Dean looked over the horizon. One more hill and he would be able to see Drew. He then heard the most horrid scream.

"No," thought Dean. He then quickened his steps up the hill. One last leap, and Dean was over the hill and...back in the desert. The only difference was that Drew was nowhere to be found. All that was left was an indention in the sand. Something was there, but it has sank into the desert, never to be found again.

"No, I can't be too late," yelled Dean. Dean quickly ran to the hole and began to dig. Deeper and deeper he dug. He only struck more and more sand.

"I need to find you soon, Drew," spoke Dean.

He then fell back and gripped his chest. He was hurting. To be more specific his heart was hurting. His heart felt like it was being violently shook. He continued to feel this pain for a moment before he finally opened his eyes and rushed awake. He looked around in his seat on the bus. He was indeed on the bus. He continued to feel the vibrating on his chest. He looked and realized it was his phone. He grabbed it and saw that there was only one person who would have his number. This was the twentieth time Tikanni has called him. Dean then smiled. He had something new in store for Tikanni. Over in an unknown location, Tikanni let the phone ring. All of a sudden he heard "hello?" Tikanni was wide awake.

"Dean!," he yelled. "Where are you?"

Everyone was up and listening.

"Hello," asked Dean again.

"Dean?"

"Helloooo."

"Hi Dean, are you there?"

"I'm just kidding, I'm not at the phone right now, or I choose not to answer. The lines are busy at the moment. I will try my best to get back with you in three to five business days." The phone then beeped for a voicemail. Tikanni was extremely angry.

"YOU SORRY SON OF A-!"

Back with Dean, the bus had made a stop.

"Thank you bus driver," spoke Dean.

"You are quite welcome, sir," spoke the bus driver. Dean then stepped off the bus and began walking down the road . He was silently laughing to himself. He thought changing his voicemail would really make Tikanni mad. Dean pulled out his phone and made sure he was going the right direction.

"Welp," thought Dean. "Made it to Vancouver. Now, I need to make it to the border."

Dean then hiked his duffel bag on his shoulder and began walking.

Meanwhile, Tikanni and the group has taken a restroom break. It was also time for everyone to stretch their legs. It was a quiet little forest.

Tikanni turned the car off, opened everyone's door, and everyone hopped out.

"Be quick," ordered Tikanni. "I will whistle when it's time to leave." Once Tikanni saw that everyone was off doing their own thing, he leaned on the hood of his vehicle. He then closed his eyes and let his other senses take over. He could smell the trees and feel the wind hit him. Tikanni began to imagine himself somewhere else, somewhere very far from here in another forest. He was then snapped back into reality by the feeling of someone close. He looked around and saw Kate.

"Hi Kate," he spoke.

"Hi Tikanni. May I ask what you are doing."

"First of all, friends call me Tuffy, and second of all you can ask me anything."

"Ok, Tuffy, what were you doing?"

"I was clearing my head, so I can begin to think. I think better when I am in the woods away from everything and just in nature. I close my eyes and it's like nothing can go wrong. I can hear birds singing, the river flowing, and the wind gracing everything around me with its presence."

"What are you thinking about?"

"My favorite memory. It always calms me down, and clears my head, so I can actually think about the real problem at hand. It may allow me to wrap my head around everything that has happened. I can't figure Dean out."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean he was happy. He had a plan. This is so unlike him to just run in head first without discussion. We were going to get his sister back together, he was going to tell all of you his secret, and he was going to stay a wolf for all of Alpha school. Now, he has gone rogue, would not answer my calls, and is slowly dying of an illness that he won't just take care of easily. I just do not understand why he would do this. If he was close I could just look into his mind, but he's probably halfway to San Diego by now."

"I think I know why Dean changed his plans," whispered Kate. Tikanni barely caught the remark.

"Why?"

"What did Dean do at your place the day before?"

"We talked, I found out about his illness, he found out where his sister was, we heard a bear roar, a howl, and Dean turned into his Shankaha form, and left.

"His what form?"

"His Shankaha form is what I call his half wolf-half human form. Shankaha is the name of the wolf in Lakota. That was my father's language."

"Ok, he found us in his form. A bear was attacking the pups. Garth and I came to help, but the bear was so big. Then Dean jumped on it and began stabbing it."

"So that's what happened to Ol One Eye," spoke Tikanni.

"What?"

"Ol One Eye, was the name Waya and I came up with for the bear he fought with."

"You mean that was the same bear?"

