Fall of the Packs: Void

Chapter Nineteen

"Do you ever think about how your life could be different?"

Tinder gave Minerva a curious look. "What do you mean?"

"Just what I said. Do you ever wonder how your life could have turned out differently?"

"That's awfully philosophical for you," Tinder said with a smile, jumping down from off of the rock he was on top of. The two were on patrol, as usual, but today in the western part of the forest, where the trees were amber and gold and a cool breeze was blowing. "You don't normally ask questions like that."

"I've been around you for too long," Minerva retorted. "If you're not going to answer, then I'll go back to not talking."

"Oh, Siglitun forbid that," Tinder said in mock-horror before chuckling. "All right. No, not really. Although I suppose I do sometimes wonder what would have happened if Pawnee had stayed alpha, or things like that. I take it you do think about it?"

Minerva huffed slightly. "I usually try not to. But yes, sometimes. I wonder what it would be like if my father and siblings were still alive. I think I would be... a lot different."

"Maybe," Tinder said with a nod. "Something like that really changes you. But we have no way of knowing, really. And aren't you the one who always likes to focus on the present moment?"

"Like I said, I blame you." Minerva smirked as he growled playfully at her. "I don't know. I suppose I feel as though if that hadn't happened... I'd be a better dog."

"I think you're fine just the way you are." Tinder stepped closer to her. "Yes, you would probably be different, but there's still something special about you like this. I already told you... I fell in love with it."

Minerva shook her head, smiling slightly. "I still can't understand that. I think I've given up on trying." She paused. "And I guess I should give up on the wondering too. Things aren't so bad, lately. Besides, there's one thing that I never want to change. That's you."

Tinder beamed at her. "What can I say?" he said with a laugh. "I do my best."

Minerva looked down, dragging her paw through the fallen leaves on the forest floor. She was starting to feel a little apprehensive. "I guess this is as good a time as any."

"Time for what?"

She looked back up. "With what all we've been saying... You can't change the past. We can only change the future, with the choices we make. I decided to make my choice, finally. I'm choosing you."

His eyes lit up and his tail started wagging so fast his entire body began to wiggle. "You mean that?" he asked breathlessly. "You... you love me too?"

Minerva nodded. "You showed me what that feels like, really. And I... like it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Tinder pressed his head against hers and she felt a rush go through her body. "I promise," he whispered. "I will always be here."

She wanted that moment to last forever. But she heard the sound of leaves and twigs cracking and turned to see Tango, one of the young defenders, running towards them.

"Tinder! Minerva!" he barked, panting. "You have to come quickly. Wind Pack is attacking on the south border!"

Minerva pushed away her disappointment and exchanged a nod with Tinder. "Lead the way," he said.

Tango nodded quickly and spun around, taking off again while Minerva and Tinder followed closely behind. Evidently Wind Pack had been the aggressors this time, and that usually didn't bode well for the Night-dogs. With their speed and their ability to blend in, a Wind-dog could launch a wicked ambush.

As they drew closer the sounds of battle became evident, and soon they caught sight of dog locked in combat with dog. Ajax, Senna, and Cypress were fighting five other Wind-dogs. She saw that Cypress was struggling with a steel gray Bearded Collie. The Staffordshire Terrier was putting up an impressive fight, but the other dog was almost twice his size, and his thick fur confounded most of the bites Cypress tried to land on him.

Not wasting any more time, Minerva sprang to her packmate's defense, vaguely noticing Tango and Tinder joining the battle as well. She slammed into the collie's side, knocking him away, but he recovered swiftly, wheeling on her and snapping at her jowls. She growled in pain as his teeth made contact, retaliating by grabbing onto his ear and ripping out tufts of his long gray fur. He let out a cry of pain and threw his body against hers, kicking out with his back legs. She sucked in a breath sharply as he connected with her stomach, staggering backwards.

Before renewing her attack, Minerva was briefly able to see how the rest of the battle was advancing. Tango and Senna were fighting back to back against two Border Collies, while Tinder was trading bites with an Aidi. One of the Wind-dogs, a Smooth Collie that Minerva had seen many times before, was lying on the ground in a pool of blood, immobile. Minerva was about to lunge for the Bearded Collie again when Ajax came staggering into the center of the fray and let out an ear-splitting bark.

"You've already lost one dog, Wind Pack," he shouted, his voice hoarse. One side of his face was a bloodied mess that continued down to his neck and shoulder. "Leave now before it gets worse."

The Wind-dogs hesitated, fury flashing in their eyes at the sight of their fallen packmate, but finally one of the Border Collies, who appeared to be the oldest of the group, signaled for them to retreat. Minerva returned the Bearded Collie's parting glare with an impassive gaze, and then turned her attention back to Ajax, feeling a flash of concern for the beta. He looked terrible.

"This was a disaster," he growled. "Siglitun take me if those Wind-dogs don't fight like demons." He let out a bitter laugh and then collapsed.

"Quick!" Senna limped to his side, favoring her right leg. "There's still time. We need to get him back to the healers, now."

Minerva and Tango were the largest dogs there, so they bore Ajax up and began to carry him back as quickly as they were able. Minerva knew that the healers were talented and would do their best to save him, but she felt deep down that the prospects were not good.