Dean quickly jumped up from his slumber and realized he was human. He looked at his hand and saw, dried blood. He then turned and saw a puddle next to where he was sleeping.
"Whoa, did you eat in your human form again," spoke Stinky, Dean's brother.
Dean looked at him strangely before he felt something wet on his chin. He rubbed it and more blood was on his hand. All of this blood was Dean's. He quickly rubbed the puddle in the dirt.
"Uh, yeah," lied Dean. "I had a rabbit after I walked Kayla to her den."
"Well," stretched Humphrey. "You may wanna clean yourself up before you pick her up, and you guys head off to training with your grandpa, and uncle."
"Will do dad. So, what do you plan on doing this early in the morning?"
"Well, I plan on cleaning the den before your mother comes back from her hunting trip. I was hoping my dear son, Runt, would help me do so."
"Yeah, I can help. I don't train today."
"I have a question about your training," stated his father.
"What is it, Dad?"
"When do you intend to tell your mother of your training."
"I will soon, but I want to surprise her."
"You may want to hurry with the surprise because she is coming home today and we are leaving soon for Alpha school," spoke Dean.
"I will tell her."
"Ok then, I guess we will be off to train today," stated Claudette.
"I agree with that," spoke Stinky.
"I need to cleanup, pick up Kayla, and then I'll see you guys at training."
"Ok, see you there," stated Claudette. "Bye Dad, bye Runt, see you after training. " stinky said his goodbye and waved them away.
"See you guys later. I'll meet you at the spot," spoke Runt.
"Have fun guys," said Humphrey.
"I guess I'll head out too," spoke Dean. "I'll see you at the spot Runt, and I'll see you later on, Dad."
"Bye son," said his father.
"Later Dean," said Runt. With that, Dean was off. His first stop was a nearby stream. He soon found secluded spot and looked at his reflection. The blood was all over his chin and mouth. His eyes even looked a little red.
"Hey, you ugly mug," he spoke. "We have to keep it together to the beginning of Alpha school." He then looked and noticed a nearby stick. "Now that I got the pep talk out of the way, now comes the hard part. Dean put the stick in his mouth. He then shifted, it was agonizing, and more blood came out of his nose. The stick snapped after he applied some pressure to cope with the pain he was feeling throughout his body. He did this the night before he entered his family's den to sleep. He coughed some blood came up this time. He then cleaned the blood out of his fur, and began to walk to Kayla's den. While doing so he began to think about stuff. Stuff like the dream he had about his sister.
"A dog statue, a star, and a brown bear walking under it," he read it off to himself.
"It has got to be a symbol of some kind."
He kept trying to decipher what his sister was trying to tell him. The dream kept repeating itself in his head over and over again. Dean was looking that dream over inside and out. One thing that Dean thought about other than the location was the fact that Drew's face was beaten and bruised.
"She had been through a lot in this year and 3/4's. I have to help her, but I need more information. I don't have training tomorrow, so I'll take time to go see Tuffy, and use his computer to find more answers." Dean felt better now that he had a plan. He then stopped thinking about the dream and more on the task at hand: picking up Kayla, and going to train with his grandfather and uncle. Everything was going great. Dean was almost to Kayla's den without a single worry. He will get through the day one task at a time he told himself. "It is going to be a great day," he said in his head. He was just about to call out to his girlfriend until he heard 6 words come out of her den.
"That was a great night, Kayla," spoke a male voice. Dean stopped dead in his tracks. He then creeps closer to the den. Not enough to be seen, but enough to hear the conversation.
"Well," began Kayla. "It wouldn't have been if Dean caught you last night spying on us. You're lucky I got him to drop your scent."
"I just wanted to spend as much of the evening with you as I could. It's not my fault you boyfriend kept you waiting. When are you going to dump him?"
"Soon, I was going to do it last night, but I froze."
"Well I hope you do it soon, cause even I know that leading a wolf on is low. We have been seeing each other for a while now. You said he was just a freak half human half wolf that you took pity on and dated."
Dean's eyes grew wide. He was utterly shocked. He pleaded with himself that Kayla didn't say such mean things about him.
