Returning to the young wolf, Saku and Tala, these two young lovewolves were heading to their dating destination, the lakeview. They smiled cheerfully as they knew that tonight the sky was clear and that the moon was full. After walking up the hill to the rocks where the lakeview was, they realized that they made it.
"Oh!" Tala gasped in awe when she saw what the lakeview had to offer tonight. She was the one who suggested this place, but she wasn't ready for the beauty the mother nature had to offer. Even Saku shared that same surprise when he saw how beautiful the entire ambient was for tonight.
The moon was shining so brightly that the moonlight was seen to the mountains in the horizon, where their brown outlines were seen. What the moonlight wasn't shining beyond, it was shimmering on the crystal lake below and the stars painting the black sky were shining very brightly. The northern lights weren't seen anywhere.
"This is beautiful!" Saku gazed in awe himself when he had seen what the nature was showing to them. He could feel on his left shoulder that Tala was leaning her head and this was what Saku desired the most right now. He had a pretty female for himself tonight and the beautiful night. This was going to be a truly magical night for them! Or was it?
"The moon is so bright tonight! I love this!" Tala happily whispered to Saku's ear as the two were observing the beautiful reflection in the lake below. Still, even if they were enjoying their time and nuzzled each other, Tala looked in Saku's eyes and she noticed something. It looked like as if he was bothered for some reason.
"Saku? Are you alright?" Tala asked him, hoping that Saku didn't do something wrong that was now making him feel guilty. He looked into her eyes and counting to five in his head, figured out that he shouldn't hide it and so he answered: "Well, yeah. It is, mostly. But there is something I have to tell you, Tala. There's something else you should know."
What was it? They were on their first date was it was curious that there was something else. She didn't complain about it, just she asked: "What? What is it?" He looked back at the lake and as if it were reflecting his past, he looked back in her and spoke: "You remember months ago when Hunter came to this pack and how I reacted upon seeing you together?"
"Yes, I still do." Tala confirmed, indicating that the day Hunter had returned, could have been better if it weren't for Saku's outburst, which he continued with: "When I lost it at seeing you two together nuzzling, not only that me being a runt in the litter and having a sad puppyhood were the reasons. There is one more, the actual main reason of me getting upset back then."
She looked at him, wondering if he had any other secrets with him. Thinking whether this was going to lead to the good or to the bad, she let him continue by saying: "I'm listening." There he had to admit his greatest secret to her, letting the memories flash in front of his eyes and the scenery shifted to Saku's puppyhood.
In front of puppy Saku was the black female wolf puppy with white underbelly, with whom he was playing happily and the puppies were giggling and chasing each other. Saku, who was narrating this flashback, had his voice heard in this memory: "Tala, you see, you are not the first female I had my feelings for."
With the puppies playfully battling for the stick, Tala's voice asked in surprise: "What do you mean? Is there someone else? Another female?" With the puppies splashing each other in the shallow pond, he answered to her: "There was someone else. When I was a little puppy, I met the female puppy, Sami was her name."
The scenery shifted when Saku and Sami were now around one year old and it was around the time when Saku left his family pack behind and so did Sami at around that time, which Saku revealed: "When we were more than a year old, I answered my Call of Nature and Sami did the same thing at around the same time. It was only the matter of weeks when our paths crossed."
It revealed even older Saku and Sami as they reunited as the two cute and close puppyhood friends. They were seen in one scenery hunting together, or at least being taught to do so. Saku carried on: "It was at around that time when I started to feel that I had a crush on her. I wanted to have her a more than a friend, but I was too shy. Too hesitant to do so."
Tala sounded like as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't want to interrupt him, as if that were going to hurt his feelings when the scenery revealed a dark brown wolf with dark gray underbelly and young Saku and young Sami greeted him. The narration continued: "One day a new wolf came to the pack. His name was Faro and like you, Hunter and I were good three friends, so were the three of us…"
"...then one day everything has changed. I finally thought that I had enough courage to ask her out and I was ready to do so, I saw Sami and Faro together. They were openly and affectionately nuzzling each other and my heart shattered when I realized that I was too late to ask her out. This was a great pain to me…"
It did seem like as the scenery showed Faro and Sami nuzzling each other, that Saku was going to weep, but he bravely continued: "I kept it all for myself. I didn't want to vent my anger on them. I accepted it peacefully, even if inner me was screaming in defeat. I realized that even if I had a crush on Sami, maybe she was not the one meant for me…"
"...then that night, when they returned from their date, I waited for them to go to sleep and when they did, I left everything behind myself and this is when I came across Maska's clan." Saku finished his narration and his memories faded away when the scene returned to them on the lakeview, with Tala gazing at him in disbelief.
