Guess who is back? It's me, and I'm back with a legit update. In honor of her reviews, and the constant PMs we share, BethIsMyName gets another special shoutout in this chapter, plus a surprise.. But she has to read, just like the rest of you. It might be a little short, seeing as it was worked and for a majority of my day, and has mostly undergone editing, but it's here.

~DA2014

Meet Me In The Moonlight

Chapter 24

Dimitri waited. And waited. And waited some more. As Stan and Mikhail dragged Aleksandor's body from the cave, the first thing that rushed through Dimitri's mind was all of the injured. Not long after his father's body was thrown in the rapids, Alberta ran back in the cave. Seeing Abe, Olena, Rose, and Dimitri in his current state, she knew what had happened, and she knew time to save them was running out. So, she immediately snapped at the boys to help her move them. Janine had since fallen unconscious from exhaustion, so they helped lift Abe onto Mikhail's back. Christian carried his mother, and Dimitri didn't give them the option of who he would carry. Stan, Mason, and Eddie all went along to help with anything, should they need it, but also to keep an eye on their father and only little sister. Stan was feeling the effects of staying tense through the entire encounter, and he was quickly exhausting himself by going along, but he wouldn't stop until he knew if his family members would live. Janine would need Abe not to long from now, to help with her second litter of pups.

Abe was rested in the water, and they all watched as his wounds were healed. The small waves washed over his body and they watched as his wounds sealed themselves. His coat grew back and the others couldn't even tell he had been injured. He got up and started walking back, having freaked out about Janine. So, he ran back to the cave and stayed with her.

Next went Olena. She went through the same process that Abe had undergone. When she was done, she went to the bank of the river and laid herself down. She allowed herself to get a little rest while she waited for her boys to finish.

Then came Rose's turn.

Dimitri, even covered in cuts and scars that were still oozing his life's blood, wouldn't stop until he knew if she would be okay. They had just given in to each other, and stopped fighting the truth. He couldn't lose her now. He couldn't! But, he couldn't think of any way to save her either. Maybe Alberta knew of something. She had to, because Dimitri would not accept that there was no way to save her. He'd willing make a deal with the devil himself, and sell his soul, if it all meant he got to spend another day with her.

Lay down with Rose in the river.

Not sure where Alberta was going, Dimitri did as he was told. Gently, Mason and Eddie helped get Rose off his back, and gave Dimitri time to lay down, before they rested her with him.

What is this going to accomplish Grammy?

This, Stan, will purify the evil that has tainted their veins. But, it must be done, one at a time.

So, Dimitri laid with Rose at his side, and he made sure her nose never slipped under, to where she cold possibly drown. Then, she changed. Dimitri watched her body lift from the river, as fireflies danced around her, and wondered what was going to happen. Next, her solid human form morphed, and she became a misty figure of what she once was, with more light dancing around her. Dimitri, so caught up in watching the magic dance around him, failed to notice that she had suddenly disappeared.

In her place lay a single pup.

The pup was a perfect mix of Dimitri and Rose. With his color, and her textured coat, she was the darkest, yet softest pup anyone had ever seen. She opened her snout and let out the loudest yelps anyone had ever heard.

That sounds like Rose. She was never a quiet pup.

And, Dimitri imagined, in a few weeks, when the pup opens it's eyes for the first time, they will look exactly like his Roza's once did. It hadn't quiet settled on him yet that she was gone, and had disappeared for all he knew. He didn't know what had happened to her, except that she vanished and a pup lay in her place.

Care for her, and she will lead you to where your heart lies. Only she can lead you to me.

The words tickled Dimitri's mind. They sounded like his Roza, and he spun, frantically looking for her, but she was nowhere to be found. Instead, he turned back to look at the little pup, who was discovered to be a little girl. Her yelping got louder, which was understandable in the biting winter winds that were racing among the trees, so Dimitri went and laid beside her, before he began to tuck her tiny form into the underside of his larger one. The farther he moved her, out of the winds and away from the cold, the quieter she got. He began to lick her, to bathe her in his own way, and she settled into him. Her itty bitty nose found it's way to the bottom of his chest, before pressing up, right under where his heart would be.

Rest, young one, for in the morning light, we have a long journey ahead of us.

And with those words uttered, the little girl, who Dimitri had decided would be named Bethany but called Bee, curled further into Dimitri's chest and let herself fall into a slumbering abyss.

Many trees behind the pair, who were now left alone, Rose's humanic spirit floated and watched them, smiling, before vanishing into the wind.

Drop me a review babes, and let me know what you think!