Darkness Rising ~ Book 1

Chapter 4

Fawn brushed past her patrol, ignoring the confused murmurs. She shook her head to clear it but those leaf green eyes stayed in her vision. She couldn't understand why the Forest wolf was stuck in her head. With a frustrated growl, she walked towards her camp only to trip over a rabbit hole. "Ugh!" She growled.

Her movement had scared a rabbit and it flashed by her muzzle, making her jump backward. She recovered seconds later and raced after the rabbit. It was good to stretch her muscles and the wind rushing through her fur had finally distracted her from Fallen. She approached a ridge and saw the rabbit racing down it towards a hole. Fawn put on an extra burst of speed and launched herself at the rabbit.

At the last moment, her paws slipped out from under her and she tumbled head over heels down the slope. With a groan, she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her body ached all over but it was soon forgotten when a voice sounded behind her. "Are you okay?"

Fawn jumped up and spun around to meet the wolf who spoke. To her disappointment she found that it was the Forest wolf from before. "Why are you on Moor pack land?" She growled, taking a threatening step forward. Fallen just looked at her calmly.

"Actually you're on Forest pack land." He pointed out with a twitch of his ear.

"Wha-? No i'm not!" She sputtered. But Fallen was right. The fall down the ridge had brought her right across the border. Fawn's ears grew hot as she stepped back to her side of the border. "I'm sorry for snapping at you." She apologized meekly. If only he hadn't been right!

Fallen just nodded happily. "That's okay! I was hoping to see you again anyway!" Fawn couldn't stop the look of surprise that flashed across her face.

"W-why?" She stuttered.

Fallen shrugged his shoulders. "There's just something about you that I can't get out of my he-" Fallen broke off and stared wide eyed behind Fawn. Fawn sniffed the air and the blood in her veins froze.

"Fawn... what are you doing talking to that Forest wolf?" Came a voice from behind her. Fawn groaned and turned around slowly. Storm stood behind her with a look of triumph and surprise mixed in her eyes.

"I-I was just um.. checking the border when i saw him and so I deci-" Storm cut her off.

"So you decided to converse with him?!" She asked incredulously. "I have to tell the Alpha Fawn, you know that." Fawn stared at her in surprise.

"No you can't!" She cried. "It was nothing! Really, he started talking to me! He is just a pile of fox dung!" She shouted, trying to convince Storm it meant nothing. She heard a gasp behind her and she turned to see the hurt look in Fallens eyes as he backed away into the undergrowth. Something in Fawn snapped as she watched him disappear.

Storm growled in satisfaction. "Okay sister, I believe you." She laughed then stalked away, leaving Fawn with an empty feeling in her stomach. Why had it bother her so much to see him hurt? She asked herself. With a sad sigh, she walked back to camp in heavy sile