"I know what I said," stated Kayla. "I will break it off soon, but you better go now before he sees you here."
Dean took that as his queue to make himself known. He stepped out in front of the entrance, and waited.
"Chill, I'm going, I'm going," spoke the male wolf. He stopped mid speech when he looked in front of him to see Dean eye to eye with him looking not so pleased.
"Too late, Johnny," said Dean. Kayla looked at the entrance at the sound of Dean's voice and looked as if she had seen a ghost. Dean was staring down the wolf known as Johnny. He had his tail tucked between his legs, and was cowering away.
"Guard Wolf," she spoke. "How much of that did you-"
"Oh the freak half human half wolf heard enough," said Dean. Kayla then looked away as she couldn't bare to look him in the eye. "First of all, ouch," he spoke.
"Dean I"
"It's fine," he said with no emotion. "I bid you good luck, and I hope that Johnny can make you happy. I guess I couldn't. Now, if you excuse me, I must go and meet with my grandfather, so I can start training, and prepare for my mother to return."
He then began to sprint to the training grounds. While he was running he kept repeating the same thing in his head over and over again.
"It can still be a good day, it can still be a good day. That was just a minor setback."
He soon made it to the opening in the forest distinguished as the training site to see his Stinky, Claudette, Ty, Tony, and his grandpa Winston at the site.
"Hello Dean," said his grandfather.
"Hi Grandpa, How are you today," said Dean walking up to join the group.
"I am here and doing fine. You are almost on time."
"Yeah, but I'm still early." This made Winston and Tony laugh.
"Yes, you're still early," spoke Tony.
"Where's Kayla," asked Claudette.
"She's on her way," was all Dean said about the matter. Not a minute later did a large group of teenage wolves come into the clearing. Kayla and Johnny were both in the group. Once everyone was present, the leaders began the session. After doing the usual routine for training. This consisted of running a certain distance and log squatting to failure. After that was done with everyone got back into a group. The leaders began to speak.
"Ok, now that everyone is stretched and ready to start the day," Began Winston. "Now the real training can begin."
Tony then began to tell the lesson.
"We will focus today more on single's combat. We want each and every one of you to pick a partner to spar with."
Dean noticed that Kayla was walking towards him with a smile. Dean quickly spotted Ty looking for an opponent.
"Ty," yelled Dean. "Wanna train with me?"
"Always," answered Ty. He was a little bit confused as to why Dean wasn't sparring with his girlfriend. The two friends gathered space away from everyone and got in the stances.
"So," began Ty. "Why aren't you sparring with Kayla?"
Dean just smiled. "Oh you know, the usual."
"Like what, Dean?"
"She cheated on me."
Ty's eyes grew wide with surprise, but then with sadness for his best friend.
"Did you-,"
"I caught Johnny in her den when I was picking her up. They were talking about how she took pity on me to date me. I told her good luck and came here."
"I'm so sorry dude. Are you-"
"I'll be good, Ty. I'm not letting her ruin my day. Mom's coming home, so I am happy. I also get to spar with my best friend."
"You mean you're going to be pinned by your best friend."
"Only in your dreams, Ty."
"Hey Dean."
"Yeah?"
"I got your back. I always will."
"I got yours too."
Dean's eyes grew wide at the revelation of a forgotten memory. The memory was of him and his sister sitting with a rune circle and some ingredients between them.
"I got your back, I always will," spoke Drew.
"I got yours too," said a very little Dean.
They then poked each other's finger with a needle, and put their blood in the circle and ingredients. Their eyes began to glow. Drew's eyes were green while Dean's were blue. Dean then came back to reality and he was feeling a lot of pain. The memory triggered him to shift into his human form. It was more of a seizure than a shift. Dean's body began contorting and shifting. It wasn't fast like his former transformations, it was slow and everyone could hear bones breaking. Ty immediately ran to his best friends aid. He was soon joined by Winston and Tony, and then by Claudette and Stinky. Kayla even got close to him. Once the shift was completed, the real pain started, and Dean gritted his teeth as his whole body began to ache. Blood was flowing from his ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. Soon, Dean's wails of pain became grunts and whimpers, and then dead silence. Dean opened his eyes to see a pool of blood on the ground.
