Goodbye Runs

Harry woke to a hand gently shaking him awake. His eyes were heavy, and he could feel a mild sweat building on his skin. Thankfully, this was a usual thing when waking next to wolves. The pack bonds mixed with their high body temperatures meant a good night's sleep for Harry. "Come on Harry. Sun's gonna rise soon so I should head out before everyone wakes." Harry groaned and rubbed at his closed eyes. A small feeling of coolness settled there and then Harry was up and about.

"Shower is just down the stairs and to the left. I'll take mine later." Harry looked at Isaac, still careful to be somewhat quiet since Dean wasn't as deep of a sleeper as the others. "Are you sure you have to leave already? Chris usually handles the French packs just fine on his own. I…"

When Harry paused Isaac placed a hand on his shoulder, waiting for the teen to look at him. "Remember what Jackson told you? Its okay to say what you want. Even if you know you can't have it. Wanting something is allowed."

"I don't want you to leave. As much as I love my friends here, I don't want to be without family anymore!"

Isaac gave a gentle, sad smile as he moved his hand down to hold onto Harry's. Using his spare hand, he placed it against Harry's breastbone, right over his heart. "You have your friends with you. Always have and always will. The same as with your parents. They are in memories and thoughts. In letters and pictures. The Pack is different. Yes, we're in those things just like anyone else. We're also in our Bond. What are we Harry? What are we to each other, to everyone in the Pack?" Isaac knew that Harry knew the answer to this. It was something that the Pack had worked with him on together. Because they all at some point had needed to learn it themselves.

"The Pack is together. We are strong because we are never alone. We acknowledge our weaknesses and fears so that we may each fight or face them knowing we'll be accepted." Harry placed his own hand over Isaac's before moving to cover the same spot on Isaac. "The Pack is family of all. None left behind, none left out. The Bond is in our hearts. The Pack is mine and I am the Pack's."

"Exactly. So, how are you without family if we are always with you? Remember that we love you Harry, always. If you really can't handle being by yourself until someone can replace me, just send a message home. You know Derek will pay for you to get home… if Lydia doesn't first that is." Isaac and Harry both chuckle and released each other, standing to get ready. Isaac took his bag downstairs to shower while Harry took down his wards. Once he was done, he changed into some sweats and a tank, readying himself for a run. Harry waited on the stairs just before the common room. The only part of the tower other than the bedrooms or bathrooms without portraits. This allowed the two to meet here without any chance of extra eyes.

Isaac walked down the stairs in his own workout outfit, set for the long run ahead of him. "Wizards are weird. Can't you have anything normal?" At Harry's raised eyebrow and tiny smirk Isaac shook the rest of the water from his curls onto Harry. "Your world's showers are weird. They do not need more than two dials kid. Try and get them to fix it before I come back."

Harry didn't bother to comment as Isaac transformed. Harry grabbed Isaac's backpack and together the two left the tower. It was nice not having to depend on both the map and his cloak to get around. Isaac was able to hear anyone come within a few corridors of them, thus easy avoidance. The only problem was the portraits, but Harry knew which ones tended to tattle and could bypassed them completely.

Leaving via the front doors the two took off at a steady job across the lawn to move away from the windows. Harry could see the start of the sun rise in the distance. He had maybe an hour or so before he would need to start getting back to the castle. "Let's run down the lake edge! There's a great place I want to show you." Harry moved to take off but was pulled back via his shirt. Isaac had it between his teeth. Releasing the shirt, he moved his teeth to Harry's leg and gently pulled until his leg was to his side. Once done Isaac sat back and thumped his tail in the dirt once. "Ah right, I forgot to stretch. Sorry Is'."

Isaac sat back and watched as Harry moved into a series of stretches. Occasionally Isaac would move him so he would be stretching properly or so Harry could use him to pull himself farther. Once done the two took off down the lake and along the forest line. Harry could tell Isaac wasn't pushing himself. He was going too slowly and seemed to almost be walking compared to Harry's slow jog. Once Harry felt that his lungs and legs were ready, he took off at a full run. The quiet around them was only broken by the pounding of their feet.

A little past the sixth mile mark they came upon a small hill with a couple fallen trees around it. To anyone walking by it would just look like washed up driftwood from the Black Lake. Harry knew differently though. Squeezing between the hill and tree Harry took a seat on a small cliff. Isaac wiggled his way in and laid down while Harry caught his breath.

"I still don't understand why its called the Black Lake. It obviously isn't a lake though and isn't it connected to the directly to the ocean?" His breath coming in short pants, Harry pointed to the large ship that was sitting farther out. "Otherwise, how did that get in here? I mean I get magic and all but even that has restrictions."

Isaac leaned forward a bit, his eyes narrowed onto something in the lake. A weird whine came out of his throat that caught Harry's attention onto the lake rather than the boat he didn't recognize. "Isaac what is that out there?" Harry couldn't see much other than a dark shape. Even his better vision wasn't helping. Isaac shook his head and the two watched as another dark shape appeared next to the first. "I'll look through the library. There's probably a lot of creatures living in the Black Lake. Some we might not even know about." Harry turned to Isaac and draped himself over his uncle. "Write and let me know you get to Chris safe. Britain isn't very safe anymore now that we know what all is out there against us." Isaac pushed his head against Harry's knee in agreement. After a few minutes, the two stood and left the little shelter. Harry strapped Isaac's bag as securely as he could around the wolf. Thankful for Lydia and Melissa creating the harness of sorts. With a quick kiss on the snout the two ran off in opposite directions; one towards the school gates and the other back to the castle.