"It was. I ran into him a time or two. He was the biggest grizzly I had ever seen. I found his body a little bit after Dean left. He had multiple stab wounds in his throat and all over his face. I thought Dean had something to do with it because, aside from me, he is the only crazy enough human to take on a grizzly that big."

"The reason the bear attacked the pups was because Dean was late to meet with them, so that they could go home. He told me that he was with you. He was spending a lot of time with you. I asked him to protect his siblings and to help his father. He said he got help from you. I wanted to know why he was spending so much time with you. He wouldn't tell me. He kept saying he wanted everyone to be there when he said it. We were both angry, and I said something I shouldn't have."

"It can't be that bad."

"I told him that if you were so helpful to him, than Waya should has asked you to adopt him."

She looked up at Tikanni and saw that he had his eyes wide and his mouth was wide open. The look of shock said it all.

"I know it was wrong, and I feel terrible for saying it. I don't even know what to say. He probably thinks I am the worst."

"Hey, you messed up. At least you know that you messed up. Dean won't think highly of you for a little bit. Would you after someone basically told you we didn't choose you someone asked us to choose you, and since you are being secretive and spending time with your friend, he should have been asked to adopt you." Tikanni took a breath.

"That was a mouthful."

"No, I wouldn't think highly of that someone."

"I know one thing."

"What?"

"You are his mother, and you love him."

"I do. I want to see him grow up, and use everything Humphrey and I taught him. I just think he's growing up too fast. I think all of my pups are."

"They always are. You have to be ready to let them go. You have taught them everything you know about surviving, and being kind. Now it's their turn to lead. I know they will always be your pups. You need to know when to let them go.

"I just don't know where the time went. I remember waking up, and have four little pups to play with. Humphrey and I would go on walks, and we would play. I just want to be apart of there lives.

"You will be. You are in there everyday lives. Your teachings are instilled in them. They won't just drop you like a hot rock once they grow up. You wanna know something else?"

"What?"

"Dean admires you."

"Me?"

"He loves you so much and thinks you are the greatest. Whenever he was with me and younger, he would always say how "mom taught me this," or "mom did this today." He loves his family."

Kate was happy to hear how much her pup spoke of her, and to hear how much Dean cared for his siblings put a smile on her face. Her expression changed once she realized the damage she had done to that relationship.

"I probably ruined all of that."

"Then you fix it. Sure, you screwed up, but ,guess what, so does everybody else. You said something you, shouldn't, so you find a way to apologize. Dean will come around. If I don't beat him to a pulp before you get to him that is."

Kate laughed at his comment. His words were comforting. They gave her hope. She will find Dean, and she will make peace with him. Dean was her pup, and she wasn't going to let her pup die without a fight. She will drag him back and make sure Tikanni heals him, no matter what. She had a new found respect for Tikanni. His words were wise.

"Thank you Tuffy," she spoke. "You are very wise. It sounds like you learned from personal experiences."

Tikanni rubbed the back of his head.

"Thank you, I just remember what I learned from my mother and father, and taking care of my younger brother."

"They sound lovely."

"They were."

Kate caught the hint.

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. You didn't know." Tikanni then received a memory. This memory contained something from his past that hurt him dearly. His mother and father were tied to posts in front of men with guns. Another man was taking Tikanni away from the scene. "You will be strong little wolf," spoke the man. Tikanni was snapped back into reality when he felt someone tap his leg.

"Tikanni," asked Kate. His eyes were looking forward. They looked glazed over. His face held zero emotion. Once she tapped his leg his head quickly looked down at the she-wolf.

"I'm sorry. I tend to zone out sometimes."

"No, you are ok. I just didn't know what happened to you. You looked completely out of it."

"Yeah, that tends to happen every once in a while. It is just...something I tend to do."

"I understand."

"Great, I think I gave everyone enough time to do whatever, and I think it's time to get a move on."

"I agree."

Tikanni then let out the loudest whistle.

He gave it a minute, and ,soon, everyone had returned to the car. It was first Humphrey, and then Runt, Claudette, and Stinky.

"I was wondering if you bailed on me Willow," spoke Tikanni. "I was about to come and hunt you down."

She only glared.

"Ok, on that note, everyone load up."

Tikanni helped everyone in the car, got in the drivers seat, and turned the ignition. Tikanni then connected his Bluetooth and the radio began to sing. Everyone was happy that Tikanni put on some music. That was, everyone except for Willow. She looked around and was confused.

"What is that," she asked.

"It's called music," answer Tikanni. "Humans sing too it."

"There are humans in the car other than you?"

"No, it's the sound coming from the radio. The voices are played from my phone, and since I connected my phone to the car, now the car plays music louder."

