Last night the thunder and lightning ceased, but the rain continued. Everett's sleep was fitful, and mine no better. I wake up every few hours to lull him back to sleep, and to add branches to the dwindling fire. After the moon was starting its decent the nightmare must have stopped, and we both slept the rest of the night.

The rain kept up for two moonrises, and today we didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky.

My hands fidget, and there is an itch beneath my skin. I watch Everett nibbles on some greens while I work on skinning this rabbit. I had caught it just outside our den, when the rain had let up for a moment. The knife slices through the skin, and it feels like I'm back in the kitchen with my mother and sister. My movements are mindless, as the memories pull me deeper.

"Opalescence, come and skin this hare. And let's pray to Lua Lupa that you don't mess it up this time." My mother's voice echoed down the hall as she called for me. I could scent my sister was there with her, and she was probably plucking feathers from the chicken, having—according to our mother—already mastered the practice of skinning.

I scowled at the summons. Who cares if I couldn't skin an animal without ruining the meat. It's not like anyone's going to see it as it just ends up cut up for the stew.

"Opal! Your father will be back soon, and everything needs to be ready. Don't make your sister do everything for you." The annoyance increased, as I made my way to the kitchen. Taking a seat on a chair, I picked up the knife, and started to remove the pelt. "Remember your manners. Remember not to leave the table until told. Remember to eat what's given to you, and for moon's sake remember to hold you tongue."

She always went through this with my sister and I. Always remember this and remember that, don't do this or that. Just be quiet was the general tone of it.

A small trickle has me looking down. A small trail of blood from my finger tip, but even as I watch the blood stops and the small cut starts to heal up. The sudden urge to recite the book of etiquette presses upon me, a practice my mother had us do often. She prided herself in knowing we had memorized the whole book.

I start to prepare the hare, as Everett walks around the cave. I think last night's dreams had shaken him. Lily helps me keep attentive tabs on him, and his doings. Rolling up the pelt, I stash it for trading.

"Don't maintain eye contact. Be light on your feet. Remember formalities and remember to cease your imaginations." Muttering under my breath, the words I remember so vividly surface. Stuffing the hare with berries and trefola, I sit down to watch as it cooks.

"Red, who are you talking to? What are you saying?" Everett's words cut through my thoughts, and looking up smiling softly. His blonde hair is a mess, and his clothing completely dirty. I add a new pair of clothes for the pup to my list.

"I was just remembering something. Just remembering." My stomach twists, I don't want Everett growing in a world like mine. Not many would take an orphaned pup, and even if someone did, the chances of them being treated like the Omegas are high.

"Wha' something." He leans against my side, resting his arms on my shoulder.

The scent of meat starts to fill the who den. I'm glad to have some fresh meat, and not being forced to fall back on the dried meat I had prepared yesterday. "Everett, I think after we eat, the rain will be light enough for us to travel again."

A wide grin spreads across his face, his green eyes glinting. "I wanna play track'n'chase. Please Red!"

"Let's eat first. It will be done soon." I turn hare over, letting the rabbit become charred. My wolf doesn't care much for burnt meat, however it's better for Everett. Something about the raw meat being harder to digest for those without their wolves yet. Not really sure, but it's a common practice.

"I wanna play a game." He tugs my dress to get my attention. "Please, I wanna play a game."

"I heard you the first time Everett. As I have said, we need to eat first, then I can play with you." He sulks, and I point to the entrance of the den. "You see that branch Everett, bring it to me." It's not very big, maybe half his size in length. He drags it over walking backwards, and drops it beside me.

"Here it iz! Now game?" Everett's voice is pleading, bordering on a whine.

"Thank you for the branch, and please calm down Everett. I know you want to play a game, however I have told you we need to eat first. You can also see that I am doing something." Using the folding knife, I cut the branch to create disks; all about the same size. Onto one side, I carve simple symbols.

"What iz it?" He picks up a disk, inspecting it.

"It's a game." I turn over the pieces so the symbols are face down. "See? So you have to find the pieces that have matching symbols. You can only turn two over at once." Flipping over two piece I point to the symbols. "They aren't the same, so I have to flip them back over. You can play it here beside me and I'll watch you while this finishes cooking.

A lot of the time this game is used to help pups memorize pack symbols or different kinds of plants.

"Okay!" He settles on the ground, spreading the new found game out.

Walking to the den entrance I take in the metal bowl that was collecting rainwater. Sliding it into the fire to boil, and pull the hare out of the heat. As it cools off, I tear off pieces, handing them to Everett. The meat is a tad dry, however the protein is welcomed by both of us. We finish it quickly, and I take a sip of the water, before giving the rest to Everett.

"Everett, put the game in this cloth and tie it up with some of the cord. Then wait by the entrance for me." Snuffing out the fire with dirt, I start to clean up. The fire starts and knife are in my pocket, some herbs and cordage in my apron, and everything else is in the pack.

"I wanna finish the game." Everett stays seated, looking down at the wood disks.

