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 20

Marlo glared right back. "Why would he want to kill his sister?" he asked angrily.

Audren sighed. "To protect her..." she mumbled.

Marlo looked puzzled. "I hope you realize that makes no sense at all."

Audren scowled at the ground. "Yes! I know, but he doesn't want her to die with the same disease that he has...he'd rather do it himself..."

"But they only way he can really kill her is biting her, and that will infect her with the disease," said Marlo.

Audren looked sadly at Marlo. "Who do you think that was?"

"Who?"

"May..." Audren cut herself off.

Marlo barked. "Who?" He demanded.

Audren yelled: "MAYA!" She couldn't help the anger that overcame her.

Marlo barked. "That explains it!" he yelled. "She may be annoying, but there's still no reason to kill her!"

"You should at least treat me with respect and stop yelling! I could get killed if anyone hears this!"

Marlo lowered his voice. "Right," he whispered. He drew closer to her. "Listen, Audren. I am angry at Maya, and I wanted to hurt her. But that didn't wipe the friendship I had for her previously. I had happiness with my friends that I could never forget." he sighed. "I get tired of seeing you angry all of the time, whenever you attack. I want you to come with me. I want you to leave your master behind and live without worry."

Audren's mouth hung open. Then, she clamped it shut. Her eyes began to get teary.

"I don't want to watch you like that anymore! It hurts me to see it, building rage on Snake. I can't bare it, and I know you can't either."

"He's my only family though! He took me in! I-I can't!"

Marlo sighed. "You need to quit before it gets worse! What if with you repenting, it could inspire him?" Marlo suggested.

Audren stopped. What was her argument to this wise wolf?

"Come on," Marlo urged. "What's the use of staying with him? Really?"

Audren gave up. "I surrender..."

Marlo's ears pricked up. "You do?" he asked, surprised.

She nodded glumly.

Marlo ran forward and nuzzled her, almost in tears. "I'm so glad! I'm so glad!" he said. "Come on, I'll bring you to the Ring where you belong!"

Audren smiled, she'd never felt a friend before as Marlo began to bound off happily

Falkor checked over the Ring.

Marlo constantly looked back to make sure Audren was following, and then he would continued running.

"Who's that wolf?" asked Audren, looking to Falkor.

"He must be a Watch Wolf," explained Marlo. "I don't think I've met him before, though."

Audren nodded as Marlo thought of Maya, wondering when she would return. The two she-wolves would probably not get along well.

Falkor spotted approaching wolves. I wonder who they are, he thought, holding his bent inward foreleg close to him.

"Hi!" Marlo trotted in through the Hot Gates with Audren, looking around for the Fengo.

"Who are you?" Falkor asked quietly. The shockingly pale wolf adjusted his position.

"I am Marlo," answered Marlo. "And this is my friend, Audren."

"Hey! We aren't friends yet," Audren whispered.

Marlo looked at her surprised. "Well," he muttered. "I see you as my friend."

"Fine!"

Marlo wanted to yell back, but he knew she was still used to being angry all of the time. "Do you want to go on watch?" he asked, changing the subject. "I don't know how long it will be until Maya gets back."

Audren immediately frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied grimly. "It's my usual facial expression..."

"I'm sure that will change soon," Marlo said happily. He looked over, noticing Maya. He ran to her, nuzzling her. "Maya!" he said. "I'm so glad to see you; I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier."

"Stop that!" she growled.

Falkor gazed at the other wolves silently.

Marlo jumped back. "I said I was sorry..." he said slowly. He slowly sprouted a smile. "Audren came with me. She said she is joining us and leaving Snake behind. Isn't that great?"

It was as if the anger on her face increased. "You did what? Are you insane, Marlo?"

Falkor blinked, watching the angered she-wolf.

Marlo whimpered. "I'm glad she's with us. That means Snake only has one partner now, and we have another."

Maya stopped herself. Feeling the gazes of wolves, she stepped back.

Marlo nuzzled her. "Will you please forgive me for yelling?" he whispered. Maya did not reply. She was notorious for her sulking, which meant she could go a day without even saying any words. "I didn't mean to be stupid, I was just scared you were in trouble. It was ridiculous that I would be angry at you when being afraid for you." Marlo confessed.

Maya rolled her eyes. Still, her muzzle kept shut.

"I don't expect you to forgive me," Marlo sighed. "You shouldn't have to. I was despicable. Sorry." He turned back and let her alone, returning to Audren. "I think we should leave her alone," he said to her. "She isn't happy with me now. I yelled at her."

"She goes through a lot. And so does your friend Shadow. Don't let feelings turn so harsh…" muttered Audren to herself.

Falkor limped over to Maya. "What happened?" he asked her quietly.

"An idiot," she whispered.

Marlo nodded. "So," he said, sitting down beside Audren. "Tell me about Jay."

"J-Jay?" Audren looked at him.

Maya sighed.

Falkor nodded. "You probably don't want to tell me. After all I hardly know you and you hardly know me." The pale wolf began to head away.

"Wait! That doesn't mean anything!" Maya said as she raced back up to his side.

Falkor flinched harshly away, his tail between his legs as he feared being beaten by her. Maya cocked her head. "I...I'm sorry..." she whimpered.