"As of today, I don't know if they are mates with each other. Heck, I don't even know if they are having puppies on their own!" Saku exclaimed, without any anger in it, knowing that there was nothing he could do right now. Past was in the past. He threw one last glance in the lake as if it were symbolizing his past.
"Then I met you, and then your brother. When I saw you two nuzzling together, I was fearing that this was going to be Faro and Sami all over again. Thankfully that never happened, but I can forgive myself for ruining your reunion with Hunter." He ended at last, thinking that he had told her enough and that more he talked, more emotions were rushing to his eyes.
He looked down on the ground, thinking whether this was worth mentioning her on a date or not. She moved her muzzle under his chin so he could look at her and her warm smile was saying it all: "Saku, I guessed that if you were to tell me your secret, you'd have hurt me. Truth is, I'd have felt hurt if you kept it a secret forver! I will admit that I'm proud at you for telling me the truth."
"And I am proud at you for making me the better wolf who I am now today, otherwise we'd not be here tonight." He answered to her and with them smiling to each other as the moon was shining in the background. He admitted: "Tala, just so you know, there are no other females in my life. You're the one I ever need, mark my words."
Her muzzle was now connecting with his as she was touched by his sweet words. She knew that some of her words could improve this start of the date: "I am flattered to make you who you are today, Saku. You are my best friend! You and Hunter are the two males in my life who mean a world to me!" Saku's heart was filled with the warmth and joy by these words.
Saku raised his paw while having his muzzle touching hers, telling her: "It's my honor to be, along Hunter, the male who means a lot to you in your life. Now that my past is behind me, know that wherever Sami is, I'm happy for her to be with the male for whom she has feelings, just like how I have for you!"
These sweet romantic words were honeying her ears when she leaned against him and his heartbeat, no, not just his, but hers, were getting faster and faster as they deeply nuzzled each other, all while the flowers Saku brought them were giving stronger scent just so the entire night ambient would last like one eternity for them.
"Now it is just the two of us, having a great night together. I dreamed of this night for a long time, with both us being in here, Tala." Saku sweetly whispered in her ear, as if these two knew that this was a breakthrough for them both. She gazed him in his eyes and replied: "I couldn't imagine this being any more romantic than it is, Saku."
With their peace and romance being present in the air, this seemed like nothing could go wrong on their very first date. However, the silence was broken upon the stirring of the bushes behind them, which did get their attention and Tala looked at that bush first, asking: "Hello? Is someone there?" No answer was given to her.
"It might be a mischievous rabbit. Maybe it got scared because of us!" Saku spoke, thinking that would be somehow humorous. But the "mischievous" rabbit was heard stirring the bushes and this time it was louder and longer. Now both Tala and Saku realized that it was not the rabbit behind the bushes. Tala asked again: "Who goes there?"
Saku knew that if anything, it was his duty to protect the female, whether the harm was coming to them or not, he walked towards the dark green bush and spoke: "Look, I don't know if you're one of Atka's scouts or not, or even the wolf from the other clan, we bring no harm with us and it'd be nice if… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH!"
"Saku!" Tala was alarmed by Saku's scream when the wolf leaped from the bush and threw Saku back, leading him to land on his own back. Before Tala could see who it was, Saku was able to push away his attacker. As he was too far from the edge, Tala found that a relief and she asked him, all worried: "Saku, are you alright?!"
Saku coughed after receiving the impact, answering her: "I am, Tala! I am!" Just as Tala helped him to get back up, the angry snarl came from the wolf who attacked Saku and with the wolf baring the teeth, they heard: "I have never thought that someone like you, Saku, would go this low to take my female from me!"
The voice they heard was familiar and it belonged to none other else than: "Nilak!" Saku growled in anger and surprise, revealing the black furred blue eyed wolf with the rage burning in his eyes, combined with envy. Tala was shocked to hear Nilak's "my female", which she questioned, quite baffled: "My female?! Since when I am "your female", huh?!"
"You were always mine, Tala! And you are mine now! I was the first male who openly greeted you in the clan and everything was perfect until this runt Saku came and started taking you away from me and then your brother Hunter made things even worse!" Nilak angrily glared at the female who had an eye for her, but in a malicious way.
This was good enough for Tala to add two and two as she angrily looked at him and growled: "I now understand why you never left me alone! Every single time, whenever I was talking to any other packmate, be it Saku, Hunter, Atka or anyone else, you were there by the so called coincidence so you would have a full control over me!"
The truth hurt and there was no denying it, but Nilak wasn't going to quit that easily when he growled at her: "So you're now going to break my heart and shatter my world by saying that?! After everything I've given and offered to you all these months back!? Is that what you really want?!" His sharp fangs were stained in the drool that was heating in anger.
