Clouded Memories

Christopher!"a teenage boy,about the same age as Christopher,walked over to them.A red blind fold covered his eyes,Lauren guessed he must be blind.He also had a missing arm,Lauren had no idea what could possibly get him blind AND lose an arm."We have to go-"He stiffened,sensing Lauren's presence.Lauren was once again suprised."Hello,who are you?"

"We have to go,"Cloud insisted.He turned his now hostile eyes to Lauren.They softened as they met Lauren's innocent and confused eyes."I'll talk to you later."

"O-okay,"she said,stunned still.

They walked away,Christopher looking back at her.She knew she'd seen those eyes before and that mark.In a dream?Why would she dream of a boy she'd never even met?She thought of telling her friends about what happened.

No,she convinced herself.They laughed at me for fainting,what will they do when they hear this?

So she walked back to her room,head spinning,and jumped on her bed as soon as she got in.

"Ow,"Lauren rubbed her head with an ice pack.

"You're back,"Alison had her hair wrapped in a towel,signiling she'd just gottan out of the shower."How did it go?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"She's back?"Maya came running from the patio,Jacqueline hard on her heels.

"We saw him!"Jacqueline boasted."He's so cute!"

"Pfft,shut up,you have a boyfriend,"Sarah reminded."So,what did you guys talk about?"

"I just thanked him for helping me and left,"Lauren lied,sticking to her plan.

"You're serious?"Alison shook her head."This guy saved you,Lauren.The least you can do is take him out for coffe or dinner or something."

"I offered to,but he refused,"Lauren informed."It's okay,though.I'm sure I'll see him again while we're here."

"You better hope so,"Maya turned the T.V. on."I heard some hikers got killed by some wolves around these woods.We should be careful."

"That'll make it more exciting when we go hiking tomorrow,"Jacqueline snickered mischievously.

"Jacqueline,no!That's too scary-"

Lauren's head too much from their bickering.She decided to take a nap for a few hours to rest her head,'Christopher'in mind.

"A girl?"Christopher's friend asked as they walked on a snowy hiking path.

"She...She said she knew me,"he breathed,still as shocked as Lauren."In a dream."

"Hmph,usually people don't see people they've never even met before in dreams,"his friend sounded thoughtful."Are you sure she's an ORDINARY human being?"

"What are you saying,Vartan?"he growled."Are you saying she has powers?"

"Perhaps,"Vartan turned to his voice."What was her name again?"

"Lauren Moore,"he reminded.

"Lauren..."Vartan pricked his brain for a 'Lauren'.He shook his head."I don't know a Lauren.And it's odd indeed she saw your mark.Normal humans can't see it."

"I know,"Christopher KNEW he had heard that voice before,too."There's something different about her.How could she dream of me?"

"Do you think-"Vartan stopped himself."No.It's impossible."

"What?"

"Forget I even said anything."

Silence.

"You think she's Lightning?"Cloud dared himself to ask.

Vartan sighed.He himself still couldn't bring himself to believe the young pup was dead.A short period after Lightning's death,Cloud had gone into a deep depression.He wouldn't talk to any wolf,not even his father or sister.He acted like an Omega,but that was Vartan's job,and soon he came to think Cloud would kill himself.Sometimes he would find him howling to the moon in the middle of the night,saddness echoing in his voice.He would even talk to himself.Vartan once heard him leaning over his meal,talking to it.

"I'm sorry,Lightning.I wish I had been able to save you,I really do.Are you okay where you are now?Good.I wish you were here with me.Everyone really misses you.You have to go?Okay.I'll see you later.Could you say hi to my mother again?Thank you.I love you,Lightning."

Vartan had tried his best to be the greatest friend he could be,but Cloud's body was stuck in the past.

"Cloud,Alva caught a deer.You should go have some,"he'd encouraged."You haven't eaten in days."

Cloud shook his head."No.I can't.Not right now,anyway.Lightning is trying to tell me something."

"For Eeneas' sake,Cloud!You have to let go of the past!If we all let go of Lightning,you can too!"

Cloud lifted his head miserably as Vartan continued.

"Look at Alva,she's the head tracker of the pack.Adolfo is a great Alpha.You are going to be the next Alpha,Cloud,so it's time you started acting like one!"

Cloud stared at Vartan.After a few moments he thought Cloud was looking past him.That was until he spoke.