"Everyone," Yelled Winston. "Back up and give him space!"
Everyone except Dean's family, Ty, and Kayla backed up. Winston got closer to Dean.
"Dean?"
"Hi Grandpa," rasped Dean.
"What's wrong? Why did this happen?"
"I'll explain it later, Grandpa. I need everyone here to hear my announcement because I am only gonna say it once. I'm ready to start training again. I'll just use my human form." Dean tried to stand, but soon fell down. He was caught by Ty.
"Son, you are in no condition to train. I am ordering you to rest for the day."
"I need to see Tikanni. He can help me with my problem."
"Ok, but I am sending someone to help you get there."
"I will help him," spoke Kayla.
"Winston, sir, with all do respect," began Ty. "Dean, is my sparring partner, and ,with him gone, I wouldn't have a partner to spar with. Since I don't have a sparring partner, I can take Dean to Tikanni's. No one else would be down a partner."
"Very well, Tyson. I am ordering you to take Dean to Tikanni's."
Dean began leaning on Ty, and they began to walk to the direction of Tikanni's house.
"Hold on, Ty," spoke Winston. Ty stopped and waited for Winston to catch up to them.
"Dean, I am going to hold you to what you said. I want to know what's wrong."
"I promise Grandpa. I will tell you guy's everything."
"Ok, that's all I needed to hear. You can go now, Ty."
"Yes sir," answered Ty. He and Dean then began to slowly but surely walk to Tuffy's.
"Thanks Ty," spoke Dean.
"Don't mention it. Ain't no way I was going to let her take you. You're my pal and she'll get what's coming to her. Johnny's got something coming as well."
"Ty," scolded Dean.
"Hey, I won't intentionally hurt them, but if we are sparring and they somehow end up hurt, accidents happen."
"Tyson, I want you to promise me you won't hurt them." Dean never used his full name unless it was serious."
"I can't make that promise Dean," spoke Ty.
"I can only try not to hurt them. I promise to try."
"Thank you."
Slowly but surely they made it to Tuffy's
Dean was hurting all over. On the brighter side of the situation, Dean's nose had stopped bleeding. The bad part was that his blood has dried and he looked pale and bloody all over his face.
"TIKANNI," screamed Ty. There was no response from the house.
"TIKANNI!!!"
Some grumbles came from the other side. The door then opened and Tikanni stepped out. "Tyson," began Tikanni. "Someone better be hurt, sick, dead, or-" he stopped when his eyes landed on Dean. "Dying." Tikanni quickly ran to Dean's side, and helped him inside. He took Dean upstairs and sat him on a chair. Tyson followed close behind.
"So," Began Tikanni. "Care to explain why you are doused in your own blood?"
"I shifted," spoke Dean.
Tikanni looked at Tyson.
"We we're about to spar, for our training today, and he shifted. His shift wasn't normal. He started shaking and bleeding everywhere. When he stopped I took him to you because he said he needed to see you.
"Thanks Ty," said Dean. "I'll be fine now."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'll be better soon." Dean gave Tyson a nod. Tyson got the hint that Dean wished for him to leave.
"I'll tell you later."
"Ok. Tikanni-"
"The doors open Tyson," spoke Tikanni. He was busy looking over Dean. Reluctantly Tyson walked down the stairs and out the door.
"So, what happened," spoke Tikanni seriously.
"How's my shopping list coming along?"
"That's a little random, but I have all of your ingredients."
"Excellent, thank you."
"Have you told them about your "shopping list?"
"No, I will soon though. Thanks for collecting the stuff."
"You're welcome, now spill."
"I had a memory, and I have an answer to a question."
"Which is?"
"How can Drew send me messages telling me she needs my help."
"You sure you're not dreaming?"
"No, because we did a spell when I was little, and it linked our minds together. Whenever one of us is in trouble, then their mind will send a vision to the other. The things it would send would be things we have seen before. Things in our current location that would let the other know where they are."
"So, she sent you a vision of a bear walking under a star next to a dog statue even though she has no memory of you?"
