Phoenix glanced over and said, " Yes he was and a very determined wolf. Thank you for your kind words. " She smiled a little as she recalled Flint and her's first meeting. She quietly started the tale."I was chasing a rabbit that was proving to be quite smart. Just when I'd get close enough to bite it, it would bound out of reach again. I was so focused on getting the crafty critter. That I had neglected to notice, I had crossed over into fire pack's territory. It wasn't until the rabbit ran into a rotted hole, in a fallen tree, that I noticed I was no longer alone. I had detected movement out of the corner of my left eye. Not daring to acknowledge the massive black wolf, that was now standing there. I just slowly started backtracking, hoping that maybe he would let me be. Coming to the invisible scent marker, I swiftly stepped back over it and hurried on my way. But after a while I had to chance to look behind me. So I did in the rouse of smelling a bush. Nothing he wasn't there anymore. Relieved, I sprinted off back to my little part of the forest and didn't pay him a second thought...... until the next morning when I awoke to that very same wolf, standing over me growling deeply. He had his head low, just inches from my neck, "What is your name?" he demanded harshly. I replied barely moving," I do not have one!" He had drawn back a little and asked me a little perplexed, "What kind of wolf are you, if you don't have a name?" That small distance he'd granted me, gave me courage, for I growled back at him, " The kind, who's a sole survivor of a flash fire, that devoured everything she knew and loved, except her!" He had been quiet for a moment, so I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. What I had seen, surprised me. First there was shock, then slowly it transformed into sympathy. I was about to say something , when he beat me to it ,"How old?" He asked. "I am a year old, why?" I had asked. "Not how old now, how old then?" He clarified. I had paused to think. When he nudged me with his nose to goad me into answering him. " Why must you know this?" I asked. "So you can recount your victory, to your pack mates, about killing a trespasser, who dared cross over onto your packs territory? No, just kill me now and be done with it! I will not grant you bragging rights!" I had told him. He was quiet for a moment, then he'd asked me sincerely, " Come back with me, Phoenix . Come back and live with my pack." With confusion at what he'd said, I had said, "No! I will never go back with you. Wait, who's Phoenix? " He was quiet again and then said," You are Phoenix! Because you are the lone pup to rise from the ashes of pure destruction, only to live again. Why wont you coming back was me?" He'd asked. "Because I don't need a pack. I have all I need here, food, water and most of all solitude! Which you're intruding upon!" When he had finally moved off and started heading back his pack. I was so relieved that he was leaving. I had dared to take my first deep breath, as I watched him go. Pleased at watching him leave, when all of a sudden, he stopped to say,"We'll see about that solitude. I'll see you tomorrow Phoenix." And true to his word, he kept coming and staying longer and longer. Until he's just stopped going back all together and stayed with me. But up until he stayed, he kept asking me to come back with him. Now I wish I had, perhaps things would be different now. I didn't mean to talk your ear off. I guess that's just been on my mind lately. The should've, could've." She finished quietly.
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Nialla slowly started to wake.
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Jasper looked off into the distance, thinking about his dad.
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lots to read...)
