Slade's POV:
Standing on the hill, I continued to stare expressionlessly down at Robin. Buster was talking to him before he walked back this way. He passed me without a word.
"You better keep that brother of yours in line next time, Buster," I said calmly. "I will not hesitate to kill him the next time he tries to hurt Robin."
"Yes, Slade. I will take care of it upon his return."
Robin was now scratching his neck with his back, left paw. His tongue flopped out once he was done. I chuckled. He always looked adorable when he did that. He soon laid his head on his paws. His torn, right ear twitched as the howl of a female wolf called out into the air again. A deep, low growl formed in my throat. I could feel a change in the air…
Robin's POV:
I hardly realized that I had fallen asleep when a voice said, "Robin; wake up."
Opening my eyes, I lifted my head and looked over my shoulder. Blood Rain was staring down at me. My right ear twitched.
"Did I fall asleep again?" I asked.
Blood Rain smiled.
"Yes, you did, but that's quite alright," he said. "Slade thought you deserved the rest."
I nodded and stood up to face him.
"Was your mission a success?" I asked. "You didn't get hurt or anything?"
Blood Rain nodded.
"I took care of the problem," he said. "Anyway, I caught lunch for the pack. It's time to eat."
Nodding, I followed Blood Rain back to the cave. When we got there, the others were already starting to eat. Going over to Slade, I asked if I could eat, while lying in my submissive position. He gave me the go ahead and I started to eat. After a while, I glanced at Rocco out of the corner of my eye. Like usual, he was eating faster than the wind. It annoyed me, but no one seemed to care in the slightest. I soon finished before everyone else since I was the youngest in our tiny pack. Not long after, everyone else finished and left. I looked at Slade, awaiting his next instructions.
"Robin, come take a walk with me," he said, heading for the entrance.
I looked at Blood Rain. He nodded. I followed Slade out of the cave. We walked towards the stream in silence. I thought we were going to stop, but Slade jumped over the water and continued on his way. I stopped, confused.
"Um…sir?" I asked. Slade stopped and looked at me over his shoulder. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," he said.
"But…I'm not allowed past the stream."
Whenever Slade chuckled, a tingle went down my spine, making my tail bristle.
"I think you deserve to know what lies beyond your home, Robin," he said. "Now come, my son."
I hesitated for a moment, but crossed the stream anyway. Slade continued on his way, I following close behind him. We walked past the tall trees. I was so captivated by the new scents and creatures running around the snow that I didn't notice Slade had stopped. I accidentally walked into him. I backed up quickly. He turned around.
"I know that Blood Rain told you about my past before I took you in," Slade said, out of the blue. My eyes widened, worried that he was angry at me. "I want to make sure that you won't tell anyone about your conversation with him. Do you understand?"
Nodding, I said, "Yes sir. I promise not to tell anyone."
Slade smiled, which was a rare sight to see.
"I know I can't replace your father, Robin," he said, "but you still have to do what I tell you to. You belong to me and me alone."
My ears folded back. I looked down at the snow beneath my paws, a sad look on my face behind narrowed eyes.
"The…The only thing I want is someone to…take care of me like a parent should," I said, choosing my words carefully, as not to anger him. "I don't want you to get mad at me if I make a mistake. I don't like getting hurt."
Slade was silent for a moment.
"Sometimes daddy has to be strict," he said. "I do it because I can. I don't like to hurt you, but I wouldn't have to if you would just listen."
"I know," I said before looking up at Slade's over towering form. "I try, I really do. It's just…you're very intimidating and there are times when I'm afraid of you."
It was Slade's turn to have his ears fold back. He looked more surprised than anything.
"You're afraid of me?"
Looking off to the right, I walked over to one of the bigger trees and stared up at it.
"It's…complicated," I said. "It's actually two kinds of fears. I'm afraid of you when you're angry. But the other fear is losing you and having nowhere to go." I looked at Slade over my shoulder. I couldn't read his expression. "If you were to die, I don't know what I would do. And besides, the pack's home is the only place I know of. I would have no choice but to live with Rocco and he hates me." I paused, trying to see what Slade would say. When he didn't speak, I asked, "Can I ask you something, sir?"
"If you stop calling me 'sir'."
I whined slightly.
"What am I to you?" I asked. "In your eyes?"
Walking over to me, Slade gently nuzzled my forehead with his own. I grumbled quietly in annoyance. He then smiled at me.
"You are several things to me; a son, a family, an apprentice, and a disobedient runt at the best of times."
I ignored Slade's joke.
"A friend?"
Slade frowned.
"I've told you before Robin, you don't need friends."
My ears folded back.
"But, you and Blood Rain are frien-"
Slade shook his head.
"He's not my friend, Robin," he said. "We are close, like brothers, but never friends. I don't need friends and neither do you."
I was about to protest, saying he had to be wrong, but a voice cut me off.
"Am I interrupting anything, Slade?"
