'RED!'

I finch as Everett pushes his thoughts through the link. He's still learning how to how to control the volume, the force in which things are sent. The feelings of excitement that pulses from the connection from him is only amplified by his wolf's contentment.

My tail waves from side to side, as I pad along the forest. It's hard to say if the pace is quicker or slower than before. On one hand we can go a lot further, and I don't have to boil water, on the other hand Everett is bounding off to explore.

'Quiet, Everett. You don't have to yell, the mindlink is strong since we are so close. I can hear you just fine. Think of it as speaking at a normal tone.' The ribbons had settled into place as strong as Ever. After he got over his surprise, he demanded I teach him how to use it.

'Okay Red.' He runs in circles, zigzagging from one side to the other. His ears are perked, and his tail is wagging. I lower my head, the bag swinging from my jaws. Trotting forwards I adjust my pace to accommodate the extra weight. As I scout the area, Lily keeps close tabs on Everett's whereabouts. The snow has been a constant light fall, though I can smell a larger storm brewing. It's in the air, the winds, everything unseen points towards it.

'Catch me if you can, Red!' He darts off, his small paws pounding against the ground.

Throwing the pack up, I snap it up once more in my jaws. With a good grip I take off it a jog, my claws gripping the frostbitten ground. I can hear Everett skidding, and I lengthen my strides.

I slow down just enough so I can nip at his heels playfully. This spurs him on with an extra burst of energy.

He starts to slow, and flops on his side, legs sprawled out. I drop the bag, and lap at his ears, and down his snout as he pants. I give him a lopsided wolfish grin. "Caught you, Ev."

'Can we eat now?' Everett lifts his head off the ground, staring at me pleadingly.

Pup's need food, I shouldn't be surprised he is hungry, even though I caught what looked to be a sheep, and then a squirrel this morning.

'Yes my inkaer. You know what to do.' I move over to an area with more bushed. Signalling for him to sit, I drop the bag down beside him. "Remember, mindlink and howl if you need me. It won't take me long. Don't move." A hint of power leaks in behind my words. Not enough to force him to do anything, however enough for his wolf to realize it is time to behave.

I leave at a lope, circling around the area. Taking in all the scents, I let Lily takeover. We silently stalk through the brush, one paw after another, carefully placed.

A grey tipped animal stands on its hind legs. Lily focuses on it, crouching. The rabbit seems to feel the presence of a predator as it freezes. The fluffy white and grey pelt ruffling in the wind.

We tear after it. It takes off, moving through the forest trying to reach its burrow.

One leap. Two leaps. One more, and we pin it down. A swift bite to the neck, blood staining the once pure pelt. Lifting up the still warm carcass I retrace my scent back.

'Everett, come eat pup.' Dropping it, I paw at it to expose more of the flesh. 'Come out, Crylle,' I call to his wolf, trying to bring him forwards. His wolf is playful and young, too young, timid at times. I can feel him along the mindlink, within the tangled complex of the ribbons.

They dig into the carcass, and I snag a bit or two before leaving it to them.

Digging a hole, I scrape the hardened ground with my claws. I help Everett bat it and we cover it up. Picking up the pack we start moving towards our destination.

'Red, reme'bar when we was trading?' He pokes at the mindlink, as if trying to understand how it works.

'Yes, Ev. I remember.'

'Why'ah did they yell Omegah.'

My nails sink into the ground, helping me stay steady on the rough terrain. Omegas. Never associate with them, that's what I was taught. The unsaid rules of the hierarchy are firmly placed, and so rigid there is no room to move.

'The Omega probably did something bad.' In the back of my head I know that's not true. It's not uncommon for them to be mistreated for the sake of it. For the sake of reminding them where they belong.

'Wha'h kinda bad thing?'

'Something bad enough.'

'Are Omegas bad?'

I pause in deep thought. What do I tell this child? How can I respond to this properly. I can almost hear my mother's voice telling me to ignore them. Not to pay any heed. 'Don't worry about them Everett.'

'But why'ah?'

'Because, because...' I stumble over the explanation. 'Because you don't need to care about them.'

'Why'ah'"

'It's how it is Everett. Please ask about something else.' The relief floods over me as the silence hangs in the air. It's always that dreaded one word? Lily senses my thoughts and I can feel her amusement with a slightly reprimand for not encouraging his curiosity—I mentally roll my eyes.

'Wha's with thah marks on your arms?' If a wolf could frown I definitely was. My tail is lashing from side to side, and I watch Everett run forwards with an abundance of energy.

I'm brought back to a time when I was chasing after Seliek in the forest. I was newly shifted and was tasked with watching of him until lunch. As we were playing track'n'chase he stumbled upon an Omega washing clothing in the stream. Before I could tell him to stop, he walked right up to the female and yelled, 'S'vela kanae, hello!'

