A/N: This chapter is probably not what you were expecting! There are 2 big reveals, if you can find them. One is about the Healer. The other one is obvious, and if you aren't sure, then you'll know in the next chapter (s) ! Like always, please leave a review, and I hope you like this chapter!
I bounded forward, my heart racing as I looked all over Phantom's body. His nose was bloodied and a small trickle of crimson liquid pooled on the pale grass below his muzzle. I licked at his face. I didn't know what to do. I strained for ideas; my mind stretching until I thought my head would explode into a million shards of pink slime. I whined as I paced, my eyes unwavering as I stared at Phantom's limp body. Once every ten seconds his body would shake violently. At least he was still alive, but I could only think of the unimaginable pain he was going through. His teeth rattled. I whimpered and looked closer to his face. His eyes flashed open, his pupils rolling towards the back of his head. I leaped back in shock and bit my lip to keep myself quiet. Any number of Wolves could be around, ready to pounce now that he was—was dying, and I wasn't in any position to defend myself. I glanced over at Cooklet Stream just several hundred meters away. Darn it, I hated my life. I flipped my vision from Phantom back to the Stream over and over again. He wasn't going to get any better with me just watching him. I galloped towards the Stream, my paws flying across the grass as my gaze remained transfixed to the crystal water, my eyes watering from the air or from my own pain that I felt in my heart, I couldn't tell. I stopped to a halt, my paws skidding across the bare bank, my claws digging into the soil. I cursed at myself as I said the words I knew I was forbidden to use, "Blue Wolf!" I growled deeply in my throat, the noise reverberating in my throat like thunder. "Blue Wolf! Come," I demanded. I felt my hope drain as nothing changed. No fog. No golden shimmering. And no Wolf. "Please," I begged pitifully, "please come!"
After a couple of seconds, I knew she wouldn't come. Anger flared in my heart, the fierce fiery feeling tingling down into my marrow. I bared my teeth at the air before me. Forget Lupus and Bane and their idiotic deal. Lupus is divine, immortal; whatever he is… he can take care of himself. Bane will sulk like his servants, and life will resume. Nothing bad will come out of this. Nothing at all. I loped back towards Phantom, my eyes half-closed. I was scared to see what my eyes would unfold. It was like if I didn't see Phantom in pain—or worse, dead—then he would be fine and well. I opened my eyes slowly, because I knew I couldn't keep them shut forever. Phantom's pupils were shaking. My face twisted into concern as his eyes closed shut, his body quivering as he tried to breathe through the caking blood. I licked at his nose and muzzle, attempting to clear it so he could breathe. He coughed violently, his entire body vibrating with pain as he tried to get up. I rushed to his side and helped him up. I looked around to see Duskt just a little ways off. I immediately snarled and snapped at thin air in warning. Duskt came a bit closer, but was still a good distance off.
"Head to the woodlands. Go near the tundra, where there are thick pines just before the barren wasteland," Duskt barked to me, his voice almost hushed so not even the distant bushes could hear, "and there you will find a healer."
"Why would I trust you?" I growled, but of course Duskt made a quick response.
"Here we go again with the trust issues. Believe what I say, and go. Otherwise he'll die." Duskt looked sincere, his posture portraying seriousness. "The healer that is there will whip up a concoction for him, and he'll be better in no time. Don't, and you're sentencing him to death." And with that, Duskt trotted off non-threateningly. I just stood there, gawking. Dumb animal. I hated him because he always sounded so… believable. I firmly held onto Phantom's fur and led him towards the trees, northward, towards the Tundra. I continued watching Phantom in fear that he would fall and never get up again
The temperature became notably colder as we trekked onwards. Phantom was barely awake, and he kept drifting into oblivion, and he kept becoming unresponsive and would occasionally sidestep to the left or right and sway dangerously close towards falling over himself. Small flurries drifted lethargically across the sky and through the tree's canopy, reaching my fur in slow swirls. Before long, the pines came closer together and not a speck of snow showed through the trees. I lifted my feet awkwardly as the pine needles stabbed my pads. I could just see the peak of a hill. At least it wasn't too far off. I settled Phantom down and I trotted towards the mound. A large gaping opening was dug out into the hill. I backed up a few paces and sat down, my muscles tense, not sure whether I should bark for someone, or wait, or leave.