"Everett." My tone conveys it all, as he looks up, locking his gaze with mine. The rain's but a drizzle, not even the perfect time to start moving again. "We need to move, now please pack up the game like I asked you to. And perhaps if you listen I will play chase with you."

With a small pout he obediently stacks the chips in the cloth, holding it so I can tie it up. I place it in my apron, and start to fill the den up. His obedience pleases my wolf and I. A deep rooted command, it was drilled into my mind since I was born. Obedience will let you live, disobedience will get you killed. As a female, as a she-wolf with an active bloodline—it dictates whether one is apart of the upper hierarchy—, obedience was always emphasised.

The earth is wet beneath my fingers as I shovel handfuls to fill up the hole. Everett tries to help, throwing the occasional rock in. We don't cover it up completely, however it's good enough that you'd have to get close to catch our scent. I doubt anyone would be passing by, and stop to inspect, so within a few days our scent should have dissipated enough.

"Are you mad, Red?" Everett's soft quivering voice reaches me, as he links his hands together in front of himself.

My eyes soften as I look down at the young pup. "No Everett. I am not mad at you, but I need you to listen when I ask you to do something. I understand you are a pup, but please try to understand that this situation is not ideal."

We walk, and the grassy plains turn into shrubbery. I pick all the berries I scent out, feeding them to Everett in attempts to keep his water levels higher.

As promised we did play chase, which normally ended with Everett hanging upside down in my arms giggling profusely. Lily was scratching to come out and play, however I couldn't shift during the game. I'm holding Everett, and he's leaning against me, his breathing heavy. I hum the tune to Lua Evrine D'amore, a lovely song. Everett tries to join in, though his notes fall a bit flat.

I trail off, becoming quiet. Walking downwind, I scent the air. Trees, bushes, flowers, all of it is filtered out as I lock down the one thing I'm looking for. A pack. The territory line is ahead, I can smell the scent wall they have created from scouting.

"What's going on, Red?" Everett peers into the forest, trying to see what I'm focused on.

"Well, Everett. There is a pack coming up soon. I think we should stop there and trade for some more items. Maybe we could wash up there as well." Both of us could use a washing; thankfully the forest's fragrance has been mostly disguising our natural one. The grim and dirt is something I'm used to, however it is about time a cleaning's due.

Standing behind the territory line, I wait for the Scouts to be notified of my presence. I'm not waiting very long before I feel the presence and hear the footsteps of shifters. They appear from the trees, looking around for whoever is knocking on their borders. I can feel their eyes trained my way, but not yet locked onto me.

I should have spoken to Everett before we reached the pack. It slipped my mind that he probably doesn't know how to behave here. It is imperative that we do nothing to anger the pack. No Solus will ever win against a pack member on pack territory.

"Remember your manner of pack life." A hissing voice, a tendril of a memory coils itself around my mind. Squeezing it demands obedience, I fight back.

"S'vela." The traditional greeting passes my lips, and I tilt my head down in acknowledgment. I am no threat to them, and my pride was not something I'd let get in the way. Concealing my thoughts has been taught since I left the womb.

"S'vela kanae." The males nod respectfully, responding with the customary response.

My thoughts race, what do I do now? What should I say? Taking a deep breath, I recall the etiquette I've been taught. Most packs have a trading time, it lasts for a few sunrises close to the full moon. "I am stopping by for the trading days."

Their eyes glaze over, a fog of being somewhere else. Only moments pass until they respond. "Yes, of course. We have set up an encampment for those who have arrived early. I have informed my Alpha of your presence, and he of his Beta will be stopping by to meet with everyone within the next two sunrises."

"Of course. Thank you for the hospitality." Throughout the encounter Everett is silent. I don't scent any fear coming from him, but his hands are locked on my dress.

"Come, I will escort you to the area. There are a few rules which I will run through now." Nodding along as we start to walk, I notice the plants are flattened down creating an almost unnoticeable path. The smell of the territory is strong, all the shifter's scents mingling together. Everett sneezes, and wipes his nose on his sleeve.

"Watch your head, Ev," I murmur to him as I duck under a long hanging tree branch.

The shifter behind us stays a few paces away, as we all follow the first male. He starts to outline the rules. I'm sure to listen carefully, for any holes in it could cause an issue. "Here are the guidelines of the Rewli pack's trading days. Do not cross over the designated area into pack member land without specific permission. Any fights among traders or pack member is prohibited."

A small shiver races up my spine. They seem nice enough, however as a packless, a Solus you can never completely trust pack wolves.

"You may use the stream in the encampment to bathe of gather water, and hunting and gathering may only occur off of pack lands. Any of these found broken will be dealt with accordingly."

"Of course, thank you." I keep my head tilted slightly, and eyes in front, casted to the ground. The trees shelter the area from the wind. A natural barrier, that dulls the sharp edge of winter it has gained. The sun is warm against my skin, and it casts a golden glow around the forest.

We are lead on the edges of the land. Which make sense, for who wants outsiders to know the way to the heart of the pack. Dipping in we head in a straight line. The trees turning lovely shades of oranges and reds; the sunlight really highlighting the bright colours.

