Survivors The Path Of The Pack: Thunder's Journey

Chapter 25

Thunder could hear the crack that exploded in her chest. Her heart. It was breaking into a million pieces and wistfully floating down into her tight stomach.

"What?" she said breathlessly.

"Me and Snap, we're mates!" Mickey barked again, "I told the whole hunting patrol that she confessed her feelings!"

Thunder felt Bruno slide up next to her as she barked, "B-but you didn't like him, why did you change your mind?"

Snap looked down sheepishly until she met Thunder's eyes, "When I rejected him, it was in front of everyone. The pressure and nervousness had gotten to me, so I'd blurted out whatever came to mind. After that, I realized my mistake. I shouldn't be embarrassed of my love for him."

After her speech, Snap rubbed lovingly against Mickey and he returned the gesture. Thunder watched, heartbroken.

He was... Mine. I mean, not actually, but he was close to me. He was getting close to me. And Snap, she snatched him away! I guess... He was hers first. He wouldn't want me as his mate. He wants me as a friend.

"Thunder, are you okay?" Bruno asked worriedly, nudging her muzzle.

Thunder turned to see that the new couple, Bruno, and even Beetle were staring at her. Thunder pawed the ground, "Yes, sorry. I'm very happy for you."

Mickey smiled and shared a friendly tail wag towards Thunder before turning with his new mate at his side.

"Are you sure?" Beetle growled, bored, "You seem-"

"Shut up!" Thunder snarled, turning quickly and dashing off into the trees. She could hear her brother call to her, but she refused to turn around. The squeezing feeling in her chest wasn't going away, and it was making it harder to breathe as she pounded past more trees. When she finally arrived where High Watch took place, she sagged to her stomach and buried her head in her paws.

"Beetle was right! I am stupid!" Thunder growled angrily at herself, scratching the dirt with fury, "He wouldn't like me, not like that. He never stopped loving Snap." Though Thunder hadn't known her for long, she was starting to feel a deep hatred for the female hunter. Thunder closed her eyes and tried to take soothing breaths, but it always resulted in her lungs closing up and her having to gasp for air. After a while, she found herself drifting to sleep as she looked down at the gorgeous Endless Lake.

I wish I were swimming there... With no problems... No liking any other dog... No Snap and no... Mickey.

* * *

The Moon Dog waved down at Thunder, sharing her pain. She'd decided it was time to rest as she trekked through the dark back to camp. She growled defensively when she ran into a warm body.

"Thunder, is that you?"

Bruno stepped into the light of the Moon Dog and yipped once he saw her, "Oh, I was so worried when you ran off. Why were you so upset?"

Thunder looked down and sighed. She shook her head and slowly started walking with her brother at her side. "Will you promise not to tell anyone? Not Mickey or Snap?" Bruno nodded. "I... This morning, I realized I had a crush on Mickey."

Bruno was silent as he hung his head, "So when he told you--"

"I panicked." Thunder let her ears droop as she arrived at camp. The pack had already started eating.

Bruno nudged her and smiled, "Your secret is safe with me." Thunder nudged him gratefully and trotted forward to take a piece of meat.

"Thunder! Over here!" Sunshine yipped excitedly. A group was forming as they chowed down. Forgetting that she hadn't picked a piece of prey yet, Thunder nodded at Bruno and lay beside her other friends.

"I was looking for you earlier, but I couldn't find you," Breeze said.

She shrugged, "I was probably on High Watch."

It didn't seem like Breeze believed Thunder as the brown dog sniffed at her suspiciously, but she couldn't talk as Dart butted in.

"Aah, I wish you'd been there!" she barked, rolling in front of Thunder. The skinny dog jumped to her paws and licked Thunder's muzzle, "Breeze was great! She was much better than-" The brown and white dog motioned with her tail at Moon. The Border Collie sat quietly with her pups on one side of her and Snap on the other. They were ways away from Thunder's group.

Thunder pretended to smile happily as Breeze became flustered. "Quiet, Dart," she muttered, though her tail betrayed her secluded behavior.

"I'm happy for you," Thunder murmured, yawning as she did.

"And only three more Sun Dog Journeys of High Watch! Then you're free!" Sunshine yipped. The little dog stumbled forward in her excitement and almost fell flat on her face if Lucky hadn't grabbed her.

"Careful," he muttered as he let her go.

Sunshine beamed, "It's alright! Why'd you come over?"

It was Lucky's turn to beam, "To talk to my old friend; you!" Sunshine's happy barks filled the air as she walked away with the pack's Beta, their tails swinging together in sync.

Thunder yawned another time and shook her head. "I'm tired. I think I'll go ahead and take my leave."

Breeze shot up, "But Thunder–"

"Good Night." Thunder came to her paws, ignoring Breeze's barks for her to come back. She trotted swiftly to the patrol den so she wouldn't have to see her worried friend. Thunder curled into a tight ball and tried to bury away her feelings.

I feel as if I lost a part of myself today. I shouldn't have started to like him so fast but I did...

×××

AN:

Well, that sucked... Anyway! I lost my inspiration for a while so if this isn't as good as you wanted it, I'm sorry. And... It might fall to one chapter every Sunday, but it might not! It just matters how much I write!

See you next chapter!