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So here it is. Slayn's chronicles, his struggle, they end here. This is not the end of the Half-Moon tribe, not at all! The story is actually expanding. There's even a preview at the end to show everyone I'm not done with my wolves! I can't say goodbye to Slayn, Avalon, and everyone. A story over a year in the making and still going! Enjoy everyone, this was a fun one to write!

As always, copyright all characters to me, Tiberius Rings. =)

"This ends, Jeran!" I said, growling loudly as I held his wrist in my fist, my other hand holding the red dagger, a recent gift, and right now my only weapon.

Jeran looked down at me surprised for a moment but then sneered, twisted his wrist, but I held on.

"So the life of your beta flushes you out of hiding. And you call yourself an Alpha!" He huffed down at me, growling as he tried to pull his arm free.

I shifted my weight and brought the dagger around and shoved it up against his throat, glaring up at Jeran as I held the blade tight in my hand.

It seemed like people who had been watching took my action as a signal. I saw out of the corner of my eye as Avalon bounded over the rock and slammed his knee right into one of the wolves holding Ranz steady. I watched with satisfaction as Avalon's weight bore down on the scout, crushing the side of his ribs as he whirled around and cut along the second scout's back with my second dagger. The cut managed to do what was needed; the other scout let Raz go.

Ranz, knowing what to do, bounded backwards in a leap that would make any strider proud, his hands down to his waist where his own dagger was sheathed. I heard the snap undone and knew Ranz had armed himself.

Scouts began to move forward, but so did striders. Armed striders. I looked and saw my people confronting the others, and I had to stop this before someone else died.

"Stop! EVERYONE! No one is to fight. Get the injured to the mages enclave at once!"

"Scouts, hold your ground for my honor and yours!" Jeran shouted over me, countering my orders.

"JERAN!" I showed, growling up at him as I still held his wrist and the dagger up against his throat. "End this now and I promise I won't let Arch hurt your people. If the two on the ground live then nothing will happen!"

Jeran looked down at me, and with a flash his hand stuck my side. I felt pain lance from my waist to my armpit and I jumped back, wincing again as I fell to a knee next to the two potentially dead subordinates. Blood was pouring down my side, a shallow cut but it was long and Jeran's claws, probably wearing the razor tipped coverings, had cut me. I looked down for an instant as I saw the blood pour down my side and thigh, trickling down my robe.

"This isn't going to end until you're removed from your position and my rank reinstated, Slayn. You've managed to manipulate the council because you're all 'old friends' and you probably sucked Arch's cock to get him to bend to your way. NO MORE!" He roared at me, whirling his foot and kicking at me. I winced loudly as I fell down onto my chest. My speed was there but my reaction skills were dulled. The cut and the lack of energy from my still recovering body was still dragging me down.

"Stop this." I heard behind me as Avalon moved forward, growling as he put his body between me and Jeran. I looked up and watched.

"Oh, Slayn's other lover comes to the fight as well. You're thinking with your penis, you know. You need to think with your head, Avalon. See that Slayn dishonored me and his punishment wasn't enough and then taken away! His rank and position is a black mark on our caern and I--"

In a surprise move I saw Avalon launch his arm out and punch at Jeran. The scout was fast, but Avalon was a great warrior. The fist connected with the side of the face, sending Jeran staggering back. To my dismay his scouts formed a ring around him, protecting Jeran from further attacks.

I also saw that Avalon had bloodied Jeran a bit.

"Stupid warrior," Jeran muttered as he wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. "This isn't your fight."

"You killed two innocent people. Its a fight for every caern loyal to Arch." Avalon said with his face impassive and his stance strong. I'd never seen him fight before but so far he wasn't disappointing.

"Honor? Arch? He's the one who allowed it to grow to this."

"I agree," Ranz said, coughing as he growled out an insult. "He didn't have you killed for all you'd done to Slayn."

"Silence, Beta!"

"Silence yourself!" Ranz said, growling louder. "You hold the rank of Omega now, whelp! You can't talk to anyone like that anymore."

