Well I know it's been a while since I've added a chapter, mainly because of all the school I have so

there is no deadline for the next chapters. They will be ready when they are ready.

Pack of Outcasts Chapter 10: Shiego

The pack tore through the night. The cool night air streaking through their thick coats. The moon was slowly rising as the stars began to flood the night sky. The soft gentle light dancing amongst the trees as the five wolves ran on, weaving in and out of the majestic pines. It would take several days for them to reach the gathering place, and Tiberius knew what might be waiting for them, but it was worth the risk. The last place they had seen their alpha was the first place they would start looking for him. Three days and they would be there, back to where it began, back to the place where all their problems started. Tiberius let the memory of the journey slip into his mind. He could recall the scents, the paths they walked, the faces, the blood. He shook the thought from his head. It was so hard to separate the good memories from the bad. To only remember the joyous times. Sasha had no problem forgetting the hard times, the many trials they had faced. Why did it have to be so hard for him? Why couldn't he just let it slip away and disappear forever? Maybe it was because of his past. He had lived so much longer, seen things they had never seen, fought fights that should never had been fought. He let his mind wander back to the days when everything was easier. Days where the only white fur was the fur on his father's muzzle. Days when he was only Tobi's age. Back then he didn't have a care in the world. He had spent his days in the safety of the pack, him and his brother. But everything changed when he went away. It was to be an honor to go away and fight, to bring glory to his family's name. But that all changed so quickly. There was nothing honorable about taking the lives of others, to kill those with whom he had no quarrel. Yet he had to do it, it was expected of him. Maybe that was why he broke, why he left, why he was marked as a traitor. He couldn't do it anymore, to take the lives of innocents. He would have gladly died and been done with, but they marked him and set him to wandering, never to return to his pack, to his family. Maybe that was why he sought after the pups. Knowing that they were still alive, even after their family had been slaughtered. They would need someone to look after them, and he desperately needed someone to look after. He could recall the first time they met. Him and the white wolf. The white wolf was only slightly older, and far less experienced but yet he had a determination, a certain drive about him. There was something that intrigued him about the wolf, and it had taken him this long to figure it out. He was family, and yet he was so much more than that. He was like a father and a brother to him, a guide and companion, his teacher and yet his best friend. He was his alpha and he would always stand at his side.

"Hey Tib, why'd we stop?" Ember asked, trotting up to the older wolf.

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was just thinking."

"Thinking? Of what?"

"Oh nothing important."

"But….."

Tiberius gave the pup a slightly annoyed look. He didn't want to discuss it openly with anyone. All he wanted to do was continue on.

"Tib, can I ask you something?" Ember asked, looking down to his paws. He didn't want to bother the older wolf but he had so many questions that only he could answer.

"What?" He started to walk on. They needed to keep moving.

"I… uh…. Well…. I was wondering…?"

"Yes? Go on."

"Well I know Tobi has a girlfriend…."

"Hmmm…." He could see where this conversation was heading.

"Well…. Why's she coming with us?"

"Um….uh…." This wasn't what he had expected him to ask. In fact he was caught wondering the same thing. Why had he let her come along so readily? I mean it took a lot before he even really accepted Ember into the pack.

"Tiberius?"

"Huh? Oh… I guess it just sort of happened, you know?"

"I guess. Can I ask you another question?"

"Sure, go right ahead." Maybe this one would be easier to answer.

"Well I've been thinking…." He had to ask this just right. "I really like Sasha….." Dang it, that's not how he wanted to say it.

Tiberius perked up a bit. "Well duh, any fool can see that."

"Huh?"

"The answer is no."

"But, Tobi?"

"Tobi can control himself…. I think."

"But…."

"No, she doesn't need a boyfriend."

"What about a friend?"

"A what?"

"A friend. What about a friend?"

"Friend? You?"

"Yeah, me."

"Please?" Sasha cut in from Tib's other side.

"Wha….. How long have you been listening?"

"Long enough."

"Well…"

"Please?" Sasha rubbed up against his shoulder.

"I don't' know what to say…"

"Say yes!" Ember yipped, "PLEASE?"

"Um… y..es..?"

"YAY!" Sasha barked excitedly, spinning in a circle.

"Just friends, understand?" He looked sternly at the black pup.

"Yes sir. Just friends." He quoted back enthusiastically.

Tiberius kept walking on the four younger wolves chatting amongst themselves behind him. He could make out little bits and piece of their conversations here and there. But it didn't really matter. They were young and so full of excitement. Had he ever been like that? Maybe a long time ago. It's amazing how much life can change a wolf. He picked up his pace to a trot, the others doing the same. He was intent on making good time. If Shiego was still out there he didn't want to keep him waiting.

