Silvershore

Chapter Fourteen

"Oh my god." Stormjay stood up.

"I...came to check up on you." Wood nervously flicked his tail. "Are you two alright?"

"W-We're...we're fine." Bright Moon flattened her ears.

"Good. Don't worry, we'll find your mother as quick as we can. She's gonna be alright."

"F-Father..." Stormjay's ear twitched.

"Look at that, you're taller than me...you're growing up so fast." Wood tried to change the subject.

"What did you hear, Wood?" Bright Moon demanded.

Wood was silent.

"Please...tell us." Stormjay begged.

"...I heard enough."

Stormjay sighed. "What are you going to do...?"

"...Has she been working with Aries?" Wood flattened his ears. Stormjay had never seen him flatten his ears, so it caught him off guard.

"We don't know." Bright Moon sighed.

"...If you don't know...I may have to assume she is." Wood hung his head.

"W-What are you talking about...?" Stormjay growled. "Of course she's not working with Aries. She would never! Do you know nothing about her!?"

"I didn't think she would, either." Wood said. "But, if she's associating with Aries, I have no choice but to believe she's on his side."

"What is wrong with you!?" Stormjay yelped. "Y-You've known her for your whole life! Y-You know, like, everything about her! Y-You're not even considering the fact that she could've been, y'know...m-manipulated!?"

Both Wood and Bright Moon were silent.

"Th-that's it...? You've got nothing to say?" Stormjay growled. "...S-Screw this... I'm leaving..." He began to walk out of the den. He stopped at the entrance. "P-Please excuse my language." Stormjay then ran away.

"S-Stormjay, wait up!" Bright Moon ran after him.

Stormjay kept running. He knew he had said things he'd regret. He had never spoken that way to anyone in his life. He was tired of keeping all the rage to himself. He was mad at Wood, his mother, but especially Aries. He wanted Aries dead, and he had never wished death upon anyone in his life, no matter how angry he was.

He was in the East Forests before he tripped over a large branch and fell on the ground. He decided to just stay there. He didn't know why he kept on running before. He had just done this a few weeks ago when he realized that Loki and Aries were mates. He had lost all control and ran from his problems, which he beat himself up about later on. And he did it again.

"Stormjay!" Bright Moon had finally caught up to him. "You ran outside the Main Territory...we can't be here right now. We don't know if it's safe..."

"I can't do this anymore..." Stormjay sniffled. "I'm so weak... and tired..."

Bright Moon lied down next to Stormjay, who hadn't gotten up after tripping. "You're not weak. You're one of the strongest wolves I've ever met. You've been through a lot, and you're still so gentle and kind to everyone. Pfft...I would've attacked someone by now if I was in your position..."

"I hate Aries," Stormjay cried. "I hate him and everyone in his pack. He doesn't deserve all the power he has. How could my mother betray everyone like this...?"

Bright Moon was silent for a moment. "I don't think she meant to betray anyone... try putting yourself in her position..."

"...I'm trying...I can't think of any reason she'd willingly go see him other than..." Stormjay wept.