"Me, breaking your heart?! All that I ever told you weeks ago was to have your word that you can trust me! I did not want to end our friendship! I wanted for us to stay friends, but you clearly saw it the other way around!" Tala had her fur raised on her back as everything was making sense to her. Saku was standing by her side, ready to defend her from Nilak's unexpected attack.
"So now you think that whatever you just said makes you right, doesn't it?! Don't you tell me what is right and what is not! I clearly saw that you made a choice between me and this pathetic runt! I know what is right and what is wrong MYSELF!" Nilak yelled angrily as he started slowly circling around Tala and Saku.
As for Saku, he was not going down without the upcoming fight and he was not letting him to come closer to her and harm her or him, or even both. Nilak's angry glare turned towards Saku's eyes, when he let him know: "As for you, Saku, I have overheard your secret behind. Guess what I have figured out? We both share a mutual past of being rejected by the females before!"
Saku was for a few seconds taken off the guard. Was that correct what he was saying? Were he and Nilak that similar with their pasts… or was it all his bluff just so Nilak would win the fight easier? Saku carefully remained by Tala's side when he sternly asked his opponent: "And what is your point? What are you trying to say with that, Nilak?"
"I will make it simple for you: Now back off and leave my female alone or else…" Nilak started clearly, but his last few words were getting more and more silent. That was the good reason for him to stand up to his foe: "No. Not like this, Nilak. I am not the one who is going to back off. It is YOU who has to back off for the good!"
"Don't you lecture me about good, you runt!" Nilak growled with the rage breaking free, almost leading to the fight between the two. Saku held his ground when he told him: "I am not backing off. I have learned that I should leave my past behind and continue with life! Tala helped me a lot to become who I am today! I have changed for good and that is the same thing you should do!"
"I don't think it'll go like that, Saku! I am giving you one last warning - give me Tala back, and we may end this conflict peacefully… or there will be blood…" Again, Nilak started clearly, but the blood line was silent than usual and it seemed like both Saku and Tala heard it, feeling the shivers down their spines. But they remained in formation.
"And if I do, how can we trust you that you won't maim me, Hunter, Atka or anyone else Tala has been talking to in our sleep? This is not how I intend to let Tala go, Nilak. It is you who should reconsider the offer!" Saku bravely shoved the truth in his face and it seemed like Nilak's patience was wasted. Tala was fearing the worst, but Saku looked at her bravely and whispered: "Tala, whatever happens, just stay behind me!"
She anxiously and slowly nodded as the conflict was inevitable, under the moonlight on the high rocks. Nilak's anger was combined with the evil and twisted laughter as he mocked Saku's physical appearance: "And do you really think you've changed, Saku? Because your body hasn't, showing what kind of runt you are!"
Even if that was pretty painful to take, Saku could take that pain coming towards him when he spat in front of him: "I may not be as fierce and strong as you are, Nilak, but I'm not going down without protecting my friend!" In the end, Nilak gave them both one last malicious look when he silently, yet eerily and menacingly repiled: "Then you have sealed your fate now."
The two wolves, one who had a fake face of friend and the one who believed he made a friend, were now foes circling each other on the rocky terrain. With the anger in their eyes, barred fangs and sharp claws, each of them had a different end of the stick how they saw this fight. One to protect the female he had feelings for and other one for selfish reasons.
Then, it just happened. The two wolves sprang towards each other and the growls and rage were heard in the air all while Tala looked helplessly how these two were violently biting and attacking each other. The fear paralyzed her with the sight of these sharp fangs and claws attacking and biting the other one.
Even if Saku was giving his best to fend off Nilak, it was true that he was physically inferior in comparison to Nilak. When Saku was attacking with his fangs Nilak by his back, Nilak used his chance which resulted with the painful yelp from Saku. The red liquid was seen on Saku's front right paw and it dropped on the cold rock. Nilak's fangs were stained in that red liquid. The first blood was drawn tonight.
With the advantage going to Nilak's favor, Saku held strong to fend off another attack coming from Nilak, but he winced as the pressure he was putting on his injured paw was too painful to bear and before he could have seen it, Nilak rammed him by the side with the full force and Saku's vision went blurry and black as the painful impact on the peeking rock rendered him unconscious.
The weaker wolf laid down motionlessly on the ground all while Nilak's face revealed a twisted smile on his face. He mocked his unconscious rival: "Now I see that you're nothing else but a pathetic runt, Saku. I will have the pleasure to end you once and… GAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" He didn't finish his words as he was pounced by…
"Don't you hurt him anymore!" Tala snapped at him as she was the one who attacked him from behind in order to protect her dear friend. Nilak's face revealed a complete surprise upon seeing how Tala was a ferocious fighter. He landed on his side as Tala seemed like she had the advantage, breaking free from her fear.
