A/N: östlichen Wald is the same Pack as the Eastern Woodland Pack, just two separate names
I heard a thud next to me as I landed on the bitter-cold clay ground. Phantom got up and paced around the Pit, circling it like a rabid animal. He jumped, attempting to get out of the prison. Meanwhile, I just lay there, gracious to be alive and not being tortured or killed.
The moon rose over the Pit, its ghostly rays casting out the eerie shadows of the night as it appeared above us. Phantom had settled some and lay next to me, sound asleep. I couldn't keep my eyes closed. Wolves would appear and watch us before leaving. Only one, Duskt, stayed watch. I looked down at Phantom. I wished that I could sleep and pretend that this was all just a nightmare.
"Up somewhere, above the sky, where nobody will ever cry,
There is a better place, full of joy and grace,
Amidst the sorrow, there will always be a better tomorrow,
A nicer friend, a better end
For a story of peace, where love will never cease….
This is the place that I will never stop fighting for, I will continue to fight even when my hope gets washed ashore.
Up somewhere, above the sky, where nobody will ever cry,
There is a better place, full of joy and grace,
Amidst the sorrow, there will always be a better tomorrow,
A nicer friend, a better end
For a story of peace, where love will never cease,"
I sang to the moon, my voice echoing almost silently around the Pit, casting a lonely feeling all around me. Phantom continued to slumber as I finished my song. I softly nuzzled him and began licking his coat clean of all the brambles from the various grasses and thickets we had ventured through. I saw some rocks fall as a figure came into view, its silhouette coming down the steep slope of the Pit. The Alpha came forward. I bit at Phantom. He leaped up and jumped backwards, his eyes blinking rapidly, trying to adjust to the dimness.
"So, Wolf," the Alpha said, "did you run away from home… with this male?" It was the female, her voice soft. I nodded.
"Well, sort of," I muttered. She came closer, her golden fur reflecting the moon's intense light.
"Daughter of Snowfear?" Again I nodded, fear encasing my heart. Spit it out, I thought irritably. "I'm sure he's very worried about you, and relieved that he has found you."
"What? He's—he's here?" The she-Wolf shook her head up and down like a Flu Cah. "I thought you—you all didn't like him. Or the Alzaar Pack."
"We don't," she agreed with my statement, "but we may as well let him take you. Can't have you two starting a Pack near us, can we? Oh, no. Too much trouble and hassle between fighting over territories and such."
"We weren't going to stay here!" Phantom broke in, his voice unwavering.
"Oh, really? Then where were you going to go?" She asked, her brow raised. She doesn't believe us that little….
"Closer to the Honlet Grasslands near the Zenlet Tundra. Let us leave, we beg you," Phantom said, his eyes watching her, waiting for an answer.
"Come with me. Snowfear is waiting for his daughter," she said, rolling her eyes at us. "And I'm sure he will be pleased to finally meet you," she added with a glance at Phantom. She led us up a path that I could just barely conquer, my feet slipping on loose sediment. Down in the Pit you would never notice the trail. I followed, ears flattened, tail lowered, eyes transfixed on the ground. I looked up to see Phantom biting the Alpha's neck. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Phantom let go, blood seeping from the wound. I stared at him, my eyes wide.
"C'mon," he said. I didn't ask once before I teared after him, my paws kicking up loose leaves and clay. I could just see the Alpha male and Snowfear talking before we flashed by them. Here we go again, I thought dismally to myself.
We flew across the ground, I fur flying in the wind as we ran through the Forest. Whenever we paused or slowed for just a split second, we could hear the sound of rustling leaves and panting Wolves behind us. If Snowfear was smart enough to bring Kalirea, the fastest and mentally wackiest Wolf in the Alzaar Pack, we may as well be dead. Her long, slender, petite legs could carry her faster than a Xeneo. I heard another Wolf. I looked horrified to my right as I met eyes with her. Green, olive optics stared at me.
"Phantom, we have to go faster!" I yelped as I felt Kalirea bite down on my croup. I kicked her off with my paw and ran as fast as I had ever gone in my life, my legs becoming numb as I caught up with Phantom.
"Why?" I glared at him and tilted my head back. He looked and saw Kalirea gaining on us. He smiled at me and ran faster. I grunted and attempted to catch up, my eyes blinking constantly, trying to keep the snow from them as Phantom kicked more up at me.
I could feel Kalirea's breathe on my flank, her slender muzzle coming up on me. I veered into her, her docile legs failing her, and she tumbled. Yes! I rushed up to Phantom, laughing as I told him what happened. We slowed to a leisurely trot. Only Kalirea could have kept up with us, right?
"Maybe you should have kept running," a voice growled ahead of us. We stopped dead in our tracks. Snowfear appeared from the brush. Kalirea caught up to us and stood her ground behind us. Galaxy appeared beside me. The male Alpha came into a position next to Phantom. Snowfear nodded at the Alpha. "Go now," Snowfear growled. The Alpha, despite acting so strong when we met, let loose a whimper as he ran back to his Pack. They're just all talk. I turned my attention to Snowfear as Stratus took over the Alpha's positon.
Snowfear barked and the others backed up. He circled us, studying Phantom more so than me. Predictable. He stopped in front of Phantom.
