We trekked along the Sie Homlie Forest as it wrapped around the ocean towards the East. We reached the Tralaaski Beach and I still hadn't said a word. The thought of never seeing my dad again, no matter how obnoxious he could be, was nagging me and sending me down a road of depression. I felt incomplete inside like a Wildeyassan had just gored me. I still loved Phantom, but I just didn't feel it. I didn't feel like really going on. I just wanted to plop down on the yellow sand and never move again. Just spend the rest of my life watching the Delingo's and Wallican Seals, and the clouds and the waves.
"Silver, you need to eat," Phantom said as he buried his face into the Seal to grab another mouthful of meat. I sighed and lumbered over to the Seal. I didn't feel hungry, but I knew I needed the protein—and fat from the blubber if I wanted to survive this winter. Its dull grey eyes stared at me, lifeless. Just how I feel…. I reluctantly walked over to the opposite side of Phantom and took a mouthful of the Seal, my canines slowly chomping down on the blubber. I ripped into it, the blood misting my muzzle as I chewed it. Phantom came over and sat next to me. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"I know what they did. What they did to him. They killed him." Phantom looked over at me, understanding in his eyes like he somehow also knew how I felt. "And don't tell me they didn't."
"I wasn't going to," Phantom said solemnly. He nudged my neck gently, licking my muzzle.
"I'm sorry I've been sort of out of it the past day," I said. Phantom nodded.
"It's alright," he said before taking another bite of the Seal. I leaned against him as I laid down. Phantom licked his muzzle as he finished eating and settled next to me. He groomed my tousled fur as I put my head on his paws. "It's less than a day's journey to where we want to be," Phantom said, his voice breaking the awkward silence between us. I smiled and rolled over, nudging my muzzle against his chin. I gave him a lick, my eyes glowing with new life. Phantom looked down at mye, lightly nipping my nose.
"Follow me," he said, heading over to the bushes, a grin forming on his lips.
"Okay," I yipped as I followed him.
We appeared from the brush an hour later, heading across the golden, parched sand to wade in the ocean's water to cool off. The waves lapped at my feet. Phantom leaped over a wave as he swam a distance out—just far enough so they would break on top of him.
"Lupus," I said, laughing almost hysterically as he came onto shore, drenched. His white and grey fur looked pure, solid grey and it hung from his stomach and chin like he was growing a beard. He shook himself, splashing me with water droplets. Chills ran through my spine. "I'm going to get you!" I said, a hint of seriousness in my voice until I turned and saw his fur puffed up like a cat. I chased after him as he darted off, circling the Beach. The sand slipped between my paws, causing me to run slower, yet somehow Phantom kept up a good speed. We ran and ran for hours until we couldn't run anymore.
As night came, we took refuge under some Pines and deciduous trees. Phantom rested his head protectively on top of mine as I watched the Sun sink below the water. What else is out there besides this land? Is there just water? Does the world drop off into a cliff? I yawned, my mouth gaping open as I blinked, ready to go to sleep. Phantom let out a contented sigh as I settled back down, my paw overlapping his. Blackness creeped along the corners of my vision until the world that I knew became dark like the night. Night, sleep, yay…. I thought, exhausted, as my brain shut down for the night.
The Wolf charged, his stormy coat flashing as he jumped, his claws tearing into the she-Wolf. He bit ruthlessly at her neck, jabbing its mouth into the female again and again. Blood drizzled from her neck. He held a choke hold onto her before letting go and running off towards the other Wolves in the she-Wolves Pack to give them the same fate. Then dozens and then hundreds of others followed him, including Timber, the Alpha of the östlichen Wald Pack. The she-Wolf fought for her life, but it was in vain. Blood seeped through her nose. She coughed up some more crimson liquid as she trembled, trying to get up. Her eyes welled with tears, but when they dripped down her face, they turned red like the blood that oozed from her face.
I opened my eyes. I blinked, trying to adjust to the sunless world. Cirrus clouds flowed in front of the moon, casting shadows on the ground. Phantom's chin rested on my forehead. I grunted as I yanked my head backwards out of his grasp. He looked at me, eyes slits as he became blinded as the moon shone through the clouds.
"I can't sleep," I said. "I feel like they're coming for us. Something bad is going to happen." Then I retold my dream—no, nightmare—to Phantom.
"Everything is going to be fine, Silver. You're just scaring yourself," Phantom woofed sleepily, already closing his eyes. I laid down and turned my back to him, facing the Beach that lay only a few feet away. Phantom turned around, now laying on his side. He put his paw around me. I shoved my head towards his chest. I could hear his heart beating within. Thump. Thump. Thump. I fell asleep, finally feeling safe—and secure.
Something wet brushed against my cheek. I jumped up, my eyes wide like a Flu Cah's. "It's not funny!" I exclaim as Phantom sat there, laughing.
"What did you think it was? A snake?" He kept laughing at me. I came up to him and rubbed my head against his.
"Yes, Phantom. I thought you were a snake. There aren't snakes this far North!"
"True…. So what if I got my facts wrong?" His face is serious for a second before it breaks out into a smile. He can't hide his emotions from me. "C'mon, let's go eat some of that Seal before we head out again." I cantered ahead, kicking my hind paws high into the air, flicking the sand into his face. He came up beside me, craning his neck to see if I was laughing or if I was actually mad. I bit my lip as the corners of my muzzle began to raise into a smirk. He shook his head at me. "You are so bad at lying—"
"What do you mean?" I asked, my eyes sparkling, "You're worse than me!" We continued to 'bicker' about it all the way to where we had eaten yesterday. There was only one problem.
"Where's the Seal," Phantom asked, his forehead wrinkled in thought. "We definitely didn't eat it all." I put my nose the ground, circling the leftover bones of the Seal. The scent of Pines and trees was evident.
"They're awful trackers," I said in a whisper as I continued to smell the terrain. I heard a voice. Something about something… but right now I just cared about the scent.
"Who!" Phantom shouted. I looked up.
"Oh, I thought I was imagining a voice." Phantom tilted his head, saying, 'Oh really?' Then I said, "The Bayont Pack is trying to find us. Probably can smell the Alpha female on you. Why did you have to kill her? Couldn't you have done something else?"
"Did you have a better idea?" I kept quiet, not wanting to add fuel to the fire. We still hadn't found a den, and it kept nagging both of us. We just wanted a place to settle down for a long time. All that had happened since we met was run, run, and run. "I'm sorry." Phantom looked at me, sadness in his eyes. He blinked it away. He always felt so awful when he fought with me, even when it wasn't really a big deal.
"So are we going to find a den or what? Because if we just stand around here, then I don't think we're going to make it for a while," I said sort of in an urgent-joking like tone. Phantom laughed again with me joining in. Then we were off towards the Honlet Grasslands, and our new home. Together. Forever.
A/N: I will be posting about 1-2 more chapters I believe, before I go on a 2 week vacation, so I will not be able to post more chapters within that time (most likely). Just wanted to let you all know! And thank you for reading and please ReViEw!