Ruby and friends stood at the train station, waiting for Alpha to arrive. It had been an hour since she was supposed to have been there. Frank and Len were starting to get impatient. They couldn't take it anymore, this supposed to be 'new friend' wasn't going to show. This 'Alpha', whoever they were, had stood them up. Frank and Len wouldn't stand for being treated in such a way.

"Ruby" Frank said seriously, standing up and dragging his brother along with him "We have been waiting here for an hour. This 'Alpha' Is a no show, and I'm not going to wait here any longer"

"Yeah, me too" Said his brother.

"Len, the proper term is me neither, when you are saying something you WON'T do" Frank rolled his eyes at his brother.

"Oh, okay then. Me neither!"

Frank sighed and Ruby spoke "I'm sure they have a reason for not showing up. Just give them some time"

"I'm sorry Ruby" Skullboy said "But Frank and Len are right. This so named 'Alpha' isn't coming... Maybe they will be here eventually, but for now, I think it's a good idea to head home"

Ruby looked extremely distraught, but Skullboy was right. They had to give up at some point. Maybe Alpha would be there at some other point during the day and explain themselves. Or maybe not. Either way, it was time to head home, and that's exactly what they did.

Meanwhile, back at the Brightville train station.

"Are you sure you weren't able to find them?" Andrea asked the head of police. The police had been looking for the two vampires who had supposedly stolen the puppies' backpack "they're pretty ugly"

"And I can't even tell if that was our fault or not. It's so hard to tell" Alpha snickered under her breath. Andrea snickered with her, then looked back to the police who replied.

"No, sorry. Besides, it's only a backpack. Unless you tell us what was in it that's so important, we really can't pay too much attention to the matter. It's just not as important as other crimes"

Andrea looked at Alpha, as if asking her if they should tell him. Alpha looked at him apologetically and shook her head, then looked at the police chief.

"Sorry, I can't tell you" She said.

"Then I'M sorry, but I can't help you" The chief replies very rudely. Alpha frowned and looked at Andrea who also frowned.

"C'mon Andrea, let's get you to the Herloid Estate, that's where your supposed to be moving into"

"Alright... But what about your bag?" Andrea asked.

"I'll find it... Like you said, they couldn't have gotten far. Even by now they're probably hiding somewhere in the woods. And it IS Brightville, so it shouldn't be too hard to find them. Just look in the very few places around here that are actually dark"

"Then won't you need my help?"

"Nah, I should be fine... Besides, this info is my responsibility, you shouldn't be getting involved"

"Excuse me ms. I'm the greatest Alpha in the world and nobody else can be as good. I thought I could help you, I also thought we had an understanding. But I guess your just too stuck up to handle that, aren't cha?"

Alpha rolled her eyes 'guess it couldn't last forever. All good things come to an end, don't they?' She thought.

"Look, I didn't mean it like that. We DID have an understanding, your the one throwing it away. I'm just trying to do my job, your place is somewhere else right now. It's no big deal"

"Sure..."

"Okay, if you wanna be stuck up, that's fine. Take it somewhere else. I need to find my bag, and then find a way to get to Gloomsville, since I can no longer ride the train for a year. By the way, if I wanted, I could blame you for that. You kept the fight going even when the conductor came in to help us. And you know what, I'm tired of this, so I will blame you for that. I've been a good Alpha Puppy for so long, I forgot to be a regular puppy. Now, I'm going to be a regular puppy, and let myself take it out on you, because you, are the reason we are in this mess"

Andrea looked at Alpha shocked, but before he could yell in retortion, Alpha had walked away. Alpha's tail swung viciously behind her as she walked, and you could see that her fists were clenched. She was very clearly angry, and Alpha tried her best NOT to be angry with the pack, especially during such hard times. But like she said, she had spent way too long being an Alpha and not enough being a puppy.

"Wow..." Andrea whispered to himself. He thought for a moment, just standing there awe struck. He had never seen Alpha blow up like that. And he then thought that he might have done something wrong. He slumped his shoulders and reluctantly walked on his own to find the Herloid Estate, where he would be residing for years to come.

Alpha continued walking, and with every step she took her face softened. Maybe she shouldn't have said that to Andrea? Then again, she had kept that inside for so long. It's not like he was easy to deal with. She was so confused. She knew how to be a good Alpha, but being a good communicator and friend was sometimes not as easy to figure out. Was Andrea even her friend? Well, as much as they both hated to admit it, they were friends, and they both needed to start acting like it.

