บท 3: Chapter 3
By the time the sun was setting, the pack had reached a source of land that didn't belong to any one. With Hope out of the way, Nightlight could focus on his pack-mates. Pandora was at his side as they were walking, and she looked at him. "Nightlight...was that really necessary? You know, what you did to Hope?" she asks. Nightlight sighed then replied, "No, but I couldn't help it...she made me angry. I normally don't get that mad, and I'm sorry," he turns to look at his pack-mates. "And to all of you. I'm sorry you had to see that."
"Don't apologize Nightlight, it happens to everyone. Besides, Hope had it coming to her. She was crazy anyways." Dagger says. "I agree, we all have those moments. So don't feel bad." Sunny adds. Nightlight smiled. "Thanks guys." he turned back to the trail; along the way the pack explained to Mulch, Ashton and Crow about Hope's little "episode". They were all shocked, not at what Nightlight did to her, but the fact that she attacked Pandora for no reason.
Nightlight saw something up ahead, it looked like a stone with something on it. He told the pack to stop for a second as he went to look at it. "It's a painting of a giant plain field. Which I'm guessing that's where we have to go next. However, we can go to the safety of the trees up ahead that way we aren't vulnerable out in the open, and rest for the night. We're all tired, I'm sure of that."
He turned to face his pack-mates, they all yipped and barked agreements. Nightlight nodded, and they made it to a small patch of trees, where they all separated into their patrol and hunting groups. Pandora however, joined Nightlight away from the groups.
They laid down together, and Pandora rested her head into Nightlights neck, and he nuzzled her in return. "I love you Pandora." he murmured. Pandora smiled. "I love you too Nightlight, and nothing will ever change that." Nightlight smiled, then sighed and looked up at the sky. The orange and pinkish coloring made him think of his mother and he looked down at the ground. "Something wrong love?" Pandora asks. Nightlight slowly nodded. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it, I understand." she says.
"No Pandora, it's okay I just...can't get over it." he says. "I'll tell you why I'm like this...you see my mother, Twilight was the alpha female of my old pack at one time. One day, she got injured and collapsed out of blood loss. She woke up in the den, where she met my father Eclipse, who was a loner at the time and found my mother. They were never meant to meet. Soon, they had my brothers and me; and since I was first born, I was the future alpha.
Things didn't go so well, because my mother had an arranged marriage with Rune, the alpha of the Haven Field Pack. She had to leave to protect my father and us. When Rune eventually found out about us, he became overcome with jealousy and sacrificed her to the cougars of Cougar Canyon. Not long after that, I left the pack to be on my own, and that's when I met Ava and Bandit." Pandora was silent for a long moment, then she nuzzled Nightlight more to comfort him.
"I'm sorry Nightlight...I truly am. Now I see why your brother would like you as his alpha. I don't think your mother would be too happy about Bandit however. I believe she would rather have you as the alpha as well; it would make her very proud, and I'm sure she's proud of you now." she says. Nightlight smiled and licked Pandora lovingly. "I'm sure she'd be proud of me too. Thank you Pandora...that means so much to me." Pandora smiled and rested her head on her paws. "We should get some rest, we still have a long journey ahead of us."
Nightlight smiled, and rested his head on Pandora's back. He put his right paw under Pandora's leg, and wrapped his tail around hers. He couldn't help but smile, Pandora reminded him so much of his mother, she always knew what to say. Soon his eyes began to close, and fell asleep.
The next morning, Nightlight was jolted awake by the sound of teeth snapping in his ear. He looked up to see Pandora looking down at him, the fur around her eyes were wet. It looked like she was crying recently. "Pandora? What's wrong?" he asks standing up. She didn't answer but turned her head around to look behind her shoulder. Nightlight looked passed her to see everyone surrounding someone. He quickly made his way over to them to see that Atlas was collapsed on top of Solar.
Nightlight immediately rushed to his brother's side. "Atlas? What happened? What's wrong with him?" Atlas looked at his brother with eyes full of tears. "He's very ill. He couldn't breath this morning. His heart beat is so faint Nightlight." "Nightlight…" Solar whispered. Nightlight looked at his brother. "I'm here Solar."
Solar coughed blood. "I need you and Atlas to stay strong. You're both my brothers I love you both very much. Nothing will take me away from you both...not even death. I'll always be with you guys." he coughed some more. "I'll say "Hi" to Mom for you both…." he coughed and sighed. Nightlight looked at Atlas. "Atlas…" he said tearfully. Atlas's tears were really flowing now, and he made no effort to stop them. "This is Bandit's fault. Solar was sick back at our territory, he shouldn't have made him come. He...he never should have come with us ...."