But she overestimated her own attack. All while she wanted to prevent Saku's demise on the paws of Nilak, this was enough for him to strike back when he leaped furiously at Tala, who landed painfully on her back with the loud: "ACK!" She felt the paw on her neck, pressing hard her throat and Nilak's pyschotic look from above.
"Now, now, Tala. Let's talk this through. You know that I don't want to give you any more harm." All while he was saying that, he wasn't letting go off Tala's throat and Tala, despite her best, tried to get his paw off by the force, but he was in an advantage. In fact, he did not notice the another figure attacking him from behind.
"AARRRGGGHHH!" Nilak suddenly felt someone biting him by his muzzle by the new figure and Tala was released from his grip. Nilak winced in pain and looked down, feeling the blood on his muzzle from the deep bite. "That's for attacking my sister!" The voice was undoubtedly belonging to Hunter, whose fangs were stained in Nilak's blood.
Even with the pain growing stronger from the bite on Nilak's face, he brushed that off when with the malice empowering him, looked at Hunter and chuckled: "Well, well, well, little and young Hunter has come to the rescue!" The third member of the party showed up just in time and let his sister know: "Tala! Get back in here! I'll deal with this maniac!"
"Hah! You think you have a chance against me?! Your good friend Saku there couldn't muster the force against me and neither will you!" Nilak spat towards him as Hunter glanced at his unconscious friend. He received an another insult, on behalf on his sister: "Oh, and look at Hunter! Do you think he's really going to protect you now, Tala?!"
"Don't you speak to my sister like that! You've attacked my friend and my sister and now you're going to regret for that, Nilak!" Hunter snapped at him, knowing what his intentions were in this fight. Nilak started circling around and so did Hunter, with the anger brewing in each of them, especially how Nilak's voice angrily said: "You think you frighten me, Hunter?! You have no power to kill me, just like how Saku doesn't have too!"
"Is the killing all you think of, Nilak?! It isn't something I intend to do tonight!" Hunter bravely stood up to him, revealing that no matter how far he was being pushed, he knew his limits at least. And then, the two sprinted towards each other and lunged at one another with their fangs and attacked with their claws.
Truth to be said, Hunter's fighting skills were even better than Saku's and even when he bit Nilak by his muzzle and leg again, Nilak thought that he met his match for a moment. Sadly, he gained his advantage when Hunter was least expecting it when he made a swift move with his right leg and his sharp claws and slashed Hunter by his chest!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Hunter screamed in pain as he fell on the ground and Tala gasped in horror, seeing how the rock under Hunter's chest was staining in red liquid. With the pain overtaking Hunter, he could hear his foe, while being grabbed by his back, telling him: "This is your goodbye, Hunter!"
Before Hunter could react and get the hold of himself, Nilak furiously and strongly threw him backwards towards the edge of the rocks. Hunter stuck his claws as deep as he could in the rock, but he screamed once again as he was gone from the sight, presumably falling to his death. Upon seeing what had just happened, Tala's scream was the loudest sound that night: "HUNTER!"
Her entire world shattered. Her baby brother, for whom she cared and loved a lot, was no more there. He was gone, falling down to meet his destiny. The memories and emotions were flooding her eyes as she couldn't accept that this just happened! She snapped back to reality when she heard Nilak's malicious voice: "It's over, Tala! You have no one else to cover you anymore! Don't resist and I'll spare you the pain I've given to these both!"
But as he came closer to him, all he received was an angry spit in his face by Tala. She furiously growled at him: "No, this is over between us, Nilak! I thought that you were my friend until I've seen who you really are right now! All this time you wanted to manipulate me for your selfish reasons and now you've taken away my brother! And if you think I've broken your heart, well you just broke mine with everything!"
While clearing his face from Tala's spit, she continued: "And all this time you think you could have me by trying to hurt everyone in your way?! I was never your female, I am not your female now nor I ever will be!" As brave as she was, she wasn't ready for Nilak's upcoming and more violent impact, causing her to land on her back even more painfully.
And this time Nilak didn't waste his time to try to negotiate with Tala. In fact, he was furiously and forcingly strangling her, all while wheezing and seething: "Now you… have no… one to… protect you…! I have given… your last… chance… but you… made a poor… CHOICE!" Tala could feel the weakness overcoming her as she was no match to Nilak's strong strangling and her vision started to blur.
But before she blacked out, she noticed the brown blur attacking Nilak at his face and how Nilak yelled in pain as he landed on his side. Then she saw the brown blur nudging her and nuzzling as well. Tala's vision was getting clearer as the brown blur was Saku, who desperately yelled: "TALA! TALA! WAKE UP! Are you alright?!"