Alpha stopped walking and hung her head. She turned around, but Andrea had already left. There went her chance of apologizing, and there went her chance at being a good pack mate. Now she wouldn't see him again for twelve years or more. She looked ahead of her again and saw someone at the ticket desk. They were a skeleton, looking to be about middle aged. The skeleton looked to be male, he wore a jazzy type of outfit and a white hat with a checkered strip around it above the rim. He was also holding something, it looked like... It was! Her bag.

Alpha ran for the front desk, and for the skeleton holding the bag.

"Excuse me!" She called, running up to the desk. Both the skeleton and the female zombie clerk looked over to her.

"Sorry to interrupt, but, I saw the bag, and I lost one just like it. I just wanted to ask, did you find it somewhere? could it have been a lost item?"

The skeleton smiled a wide toothy grin and said something rather hard to interprate.

"Yeah, I found this bag with a couple of rottens out by the ole forest back there. They were trying to pick it for goods, you know what I mean?"

Alpha gave him a confused look for a second, but then it clicked in her mind "Ooooh, you mean the vampires. Yeah, they stole it from me. I'm assuming you mean they were trying to rummage through it for something of worth?" Alpha asked as the man handed her the bag and she started looking through it to make sure all of her belongings were there.

"Yeah, that's it young pup. You understand the lingo?" He asked, leaning on his cane.

Alpha looked up to him again "Uhm, yeah, kinda. I'm not used to it, but it's not foreign to me either. I'm the Alpha Puppy of my pack, so father likes me to be knowledgeable about many other things, cultures, languages, etc. I know quite a lot for a pup my age, if I may say so myself. But... I'm still learning" She let her ears fall, remembering what had just happened.

The skeleton man smiled at her sweetly "Now don't go gettin' yourself in a down kid, instead of bein' down, spend your time gettin' down. You need to hang lose and jam. Find your swing kid. Is being the Alpha really what you dig?"

Once again Alpha took a moment to interprerate what he said, but eventually got it "Yeah, I love being the Alpha. It makes me so proud, and it lets me be the wolf that I am, the true leader I was born to be"

"Then don't let it frazzle ya. Like I said, get lose and groove to the jiv. keep with it, and everything will turn out fine"

Alpha thought about what he said. She understood, and at the same time knew it would take a lot of time before she was able to fully comprehend what he had said... Then she remembered the note. She looked in the front zipper of her bag in a rush. Luckily, the note was still there, and it was untouched. She could tell nobody had been at it because it was still perfectly folded the way she had folded it when she put it in there. Just to make sure though, she took it out, read it over again, gave a sigh of relief, and put it back into the pouch. Where under her protection, nobody would ever have a chance at finding it again.

"What was that kid? It seemed important" The man asked her.

She looked at him and replied "Yeah, it was. My father gave me a note and told me I can't let ANYBODY see it... In fact, I shouldn't have even told you that" She let her ears lower and her face drop in annoyance with herself. The man laughed.

"Hey, remember what I just said pup. Don't worry 'bout it. I'm a good guy anyway. Name's Skelly T, what's yours young'in?"

"Alpha... In my pack we try to name our pups as well after their place in the pack as we can. My friend Oscar is an Omega, Haley is a Healer, and so on like that, Warrior wolves and wolf pups get common or traditional tribal warrior names, like Darwin and Andrea"

Skelly T just looked at her, he wasn't expecting a story, but it was alright.

"So your name is Alpha then?"

"Yep"

"I'm jus' gonna call you Pup, that alright?"

"Fine by me. I don't think we'll be seeing each other for much longer though"

"Well, that depends, where ya headed Pup?"

"Gloomsville... That reminds me, You know how to get there?"

"Gloomsville!" Skelly T reacted as if she has just told a joke, and Alpha retreated a step.

"Sure! I know how to get to Gloomsville! An ole buddy a mine lives there, I call 'im SB" Skelly T replied.

"Great, could you tell me how to get there?" Alpha asked.

"Sure. But weren't ya gonna take the train?"

"I was supossed to. But me and my pack mate, Andrea, were kicked off the train... Before you ask, we got in a scrap with those two vampies that stole my bag"

"Oh. Well where is this other Puppy?"

"We, well, got in a fight. We never DID get along, but this time he pushed me over the edge. I spent all my life trying to be a good Alpha Puppy, that this one time, the one time where it mattered most that I stay composed, I snapped. And now he's off to the Herloid Estate to get settled in... All of us were being sent away to different boarding homes so we could be safe from vampire attacks, like the one on the train. The werewolves and vampires have been fighting for centuries, and recently have been at war for years. It just wasn't a good time to lose a pack mate to a stupid argument"

Skelly T put his hand on the pups shoulder "It wasn't stupid if it meant something to you. Now c'mon, I'll take you to Gloomsville myself, but first, We're gonna go get our sorry on"

"Huh?" Alpha was confused.

