FALL

An echo could be heard within the still room- the rhythm of the foot as it beat repeatedly upon the ground in its nervous energy.

Four males glared at each other, a look of anger and unease crossing between them.

The grin from the girl appeared odd within the group as her bright smile traveled back and forth to each face.

"You say you want to train to be a healer?"

Sansa nodded, her face unfolding into one of hopeful want as she stared at the male who spoke.

His hand rose to run through his hair- the movements laced with frustration as his head began to shake back and forth. 

"Sansa, I don't know how to word this but...Doctor Tallum put within your record that you would not be...fit...to train as a doctor."

"Not a doctor. A healer."

The male sighed, his face twisting into a scowl from her words.

The male next to him leaned over, whispering for all to hear, "she might still be Jacob's..."

A look of agreement passed between them.

Warren had been silently sitting beside Sansa, his face impassive and unreadable. Only with the whispered words did his façade break to show the livid anger that hid inside.

"Why can't she just train to be a healer as she requests? As Alpha, I would think you would want more medical minds within your pack."

"Don't start now Warren."

The two males glared at each other. Before their silent war was broken by the fourth male present.

"I don't mind training her."

All eyes turned to face the one who had spoken. He was the youngest male within the room- his face still unblemished with age. There held a certain level of authority in his stance- but it was different than the one of the leaders that sat across from him.

"Doctor Nox..."

The doctor smiled, an icy edge held in the expression as he spoke, "Those words were written by the previous pack doctor. They hold no authority for me now. I don't even think he diagnosed Sansa correctly. I see no disability on her end that would allow her to not be able to learn medicine from me. And besides...out of all the pups who are choosing their paths, she is the only one to express an interest in healing...should not we value that?"

The Alpha turned to the male beside him, both of them talking only with their eyes.

"If you and Beta Garret wish to talk outside..." Doctor Nox gestured towards the door. The Beta's mouth twisted as if something sour had been placed upon his tongue. Unlike his second in command though, the Alpha was able to control his features enough to shake his head and decline the offer.

"Doctor Tallum may have passed with little warning, but he didn't leave us with no information for the future...he made sure it was known the state-,"

"I am here."

Sansa felt the eyes of the males turn at her spoken words.

She smiled at their startled expressions.

"Yes, hello. Alpha- You are aware that I am still present in this room, correct? Furthermore, I will become a healer, whether you allow it or not. My father has already offered a placement within his own pack for me to undergo my training, but I would prefer staying and continuing here. Whichever you choose though- I will become a healer."

Warren smiled beside her, a look of triumph in his gaze as he stared down the Alpha and Beta, watching to see if they would notice her bluff.

The Alpha stood.

"Allow me a few minutes to talk to my Beta."

The two men exited the room, their hurried whispers heard through the door as the frantic conversation rose in both speed and volume.

Doctor Nox sighed and leaned back against his chair, a weary hand rising to cover his eyes.

"I apologize that you have to go through this Sansa. If it were up to me alone, you would already be in the clinic learning."

Sansa only smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

The door behind them abruptly opened. The Alpha and Beta did not bother to sit back down. Both eyes stared down Sansa, a new look of determination in their gaze.

"Sansa, before we decide, we have to ask you several questions."

She stilled, her features becoming tense at their words.

Warren's eyes looked between them, his body slowly moving to edge partially in front of her.

"Why do you go into the woods every day?"

Sansa met Warren's eyes. She felt her pulse quicken, the answer just on the tip of her tongue before she shoved it back down.

There was a long pause- an agonized wait of silence before she murmured, "I like the lake."

The Alpha edged closer, sensing the unease in her answer as he asked his next question.

"Do you still see your....stranger in these woods?"

Sansa's breath quickened. She clenched her hands, her breath pulling in deeply before she slowly, shook her head.

"Alright Sansa..." the Alpha sounded slightly disappointed in her admittance to his truth. He glanced back at his Beta who was intensely staring at Sansa- as if he could somehow read the lies on her face.

"My last request is not a question. It's a truth. A statement. I need to hear you confess to me that you made it up."

"Made what up?"

She looked up in panic as the realization of his words hit her the exact moment he whispered, "I need you to tell us that you make up what you see in the woods. That there never was a stranger there. That he isn't real. He doesn't exist. If you do that, then I will know you are stable enough to take this role for the pack."

Warren turned to Sansa then.

She knew what he wanted her to say. She knew what they all wanted her to say.

She felt the nails of her hand dig into the palms.

Her heart ached, like it was slowly being ripped piece by piece as she admitted a lie to omit the truth, "I made it up Alpha. I'm sorry. He's not real."

 *   *   *

She stumbled through the woods, tripping over a hidden root.

The tears in her eyes blinded her from the path, but she knew it to well to fall.

Soon the lake came into view, the area she had desperately been heading towards.

Slowly she came to a stop to take in the clear water that spread before her. Silently she sat down, folding her legs into the forest floor.

Tears fell from her eyes, her sobs quiet as she bent her head down to rest on her knees.

"I'm sorry."

She whispered the words to no one. Her confession falling on nothing but the silence of the surrounding wild. Time passed then, with her staying in the same position as she took even breaths in the attempt of calming down.

She raised her head, looking around at the woods, but she knew it was useless.

He wasn't here.

She could tell, a feeling of pure instinct within her, that he was not with her.

"Night."

Her odd word spoken during the day made sense only to her mind. Sansa looked at the tree where he usually was, her lips curving into a sad smile as she began to speak to nothing but the silent birds.

"Today I had my pack evaluation. We all go through it when we turn fifteen...I wonder if you went through it..." she paused to wipe away a falling tear from her face as she continued, "I wonder what you would have done if you heard what they said to me..." She laughed then, imagining the dangerous growl that would leave his lips.

Her words fell away. The birds paused with her, taking a moment to let her speak if she needed to. When she did not though, they resumed in their singing, blissfully unaware of the tortured soul that they soothed with their melody.