on his face she continued, "Collin, you have no idea what you're up against. My father is a brilliant, strong, bodgy, murderous bloke. He will take down everyone that gets in his way, Collin, you have to understand that. He will know you have deep feelings for me, he can sense it, and because of that he will torture you by making you watch the person you love dearly die. His senses are exceedingly strong. He can see in the thickest of smoke, he can smell from a mile away, he can feel someone approaching him from ten feet away, and he can hear anything and everything," she pursed her lips and looked Collin in the eye. "I know you don't want me to go, you won't let me. But you have to be conscious of the fact that me staying here will only put you and everyone in danger, people will die, Collin. No matter what, someone will die."
Collin kept eye contact with her, "Phoenix…" he tried to utter another words but his mind was in such a frenzy nothing could process out of his mouth. It seemed like his mouth was moving but no sound came out, he was like a mime. Collin understood the predicament Phoenix was in and how cataclysmic the ending of this story would be, but Phoenix was his imprint God damnit and no one was going to hurt her. Collin had to protect her for his own health, if Phoenix died he'd be in the nearest mental hospital, he would have hallucinations of Phoenix and he would have a never-ending pain—physical, emotional, and mental. Collin wouldn't be able to live with himself—his mother, his father, his sister didn't matter anymore, all he wanted and deeply cared about was Phoenix. Yes, he still loved his family, but Phoenix was his soul mate, his other half, his goddess. Collin loved Phoenix even before they talked, he loved her when she rejected him repeatedly, and he still loves her even though she's practically begging to leave him to protect everyone.
"I'm asking you, Collin. I never ask anyone for anything. I'm asking you if you want me to go, to protect you and everyone, or if you want me to stay and prepare for a battle you're not ready for," Phoenix inhaled loudly and exhaled slowly, she licked her lips and looked at the kitchen door, hoping Harley would come out of the kitchen with three mugs of tea or coffee to ruin the tension in the room, but no one came from the kitchen.
"You haven't met my Pack, you haven't met my Alpha, and we're stronger than we look. You're staying, Phoenix, you're staying."
Nukpana growled and bared his fangs at the red bricked house he was staring at. Her scent was so strong it almost made him want to vomit. He could sense three people in the house, knowing one of them was Phoenix, his human's child. Phoenix would never be Nukpana's child; he will always be Washta's offspring. Nukpana remember the day he killed Washta's mate like it was just yesterday.
Washta was fishing off the Swan River near his family's house. He was trying to relax and get his emotions in order; after Nukpana was trying to take control of him again Washta had to set the rules down. He shrunk in and started talking to Nukpana, he yelled at him to stop and just live with the life he's living. But Nukpana continued to bang the cage he was trapped in, and continued causing pain to Washta. Finally, Washta couldn't hold him in anymore and Nukpana escaped.
Washta tried, he tried so hard to get back in control, but he was too weak and he just gave up. So Nukpana ran to Washta's home and Kari could see right through him. She yelled and hollered at him to go back where he belonged but Nukpana wouldn't budge. He ended up phasing and tearing apart Kari, he remembers smelling the blood and how ripped skin felt on his nails.
Nukpana pushed that thought to the back of his head. He had to fulfill his plan tonight. His plan to kill Phoenix, no matter what she would be dead tonight.
"It's going to rain," Collin said as he stepped out of the door and onto the porch of the Parker's residence. He smelled a thunderstorm that would start any minute now.
"I could tell,' Phoenix muttered looking up into the sky. They clouds were black and gray, moving quickly from the ocean to Forks, but before it had time to get over there it would have to rain in La Push. Rain wasn't unusual in the La Push forecast; it rained six out of the seven days of the week. Phoenix loved thunderstorms, the rush of anxiety you get when it rains so hard and the wind blows so fast you think a tornado is going to blow away your house and you're going to lose all your precious items.
Finally Phoenix turned to look at Collin, who was already looking at her. "You can't phase, Collin. Not until I tell your Pack about me, you have to promise me you won't phase," even though Phoenix knew promises don't last forever, she still asked him to keep that promise, and knowing Collin, he would keep it until there was a life or death situation.