"We've been going for days. Can't we even take a SHORT break?" Tsume panted.

"Yes please?" Toboe chimed in, trying his best to keep up.

"Shiego?" Ciri quipped, trying to not sound obnoxious.

"Yeah?"

"If you keep this pace up none of us will be able to keep up for much longer."

"Okay we'll take a short breather…" Shiego plopped down, panting heavily. He was in such a hurry to find something. The spirit had told him he had to find the rest of his pack. What had he meant? He hadn't had a pack for so long. The only one left from HIS pack was Toboe, and he was with him right now. What did the spirit mean that he would find them where he had last left them? Deep down inside he had a small spark of hope, yet his mind would keep trying to douse that flame. He was determined to get wherever he was going as fast as possible, but at the same time, he had a pack to take care of, right now. He had been so caught up in getting to where he was heading that he had almost forgotten about them. He was responsible for them, if he was to be the alpha he needed to act like one. To be the leader when called, to be the friend in times of need, to be the teacher when lesson need to be learned, to be the alpha that the pack expected him to be.

"Shiego…. Wake up?" Ciri nudged the sleeping wolf gently, he didn't budge, he was fast asleep and had been for several hours now.

"Well this is convenient," Tsume sneered, pacing back and forth. Toboe sat near him, watching him walk impatiently to and fro.

"Well, the least you could do is pipe down and let him rest." Ciri scolded, lying down and curling up into a ball.

"Yeah… we've been traveling for how long now? Four days?"

"Five," Toboe chimed in, trying to be helpful.

"Anyway, that's beside the point… where are we going anyway?"

"To find the rest of his pack." The pup reminded him.

"Can't you ever be quiet and just let me think for once!?" The silver wolf sneered.

"But you asked…"

"It's a rhetorical question Toboe."

"Rhetorical?"

"Ugh… one you don't answer."

"Then why'd you ask it?"

"Pfft…. Forget I asked." He grumbled, stopping his pacing and sitting down.

"Um… ok…"

"Hey Toboe," Ciri piped up, looking over at him from over her tail.

"Yeah?"

"Try to get some sleep, no telling how long we have till Shiego wakes up."

"Okay, I'll try." He laid down, setting his head on his paws. He let his eyes slowly close, suddenly flying open as Tsume let out a snort.

"Sweat dreams."

"Ah, shut up Tsume." Toboe chuckled, closing his eyes once more.

He must have been asleep for quite a while. When he awoke it felt cold. He slowly rolled onto his back and opened his eyes.

"Well look who's finally up," The silver wolf teased.

"Very funny." Toboe said, rolling back over and standing up, his bracelets jangling as he stretched.

"Well if were all ready," Shiego paced towards the three other wolves. "It's a full moon tonight, we can travel quickly in the moonlight."

"So what are we waiting for then? Let's go!" Tsume stood up, waiting for the others to do the same.

"Tsume? Was that another one of those rhetorical questions?"

"Just drop it already runt."

"Sorry…"

"Y'all ready?" Shiego looked around to the other wolves.

"Might as well. Not going to get any closer just standing here are we." Ciri scolded halfheartedly.

Taking it as a cue, Shiego started off. It was several day's journey by his reckoning, this place was familiar but yet he had repressed the memory of this place so far that he was still a little unsure.

They traveled in silence for quite some time, Shiego veering from his path only to avoid fallen logs and other debris. At times the others could see evidence of an old trail that they seemed to be following, claw marks on trees, bones stashed in bushes to mark the way. Yet they all seemed so old, as if no one had been this way in many years.

"Shiego who are we looking for?" Toboe asked. It was the question on everyone's mind by now.

"I don't know Toboe, I have a hunch but I don't want to raise any hopes."

"But why not? Who do you think it is?"

Ciri gave him a stern look. "If he doesn't want to discuss it don't bring it up."

"Oh, sorry."

"By the way, where are we going?" Ciri chimed in.

Shiego came to a stop, Ciri bumping into him.

"Sorry, but can't you tell us?"

"We're going to the gathering place."

"The gathering place? But isn't that?"

"Yes…"

"Do you really think they're alive?" Ciri said excitedly

"Wait? Who's alive?" Tsume cut in, finally interested in the conversation.

"It's none of your business." Shiego snarked at him. "I don't want to discuss it! Just keep moving."

"But…" Ciri started, receiving a stern look from the white alpha.