"I don't WANT to be Alpha.Not without Lightning.I will NEVER forgive myself.Don't you understand?It's my fault she's dead,just like Leon said.Not Alva's.Not Adolfo's.MINE,"he snarled.He looked up to the stars.His voice was softer as he looked and spoke."When the stars shine,I can see her.I...I like it.But if you can't except me,"he swung his head to Vartan."Who can?"

"What are you saying?"Vartan wished Alva or Adolfo would pop up to back him up.But they were still all eating.

"I'm saying that I can't live in a pack.Not with this guilt.Not with..."he glared at Vartan."You know what.I've no idea how you and Alva do so.But I can't handle it.I've been cursed,and so have you two.I'll never be able to fit in a pack,don't you see what it's doing to me?"

Cloud started to stumble away into the shadows,his frail body revealing every rib.

"Cloud,WAIT!"Vartan tried to catch up with him,but stumbled pathetically on his missing leg.Cloud turned to him.

"Don't worry,friend,"he murmured,licking his head."I'll see you again-That's what Lightning told me.For now I'll live alone,until I find my answers."

He took a step backwards."Good-bye,friend."

Cloud ran forward into the looming forest.

"No,Cloud!Don't leave!You can't!"Vartan stumbled over a stone,trying to catch up with him in a miserable attempt.Seconds later,he hit his head against a tree.

Maybe if I just follow his scent...But Vartan knew it was a foolish attempt.He called to the other wolves,who tried to follow his scent.But the scent faded as it started to rain.(It's January)Also,Cloud had coated his pelt with deer dung to disguise his scent,which soon faded in the rain.They gave up,Adolfo and Alva mournful at what Vartan had told them.A few months later,Vartan,too,left the pack,letting Adolfo know.He wasn't happy,but understood that Vartan wanted to,like Cloud,find his own answers.The pack had grown,anyway,and losing the Omega didn't change much.

Two months after his departure,he was desperate for a place to sleep.He had caughten a rabbit the day before,but finding prey was hard for a lame wolf.He'd stumbled upon a pack of deers that morning,but one had rammed it's terribly long and dangerous antlers into his side.So he climbed up the mountain,finding an abandoned bear den.He bled until he fell asleep;he didn't want to use his powers anymore,let alone live another day.

When he woke up,a beautiful human girl walked inside to find his bleeding body(Vartan hadn't seen the books,candles,and tables lying inside)and healed his wounds.He was startled when he felt her presence.

"Who are you?"he'd asked.

She smiled.

"I am Galina,Sorceress of the Dark.I know you have it as well.I feel your power,"she frowned at his side,which was still bleeding."I know I"m a stranger.Don't worry,I'll explain everything later.But first I need some medicine..."

So she healed his wounds and gave him a red blind fold to cover his blinded eyes,which were becoming damaged more by the sun.Galina explained that she was the second person with the Dark,apprentice to the late Hudo the Powerful.She'd been alive for many years,longer than any wolf should live,and had learned how to master the Dark and more.But Hudo had another apprentice named Valisa,who was bratty and wanted to learn to become more powerful than her own master.He'd warned them in the beginning not to tell anyone of their powers,but when Valisa didn't get what she wanted,she stormed off to tell wolves of her glorious powers,and even showed them off.Word spread,and Galina became suspicous of her partner.When she questioned Valisa,she attacked her,almost killing her if Hudo had not come and stopped her.But it was all apart of her plan.She's met another with the Dark,a man named Burn,who killed Hudo and captured Galina,torturing and beating her.She'd never seen anyone with power like his,and could not escape his prison.

"Why,Valisa?"she asked her once."Why would you turn on Hudo?He taught you EVERYTHING you know.He guided you when you didn't know what to do."

"True,maggot,"she spat at her."Until I knew what to do.Flame has power.Not that weakling,Hudo.Soon we will grow,until the light that shines with the Dark is put out forever.If you were not so stupid,maggot,and weak,you could be ruling with us."

"Bastard,"Galina muttered."He's playing with your head."

"SHUT UP!"Valisa gave her a mighty slap across the face."You know NOTHING about him."

When she finally did escape,she made her home in the mountains,learning the ways of both man and wolf.When Vartan came along,she taught him to control his powers,and they became close friends.One day Vartan heard a howl on the wind,and he tracked down Cloud living in an old fox den.Vartan fed him until his head was back into the present.He apologised for his attitude when he left,and they became the best of friends again.Then their journey together continued.