"I promise," Collin hooked pinkies with Phoenix and she smiled up at him. Collin bent down and looked into her eyes, she was fear deep down in them, but it was mostly covered by no emotion, just blank, dull, blue and silver eyes staring back at him.
Collin leaned forward to kiss Phoenix on the lips, but she moved her head to the side and he kissed her cheek. Collin abruptly leaned back, confusion etched on his face.
"I'm apologize, Collin," she muttered and looked away into the forest, refusing to look him in the eye, refusing to see the hurt on his face.
"You've said it a million times, 'I'm apologize, Collin,' but do you even mean it? Because after every time you say that, you do the same thing and repeat the same words, it's like an endless cycle, God damnit, Phoenix!" Collin slammed his hands against the wall, locking Phoenix between him and the wall, the only place for her to look was the forest or his eyes. Collin began to shake, not because his wolf felt he needed to phase, but just because he was furious with the way Phoenix acted.
Phoenix never said she was sorry if someone was in the room; she'd say it to inanimate objects or passed out people, but not in front of someone who could comprehend the words coming out of her mouth. She'd always say she apologized or never say anything at all. Saying sorry gave people to think that everything can be solved with one words, as good as that sounded to Phoenix, she didn't want to do that to other people.
Phoenix licked her lips, her mouth quivered a little, "I always mean what I say, Collin, but sometimes it's the only thing I can say. I want to Collin, I want to kiss you, but it's so hard. I would literally jump your bones if you weren't, well, you. Kissing you would mean something so much deeper than just a kiss to me, and I know it would be the same with you, which is why I can't kiss you, Collin! I can't fucking get close to anyone anymore, I just can't… I know I answered all your questions truthfully and I let you in, but this is different, Collin. So different…" it started to rain, thunder echoed through their ears and lightning floated in the clouds. Droplets of light rain turned into the Niagara Falls within a few minute. Phoenix's makeup started sliding down her face and her hair began to stick to her face.
Collin shook his head to get rid of the water soaking up in his hair and started to breathe heavy. "Phoenix," he crashed his body next to hers and growled, his vibrating chest sent ripples of pleasure through Phoenix. Phoenix finally looked away from the forest and up to Collin, his caramel eyes were darker and the dark sky with rain falling from it only made him seem more dangerous.
Phoenix took a deep breath, "my father, before he went bonkers, used to say that rain were tears from the angels, crying over a brutal death that was about to happen, and the thunder was the blowing of the nose, and lighting was the screams of pain. Stupid, I know, but I never stopped believing that, it's just something that always stuck, you know?" She laughed a little and tried to ease the tension in the air, but something rustled in the forest. Phoenix and Collin both looked over and in the forest they could see smoke coming out of the woods and fire ablaze on top of the trees.
"No," Phoenix whispered and ducked under Collin's trap. She walked towards the woods and saw the familiar eyes peeking back at her, then vanish deep in the woods. "Collin," she yelled over the drum of the rain. "Go get help. Now," and then she ran into the forest, following the smell of death himself.
Branches smacked Phoenix's face, leaving a long cut on her cheek and dirt smear her face. She tried her best to push the branches away from her face, but that only resulted with blood dripping from her elbows down to the tips of her fingers. The leaves she ran over made a cacophonous crunch and crack with every step she took. She felt Collin running behind her, still in human form, but she didn't slow down. She ran as fast as the wind, towards the crackling fire of dissolution.
The fire was a bright orange and red mixture with a light hue of blue; some parts were white, like an angle was reaching down trying to control the wild fire. Everything was black, the trees, the leaves, the ash falling from the sky. Phoenix would think the rain would put out the fire but it did nothing but make the fire angrier, the sky was still the mixture of black and gray, but it wasn't dark enough to where it seemed like night time, the surroundings were a light blue, making it seem like there was a street lamp beside them. The fire made half of Phoenix's face light up, something picture worthy. She was breathing heavily, half was from running and half was from fear. The wind started to blow; a whistling sound erupted in Phoenix's ears; like the wind was warning off Phoenix.