I was running to catch up, and I just glimpsed the Omega jumping in surprise, and Seliek somehow ending up in the waters. The Omega half bowed, fear radiating her completely. Murmuring apologies, I just nodded and went to help Seliek out of the water.

His hands were bleeding, one of his knees skinned. It would heal in no time.

We went straight back to our mother and she cleaned him up. I was sitting on the stool, watching over the stew.

After dinner father pulled me aside. I knew Mother had told him what happened and my wolf was not liking the aura coming off of him. He told me to hold out my arms and of course I listened.

His claws came down three times, a sharp pain cutting through the confusion. I remember his exact words, "One for putting the future in danger. One for speaking to a lesser, an Omega, and one for disobedience."

Lily helped heal the wounds up, however that wasn't the last time. The scars are but pink lines, however the memories are as fresh as ever.

'The marks are called scars, Everett.'

The dreaded question, however the one I am prepared for follows. 'Why'ah do you have them?'

'I have them because I made a mistake.'

His big, fearful, puppy eyes look up, as he stops right in front of me. 'If I make mis-take, I won't get scarah's... Will I?'

I lick his ears, and rub my head on his side. "No my inkaer, not in the same way. Never in the way I got mine. However, we still must be careful of mistakes, but never fear them."

'How did you get them?'

'Someone was...' I ponder on the words. Words are powerful tools, and one must be careful and choose wisely. "Was not playing nicely."

'Who?' He hops around, his tail held high and brushes against my legs. He nips at my heels and I can feel his wolf so close to the surface.

The sweet grassy scent, with a hint of blossoms is more prominent with Crylle's appearance. Crylle—Everett's wolf—is rather a character, a braver natured side that liked to fuel Everett's curiosity.

'Just an old pack member. That is all pup. It is all in the past now.' The reassurance is not only for him, but myself as well. Somehow putting it into words make it feel more believable. The weight of the memories are ones I'm used to carrying, but to have them brought into the light is still just as difficult as it used to be.

The storm I sensed coming seems to have decided that it's time. First came a flurry of snowflakes, drifting down, covering our tracks and coating the tips of our fur. Then came the harsh winds, cutting through the sheets of white. And now the I can barely see what is in front—I rely heavily on Lily for guidance. Our temperature slowly adapts to the changes, and our pelt keeps the warmth in.

Slowly, I turn around to see Everett slowing down. 'Come Ev. We must keep moving.'

'Cold, Red, and paws hurt.'

I force the fur back, exposing my skin to the cold. The air itself isn't too bad, however the winds have an extra nip to them. Using the ropes and extra cloth I tie two loops to the bag. The flares of heat help combat the cold, though it dissipate without anything to be trapped in.

I gladly shift back, and slip the bag on. One loop loosely around my waist and the other around my neck. It's not very comfortable, however it's what is needed.

Going over to Everett I grab him up by the scruff. He's paws wave at nothing as he tries to walk. After making sure he is secure I start at a steady trot. As the storm seems to be getting worse, I swerve. Turning some aren't head into the wind.

The trees become more condensed, overnight more shelter. I decide to stop by a hollow log. Crawling into it, I put Everett down, and curl around him. I start to groom his fur, getting his blood flowing quicker. Encasing him in my warmth, I can see his shivering start to slow.

We both must have dozed off, for when I wake up it take only seconds for them to realize we are in the dark. Did we really sleep that long?

I listen for the breeze rustling the branches, but everything seems to have calmed down.

'Everett, I think we should start on our way again.' I give I'm a mental nudge, just enough to awaken him. He doesn't respond until I tap him with my paw. 'Come, Ev. I don't know how much further we need to go.'

Stepping over him, I run into a wall of snow. Shaking my pelt out, I look around to see the sun is still up. Sticking my head into the log, I prod Everett through the link again. When he doesn't respond, I grab him by the scruff and carry him out. The light seems to do wonders, as he slowly starts to wriggle, wagging his tail.

I drop him into a thick layer of snow, and I give a barking kind of laugh. The tingles of amusement spread, and Lily grins.

Walking through the darkening forest Lily seems wary. She heightens our senses, however I can't detect anything. Everything is so white and frost covered.

Everett bounces through the snow, leaping through it to watch the snow fly up and glitter. His brown coat makes him easy to spot, however he could easily disappear under the snow if he choose to.

I pause to take a bite of snow, letting it melt within my jaws. Everett watches me curiously before following suit. He sticks his whole muzzle into the snow and throws his head back. I can hear his teeth clicking together, as he seems to eat it. I can hear rushing water somewhere ahead, though it most likely is too quick to drip from.

The fur around his muzzle is coat in even more in snow, giving the appearance of an aging wolf. Lifting on paw, I flick some snow at Everett, then proceed to look away. I can feel Everett looking at me, and then bits of snow hit my side.