"Saku! Oh, Saku!" Tala buried her head in his chest, but Saku winced in pain as he not only had the injured paw, but also he's suffered a concussion. This sight just enraged Nilak further when he furiously yelled: "YOU AGAIN?! Why just don't you spare us from your existing and give back what truly belongs to me, huh?!"
"You don't talk to her like she's your servant, do you understand me?!" Saku furiously sprinted towards Nilak, who was laying on his side as his face was now scarred by Saku's claws. He angrily continued: "A true friend of Tala's would never EVER treat her as someone's belonging! It is now a matter of the time when the word comes to Maska and he banishes you for attacking your packmates!"
"As if that really matters to me right now!? I don't give a darn for the wretched alpha of this clan nor the fact that your friend Hunter is no longer with you, runt! If I couldn't finish you off before, then I will have the pleasure to do it just now!" Saku backed up when Nilak was finishing his lines and raising on his legs, feeling the pain all over his twisted face.
"If anything you should know, it's that you'll forever live with the past haunting you, while I have left it behind for good! And if anything else, I'd rather die for a friend right here!" Saku cautiously backed down just to make sure Tala wasn't going to be hurt anymore as she was weakened by Nilak's strangling. Nilak just silently spoke: "Say no more."
The two males launched the attack at each other, this one being the most furious one. With Nilak's face being scarred and Saku's leg bleeding and him suffering concussion, Tala watched how this terrifying fight was happening. Only one would emerge as the victorious and the time to proclaim its' victor was coming.
Saku, again, while doing his best to make sure Tala was safe, was weaker than Nilak and his pain was bigger to handle as he was thrown on the ground and landed on his back, with the pain getting worse. Nilak used his chance to sink his blood stained fangs into Saku's left shoulder and his scream was louder than even.
"Now this is your final goodbye, you runt! I will make sure of that!" Nilak had the upper paw and had Saku pinned on his back. Saku was weakened by this attack and he couldn't do anything but to accept his destiny as he was bleeding and how Tala was trying to help, but was also too weak to do so… Nilak was going to do it… sink his fangs into his neck and…
"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!" The loud scream came as the black wolf attacked Nilak and with the emerald green eyes shining in the dark, Tala and Saku both weakly spoke: "Hunter!" He was alive! How could that have been possible?! They thought that he was a goner by falling down that cliff!
"THAT IS FOR ATTACKING TALA AND THIS IS FOR ATTACKING SAKU!" Hunter furiously screamed as he grabbed Nilak by his back and with all the force, threw his enemy away. However, as he was not looking at what he was doing, he realized a moment too late how strong his throw was when he saw Nilak plummeting down the cliff as his scream in terror was heard, fading with his fall. Hunter rushed towards the edge.
With the screams fading, Hunter looked around to see below in the trees where Nilak had fallen. It was too dark to see where he could have fallen and echoes were not helping. Instead of triumph and satisfaction, Hunter's face was showing the utter shock and horror with his widened eyes, with the realization what he had just done.
The sole thought of him questionably causing someone's passing, if it happened, was just making him feel the shivers down his spine. HIs dark thoughts were broken when he heard the soft whimpering. Looking behind him, there he saw Saku trying to get on his paws, rather the hard way due to his wounds. Hunter rushed to him instantly: "Saku! Oh… you look awful!"
Even if the Hunter had the wound stretching across his chest as his visible-most major wound, Saku was in a much worse condition. His leg was wounded, there was also a wound on his chest and one on his shoulder, along with the concussion. Even so, he looked at his friend who saved his life and chuckled weakly: "Well, be happy that you're not suffering the same as me right now!"
It was amazing how someone like him in that condition was cracking jokes, but that had to be put aside when Saku asked him with a weak voice: "Nilak? Where is he? I had heard him screaming." Hunter looked back at the spot Nilak was thrown off, with the dark thoughts clouding his mind as he answered: "He fell."
That short answer was enough for Saku, who also had that shocked expression on his face. Hunter continued as he trembled: "But I could not see where, it is too dark. I couldn't trace where exactly he was screaming. And not to mention, when it went silent… I don't know if he survived that fall."
Clearly said, neither Saku nor Hunter wanted to murder Nilak, even if things had turned pretty violent. Saku just answered to him: "I don't know either, Hunter. Whether he survived the fall or not is not our concern right now. We have bigger troubles right now!" With the wounds, blood and injuries, it was pretty evident.
Then, both of them were approached by Tala, whose voice went soar because how hard Nilak was pressing her throat. She did not have any wounds, but her eyes turned bloodshot from the tears accumulating. She whispered weakly: "Hunter, Saku… I almost lost both of you tonight…!"