The pack was all sobbing now. Sunny was crying into Dagger's fur. They left the brother's to mourn over the death of their sibling. Nightlight's face was stained with tears now, and he managed to break away from his little brother. As for Atlas, he still lay collapsed on top of Solar refusing to leave his side. Or even eat.
The death of his brother was more painstaking than he ever felt. That day, something snapped in Atlas that would change him forever. He knew that Solar was sick, and Bandit knew too. He believed that he made him go with them because he didn't want him to infect the whole pack. Later that day, they buried Solar under his favorite kind of tree, and sat around his grave. Pandora was pressed up against Nightlight, sobbing. Nightlight had his paw around her, tears flowing down his face.
As for Atlas, he was sitting next to his brother, but he had no one comforting him. That is, until Moon came over and nuzzled his neck. She was crying too, Atlas guessed that she saw him alone, and came to make him feel better. Atlas didn't say anything to her, but accepted her comfort. Though he never mentioned it to Moon, he loved her. He never had feelings for anyone as much as he did for her.
However he knew this wasn't the time to tell her. When the pack had finally settled, Nightlight was talking to his brother about Solar. "You don't understand how upset I am right now Nightlight! Solar was ill for the past few months. Bandit told me that he was a "sickness" and that he would spread it to everyone else if he was near anyone! I think that is why he made Solar go with us! It isn't fair!!" Atlas looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry…" he added.
Nightlight hugged his brother. "You have nothing to be sorry for Atlas, I would be acting the same. Listen to me, I know Solar may be with the Spirit-Wolves now, but he will always be with us. Even if we can't see him, we'll be able to feel him. He never left us, and never will." Atlas smiled, and nodded. "Thank you Nightlight...you always know what to say." Nightlight chuckled. "Not always...but when I see you unhappy, I try to make you feel better. I'd do anything to keep my brother smiling."
Atlas chuckled, then padded away. Nightlight watched him go, he couldn't help but smile. He was happy to see his brother smiling once again. Pandora came up next to him. "I see he's smiling again. You always know how to cheer him up." Nightlight nuzzled her. "Sometimes I can, and sometimes I can't...I mostly have trouble with words, but when someone needs a person to talk to, I'd be the one." Pandora chuckled. "You remind me of my father...he was gentle and caring, but not without having the strength to put those who overthrew him in their place."
Nightlight looked at her curiously. "Was he an alpha?" he asks. Pandora nodded. "He was...matter of fact, he was the finest leader of our lands. His name was originally "Alayis" but his nanny nicknamed him "Little Alpha" when he was a pup, because he was already showing the traits of a natural born leader; and being the alpha later on, he changed his name to "Alpha". The name just stuck with him for most of his life, and it's what made him special." Nightlight looked in awe.
"So...what happened to him?" Pandora sighed. "Our pack was challenged by our neighboring pack for our lands...we lost, and my father was fed to the cougars of Cougar Canyon." Nightlight looked sad. "I'm so sorry, love…" Pandora nuzzled him. "It's alright...I know he's gone, but I know he's watching over me every step of the way. I know he's there, I can feel his presence in the air and it gives me comfort." "Hey...I feel that too." Nightlight explains. "Except it's my mother that I feel...I know she's here too...I just can't see her."
Pandora looked up at the sky. "That means that you had a strong bond with your mother. She's up there, with my father and the other Spirit-Wolves. They watch over their loved ones and send them messages if necessary. Only the good wolves go up to join the Spirit-Wolves." Nightlight looked up at the sky too.
"The good wolves? Well where do the bad wolves go?" Pandora looked at him. "They go down to Hades to become Hellhounds. They are the wolves who don't deserve to be up there with the Spirits." Nightlight looked at her. "How do you know all of this Pandora? You seem to know a lot about our ancestors."
Pandora sighed and pawed the ground. "My father used to tell me about them all the time. He wanted me to know that way I could pass it down to my pups if I ever had any. Which I haven't yet, mostly because I wouldn't be a good mother." Nightlight nuzzled her. "Don't say that...I think you'd be a great mother. Matter of fact, you remind me of mine...she knew a lot, and always knew what to say. You're just like her Pandora, and that's one of the reasons I fell in love with you. I'll always love you, no matter what happens. You know that." Pandora smiled and placed her paw on Nightlight's. Nuzzling his neck she says, "I love you too Nightlight. I always will. Matter of fact, I think you'd be an excellent father. Your pups would love you as much as I do."
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