Chapter 25: Wolf's Grief

After Scourge told them what happened, Tamiel looked at his brother in pity. He had no idea that happened.

Mephic continued where Scourge left off. After that, Rinku pulled us from Scourge's Psyche. He gathered the pack and told everyone what had happened, and how sorry he was...Scourge was ready to give the Alpha position to Rinku...but he wouldn't take it. He insisted that Scourge remain Alpha to right his wrongs.

Sonic was silent as he regarded the wounded green wolf before him, torn between anger and pity...he sighed sadly, and walked over to Scourge, and to the shock of everyone, helped Rinku and Mephic to bear the wounded wolf's weight.

Scourge smiled gratefully as Sonic and his pack helped him. Once at Scourge's territory, Sonic and Mephic helped him to his den. Scourge groaned in pain as he was lowered to the floor of his den. He turned his head to Sonic as the blue wolf turned to leave, asking the question burning away at him. Why? Why did you help me after everything I did?

The scarred Alpha paused, looking over his shoulder with a small smirk on his lips. I can't hate someone for things out of their control, now can I? Sonic walked out of the den, leaving a shocked, and gratified, Scourge in his wake. Mephic followed Sonic out after a moment's thought.

Sonic! Wait a moment, please!

The Alpha turned around and growled at Mephic. What do you want, you traitor?

Mephic froze where he stood, staring at his former Alpha before bowing his head. Sonic glared at the grey wolf, when he noticed and heard something that caused his eye to widen. Mephic was crying, quiet sobs shaking his body gently.

I...I'm so sorry...please...could you give Ogilvie a message for me? Mephic looked up at Sonic, pleading eyes boring into the blue wolf. I know it's too much to ask since I betrayed you all...but I want him to know, even if he doesn't believe it, even if it means nothing to him...that I miss him...that I'm sorry I hurt him... Mephic drew in a shuddering breath. I won't ask for his forgiveness, I don't deserve it, but I want him to know I'm sorry.

The grey wolf turned slowly to walk away, head bowed again, when Sonic spoke quietly behind him. You hurt all of us by your betrayal, Mephic, most notably Ogilvie. You and he were best friends. He's been very depressed lately, and has shut himself out from the rest of the pack. I will give him your message.

Mephic gave a weak smile, but didn't turn around or stop walking as he replied. Thank you...Sonic.

The Alpha nodded and walked away. We're leaving, he told his pack.

Once back in their territory, Sonic looked around for Ogilvie, but he wasn't there.

The purple wolf that was Blaze ran up next to Sonic, panic in her gaze. Where is he? Where's my son?!

I don't know, Blaze. He's not here.

Blaze's eyes widened and she began shaking. He couldn't have...he didn't abandon the pack did he?!

Sonic shook his head, he didn't know, he hadn't an answer for her. Blaze growled as she panicked even more. Deep within her subconscious, she felt something give way, and a rush of power tore through her, feeling like a raging flame. Blaze howled, then suddenly began to glow as swirling, white-hot fire surrounded her. Sonic barked in shock, backing away along with the rest of the pack. Each bone making up Blaze's ribcage grew larger. The muscle around it was forced to tear, increasing the pain in her body. Blood fell to the ground, staining her purple fur. More muscle formed to connect the sides of the tear and repair her damaged flesh. Blaze whimpered and whined, moving to lie down in pain. The rest of her body did the same, becoming larger overall. The snout of her face shortened, seeming to pull back into her face. At the sides of her new muzzle, both cheeks got larger. Blaze opened her eyes once the pain dulled to an ache. They had changed, growing duller with an outline of yellow. Pupils shrank, taking up less of her eyes. Blaze felt her nose grow bigger as well. Looking around at herself, Blaze could immediately tell her body was larger. As the fur shortened, her muscles became more defined. All four paws grew larger, claws retracting as she lay there. Tufts of fur decorated the tip of her tail as it swept along the ground behind her, now thin. Blaze looked up at Sonic as she grew taller. The lengthening fur darkened in color, matching the tip of her tail. Finally, her ears became rounded. Sonic's eyes widened. Blaze had become a lion. She roared up at the sky, worried about her son.

In Vulcan's temple, Ogilvie was lying next to his sitting father, having changed to a wolf because of the full moon. Vulcan felt a sudden tug on his power, and realized that his gift had been awakened. He smiled, and looked at his son. Ogilvie whimpered and looked at his father, tears still in his eyes.

"Ogilvie, you said that Mephic seemed to be in emotional pain, didn't you?" The Italian hedgehog sniffed and nodded hesitantly. Vulcan put a gentle hand on his son's shoulder. "Then I think you have a good, true friend."

He's not my friend, Ogilvie said. True friends don't betray each other.

Vulcan looked down at his son. "You are wrong, my son. Mephic will always be your friend. His pain, evident as he fought you, was proof enough. If he wasn't your friend, he wouldn't have hesitated for a moment to fight you, nor bear any pain in the action." Vulcan smiled sadly. "Mephic simply found another friend, and is being pulled two ways, between two packs, two friends whom he cares deeply for. He is suffering as well, my son."

He's not my friend! The wolf growled again. He stopped being that when he betrayed me! Ogilvie whimpered and shook his head. I'm not going back. I'll stay here, in Rome.

His father sighed, and watched the wolf leave. He would have to find a way to get through his son's stubborn desire to cling to his anger at Mephic. But at the moment, he had to return to his forge. With a sigh, Vulcan vanished to his forge as Ogilvie whimpered before dashing off into the woods.