The dense greenery opens up to the encampment. There is a quiet buzz around the place as shifters hustle around. There is a surprising amount of Solus wolves in the area.

"This is the trading area..." He pausing, realizing he doesn't know how to address me.

It takes me a moment to comprehend what needs to be said. "Redaliya. You may call me Redaliya, and this is my charge Everett." I had to bite my tongue not to say Opalescence. That name is gone, I cannot be known as it, for I cannot tell what packs my Father has ears in.

"What is your rank?" The male looks to be mindlinking. His Alpha probably telling him what to say; gathering information about all who step onto their land.

Hesitating, I weigh my options. It is dangerous to say a packless, though that is what we are. If I said I was a packless then they would know that if they harmed me they would not risk angering another pack. However, saying I am from a Beta lineage means questions about my family. They can most likely feel the aura of power; even if Lily and I hide it as best we can. My only other choice is Luna, a child of Lua Lupa. How I hated that title, but it may be the only thing that would satisfy their questions.

"I am a child of the moon." I hold my breath, waiting for what is to come.

"Aren't we all." The male nods, and before he leaves he says, "Well, s'vela kanae. My Alpha has informed me he will stop by before the moon is high in the sky."

Stepping into the encampment and decide on an area closer to the edge of the territory. Not close enough that Everett could wander off while my back was turned, but not far enough that if something happened we couldn't bolt. My instincts force me to settle in the middle, unwilling to settle anywhere else.

"Red, look! Wa-teerrr." Everett points to the side, where I can make out a long body of water.

I set Everett down, my arms thankful for the freedom. Stretching them out, hold out my hand to him. "Come, let's go see. I think we will wait until I've traded for new clothes before we bathe and wash up."

He presses himself into me. "No."

"Can we just go and see what it's like?" I look down at the child, a tinge of fear leaking into his scent. Lily growls, my stance widening to stand in front of him. He hangs onto my leg with both arms, and buries his face into my leg, mumbling a quiet agreement.

Going down on one knee I wrap my arms around him, whispering softly. "Okay Everett. It's okay my Inkaer. We will only look from a distance." Gathering him in my arms, I walk across the designated area, over to look at the stream.

The trickling, greenish water spirals through the territory and the disappearing rays of light reflect off the surface. The mossy rocks stand strong among the current, still thriving in the growing cold.

"Red." He shivers, wrapping his arms tightly around me. "Go now?"

Running my hands through his soft hairs, I try and calm his shaking. Turning around I walk towards further away still following the river. The fear radiating off of Everett lessens, and the night starts to close in. "Okay Everett, thank you for your patience and for coming with me. I appreciate that from you. We can head back now, the Alpha may be waiting."

"A'pha." Everett grins, as we walks away. "My A'pha was a meanie."

My eyebrows furrow at the information he presented. "Do you remember who your Alpha was?"

"A'pha A'pha." He just repeats the word over again. It's common in a lot of pups. They address their pack member who are ranked by their titled. It enforced obedience in a hierarchy or that's what I was taught.

"Do you remember why you were alone?" I ask softly, hoping to learn more of his story. Perhaps his memories are starting to clear up.

"Umm. A bears attack?" He seems to ask, very unsure about the words he says.

"That's alright Everett. Now before we reach the sleeping area, please listen to what I have to tell you." I bring his attention to me, locking eyes. "Everett, we are going to be on pack land. We must be careful and polite while here."

"Okay," he chirps, tilting his head up to gaze at the darkening sky.

The leaves are soft as I tread along the forest floor, following my scent back to the area. As we pass by the line splitting the encampment with the pack, a stifled scream echoes. Everett perks his head up, looking around a frown adorning his face. In the distance I could hear shouting. "Wiellre. Be grateful for what we have given you Omega." The words are said with such disdain, and the curse word was spat out.

"What's that?" Everett inquires, looking in the direction of the voices.

"Nothing my inkaer. Come, we are almost there." I pick up the pace, moving away from the fight. Turning away, I shield Everett from the direction hoping for no more questions.

"Red, what was that?" He tugs a lock of my hair lightly, tries to peer around me as I carry him away.

"Do not mind it Everett. Come, our dinner can be the dried hare." I glide across the forest, hurrying to get back. Retracing my scent I find the spot I had chosen before. Feeding Everett the dried meat, I redirect his efforts to the food. The questions cause my pulse to race, as I stumble over my answers. "Finish your food, Everett." I hand him another strip, taking a piece for myself as well.

Goes a few paces away, I stop at the pile of shelter sticks to pick up three along with a thin blanket. Going back to Everett, I fasten two of them in the ground with just enough room to lie between them. The third stick is placed on top, in the crevices so I can drape a blanket over it.

"Everett." I beckon him over from his sitting position. "Please hold this down." I place his foot on one end of the blanket, so I can pull the other side over. Feeling around I find some rocks to hold the corners down. "Come Everett, come in. The moon is in the sky, and it's time for us to sleep."