Vartan turned to Cloud."You know what she did to you,Cloud.I don't want to fill your head with empty dreams and lies."He took a goldish diamond from his pocket."You still have it,don't you?"

Cloud stared at his own diamond,a sky blue color."I have it,"he murmured."And it's not what she did to me,it's what I did to her."

With a cluch of his magic diamond,Cloud bounded up the hiking road,gray fur flowing wildly with the wind.

The next morning,after having dinner and going into the hot tub(Lauren's friends flirting with the boys nextdoor)they packed up gear to go hiking in the morning.Maya pleaded with Jacqueline.

"Please,can we not go hiking today?"Maya said to Jacqueline as she stuffed her backpack with water."There might be wolves in these woods."

"That's why it'll be more exciting,"Jacqueline stuffed a video camera inside."Don't ruin this,Maya.It'll be fun."

Alison packed a video camera at the top of her backpack.She turned to Lauren."Could you make reservations at the restaurant for tonight at eight thirty?We'll grab your bag and meet you in the lobby."

"Sure,no problem,"Lauren put her hiking bag next to Maya's and headed to the lobby.It was very crowded and busy,toursists flocking in and out of the entrance busily.She almost had to push her way through the crowd of people to make a reservation at the restaurant located inside the lodge.When she finally did,she couldn't see any of her friends,so she decided to wait until they finally came.

They must still be packing,she presumed.How can it take that long?

Lauren started to text Alison,asking,"Where are you???",while someone watched her.Two pairs of eyes watched Lauren through the crowd,sitting on a waiting chair,like hawks stalking prey.

"Her?"one of them asked.He took a step forward"Pfft.You're ridiculous,Cloud.Always making a big deal out of nothing.Let me go over and talk to her."

"No,Vartan,"Cloud ordered,blocking his path with his muscular arm."She may be dangerous."

"Dangerous?"Vartan looked at Lauren then back to Cloud.Cloud called him blind,but when Vartan got scratched in the eyes,he hadn't lost all of his eyesight.He was only half blind,but everything he saw was red,his eyes had been choked by the blood that had been spilled ont them."She looks as harmless as a fly.Do you think she's a spy?"

"How do you know she's not?"Cloud flicked his cold blue eyes to her and back."We don't know who we can trust anymore.You know that.For all we know,she could be-"

"Relax,Cloud.If you don't go over and talk to her,I will."

Any other day,Cloud would have growled at the pack's old Omega,but he did not feel in the mood for fightning today.Today,they had to meet somebody who could help them.A Darkened One.

"Okay,you asked for it,"Vartan ducked under Cloud's arm and headed towards her.

"Vartan,you moose-head!Get back here!"

"Hello,Lauren,"Vartan said lowdly,sitting next to the lovely girl while flashing a sly glance back at cloud.

"Hey,"She said."You're that guy from yesterday.Cloud's friend."

Cloud's blood turned cold.Not this again!

"I'm Vartan,"he smiled."You seem to be sitting here waiting for someone.What's the hold up?"

"Well,apparently a bird pooped on my friend,Jacqueline's,head.So now she's taking a shower to wash it all out,"Lauren sighed in frustration."I swear,sometimes she can be such a-"

Lauren looked at Vartan."Sorry,"she muttered.

"It's okay.I know what you mean.Sometimes my friends can be drama queens,too."

She let out a sigh of relief."So,what are you guys doing here anyway?Are you and Cloud brothers?"

Stop saying my name!Cloud screamed silently.

"No.We're just good friends.We're here actually for job issues to discuss with a friend of ours."

"Business meeting?"

"Something like that,"Vartan looked thoughtful.

"I'm going hiking,"Lauren announced."On the Lonely Wolf Trail."

"Really?"he perked up."That's where our meeting is."

"On a TRAIL?"Strange,Lauren thought."Maybe I'll see ya there."

They sat there for a while longer,talking and talking,Cloud ready to burst out of his skin.

"Lauren!We're over here!"Lauren could just make out Jacqueline waving her hands wildly in the crowds.

"I gotta go,"Lauren got up."It was nice meeting you.Tell Cloud I said hi."

"I will,"Vartan smiled."Good-bye."