I glanced over at Phantom who lay almost completely motionless in the field of needles. I snapped back to the den's entrance as a grizzled, scruffy old Wolf emerged. Her muzzle was splotched with bright grey fur. Even her dazzling red coat was dappled with greying fur. When she stepped forward, I was sure her legs would snap for they seemed so brittle, yet her stomach shot out with a large appearance like she would never be hungry. Her slender paws touched the ground gingerly, and her every movement was graceful like a Calazan Swan. Her delicately arched neck gave her a godly appearance, and her worn yet slightly fluffy tail gave her a slightly younger appearance. Her lightly dished, broad face gave her a wise appearance, and her friendly forward-facing, pointed ears gave her a feeling of radiating warmth. Her teeth were filed into blunt points from years of wear and tear, her muzzle crisscrossed with puzzles of scars and dozens of scratches. Her shoulder had a large gash from, obviously, a ruthless fight. Her soft, golden eyes told a story of a long stretch of pain and healing. This she-Wolf had sure been through a lot. Even her nose had a deep scar across it. When she sat, I could immediately tell why she had all of these sealed wounds. The paw mark on her chest showed that she had been on my father's side on the war. She had been an outsider, so she had gotten this mark to tell the Wolves on Snowfear's side that she belonged with them. This Wolf had fought in the Great War, and I had respect for her immediately. Her gold eyes studied me, their wisdom flashing with every blink she took as she looked over my features. I coughed and then asked my question.
"I heard you were a healer—" I began, but she cut me off.
"The Healer, yes. I was in the Great War and was the top healer," she said coolly. "And my real name is Flegher."
"Yes, yes, well," I continued in a rush, my face growing hot, "I need your help. You see, I need," I paused, trying to find the right words that didn't make my request seem stupid, "I need someone to heal my mate. His name is Phantom." The elder Wolf's eyes widened, her unemotional face suddenly becoming full of something between shock, fear, and doubt at my comment. Her face became grim as the seconds dragged by like a snail climbing up a mountain. "Was it… was it something I said?" I asked, unsure, my voice wavering. Flegher just kept staring at my eyes. I felt a chill run down my spine. This Wolf gave me the creeps even though she seemed nice.
"Pha— Phantom?" Flegher asked, her voice breaking as she uttered Phantom's name. I nodded, my brow raised in confusion. "By any chance, is he… is he from the Hikaylo Pack?" Again I nodded. She gasped and sat down. I thought she was going to pass out. "Yes, yes. I'll help. I'll help," she repeated in a daze, her mouth slightly gaping open as she talked. "Oh, Lupus. My son! My son!" My eyes widened in disbelief as the she-Wolf ran with incredible speed—for her age—towards where Phantom was lying. It couldn't be true that Flegher was Phantom's mother, could it? But it had to be. It's not like she was cuckoo. I got up, shaking my head, still in disbelief, as I walked towards the pair. Flegher raced back and forth from Phantom to her den, each time returning with something different. First was a vile which she poured over him, and then she got large leaves which she carefully wrapped around his chest. She took a cup of some sort of mix of liquids and herbs and put it over his nose. Phantom sneezed and lethargically opened his eyes and rolled onto his stomach.
"Healer, will he be better?" I asked awkwardly as Flegher stood, watching him starry-eyed like he was her pup, which he was, according to her. Flegher looked over with a slight smile, her eyes twinkling.
"Of course, of course! And don't be ridiculous. Call me Mom!"
"Heh, yeah," I muttered through closed teeth. I had just met her, she had just found her son, and she was fine with me being his mate, and she even said for me to call her Mom? And I couldn't believe how little Phantom and I had actually shared with each other. I blinked in thought, shaking my head slightly as I edged towards Phantom. I caressed his cheek with my tongue. He shook his head and his eyes became focused. "Hey," I whispered soothingly as his eyes dilated and he took in his surroundings. He smiled and gave me a small lick under my chin. "I've got someone to show you," I said excitedly. I backed up and revealed Flegher who was smiling eye to eye, her liquid-like eyes glimmering with joy and passion.
"Mom?" he croaked. His eyes expanded and he broke out into yelps as he forced himself to inch closer. Flegher came up to him and lay down. She put her paw on his so he wouldn't hurt himself. She nodded over and over, her eyes glinting. I felt a tingling sensation in my chest as I watched them. I couldn't believe it. What were the chances? But there was one thing I was upset about that I hadn't really thought of before. We didn't talk too much, really. It was about time Phantom explained things to me. And all I could think was, does he ever think the same about me? Warmth clenched my body. We were a family. I could just see Flegher helping Phantom and I raising the pups. I grinned at my thoughts as Phantom met my eyes, the largest smile I had ever seen on his face lighting up the entire wood.