Alone in a Busy World

Chapter Twelve

I've fallen asleep in a tall oak tree after three days of walking and a little flying. As I settle down with my back against the trunk I hear a distant wolf howl and realise with a jolt that it's a triumphant one. They've found my trail, but they abandoned the pack to find me. I feel a pang of homesickness and love for these two brave cubs.

Isn't this what I was worried about? But if that was true then I'd be moving out my comfy spot, but I'm still lying here with my eyes focused on the stars that pepper the night sky. The sky is as black as ever and yet the stars penetrate its looming shadow to shine as stars of hope to those who bother to look. It reminds me of Storm's eyes and on that thought I fall into a deep sleep full of dreams of the pack and of Al.

As I wake I can sense that Storm and Misty are closer but they haven't quite got here. Although I want to see them, I have to keep moving; they'll catch up eventually. My heart is aching from my dreams of the night before. I'm still missing Al, but his ghostly presence isn't haunting me. I keep mulling over the words of our mother: Al's gone, now him. Why? I don't think I'll ever get over that.

I send my stiff muscles into action flying to one flask of coffee and gulping down the last of that flask. As I feel the warmth seep into my bones I grab a few berries I found the other day and shove a handful into my mouth as I begin to gather up my things to move on.

I lightly jump down from the tree and continue through the snow. I eventually come to a large formation of rocks scattered over the ground. I jump from one to the next. As I jump I watch my eagle flying overhead and for some reason I can imagine myself being Legolas as he skips over the rocks on his search with Aragorn and Gimli for Merry and Pippin.

I reach the highest rock and realise I'm closer than I thought. I could have got here sooner with flying, but my heart is still tied to Misty and Storm. As I look from the big rock cliff, I can see for miles around. The snow is less here but the view is gorgeous as the snow muffles the horrid intrusion of the city. The skyscrapers stick out like menacing machines and I want to get rid of them, but that's not what I'm here for.

I know I shouldn't linger here because with every second Storm and Misty are getting closer but they can probably see me standing here anyway. They will catch me up, and it isn't fair on them if I start descending this sheer rock face without them, they won't get far without me helping them. Their minds are like steel and they won't turn back. I know both of them would rather die trying to reach me rather than leave me to make my own way whilst they walk off.

So in that sense I suppose I do have friends in this world, but it's so difficult. They should be part of a pack; their every instinct will be going against what they are doing now. They don't belong with me. I interfered with their lives turning them more upside down than they already were. I know I saved Misty, I don't regret that, but I never meant to get so attached because it will hurt them more.

I set down my things in a little crevice slightly away from the edge and watch the night fall. As my eyelids begin to droop I rest assured that I'll be waking up to find Misty and Storm back by my side.