The Pack

Disclaimer: I don't own…

Chapter 20

The rest of the workday was rather uneventful and quiet. I was worried about Squall so I didn't talk much.

I think Zell could sense that now wasn't a time to misbehave. Zell would grab the back of my pant leg and follow me wherever I went quietly. He stood quietly behind me and tried not to get in the way.

I was thankful for that.

Tidus and Naminé decided they would work quietly as well. There was only a slow trickling of customers here and there. Some customers sat at the tables chatting or eating.

When the customers stopped coming for the day, I sat in a chair and thought about how I could get Zell to realize how amazing it is to be a Loup Garou. It wasn't something he could throw away so easily. But there really wasn't much I could do… seeing as I wasn't Loup Garou and couldn't demonstrate fully what it meant.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I didn't know what to do.

I looked over to Zell when I heard him whine. "I'm sorry…" he said again. He looked so guilty.

"I know you are, baby… Sometimes, words can be really painful and it's very important that you think about what your about to say before you say it. I think you really hurt your dad today." I said.

"I d-didn't mean to… I j-just don't like it when he snaps at m-me." Zell said, his eyes tearing up.

"I know you didn't mean to… but you are going to have to have tougher skin than that. Your father isn't being mean. He's just trying to make sure that you don't make the same mistakes by disciplining you when you make them. There are meaner things that could happen to you, especially around humans… you may not like the idea of being Loup Garou, but being a human is worse." I said.

"What do you mean? …you're the greatest! And Tidus and Naminé are fun." Zell said.

"That may be true son, but there are terrible people out there that say and do mean things for reason that aren't really justifiable. Like today for example, someone said something to me today, and it really hurt mommy's feelings. I didn't even know the person; the person didn't know me either. But that didn't stop him from calling me names or giving me looks." I said.

"Why?" Zell asked.

"Because people don't seem to understand the world the way Loup Garou do. When I'm in the clearing with you and Squall and everyone. I know that I don't have to worry about getting hurt or be afraid of being myself. Because everyone is accepting and they know that the world is filled with different things with different purposes and meanings. And that's the kind of understanding I want you to have too." I said.

"Are you still sad about what that man said?" Zell asked with a concerned look in his eyes.

"Nope… not at all. Because I have you and your dad to always make me feel better." I said.

"I love you, mommy." Zell said and nuzzled his face against my cheek. I smiled and held him close to me. "I love you too Zell." I said suddenly feeling a warm sensation in my heart.

-The Pack-

Squall's POV (while Cloud and Zell are in the Bakery)

"Well if being Loup Garou means being cruel like Squall, then I don't want to be one!"

Zell's voice rang inside my head as I rested on top of the highest building I could find. I never would of thought that I could be so affected by one little sentence.

I felt my hair whip across my face as the wind gusted past me. I looked at the say and wondered how I could get Zell to change his mind about Loup Garou. It was so much easier when he was still just a pup without a human form. Because then he couldn't escape from what he was.

But now he had the ability to blend in amongst the humans and that worried me. The pup was experiencing human culture so quickly… but Loup Garou culture was something that needed to be introduced slowly and carefully. Zell wouldn't be able to learn to hunt until another whole year.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I didn't know what to do.

I took a few steps back before I set off running again. It was always easier to think as I moved. I jumped from the building I was on to the other one about 20 feet below it. I took a breath as the wind blew around me.

I continued to jump between buildings before I finally jumped to the ground. When I felt a worrying in my chest I frowned.

Cloud was worried about me.

I stopped running and thought about Cloud. I was happy that Cloud seemed to understand how important it was to be Loup Garou. I knew that Cloud would help me get Zell to understand this as well… and that gave me some comfort.

I only wanted what was best for my son. Zell was only a little pup, he didn't really know how sad it would make me to hear that he didn't want to be who he was.

I took a breath and sent a warm feeling to Cloud. Maybe he would be comforted by it and know that I would be okay.

I loved him so much.

I started running again, luckily there wasn't many people outside and I could move rather freely about the streets. I didn't exactly want to go back to the clearing without Zell and Cloud.

Hopefully, by the time Cloud's shift was over I could take Zell running with me. Maybe if he learned to enjoy the things that I did about being a Loup Garou… he would feel more willing to give it a chance.

That was something that I would have to find out about later.

-The Pack-

Cloud's POV

"Hey, Cloud. Nami and I decided we would close up early since today was so slow. You can head home if you want." Tidus said.

I smiled. "You guys don't need any help closing up?" I asked.

"Nah! We got this covered. We'll see you next weekend okay?" Naminé said with a smile.

I nodded and looked to Zell. "You ready to go back?" I asked.

