Wolf pack

Nate and Anya

They left immediately that morning. Melody and Nate followed silently, their plans of returning to a human civilization thwarted. However, comfort verses safety would be a necessary trade. They would return to the humans, sometime.
Anu walked in front, just as before. This time he kept at a moderate pace for Cleo, who followed at his side. The rest of the Wolfpack followed behind. Nate wished to be in front, since he knew the direction and always led his one own pack. Arguing with Anu would be a waste of time and uneffective.
They stopped only temporarily to catch their breaths and to eat. Traveling by werewolf is far faster than nearly any other mode of travel.
Nate wasn't sure how he felt about meeting his twin again. They hadn't seen each other since they were pups. Would Lokan even recognize him? Their separation had not been a happy one and he was unsure how they would be reunited. Would Lokan even want to join the Wolfpack? He didn't know. Nate himself had only joined to bring further protection to Melody.
Whatever the future held, he would find out soon. The scenery began to change, the trees grew from dull greens to bright fluorescent colors. They were entering the tropics: the halera pack was near.
Nate could smell shadows of the scents from his childhood. Times he and Lokan hunted together, times he walked alone. His pace slowed. He wouldn't want to admit it, but he was scared.
Those Haleras had snapped at him and forced him out of the tribe. The same wolves wouldn't have scared him now, but in his youthful memories they left a wide scar.
An image of sharp teeth and twisted stripes flashed in his mind and Nate was suddenly standing still. He shouldn't have been scared, but he didn't want to move.
Nate watched as the pack rushed on without him, only starting to slow as they noticed his absence.
Four wolves looked back at him, it was Anya who came back to see him.
Her fur shimmered as she moved, the stars seeming to twinkle as she approached. Her silver eyes watched him knowingly.
Nate sat down as she came up to him, watching her carefully. Melody slid off, standing at his side and resting her hand against his side. The last time he acted frightened before was nearing Rhashmas's pack. She knew why now.
"You're frightened." Anya spoke softly, so soft it felt more like an impression in his head.
Nate lowered his eyes, not wanting to admit fear.
"There is nothing wrong with being frightened, we all have fears. I know this place is hard for you to revisit."
His eyes slowly lifted, her silver eyes glowing as soon as his met hers. Immediately a sense of calm spread through him, starting at his eyes and spreading down through his neck, chest and down through his chest. It was soft like a cloud, but very real.
"Nothing will happen to you, all will go well. We are here and you are safe."
Nate lay down and let Melody on again, standing tall and nodding at Anya.
Her eyes returned to their normal glow and she nodded back, walking at his side until he returned to the rest of the pack.

The trees grew taller, filling the air and starting to block out the sky. Nate shivered, feeling his nerves immediately calm the moment they started.
The foliage thickened, vines weaving the tall trees together as they began to create the familiar barricade.
Haleras were very good at finding natural barricades.
The mountains on one side raised up, the trees filling the tight gap between them and surrounding the valley. Where any gaps remained between the trees, mounds of rocks, dirt and logs were placed- obviously moved there to further the barrier.
It was just as Nate remembered it.
The real trick of Halera colonies was finding the entrance.
Nate couldn't have forgot if he tried.
Anu followed his nose, looking at the tall barricade, walking his paws up the side and trying to look through any gaps in the trees. His blood tracking did not always give clear directions.
Nate walked past him, following along the walls and back into the tropical trees. It appeared to be the wrong direction, but Nate knew better. They followed after him as he moved farther from the wall.
He felt that feeling spread through him again: the comfort like a cloud from his nose to his chest and down his spine. Anya was trying to calm him again. She may have thought he was too frightened to go through with it.
Nate turned and looked directly at her. "I am not running. I know where I am going."
Anya raised an eyebrow. "Sure about that?"
Nate rolled his eyes, starting to turn.
"Did you just roll your eyes at me?" Anya walked quickly to face him in front. "That is my signature move thank you very much!"
Nate smirked, flicking his tail against her as he walked past. "You're welcome."
She kept at his heels, protesting but Nate was too busy grinning to himself to pay attention to her.
Anya kept her own laughter in, for she had successfully changed his mood again. Let him think he won, and she wins.