They continued on in silence for a while longer.

"Ciri? What does he mean?" Toboe asked, his bracelets clinking together as they walked.

"How much has he told you about his past? Before he came to the city?"

"Not much…just little bits and pieces… Wait… do you think we're looking for?"

"Who else could it be?"

"But doesn't that mean…. No….. She's dead."

Ciri looked away. She had forgotten about Toboes ties to the pack in that regard. Maybe that was why Shiego chose not to bring it up. He didn't want to remember what had happened.

Tiberius came to a halt. Something didn't feel right. Like they were being watched.

Tobi walked up next to him, looking around cautiously. "Why'd we stop?"

"Do you smell that?"

"All I smell is us…wait…. You mean the other wolves."

"Yeah, I just noticed their scent."

Sasha walked up with Flurrie behind them. "What's that?" Pointing off into the darkness.

There, in the dark they could just make up a small band of wolves. They were staring at them. The moon had recently gone behind a cloud and a mist partially obscured their vision.

Ember took a step towards them and squinted, trying to get a better view.

"Tobi, one of them is white…. And they are coming closer." Tiberius said slightly worried.

"Do you think it's him? Demon?"

"I don't know… I can't tell. It's too hard to see with this light." Tiberius said. Then almost as if on command the moon came out form the cloud. Illuminating the entire area with brilliant light. They could make out four wolves. A large black and brown wolf, a smaller reddish brown wolf with something shiny on one of its front paws. There was a silver wolf, a great scar across his chest. Tobi glanced over at Tib's chest then back at the silver wolf as they continued to stride closer. Tib knew what he was thinking. He wondered the same thing, he had never seen this wolf before. Then there was the white wolf. He walked several full body lengths in front of the others. The crystal light of the moon glistening on the scar across his right eye. The wolf was staring straight at him. Their eyes locked together. Tiberius took a step forward, and then another.

"Tib? What are you doing?" Tobi hissed through his teeth not taking his eyes off the other pack.

Flurrie moved her head closer to Sasha and whispered in a low voice. "That's Demon… he has the scar on his eye….."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure of it… I can't believe he's real…." She said, starting to shake a little.

"Tiberius… what is it…. What are you doing?!" Tobi hissed once more.

"It's him….. Tobi…."

"He'll rip you to shreds…"

"That's a risk I'm willing to take…."

Tiberius came to a halt, the white wolf several paces in front of him. Everyone held still, watching, waiting to see what was going to happen.

The silver wolf spoke, "What are you waiting for?" he eyed the scar on the other wolfs chest curiously….. Was this really who he thought it could be? Ciri could see him grow tense and followed his gaze. She let out a slight gasp as she gazed on the graying tan wolf, the scar, much like Tsume's across his shoulder and chest. She looked quickly to the other wolves, all of them roughly the same age as Toboe.

Tiberius was oblivious to everything around him. It was if the whole world had melted away and only he and the white wolf remained. He stared straight into the eyes of the other wolf. He could feel his pain, his joy, his passion… and he knew he could feel his. He could see the scars that marked the wolfs face, leaving only one blue eye… an eye that he had seen many years ago, with teeth poised above his neck… the cries of a pup the only thing sparing his life. He knew this other wolf, and at the same time he knew the white wolf knew him as well. It had been a long journey and yet they had reached their goal.

The white wolf took one determined step forward, the gray muzzled wolf taking a step in unison. It seemed like an age had passed before the two wolves stood nose to nose. Yet there they stood, the mist floating around the two of them. Tiberius could smell the scent of the other wolf, he could remember the first day he tracked that scent. He let his eyes close, taking a deep breath. He lowered his head his body trembling.

"Tib? What are you doing!?" Tobi's voice seemed to echo through the forest. He couldn't believe that he wasn't even going to fight this wolf. This wolf known only as Demon. Yet his alpha was just giving in without a fight. He felt helpless, as his alpha laid down and rolled onto his back. Giving in completely to this wolf. He could smell the scent, but it didn't hold any meaning for him. He had already lost all hope. Terrified by the realization that his journey would end here, in the jaws of a ghost wolf. And yet here was his alpha, submitting completely to this stranger.

"Tiberius….." The words slipped out of the white wolfs mouth as a whisper. Yet everyone heard it as clearly as if he was standing right next to them.

Tiberius looked up… once again into the eyes of his alpha. He could see the tear welling up at the corner of his eye, rolling down his muzzle, feeling the coolness as it dropped onto his own cheek.

"It's so good to be back…Tib, so good to be back"

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