Chapter 33

Sleeping

The last time I remember making a conscious decision, Two had attacked Nova. Ever since that moment, I've been acting on pure instinct.

I pounced into attack, morphing into a wolf form. I didn't give a thought to Nova who was standing, frozen, behind me.

Growling, I chased him back further into the forest. He soon gave up and ran away.

I stood there for a moment, making sure he wouldn't come back. And then, the confusion struck. I didn't understand what I was doing so low to the ground. Why had Two given up so easily? What was that growling noise coming from?

And then I realized, it was coming from me. I yelped in surprise when I looked down at myself. I had transformed into a black wolf. My yelp seemed to wake Nova out of his trance.

"Shadow? I- is that you?" he asked me unsure.

'Y- yes, I think.' I thought, unable to speak because of my current form.

'Soooo cool!' he thought at the same time he asked; "Can you, umm, turn back?"

'I- I'll try…' I thought, uncertain.

This also came instinctively, transforming back. Soon I was standing on two legs, still shaking. I could tell Nova was trying not to think about Two, I was glad about that.

I felt like I was about to pass out, morphing probably drained my energy. Nova, either sensing my weakness or trying to take advantage of it, came over and wrapped his arms around me, keeping me up.

I suddenly felt something warm and wet run down my back and gasped. Pulling his arm where I could see it, gasping again.

"Y- your arm!" I stuttered as I looked at the shredded up skin. I felt extremely sick, but I couldn't give into that right then.

"I'm fine, really." he said. I could tell by what he was thinking that he really wasn't okay. I knew we needed to get back to camp before Two came back, but I was too weak to fly. Luckily, Star chose that exact moment to wake up from her slumber.

'Nova! Shadow! Are you guys okay?' Star thought franticly.

'Nova's got his arm cut up, and I'm too weak to fly him back.' I explained, trying my best not to pass out at the smell and Nova's blood.

The next few moments me and Nova listened to Star's thoughts, unthinking.

Star had told the others of our situation and they were all coming to get us. Since no one else knew where we were Iggy and Nudge were carrying Star while the others followed behind. Once they got here, much to my embarrassment,. Iggy and Gazzy were going to carry me back and Nudge will take Star. (Star was so light nowadays, that I was sure even Ange could carry her) By the time they had arrived I had been asleep for over 30 minutes and showed no signs of waking any time soon.

I didn't know what time it was when I awoke. The others must have brought me back because I was on the cliff in one of the sleeping bags. I looked over at the sleeping forms of the rest of the flock, unseeing, but I could hear the snoring. I looked over at Nova who was sitting right next to me. He smiled when he saw I was awake.

"Morn, Shadow." he said scooting in closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. Too tired to fight back, I leaned into his side and put my head on his shoulder.

"It's morning already? How long was I out?" I asked surprised.

"Actually, you slept all day yesterday. You slept for almost 48 hours. Just 3 more hours and you would've."

"What?" I cried out.

"Yeah, you've scared us all half to death with worry." he said, and then he smiled, thinking to himself, forgetting that I could hear it. 'She morphed because she wanted to protect me, couldn't stand to see me get hurt.'

"I wouldn't be able to stand seeing anyone get hurt. Don't let it go to your head." I scoffed.

"To late." he replied with a smirk. "So, do you know what happened? We asked the rest of the flock, but they said it's never happened before." he asked, returning to a more serious topic.

"Umm, no. I was hoping that you or Star had the answer actually."

"Star and me know as much as you apparently do."

"Well, I do know that I was raised be evil scientist, and I am apparently a chosen thingy."

"True. So, you turn into a wolf."

"I guess so." I sighed, still a little tired.

'Oh, she's awake!' Star thought suddenly, "Morning guys. Shadow, you must be hungry! I'll go get you some food."

"Okay," (yawn) "you go do that." I replied.

'She looks so cute when she's exhausted.' Nova thought suddenly.

"Will you stop that!"

"What's that yelling about?" I heard Iggy ask from somewhere behind me.

"Nova was thinking again." I explained, knowing he would get it.

"That's never a good thing." he sighed, a little smile playing on his lips.

'Son of a-' Nova started thinking.

"Okay, okay! What did I say about keeping your thought clean!" I interrupted.

"Oh," (yawn) "shadow," (yawn again) "you're awake." Nudge said, waking up from her slumber.