"Her memories were erased. Whatever spell she casted wasn't."
"I get it. Do you have any idea where she might be?"
"No, I was hoping that after training, I could use your computer, but ,since I had my "accident," I am here now."
"Well go clean yourself up. You look like a messy vampire. I'll leave you a new set of clothes." Dean got up, but stumbled. Tikanni tried to grab him, but Dean held a hand out.
"I got it," he spoke. Dean stood up and walked all by himself to the shower. He walked out of the room, and entered the second door to the right. It was right next to Tikanni's room. Dean flicked the light switch and looked at the mirror. He was pale, and his eyes were red with irritation. Blood coated his shirt and pants. Dean quickly removed his clothes, and hopped into the shower. He looked down to see the water stained red. He quickly washed up and turned the shower off. He looked by the door and saw that Tuffy did indeed leave him some spare clothes. Dean dried himself off, threw the clothes on, and walked into the library to see Tikanni looking through a book. He looked tense. He looked up once he noticed Dean getting on his computer.
"Dean, I want to look at your blood," spoke Tikanni.
"Ok, come get it," answered Dean.
Tikanni grabbed a needle and a little glass slide. He then poked Dean's finger. Blood began to seep from the wound. He then let the blood seep into the slide.
"Good thing you're not an adult yet," joked Tikanni. "Yeah, or I would have to get my dagger," answered Dean. "And I would have had to cut myself."
"I'm gonna go run some tests on your blood. Scientific and magical tests. I will be in the room next door. Just keep doing whatever you are doing."
"Yes boss," joked Dean. Tikanni then left. Dean continued to research.
"Ok Drew," Spoke Dean. "What sort of bread crumbs did you leave me?" He decided to look up the bear under the star first. Dean's eyes grew wide at the information that popped up. The bear and the star was a symbol. This was no ordinary symbol, this symbol was on a flag, a United States flag. This was the state flag of California. Dean was mad at himself for not seeing it before.
"California huh, well that sure does narrow it down, but California is one state. I need more info, Drew." He then looked up California dog statue's and a lot of statues came up. The particular statue, Dean was looking for was a dog with three legs and one stump. Dean enhanced the search by typing three-legged dog. He then found an article on a dog named "bum." He was a dog in California. To be specific, San Diego, California. Bum was loved by Everyone in San Diego. So much so that a statue was made for him. That statue was in San Diego.
"I found you, Drew." Dean had a location. He was hoping that Tikanni would take him there. Dean was so thrilled. He found his sister. He stepped away from the computer and sat on the window sill. He looked out and felt the fall breeze on his skin. He looked out and saw a bird in its nest chirping up a storm. He then saw Tikanni enter the room. He looked very unhappy.
"How long have you known," said Tikanni in a low voice.
Dean continued to look at the bird and smile. He knew what Tikanni had found.
"I have known something has been wrong with my shifting since we came back from Colorado."
"And you're telling me this now!"
"I have a plan, Tuffy."
"Oh, pray tell your glorious plan."
"I was going to go to Alpha school and not shift at all until spring. By then, I would be an adult, and I would be ok."
"You idiot! I don't know weather to punch you or hug you. Do you even know what is happening to you?"
"Something about me shifting."
"When you shift, your blood changes. You go from human to animal. When you change back your blood turns back as well, or it should at least. You keep shifting from wolf to human, and your blood is getting confused. Some of the blood from your predeceasing form is still in your new body. Your new body is treating it as a foreign substance and is attacking it. It is still apart of you, so it is hurting you. Your body is attacking itself. Your blood cells are fighting against each other, and destroying themselves. Your magic is doing everything within its power to heal you. Your suffering from the blood fighting each other, destroying each other, and you're suffering from the overuse of magic healing it. You healing ability is getting slower, so your using more magic to heal it. More magic means more of a draw back. You aren't a fully adult Guardian, so your body is struggling to keep up with your powers. They are hurting you. Don't you understand what this means?"
"I'm dying." Dean never even bat an eye. He just kept looking at the bird and smiling. It then flew away.
"Why are you so calm and happy, Dean? You said it yourself. You Are Dying."