"Yeah… I want to apologize to dad… I'm not really sure if I understand everything… but I know what I said was uncalled for…" he finished.

I nodded. "I'm glad you've come to that conclusion. We'll figure out all of this later. Let's just get you home first." I said.

We left the bakery and it wasn't long before we got to the park. I hoped that when I got to the clearing, I could have a talk with Squall about what we should do. Maybe even ask Xemnas about it too. He would probably offer some good advice.

When I walked next to a familiar set of trees, I smiled. "Zell… you know those trees over there?" I started before pointing to where it all began.

Zell looked at them and nodded. "Yeah… they're special right?" Zell asked.

I nodded. "Yes, they are very special. That little place over there holds the beginning to so many things. It's probably where our pack began, where Sora and Kairi were born, and where I first met your dad. It holds a place in all of our hearts and I hope it can reach your heart too." I said with a smile.

Zell looked at me… his eyes held an emotion I couldn't place. But after a second he nodded and smiled too. "I hope so too." He said.

When we passed the trees I paused. I had a strange feeling of being followed. I pulled Zell closer to me and listened cautiously as we walked.

"Is something wrong?" Zell asked, seeming to notice my slightly guarded demeanor.

"Maybe…" I said quietly and continued to walk.

After about two minutes I paused. This feeling was really bothering me. I looked over to Zell.

"Do you smell anything baby, hear anything, is there anything following us?" I asked hoping that this would alarm Zell.

Zell sniffed the air and shook his head. "I don't smell anything too out of the ordinary. I smell other animals, trees, leaves, dirt… those types of things." Zell said. "I hear the animals moving and sniffing and breathing and stuff." Zell added.

I just nodded and hoped that my feeling was just paranoia. I pulled Zell even closer to me and continued on.

But then I heard a rustle, then another. "Zell?" I asked to see if he could identify what was rustling around us.

"What ever they are, they're kinda weird smelling. They kinda smell like me but not exactly. They don't smell threatening and they're just sniffing around." Zell said.

I frowned. "Something that is like you but isn't really Loup Garou would be a dog or a wolf and I know there aren't any wolves around here." I said. "Let's just ignore them and be on our way okay?" I told Zell and pulled him along.

I was almost past the bush when I heard a growl. My heart started to beat faster, but I continued to walk. I made sure to keep an eye on Zell as I moved.

Then one finally revealed itself. It was a Doberman and it did not look like a stray dog.

It was tracking us down.

'Zell, does this dog still smell like it doesn't want to hurt us?' I thought to him.

Cloud, I'm more worried about the one behind us. Zell thought back to me and looked slowly to see another Doberman with a snarl on its face.

'I know that we're not supposed to run from dogs… but I'm not sure what else to do. They were tracking us from the beginning I think.' I thought to him.

We should run to the clearing, wouldn't that be our safest bet? Zell offered.

'We absolutely cannot do that…' I thought and pulled Zell closer to me and away from the dogs that were starting to narrow in on us.

Why not? Zell asked.

'They were tracking us down… which means they were most likely trying to track all of the Loup Garou here. If we lead them to the clearing, we'll be goners.' I thought and took a deep breath.

'Zell, on three, we're going to run east until we get to the city… got it? Do NOT fall behind me.' I thought to Zell.

He nodded slowly.

One… two… THREE! Zell and I sprinted off towards the east side of the city. The dogs barked and began their pursuit.

I was happy when Zell actually managed to take off his clothes and change into a wolf. I knew he would be able to move faster on four legs.

'Zell run back to the Bakery okay? Don't stop until you get there, I know Tidus and Nami haven't finished closing.' I thought to him and he began to gain more distance from me.

What about you? Aren't you coming with me? He asked.

'I have to fend these dogs off… I'll be okay, I promise.' I thought to him.

The dogs were gaining on me and I had to think of something quick. When I spotted a certain tree I made a quick turn and slid into the hollow trunk. I grabbed the thick stick behind me and whacked the head of the dog that had managed to squeeze part of it's body into the whole.

It yelped and retracted for a second.

"Mommy!" I heard Zell yell and I froze with fear. I looked out the whole for a spit second to see Zell running back towards me.

"NO! ZELL GO BACK!" I yelled at him but he continued to approach. The Dobermans lifted their heads and looked at Zell.

They began to move towards him. I scrambled out of the trunk and pulled the stick out with me. I ran after them.

I whacked one as hard as I could with the stick to slow it down. I managed to hit the other one to get ahead of them. I dove for Zell. I could feel myself slide across the leaves as I covered Zell with my body. I prayed to some higher being that I could keep Zell safe.

I heard the dogs barking and their feet approaching… only one thing left my mouth.

