A.N. Yep, going to try and get this chapter up and I to ask all of you a question at the end so if you would PM me or review that would be amazing.

Disclaimer: …You know the drill.

Chapter 35

*Dorene's POV*

Soon after the wolves joined Darren and I the two of us with our wolfen companions made our way back to our mentors. Darren was walking a few feet ahead of me. Suddenly I thought of the small peck that Darren had just moments ago placed on my cheek.

I shook my head trying to get the thought out of my head before we made it back to Mr. Crepsley and Gavner. I was so distracted in trying to rid myself of the thought that I didn't realize Darren had stopped in front of me, I only realized Darren had stopped once I had ran into him.

"Hey so have you been to Vampire Mountain before?"Darren asked after I regained my balance.

"Yeah a few times with Gavner, but this is my first time going to Council." I stated as I skipped ahead hoping that Darren didn't notice me blushing.

I could hear Darren rushing to catch up and the footsteps of the wolves as they joined Darren at a light jog if that is what you could call it. We made it back to our makeshift camp site where we found Gavner and Mr. Crepsley sleeping and the little people that had been traveling with Mr. Crepsley and Darren were off hiding in the trees a bit eating their supper.

I let out a sigh, glad that our two mentors were sleeping especially Gavner because he would find a way to make fun of Darren and I being out alone even though the two of us were just filling the containers with water but then again the two of us did kiss. At the thought of the kiss I once again felt the heat of blush reach my cheek and thanked the vampire gods that Darren was already laying down to sleep.

I was still wide awake and tried making the fire again, so that those of us who didn't have the wolf fur cushions that Darren had, could have a little bit of warmth. With a small fire going I sat back and gazed off into space I wasn't thinking about anything in particular at first but than my thoughts went to my missing friend. I had to put the search for him on hold to make it to this council and hoped that after wards I wouldn't be too late to find him.

A loud snore from Gavner brought me back to the situation and I realized that the wolves were growling and Darren was yelling. I also realized that the sun was just barely resting over the horizon. I looked at the commotion that Darren and the Wolves were causing and noticed that the Little People were slowly stepping towards the wolves rubbing their stomachs.

"Darren what's going on?" I asked as Gavner snorted and stood and Mr. Crepsley stirred as well getting up and taking in the situation. Darren not turning his gaze away from the Little People answered. "The Little People what to eat the wolves."

Mr. Crepsley told the little people to go find food somewhere else and the mentioned Little People sulked away to find a different meal. I rubbed my eyes and found that licking my cold hand was the little wolf cub that Darren had named Rudey.

"Hey you," I said when I picked up the young pup. "What are you doing?" I asked, even though I knew exactly what he was doing. Rudey began trying to lick my face but I didn't allow him to get close and held him lightly laughing as he switched to my arm. Mr. Crepsley, Gavner and Darren all began packing their stuff and then the four of us began our trek to Vampire Mountain.

Darren and I were talking with one another while Mr. Crepsley and Gavner did so a few feet ahead of us. Suddenly ahead Mr. Crepsley and Gavner stopped and Both Darren and I nearly bumped into them, I looked to the other side of Gavner and saw a large thick wall of thick vines with thorns blocking our path.

"Is there a way around it?" I asked as I took a step towards it. I was starring into it when I heard a loud burst of laughter coming from behind me; I looked and instantly wish that I hadn't. What I saw was Mr. Crepsley and Gavner in nothing but their boxers only it was Mr. Crepsley and Darren laughing at Gavner who stood in his ever embarrassing yellow boxers with pink elephants.

"You just had to where those ones this trip didn't you." I said as I face palmed as Darren and Mr. Crepsley continued in their laughter. Once the laughter stopped Darren took off his clothes till he was in nothing else but boxers as well and then I finally realized where this was going.

"NO! I am not taking my clothes off in front of you three!" I yelled as I wrapped my arms around myself trying to make sure that they got my point. Gavner walked over and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Now Dorene, if you go in there with these on," he gestured to the clothes that I had on. "There is a chance that they would get ripped and then not only would they not be able to protect you from the cold but there is a chance that we would see…" He paused trying to find a word that wouldn't embarrass me further. "We would see your under garments." He finished and I nodded.

"Fine but none of you look at me once or there will be trouble." I stated as I reached to pull the shirt off. The three men took this as a hint to turn around and I continued hating every second of it.

"Okay you guys can start now." I said as I wrapped my arms around myself in a feeble attempt to keep myself warm. The wolves went ahead easily slipping between spaces in the thorny vines. Mr. Crepsley, Gavner, Darren, and the little people all remained ahead of me as we made our way through the thorns.

Up ahead everyone stopped and as I looked around I saw a small cloth that was drenched in blood I inhaled and recognized the scent as Vampaneze blood. I backed up slightly and waited till the three males concluded what to do next. I was starting to shiver when our strange group began moving forward again.

As we were going I began falling behind and when I finally broke through I found the three men starring at me, quickly they all turned away and I realized that while they had had time to get their clothes back on I was still in my undergarments.

I quickly pulled the large poncho like garment back over my head and adverted my gaze as the men turned back to face me.

"Sorry Dorene, it just kinda slipped our minds." Darren said as he rubbed the back of his head in an, embarrassed kind of way. I looked away again as a light blush began coloring my cheeks.

"No it's okay, I'm sorry for falling behind like I did." I apologized as I risked looked back at them.

They were all exchanging glances and not wanting to be caught in this awkward silence any longer I took a few steps forward and loudly and broadly announced, while walking past them. "Okay men let's keep moving we are losing day light just standing here."

The men getting the hint followed and soon the four of us were laughing making a joke out of that embarrassing moment. We continued on in silence but it wasn't the awkward kind, instead this time it was the kind that everyone was thinking about different things and didn't want to ruin the others train of thought.

We continued to walk well into the night and while the men were focusing on joking around or other things I was looking at the ground at strange footprints on the ground with dragging marks. To me it looked like a wolf dragging a body but the indentation from the item being dragged was to shallow to be another animal or heaven's forbid a body.

The strangest thing though was the fact that it was heading in the same direction that we were heading. So if Destiny was playing any part in this we would meet this strange thing sooner or later.

A.N. Yeah that is the end of this chapter kinda short but I am going to save Mia's POV for the next chapter so until than I would love some feedback and hopefully I will get the next chapter up soon because we are soooooooo Close to Vampire mountain I can nearly hear the vampires laughing and the clanging of swords as the rough house in the halls of sport.

Now question time…. I have had an idea going through my head for a Replacement Fanfic and the question is….. Do you think I should wait a little longer before typing it or should I start it now and update it with this one? Also when I start it should I use Mia and Victoria or new freaks with new back stories?

I would really like to hear what you think

Until next time Peace, Love, and Virtual Hugs