Walking up to her brother first, she pressed her face against his chest and let her warm tears stream down his fur as she couldn't control herself. She muttered with her voice as loud as she could: "I almost lost you, Hunter! You're the only family member I have around and I… I cannot imagine what if I lost you tonight!"
Hunter rubbed his head against hers and trying to remain firm, whispered to her: "Tala! Tala, it is alright! You did not lose me tonight! I am still standing alive! If I hadn't pressed harder with my claws against the rocks, I'd have never get the hold of the rock edge that was keeping me on life!" They could all imagine how this was to him back there.
She kept crying, but she parted from her brother. The blood from Hunter's chest was seen on her fur, but she could not care any less if she had someone's blood on herself right now. She turned her look at Saku and with the tears streaming down her cheeks, she laid down to bury her head against his chest and cried out of relief.
"And… and you, Saku… I almost lost my best friend…! My partner!" Tala stuttered in here as her crying was choking up. Saku did wince in pain as Tala was rubbing him softly, but he could not care. She was quite upset and he didn't want to make her more upset right now as he weakly, and warmly replied: "Tala, I am also still alive. I wasn't going to give in, not for Hunter, not for any other packmate of this clan and especailly not you!"
Bravely said, Tala could relax for a bit that he was going to give everything for his friends. She glanced at his wound on his right leg, left shoulder and chest. Horrified how his fur was now soaked in dry blood and the dirt found on the rocks, that were stained in blood, she muttered: "You look terrible!"
As true as that was, Saku wanted to let her know that he was going to look at this moment in the future and remember how he laughed at death in its face. He spoke, revealing an another wound by his lower gums and teeth as if he were bleeding from his mouth: "It is true, but at least I still draw breath right now. You should feel relieved it wasn't otherwise."
Hunter was glad that his friend was making it through this. He asked him, upon observing his wounds once more: "Saku? Do you think you can walk back to the main clearing with us?" Saku gazed at him and he started raising from his position. At first he was making it well to get on all of his fours, but upon making his first step, he yelped and winced in pain as he fell down, causing Tala to gasp in shock, revealing how bad his wounds were.
"I… I don't think I can. One of you two will have to help me to get me back…!" Saku answered, knowing how long and painful his way down was going to be. There was no point of the two siblings deciding who'd assist Saku as Tala openly did it by herself, carefully placing herself under his front leg so Saku would rest on her shoulders. It hurt a bit for him to get comfortable.
Hunter returned to the spot where the fight was over. He looked down to make sure if there would be any signs of Nilak from below. None. There was no sound or anything to indicate that. Even so, he turned towards Tala and Saku, letting them know: "We better get back now! We cannot go search for Nilak and other dangers may lurk on our path down!"
"And we better let Maska and Anya about this. Atka and his scouts will go searching for Nilak if necessary! Besides, these wolves down will help you recover, Saku." Tala concluded what had to be done when they were going to return down there. If Nilak was to be found, he was going to face the expulsion from the clan for his dishonorable deeds.
"Tala, wait. There is something I need to tell you. It might concern Hunter as well, but it is something that you should know more." Saku stopped her as she listened to him, wondering what he was going to say. She couldn't care any less that she had his and Hunter's blood on her fur right now, but that was most likely something what Saku wasn't going to mention.
"First, Hunter." Saku spoke to his friend who saved his life more than once. Hunter looked up to him to hear: "I want to tell you… thank you for saving our lives tonight. I owe you this salvation tonight." Hunter knew that he was not going to let his friend die in the paws of the malicious wolf so he answered: "No problem, my friend."
"And Tala." Saku looked down at her as she was listening to him carefully. He heard his voice becoming warmer: "Tala… I thank you too for saving me tonight. Not only that you were one of my first friends in the clan, not only that you made me a better wolf who I am now and not only that you are my best friend… I love you, Tala. You are the that one female in my life who I need and there is no other else!"
Tala looked at her injured friend, with the moon looming above them, being covered in a slight red shade. Blood moon. Her eyes were letting the tears down her cheeks, the tears of joy, as she spoke with the heart of hers beating faster: "Oh… oh Saku! I love you too, Saku. Out of all males I met in my life, you're the only one I truly love!"
For a few moments, all three wolves, Tala, Saku and Hunter, had lost the sense of pain as the love that had been confessed between the two of them made them feel invincible. Hunter felt the same way, knowing that his sister and his best friend were meant for each other. As if the darkness was vanquished by the light that came from their hearts.
The moment was gone and all three of them, in pain, had to return down to the main clearing. Saku whispered: "Tala… I hope that my wounds are not too serious. When I recover, and there is no "if", the two of us should have an another date… but without any interruptions... "
"And any ambushes. Yes, my love, I know. We will finish what we have started until we were attacked! But first, you must recover!" Tala decisively agreed, knowing that their next date would be where this one started and was rudely abrupted. Hunter analyzed the path, riddled with rocks, dirt and trees, choosing the safest one.
