Chapter 5
As I regained my consciousness I realized I was in Grandma Whitewolf's house. Mainly because the first thing I saw was Swiftpaw, with his stunningly white fur. His long, soft muzzle was rubbing against my hand as he whined wondering if I was okay. I smiled and weakly turned to look at the beautiful wolf, "Hey boy, long time no see, huh?" "Yes, it has Christopher." I looked around to see who had said that. "Where did that voice come from? Do you know boy?" I looked at Swiftpaw and his response was his adorable, confused head tilt. I couldn't find the source so I gave up and just pet Swiftpaw's head instead.
Shortly after Grandma, with her obvious Cherokee features, appeared. "Ah, so your awake now, I see. My little vampyre wolfling," Grandma said with a hint of playfulness in her voice. I was shocked, but it didn't last long. Of course she would know I had been Marked and as I thought she accepted me for it. "Hi Grandma," I chuckled, "and its fledgling, not wolfling." The sweet, understanding, and caring woman I know and love just simply smiled. She walked to me, Swiftpaw stayed right by my side, as Grandma chuckled while she ruffled my hair. "I know what I said Chris. Yes, you are know a fledgling, but you will always be my wolfling, growing into a fine leader." Tears welled up in my eyes, "Grandma, I've missed you so much."She hugged me tightly, smelling like the deep woods she lived in, the scent that reminded me of a home I've never known. "I know, I know. It'll be okay," Grandma softly whispered as she smoothed my hair. "There is someone else who has missed you too, dear."
Dylan walked into the room, his face covered in tears, "Chris...I...I thought I lost you." I wiped my tears and struggled to stand. Grandma and Swiftpaw helped me as much as they could. When I regained my balance I walked towards Dylan, who tried to stop his tears from flowing. When I finally reached him I took his chin into my hand, "I told you, hon, nothing will keep us from each other." He simply smiled, wiped his tears, and hugged me. "Exactly, if anyone tries to separate us, they will have to go through me first," Dylan replied with his usual sure voice. Again I found myself crying into his chest. He took my face and wiped my tears away and kissed my forehead. "Oh, and uh, you might wanna see this, your Mark is filled in just like that Zoey chick or whatever." At the sound of Zoey's name Grandma was stunned. Swiftpaw looked up at her, she looked back and nodded. "What," I exclaimed, "No way?"
I ran quickly to the nearest mirror and sure enough it was true. My outline was filled in just like Zoey Redbird's. My face had regained a bit of its color and my coughing had subsided. Grandma moved towards me and pat my back. "Christopher," she said with a slightly sad tone, "we have to talk on the way to Tulsa." I was automatically confused, "OK, Grandma let me just go pack." Dylan's face immediately brightened, "Already done." He held up two suitcases full of my things. Seeing Dylan so happy, made me laugh joyfully, which hasn't happened in I don't know how long. "Well if we are all ready let's get moving," Grandma said with a slight smile upon her face. I smiled at her, Dylan, and Swiftpaw, with all them and everyone else back home, I know I can make it through this. "Yeah," I said. "Chris," Grandma said guiltily after we were all in the truck. "Yeah," I replied after I did my buckle. There was an eerie moment of silence. I looked at Dylan hoping he might know what was going on, "I don't know," he mouthed. "Zoey Redbird," Grandma said, as I turned to look at her, "...is your half-sister."