"I found out where my sister is."
"Ok, you are still dying."
"What do you suggest I do, Tikanni? I am not going to sit here and let this cancer bring me down. I am going to get through this. I won't shift into a human until spring. That is when I come back from Alpha school. I will start not shifting when I go to Alpha School."
"You may not make it to Alpha school at the rate that you are going Dean. If you keep this up, you will die. Have you even told your family?"
"No, their starting to catch on. I hope to tell everyone tonight."
"One way to save you would be to give up one of your most used forms."
"I understand, and that is out of the question. I need to find Drew, and I'm using my human form to do it."
"Where is she?"
"San Diego."
"Do you know how far that is?"
"2,921.9 kilometers or 1,815.5 miles."
"Right, and how do you intend on getting there?"
"I was hoping we could drive there."
"When do you go to Alpha school?"
"30 days."
"Do you think we can find her before you go?"
"I have to. I need to know she's at least ok. She triggered the shift today. If I don't put my mind to rest on wether my sister is ok or not, then I'll die sooner than later."
"I understand. I will need to pack, and you'll need to tell your family." A roar echoed through the forest.
"Old one-eye must have found someone on his turf," spoke Tikanni.
"No, his territory's further north," corrected Dean. "That was further west."
A howl echoed after Dean finished that sentence.
His eyes grew with fear at the realization. Dean looked at the sun. He was late to meet up with his siblings and Runt. He knew who made that howl. He turned into his most powerful form and leapt out the window. This form gave Dean claws, a wolf-like tail, and canine teeth. Everything was enhanced for Dean. His speed, strength, endurance, and senses increased ten fold. Dean was sprinting to where he heard the howl. He held his hands out as he ran and his two daggers appeared in his grasp. He took hold of them and sprinted to the howl. He was heading up a small precipice. The commotion was commencing at the bottom. Dean could only hope he wasn't too late. He quickly leapt off the precipice and lodged his daggers into the hulking bear. He continued slicing and cutting until the creature fell to the ground, lifeless. Dean quickly looked around to see Runt looking at him, as well as Stinky and Claudette, but not only that.
"Hi, Mom," spoke Dean. "Hi uncle Garth."
Dean and Runt's mother and uncle were both there standing in between Runt and the once alive bear. Dean looked at Runt and quickly ran to his side.
"Runt, are you ok?"
"Oh, yeah. The bear just got lucky and scratched me on the side." Runt the revealed his side to the wolves and everyone gasped.
"I'd say you were the lucky one," spoke Dean. He quickly put his hands on Runt's scratch marks and his eyes began to glow bright blue. What was once three large cuts across Runt's ribs were now fully healed by Dean's magic."
"Thanks Bro," said Runt.
"No problem. Can't have the good looking one out of the two of us getting scarred up," joked Dean.
Dean looked back at the bear and realized that Dean had a history with this bear. This bear was the one that Waya fought. It was also the one that Dean had a run in with when he decided to get a drink.
"Runt," asked Kate. "How did this happen?"
"I was waiting for Stinky, Claudette, and Dean to get out of Alpha practice, and this bear came out of nowhere. I started to fight it, but then Stinky and Claudette joined in. I howled and then you and uncle Garth showed up."
"We were waiting to meet up with Dean when we heard the bear, mom," spoke Stinky with Claudette nodding.
"So Dean," began Kate. "Where were you?"
"I left alpha practice early."
"Why?"
"I had something to take care of. So I went to see Tikanni."
"Your brother, your siblings were in danger, and you had something to take care of, so you went to Tikanni's!"
"I know, I'm sorry. I lost track of time."
"They could have died, and you with a human."
"Ok, mom, I'm sorry. I messed up. I will do better."
With that the family walked back to their respected homes. Garth returned to Lilly, and everyone else went back to their home in silence. Kate was extremely upset that Dean was off doing whatever, and his siblings were fighting off a bear. He was off with Tikanni.
Before they entered the den, Kate turned around and looked at Dean.
