Disclaimer: I do not own Lost in Blue.

Chapter 14: Sunset

It felt good to be racing along the beach with another wolf. Poppy was a lot faster than I had expected her to be. She kept pace easily. I had to admit, I admired how her red coat shown in the orange glow of sunset. I trotted to a stop towards the end of the beach. Poppy was too busy looking at the sea to notice the wall and nearly slammed into it. I bit back my laughter as she came back to me with a sheepish look on her faced.

"How are you? Getting tired out?" I asked, slightly winded from running at full speed across the sand. But she looked much more tired than me. She wasn't used to the way sand can drag at your paws, but she wasn't about to let me see that.

"No (pant) not at all. Let's (gasp) go again (huff)." And with that she whirled around and raced off again, her tongue lolling out. I laughed and loped after her. She reminded me of my little sister, Sage. Just then I heard Ocean shout for me. I skidded to a stop and started to her. Behind me, I heard Poppy whine softly.

I looked back at her. "Come on. They don't bite!" But I knew from the fear in her eyes that she wouldn't sleep in the cave, not yet anyway. I looked back and forth between the two. I didn't want Ocean to feel I had abandoned her, but Poppy needed me now. I saw Smoke get to his good paw, leaning on a stick so he could keep his balance. I decided that Ocean would be fine since Smoke was there to keep her company. I barked a quick goodnight at her and returned to Poppy. Her eyes were full of relief, but I couldn't help feeling like a heavy rock had settled in my stomach. You turned away from your pack, a voice deep inside me sneered. Had I? Rock's voice echoed in my mind, You aren't fit to be called a wolf anymore! I wasn't. Not only had I left the wild, I just turned away from those who I had become loyal to.

Poppy licked my shoulder, startling me back into reality. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing," I stammered, part of my mind still lost in these dark thoughts. Worthless scrap of fur, the angry voice howled in me. I closed my eyes in pain, wishing it all would just go away. I was so upset that I started running again, wondering if I could out run this spiteful voice. I heard Poppy call out to me, and I could hear her paws pounding on the sand to try to catch up with me. I glanced up to the cave hoping Ocean would come and protect me from it, but she and Smoke had already gone in. The malicious voice snarled again, They don't even want you anymore! You don't belong! I stumbled and fell. I couldn't find the strength to get back up again. I felt Poppy sit down next to me. Moments later I felt her nuzzle my head.

"Shadow. What is it? Tell me."

"Poppy," I broke down. "He's right."

"Who?" I looked up into her dark amber eyes. They were full of concern. A realization hit her and her eyes went wide. "You mean my father?" I could only nod. "No! It's not true! You are a wolf. I know it, I just don't know why you can't see it. You watch over Ocean and Smoke, always trying to put them first."

"But I turned away! I betrayed them!" I nearly howled.

"You turned away, but only physically. I saw how much you wanted to go up there. But you didn't because I needed you. You're a wolf. No more than that, a true alpha. Not like Rock, who reigned only with the fear of the others keeping him in that position. You are concerned about all of us."

"But I left the wild," I said sitting up. I left the homeland of my pack, I thought miserably to myself.

Poppy somehow managed to read my mind. "You left your homeland because it wasn't your home anymore. You had no ties to it. You saw Ocean as a new friend. She saved you, so you now devote yourself to helping her. You're still loyal, just to a new pack now. Do you understand?"

She twisted herself around so she could look me directly in the eyes. I tried to turn away, but Poppy suddenly jumped on top of me, her tail held high. "Well, If you're that easy to take down…" she smirked down at me, a sparkle of mischief in her eyes.

I growled playfully and twisted myself out from under her, before se could get ready, I pounced on her and held her there with one paw. "I am a wolf! And don't you go thinking otherwise!" I howled to the now red sky. She pushed me off, pointed her nose to the sky and howled long and clear. My own voice harmonized beautifully with her voice and we howled together in joy, and, in my case, in triumph. I could see that I had changed, but deep down I was still myself. And nothing could ever change that.

Our song faded off, echoing out over the ocean. We gazed at the sunset. Poppy sighed in contentment. "I've never seen a sunset like this before." I realized that the canopy of the forest must have made it impossible to see a sunset. And even though I had grown up around them, this one seemed especially beautiful. I looked up at the sky and marveled at the colors that shifted from the darkness of night to the vivid red near the sun. Life was like that. It changed, just like the sky during a sunset, and each shade of life was just as exciting as another.

Okay, a little mushy, I know…But not too horrible, right? Next chapter we explore deeper into the island and find yet another surprise. Hopefully it is a good one…Mwahahahaha!!!