Reunion

No,"Alva whispered,almost collapsing on the ground."Not Luna."

Cloud let out a soft moan,burrying his head in Alva's fur.Alva licked his head gently."Be strong,"she encouraged then,hiding her fear,led both of them to the body.To their horror another body was behind Luna's,a young wolf named Rock,who's long gray coat was oozing blood onto the snowy ground.

"Children,"Alva lifted her head to see their father,Adolfo,staring down at them."Where were you when this happened?"

Alva openend her mouth to speak,but Leon cut them off.

"You two!"he hissed angrily,baring his teeth in front of Cloud."Lightning is missing and you two decide to run off and play while my mate is killed?"

"No,it's not like that,sir,"Alva explained."We knew Lightning left so we went out looking for her."

"Why would she leave the camp?"Adolfo tipped his head."She knows better then that."

"Because I told her not to,"Cloud mumbled."But she went anyway."

"And where is my daughter now?"Leon looked at both of them.When none of them replied,he swatted Cloud across the face,knocking him down."WHERE IS SHE?!"

"She got killed!"Alva cried quickly.Gasps followed her words in suprise and horror.More quietly she added,"By a human Smoker.They took her body with them.W-We thought she was following us but she ran across the human path.C-C-Cloud tried to save her and risked his life,but it wasn't enough."

Alva bowed her head quietly.Leon did not speak,just let shear horror overcome his body until he realized his entire family was dead.

"YOU PIECE OF FOX DUNG!"he howled,barreling into Cloud."You didn't try to stop her from leaving!Too busy thinking about your training!You didn't convince her enough!You caused both of their deaths!"

"I know what the humans can do!You think I didn't learn that after my mother?!"Cloud cried angrily.The whole camp fell silent,even Cloud,who felt guilty after what he had just said.Alva stered down at her paws,wondering what would happen next.Maybe she'd be the Omega,maybe she'd be killed or driven out.

Leon lifted his head,his eyes as cold as the storm that was coming."You two,"he hissed."Get out of my pack."

Silence.

"WHAT?!"Adolfo hissed in disbelief,breaking the silence."You're going to drive out two pups?!They did nothing wrong!You heard what Cloud said,he told her not to go.He even risked his life to save her!"

"That wasn't enough!"Leon hissed back."If he had tried harder or had been quicker,Luna and Rock might not have been killed looking for her."

"Leon,listen to yourself-You're just making excuses,"a male wolf one year older than Alva stepped forward.His dark gray coat had tinges of red fur at the ends,with blood dripping in his eyes.His name was Vartan.He was one of the wolves chosen by Adolfo to go on the search party to look for the pups.But while they were looking,they'd been ambushed by wolves who brutally killed Rock and Luna.Rock had been Vartan's brother so,to avenge his death,Vartan attacked the large brown wolf that had killed him.Unfortunately,the wolf cut open Vartan's front right leg,(which was now gone)causing him to fall and for the murderous wolf to blind him completely.No sight,missing paw,he was probably going to be the Omega,so it didn't matter what he said.

Alva smiled to herself.Vartan was so brave for standing up for them!She wanted to thank him,but he continued on.

"These pups are innocent.Do NOT drive them out.They should not be punished-"

"Not be punished?"Leon growled,foam bubbling from his mouth.He was CLEARLY not impressed."I'll rip their throats out and feed them to the bears.I'll-"

"That's enough,Leon!"Adolfo jumped in front of his pups."We are leaving.I don't want to be ruled by a wolf like YOU."

"Good,"he said."I don't have to waste my time driving you out.You will go too,Vartan,and any wolf that wishes to follow them."

Most of the wolves cowared at the thought and hung back but two wolves,Bumble,and Dapple,stepped forward.

"We will join you,"Dapple announced,raising her head proudly.

"Thank you,"Adolfo dipped his head.To Leon,he growled,"We're leaving.I hope you're happy for what you've done."

Leon did not answer to him,but leaned down at Cloud."Keep looking behind you,PUP,because I will come back for you to avenge my family's deaths.YOU are the one who's going to die next."

"Lauren?Lauren,can you hear me?"a voice over her head called.It sounded far away and distance but,as she gained consciousness,Lauren discovered the voices were right above her head.It was Alison,Jacqueline,and Maya.

"Oh,thank God,she's okay!"Sarah cried happily.

"We were,like,SO worried about you!"Jaqueline gave Lauren a tight hug.

Lauren looked around.She was in the lodge's emergency room with a young teenager treating another person across the room.Next to her bed were a box of chocolates,a bear,and balloons that read,"Get Well Soon!"

"Uggghh,"she rubbed her head."What happened again?"

"YOU tell US,"Jacqueline pointed to her.

"You fainted on the patio,"Maya explained."And then you hit your head and got that big bump."

Lauren rubbed her head and felt a large bump on the side of her forehead.Drowsily she asked,"Can I get a water bottle or something?"