"Dean, when I left, I instructed you to protect your siblings, and help your father. I also wanted you to continue your training. Our hunting party didn't get anything, so we went there for nothing. I hoped to come home and see my family happily safe and sound, but I came home to see three of my pups about to be mauled by a grizzly, and another doing whatever with his human friend. You couldn't even give me a reason as to why you left training."
"Tuffy was helping me with something."
"Like what?"
"I need everyone here, because I am only saying this once. I have kept it secret for a while, but now I'm ready to tell everyone.
"So, now you're keeping secrets?"
"No, I just huh, I just didn't think I needed to disclose this information with anyone. I didn't even tell Tuffy. He found out."
"I can't believe it," began Kate. "You won't tell your own family anything about you, but Tuffy was around you long enough to find something wrong with you."
"What do you want me to say, mom! I'm sorry that I wish for everyone to be here when I tell them something extremely important. I'm sorry that Tuffy found out before you. He has been helping a lot recently to problems that, no offense, you guys wouldn't understand a clue of how to help me."
"You know, if Tuffy is so helpful, Dean. Than maybe Waya should of asked him to adopt you instead of Humphrey and I!"
"What!?" Dean's eyes grew wide.
"MOM," yelled Claudette.
She looked at her pups and then realized what she had said. The whole trip put her under stress, and coming up empty handed out more stress onto her. So much so, that this sent her over the top.
"Dean I didn't mean it, I-
"OH, don't you DARE go with that line, Kate! You knew perfectly what you were saying. So, I was just a freak pup, that Waya asked you to take pity on. Well that's fine! You did your part! Now, you don't have to worry about your little pity pup ever again! Dean then ran down the ramp of the den and almost steamrolled over Humphrey.
"Sorry Humphrey," was all Dean said.
Humphrey quickly looked back at Dean.
"Humphrey? He never called me Humphrey since we adopted him."
He quickly ran up the ramp to see his mate and other pups in complete shock.
"What happened with, Dean?"
"I can't believe I said that,"spoke Kate. "I have to catch him." She then sprinted down the ramp, and tried to catch up to Dean. She followed the tracks that Dean had made, but she then saw the tracks end at a tree. She looked up, but she couldn't see him anywhere."
"Dean! Please come out," she yelled. "I didn't mean it. I am so sorry I said that, just please come out and talk to me."
"KATE," roared Humphrey. She looked to see her angry mate.
"Did you really say that?"
"Yes, but I didn't mean it."
"Honey, you may not of meant it, but you did say it."
"I just want him to come down, so I can talk with him."
"Kate, just give him space. Let him cool off because the pups have something to tell you."
"I don't want to leave him. I feel terrible about saying it. It's not true. We wanted to adopt him."
"I know it's not true. I know you didn't mean it. Dean will come down, but he needs time. Let's go, we still have leftovers from previous hunts, and the leaders want to have a celebration of your return."
Kate was reluctant, but soon realized that Dean wasn't coming down anytime soon. She decided to listen to her mate.
"I love you Dean," she spoke. "I hope you join us at the celebration."
With that, the two walked off. Meanwhile, up in a nearby tree, Dean had heard the whole thing.
"Their funny if they think I'm coming down to celebrate." Dean sat on the branch. And brought his knees up to his chest.
"So much for a happy reunion, and so much for a great day. The turns of events of the day have turned everything from great to really really bad. Too many things have occurred to turn this sunny day into one very rainy day. On the bright side of things, I know that if I need to get rid of a form, I can just get rid of the wolf form. Did Tikanni know about what Waya had asked?"
These thoughts that plagued Deans mind at that moment were hurting him. He found comfort in his new plan.
"I can't trust Tikanni or anyone else." Dean felt betrayed. He thought they actually cared about him. They just fulfilled a debt to Waya. Tikanni might have known.
"I am going to California. I am going to find my sister, and then I am going to disappear. Right now, I don't care." Dean's hand glowed blue and a bag appeared in his hand. He pulled out a phone from the bag, and turned it on. He looked up some information and quickly turned it off." He looked at the sky and noticed it was dark the stars scattered the sky.
"Everyone will be celebrating the safe return of our hunters. It is the perfect time to get on the road."