Phoenix narrowed her eyes, trying to ignore the gleaming fire in the corner of her eye. She tried to look into the forest, but she didn't see anything—anyone. "Collin," she growled as he stood beside her. "Go get some fucking help before we both die," she looked up at him and gritted the words "both die" through her teeth.
"I'm your help, Phoenix," Collin puffed out his chest and tried to see through the ash/rain mixture falling from the sky.
"You're not good enough," she said out loud, like she was trying to get someone's attention, or trying to insult someone else besides Collin.
Phoenix ignored a sarcastic comment come out of Colin's mouth and continued to look around the forest. She stepped in front of Collin, as if she was going to protect him from impact, "come out," her voice cracked from yelling into the forest. "You're being pathetic playing these games. A bloody fool." Phoenix looked in every direction of the forest, her hands were shaking and her breath came out in deep gasps.
Finally a blonde wolf came out of the dark forest and into view. The wolf was snarling and baring his fangs at Phoenix, as if he was trying to talk to her. His yellow fur glowed in the fire light, almost making him seem pretty, but cuts and patches of his fur was torn out and one of his eyes had a long scratch mark over it.
Collin's wolf began to shake, rattling the cage he was sleeping in. Collin uttered a growl but Phoenix slammed her elbow hard in his stomach.
Collin could smell the horror and anxiety pouring itself around Phoenix, he couldn't handle it anymore, his body began to shake and he could feel his bones cracking. Before Phoenix could do something, Collin already shifted into his true form.
For a brief moment Phoenix admired Collin's wolf form, she saw the color of his fur was exactly like his eyes, a deep caramel mixed with a light brown, his eyes were darker than normal due to his wolf being let lose a little bit, and he was way taller, of course. But the moment of admiring Collin was over within a split second.
"Still doing his dirty work I see, Manaba," Phoenix spat on the yellow wolf and tried to act as brave as she could. But both Collin and Manaba could see right through her, actually smell right through her. Her sent was so strong that it made both Collin and Manaba cower down with fear, but that only lasted a brief period of time.
The yellow wolf, Manaba, bared his teeth and launched at Phoenix. Phoenix screamed and ducked down, but the wolf never crossed Phoenix's path. Collin intercepted Manaba before he even jumped in the air. Collin and the wolf rolled around snarling, scratching, biting, howling, and kicked in the mixture of mud, leaves, and ash. Phoenix realized that Collin had saved her life—that she could have died moments ago—but Collin protected her, and now that Collin has phased Phoenix's secrets are exposed to the rest of his Pack.
Phoenix heard howling from a distance, Phoenix knew that howl anywhere—Angeni—Phoenix cringed, she liked Angeni, he wouldn't hurt a fly. And now he was dead or seriously injured.
Phoenix remembered the last time she encountered Angeni; she was taking a short walk to sort out her priorities when Angeni cornered her between and abandoned house and the forest near it. He was about to kill her, he was inches from her throat, but something flashed in his eyes and he whined. He backed away from Phoenix and ran away. That was the last time she saw him, and now he was dead, and Phoenix could only wish he was in Spirit where he belonged.
Phoenix looked around and cringed at the sight. Ash mixed with mud and leaved covered the ground, the fire was now heading north, and Collin was still fighting Manaba. Collin's paw was bleeding and something was pointing out of it while Manaba's back was torn and his throat was dripping blood. Everything was going by in a blur; like sparkles were passing her eyes and it all happened so quickly. She could feel hot tears sting her eyes and pain was finally reaching her skull.
Phoenix saw something flash in the corner of her eye, so she turned fast to see if she could catch another glimpse of it, but nothing was there. Another flash in the corner of her eye, making her turn again to see it, but nothing was there.
Phoenix screamed, "stop playing these games and come out already!" She failed her arms dramatically in the air, trying to get her frustration out, but he still decided to keep playing games. She kept turning, and turning like she was spinning in tea cups at Disney World.
Phoenix cried out and a growl escaped from the trees behind her, the hairs on her neck stood up, and hot breathing burned the back of her neck. Phoenix gulped and whipped the sweat forming on her upper lip. She slowly turned around to meet her worst nightmare, she knew this day was going to happen, but she never expected it to be this scary or frustrating.