"Mom," asked Claudette. "Didn't you and dad hear music when you were taken to Idaho?"

"Yes we did. We just didn't know until Dean explained it to us."

"Taken to Idaho," asked Tikanni. "Why were you taken to Idaho." He then took a swig from a bottle of soda he bought from the last gas station.

Humphrey looked at Kate and back to Tikanni.

"Well," he began. "We were relocated to "repopulate." Tikanni's eyes grew wide and he choked on the drink. Willows eyes grew wide as well.

"Tikanni, are you ok," asked Runt.

Once Tuffy managed to breathe again, he spoke.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. I just wasn't expecting that answer. So, obviously, that didn't happen because the pups would be much older, so what happened in Idaho?"

"You are correct," spoke Kate. "No repopulating occurred in Idaho. We made it back to Jasper before Tony and the eastern wolves could wage war on the western pack."

"Woah woah, time out, Tony was going to wage war on the pack?"

"It's a long story," spoke Kate.

"Well, seeing as how we have a few more hours to go before we make it to California, I am very nosey, and Dean neglected to tell me all this, I think a long story would be just the thing we need right now."

"Ok, Tikanni," spoke Kate.

Back with Dean, he just entered a forest. He was still in Vancouver. He had just gotten to a place where no one would see him. He then summoned a dagger and poked his thumb. He then wrote a symbol on the ground. His eyes began to glow bright blue. He began to chant something. He continued to do so for a little while before he spoke one word.

"Portland," he said. A blue portal appeared right after he said it. Jumped inside and immediately fell out of a different portal. He looked around and realized the he was by a tin can. He then smelled the most horrid stench. He grabbed his nose to try and shield it from the stench and realized his nose was bleeding. He held his nose and looked up. He remained motionless for the longest time.

"That ought to give Tuffy and I some distance," thought Dean. "I knew this would hurt, but the documentation needed to cross the border is something I don't have." Once he was sure his nose wasn't bleeding, Dean looked around and realized he was in an alley way. He then waited for his body to heal. Once he felt strong enough, he did the same thing, but this time he said, Medford. He was then sent to Medford. His nose bled again, but not as bad, for he was closer in destination. He didn't wait as long to heal, and he teleported to Sacramento, then Fresno, then Los Angeles, and finally San Diego. On the final teleport, Dean fell in a bush. He let his nose stop bleeding, and spit out some leaves.

"This is not my greatest moment," he said.I

"At least I made it." He looked at his phone and did indeed see his location was in San Diego. Once he felt his strength return, Dean got out of the bush, and realized he was in a park. This park was small. Dean looked around.

"This place is shady," he thought. He then felt his stomach grumble.

"Shady or not, there has to be some kind of food here."

He then began walking and found a fast food restaurant and walked inside. He looked and saw the menu. His eyes grew wide, and he began to drool. He never realized how much he missed fast food. There was so many things he hadn't eaten in a long time. No offense, but raw meat, the occasional berries, and the occasional meal from Tuffy got old quick. Dean ordered some fries and chicken. He also got a large drink. The price at the end of the order wasn't a lot, but he accidentally made more money than he needed. He ended up pulling three hundred out of his bag instead of the needed amount. Several eyes were watching in wonder at the boys bag. Dean took his food and began to eat. He silently began eating all of his food. After he was finished he walked out of the building and down the road.

"Now where too," he thought.

"I got to find the dog statue." Dean then put his coordinates in his phone, and set out to find the three legged dog statue.

Back in the car, Tikanni was still wrapping his head around the story he just heard.

"So let me get this straight," he started. "Kate, an Alpha, and Humphrey, an Omega, were taken to Idaho, fought humans, a bear, and jumped on a train in order to get back to Jasper, before Tony could wage a war against the Western pack. In order to do that Kate was to marry Garth, and unite the packs. That plan went out the window when Kate, an Alpha, realized she loved Humphrey, an omega, which is bad considering a law was put in place against that. Tony was understandably royally pissed with the whole plan going out the window, so he tried to take the valley. What he didn't manage to take into account was the stampede of caribou he started when the fight commenced. He and Winston both got trapped in the middle of the stampede, and if it wasn't for Kate, the Alpha, and Humphrey, the Omega, then they wouldn't be standing here today. Unfortunately, in the middle of the rescue attempt, Kate, the Alpha, was injured and presumed dead for a short time. Both packs mourned for her death and miraculously Kate, the Alpha, came back from the dead. The Alpha and the Omega said their love for each other, and the law keeping them apart was taken down. The packs were United by the marriage of Lilly and Garth, who somewhere in between the madness found love. Did I miss anything?"