"Rank in name only. I still command the scouts by loyalty alone."

"Then they will die with your impudence and lack of faith in the system, Jeran." I said with a sigh. I didn't want all this because of me, but Jeran had pushed it.

"Proud words, but the Warriors are locked down and the mages are quartered off. You stand as strider alone and one proud warrior. You really think you'll survive?" Jeran asked with another grin.

"He doesn't stand alone." A voice said behind me. I looked back and saw, of all people, Apollo walk forward. He was standing in a proud feline grace; his clothing deerskin trousers and a red sash around his waist. His eyes gleaming and on his wrists he wore the Bangles. The strongest weapon in his caern and a legend among everyone of Apollo's allies. It was said it could counter Arch's fire.

Apollo didn't come alone. He had five of his feline warriors and Eros with him, though bandaged. The group of cats came behind me and Avalon. Eros helped me up.

"Are you all right, Slayn?" I heard Eros say as he looked at the cuts on my side.

"Flesh wound, I think. I'm dizzy though." I whispered to him.

"He didn't cut anything too bad." Eros reached down into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a handful of powder. He rubbed it along the length of the cuts and made me wince. Eros continued then. "This is Blood Ender, an herb that grows specially around our own temple. The gods bless it and because of that blessing it stops bleeding if you don't move too much. If you don't want to bleed to death, Slayn, you cannot fight."

I didn't know what to think about that. I was blown away, my mouth tense and I looked at Eros. "I have to, Eros. Its my fault and my duty as an Alpha to defend my people against this."

"Learn something, little Alpha," I heard Apollo say in my direction. "An Alpha, even one like Arch and myself, never stand alone. Your allies rally around you. You do not have to fight this alone."

"Apollo!" I heard Jeran growl finally, moving forward of his group. "If you so much as raise a hand against me I will propose a charter of war against you!"

"In my eyes, little male," Apollo began. "You do not hold any rank in this caern other than a renegade and a murderer. No one will listen to your demands."

"Apollo," I said quietly as I looked up at him and sighed again as I held my side. "Please, send your warriors to free Chance and Reyna. This is our affair but your help is needed."

"As you wish," Apollo said and nodded to his felines. The cats didn't take a moment and split up, flashing into the woods behind them. They would follow the line of trees hopefully to the warriors and the mages, but it would take time.

Now it was just Eros and Apollo.

"Eros," Apollo said again. "Make sure Slayn is well taken care of. Avalon, Gamma Warrior, your strength is needed here more than ever."

Avalon nodded in Apollo's direction and moved to stand along side the leopard alpha male. The two males stood in front of me. Strong, powerful allies.

"Fine then," Jeran said. "If you can't fight on your own then I will have to even the odds."

My eyes widened as I moved forward, touching Avalon's arm, looking at him. "Avalon, he's going to use it!"

"What?" Avalon said, bending down more to my level.

"His Gift of the Wolf. Wolf's Sight!"

"Wolf's Sight?" Avalon asked me and stood taller, looking to Jeran with a cold gaze. "What's it do?"

"It--" I was cut off!

"Slayn! You know the law; you are forbidden from discussing the gifts to non council members!" Jeran was shouting, but his smile annoyed me more than I wanted to admit. He was right; if I told Avalon what Wolf's Sight did it would mean Arch would have to punish me.

"Jeran, wait. You use your gift now then you'll be condemned to death either way. You know we're not allowed to use the blessings from the gods like this." I said, stepping in front of Avalon.

"What choice do I have? My actions have earned me a death sentence anyway, this would just make sure that you are not fit to lead the striders, you will be too injured to do anything for the rest of your life. Your corruption and hold over Arch will be broken and the council will be purged."

I sighed and rubbed the top of my head, worrying about what to do. Jeran was going to use his Gift and I couldn't tell Avalon what he needed to know. I was still too injured to fight my own battle and if I used Wolf's Grace I would die. My body, healthy as it was, nearly crumbled under the weight of such a power.

"Jeran, stop this. Please. I will leave the caern if you decide not to fight."

