Polaris Skies

Chapter 29

It was still early in the morning when Yeller emerged from the room with his pack. Sven followed behind him, his chest and shoulders wrapped carefully. The others had already laid out their packs and had shifted. Dietrich cocked his head at Yeller quizzically but didn't press any question. Tereza's Heat was still smothering. They needed to get moving, and if the questions were dire enough, they could be asked on the road.

Yeller went about helping each of the beasts into their packs. Sylvi took his old pack, leaving him to support Sven if the need arose. He checked the rooms once more for anything left and opened the front door before allowing Cashia's form to emerge. The wolves stepped from the double-wide out into the desert. They scented the warming wind. There was still a smell of snow lingering at the edges of the desert sands. For now, though, the muddy grains were warming beneath their paws.

Nat relaxed into Sven's consciousness. It had been a long night and morning. He was physically exhausted and only too happy to have Sven take over for the rest of the day. He was drained beyond what he could have imagined possible.

So...? Sven asked after they had been trotting for the better part of an hour. Nat blinked awake. He looked around, realising that the desert still stretched on in an unending trail of gritty brown and khaki. The only change was the direction of the light casting shadows on far-off rises and little stones.

Where are we at? Nat yawned, trying to shake himself awake.

Somewhere in Utada...still... Sven replied.

Huh. 'k. What's up? Nat asked, not sure why Sven had decided to wake him from a rather pleasant sleep.

Well. You know? Doing better? Sven eventually coughed out.

Nat nodded, his lips still pressed together. He was not ready to talk yet. He was still trying to figure out what had put him over the edge. The swamping, smothering darkness was hanging on at the edge of his mind, waiting to dig in. He drifted with the thought, his mind lulled by the wolf's easy gate.

Sven sighed and shook himself. He was being ignored. Maybe it was better to let the man sleep. Cashia cast him a questioning glance before rubbing up against him. "You doing all right? Do we need to break for your wounds?" he asked.

"Doing fine. We can cover more ground. Just chatting with the man," Sven replied.

Cashia grunted. "He doing all right after this morning?" Cashia was ever obviously aware that Sven and Tereza were privy to what had transpired.

"He doesn't hate you if that's what you're nervous about, Cash. He's being particularly quiet, though," Sven huffed. He had a bad feeling about this. He had not heard Nat's thoughts go silent since they buried his mind weeks ago. He panted off his nervous energy.

"I am sorry for panicking your host. It was not my intention, but it happened while he was in my care, and I do apologise for it." Cashia's ears flipped back. He whined gently.

Dietrich turned from the front of the pack to look back at the two dragging the rear. Tereza's Heat was still radiating, permeating everyone's senses. Nothing had been fixed. He wasn't sure what had happened to create the tense impression he had from his heavy hitter and his second in command, but it felt like a question he was not allowed to ask.

"It will get better, hopefully. He is upset more at his memories and that he couldn't control them to help you and Tereza," Sven acknowledged the apology.

"He needs to stop sacrificing himself. It'll do him no good," Cashia hissed.

"He was protecting you and your host back when Michael took him. This time, though, it was not protection I was getting from him. He's quiet and trying to please; you've noticed that, yes?" Sven jumped over a wide gap in the asphalt.