Looking past Slade, I saw Rocco behind him. He looked pleased about something, but apparently Slade didn't notice.
"We were just finished," he said. "Excuse me."
Turning, Slade walked past Rocco, leaving me behind. He hadn't even told me to follow. Did he want me to face Rocco alone or something? I'm not sure I could. I looked at the ground, feeling Rocco's eyes on me.
"Did you want something?" I asked, trying to sound tougher than I really was.
There was a pause.
"Yeah actually," Rocco said. "I want to get back at you for what you made Slade do to me."
I glared at the ground.
"I said I was sorry. Can't you just let it go?"
Rocco growled in anger at me.
"No, I can't," he said. "I am older and stronger than you. Ever since you came here, Slade only cares about you. And it makes me sick to my stomach, you little bastard." Looking up, I saw Rocco approaching me. "Slade's not here to protect you from me. You'll be dead before you can even scream or call for help." Fear gripped at my heart. Rocco crouched and growled, fangs bared. "Say good night…permanently."
Rocco pounced at me, his claws exposed. Freaking out, I dodged his attack and then ran for my life. I heard his running paw steps chasing after me. I didn't look back. There was one small problem…
I didn't know where I was going.
I weaved in and out of trees, trying to find help. I could hear Rocco still chasing me. I managed to pick up speed; being young was good for that reason. Then I felt my paw knock into something, making me trip and stumble. I soon crashed headfirst into a tree. Groaning, I tried to get up.
"Your ass is mine!"
Rocco had me pinned to the ground. His strong, sharp claws held my front legs down. A loud growl rang in my ears before my neck was pierced by sharp fangs. The pain was so unbearable.
And that's when I cried for help.
Slade's POV:
"SLADE!"
I stopped mid-step. My ears perked forward. I quickly looked over my shoulder, but Robin wasn't there. Blood Rain suddenly ran up to me.
"Slade; that was Robin! He needs help!"
Dammit; I had left Robin with Rocco.
"ROBIN!"
Swiftly turning around, I ran in the direction of Robin's voice. Blood Rain followed close behind. Within seconds, we heard a loud yelp of pain. This wasn't good.
"D-Daddy!"
Hearing my Robin's strangled voice sent me into a frenzy. This was the last straw…
"ROCCO!"
Robin was pinned underneath Rocco in front of a tree. There was fresh blood on Rocco's muzzle. He slowly pulled his mouth off my boy's neck. Rocco growled at me.
"Yes, Slade?" he asked.
I stopped a few feet from them and growled.
"Get off Robin…now," I said angrily.
Rocco stepped away from my son. He growled.
"You don't understand! Your boy toy attacked me for no reason!" he yelled at me. "I had to show him whose boss! You would have done the same thing!"
Despite him being injured, Robin jumped to his paws and ran up to me. I growled at him.
"That's a lie! I wasn't-!"
I quickly clawed Robin across the face. His head moved to the side from the force of my blow. He slowly looked back at me, blood running down over his right eye. I bared my fangs at him.
"I gave you a home," I said angrily. "I gave you a place to sleep. I gave you the food that you eat and this is how you repay me; by running away?!"
Robin ignored the blood dripping past this eye.
"I was running from Rocco because he was trying to kill me," he said. "Rocco's lying to you. I've never lied to you and…and…"
Rocco snarled in anger.
"Slade, you have to remember that I'm the one that saved your life after you lost your damn eye! And I swore that I'd never lie to you…ever! Who are you going to believe?!"
I looked from Robin to Rocco and back again several times. Turning my back on both of them, I walked over to stand in front of Blood Rain.
"I think Robin's telling the truth, Slade," Blood Rain whispered to me. "Rocco was mad at him because of this morning. Rocco's the one lying, not Robin."
I whispered back, "Yes, but they are both capable of lying. But Robin knows not to lie to me because he knows what will happen if he does."
Robin whimpered behind us. We ignored him.
"Rocco's always been the one to tease him," Blood Rain added. "Besides, I think it's time to get rid of Rocco. Though it's your decision; not mine. Robin is innocent; Rocco is not."
Turning back around, I walked up to Robin. He flinched when I licked his wound, licking blood away. His body started to shake. Ignoring it for now, I addressed Rocco, looking at him out of the corner of my eye.
"You come anywhere near Robin again, and I swear to the Gods that I will kill you. Do I make myself clear?"
Rocco snorted.
"Perfectly," he said. "But here's my question; what's going to be wolf slave's punishment?"
I looked at Rocco over my shoulder and growled low in my throat.
"He would never lie to me. Would you…Robin?"
"N-No, sir."
Rocco looked flabbergasted. I quickly attacked him, knocking him head first into a tree. He pushed himself up, shook his head, and then growled at me.
"What was that for?!"
I was about to attack again, but my ears suddenly perked up at a foreign sound. I ducked my head when a bullet whizzed right by my ear. The sound of metal crashing through wood resounded around the area. I growled in anger. Those damn hunters…
"Blood Rain! Get Robin out of here; now!"