"Your going to go apologize to your mate"

Alpha's eyes went wide. In Wolfy language, mate, meant the romantic, lover, type of mate.

"He is NOT my mate. I'm still only six, anyway"

Skelly T sighed "I meant your bud, We're gonna go get you to be all good with your buddy"

"Ohhhhh... Well, he isn't much of a buddy either... But okay, I'm good with that"

Skelly T brought Alpha to the Herloin Estate front door. She knocked and waited for someone to answer. A tall young Minitor Answered the door. He was big and buff, but he didn't look mean. He only seemed to be about two years older than her. And though it was hard to find a child within the same age range that was as big or bigger than Alpha, he was significantly larger as well.

"Hey, did Andrea get here yet?" She looked up to him and asked.

"Yeah, he is inside unpacking" The minitor answered in a low, gruff voice.

"May I come in and see him? I'm from his pack, I just need to talk to him for a sec"

"Uhhh, sure. I don't see a problem with that" He said stepping aside.

Alpha walked in a few steps and then looked back at Skelly T.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine out here. I won't leave ya Pup" Said Skelly T in his usual jazzy slang accent.

Alpha smiled, then walked all the way in. The minitor pointed her in the right direction and she found Andrea's room. She knocked quietly and unsurely. There was no response from inside, so she knocked a little louder. Andrea took a moment, but he replied softly.

"Come in"

Alpha opened the door a crack and peered through, then she opened it slightly more and poked her head inside. Andrea turned around, and when he saw her, he didn't know how to react, so he just gave her the usual death glare. Alpha felt awkward, but she scooted her way into the room and slowly leaned on the door until it shut behind her, then she stood upright. She opened her mouth to say something, but didn't know what to say. Andrea beat her to it.

"Why are you here?" He asked coldly, not looking at her. He was kneeling on the ground, in front of his bag, unpacking what few belongings he actually had.

"I came to apologize. A pack mate should not act the way I did. I'm sorry"

"A pack mate, or an Alpha?"

*sigh* "Both, but I only mean to do whats right as a pack mate right now. Nevermind the Alpha stuff"

"Well thats big of you" He was still being cold towards her. She walked up to him and sat down beside him. He turned his head in the other direction.

"I hurt you, didn't I?" She asked.

"A Warrior's feelings do not get hurt. We are strong in body and soul"

"Yes, you are" Alpha replied looking caringly at him "And thats why you act so tough, because you want to be a real Warrior Wolf, like your father. Just like I want to be a real Alpha, like my father... But you are a real Warrior. Your also a real puppy. Just like I am... So from one puppy to another, can you forgive me? I forgive you"

Andrea looked over, he nearly cried, but he sighed instead "Yeah, I can. I'm sorry, my attitude gets us into all sorts of trouble"

"No it doesn't, I just said that out of anger. I could blame you, but then I would be playing a blame game, and those are just excuses for your own insecurities. I won't be the one to do that. Your not at fault... You even tried to help me, something you NEVER do"

Andrea smiled "I know, I tried. But then I failed"

"You didn't fail, you just lost it. So did I... So... Can we be friends? finally?"

Andrea took a moment, then nodded. They both hugged and squeezed each other tight, almost like a muscle war of who could squeeze the tightest. Andrea knocked Alpha to the floor and laughed playfully. Alpha got up and pushed Andrea back and started to laugh as well. Andrea looked up and smiled, his fangs showing as Alpha offered her paw and pulled him up from the ground.

"I should go now. The people in Gloomsville are probably losing their minds waiting for me" They both giggled as they got up and started walking to the door"

"Alright then, let me see you out" Andrea said, then he turned serious "But don't think this changes anything. I still got my pride as a warrior Alpha"

Alpha rolled her eyes and smirked "Wouldn't dream of it. Alpha wannabe"

Andrea scoffed at her remark. They reached the door and Andrea pulled Alpha into another short hug "See you some time in the future. Then we'll see who the bigger wolf REALLY is"

"Hah, alright Andrea, whatever you say"

"Oh! and did you get your bag back? and find a sure way to Gloomsville?"

"Yep, got my bag and a guide to Gloomsville all at once. He found my bag and was real nice givin' it back. I asked him if he knew the way to Gloomsville and he said he'd take me there himself"

"Thats good" Andrea opened the door and Skelly T was right there waiting.

