A/N: Hey... um... *insert list of excuses here* SORRY! )X In case you didn't know, Rebarbative won the contest! (B/N *does victory dance*) She Finished Mission Hogwarts! Which if you haven't read, you should, because it's amazing! Additionally, we have a story we are writing together, called Ensnared. It's a HP/CDF crossover and it's on her profile, so go check that out too! :D This is the first new chapter! As in the stuff I wrote recently and not from eight grade! Yay! From here on out you should see a bigger development of the plot, so keep a look out! Thanks go out to AmyMilo and Rebarbative for reviewing! As always, a special thanks to Rebarbative for betaing my grammatical mess.

Disclaimer: Okay, I get it already! I don't own Darren Shan or Cirque Du Freak! Sheesh... how many times are you gonna make me say it?

It felt as though weeks had passed since we first set off for Vampire Mountain. I had asked if we were almost there, but Dad just laughed in response At that point, I just assumed that we could be traveling for years. We had strayed from civilization and joined the wild, forests surrounding us on all sides.

It was afternoon. Dad was sleeping under a cover of shady trees. I was up thinking, processing the information my father had given me thus far. After going through everything a few times in my head, I sighed in defeat. I felt fried. Adjusting to being nocturnal was harder than one may think. Grabbing my IPod, I rocketed up to my feet and went for a walk.

The snow crunched under my bare soles and I shivered. They felt numb. Inserting my ear buds, I turned the volume up and selected a song, one of the few my band had been practicing. I hummed as I walked along, banging my head softly in tune with the beat.

A few songs later, I came across a river. It dawned on me –not for the first time– how disgusting I currently was. I mean, I was covered in dirt and, despite the cold, I had been sweating from the exerted effort. I definitely needed to get clean. I weighed the consequences in my head. I might get hypothermia… I could drift away… The river's current didn't seem exceptionally strong and I was freezing anyway. For better or for worse, I was getting clean.

After stripping and neatly folding my clothes on a nearby flat rock, I slowly dipped in. SHIT! SHIT, SHIT, SHIT IT'S COLD! My teeth chattered and my body felt like dozens of needles were pricking into it. I took a deep breath and ducked underwater, quickly scrubbing my scalp and clearing my hair of grime. Resurfacing, I screamed, cursing due to the freezing temperature of the water. I lathered myself as quickly as I could in a short time, trying to keep myself from turning blue. Once I got out of the river, I stood there shivering, naked and vulnerable. I didn't have a towel and I wasn't going to put my dry clothes on and get them wet. If I did, hypothermia was guaranteed to set in.

I found the warmest patch of sun I could and stood, trying to air dry, shivering against the wind. It got to the point where I wasn't completely dry, but I had to get semi-warm and put my dry clothes back on. I felt slightly better when clothed, but not by much. I started walking back towards my dad, when I realized I didn't know where he was or even where I was, anymore.

Swallowing my fear, I began walking, hoping I would find my way back. God dammit! If only I hadn't been so preoccupied with finding water, I would have left some sort of trail to find my way back. I wandered around for so long that I wasn't sure how much time had actually passed. It felt like hours, but somehow I was still wet and cold.

I was stumbling around, just walking in one direction and hoping it brought me back. My teeth were chattering and I was sure my lips were turning blue. In the midst of trying not to fall flat on my face, I heard a twig snap behind me. I quickly spun around to face whatever had made the noise.

A low growl permeated from the shadows in the trees. There was definitely an animal there, and it didn't sound happy. The animal walked forward, coming into sight. It was a wolf. I stood there in the best protective stance I could manage, knowing that if it decided to attack that I would be a goner.

The wolf hunched down, ready to attack.

So this is it? This is how I'm going to go? Cold, alone, and in the middle of the woods, torn apart by a wolf?

I took a deep breath and stared right into the wolf's eyes. If I was going to die, I would face it like a vampire, gazing directly into the face of my executioner. The wolf tensed, snorted… and then stood back up walked lazily to a small puddle of melted snow, lapping the water graciously.

I stood there blinking at the creature. Where was the bloodshed, the yellow fangs tearing into my skin? Wasn't he going to kill me?

Cautiously I walked over the wolf. He looked up at me as I drew near and then went back to drinking. Hesitantly, I placed a hand on its back, petting the fur softly. The wolf was on the older side and scraggly looking, a few tufts of fur missing in spots. He also had a long scar running through one of his eyes, effectively blinding him. He didn't pay any mind to me as I pet him. He was warm and I soon found myself sitting up against his body.

"I think I will call you Sahara," I said aloud thinking of his rusty orange color that matched over-baked sand. It also reminded me of heat, which I was severely lacking in. Although Sahara's warmth and company helped, I was still hopelessly lost. "What am I going to do Sahara? I have to find my father."

