Chapter 6

We have been running for about two hours, and I can feel my paws aching, I was towards the middle of the group, with Amber (Ally) in front of me and Rocky (Ryder) behind.

Suddenly Alder (Asher), who is at the front stops. I don't notice until I run into Rocky (Ryder) and fall back, he didn't budge.

"We stop here for a break, but we are not far enough from the packs to stay for the night." Everyone except me nods, I shake the leaves from my fur.

We had to be at least a hundred miles from the border, I don't see a need to keep going, but I am the youngest by two years, so I must be the only one aching.

We break up to find food, I am on my own. I hear a blue-jay, two mice, and a baby rabbit. The thing is, I have a heart, and that is the reason I do not go on patrols, I hate killing.

~

We are civilized wolves, for the most part, but we still do hunt for our food. The first, and last, patrol I went on was at the age of 12.

Like I said before, we learn and grow a lot from 10-15. After we have learned most of the basics, we can then go on our first patrol.

Mine ended in tears and blood, only one of which was mine. Father was the one to take me on patrol, and the one who was bloody at the end.

I didn't want to go to begin with, but Father says it is "the ride of passage for all wolves." I believe it to be a complete waste of time, and a load of crap, but of course I did not say that to him.

My wolf was 1/3 the size of Father's is, now she is roughly ¾. So, Father was a giant to me, scaring me even more, it was only the first or second time our wolves were both side by side.

I remember standing there for what felt like hours waiting until I heard or smelled an animal. Thinking about it now, it was at most 3 minutes.

I smelled it before I heard it, a baby bunny, and I could not kill an innocent baby. So, I wait, not telling him I smelt something. After maybe 2 minutes, I smelt a bird, I could not tell which bird it was, but I still did not want to tell Father.

After another few minutes of standing still Father growls, "I know you have at least smelt something, I am not stupid, Stella. I could see your nose twitching. You better get one." His tone was stern, making me whimper.

I smelt a mouse next, but my paws would not move. Father grabbed my neck like a kitten and threw me in a bush the mouse was at.

I heard it squeal, I landed on the poor thing. It made me yelp and run out of the bushes and I hid behind a tree. I stood there trembling until Father came up to me with the mouse in his jaws and blood dripping onto his chest fur. The walk back home was terrifying, Father would not stop glaring at me.

Mother was upset at him for making me cry, and furious when she saw the teeth marks on my neck. She was able to heal them, but the deep wound left scars that are still on my neck to this day but that was the end. No more patrolling, ever.

~

I walk back to the area where we put our bags down, the others were already had already changed back. They were sitting around a small fire, a fat bunny on a stick above.

I change as well and head out of the bushes. They all look up at me, "Who caught that one?" I ignore it and walk over to sit beside them.

"Your brother did." Ally pats a spot next to her for me to sit. It is silent for a few moments before Ryder chimes in.

"No luck, huh?" I turn and give him a slight nod. It wasn't that I didn't catch anything, but that I couldn't.

"She hates hunting." Asher, who is turning over our dinner says casually. Cassy knows that too, but she has been quiet.

"Anyone else get something?" I saw that Cass had a small bird beside her, she still stays silent. I have snapped at her before, she always forgives me minutes later, but this time, maybe she snapped. Something was definitely off.

"Hey Cass, can I talk to you?" I look over at her and she lifts her head from the ground and nods, dropping the leaf she was playing with.

We both walk into the trees away from the others, I rub her shoulder, "You okay Cass?"

She immediately starts crying, it was quiet, but I saw her tears and watery eyes. I give her a hug and she lays her head on my shoulder.

"Stella..." Cass whispers through sniffles, "I'm scared."

I rub her back, "Of what? You said you wanted to come; do you not want to anymore? She lets go and pulls away, wiping her eyes.

"I'm scared of losing you." I give her a warm smile.

"Why should you? I am right here, and always will be." She gives a tiny smile back and sits on a large rock beside us.

"I'm scared of losing you because your Mom told me one of her visions." I almost fall back; she couldn't have dropped the bomb lighter?

My mouth is open, but nothing comes out, "I knew you would be like this, disappointed and mad at me for getting all upset about it." Cass sighs.

Finally words come out, "Why would I be any of those? I just couldn't get words out; I am just in complete shock."

She lets out a tiny laugh in an effort to stop crying, "She told me I couldn't tell you, but it was a lot that I can't keep up and the weight is too much."

I have so many questions, too many questions. Where do I even begin to ask? How long has she known? How far away is whatever will happen? Are they in trouble or just me?

I hope it is just me, they do not deserve anything, they just decided to come with me.

"It is just me, right?" She nods and sit beside her on the rock, "Have you told anyone?" She gives a slight head shake.

"You are the first, I have been so scared to say anything. I am scared of what will happen if I do." I grab her hand and rub it; she was taking this a lot harder than I should be.

"Cass, from the long amount of time I've known you, you will make the right decision, and I know it has only been a day since we have left, but I will be okay." I lower my head to see her face, she is smiling.

"Think so?" Cassy finally raises her head to face me.

"I know so."

Cass began smiling as well, "Okay, I trust you, always have, always will."