I quickly sniffed the air as Blood Rain and Robin ran past me. Rocco, Buster, and I stayed behind, watching as the humans came out from behind trees. I growled, my fangs bared.
The battle for our lives had begun.
Robin's POV:
I followed as close behind Blood Rain as I could. The sounds of angry men rang in my ears. Bullets whizzed past us, one barely missing my left side. Blood Rain looked over his shoulder at me.
"Hurry up, Robin! You're no good to Slade dead!"
"But, Blood Rain, I-"
"ARRRRRRRP!"
I tripped and fell over Blood Rain's fallen form. After falling head first into the snow, I quickly got up and looked over my shoulder. My eyes widened.
"Blood Rain!" I shouted. Turning, I ran over to the old wolf and saw that he was bleeding. His eyes were closed, as though he was dead, but his scent said otherwise. "Please don't die! You have to get up!"
The old wolf stirred. He opened his eyes, which were slowly starting to fade. Another bullet whizzed past me and shot him near the throat. I whimpered. The humans were slowly coming towards us.
"R-Robin, you have to g-get out of here," Blood Rain said, his voice dying.
"No! I'm not leaving you behind!" I shouted. "Blood Rain, please; get up!"
Blood Rain's eyes slowly closed as his life drifted away. Tears formed in my eyes.
"B-Blood Rain?"
The sound of a rifle went off. I clenched my eyes shut tight, awaiting the impact, but it never came.
"Dude, who's the best wolf in these woods? I am baby."
Opening my eyes, I looked up and saw two wolves around me. One was brown with one red and one blue eye. The other was black with dark green eyes. Even his fur had a tinge of green. A bullet had grazed his left side. The brown wolf growled at his companion.
"Man, shut up! There's more coming!" There was another rifle shot. The wolf had dodged out of the way. "Now it's time to open a can of butt-whoop on these damn humans!"
The two wolves quickly attacked the hunters without hesitation. I watched in awe when they managed to chase the humans off.
"Yeah, you damn hunters better run!" the black wolf said. "Or next time you'll be our next meal!"
The brown wolf shook his head.
"Man, please. You would never have the guts to kill the humans. Trust me."
I backed up when the wolves turned their heads in my direction. The brown one grinned.
"Oh hey there," he said. "The hunters didn't hurt you, did they?"
I backed up again.
"Wh-Who are you?"
The brown wolf chuckled.
"The name's Cyborg," he said. "And this is my best friend, Beast Boy. And you are?" I didn't reply. Cyborg looked past me. "Is that a friend of yours?"
Looking over my shoulder, I realized he had been talking about Blood Rain. I walked up to him and sniffed his head. The scent of death filled my nostrils. I whined.
"B-Blood Rain…?" I nudged him with my muzzle. He didn't move. "Blood Rain?" Tears slowly formed in my eyes. "Blood Rain…"
Snow slowly started drifting down through the sky. My tears streamed down my face.
'I don't want you to die…'
"Hey, uh, are you going to be okay?" I didn't answer Cyborg's question. "Is your friend dead?"
"Of course he's dead," Beast Boy said. "Otherwise he'd be moving."
"Beast Boy!"
"What?!"
I continued to whine, pushing against Blood Rain's head, hoping he would wake up. My efforts were futile. He was completely gone.
"Hey; I have an idea. Why don't you come with us?"
My tears soon stopped.
"I can't," I said. "I have to go back."
There was a pause.
"Back?" Cyborg asked. "Go back to where, exactly?"
Without looking at them, I said, "Home. I'm not allowed to leave my pack; ever."
"Every wolf pup is supposed to leave their pack some time, to start your own though," Cyborg said. "You should've been gone a long time ago. So come with us. We can start our own pack."
I finally looked at them, snow falling past their faces.
"You don't understand," I said. "I can't."
Cyborg looked at Beast Boy. The young wolf chuckled.
"Of course you can," he said. "It's just one small step at a time. Besides, it's about time you flew the coo coos nest. Am I right?"
I stared silently at the two wolves that had saved my life for a few long seconds. I looked around. Everything was so unfamiliar since I had never been past the stream…until now. Maybe this would be my chance to finally live the life I had always dreamed of having. A life without Rocco and Buster seemed so much more wonderful. And a life without Slade? That sounded almost too good to be true. But maybe these wolves were right; it was time I lived my own life.
I smiled.
"Sure, I'll go with you guys."
Beast Boy and Cyborg were very happy to hear that.
"Then let's go dude!"
Nodding, I followed them towards wherever we were going. Stopping for a second, I looked over my shoulder. Blood Rain was slowly being covered by the steadily falling snow. I hoped he was proud of me for finally having the life I should have.
'We'll meet again one day,' I thought. 'Just you and me.'
Smiling, I turned my head and followed the first friends that I ever had.