"Here,"Alison opened a mini fridge and opened a bottle of water.Lauren thanked her and drank half the thing in five seconds."

"Is that why you fainted?"Sarah asked."Were you dehydrated?"

"No,not that.I felt fine,but then..."she sighed."No,it'd sound really stupid if I said it."

"Well,you gotta tell us.The doctor's gonna ask anyway,"Jacqueline pushed.

"Fine,"Lauren muttered."But you have to promise not to laugh."

"We promise,"they all said,nodding.

"Okay,"Lauren took a quick breath of air."My scarf blew off my neck and onto the patio of the guy's next door."

"Wait,wait,wait.Which one?Which guy?"Maya popped more question's.

"The room on the right side.The guy with the spiky blonde hair."Lauren explained."Anyway,I just looked at him and..."

"You FAINTED?!"Maya's voice was booming with outrage."So,he's so hot that you fainted."

Jacqueline and Alison laughed loudly,unaware of the doctor heading towards them.

"So,Lauren,right?"he asked.

"Yep."

"Well,you hit you're head pretty hard,so I suggest to just lay down with an icepack and relax.No skiing or snowboarding."

"Wait,do you know why I fainted?"she asked hopefully.

"No,actually,that's what I was going to ask you.Were you feeling ill or dizzy,by any chance?"

"Uh..."Lauren shook her head,making something up."I think I was just dehydrated or something.I haven't drinken much today."

"Hm..."he changed the subject."Well,if you say so.And there was a young man who wanted to see you."

Alison,who had stopped laughing already,gave Lauren a thumbs up.Jacqueline mouthed,"Hope he's hot!"Maya just giggled excitedly.

"Okay,"Lauren said casually.

"Alright,I'll let him in."he walked outside,along with the other patient.

"Could I just have some alone time with him?"Lauren begged as her friends gathered around her like puppies.

"No!I have to see him myself!"Jacqueline insisted.

"Maybe we can just wait outside in the lobby and see him when he comes in.Besides,"Alison snickered."she can have some alone time with her hero."

"Oh,you know he ran into our room,not saying a thing,then ran here?"Maya informed.

"WHAT?!"Lauren felt more nervous than ever to meet her hero.To her dismay,the door opened,and in came the same boy.

NO,NO,NO!Lauren felt more embarrased than ever.

"I'll leave you two alone.I have other matters to be dealt with,"the doctor started to walk away.

"Thank you,"she called.She watched Sarah lead the others outside,giving another thumbs up.Lauren rolled her eyes.

The boy was wearing a black and red ski suit,a ski hat,black boots and gloves.He cleared a blonde spike from above his eyes so Lauren could see them clearly.They were a sky blue color,maybe the most beautiful eyes she'd seen on a boy.She couldn't stop staring at them until he spoke.

"Hello,my name is Christopher.I saw you faint,so I ran you over here.Actually,I thought you might've died,"Christopher admitted.

"I-I'm Lauren.Lauren Moore.I..."Lauren tried to clear her head."I really wanted to thank you.For caring,at all.Most strangers don't even do that."

"It was no problem.Besides,you're a dead weight,"he joked.

Lauren laughed,most of it forced,though.

"So,what is your story?"he asked out of the blue."What are you doing here?"

Lauren blinked.She'd expected him to ask for something in return of doing her a favor.But,of all things,he'd asked what's her story.

"My mom and dad are getting a divorce,"she admitted.She didn't want to lie."Usually I come here with my friends every few months to just have fun and hang out.I live about an hour away."

"I'm sorry about your parents,"he said quietly."Losing loved ones is hard."

"Are your parents divorced?"she asked,regretting the question.

"No,"he whispered."I wish they were."

Dead,Lauren thought.How will I bear it?

"I'm sorry,"she said,looking at her feet.

"Don't be,"looking up,he added."You should have seen your friends when I ran through your suite.I think they thought I was going to bury your body in the woods."

Lauren laughed,more real this time.She liked this guy.

"I should get going,"he said after laughing."My room mate is probably looking for me."

"Right,"Lauren got up."It was nice meeting you,Christopher.I could get you some coffee-"

"No need,"he insisted. "You don't have to give me anything.It was a pleasure."

He opened the door to the lobby.It was sunset,and the last rays of sunlight dappled into the room.As it did so,the black material on Christopher's glove revealed a mark on his right hand.

"Wait,"Lauren took off his glove completely,exaiming it.

"What are you doing?"he asked with a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Yep.It was definitely a mark.But not an ordinary birth mark.A SPECIAL mark.It was a small,crystal-shaped mark.It looked like it was somehow connected to his veins,for a bluish color in the shape of them circled around it.

"I...I know who you are,"she breathed."I met you.In a dream.Your names not Christopher,"

He caught his breath in complete shock."You're name is Cloud."