Rare Twins

Hope Is Not Lost

Flake padded on, her tail drooping. She had been traveling all day and was getting tired of the long treck. The moon was high in the air by now and she hadn't eaten a thing since the squirrel her father gave her. I have to find a cozy place to rest, she thought to herself as she looked around. 

As she was looking for shelter she saw a dark shape up ahead. Flake picked up the pace to a trot and moved on to see what it was. As she came closer she realized it was a giant pine. "A pine tree?" She said half to herself. She looked around and saw no other trees in sight.

Flake thought it was odd to find one tree in the middle of the more, but she was too tired to ask herself any more questions. She curled up, putting her back against the trunk of the tree, and let sleep wash over her.

The next morning Flake was woken by an irritated growl, "What on moon's earth is a wolf-like you doing out here?" he asked.

Flake blinked her eyes open then sprang to her paws when she saw a brown wolf standing in front of her. "I...I'm sorry, am I trespassing?" She said, backing away slowly.

The brown for dropped his head and let out a long sigh, "No... I'm sorry I'm just not used to seeing other wolves out here." He said lifting to meet Flake's gaze. The brown wolf's fur began to rise, "Oh... I'm sorry, where are my manners? I'm Tyler." He said giving a smile.

Flake smiled back, "Hello, I'm Flake." She said letting her fur lie flat. As Flake looked at Tyler, she began to wonder, I wonder if he saw my brother pass by.  She stepped out from under the pine and into the warmth of the light, "I have a question." She said, turning back to Tyler.

Tyler dipped his head, "I'll answer to my best capability." He said his tone flat.

Flake looked at him, "A few years ago, a black wolf passed through, did you see him?" Hope surging up inside her.

Tyler looked around as if something would bring back his memory, "I have seen a black wolf before, many years ago in fact." he answered, tearing up the grass under his paws, "Did he have the name...Blake?" He asked, pricking his ears.

Flake's head shot up, "That's him, that's my brother!" Flake was overwhelmed with hope. I'm on the right track! She thought to herself. 

Tyler padded forward, "He said he was heading to a place full of pointy rocks." He said looking out into the distance.

Flake followed his gaze, "could you point me in the direction?" She asked tearing her gaze away from the horizon.

Tyler looked at her, his gaze softening when he saw her ice blue eyes, "I can do more than that," He said his amber eyes sparkling like freshly fallen snow, "I can take you there." He said taking a step toward Flake.

Flake's eyes lit up, her heart was pounding in her chest, "I'm close, I can feel it." She remarked, turning her gaze to Tyler.

Tyler dipped his head, "Me and Blake spent a month with each other, and he mentioned he had a sister." he said as he flicked his tail for me to follow, "Are you his sister?" He asked as he headed in the direction Blake headed years ago.

Flake followed, "Yes, and now I must find him." She replied, "He is close I can feel it." She added, trotting up to Tyler's side.

A few hours had passed and the moon was at it's highest. Flake was dragging her paws, fighting to keep up with Tyler.

Tyler looked over his shoulder to see Flake falling behind. Tyler stopped and waited for Flake to reach his side, "Don't worry, there is a resting place not too far from here." He said, pushing up against her side to support her.

Flake was glad to hear they were reaching a resting spot, but she was weak from hunger and thirst, she hadn't eaten in two days and was unsure if she had enough strength to go any further. 

Tyler halted, and crouched down, "He is an abandoned rabbit whole, me and blake rested here on the journey to the pointed stones." He said helping flake down into the tunnel. Tyler led flake to a wall and settled her down, "I'll catch prey tomorrow, I know this territory better than any other wolf alive." He added settling down beside Flake.

Flake was looking forward to eating some juice prey tomorrow, she was getting tired of being hungry. Flake rested her head on her paws and let sleep wash over her for the night.

Flake woke up the next morning to see the spot Tyler had slept in was empty. Flake looked around the tunnel before climbing back up the tunnel. When she reached the fresh air, a cool breeze ruffled her fur. Flake shook her fur out and scanned the area in a desperate search for Tyler, but she saw nothing but a shape looming in the distance. 

As flake was trying to make out the shape she heard a voice behind her, which made her jump.

"You're up sooner than I expected,"Tyler said, his words muffled by the prey. He padded up to Flake and dropped a bunny and a squirrel at her paws, "Take your pick." He said settling next to Flake.

Flake reached down for the Bunny and took a huge bite, "Mmm this is good, it feels like years since I have had prey." She said, scarfing it down.

Tyler gave a little chuckle as he took a bite out of the squirrel, "I could tell, your stomach growling is all I heard last night." He said, his tail twitching with amusement.

Flake pushed away her scraps, "So... How far are these pointed stones?" She asked Tyler looking into the distance.

Tyler swallowed his last bite, "Only about half a days travel if we move quickly." He said standing up, "So we should probably get moving." Tyler added, taking the lead.

Flake followed right behind Tyler as he led her toward the shape she had seen when she first arose from the tunnel. Those must be the pointed stones. She thought to herself.

A few hours went by, the pointed stones were clearly visible now. Tyler stopped and looked up at the tall pile of rocks, "All the way up there is the alp." He said fixing his gaze back on Flake.

Flake glanced around, "Thank you for bringing me this far." She said, giving Tyler a curt nod. 

Tyler nodded back to her, "It is my pleasure." He said smiling, "But with your will, I would like to help you find your brother." He added, his tail twitching in embarrassment.

Flake gave him a confused look, "He lives here, doesn't he?" She asked Tyler.

Tyler looked at his paws, "He said he was gonna stay here, but he wasn't sure for how long." He replied. His †ail drooped when he saw Flake's sad gaze.

Flake couldn't help but let a tear trickle down her face, "He's not here..." She said, wiping the tear away, "But he is close I know he is." She said pricking her ears in determination. 

Tyler couldn't help to smile at how certain she was that her brother was close, "Well if he is close then we should find a place to rest and get moving early in the morning." HE said sniffing out a place.

Flake helped Tyler search the place until the found a small, little cavern that was just big enough to fit them both. Tyler and Flake curled up next to each other, and let sleep wash over them both. With a great climb ahead of them, they would need all the strength they had.