She looked up to meet the dark blue eyes of her father, or the body of his father. His black fur shimmered, almost reflecting a blue hue to it and his teeth were sharp as razors.
"Nukpana," she whispered and gulped down the spit forming at an accelerated rate. Hot tears began to fall down her cheek, for the first time in five years Phoenix Rae was crying because she was scared. It was a new experience for her, but she had to push this to the back of her mind and focus on what was happening now.
Nukpana growled a deep vibration that shook the ground she stood on. She would have ran, but that would have been stupid due to the thick mud that covered her feet and the fact that with five stretches of her legs Nukpana would only need to take one. She stood still, like she was a statue, and looked deep into Nukpana's eyes. They were full of so much hatred and disappointment, but deep in his pupil she could see love. She knew that that love belonged to her father, the one she had before Nukpana took over, and after she saw that her fear and frustration vanished and she smiled, she smiled because she knew her father was there, deep down inside Nukpana, her father was still there after all the years of torture.
Nukpana's head twitched and his eyes flashed a bright blue but it quickly vanished, he growled to himself, like he was talking to himself.
"Dad…" Phoenix breathed, "dad, I know you're in there. Please…" her smiled broadened as her words sent ripples of courage through her body.
She thought she was winning, getting past Nukpana and into Washta, but then Nukpana raised his paw, like he was going to slice open Phoenix's throat. Phoenix's smile fell and she closed her eyes, knowing that his razor sharp nails were going to slice open her neck and she would die instantly. She thought that in the moment before death, life passed before your eyes, but when Phoenix closed her eyes nothing but Collin showed up in her vision. She waited for his paw to cut her open, but nothing came crashing down on her. Phoenix heard a yelp and growls, then a howl of pain erupt through the silent night.
Quickly, Phoenix opened her eyes and saw a russet wolf hovering over Nukpana's body. Nukpana transformed back into his human form and blood gushed out of his chest and mouth. He tried making a sound but only more blood came out of his mouth. Phoenix looked at the russet wolf for a brief moment, and then looked back at Nukpana. Phoenix held in her scream and ran over to Nukpana, she searched for his hand and grabbed it, she squeezed it tightly and whispered, "Dad…"
Dark blue eyes faded into a light blue, a bloody smile formed at the mouth of the dyeing body. Phoenix smiled and squeezed his hand tighter, tears came out like a waterfall and air got caught in her throat making her sob. Phoenix's vision got blurry, and the rain seemed to fall down in slow motion.
Washta's mouth began to move and low, guttural sounds escaped his mouth. It took a few tries but Phoenix finally understood what he was saying, "you're beautiful, love," and then, his head fell back and all the air was sucked out of him. Phoenix screamed and tried to hug the body, but strong arms pulled her pack. She kept thrashing her arms and wailing for her dad, but nothing loosened the grip. Everything was in slow motion and Phoenix couldn't believe what just happened.
"Wait, no! Dad, I'm sorry! I'm sorry dad, please!" She screamed over and over again.
She imagined the death of her father for ages, but she never expected it to come true, and now that it has, all she feels is empty. The person who raised her until she was four, the second to last living member of the Rae family was dead, and all Phoenix could feel was… nothing. It was like someone punched her in the heart and knocked all the emotion out of her. Phoenix eventually fell limp, exhaustion and grief was too overwhelming for her body and she gave up.
Phoenix dreamed about her family, what would have happened if her father never was a wolf and her mother never died. They'd all probably be at Swan River, fishing and laughing at lame jokes Washta told. They'd be eating her mother's famous peanut butter and jelly with strawberries. Phoenix would be yelling at her dad to throw the fish back into the lake and telling her parents that they are the most embarrassing creatures in existence. She'd hear her mother's sweet voice laughing and calling her dear, he father's deep voice mumbling things under his breath, and herself laughing and giggling. They'd have their pet dog on the boat with them or swimming in the lake, probably a Golden Retriever, and Washta would jump in the lake and swim with the dog.
It would be a picture perfect moment.
But now all Phoenix can do is wish, remember, hope, and dream of a life she could have had.