"No," Jeran responded to me, shaking his head. "You have corrupted our caern, leaving would let that evil spread out to potentially countless other people, countless other caerns. It is my duty to make sure it ends here, even at the cost of my life."

"And it's my job to make sure you don't rip the caern in two!" A roaring voice echoed out. Someone was running and I hazarded a glance back, only to see someone jumping right over me. Who landed in front of me was none other than the Alpha Warrior himself.

Chance was crouched, growling, holding his axe in his hand and his lips pulled back to reveal his gleaming white teeth. I imagined his gaze, those powerful amber eyes, would be boring a hole right through Jeran's skull. Chance was wearing his warrior's loincloth, his arms covered by leather gauntlets and a dagger strapped to his thigh.

Running from the side of this was a female warrior, none other than Chance's wife and Beta Warrior. She was tall, powerful, and rumor was she was not someone you crossed. I had never had a bad dealing with her and she had always been as strong willed but equally calculating as her husband. She was wearing her own loincloth and tabard, her hand holding a sword and strapped to her left arm a leather shield. Females tended to use variations of shields in combat, to make up for their lack of strength that the men carried.

It was at that moment I noticed that more people were coming, warriors and mages. I saw Reyna and Renin coming, taking their time as Reyna walked slowly, putting her weight on her staff. She looked tired and I knew she had done something to break the line the scouts had formed around her enclave. She was an amazing mage but she was the oldest caern member. When she had to fight her magic tended to wear her out.

Reyna and Renin took the opposite side of the square. It was me, Avalon and Apollo standing across from Jeran and two of his scouts who had come up behind him. To my left was Chance, who had moved over to stand with his wife, and to my right was Renin and Reyna.

"So the Alpha's have gathered while Arch is away. I call this council meeting to Order!" Jeran said with a growl. "Slayn is a blight on this caern that must be removed! His head is what the Scouts call for."

"Silence, pup!" Reyna said, looking to Jeran. "You are not an Alpha-Scout anymore. Your Gift was not removed from you as I can feel you pushing the strength of the gods against your skin. Which of the mages left you with that power?"

"None of your business, old woman. The fact is I am still in possession of the Gift, and as such I have the strength to lead the Scouts. My voice will be heard."

"You murdered caern members and stopped the warriors from doing their job!" Chance growled, slamming his axe into the ground in front of him. I wasn't surprised to see it go deep and the earth fracture by his sheer strength. "YOU are the traitor and YOU will be condemned to death for what you've done. Arch settled this matter and yet you bring it up and spill our blood?"

"I call for the right of Challenge. I want to fight Slayn. If he wins I will let you kill me, and if I win I'll still die, but he will be killed too. Either way you win, Chance. I'm dead."

Everyone was silent as I looked at Jeran. He knew I couldn't fight. He knew I couldn't defend myself and I personally knew he would use the Sight to fight against me. I was at a loss all ready and if Jeran used his power I would be dead far quicker than anyone would expect.

"Can he do this?" Apollo asked, looking down at me.

"He can," I said, rubbing my side where my wound was still barely mended by the grounded herb Eros had used. "He holds the GIft. If we forbid him he could attack others. He'll die but he could take a lot of us with him."

"Slayn," Avalon said, frowning and turning to me. He put his hands on my shoulders and gave it a squeeze. "You can't do this. I won't watch you die."

"Avalon, you know what I have to do. I'm an Alpha first before anything. If it means saving the lives of everyone here, including you, I'd rather do that."

"I'd rather you refuse, Slayn." Chance said with a loud voice. "Some may die but he can't defeat all of us. Warrior, Mage, Strider and Apollo against a lowly Scout using a forbidden skill. He will cause damage but no one has to needlessly die. The caern is behind you, Slayn."

"If Slayn fights he can use any weapon?" Reyna asked, moving over to me slowly. She had been looking at Jeran.

"Of course, any weapon he wants. You know what I'll pick."

"Any weapon," She said, looking down at me.

"Any weapon..." I said, mouthing the words once more. When the idea hit me my eyes widened.