"S-SQUALL!" I screamed as loud as I could.

I waited for a bite… some sort of pain to befall me. But only a voice rang in my ear.

Go back inside that tree trunk! Squalls voice rang in my ears. I looked up to see him fending off the Dobermans. I picked Zell up and ran into the trunk.

'Squall… those dogs belong to someone, if you kill them someone is going to look for them. I wouldn't bite it either… that would be evidence.' I thought to him.

I understand. He said. I watched in awe as he turned back into a human and stood at the ready.

A Doberman lunged for him and he grabbed it by the snout. He pulled it away from Zell and I. With a punch to the head, it was out.

"Squall the one behind you!" I shouted as I saw it move to attack him.

It bit his arm and I cried out in pain for him. Squall grabbed the dog's neck with his other hand and pulled it to the ground. The dog yelped and let go of Squall's arm. With a growl, Squall knocked the dog out the same way he did with the first.

All was quiet, except for the sound of our heavy breathing. I crawled out of the trunk and turned to Zell. He was watching Squall, unblinkingly.

I pulled his tail softly and he yelped. 'Let's go home.' I thought to him.

Zell moved from inside the tree trunk and looked to Squall again. I walked over to Squall. He looked at me. "Are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded and wrapped my arms tightly around him. 'I'm so happy you're here…' I thought to him. I was so relieved now that he was here.

"You two head back to the clearing. I'm going to get these dogs back to the city." He said.

"What about your arm?" I asked, concerned by the dripping blood.

"I can just lick it closed." He said as if it were no big deal. I sighed and pressed my forehead to his for a few seconds before turning to Zell.

"C'mon, we have a lot to talk about." I said and Zell's ears drooped.

When we got to the clearing, everyone surrounded us with questions.

"Are you okay?"

"What happened?"

"I smelled dogs, what happened?"

"Where are they now?"

"Did they bite you?"

"Where's Squall?"

"Okay!" I yelped trying to quiet the voices bombarding my ears.

They settled down.

"We're okay… a couple of dogs attacked us. They didn't bite me or Zell. Squall went to bring them back to the city." I said… I was still a little shaken up and I was having trouble calming down with all of the commotion.

"We were just really worried…" Zack said with a pout.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just… need to sit down. I'm actually not okay… I lied. I don't know… " I rambled before sitting against the boulder in the clearing.

Zell trotted over to me with a sad look in his eyes. I pulled Zell into a hug and he licked my face. I hugged him tighter.

The others seemed to understand that I was having a hard time and sat quietly.

I put Zell down and patted his head. "Thank you." I said.

I couldn't really seem to wrap my head around the fact that I was okay… that Zell was okay. My mind just kept thinking up the worst things that could have happened. I just really wanted Squall to come back.

Squall entered the clearing and I stood. I felt my eyes starting to water as he moved towards me. When his arms were finally around me, I broke down. He held me tighter as the sobs racked through my body. I trembled and shook as I clung to him. It felt as though all of the fear that I had pushed back in order to think clearly just hit me like a rock.

Shhhh, you're safe now. Zell's safe now. We're all okay. Calm down. His voice was a gentle ring in my head. He started to sway me back and forth and rub my back as I cried.

I think the others were surprised by how affected I was by the incident. They didn't make a sound.

I want to thank you, for calling me. When I first sensed that something was wrong, I wasn't sure where you were. But the minute I heard your voice I could find you. You did a fine job of protecting Zell. I'm very, very proud of you. Squall told me softly.

I nodded and took some deep breaths. I felt another warm feeling in my chest and I looked to Squall.

He was sending me comfort. I hugged him again before licking his face. He gave me a small smile before nuzzling my face. I smiled and yipped.

I looked to Zell who was tugging on my pant leg. I picked him up and looked at him. "I think we need to have a family discussion." I said.

Zell looked at Squall. "I-I'm sorry, Dad… I didn't mean what I said. You were only looking out for me. I'm tired of being helpless… and if being Loup Garou will make me stronger than I won't run away from who I am anymore. If being Loup Garou will make me more like you… then I'll work as hard as I can for it." Zell said looking Squall dead in the eye.

"I'm very happy to hear that. I only want what's best for you." Squall said and took Zell from my arms.

Zell licked the other side of his face and said, "You're awesome!"

Squall turned a little red and the rest of the pack laughed.

We looked to each other and smiled. I was really happy that we finally got everything worked out.

Squall put Zell down and he went to play with Sora and Kairi.

I looked at Squall and he looked at me. There was a mutual feeling of desire in our eyes. I followed him out of the clearing and he took my hand.

And didn't even care that I had school tomorrow.

A/N: YAY! LEMON NEXT CHAPTER! REVIEW!