"Let's go! We better get you patched up as soon as possible, Saku! Don't you two worry about me, I'll live with the wound on my chest as if it were a mere cracked claw." Hunter led the path and his toughness was surprising. Still, there was no room or time for these questions as the hard trek was awaiting these three right now.
Back at the main clearing of Maska's clan's territory…
Even if the wolves of Maska's clan were already in their caves and sleeping, in order to replenish their energy for the hunt early in the morning, there was one wolf who was trotting around the caves anxiously. It was Atka. His eyes were showing the anxiety brewing slowly and steadily. Something was preventing him to sleep and lead the hunt tomorrow.
"Atka? My nephew, why aren't you sleeping with the rest of your packmates?" This trotting gained the attention of Maska, who had emerged from the grandiose cave he shared with his mate Anya. Atka looked at his uncle, revealing the anxiety in his eyes and therefore, answered: "Uncle, something doesn't feel right. I couldn't sleep because I can't get rid of that feeling!"
Maska walked slowly down to his nephew and looking in his eyes more carefully, tried to figure out why was he so anxious. He couldn't gain any answer by that, but Atka said it: "It's just that how Saku and Tala headed on their night out, Hunter went to escort them. But he hasn't returned back since then. And Nilak is not in any of the caves."
While that didn't cross Maska's mind at first, he allowed these information to come to his mind and once they had, Maska spoke: "Hmmmmmm, it is strange that Hunter has not returned yet. Nilak, I don't know where he could be right now, but he might have gone on a nocturnal hunt by himself. It's something I cannot recommend to any of you."
"Yeah, uncle. I am not fond of hunting at night and… what was that noise?" Atka answered to his uncle, but something in the distance was heard. It was like a whimper. At first, when he'd heard it, it was like a weak whimper, but after seconds, another one was heard, this one being louder and stronger. It came from the east, where Saku, Tala and Hunter left off at sunset.
"Uncle, I think we have hurt wolves over there!" Atka recognized the whimpers, already recalling in his life that this was something he'd heard before he came to this clan. Both Atka and Maska, with the latter despite being in his elderly ages, was pretty agile and steadfast with his gracious movements. Once they noticed who the hurt wolves were…
"Tala? Hunter?! Saku?! By the spirits, what happened to you?!" Atka gasped in shock and horror upon noticing the sight in front of him. Tala's white and usually clean fur was stained in blood and dirt. Hunter had a shallow slash across his chest, with the blood already dried up. Saku had multiple wounds and out of all three, looked in the worst condition.
Before any of them could spoke, Maska stretched his neck upwards and howled two or three times with a howl that remained in their heads for the remainder of the night. The seconds passed and the clamor was heard from the caves. The wolves were seen emerging from the caves and upon seeing this frightening sight, questions emerged.
"Who did this to them?!" "We are under attack!" "There is an another clan declaring the war on us!" or "What kind of wild animal attacked our packmates?!" All those questions were silenced as Anya stood out of the crowd: "Silence everyone! As much as I'm shocked to see our young packmates Tala, Hunter and Saku in this condition, we must know who did this to them first!"
She looked at them, with her gaze inspecting the wounds from one to another. Then she asked them altogether: "Who did this to you? It looks like this was the attack from the another wolf!" This just caused another clamor by the clan, but the gasp that followed came when Hunter answered to alpha female: "It was Nilak. He was the one who attacked us!"
The silence broke out upon finding out who the real attacker was. Even so, some of them were heard talking: "Nilak?! One of our finest hunters?! How could he turn on his own packmates!?" and "This is outrageous! The other clans will have a bad impression from us!" Anya once again silenced everyone so she could ask the injured ones: "And where is Nilak right now?!"
"He… he fell while Hunter was protecting me and Tala. None of us could see where he fell, it was too dark. We are not sure if he survived the fall either." Saku explained the best he could, knowing that this should have been Hunter's time to talk. The wolves looked at each other, being ashamed that one of their finest packmates dishonored them all.
Saku staggered and whimpered as the pain was stronger as they weren't moving any more. Atka, being concerned for the well being of his packmate, turned around and spoke to few wolves: "Hurry, take Saku to the healing sanctuary! These wounds need to be patched up! Tala, Hunter, it seems that with these wounds, Saku will have to stay in there for a night."
Hearing that, Tala felt how her heart stopped for a bit. Saku was going to be in an another cave, with his wounds possibly being serious?! Tala wanted to protest as she opened her mouth, but Hunter, while being in awe by that news, could take it easier as he answered: "Alright, make sure that his wounds are properly patched up and he isn't in pain anymore!"
