A/N: So here's the next chapter, its kinda short I know, but I hope you like it all the same! Many thanks to little kunai and lady rea for all of their reviews, I love hearing what you guys have to say ok, enough babbling, onto the story!
'What's happening to me? Why do I feel so different?' were the thoughts that were running through James' head as the group traveled through the forest. He felt that odd, yet strangely familiar presence that he had felt before, and his newly acute hearing caught the sound of nails clicking on rocks as their owner passed over them.
James' eyes widened as a large black wolf trotted into the grove, panting slightly as if it had come a long distance. He rose from the crouch he had been in as he sat near John's sleeping form on the ground nearby. James looked at Chase questioningly, but the great stallion simply ignored the boy's look and watched the wolf approach.
When it trotted up to him, Chase snorted and nudged the large wolf gently. The wolf's tail waved gently in the air, and then turned to face James and John. James watched it approach warily and was surprised to hear a growl building in his own throat as the animal approached.
The wolf slowed and then stopped, head cocked to one side as it regarded the teen in front of it. After a moment of silence, James dropped his eyes from the burning stare of the wolf, and he tensed as it started forward again. The she-wolf eyed him warily, watching his body language as she approached, and continued walking cautiously up to him.
James looked down in surprise when the wolf brushed its head against his hand, whining softly. "What do you want?" he asked it quietly, confusion washing over his face as she tugged gently on his hand, her teeth barely denting his skin.
He looked at Chase with a questioning look, and the stallion snorted at him, almost as if he was laughing at the confusion on the teen's face. "Doesn't she look familiar? I believe you said you were rescued from the soldier by a large black wolf that looks like this one from how you described her," he told the bewildered teen.
James looked down at the wolf in front of him and frowned as he thought. Recognition flitted across his face as he realized what Chase had said was true, "You are the same one that saved us from the soldiers back there aren't you?" he said with surprise. The wolf barked quietly at this, tail waving in the air as she stood, and gently pulled on his hand again.
"She wants us to follow her is what she's telling you I believe," Chase told him, when James looked at him. "Why can't I understand her like I can understand you?" James asked Chase, and he pawed the ground. "Ar--, she's just not in the mood to talk right now I suppose." Chase told him. "But…you can understand her, can't you?" James stated.
Chase looked at the two, brown eyes traveling from boy to wolf, and the wolf stepped towards him with a snarl, head held low to the ground. Mane swinging, Chase shook his head, "Don't worry. I won't tell him. That's your job, along with helping him cope with what you blood has turned him into."
At this, James looked at the wolf in surprise, and saw her take a step back, whining as if in pain and shaking her head. Chase snaked his head forward, teeth bared in irritation and ears pinned back. "You can't leave him to deal with this on his own! You have a responsibility now and a liability as well now too, so accept it!" Chase said, his deep voice filled with hints of anger.
The she-wolf cringed slightly, her tail drooping until it brushed the ground. She walked to the edge of the clearing after tugging on James' hand a final time. James watched the wolf for a moment, then turned and picked John up. After placing him on Chase's back and swinging behind his dozing brother, Chase stepped forward and followed the black wolf silently, irritation tensing his muscles still.
The group traveled quietly through the dark forest for some time, breathing in the smell of pine needles and damp earth. "What did you mean earlier about her turning me into something?" James asked finally, breaking the silent tension. "Chase?" he asked after the stallion remained silent. The stallion shivered underneath him, and his sides rumbled as he breathed out hard.
"That is something that you'll be finding out for yourself soon enough. I leave it to her to help you and teach you." Chase finished, swinging his head towards the wolf pacing them. They traveled in silence for a while longer, and James let his mind wander until it landed on a thought.
"Hey!" he said suddenly, and Chase shied in surprise. "Where's Ari at? She said that she'd be right back, but it's been over an hour…" James said after checking his watch. The she-wolf snorted as if laughing, and Chase shook his head. "I wouldn't worry about her too much, she's fine, I know she is. We'll see in a bit, right?" Chase asked glancing questioningly at the black wolf next to them.
The wolf stumbled slightly and James looked at her with worry. Her eyes met his, and her was surprised at the color. 'Wait, weren't her eyes gold before? They're blue now…just like Ari's' he thought to himself. When he glanced at her again however, her eyes were the familiar shade of gold that he had seen before.
Finally, they reached a small clearing, and both the wolf and the stallion slowed to a stop. John stirred and looked around. Blinking, he looked at the large tree in front of them with unveiled surprise, "That tree's huge! Hey! Are we at wherever we were headed?" he asked. Chase bobbed his head, and both boys slid off of his back, James first and the John.
James started as the she-wolf suddenly ran at him and John with a snarl curled on her lips, until his ears caught the sound of boot moving stealthily through the underbrush nearby, and he scented the smell of gunpowder. The wolf herded them towards a hill and then struck the knot in the center of the old trees trunk. She then pushed both boys into an opening that was revealed when a large boulder slid aside.
As she darted in behind Chase and the two boys, the stone slid back shut, and outside, shouts filled the clearing. "Where are they? They were just here, where did they go?" men shouted. James saw the wolf standing near an almost hidden window, peering out at the scene the men outside were causing.
With a shake of her head, she dropped back to the ground and trotted over to Chase. 'They won't find us. Even if they did, they'd regret finding us, wouldn't they?' she thought to Chase, her lips pulled back in a grin, revealing sharp deadly teeth, and he bobbed his head in agreement.
A/N: So yeah, little short in comparison to how long mine usually are, but I'm sure that I'll make up for it in the next two chapters keep up the reviews people, seriously, I love to know what you think! And of course, input in the John, James, Ari idea is appreciated as always!