I sat up in my bed, and I asked myself what was wrong.
Of course, I didn't know... I couldn't even answer that question truthfully.
I just had a bad feeling about everything... There was an empty feeling in me, almost as if I were numb.

...This was the exact feeling I had when saying goodbye...
I hated goodbyes.
But farewells were worse...
It was almost like today was a rainy day, but the sky only held new beginnings...

I felt like a silhouette...
A mere shadow...
My heart was broken...
I felt alone... Too alone.
Why did I feel so alone when I had all I could ever want?
...I felt like I was forever missing something..

But what was I missing?
I didn't even know that.

...The past was creeping up on me. I hated my past...
Something was poking at my soul, almost like I should go on a new journey to figure out what these feelings were...

But going on a new journey meant abandoning my family....
I was trying so hard to move on from my past, to forget, but I can't...

I suppose this is my fate, is it not?
I always walk alone.
A lone wolf, perhaps.

I guess I'll be chasing this new journey alone...
This wasn't my true home was it?
Where was my home?
...I couldn't place it...
I felt out of place.

I could only follow the stars to lead me home.

I longed for something I didn't know.
A light flashed before my eyes, I didn't know what it was or what it could be...

Did I forget about something important?

"SHADOW!" Called Nate and Mat from downstairs...
I raced down the stairs, and when I got down, Eclipse joined my side.

Both Nate and Mat were outside...
I peeked out the door, and then joined them outside...

I saw these group of people...
There was exactly twelve.

Nate and Mat turned to me, "These people said they were looking for you? Are these your friends?" They asked.

I looked deep and hard into all of them. This was what I did when I wanted to look into their hearts and souls...

"No, I do-" My heart began to beat rapidly. All of the shattered pieces of my heart were healed, my soul jumped in place, and my mind flooded with memories of each and every one of these people...

The numbness went away, the longing went away, the missing went away, my heart was with them. I was missing them. I was longing for them.

All of the backstories, all of the memories, all of the moments, they were all back. My eyes pricked with tears...

These weren't strangers...
These were my best friends!
This was my pack!

I remembered.
I remembered my broken past - my past that had once been broken, was once again healed.
How could I forget about them?

I smiled at the bittersweetness.

"My friends," Tears streamed down my face...

Their eyes softened.
Blackout, Crystal, Paige, Evelyn, Karla, Tyler, Xander, Eli, Conor, Danialle, Madee, and Maddie... They were all here.

I looked at Blackout, and it felt like home.
They felt like home.
I was supposed to be with them...
I had to follow them home.

I ran up to Crystal, whom I couldn't believe I had forgotten. I tackled her in a hug, and she hugged back.
We were all reunited.

"My smol child is back!" Paige cheered.
"We missed you!" Conor joined in.
"I'm glad you're back, Shads." Karla smiled.

"I was so worried." Crystal looked at me.
"I was too." I smiled.

We parted from the hug, and I walked back to Nate and Mat...

I looked to them, then to my friends.

"My friends..."

They both nodded in understandment.
"It was good to have you with us, kid."
"You've definitely taught us a thing or two..." Mat smiled.

"I'll miss you guys." I hugged them both, and even Eclipse joined in the hug.
"We'll miss you too, kid."

The hug broke apart, and I looked at them.
"I'm sorry." "...I must go now. Thank you guys for everything.. I love you guys. Farewell Nate and Mat, until our paths cross again in paradise." I tried to walk away with my friends, but Eclipse started to follow.

My heart shattered.
I would have to leave Eclipse behind...

I turned around to Eclipse and bent down to his level. He nuzzled the palm of my hand...
"I'm sorry, buddy. I have to go..." Tears came rapidly down my cheeks.

"You have to stay here. Take care of them for me, okay? I love you Eclipse. We will forever be friends, okay?" I put my head to his forehead. Eclipse whimpered, but I think he understood.

"I won't forget you-" I burried my face into his fur, while hugging him. I cried into my best friend.

I parted away and stood back up.
I smiled, "Try not to be sad. I'll always be here with you..."

I turned around, walked a few paces, then turned back to Eclipse.

"Farewell, Eclipse. Until our paths cross again in paradise."

I turned back around and joined my friends as we walked off to our own adventures.

Eclipse trotted back to Mat and Nate...
They all howled into the sky, and once my friends and I heard them, we howled back.

"Farewell Shadow. Until our paths cross again in paradise." The howl ended.