Silver

Chapter 22

"Is that snow?" Noah's voice is riddled with disbelief at the small white specks falling around us.
"Looks like it, but how high up are we?" I reach a hand out slowly and catch a flake on my palm.
"We are still at the bottom. I can't imaging what it will be like at the top."
"I don't want to think about it." I glance upwards towards the top of the large mountain we had started ascending. According to the stories from Lincoln the Wanderer was headed up the mountain.
This morning we had reached the base of the mountain on our 7th day since leaving my pack, and we now have a solid idea as to where our old wolf is.

"Time for practice sweet cheeks." I tap Noah's chin before standing up and brushing off my cargo pants.
"Fine, fine I'm coming." He swallows the rest of his water and stands up to join me in the small area I cleared earlier to the side of our camp.
"So sugar, what are we going to start with?" Noah smirks getting into an exaggerated fighting stance. "Left hooks, round house kicks, or are we going more towards the street fighting tacti-" Before he can finish, I put my hands on his shoulders pushing off and over his head to land behind him. But before he can spin around I sweep my leg around me in a low twist and sweep his feet from out from under him. He lands with a heavy thud on his back and he pants for breath looking up at me with slightly glazed eyes.
"Tha- that was- was hot." He finally manages to wheeze out before pushing himself into a sitting position.
"Come on sweet cheeks, we have work to do." I pull him up by his arms and dust off his back before turning him around to face me. "Ok we are going to start with blocks, let get started." I clap my hands together and bend my knees and bring my fists up to block my face. "3...2....1"

Noah winces as I press the cool rag to his swollen cheek. Lets jut say we still have work to do.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. ....lets just go to bed." He winces again as I drop my hand and nod.
"Ok, and I'm really sorry about that." I say pointing to his cheek.
"Hey I'm the one who needs to learn how to block a right hook." I smile at that and motion with my finger for him to turn around.
"You know we are mates." He says with a small smirk. I give him a look which makes him sigh and then turn around grudgingly.
I turn to my bag and pull out a change of clothes, before pulling my dusty shirt over my head. As I drop it to the ground I hear a sharp intake of breath. I spin on my heel until I see Noah's wide eyes which are now almost completely black.
"I thought you turned around?" I plant my hands on my hips and give him a sharp look.
"Holy shit." I hear him mumble before taking a step towards me.
"Uh uh uh. I don't think so mister." I shake my finger before pulling the clean shirt over my head. And since he's already looking at me, I pull my pants down my legs and casually slip out of them. I pull on a pair of athletic shorts all the while suppressing laughter at Noah's expression.
After a painfully slow changing process I snuggle up against Noah's warm side with his arm wrapped securely around my waist. I fall asleep to sweet words whispered into my hair.

I small snap stir me from my sleep, but I keep my eyes closed and my breathing slow. Another stick snaps to my right, I strain my ears and I can barely hear light footsteps headed our way. Whoever is coming is no amateur, someone who can be this quiet knows what they are doing.
I figure they are about 5 feet to my right, so when the next slow footstep comes I roll away from Noah while coming into a crouch and using my am as a brave sweeping my leg out and towards the intruder. My foot makes contact before a loud thump sounds. I use my momentum to sweep back to my feet. I land in a fighting stance while I can barely make out the intruder stumbling to their feet in the dawn light.
"I don't want to fight you." A deep male voice says when they get to their feet, the man assumes a fighting stance mimicking mine, and its a natural position for both of us.
"You're right you don't." I keep my eyes on the man as I hear Noah slowly climbing to his feet behind me.
I slowly start to circle the man but he follows and we are now circling each other waiting for the other to make a move.
"Who are you and what are you doing on this mountain?" The low voice is starting to have a face as the early morning light peaks trough the trees.
"Why would we tell you. We have our own business here." I keep my voice calm and steady putting an edge of steel in.
"Because I keep trespassers off this mountain and that is what y'all are, so it is my job to remove you." He nods his head towards Noah before turning back to me. I can just start to make out dark hair and carmel skin and contours of his face that looked strangely familiar.
"Good luck." I hear Noah laugh right before the man lunges.

I barely miss his foot flying towards me with how fast and fluid he swung towards me. I see his face now and it is one of surprise and something else that sparks a memory I just can't place. And I know mine must mirror his surprise, I have never seen someone fight like him, except me.