wild

The wolf walked and prowled the artic wasteland. The icy wind whipped at her black coat as she headed for shelter in the line of the forrest that loomed closer. Her eyes, nearly the color of her fur burned with determination but little else.

A preadator that was a corpse on the inside.

She settled into an cave and placed her head between her paws. She was alone, as no wolf should be, in the world. Her family pack had removed her and the 'friendship pack' she became a member of was great but she needed something more.

So she set out in the world. Alone.

A wolf offered her his paw in frienship but friendship was not what she needed. She loved him more than anything and when he came to the den they shared with a new mate, she felt that man had put a bullet through her heart. His green eyes and red fur haunting her as she fled from the one she truely thought she loved in the night.

And so she was alone, again.

Oh, males came, offering friendships but never something more. So she accepted but still felt empty, love's curse following her as she continued to flee until she reached this artic wasteland.

'I am truely alone,' she thought and closed her weary eyes. A plantive whine escaped her before she could stop it. Suddenly a howl called to her from outside. One of comfort, curiosity, and...sadness.

But it had happened too many times before. She simply howled back, acknowlaging that this was his territory and that she would move on as soon as she regained her strength. But the acknowlagement never came and the dark wolf stayed where she was, closing her eyes. 'Let them kill me, please...' she thought absently.

A wolf, with a light blonde coat appeared in the doorway, his eyes shifting in color, from amber to blue, from blue to green, from green to gray and back again. He barked in greeting but she continued to lay there, motionless, uncaring.

'You come from far away,' he said gently. The black wolf started not to reply but opened her eyes and said simply, 'Yes.'

He walked farther into the cave and stood a few feet from her. 'You're welcome to stay as long as you like.'

'I don't need another friend,' she spat. The male wolf looked surprised but nodded. 'You were hurt.'

'Why do you care?'

'Because...we all care sometimes,' he said simply. The black wolf, taken by surpise sat up and looked at the new wolf. 'I don't have to,' she said evenly the blonde wolf simply smiled.

'You mock me?'

'No...stay for a time, please? Like you, I am alone.' His voice sounded so distant and sad and he turned his head to look away. She felt the urge to nuzzle him, comfort him but she pushed the thought out of her mind. 'He will mean nothing; get over it now,' she thought but she couldn't ignore how those eyes had turned pale brown, haunting her even as she looked away.

'I am...sorry,' she said, gently nuzzling his side and he jumped, locking eyes with her. 'I will stay as...as long as I can stand it.'

The blond wolf looked at her with something short of amazement. 'It's...all I ever asked,' he said softly. 'Who hurt you?'

'It was far away and long ago.'

'But it still hurts...you have someone that hurt you. That's more than what I've had.' Again, the black wolf looked at her new companion, startled. 'You've never found potential mates?'

A derisive snort. 'I will always be a pack member, nothing more.'

'Not true.'

Eyes flashed the color of emerald green. 'You cannot---forgive me,' he started in anger and lowered his head. 'I apologize. Perhaps...perhaps one day.'

The black wolf regaurded him with an ear twisted backwards. 'Do not give up hope, there is someone for everyone,' I said softly, feeling the words reverbrate in the hollowness of her chest.

'You do not believe that yourself,' he said, sitting, closing his eyes and giving her a sad smile. 'I will simply be alone, as now.'
'I am here.'

As soon as the words left, amber eyes locked with hers and she looked away. 'Do not promise something you cannot give,' he said in a low voice. I felt his words sting and I hung my head. 'I understand,' I answered in a low voice. 'I am sorry.'

'You cannot change what has been said,' the white wolf said evenly. 'I have observed you outside my territory and you do not seem one to apologize quickly.'

'I usually am not...I seem to have...'

'Lost your will?'

'Perhaps.'

Laying next to her, his eyes remained locked with hers. 'That is a valuable thing to have lost,' he said in the same soft voice.

'Yes,' she said simply and closed my eyes.

'Do not die,' he whispered. 'Do not let you grief kill you inside as it has killed me.' I opened my eyes and offered him a small smile. 'I am already dead,' she said gently and shut my eyes again. 'Life burns inside of you still, my male friend. It has not left you. I on the other hand, have no hope, no future, no mate, no pack...my life will end here.'

A warm form laid itself next to her lifeless body and a lick graced her muzzle. 'No...I will not let you die. We will fight through this...together,' he said forcefully. A howl and then two cut through the night air as two wolves found what they were looking for:

Each other.