As one of the wolves came to take over from Tala so Saku could move with his assistance, Tala unwillingly let her boyfriend go. She watched them head to the healing sanctuary, which was in a more isolated spot. Then, Maska was heard speaking to her and Hunter: "Hunter, Tala? You also seem to be in a bad shape. Maybe you two should follow them."
"Thank you for the offer, alpha Maska, but we'll stay behind. Our wounds aren't nearly as bad as Saku's." Hunter politely declined his offer and Tala nodded. She did it on her own will of course, as she knew that Hunter couldn't make her do something against her own will. Maska nodded, understanding their wish. He looked at the remainder of the wolves, asking them: "Now, now, all of you head back to your caves and replenish your energy! It has been a long night for us all!"
They obeyed their alpha's command and they were seen all of them, one by one, heading back to their caves. Before Tala and Hunter headed to theirs', Atka spoke to Hunter: "Hunter, listen. Since you've been through a lot tonight, you rest tomorrow. You won't have to come hunting with us because we'll go search for Nilak!"
The last few lines were spoken with the fury that Atka couldn't conceal and he didn't seem like he wanted to. Hunter appreciated this coming from him and answered back: "Thank you for understanding, Atka." With that being said, he and Tala watched their scout friend leave to his cave as they walked slowly to theirs.
Their cave awaited them with the coldness. It was equally cold as they found their usual sleeping spot. It wasn't cold because of the night, but because how Tala's eyes were showing anxiety and insecurity. She was seen trembling and that was something when Hunter asked her: "Tala, are you alright? Is it because of Saku?"
As they were laying down on the cold floor of the cave, Tala insecurely looked at her young brother, having her mind being clouded with dark things. She asked him: "Hunter… what if his wounds… are just too serious?! What if his condition gets worse by the dawn!? Or the worst happens…?!" She wanted to remain hopeful, but seeing Saku being taken to the sanctuary derailed her hopes.
Hunter leaned closer to her and bravely whispered to make sure: "Tala, Tala! Look at me! Saku may have been weak as the young puppy, but that does not mean he's not going to make it! You have to stay faithful like I am right now! I believe that his condition is going to get better! I'll be darned if it gets worse by the next morning!"
She did not expect him to say such words, even "darned" kinda creeped her out. Nonetheless, she was happy that her brother was staying strong in this. As she rubbed her white head against his gray chest, she heard a very soft whimper from him and it was not because of the slash. He let her know: "Tala… there is something else that I can't stop think about it."
She looked at the eyes that had the same color as hers and she noticed how Hunter closed her eyes, perked his ears backwards and pointed his muzzle downwards. He said this with a slightly uneasy feeling: "Tala… I think I've become a murderer. While saving you from Nilak, I have thrown him a bit too hard and his fading scream is still haunting me… what if he did not make it?"
"Hunter, don't say that! You're no murderer!" Tala stopped him from thinking about morbid things like that and he obeyed, looking her in his eyes as she decisively continued: "Even if you have done that, I know that it was not your intention! I know that you wanted to protect us, but none of us were expecting it'd lead to that kind of ending of the fight!"
So all three of them were not expecting that Nilak's fall would lead to the end of their fight. He curiously asked her: "Tala… you sound like as if you have very small hopes that he is still alive? Is it normal if I have the same?" She was well aware what she was saying and with that tone, she answered: "Yes. I do. A small part of me wishes that he's made it. I don't know how well he's going to take it, but I do hope he'll seek redemption if he's still alive."
This was something they were thinking about for a few minutes, when the silence ended as Tala smiled weakly: "But if anything, you're still alive, Hunter. I'm happy that you've survived! You're the only member of family I have right now! I love you, my brother." She pressed her head once again against his chest and he did press his head against her neck.
"I love you too, Tala. And may I say how proud I am at you now that you and Saku are in love?" Hunter compassionately asked her and the delightful chuckle came from her. She looked at him from below and in hopes, told him: "I already know how much. Hunter, I hope that one day, you'll have a female for yourself."
The thought of having a female was a delight for Hunter. He could imagine being with one, but he had no idea who'd that be. He whispered to her, as his eyelids were getting heavier: "I really hope that one day I'll find that special someone, Tala, someone who is as kind as you are. As for now, I'll stay with you and Saku, my best sister and my best friend…"
Tala could hear how his voice was getting heavier and after he said "friend", he was finally asleep. The sleep came to Tala very fast as her eyelids couldn't take it anymore. The hope, the anxiety and the uncertain lingered in air as there were some questions that remained unanswered: Was Saku going to recover soon? Did Nilak survive that fall and where was he?