Dire Reach: Outer Exile

Chapter 17

Roark paced around the camp, trying to beat back the stress and guilt he was feeling for letting the young wolf run off. Many of the Twilight Dawn came up to try to get through to him but he just ignored them and continued pacing around before the first search party came back.

"Balduk! Any signs of Kantu?" Roark demanded as he sprinted towards the sandy wolf. Balduk sighed before shaking his head.

"No sorry, we caught faint scents but so far we've seen nothing of the pup," Balduk growled in anger and sadness as he did he his best to look Roark in the eyes.

If there was one thing Roark knew about the sandy male, it was that he never liked to fail. In truth no wolf did, it was just another stain on their honor that they'd have to wipe off.

"Thank you for trying Balduk, you and the others go get some rest." Roark dismissed Balduk and the rest of the search party as they all stalked off to parts of the camp.

"I'll have to wait for Garmak's and Erevar's Patrols." Roark thought to himself as his body hit the ground. "I just have to wait....".

"Roark, Roark! Wake up Brother!" Garmak called as he pulled on his brother's scruff, causing the black wolf to jolt awake a kick at his younger sibling.

"While you were sleeping both me and Erevar returned with our patrols. I told Erevar that I'd report for him." Garmak said.

"Still no sign of the young wolf?" Roark asked as Garmak looked at the ground before throwing a paw at the rock beside them leaving a mark on it.

"No, we searched everywhere in our territory! We almost ran into Outlander territory to find him. I knew that wouldn't be smart so I turned us back...Erevar didn't find him either." Garmak told Roark as his eye's darkened. Roark without dismissing Garmak or saying a word walked past him.

"Roark? Roark where are you going!" Garmak shouted as Roark stopped at the entrance.

"I'm going to find Kantu and bring him home myself," Roark called back to his brother as Hailia appeared right next to him.

"You are doing what now? Leaving in the middle of the night while Outlanders prowl the Reach? Have you gone completely bird brain?" Hailia growled at her mate. Roark just shook it off before sprinting off.

The black Alpha ran quickly as he only focused on the land in front of him as he looked for any signs of the young tawny male. His chest and heart pounding as one as he forced himself to keep moving. His breathing was that of a bear as his paws began to ache until he finally tripped and fell over. Dust and dirt collecting on his pelt quickly as he laid on the ground.

Roark slowly but surely began getting up when he blinked as he stared off into a patch of grass. Two wolves were watching him.

"They can't be Outlanders or they would have attacked me by now. Also, they don't look sick or anything." Roark though to himself as they both growled and fled quickly.

"Hey! Get back here!" Roark called out knowing it was useless they had already gone. Roark let out a sigh of frustration as he turned on his heels and began his long trek back home.

"I got to head back before the pack starts to worry, just one wolf out alone on a night is dangerous, let alone an Alpha," Roark said to himself as he looked at his paws as he walked.

Roark tossed and turned in his sleep as sweat poured from his face. Hailia was finally woken by her mate's constant movement.

"Roark...Roark, what's wrong?" Hailia mumbled as she nudged him gently. Her tired expression showing some signs of worry as she looked at his struggling.

"Laru I'm sorry! Laru I'll find him, I know I will! I'll keep him safe I promise, I'm sorry!" howled Roark as he continued to jerk and buck in his bedding.

"Roark wake up, wake up now!" Hailia demanded as she tried to pull on him to avail. Finally after a few more moments of howling and panicking the black wolf settled down his body rose and fell gently as the cream she-wolf looked on in worry before getting up and heading out the den.

She sat outside and just observed the camp for a while. Malu and Tarla walked up to her. The mother and daughter looked confused at she laid outside the Alpha's den.

"What's wrong Hailia? We heard screaming coming from over here and we went to investigate." Tarla said as her daughter nodded in agreement.

"Oh, it wasn't me thank goodness, it was Roark. He's having his night terrors again.." Hailia admitted as she looked inside the den quickly to make sure he wasn't moving around his sleep again.

"They are still happening? I thought he had gotten over them, or at least that's what he told me." Malu said as Hailia looked at the pair.

"He lied to you, he still has them. Just not this bad and not as frequent as they use too." Hailia replied as she continued to talk with them for a while, occasionally peeking back in the den before resuming her conversation with the two other she-wolves.

"So back to the subject, what were his night terrors about this time?" Tarla asked as Hailia sighed briefly before shaking her head.

"He feels as if Kantu's disappearance was his fault, Something about a promise Laru told him to make. It's really bothering him...I tried to comfort him but I just don't know what to do." Hailia yelped admitting defeat.

"Well don't stress yourself too Hailia, stress isn't good for puppies," Malu said as Hailia barked in acknowledgment.

"You are right, thank you for talking to me. I should go back to sleep now. I need to get my rest and I think he has calmed down now,Goodnight you two." Hailia said as she walked back into the Alpha's den and took her place by her mate.