When the Stars Align

Chapter 12

"About fucking time! Do you realize how worried we all have been?!" roared North in his head. "Why aren't you responding to the others? Never mind that where are you? Who took you? What condition are you in? We need to know as much information as possible to get you back!"

"Oh gods, is that really you, Brother?" Luke called out as tears trickled out of his eyes. He was overcome with emotions just from hearing his half-brother's voice.

"Of course it's me! Did they hit your head too hard or did the drug mess with your mind?" North questioned at the ridiculousness his brother was spouting out.

"While I was passed out in the beginning I guess they gave me some kind of drug that was supposed to sever any link I had made in the past. I thought I wasn't going to be able to get in contact with any of you for a long time. I thought I was alone," Luke said vulnerably.

"I will relay this to Sean, and you know we wouldn't abandon you, you idiot. You know we would do everything in our power to find you, which it has been a week by the way. We are currently located in Missouri. We found the last stop that van had taken you or well the second technically as they did a swap to cover their tracks. Now tell me everything you know and I will relay it to the team. We are coming for you Brother I promise," North vowed after reassuring his brother that they had never stopped looking for him.

Luke started from what happened at the grocery store until just a moment ago when he was about to fall asleep. It took a couple of hours explaining everything as North would relay the information to the team and someone would have a question. In the end, Luke noticed there was tension on North's side of the link.

"North, what's going on?" Luke questioned.

"You said Diana had been there for over 5 years and only spoke of having a father?" North asked back without answering Luke's prior question.

"Uh, yeah that is what Jackson told me. As I said, I haven't been able to inquire any further since she is currently unconscious right in front of me. Why?" Luke felt like he was missing something blatantly obvious.

"Luke, the team and I believe Diana could likely be our mystery pen pal. The one that suddenly stopped sending those letters out of the blue. With the current information, everything lines up," North cautiously said.

Luke's eyes widened as he looked over at Diana. "Are you certain? I mean, I guess that does make sense. I can't believe she has been here this whole time. She has suffered so much."

"We will get you all back home and destroy that organization as fast as possible. You said the girl thinks you all are located in Kansas? We will be on our way but we need you to try and find out all you can and report it to me, no matter what time," North said. "Oh, and try to confirm if Diana is truly our pen pal. Maybe knowing who you are to her and help coming might bring her a sense of security."

"I will do my best though I've only been confined to this cage. North, please be careful with this case. I have a bad feeling," Luke solemnly said.

"Will do brother, now get some rest," North said before cutting off the link.

"Yeah, rest," Luke muttered as he curled in a ball resting his fox head on his tail. He was facing Diana's form. 'Please be her.'

The next morning came fast and Diana was the first to waken. "Oh, my aching body. They are going to pay when I finally can escape. Though, sigh, I haven't had a successful escape," she muttered under her breath as she looked over her body. 'Ugh, I'm filthy.' She looked behind her and saw the new arrival sleeping peacefully. 'That's right, I can't leave anyone behind here. Maybe if we worked together we can come up with a successful plan,' she mused while looking at everyone in their cages.

"Hmm," she heard a groan next to her. Shifting her gaze back to the red fox, she noticed him starting to wake up. He uncurled and stretched out his paws till a pop resounded.

"Good morning," Diana greeted telepathically. Luke startled and whipped around to gaze at the most beautiful shifter he'd ever laid eyes on. Even with her matted blood blood-covered fur, she still was beautiful.

"Good morning," Luke greeted back as he gazed into her emerald green eyes. "How are you feeling? I mean, you must be in a lot of pain obviously. I just," he rambled on causing her to giggle. It was like bells resounding in harmony.

"I am the best I can be thank you," Diana replied. Happiness showed in her eyes as she felt they had some connection. "My name is Diana by the way."

"Nice to meet ya! My name is Lucian but I like to go by Luke," Luke said as he sat up and bowed his head.

"Heh, alright Luke. How did you get caught by those Hunters?" Diana wondered about his tale. 'Maybe going off what he knows it could provide with a way to get the hell out of here.'

"Oh, I was shopping and was attacked in the parking lot. They tranquilized me before I could link my pack. Then I woke up in this cage," Luke admitted as he looked away.

"I apologize for bringing up such a displeasing memory. I know you must be missing your pack greatly," Diana tried consoling him.

"It's okay, actually I was able to get in contact with one of my pack members last night," Luke informed.

"What did you just say?" Diana couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Did you just say you were able to contact your pack?"

"Uh, yeah. Only one member though it is better than nothing," he said as he watched her perk up by his news.

"This is great!" she exclaimed not realizing she sent it to everyone causing the other shifters to wake startled.

"What the hell Diana! I was having a pleasant dream for once!" Molly whined.

"Luke here was able to contact someone from his pack!" Diana cheered to everyone. The link burst with a bunch of questions and comments that were overloading Luke's mind. He couldn't make a full comment out. "SILENCE!" Diana roared out as the onslaught of voices increased her migraine.

"Luke, can you contact your packmate and add them to this link? I believe if we all work together we might be able to all escape this place," Jackson inquired while holding onto the bars of his cage.

"Wait, don't do that right now. The Hunters will be bringing us breakfast soon and if they notice our eyes aren't totally focused they'll know we are communicating. We can't risk showing our upper hand right now. We will make contact tonight after the last check-in," Diana commanded as she sat up at her full height and looked everyone in the eyes.

"That makes sense," Luke mumbled as he looked over to the door. "Okay, we will do it your way, Diana. Till then, why don't we play 21 questions!" Luke offered.

"Why would I do that?" Diana asked perplexed. She hadn't played any games since she came here. Well, sadistic games the Hunter Organization forced her to play but not out of pure fun.

"It's a game to get to know each other. Something to get our minds off our current situation for now," he offered while holding his breath. 'Maybe this will prove if she really is the missing pen pal or not,' he thought.

"Okay, you first," Diana said as she laid back down and crossed her paws.