Pack of Outcasts

Chapter 9: Common Ground

ENJOY ^~^

"You ready to go?" Everest said, waking Tiberius from his slumber.

Tib slowly got up and stretched, letting out a yawn. "Yeah… we're ready." He walked over and nudged Ember, waking him up, then came back to get Sasha. She was still fast asleep in the same spot she had been last night when she finally settled down. "Sasha…" He whispered as he nudged her cheek. "It's time to get up."

Sasha let out a large yawn and opened her eyes. "Five more minutes?" Curling up tighter.

"Come on, we need to go. Everest is gonna lead us to the border of their territory and point us in the way to go."

"Ah man… fine." she stood up on all fours, stretching her legs as she let out another yawn.

Tiberius walked over to where Everest was waiting. Tobi was already awake and sat a ways off talking to Flurrie. "We're ready whenever you are."

"Good, we'll leave immediately." Everest stood up and turned towards the rising sun, "It's a good days travel to the border."

"Then we best get going…" Tib said, Ember walking up next to him and Sasha coming up a few feet behind him.

"Try to keep up." The older gray wolf smirked, as he started off at a good clip.

"Come on you two…." Tib instructed, "You to Tobi, let's go."

"In a sec…." Tobi said as the rest of them started out. "I got to go…"

"I'll walk with you guys for a ways…." Flurrie said, lowering her head and swishing her tail from side to side.

"That would be great!" Tobi barked out happily. "Let's go!" He took off running, the female close on his heels as they caught up with the rest of the group. Everest had left the rest of his pack behind, no doubt on account of his sons. But why he let his daughter come along was beside him.

"So…. Tell me about this alpha of yours…" Everest questioned after they had been traveling for sometime. He had noticed his daughter had joined them, and while he disapproved at first, he let her carry on with them. "Why do you have to find him?"

"Well…" Tiberius started, unsure of how to go about telling them about their alpha. "For starters… none of us would even be here if it weren't for him."

"Oh really? A warrior is he?"

"No… just…" how to say this… "We are all from different places, different packs, he brought us all together. He made us one pack."

"I see" Everest knelt down to sniff the ground, confirming they were still on track.

"He's a white wolf!" Ember said excitedly.

Tiberius went pale. That was the last thing he wanted anyone to know. It was too late now, this could get nasty.

"Daddy what is it?" Flurrie asked as he came to a sudden halt.

"A white wolf you say?"

"Yeah, he's gonna lead us to Paradise… " Ember trailed off as he noticed Tiberius glaring at him.

"You never mentioned that before…" Everest looked questionably at Tiberius.

"Well… I…. I…. um…" He had no idea where, or how to start.

"Maybe I should start by warning you…" Everest spoke up. "Rumor has reached us of a white wolf… not just any white wolf. But a mighty warrior. At first I thought that he could be your alpha, but you said your alpha wasn't a warrior."

"That's true…" Tib said, recovering only slightly.

"Well, anyway… This wolf is covered in scars, they say he has never lost a fight, and kills everyone who crosses his path..." Everest started walking once more, "Some say he is just a ghost, or a tale to scare young pups with during new moon…"

"And what do you think?" Tib said, walking close beside him, all the others walking silently behind them, listening intently.

"I have seen what he can do…."

"You've seen him?!"

"No…. just what's left."

"Are you sure it was a wolf?"

"Most assuredly… and the scary part was it all seemed to happen so fast, like none of them ever saw it coming…."

"That doesn't sound to promising….."

"Last I heard, he was spotted in the far north….. Traveling with a pack."

"Then we shouldn't have to worry to much then?"

"Yes….. Just be wary…. The wolf goes by Demon…. No one knows his real name."

"I wonder what could have ever happened to him? No wolf just does stuff like that? Do they?"

"Well I once ran into a dog who said he knew him….. Though he said he was dead, that he had seen him die…. What was that dogs name… Diego… no….ah… Diablo! That was it… odd feller that dog."

"So it is a ghost then?"

"I don't know… but he said he had never seen any animal fight like that wolf did, and he mentioned something odd at the time to." Everest said, letting out a smirk. "He said that the wolf had spared his life, had in fact saved him. He told me that if he were still alive he would like to repay him, in whatever way he could."

"And you think that it's the same wolf?"

"Well this guy was from the dog fights… A big feller at that, plenty of scars, I doubt he would lie about that in front of his pack of dogs."

"The dog fights?" Tobi piped up.

"Where humans make dogs fight and kill each other." Everest explained.

"….oh"

They traveled on in silence for a while, letting the previous conversation die away and get buried in their thoughts. It was something they need not worry too much about. It was merely a legend, what ever the dog and the old wolf had seen was completely circumstantial. Tiberius let his mind slip back to the night they almost lost their alpha, the battle that should have ended their journey. He recalled the ferocity and sheer violence that their alpha had displayed as he killed the other wolf. It all happened so fast, so cold, so… efficient. A shiver went down his spine, if their alpha was still alive, what had happened to him? It didn't sound possible, but yet the thought wouldn't leave him alone. The pups would have been too young to remember and Ember wasn't even around at the time. But still it haunted him, could their alpha really be the same wolf as they had known? They have changed themselves, how much had he?

