The Rares

Chapter 23

~~~~Shiloh~~~~

I looked over at my door as two shadows blocked the light coming in from my door. I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling with the lights off, and the door open. I was in my human form, which was risky, so I had the blankets on, which wasn't a surprise.

"Sam, Simon," I greeted my brothers. "What are you doing here?"

"Whatever you're doing is risky," Sam told me.

I rolled my eyes. "I know. But anything worth doing has risks."

Sam sighed. "Yeah, but some things that aren't worth doing have risks, too."

"What does it matter to you? You aren't the one getting yelled at by our parents."

"We are your brothers-"

"No, really? I thought I was just something they found outside."I interrupted sarcastically.

"We are your brothers, and we worry about you."

"Well, you don't have to waste your time, I can take care of myself."

"Listen, Shiloh!" Simon snapped. "Every time you go out there, you are taking the chance that you could be killed, like Zephyr almost was, or vanish, like Adrian. Why don't you get your head out of your butt, and realize that whatever you love so much out there is not worth your life!? Why can't you see that every time you go out there, Aeriana has to hold Snow back from following you!? And don't you ever say what you had to him that night, that he 'hates' you because you tore him apart! I found him crying in a corner, and I had to call Cosan to help him to his room! Everyone knows what you said to him now, and if you would focus on the world around you, you would see the looks you have been given by Russet, Sarah, Zerrec, and Emmy in particular. If you were ever around, you would know that Crow looks almost like you, and she has been begging to see you! You would know that Jaybird heard Red telling Silver what happened, and he almost hates you because he loves Snow as a second father! Realize that you are affecting everyone around you, and not necessarily in a good way!"

I shuffled away from him after his outburst, tears welling up in my eyes. I shook them away angrily.

"Well, Simon, why can't you, or anyone else here realize that life isn't just restricted to this little, boring hunk of metal! There is an entire world out there that I want to see! I'm not going to stay cooped up in here!'

"Shiloh-" Simon stopped when Sam placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Stop. You're only making this worse."

Abruptly, Simon turned on his heel and left.

Sam came over and sat on the corner of my bed.

"Look, Shiloh," He murmured. "We are just worried about you. We never get to see you anymore, and when we do, you are nothing like what you used to be. I want you to see Jaybird and Crow. We just want to know that you are okay. Snow is scared, and Aeriana is getting to be, too. I know you think you can take care of yourself, but... Just promise me you won't disappear like this again until Adrian comes home, alright?"

I hesitated.

"Please, Shiloh. Just promise me. So you can meet Jaybird and Crow, and spend some time with us. What Si said was the truth. Jaybird pretty much hates you. He loves Snow. Which is understandable, they are brothers. But it isn't good. He should love you, not hate you. Just promise me that you'll stay until Adrian comes home."

I pressed my lips together. If I got to know my new aunt and uncle-That felt so weird to say or even think- then I would have a little experience with pups, for when mine came along.

"All right," I agreed. "I promise. I'll stay until Adrian comes home."

Or my pups come, I thought.

_________

~~~~Adrian~~~~

I opened my eyes to dim light.

I shook my head and looked around me.

My mind felt fuzzy, and I was having trouble thinking straight. I blinked hard, I was kind of tired.

I lay back on my side, and closed my eyes, trying to fall asleep.

_________

I don't know how long it was when I heard pawsteps on stone. I ignored them.

"Adrian?" A voice whispered. It took me a bit before I remembered that Adrian was me.

"Are you awake?"

"Yes," I whispered back.

A sigh. "Good. Turn over."

I sat up instead. The wolf who was talking to me was red-furred with red streaks. What was his name?

Oh yes, Riner. Or Piyano, as he went by now.

"How do you feel?" Riner asked.

"My head's fuzzy. Why don't I remember much? It's taking me too long. I barely knew that you were talking to me when you were calling my name."

"Oh no," Riner muttered. "Do you remember our conversation yesterday?"

"What-" I started to say, then it came back to me. "Oh, yeah, kind of."

"Well, I learned that my Waker is part of an operation that is working slowly to stop the 'Waking', because apparently, Roi, the 'big leader' of us is trying to build a huge army with us. I talked to Draegan, and we decided that I need to be the one to work to save you. But the drug's coming into effect much quicker than we thought, we'll have to sneak you out soon."

I rubbed my eyes with my paw. 

"But what about Speckle? And those pups Roi was talking about?"

"You remember that?"

"Barely." I sighed. "I just want to get back to Russet. She must be so worried."

"I'll go tell Draegan that we need to hurry you out. By the way, what happened to your face?"

"Snow."

"Snow? Snow is soft and fluffy. It doesn't give you such a big scratch that forces your eye shut."

"No, I mean Snow, your brother. He was being weird. Like, he didn't know what he had done until Cosan knocked him out for a few seconds. I was told that they thought they were losing me, I had lost so much blood from it. It was pretty deep."

"Jeez, that's pretty bad. And he's my brother?"

"He's not usually like that. Oh, and he's got three pups-Sam, Simon, and Shiloh."

"Really?"

"Yeah." I stood up and stretched.

"Let's get me out of here. I want to go home."