The elderly wolf looked at me as I spoke and then nuzzled his nose into my side inhaling deeply. I scratched him behind his ears but he quickly got up and started walking away. Feeling panicked I ran after him. He was my only company, and if he left, I would be alone again. Somehow, having Sahara near made me feel as if things were going to be OK.

I stayed by Sahara's side, one hand in his fur, following him through the woods as the sun began to set and the cold night air descended upon the landscape. The hues of the night were encroaching, along with my fear. What if I never found him? Was I destined to perish in this ice woods, Sahara or not? Sahara rubbed his head against my leg reassuringly, or at least it felt reassuring. I could have been imagining all of it. I probably was.

Eventually we came to familiar surroundings. We were near camp! A relieved smile broke across my face. I was close! My father was nearby! I continued to follow Sahara until I found myself back at our campsite, but my father was nowhere to be found.

"Dad? Dad!?" I called out. He couldn't have left! No, he wouldn't leave without me, would he? Maybe he was out searching for me? Maybe he was hurt, or worse.

"Saphire!?" I spun facing the direction of my father's calls.

"Dad, where are you? I'm here!" The second the words left my mouth, I saw him rushing out of the tree line.

He enveloped me in a hug. "What happened to you? I woke up, but you were gone! I waited for a bit, but you didn't come back. I was so worried!"

"I was so afraid. I went for a walk because I couldn't sleep, I lost track of where I was and got lost. The only reason I made it back was… Sahara?" I stopped hugging my father to look for the wolf. He was sat by the fire pit, curled up in a ball. He has definitely earned the rest. "Um, he led me back here. I don't know how, but he did."

"Wolves are highly intelligent creatures. He probably traced your scent back here to me."

"At first I thought he was going to kill me," I whispered.

My dad stared at me and burst into laughter. "A wolf, attack a vampire!? Gods no! Wolves and vampires have a kinship. Many of the clan believes we evolved from wolves."

"Oh." It seems that for everything I have learned, there are two things that I haven't. Will I ever know it all?

"Yes, you still have much to learn," my father said, seeming to read my mind. "You must be starving, let's eat breakfast."

I changed into drier clothes and wrapped myself in one of the deer skin blankets we had. Dad made stew, I didn't bother asking what the stew was made out of. We sat around the fire and ate. I fed little bits to Sahara and scratched him behind his ears, thanking him repeatedly for bringing me home.

"Don't spoil him. He is a wild animal, not a domestic dog. Why did you name him? Surely, you don't think you are keeping him, do you? That would be wrong."

"I know, I know. But, he deserves a name and getting spoiled just a little bit! I mean, he saved me!"

"Yes, about that. I was going to wait until we got to the mountain to tell you this, but when we arrive, I think we should set aside time each night for combat training. You need to be able to defend yourself." He rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I need to be more of a mentor to you."

I wasn't sure what to say, but if Sahara has attacked me, I would most definitely be dead. "OK."

After eating, Dad insisted that I get a few hours of sleep. He said I would slow him down since I was tired. I felt bad, useless, and rather like a shitty vampire, but I did as he said and hunkered down next to Sahara to sleep.

Dad woke me up a few hours later, along with Sahara whining my ear. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes, noticing he had most of everything packed away. I got up, rolled up my blanket, and helped him put out the fire. It was back to walking, again. I was pleased when the old wolf came with us. I knew he would have to leave us eventually, but I enjoyed his company.

Despite all the affections I've given Sahara, he stays as grumpy, distant, and stoic as ever. He seems to be stuck that way, permanently. I locked my hand in his fur and looked down at him. He looked up for a moment and then turned his head back towards the path. I shook my head and laughed. He was most certainly, without a doubt, permanently grumpy!

As the night wore on, there was more walking and teaching. My feet were aching and frozen, as usual. I had no clue how they hadn't just fallen off yet. I was about to ask my dad for a break, when it finally came into sight: Vampire Mountain.

It stood, tall and leering, but at the same time proud and lasting. This was it. Inside was my new life: vampires, fighting, a completely new society, and a whole new set of rules. This is where I would use all of the knowledge I've learned thus far and learn most everything else I need to know.

Sahara nudged my hand and then turned to leave. My heart fell now that our time together was over. I ran in front of him stopping him in his tracks and sank to my knees in the snow. Giving him one least hug around his neck I whispered, "Goodbye Sahara, thank you so much for saving me. I hope we meet again someday, but if we don't I will never forget you."

With those parting words, I stood and let him go. I watched until I saw his body dissolved into the tree line. Sighing sadly, I turned back to my dad and the Mountain up ahead.

"We are almost there sweetie. Letting him go was the right thing to do. Besides, it's said wolves never forget a face. Just as you will remember him, he shall remember you. Now, if we hurry we can get inside before sunrise! Let's get climbing!"

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please Review! You'll get bat broth!