Dark Moon

Chapter Six

"Your mother? Is that why back then that wolf called you young prince?" She asked, following him as he walked away from the porch and towards the large trees of the forest.

"Yeah." He looked over his shoulder at her and stopped at the treeline. "You probably shouldn't come with."

"How come?" She tilted her head and crossed her arms, giving him a defended look.

"The pack is not particularly fond of-" he eyed her up and down.

"Of a halfbreed?" She asked, her voice cracking enough to show it offended her. He nodded, and her head drooped only for a moment, lifting it again to reveal a stone-like smirk. "Well I am still coming with."

Dune smiled lightly. This girl is so hardheaded even when her life is at stake-no, especially when her life was at stake. "Why take the risk?"

"Well," She huffed, and grinned. "You seem to continuously get in the way of danger. You need someone to drag you out, right?"

"Stubborn little alpha."

"What was that, Dune?"

"Nothing." He quickly faced forward and started back on his path. "Let's get going." His back turned to her and he was surprised to see her petite wolven form bounding past him.

"I'll race ya!" She exclaimed, not bothering to slow down.

"N-not fair! Do you even know the way?" He asked, speeding after her in his own pelted form. A flash of white crashed into his side from a nearby bush. Dune snarled, and snapped his jaws blindly at the mass. It finally yelped, and backed off revealing a set of fangs. One of the Pure Guards. Another trotted over, carrying a much smaller wolf by the scruff like it was nothing more than a pup. Caitlin. She had her ears flattened, and Dune's assailant turned to him smugly.

"Poor choice of company, prince." He flicked his silvery tail, inclining his muzzle.

"My choice of company has nothing to do with you, you mumbling low-life. Take me and-my companion-to my mother. Now." Dune growled. The guard who'd only just arrived set Caitlin down, and she came running between Dune's massive front legs, and slid to his side. His ears flicked forward as he waited for a response from the pair of guards.

"We cannot allow you any further into the territory, because of pack regulations, but we can arrange for your mother to meet you here."

"Fine. Just do it." He snapped, sitting back on his haunches. Caitlin realized Dune was larger than both of the Pure wolves, despite his dark fur. The larger of the two guards stayed with Dune and Caitlin as the other fled to retrieve the alphess. Dune bared his fangs impatiently at the wolf, hackles frigid. Caitlin nudged his side, and cut off his growling with a snap at his thin whiskers. The guard tilted his head in surprise and shook his head. Dune spotted this and snarled.

"What?"

"Not only do you have a halfbreed in your company, you let it control you."

"This halfbreed has a name! It's Caitlin by the way!" Caitlin barked, eyes narrowed. Dune's fur flattened, and he relaxed on his haunches.

"This halfbreed has more personality than every guard the pack owns." He nudged Caitlin with his paw. The wolf seemed completely dazed. A long legged, sleek, completely white female stepped from the shadows, and towered the accompanying guard. Dune's nose twitched. "Hello, mother." The female sat down, eyeing the two of them.

"Hello Dune. This is the first time in a long while I've seen you. And now you've come with-"

"Caitlin."

"Caitlin. Why didn't you contact me prior to your visit?"

"I figured the clan would have rejected my request." The alphess dismissed the two guards.

"What brought you here anyway?"

"The recent murder attempts and the oddly timed visit from the clan. They knew, yet never bothered to warn me. Why?"

"Dune, the pack may have ostracized you, but they are not planning your murder." She huffed. He felt Caitlin stare at him. "They are waiting for your cure in order to bring you back in."

"Why aren't they warning me?"

"We are not allowed to get involved with you."

"Why, then, did they come knocking at my door?" She remained silent for awhile, then replied slowly.

"They want to make sure you are still alive. Despite what you think, they do care about your well-being."

"What a load of bull." He snarled. "Why're so many different species after me? I thought I'd closed myself away so that the clans couldn't find me."

"You did-until recently." His mother growled, eyeing Caitlin. "And they are after you to get a foothold on the Pures. They want you dead to hurt our future. To this day, Dune, you are still the only living heir to the title." Dune snorted almost offended.

"You say it like you haven't been trying for a legitimate child."

"That's not what this is about-"

"But it might be!" He snapped, teeth suddenly at the female's throat. He stepped away, and shook his muzzle angrily.

"Its not likely that they have one contractor, but a unifier and they agree that you are a threat to them."

"Great." He frowned. That narrows it down alot. Not. He lashed his tail, and stood again, "Thanks for your time, I have all that I can get from you." He said snippily. With one last flick of his tail, he turned and stalked away. Caitlin followed him impatiently.

"Dune!" She barked. "Dune! Is there anything else I should know?" She flicked her ears forward. He whirled around, equally as angry.

"What did you think the word prince meant?" The air chilled and Dune surveyed the area with serious caution. A cloaked shape emerged from the trees, and slowly dropped it's hood. Green eyes beaming with a cool smile "A-Aurora."