Kate and Humphrey looked at each other.

"I mean," began Humphrey. "He got just about everything."

"Yeah," answered Kate. "But he did leave out Marcel and Paddy."

"Oh I didn't forget," corrected Tuffy. "I just didn't wanna embarrass Humphrey. I see now I need to reveal that so I can keep my reputation as one of the best soldiers. In order for Kate and Humphrey to return home, they had the help of a very friendly French Canadian Goose, and an English Peckin Duck. The first ride home for the two was squandered over a pee break and a cupcake."

"Why does it sound worse when you put it like that," asked Humphrey. Kate and the pups giggled behind him.

"Hey hey, I don't judge. When you gotta go, you gotta go. When you wanna cupcake, get a cupcake. Now, would I, myself, risk my life for a cupcake found by a dumpster? No, no, I would not, but, again, I don't judge."

"Well Tuffy, you are indeed good. You didn't miss anything," spoke Kate. "You can keep your reputation."

"Thank you."

"So," began Willow. "Now I know why the law was broken. My father just told me how you two were the ones that broke it."

"Why did your father not like it," asked Runt.

"He said something about being pure blood, and untainted."

"Do you agree with him," asked Runt.

"At first I didn't know what to believe, but, since I saw you, a half Alpha and half Omega beat your best Alpha, I am starting to have second thoughts."

"I'm glad you think that way," spoke Runt.

"I have a question for you," she said. She was referring to Tikanni.

Tikanni was silent for a moment. He then realized she was referring to him. His eyes grew wide.

"Oh, you were talking to me!? Well by all means ask away, I may have an answer."

She rolled her eyes.

"You call yourself a "soldier." What is that?"

"A soldier is basically what you wolves call an "Alpha." A soldier is someone that protects its country or territory from other territories. I was sent in to neutralize enemy lol forces."

"What does "neutralize" mean," asked Stinky.

"It is a big fancy word for not hurting anything ever again."

"Oh."

"Your parents were soldiers too," spoke Kate.

"Yes, they were. They were one of the bests."

"I'd bet it helped with your Amarock powers," spoke Claudette.

"Yeah, they did."

"Amarock," asked Willow. Tikanni looked at her.

"Amarock is the name of my heritage. My bloodline is not the most common. I have been blessed with gifts."

"What kind of gifts?"

"Well, for starters, A normal person would be talking to himself instead of getting responses from you guys. I can understand what you are saying. I can also use magic, like Dean. I can't shape shift. My ability to heal is better than most humans, I am strong and fast, that's about everything."

"You are very strange," spoke Willow.

"That's the closest thing you said to me that even remotely resembles a compliment. Thank you."

She glared and looked away.

"Do you have any cool stories when you were a soldier," asked Runt.

"Runt, don't be rude," spoke Kate.

"No, it's alright. I can have a good one. So, this is when I was younger. My superior did not care for me very much. We were training and he hit me with a cheap shot. I didn't take too kindly to that. I would have laid him out right then and there, but my comrades held me back. That's what he wanted. He wanted me to get in trouble. He had higher superiors that protected him from what ever sort of pain I wanted to inflict upon him."

"What did you do," asked Runt.

"I found out that my superior had an uncanny fear of spiders. I decided to use this to my advantage. I looked around for the biggest spider I could find. Once I found it, I placed it on his face while he was sleeping."

"Oh no."

"Oh yeah, and I had never heard a man scream so loud. He ran straight where I was sleeping."

"IT WAS YOU," he yelled, and I looked up from my bed. His face was so red with anger. I stood up, and I stood a head taller than him. I told him that I had no idea what he was talking about. After that, he figured out not to mess with me. Tikanni started laughing. "He knew I knew, and couldn't do a thing to hurt me."

Everyone began laughing, even Willow began to giggle.

"Yeah, he didn't pick on me anymore."

Back with Dean, he was making his way to the dog statue. He had the location in his phone. He then took a look behind. He could see a man who looked really scruffy. He had a beanie, torn jeans, and a tank top. This man just so happened to be following him for the past five blocks. Too make sure Dean wasn't being followed, he took a turn into a dead end. Dean turned and saw the man take the same turn behind him. What baffled Dean more were three more gentlemen following behind the first one. One man had leather everything, had long black hair, one man was wearing a t shirt and jeans, and the last one had the same thing except he had a ball cap on backwards. Dean was confused.