"Who are you?" Snowfear asked, his icy blue eyes cutting into Phantom.
"Phantom," he replied, ears flattened, looking above Snowfear, intent on staring at the tree so as not to give Snowfear the satisfaction of having his complete engrossment. Snowfear bit Phantom's muzzle. Phantom just stood there, letting it bleed. Snowfear growled, his muzzle wrinkled with indignation. Large, crimson bubbles surfaced to Phantom's jaw, but he didn't lunge at Snowfear.
"Silver? What are you doing with him?"
"We're… mates, Dad." I stiffened. I couldn't bury my anger and annoyance like Phantom. It was in my DNA to fight back, just like my father.
"Mates? You two?" Snowfear looked at us, each in turn. He shook his head.
"What are you going to do to stop it, Dad? Kill me? Kill him? Kill him and I'll die to. And I'm pretty sure you won't kill me," I snarled. Snowfear paused before licking his chops like he always did when he was trying to win a fight but didn't know how.
"I don't need to kill either of you to separate you two." Snowfear burned with impatience. I snorted, my eyes narrowed at him. "It's quite simple, really. I'm taking you home where you belong, Silver."
"Oh really? How about Sythenil! Huh? You don't know what she's doing, Dad. Lup—" Phantom nipped at my cheek. I kept my mouth open like I was going to talk, my flew still wrinkled. I closed my mouth, relaxing. Snowfear shook his head.
"Maybe I should just leave you out here. You've gone nuts because of this flea bag already, probably filling your head with Hikaylo lies," Snowfear said, shaking his head like he was actually disappointed. I tilted my head while flaring my nostrils as if to say, 'fine, go ahead. I dare you. It's what I want anyways.' He paused, his paw still in the air. He lowered it slowly, thinking. Phantom just watched patiently. He always seems to know what's going to happen. Snowfear opened his mouth to talk, but I had heard enough.
"Just wait and see what happens, Dad. Then I'll get the last laugh. Phantom and I have a real destiny," I sounded childish, but I just wanted to be left alone, and for good. Snowfear couldn't keep intervening.
"Destiny?" Snowfear choked out. "What—what 'destiny'? All I see is two Wolves with a pathetic love story." Phantom wrinkled his muzzle, fury and rage beginning to boil over the brim within him.
"Just leave us alone. Honestly, Dad, you have a whole pack you literally just left behind to find one Wolf."
"One Wolf who is my daughter whom I happen to love!" Snowfear barked. I came up to him.
"I'm sorry, Dad. But I have to go with Phantom. Believe me. Please," I looked longingly into his eyes. But I was telling the truth and if he couldn't see that, I didn't have another clue how to get out of this mess. Snowfear paced back and forth until dirt showed, all of the leaves pressed to the sides of a small depression.
"I don't get what on Earth you mean, Silver. Why do you have to go with him? And you… you didn't even ask if you could become her mate." Snowfear was furious now, his hackles bristling as he looked at Phantom.
"Technically I could come back, but—" I started to say, but got cut off.
"Technically? No. You are coming back." Snowfear looked at me, his face stern. I shook my head and muttered. "Excuse me?" Snowfear howled at me. I snorted softly and just kept glaring at the leaves. I looked behind Snowfear. In the moon's dim light, I could just see the glowing light of a Wolf's pair of eyes. Then another. And another. What did he do, get the whole Pack to rally and come get me?! But suddenly the wind changed directions, and I could smell the strange scent on them. The scent of the Bayont Pack. Kalirea came forwards, Stratus switching towards the back.
"Snowfear!" She howled in worry as suddenly fourteen Wolves came from the trees and brush. Snowfear wheeled around. I swear I could see a hint of panic. The Alpha and Caleir and Duskt amongst others stood in a half-moon circle around Snowfear.
"He-e-ey, bud, long time no see," Caleir said roughly, his voice raspy like an old Wolf's would be. Snowfear blinked.
"Caleir?" He asked, a hint of something different in his voice. Caleir nodded.
"Yep, you're ol' pal. Just had to decide to kill her, didn't you?" Caleir barked, surprisingly calm, but a smirk lay on his face. Phantom nudged me, his eyes urgent. He wants us to go? I shook my head as I watched, the scene reflecting in my frightened eyes. The Alpha came forwards.
"So, Snowfear. What ya' gonna do when we dun't join you when the next war comes?" Snowfear looked at the Alpha inquisitively.
"War?"
"Yep, cause östlichen Wald is sure firin' up with Hikaylo, and we both know what this means. A full out war will start with us four big packs and all dem little ones will have to join in, too. Nobody's gonna be able to avoid it fer long. Not fer long! We both know that, friend. We all know that. You just don't want to admit it. And we ain't joinin' in with y'all cause you're Pack is destined for defeat, Snowfear. Cause they ain't gonna have an ally or a leader." Snowfear backed up, his ears pricked forward, tail unmoving. Phantom nudged me harder.
"C'mon," he whispered. I followed reluctantly, trailing behind. Phantom turned around and pushed me on. Howls and jeers and barks erupted the air behind us. I flattened my ears, trying to block it out. I knew what was happening. My father was dead.