"Tib?" Sasha trotted up beside him.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering… do you think Shiego is looking for us?"

"Of course, what would make you think that?"

"I… I was just wondering is all… I miss him…" she rested her head against Tiberius's shoulder as they continued to press on, the sun slowly starting its decent.

Ember looked back at Tobi, who was chatting with the young female, and then back up to the three other wolves. He felt so isolated. The rest of his pack was on a mission to find their alpha. He could tell that they weren't gonna stop until they found him, but what he didn't understand was why? After all this time, surely things would have changed? Maybe he would feel different if he had known him, after all, he never even met his parents. The way Sasha talked about him, it was like he was even more than a father to her. He wanted to talk, to get answers, but nobody was available. He was to odd one out, forbidden from interacting with Sasha, intimidated by Tiberius. Only Tobi it seemed ever talked to him, and he was busy at the moment. He lowered his head slightly and continued on, only pausing when he noticed a lull in a conversation, hoping to build enough courage to interrupt, but he never could.

"So am I like… the first female you've ever met? Other than your sister of course." Flurrie said, blushing slightly.

"Well, not exactly…. We had two other females, a lot older too." Tobi explained.

"Really? What happened to them?"

"The humans shot one… and the other one died helping us escape from the humans."

"I'm so sorry…"

"Don't be… if it wasn't for them we wouldn't be here today, and I would have never met you." He grinned.

"You big tease!" She nudged him with her shoulder and dashed off a ways.

"Hey! No fair!" He quickly ran back up beside her.

The sun was beginning to set as Everest came to a stop. "This is it."

Tiberius walked up beside him, Sasha still close to him, "This is what?"

"The border of our territory… beyond this I don't know what awaits you."

"Well then, I guess this is where we say our goodbyes." Tiberius said solemnly, he had enjoyed the company of the other wolves. It wasn't everyday they got to make new friends.

"Yes, may you find what you seek, and may the Great Spirit guide you." The gray wolf turned to leave, he had a long journey back. "It is time to go Flurrie."

"But daddy!" She whined, not wanting to leave yet.

"Flurrie we must go, your mother will be worried."

"NO!" She barked, sitting on her haunches and putting her nose in the air.

"No…?" He turned to face her.

"I'm not going!"

"Very well… It is your choice to make…" he turned and started walking away.

Flurrie watched as he continued to walk away, not looking back. Worry and guilt spreading across her face the further he got. "Dadda WAIT!" she dashed off after him.

Everest stopped as Flurrie ran up to him, crying.

"I'll miss you!" She sobbed, burying her face in his fur. He let his head rest on her neck.

"I'll miss you too, but this is the path you must take… we'll always be with you… in your heart."

She looked up into her fathers eyes, they were so soft, and warm. "I love you…"

"I love you more." He gave her one last hug and turned towards the others. "I trust you will take good care of her?"

"Wha…?" Tib started before getting cut off by Tobi.

"YES SIR! We will!"

"That's all I ask… have a safe journey." He disappeared into the brush, leaving the pack dumbfounded and Flurrie looking off after him, a tear in her eye.

"I can't believe you did that!" Tobi said excitedly, walking up to her.

"Me neither…." She laid her head on her paws.

"Holy…. I can't believe…. Oh my…" Tib stood shocked at what had just transpired. Had they really just added another member to their pack?

"Are you really coming with us?" Sasha asked boldly, trotting up to the other female.

"I guess I am…" Flurrie said, getting up and turning to face her.

"Wow, Tobi!" Sasha squealed.

"What?"

"You have a girlfriend!" She teased her brother.

"I do not!" He barked back, blushing bright red.

"Then what am I?" Flurrie asked, blushing a little herself.

"Um… ok… she's my girlfriend. You happy now?"

"Yup!" Sasha said, prancing off.

Ember walked up beside Tib, "Um…"

"No, the answer is no."

"But I didn't even ask yet."

"Whatever it is… the answer is no."

"But…?"

"Just no."

"Hey TIB!? Now what?" Sasha yipped excitedly, as she danced about.

"Well… I don't know about you but I remember this place. We've been here… a long time ago."

"We have?" Tobi perked up.

"Yes… it's a three days journey form here to the gathering place."

"Then what are we waiting for!" Sasha barked.

"Come on!" We can travel by moonlight!" Tobi said excitedly. They were so close, weariness seemed to flee from them. Nothing would stop them now.

Tiberius dashed off into the woods, "Keep up!"

Ember and Sasha raced off after him, racing neck and neck.

"You coming?" Tobi said, turning to Flurrie. Her white fur glistening in the moonlight, in sharp contrast to the rest of her markings.

"Right behind you…" As they dashed off into the night. None of them knowing the adventure that awaited them.

YAY! Another chapter finished! Is it getting exciting yet? I hope so, cause next chapter we finally get to meet some wolfs who we left hanging at the end of In Search of Paradise ^~^

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