"Okay Skelly T, let's go" She said, walking out the door. She looked back and waved at Andrea, who waved back with a cocky little smirk. Then, once Alpha was out of sight, he closed the door.

As they walked away Alpha thought to herself 'maybe all good things DON'T come to an end... But a new beginning'

It was about half an hour after making things up with Andrea, and time to hit the road. Skelly T had introduced Alpha to the band, and then handed her a triangle and told her to play with them as they walked. Alpha found walking and playing with the band much like marching with the playing troops. She loved making music as she marched with the troops. And further more, THE LITTLE PUP GOT BEAT! Skelly T had to admit, she was an interesting yet talented young one, that was for sure.

They marched to tune after tune, Skelly T leading the way, Alpha just hopping right in and swingin to the jiv of the music, no matter what tune was played. Then, they stopped.

"Why'd we stop Skelly T?" Asked Alpha.

"We've been playing for about thirty minutes Pup. It's time for a break. We've reached the next town and we're gonna rest in this hotel for the night"

Alpha was beginning not to trust this stranger anymore. She didn't really like the idea of staying with an unknown man and his band in a hotel without her father. But, she figured it was better than going it alone, and definitely better than staying behind with those two vampires from before. Besides, she could handle herself, she'd already proven that. So, she decided to shrug it off, and go inside with Skelly T and the band. When they got to the counter Skelly T ordered two rooms. After everything was set up, he turned to Alpha and told her that he realized she might be a little worried about staying with someone she just met for the night, so he got her a room of her own. Alpha smiled and thanked him, then the band and the puppy went to their separate rooms to get settled.

Alpha sat down on the bed in her room and took out a note pad and pen. She was going to write a letter to her father, but decided against it. The last thing she needed was an angry Alpha Male storming in on the Skeletunes and demanding his daughter back, much less him tearing apart the people who run the train station for kicking her off the train for such 'stupid' reasons. She came to reason that it would be best to send him a letter once she was safely in Gloomsville and he could do nothing about the events that took place before hand.

Before putting the note pad and paper back in her bag she remembered the note her father had given her. She took it out and read the first postal code on the list.

'Alpha - H5E 6I8'

"Perfect" She thought out loud.

She looked at the clock, it was noon, almost time to meet the skeletunes for lunch. She wrote a quick letter, then put it in her pocket. She would send it to Gloom Manner with a messenger hawk later... After food... If there was one this Alpha would never pass up, it was food.

'Dear soon to be friends.

I am very sorry for not showing up. I bet you think you were tricked, or stood up, didn't you? I really didn't mean to. I was attacked on my way to Gloomsville, on the train actually. Funny, I've never had such problems on a train before... Then again, when you travel with a pack of big scary wolves, not a lot of people want to mess with you. Ha Ha. Anyway, I ran into a traveling jazz musician who says he knows one of you. Someone by the name of, uhm, SB I think... It's hard to tell, he might have been saying Esbee. Either way, He said he would take me to Gloomsville, since I can't take the train anymore (I'll explain that bit in person, it's a long story) but for now, we have stopped for the day, and we will rest for tonight in the hotel I'm writing to you from. Right now, it's time for lunch though. That's something you'll learn quickly about me, I never pass up a meal. So I'll see you when I see you, bye for now.

Signed, Alpha'

Ruby read the letter aloud to everyone in the house, who were gathered in the living room to hear the latest letter that had come in from their, supposed to be 'new friend'.

"You see guys? Alpha didn't abandon us. Poor little pup says shes been attacked, so who are we to judge that?" Ruby said, always the optimist.

"Yeah, but it could be a lie" Misery stated casually. Ruby looked at her like she was being obsured.

"Misery, why would someone lie about such things? Especially if they said they would see us at some point. I don't think they are trying to cover themselves up. If they were trying to do that they would have said that they weren't coming here at all" She reasoned.

"That's true... I was only saying"

Scaredy jumped into the conversation.

"Ooooh, I told you this Alpha character was no good!"

"Scaredy!" Ruby scolded loudly "Did you not just hear me? And remember what I said to you yesterday. Give them a chance. If they were attacked we have no reason to be against them right now. Wait until you meet them to jusge their character. For now, I want all of you to hold your tongues about Alpha.

"Yes Ruby" They all chorused.

A/N: I posted this chapter early for the people who were getting sick of my OCs being the center of attention. So it's a little short... (I call 4, 000 words short? O.o)

So I hope you've been enjoying the story so far, and yay Skelly T to the rescue!

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! ... pwease (puppy eyes)