Lauren walked away happily,while Cloud glared angrily.

"Are you mad at me or her?"Vartan put his blind fold on again."It's not her fault she's so nice."

Cloud grabbed the top of his head and swiveled it nose-to-nose with his face."Look,until we know who she REALLY is,I'll talk to her."He let go."Come,we'll be late for the meeting."

"Stop taking pictures,Lauren,you're holding us back,"Maya threw a stone angrily at Lauren's feet.

By now,they'd been hiking for about an hour and,from past experiances on the trail,Lauren knew that the trail would be ending soon.She just loved looking at all the creatures and beautiful plants near the path.Jacqueline was taking videos,however,and had caught some pretty funny stuff.

"Aaaawwwwooooo!!!"she pretended to howl like a wolf.Maya glared.

"Quit it!"she stomped angrily away,disturbing a couple of butterfly's."You're being so weird."

"I was just kidding!"Jacqueline scrambled after her."Maya!"

"My god,"Alison muttered to Lauren."They're BOTH being weird."

"Can't we just all be happy?"Lauren called up to them.

"Well,can you tell HER to shut up?It's not even funny,"Maya pointed with rage at Jacqueline.

"Come ON,"Jacqueline didn't want to comprimise anymore.

"Um,other people are trying to enjoy this,so please,be queit.Both of you,"Alison pleaded.

Maya fell silent.Jacqueline just stomped away from her and muttered,"Fine,whatever you say."

"I can't believe you're getting in a fight about WOLVES,"Lauren mused."There are no wolves around here."

But despite Lauren's confidence,she was just as scared about wolves as Maya.She couldn't help thinking about the dead hikers;she'd even saw it on the news,or the fact that dreams of wolves were starting to resurface in her mind.She used to like wolves until these dreams had come.They scared her,like they were demons coming to eat her in the night.Not to mention,she and Sarah had spotted a deer and it's baby wandering under the trees on the right side of the path.It was a beautiful sight,and just as she took the picture,she spotted a pair of yellow eyes looking at her in the bushes.She'd gasped and nearly fell to the ground had Alison not caught her by the hand.

"Are you okay?Are you gonna pass out again?"

Lauren had stood up and continued to walk."I'm fine.I just misplaced my foot,that's all."

But she hadn't and she knew it.For the pair of gold eyes quickly vanished in the shadows as two more pairs of footsteps came close by.Wolves

"Look what you did,"a muscular gray wolf growled."I could've caught that fawn if you hadn't been so noisy."He looked through the bushes again."And I think she saw us."

"Who cares?We're already late for the meeting.What else can we worry about?"a lame black wolf replied.

"We could've at least had a quick meal.I'm getting tired with all this walking."

"Hmph.You're the one who chose to do it here.I-"

The black wolf lifted his nose,sniffing the air.Then he walked forward,sniffing the ground.

"What is it,Vartan?"the gray wolf was started to get nervous.

"A wolf,Cloud!"Vartan finally lifted his nose,revealing his wild and terrified eyes."There's another wolf here besides Kara!"

Now that he mentioned it,Cloud could scent another wolf.It was a male,heading straight up the trail.

Lauren!he thought suddenly.She's in danger!

Cloud quickly poked his head out of the bushes and could make out Lauren walking with her friends.They were close,and since the scent was very clear,it could very well mean the wolf is stalking her and her friends.Like on the news(which Cloud had also watched."

Cloud sped past Vartan and farther down the trail.Yes,this wolf was definitely stalking her.

"There!"Vartan growled as he stumbled after his friend."The gray wolf!"

The stranger wolf did not hear;he was too intent on his prey.The boss had ordered that he kill a black-haired girl named Lauren Moore.He had promised a great reward for the killing,and this greedy wolf intended on getting it and having a special place next to his boss.

Lauren had stopped though,hearing the strange noise while taking a picture of an unusual-looking flower that was still alive in these snows.Her friends called her over(they were slowly getting farther away.)

"Lauren,hurry up!I'm tired-"Jacqueline froze.

Lauren looked behind her.She gasped,with no time to move.

A large,gray shape that sprung at her from the shadows.

Hungry,burning yellow eyes.The ones she'd seen before.

Dagger-sharp claws and teeth that glinted vicously.

It was a wolf.And it was about to kill her short sixteen year-old life.