Alone in a Busy World

Chapter Nine

I slip into the routine of the wolf pack. I'm half with it, I can't let go of the coldness in my heart, the loss of my brother. I think they find it a little easier with me around. The food I stole from the camp is keeping well; and my skills are fairly useful. I mostly eat what they eat, but I have to cook mine first. I'm quicker than a lot of the wolves and I have a good advantage with my ability to fly.

I may be finding it easy but I need more to do, I need more adventure. This, I realise with sadness, is why I can't be part of the pack. I'm a ranger. I'm a lone wolf. I always will be. I need to talk with Lupa though. I can't just run off. I wouldn't know what I should do; at least with the pack I have a purpose.

It's the middle of the night, but I can't sleep. Storm is curled protectively around Misty on my lap. They've both grown really close; I wouldn't be surprised if they had cubs together when they're older. I'm happy for them, but it fills me with more sadness, I have no one like that. I don't have anyone to protect like that. I'd protect the pack with my life because they're the only family I have left. I can't afford to lose them, and they deserve to have someone watching over them.

The light from the moon penetrates the cave and casts little spotlights on the floor. I think I'm automatically keeping watch tonight, I can't sleep anyway. I gently slide Storm and Misty off my lap and I go and sit by the opening at the far edge of the cave.

I let my feet dangle over the edge and sneak a glance back at the pack. They're all safely asleep and no one can get through the other entrance. As a precaution I rolled a boulder over the opening, it feels safer now.

I bring out my knives and to pass the time I sharpen them. I don't really need to but it's something to do. I remove the strap from my chest for a moment and sheath the blades in the smooth wooden sheaths. I sit and stare at them for a while, even these remind me of Al, he fashioned each one. He was skilled with making weapons. I know he made more but they were stored in our secret little hideout in the forest at the park.

In that moment I know what I'm going to do, I need to find that stash and save what I can. Then that lab is going to be stopped, I can't let them experiment with more people. I don't know how, but they always meddled with things ahead of the time. They had technologies that they kept secret from anyone else. I need to shut the operation down. I doubt the wolf cubs I rescued are the only ones they were trying to take back. I can't let them harm anyone.

If I'm going to make anything of my shattering life, I will put a stop to the pain they cause. I can't let anyone be like me. I have to protect them. I'm lonelier than people should be, but there and then I'm not human am I? Although I don't want to be alone, I don't want anyone to be lonely like me either.

I need to talk to Lupa; and I want Misty and Storm to stay with the pack. I don't want them to come with me, they could get hurt and they wouldn't have their family around them. I gently send a message to Lupa, conveying all my thoughts and apologies that I have to go. I've learnt recently to talk through dreams as well so Lupa shouldn't wake up.

I hear a dreamy whisper find its way to my mind.

Goodbye Dragon Fear. I will convey your message to the rest of the pack; you will be sorely missed by us all. Misty and Storm especially. I will tell them to stay behind but you will have to travel quickly, I know they will want to follow you.

With that last loving remark in my head I look at each wolf in turn and bid them a small farewell. I gently take my small leather boots from my bag and slip them on. I lightly rouse Moon to let him take watch. Before he's fully awake I bound through the opening and into the beckoning night.