Chapter 17: Home's Path

    "Leave her alone!"

    A familiar voice shattered Midnight's memories of home, the strong face of Wisp, Dusk's and Mist's face and even her father's.

    Someone was attacking the timber wolves. On their backs, nipping and throwing them off.

    A black wolf was before her.

    Hawk.

    Like a bird, he had swooped down from nowhere.

    "Midnight, you okay?" he asked, concern wrapping his voice.

    "Y-yeah," Midnight replied.

    Hawk pushed a wolf away from him with his hind leg. "Where's Sunrise?" asked Midnight.

    "I shouldn't tell you, there are timber wolves," said Hawk.

    Midnight shook her left hind leg. "I- I can walk," she muttered. "Let's go."

    Hawk lead the way, the two fighting off any timber wolves in their way, but soon, most of them decided to leave them alone, seeing what they can do. When their path was clear, the two ran. Soon, Midnight and Hawk made it out, where Sunrise was waiting on a tree.

    "Why is she there?" asked Midnight.

    Hawk grinned. "I climb trees. It's like that you kill."

    "I- I didn't mean to, Hawk! I won't kill purposely," said Midnight.

    Hawk shrugged, letting Sunrise rest on his back. "Where are we off to now?" asked the wolf.

    Midnight looked down, a dirt path. "We follow this path to the Silver Woods," she replied. "Come on, Hawk."

    It was about three in the afternoon. There was a silence as the three walked, only to be disturbed by the sound of crunching leaves. "Oh, you're back with friends," said a voice. Omega stood there, his mint green eyes twinkling, his white-and-black fur caught the rays of the sun.

    Alpha was behind him. "Yet still unable to find the history of her lies," he said, shaking his head.

    "This wolf too," said a new voice Midnight never heard. A black wolf with a white hind-paw and his fur had hints of grey here and there.

    "L-Lambda," said Omega.

    Lambda smiled sadly. "I am afraid these three will not be happy here."

    "Three?" puzzled Midnight.

    Lambda nodded. "The fox too."

    Alpha laughed. "The cursed crew."

    Hawk bared his fangs. "S-shut up!"

    "Aww, he's cute," said a new voice. Zeta and another wolf approached them.

    "Z-Zeta," stammered Midnight. "I need to get out of here, please, it's an emergency."

    "Are you hungry, dear?" asked the wolf beside Zeta, her emerald eyes sparkled with joy, her grey fur streaked with cocoa brown.

    "Hush, Theta!" hissed Zeta. "Midnight, what's ever so wrong?"

    Midnight looked around her. Her audience was huge. "I need to go... Or..."

    Midnight couldn't finish her sentence.

    Hawk hissed. "Just get out of our way," said Hawk.

    "What is your path?" asked Lambda.

    "Revenge," said Hawk.

    Lambda smiled weakly. "We shall stay clear of your path, but, little wolf, your path will not be clear. It will not be clear."

    With those words, the wolves parted and gave a path for Midnight and Hawk, Sunrise of Hawk's back. "Who are those mad fools?" asked Hawk in a whisper as Midnight and him walked past the wolves.

    "They're the Guardian of the Silver Woods," said Midnight. "They inhabit this place, I guess they do magic by making no one starve here, animals here, when eaten, causes one to be cursed."

    "A little pack of wolves gods-wanna-be," scoffed Hawk.

    Midnight shrugged and looked at Sunrise. At such a young age! How could the fox be cursed? How?

    Midnight looked at the path ahead. "I need to hurry, or afternoon will be over..."

    Midnight reached to grab Sunrise in her jaws, but Hawk said, "Are you sure you don't want to just leave her here?" asked Hawk.

    The black wolf nodded. She returned Sunrise. "Wish me luck."

    Hawk nodded in return.

    With that, Midnight raced down the path, then she let sun rays fall on her face, the afternoon heat warming her. She rested for a few minutes, snacking on a nearby hare she caught and then quickly sped down the path.

    She didn't remember who said it, but she remember it was a day's walk- or run.

Author's Note: Uh, good-bye Hawk. Anyway, I changed the template of the blog- don't freak out.