Hey guys. I'm back! Sorry I just kind of vanished off the face of the Earth and left a lot of stories unfinished. College takes a lot of work and time. Especially, if you're like me and trying to pay for it by yourself. It's not easy but it is doable. But I'm back because my friend kind of threatened me….anyway, here's the continuation of Eraser's Beginning. (I honestly had to read everything to remember where I left off ha-ha)! Please review with your honest opinion! Thank you so much!

Eximo's POV

I thought I would have to spend most of the morning prepping Little One for the trip, but I was sadly mistaken. Little One was the first to awake out of the entire pack. Her shrill cheering did not settle well with the guys, but Crystal and I ate it up.

"I wonder if she can still make those noises if I shove a squirrel in her mouth," Joey grumbled as he clambered down from his ledge. As soon as his feet hit the stone floor, he was a wolf. Joey was like me, he didn't like being in his man form. Not that he wasn't attractive like his sister. There was just a sense of power in being a wolf.

I liked to think it was because Mother intended for all of us to be wolves, so in a way, being a wolf just felt right for all of us. Especially me.

But right now, I was chasing after a bounding Little One on two feet. As powerful and strong as one might be as a wolf. It is extremely difficult to button up coats with paws.

"Quit your whining and help me catch her," I growled to Joey. I usually have a strong hold on my temper. But this early in the morning...anything that moves can fall victim to my wrath.

Meanwhile, Little One was shifting from wolf to man in the blink of an eye crying out; "I'm going to the human village! The human village! The human village! I'm going to the human village!"

She was too slippery and quick for me. There was something about her tiny limbs that made her more nimble than I was. And of course, she somehow managed to have the most energy out of everyone here. I love her. I do. But I was ready to test Joey's theory! I know we have squirrels around here somewhere.

On her last leap off of my ledge (which is the highest), I prepared myself to catch her. Only, I was all the way across the den and not awake to make myself run at the moment. Fortunately, Dex seemed wide awake. He cleared the space easily and caught her with his gigantic arms.

Huh. And here I thought he didn't like the pup.

"You need to settle down!" Dex barked at Little One, "There's enough limited time without having to waste it on your childish foolishness!"

Nope. I was right the first time. Really. It was too early to deal with this...again!

"I'm sorry!" Little One whimpered, "I'm just so excited!"

"Well cut it out!" Dex snapped, "There's nothing exciting about going to a place where death is around every corner! Eximo has more important matters to deal with than keeping you in check!"

"That's enough!" I snapped. Why did he have to bring me into this? Oh. I know. Because it's Dex and he just always has to be right and prove a point by being a complete jerk!

Dex dropped Little One and she scrambled over to me immediately.

"Don't you see that you're scaring her?" I snarled at Dex.

Dex snorted, "Good. Maybe it'll knock some sense into her."

A growl sounded in the back of my throat. It was deep. Deeper than I remember my growl ever being. They all heard it, too. Joey and Crystal immediately vacated the den, Little One in tow. Dex stared at me wide-eyed from across the den.

"Are you-Are you growling at me?" he stammered.

"What does it sound like?" I sneered. "For someone who claims to know it all you sure are dense."

Dex blinked back his surprise and let out his own short growl.

"Just what does that mean?" he demanded.

"It means you don't talk to a pup that way!" I snapped, "She's young and has no idea what is really going on! And you being a complete jerk to her all the time does not help!"

"I'm just trying to prepare her for the real world!" Dex snapped right back, "Humans are evolving, Eximo! They've come out of the caves and have covered almost the entire planet! We've been stuck on the same mountain for centuries! Sooner or later, Little One is going to see that! You can't hide reality from her forever!"

"And what?" I sneered, putting my hands on my hips. "You're just gonna push her out there and expect her to change into an elite wolf like us?"

"Well, yeah. That's what-"

"You can't do that!" I shouted. I had to force myself to take a deep breath. Shouting sure wasn't going to help the situation, but as Mother as my witness, I was ready to tear his throat out. That's probably why I said what I did next. "I know you don't like her, and you've grown a disliking for me ever since I brought her in, but this is not just about your feelings, Dex. It's about the pack. And Little One is a part of our pack so either deal with it or leave. I won't stop you."

Oh no. Had I really just told him to leave? No! Wait! I didn't mean it! Did I? He is being a butt, but he's my butt-No. He's our butt.

"You think I don't care?" he asked, his voice surprisingly calm.

That is...not what I expected him to say.

"Well, you don't exactly prove otherwise," I said.

His shoulder started shaking. At first, I thought he was shivering from the cold breeze that had just blew in, but then a low rumble sound started coming from his direction. It grew louder and louder until he threw his head back and let out a mean cackle.

"You think I don't care?!" he shouted. "Oh that's rich! Really rich, Eximo! You think that I don't care!"

Why is he laughing like that? Can that noise even be classified as a laugh? It sounded malicious and senile more than anything.

"D-Dex, you're scaring me," I stammered, "W-Why are you l-laughing?"

Dex put a hand to his head and started to pace.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. that makes perfect sense. I don't care. I only hunt and fight for you. I only protected you. I only put up with all your decisions and try to enforce them. I only do what's best for the entire pack! Like sleeping on the goddamn floor so I can hear intruders!" he stopped pacing, laughing...everything. He stood there looking at me with cold eyes, "No. I didn't like it when you brought Little One in. I didn't like the idea of taking on the responsibility of raising a child. But it's what you wanted and so of course, me not caring stepped back and let you have what you want. I even doubled patrols, doubled hunting parties, risked my neck to go into the village alone to get her clothes and necessities."

So that's where the diapers and toys had come from! That makes so much more sense than that nonsense fairy tale Joey told me. Humph. Sandy Claws. What a joke.

It had all be Dex, huh? Great. Now I'm the jerk.

"If that's not caring enough for you," Dex went on, "Then, fine. I'll leave."

Stop him! Stop him, Eximo! Why aren't you stopping him? He's walking right past you! What is wrong with you? Just admit you're wrong!

But did I? No. Did I just watch him walk out of the den? Yep. Did I just stand there with my fists clenched at my side and say nothing? You betcha. Did I start weeping like a calf crying for milk? Big time.

Dex's POV

That just...really happened. She kicked him out. Out into the cold. Alone. In the world of humans.

This wasn't his first time fending for himself. But it was his first time without her. Without...No! there would be no thinking of her or any of them! They didn't want him!

"Fine!" Dex shouted up towards the sky, "You want me on my own, Mother? You just gonna stand by and let your precious daughter cast me out? Well, fine! I'll show her! And you!"

Dex looked out along the mountain range. Winter hadn't fully settled in yet. He could still make it across the range in a couple of days. He knew the more north he went, the wilder the lands. The more pray, too.

He would make it on his own. Maybe even start his own pack. One with real wolves. Real trust and faith. One that wouldn't kick him out.

"Just you wait and see," Dex finished his promise before setting out.