"Awake, and starving. Where can I get a hamburger in this joint?" I said laughing as Nudge yawn, again.

'I can get a hamburger, but it won't taste like one…' Star thought to me.

'It will if that's what my taste buds want.' I countered.

Nova laughed at my enormous appetite, getting up to go grab something from his bag.

"Here." he said tossing me a chocolate bar, "Something to hold you down till Star gets back."

"You had chocolate this whole time!" Nudge squealed, waking Gazzy and Total. "Why didn't you share?"

"Because, everything you eat probably tastes like chocolate anyways. What's the difference if I give you the real thing?"

Nova and Nudge kept bickering, and Total and Gazzy went off to this cave thingy that Star had shown us that had a bathroom in it, minus the shower and sink. Gazzy was thrilled about that part. Star was still looking for food. (it's sometimes hard to find, it comes at random)

Me and Iggy decided that instead of listening to Nova and Nudge's childish fighting, we should go for a walk.

"Soo, you can turn into a wolf. Didn't see that one coming. What are you now, some kind of eraser?" Iggy asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Har, har." I faked laughed, but the truth was, I was worried that I was some kind of eraser. Nova and Star didn't even know that, it was becoming the kind of fear that you keep locked inside and don't tell anyone.

"Do you wanna tell me about this Two guy?" he asked, stopping to stare into my eyes.

"What has Nova and Star told you?"

"Not much, just his name and that he attacked you.

"He's Ari's twin."

"What?" he asked, obviously startled.

"He was taken at birth and the people that took him killed his mother. Jeb doesn't even know he exists."

'What? Who took him?' Star asked suddenly.

'Why?' I think back, but I already knew. Two had been taken by the darkness.

"Does Ari know?" Iggy asked, not noticing my pause.

"No." I reply.

"Why does he want to kill you so bad?"

"Thats where it gets complicated… The people who took him where apparently servants of the darkness thingy. He was raised by these things called Darkwolves. His whole life he was taught to hate Ari and want to kill him to get revenge for having everything he ever wanted. The darkwolves convinced him that in order to do that, he needs to kill me." I said quickly, trying to get this over with.

Igg was silent for a few moments, trying to take it in. he shook his head slowly, trying to clear it. "What are darkwolves?"

"I don't know exactly, I think there like the evil form of things called wolfbloods. It's complicated."

'Wait, Two was taken by the darkness to try to kill you! Why didn't you say something earlier?' Star exclaimed.

'I didn't know it was such a big deal!' I thought back.

"Why did you name him Two?" Iggy asked suddenly.

Smiling I responded, "Because he is second to Ari, boy does that get him mad."

"So, instead of trying to get away from the thing that wants to kill you, you provoke it? Where's the logic in that?" he asked surprised.

"Since when do you worry about logic?"

"Since when do you go looking for fights?" he returned.

"Touche."

"No seriously though."

"He gets on my nerves. I want to punch that smug smile off his face."

Iggy stared at me as if I had just said that I saw a pig flying. (which in our messed up life, it's entirely possible)

'Wow, the only person that I know of that has ever gotten on your nerves is Nova, and that didn't last long.' Star thought, surprised.

'Are you saying that Nova doesn't get on my nerves anymore, cause he does!' I thought back angrily.

'Only when he thinks about or does kiss you. Other than that, you don't even think about hurting him anymore. Even when you do, you hate the thought of him getting hurt. You haven't even confronted him about the other day by the lake yet!'

I blushed fiercely at that and tried to think of a comeback. 'I've been known to forgive too quickly.' was all I came up with.

Nova had stopped in his tracks, listening to our thought, not daring to even think.

My stomach growled, ending the awkward silence. "Man, I'm starving, goodthing Star had just found food. Let's go back to camp." I laughed.

I started to turn and head back but Igg grabbed my hand. He turned me around and kissed me. After a second he let go, "Shadow, please at least try to be careful. Don't go looking for Two or anything. Promise me you won't?"

I looked into his eyes for a minute. He was scared that I would get hurt, actually scared was an understatement, he was horrified at the thought of anyone being able to harm me and he didn't want me to make it easier for them.

Leaning in I kissed him again. After I had calmed him a little I whispered into his ear, "I promise."

Smiling he lead the way back to camp, not letting go of my hand.

(end of chapter 33)