"Uh hello," spoke Dean. "I have noticed that you have been following me. May I ask why?"

The four men laughed. The man with the beanie, who Dean guessed as the leader began to speak.

"Well kid, my associates and I saw that stack of cash you through out at that fast food joint. We were wondering if you could spare some loose change for us."

"Sure, you want fives, tens, twenties-" before he could finish, the men bursted out laughing. The man with the beanie began to speak.

"Actually, I was thinking more of everything you got." He then pulled at a switchblade. Dean's eyes grew wide. He realized what was happening.

"No way," he said. "Am I being robbed!?"

"Yes you are," said the man with the beanie. "Now hand over the why are you smiling?" He looked at Dean who had the biggest grin on his face.

"Well you could have robbed anyone in this city, and you picked the one person, you truly should not have tried to steal from."

"Oh yeah, who would that be?"

"Someone who could break every bone in your body without breaking a sweat. In fact I know what I'll do."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"What would that be?"

"You see, I could give you fives, tens, twenties, or hundreds, but, instead, I know what I'll give you."

"What would that be?"

Dean laid his bag down on the ground away from everyone. He then walked back to the four men and cracked his neck and knuckles.

"I'm gonna give you a broken nose." He then pointed to the guy in leather. "I'll make you eat your own teeth." He then pointed to the man in a t-shirt. "I'm gonna kick you so hard in the gut, your breakfast lunch and dinner will come back up." He then pointed to the guy in a ball cap. "And you will probably poop your pants and run scared."

Dean then smiled as the men looked at him in anger.

"Ok wise guy. Let's see if you are right."

"Bring it on beanie boy. I am not going anywhere." The man then waved his lackeys off. "Big mistake," thought Dean.

"I got this boys. I'm gonna enjoy cutting your smart tongue out."

With that he then ran at the boy and jabbed his knife towards Dean's gut. He only hit air. He looked and saw Dean had moved to the side.

"Wow, such great form, not," spoke Dean.

The man sliced again, and he missed again.

"Oh yeah the air had it coming."

He sliced again, and missed again.

"Strike three." He sliced at Dean again, but this time, Dean caught his arm. Dean looked him in the eyes.

"You're out." He then bent then man's arm in an abnormal way, and he dropped the knife. Dean grabbed the knife, and swept the man's legs out from under him. He hit the ground and immediately got up. He saw Dean holding the blade.

"You know," began Dean. "You can't play with knives. You'll just hurt yourself." He then threw the knife away from everyone. The man was angry and noticed his lackeys were laughing. "Don't just stand there you idiots! Get him." The three other moved in and the first one to do it was t-shirt dude. He threw a punch, but Dean caught it and used the man's own weight against him. His momentum carried himself wherever Dean chose. He Judo threw the man on the ground. The guy in leather came up next and Dean didn't give him time to do anything. He fell like a sack of potatoes as his chin connected with Dean's fist. The guy in the ball cap didn't come any closer. He even backed up.

"Smart," thought Dean. The guy in the long sleeve ran at Dean but immediately regretted it as Dean's foot connected with his gut and the man fell to his knees. He immediately began to loose his lunch. The dude in leather looked extremely angry at Dean.

"I think you chipped my tooth," he roared.

"I'll do more than that."

The man ran at him and threw a punch. Dean grabbed it and twisted the man's arm backwards. Dean had full control over the man. He then slammed the man's face against the wall. He looked at the man face, and he was missing several teeth. He slumped to the ground, and was down for the count.

"That's two, one to go." Dean quickly ducked and grabbed the knife that was aimed for his head, and used the guy in the beanies own hand to stab his leg. The man screamed in pain. Dean then looked at ball cap guy. He immediately began running for his life. Dean then turned his attention to the leader of the group.

"You stabbed !?"

"No, you stabbed yourself. I just directed where you were bringing your knife. Now here." Dean then proceeded to pay the man five hundred dollars.

"Why?"

"That's for your hospital bill for you and your friends."

The man was speechless.

"Thank you," he spoke.

"Don't be stealing ever again."

"I won't."

"If you do, I will know about it, and I will break every bone in your body. Do you understand me."

The man nodded his head up and down.

"Good." Dean was about to walk away.

"Oh, and one more thing." The man looked up and received a knee to the face. Dean did indeed break the man's nose. "I said I would break your nose." Dean then grabbed his bag and began walking to the destination he has been trying to go to, the three legged dog statue. Soon he made it. Now, he didn't know what to do. He decided to wait. He sat on a nearby bench and waited for a sign. Some sort of sign that said Drew was here.