Turning my head, my tongue lolls out, ears swivelling. He bows playfulling, before jumping up. I tilt my heads, before pouncing. Everett's eyes gain an honey coloured ring, and he's off. I can tell Crylle is lending Everett a hand, for he starts to run under bushes, and scrambling through the denser areas.

'Come here you little bugger.'

'Nevah!'

Lily loves a good chase, and we start to speed up. However instead of going right for it, we curve around. Everett can probably sense we are somewhere close, but he's only newly shifted. I doubt he'll be able to understand all of what Crylle's sense are telling them.

We aren't that far from him. Our paws dig into the snow, our claws helping us propell forwards. As we circle around, we can heard Everett panting, though the enjoyment through the link tells us all we need to know.

A jolt of fear runs up the link, hitting my like an angry moose.

'Red! Help!'

Rushing through the grounds I try and find Everett. I hear whimpering, ahead, and as I follow his whines, the sound of water grows. I can't hear him, but the link is wide open.

Pushing through the fear, I try and comfort Everett. 'I'm coming Everett!'

Following the quick waters, the snow isn't as deep. The water splashes, melting some of the snow, however it's twice as slippery. The ice surface, melting with the sun, and freezing under the moon. My claws scrape and scratch as my heart beats faster and faster—my nervousness mixes with Everett's.

The trees fly by as I follow the flow of the current. The adrenaline and Lily both push me to my limits. I can see Everett's head bobbing. He's small paws flail in the waters as he goes under again.

I howl. A call for what? I'm not sure. A call for Everett, a call for Crylle?

'Paddle, Ev!'

'Red! Help me! Please, Red!' His panicky voices fills my head, and I can almost hear Crylle's cries in the background.

'Come towards the shore.'

I can see him trying to move towards the shore, however he keeps going under. Speeding up, I try and get ahead. Maybe if I enter at an angle I can swim over to Everett.

Before I can fully form a plan, a white blur ahead jumps in. A large white coloured wolf, it powerfully makes its way through the water, and takes a hold of Everett by his scruff. The wolf with Everett swims with the current, aiming diagonally to the edge.

I race up to meet them. Bowing my head in acknowledgement and thanks, I pull Everett over to me, lapping at him. His shivers shake his entire body.

'Thank the stars you are okay!' I let my relief flood the mindlink as I nuzzle him closer.

'I'm scared Red!'

'Shh, it's okay. You are safe now, you are with me,' I whisper through the link.

I don't notice the male shifter until he is right behind the she-wolf. I nod to him in greeting as well. I work at Everett, carefully going over all of his fur making sure none is left untouched.

"S'vela," the male greets out loud, returning the nod to me. Holding his hands out to show he has nothing in them as he comes close; an angry she-wolf with a pup isn't one to mess with. "Not many take this hard journey for nothing. You must be here for a particular reason. I am Zaeril and my companion is Fawl. We are of the Axinla pack. If you obey the laws of the land, no harm shall come to you. If you break it, you will not be welcomed."

The weight of the warning is immense. If one of the healing packs drove you out, the others would be very hesitant to help as well. No, that wouldn't be good, considering most of the trained healers are centered in those areas.

Growling softly, I try and convey my understanding. My tail waves slowly, and I remain in a passive stance.

"It would be good if you could shift. We will wait here as you do so."

Picking up Everett by the scruff I go only far enough as not to be seen. Wriggling out of the straps, the bag drops to the ground with a small thud. Willing the fur to recede, I go from kneeling to standing. Pulling on my dress and cloak, I sling the pack onto my shoulder. Bending over I gather Everett's fluffy form into my arms, and make my way out.

"S'vela kanae. Thank you so much for saving Everett. I am Redaliya."

"Not a problem, we couldn't just sit back and watch a pup drown. So why are you here, Redaliya?" Zaeril asks, a slightly guarded expression crossing his face. I can't blame him for being cautious about a Solus—a lone wolf.

"I need some help with a problem I have. But with recent event my pup Everett has shifted much earlier than usual and I'd like to get some help with making sure he is okay." I press Everett against my chest, making sure to keep him away from the winds.

"Were you ever in a pack?" the male asks, and the white wolf known as Fawl follows behind.

"A while ago, but I left." Yes, I left, it makes it sound like there was an actual choice I had to make. It is a story I'd rather Everett not be around if I have to explain.

He sniffs the air, probably trying to check what my rank was. I'm surprised neither of them have caught on before, but I suppose there were focused on saving Everett. Unlike other shifters, these two will probably recognize my scent. It's like someone sprinkled moondust all over me.

His eyes mist over, and I can see the glaze appear on the she-wolf as well—mindlinking.

I don't know the path we are taking, but I assume they know their territory. I didn't even realize I was on pack land. We must have crossed over when Everett was being washed down.

As we move I start to see paw trails and tracks from the pack members inhabiting the land. After a few moments of silence and walking, the male blinks twice, clearing his eyes.

"Luna Redaliya."