The Red Moon

Chapter 4: The Beginning

When Silver pulled away, he took a little piece of Rain's heart with him. It was like a string connected Rain's heart to Silver and when he pulled away, the youngling's heart smooshed flat against his chest in an effort to stay close.

Big blue eyes open, bewildered, confused and a little hurt. Why would Silver, especially being so close to him, pull away? Had Rain done something wrong?

"S-Silver...?"

"Too young." Silver smiles bitterly, opening his eyes. "You still too young to be thinking about stuff like this and besides your training is much more important then my desires."

Rain didn't know what to say. He was too young? For a kiss? They're mates aren't they? Then it doesn't matter, right? They'll be together anyway so why worry about it? What makes now different then, say, a three years wait?

"But...but I..." Rain pulls a hand up to his chest, wanting nothing more then to cry or, at the least, throw himself into Silver's arms. Anything to get closer to his mate. Something inside of Rain wanted to get out, wanted to get closer, but he swollows thickly and turns away.

"I... I mean, yes, Alpha. What ever you say..." He swallows again thickly, blinking hard.

Silver turns toward Rain and steps up to him. Their eyes lock as Silver's breath grows deep and shallow. Silver pushes Rain's dark hair from his eyes and leans close so their noses touch, but just barely. Their breaths mingle together.

"Rain..." Silver breaths. "Can you not feel it? That unquenchable need to be together? That is a feeling only mates can have."

Rain reaches up and lightly grabs hold of Silver's wrists, as his Alpha runs his thumbs under light blue eyes. Rain let's out a tiny whimper and Silver's breath pauses for a moment.

"You have no idea how much I want you right now." SIlver sighs lightly and pulls himself away. "Training starts at dusk. Meet me at the Rock."

Silver turns away and walks toward the back enterence of the pound without a fleating glance. Rain watches him go with an unreadable look in his eye. Unable to fathom why his mate would pull away and why it would hurt this much.

***

Raven stares up at Rain as he pases back in forth in front of his bed where the little 8 year old sits. Her blue eyes roaming back and forth as she watches him run a hand through his dark hair as a sign of frustration.

Raven didn't know much about what has been happenning recently, but she can tell it is upsetting her brother. She would do anything to get him out of this dark place he seems to of trapped himself in.

"I got to pee," she says.

Rain stops, mid stride, to look over at her. "Then go to the bathroom."

"I don't want to."

Rain shakes his head in utter confusion. "How can you not want to go?"

"I don't want to," the little girl repeats.

Rain's shoulders droop as he looks at her. "Is this your way of getting my mind out of the gutter?"

Raven shakes her dark haired head. "No, this is my way of getting your attention."

Not wanting to argue with an 8 year old's logic, he plops down on his bed and lays back. With a weary sigh, he closes his eyes. Raven leans back and lays her head on her brother's shoulder, closing her eyes as well.

For a long silent minute, the two lay there.

Finally, in a stage whisper, Raven says, "Are we taking a nap, Rain?"

A smile turns up Rain's lips. "Shh," he hushes. "I'm sleeping."

Knowing his little sister well, it didn't take her more then five minutes before the little girl was climbing out of bed and sneaking out of the room. Rain waits until Raven has securely shut the door behind her before he opens his eyes and sits up.

The conversation with Silver just keeps playing through his head. Over and over again. Like some kind of film in his brain that is constantly on replay. There is no words, just the scene. Over and over again.

But only one thing was prominent: the feeling of betryal.

Why would Silver reject him so outright? What is a few years? And can Rain and Silver be mates and beta and Alpha?

Rain just didn't know the answer, so he lays back down and closes his eyes, ready to get a nap in before dinner.

***

Rain gets  to the Rock early and changes forms til he's a wolf and climbs up to the top of the protruding mass. He lowers himself to his back hunches and swooshes his tail back and forth anxiously.

The Rock feels cold against his paw pads. It was actually comforting and in a good contrast to the warm air around him. The night was hotter than most lately but not completely uncommon.

Shaking his head clear, Rain gazes across the open space around the Rock and even along the tree line waiting for his Alpha to show up. This morning Rain decided that he's going to obey Silver and keep a level head and focus solely on training.

Even though he doesn't agree with what Silver had said, but he will respect his Alpha's wishes. He doesn't quite know what he's doing so he has to trust that Silver knows best.

A wolf howl beneath Rain catches his attention. He scrambles to his feet, startled, and looks down to see a long haired white wolf looking up at him.

Rain dips his head respectfully and very catiously jumps from rock to rock to get down, still not completely used to his true form. He lands awkwardly in front of his Alpha and quickly scrambles to his four paws, head bowed.

"Sorry, Alpha," Rain says quickly.

Silver sits and looks down at his new clansman and mate. Silver leans toward Rain and nudges the smaller black furred wolf to lift his head.

"It's fine, little one," Silver climbs to his feet, "No harm, no foul. Now follow, I wish to show you our borders and how to use your sense to their full ability."

With a tiny nod, the small dark haired wolf follows the lighter haired wolf deeper into the forest, ready to learn and be a real member of this Clan.