Falkor stood up straight slowly, but left his tail. "Sorry... I didn't mean to..." he said as Maya could not help but feel embarrassed and glance away. "Sorry, I shouldn't have bugged you," Falkor said softly.

"No it's fine...I'm just kinda… weird like that?" she gave a small nervous smile.

Falkor blinked. "I'm Falkor..."

"And I'm...Maya" she said, smiling.

"Sorry I flinched so harshly, Maya... I once was with the MacHeaths... and..." Falkor didn't need to say much but turned in a certain way so his pale coat did not hide his scars and faint bruises everywhere.

Maya's eyes widened. "They—I cant believe them! They hurt you?" Maya uttered.

Falkor turned back to her but lowered himself a little, but mainly managed to control the instinct. "Yes..."

She scowled. "And I thought the MacNaans were harsh," she almost growled. The MacNaans were known relatives to the MacHeaths. She never knew they'd do something like this...

Falkor blinked a few times. Was he really that bad? "I... I'm certain that other wolves are worse than I..."

She cocked her head again. "I didn't mean it," Maya winced at her comment.

"Oh. I thought many other wolves were far worse than I. Does that mean that thought is true?" the male wolf asked, ears pricking.

"You aren't bad! I...I was talking about uh..." Maya stopped talking.

Falkor blinked and opened his jaws to say something before he shoved his muzzle in the dirt in the same submissive posture as gnaw wolves often did.

"What?"

Falkor closed his eyes and reminded himself of the recent events; he was not with the MacHeaths anymore, had won the Gaddergnaw games, and was now a Watch wolf. Once he reminded himself of everything he sat up. "I'm sorry," he whined apologetically. "I can't help it..."

Maya felt pity for Falkor, remembering that he was from the MacHeaths.

Falkor shook out his coat and stood. He thought for a moment and then said, "Let's check the Ring. They probably need our help keeping watch."

Maya nodded.

"Let's go," Falkor said and the pale wolf headed for the nearest volcano.

The black she-wolf glanced around. "Nobody," she replied.

Falkor looked at Maya. "We'd better keep watch then." He started to clamber up so he could watch over the volcano.

"Don't fall in!" Called up Maya

"I'll be fine!" Falkor laughed over his shoulder, but enjoyed someone's concern. He adjusted his three good paws and began surveying the volcano with careful precision.

Maya quickly leaped up the volcano and arrived by Falkor in a blink.

Falkor smiled at Maya. "So... you haven't been here long, have you?"

"Surprisingly, I have been here for a long time," replied Maya. "Since winter"

Marlo looked up at the cairn with a feeling of sadness. No! he thought angrily. You cannot possibly be jealous of Falkor. He turned back to Audren sadly.

"What is it?" asked Audren.

"I still want to be mad at Maya," Marlo mumbled. Audren frowned. "Well," Marlo raised his voice. "Now what?"

Falkor blinked in surprise. "I don't know how I haven't managed to miss you for so long. I suppose I've been intent with other things."

"Probably," Maya said faintly.

Marlo continued to glare up at the cairn where the two wolves stood. Audren was confused. What was wrong with him? "Do you want to get to watch?" Marlo suggested quickly, turning to Audren again.

"Sure...?" She said confusedly.

"I'll take Stormfast, you take Morgan," Marlo suggested.

Falkor noticed Marlo kept looking at them and was slightly unnerved. He turned back to the volcano, adjusting his posture on the cairn, and said to Maya, "We'd better keep watch again before we get caught up in too much conversation." Falkor began his watch.

"Okay?" Maya nodded to Falkor. She was unnerved by Marlo's glaring.

Marlo took watch on his cairn, taking a few jumps before he looked to Audren. "You alright?" he asked quietly.

"Why do you glare?" asked Audren

"What do you mean?" Marlo asked.

"Maya...you look at her with envy."

"She and I were close friends," Marlo explained. "And then after one fight she talks to a guy she just met like a friend forever."

Audren shrugged. "So?"

"Its mean."

Audren rolled her eyes.

"What's with the eye roll?"

Falkor kept watch till curiosity got the better of him and he came down from his cairn to Marlo and Audren. "Hello," he said. "I'm Falkor. I didn't get your names..."

"I'm Audren" she replied

"We told you when we came in," Marlo reminded.

Maya jumped down beside Falkor, only looking at Audren. "Hi Maya," Marlo greeted. Still she didn't reply.

Falkor nodded. "Right. Sorry. I'm still trying to figure out why I haven't seen you before," he added with a smile. Marlo looked from Audren to Maya.

"In winter you blend in. Probably couldn't see you because of that?" Maya suggested.

Falkor looked at Maya.

"Sorry," she said.

Falkor then looked at Marlo. "So, wasn't Audren one of your enemies or something? I guessed that..."

Maya nodded.

Marlo frowned, "But she isn't anymore." he added. Maya frowned. This made Audren smile, and Marlo snickered at that.

"Oh shut up," Maya barked sharply at Marlo.

"Don't you recall my apology?" he muttered.

Maya closed here eyes

"Don't you?" he repeated.

It made her angry. Then, the pup's tiny voice yipped: "MAR-MAR!"