The Rares

Chapter 18

~~~~Shiloh~~~~

"You shouldn't have come," Nickolas murmured, his eyes full of worry. I was worn out from the journey, and panting.

"I'm fine," I replied. "I wanted to see you."

"I gathered that when you could have put your life in danger, coming to find me, through a blizzard."

"Eh." I shrugged. "I didn't care. It was minor, and I knew where I was going."

"But you could have hurt yourself. And the pups."

"So that's what you care about," I feigned a hurt look. I was playing with him. "The pups."

"No!" He cried. "No, that's not true!"

"So you don't care about them?"

"No, I do! But-"

He paused, looking confused.

"You're twisting my words around," He accused.

I shrugged. "Maybe."

He pressed his nose to my forehead. With that one gesture, I knew he was asking me to stop. He just didn't know how to put it in words.

Faint voices broke us apart. Without saying anything, we both jumped out of the den, me a little clumsily, and raced toward the voices.

Once we got close enough for me to recognize them, I slowed, Nickolas slowing next to me.

"You should come from a different side," I murmured. "We can't let them know that we are together, and I know them. It's Russet, Cosan, Snow, and... And someone I don't recognize. But my dad is there. If we come, together, he will flip. I don't want that."

Nickolas nodded. "Okay. But act like you don't know me. I'll leave from here so you don't know where to find me."

With that, he pelted away, covering ground at an amazing speed. I simply continued on, knowing I was coming closer to a possible disaster.

"Zephyr? Zephyr!" Russet called.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Why are you out here?" Snow questioned.

"Doesn't matter," I waved the question aside. "The real problem is why you guys are out here."

"Zephyr's missing." Russet glanced around. "I turned my back for a second, to help Rhea out of a tight spot, then Zephyr was gone. This is where his scent trail led, but the cold's killed any more scents by now."

"You're looking for a pup?" Nickolas appeared.

"My kit. And why do you care?" Russet replied.

"Well..." Nickolas's eyes flashed with some emotion. Automatically, I was nervous. "I hunt by scent out here, so I could help you look."

The fox I didn't know was about to say something, but Russet cut him off.

"That would be great," She sighed. "We need all the help I can get."

Nickolas raised his head and turned in a few directions.

"This way," He bounded off after a few minutes.

Russet and the fox exchanged glances, then she took off, after Nickolas.

After a while, I noticed something on the ground.

"Um, Russet?" I called. "You may want to see this."

Confusion in her eyes, she padded over to me.