My eyes lit up!

"I pick Avalon as my weapon!"

The sounds around me were from the crowd that gathered, a surprised remark from Chance and the other warriors. Reyna was silent as she stood at my side. I had, apparently, surprised everyone with my choice.

"Slayn!" Chance said, letting his axe stay where it was in the soil as he approached me. "That's not the wisest choice. He is not of the Council. How will he defend himself against that ability?"

I merely shook my head and felt instantly dizzy. The loss of blood had taken it's toll on me apparently. I felt my knees shudder and my arm went out to steady on the crook of Avalon's shoulder. I used him for support. "I cannot let you break your vow and use your Gift to defend my honor, Chance. I cannot ask that of Reyna either. To do so would mean your deaths."

"You may have condemned Avalon to death!" Chance growled, obviously upset. There was a difference between his anger toward me and Jeran's. Chance wanted to fight, wanted to defend this caern. With Arch absent he was the leader and his strength was a testament to his ability to lead. Not being called upon to lead the pack thought his troubled time was probably a half insult in his eyes.

Avalon crouched down on one knee and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, drawing me close. I felt the embrace and steadied, no longer feeling like I was going to fall over. I listened.

"There is a way, but I need your permission, Chance." Avalon said. We were all speaking so Jeran wouldn't over hear. Smart.

"You mean the Ritual? Blood to the Blade Gods?" Chance said through surprise and angered expression. "That is almost as forbidden as using the Gifts, and the price is too high! No."

"What's this Ritual?" I heard a voice say behind me. It was Apollo. He was on a knee too. Chance and Apollo had moved so their strong bodies were in front of me. They knew Jeran was trying to act honorably but if he killed me now his honor, in his mind, would be settled and he could die in peace.

Chance sighed. "It's a Ritual to the Gods. To Thur'ah, The Blade God. Apparently he was once a Half-Moon wolf like us, a Warrior and Alpha. This was before the Gifts were given to us and when we were nomadic. To defend his caern he created an ability. The Gods, seeing his cunning and his power, let him use that power to defend the caern and welcomed him to the heavens as a God himself."

"Why would they do that?" Apollo asked, obviously interested. I was too. It wasn't every day you heard a warrior talking about their gods. Their religion was very quiet and kept to themselves.

"The power is a gift to every warrior in times of severe crisis but it comes at a cost. The Gods saw Thur'ah use his power with no risk to himself or his people. Now, to use the gift, a warrior must spill his blood and he will lose one year of his life."

"One year!" I said, surprised and I looked to Avalon in shock. To think I would lose Avalon for a year... it was almost too much.

"Avalon will have to pour his blood around a runic circle he and I draw. He will cut his wrists mortally and pour it along the circle, filling those lines. He will then make the pledge and the offering of his open life force. Thur'ah will listen and he will gain the ability of the Blade God."

"What will he gain, exactly?" Apollo asked. He was a very curious cat.

"Avalon is adept at swordsmanship. He will gain an increased perception of combat and knowledge on how to use those weapons more effectively. It depends on his own personal skill level, but I saw my father use the ritual once. He was able to use five blades at once."

"Five blades? How is that possible?" I asked, still surprised.

Chance merely shook his head and looked to Avalon. "I cannot say as I am not sure. If this all works out and Avalon gets the blessing he may stand a chance. It may still lead to him dying, though."

"I'd rather fight than watch Slayn fight as he is. That would be more painful." Avalon said, hugging me tighter with his one arm. I felt it was the right thing to say, but even I was flushed in the ears at how silly it felt. No one had ever said such things about me.

"Will you be okay after the ritual?" I asked, quietly.

"I will need time to rest but I will be fine." He told me with another squeeze of his arm.

Part of me didn't quite believe him.

"What is going on over there, Slayn?" Jeran shouted. "Your little warrior can be your weapon. If he dies you are banished from these lands, you know."

"Fine!" I said, moving away from Avalon and moved to stand in front of the men who had been shielding me. I looked right at Jeran and swallowed. "Since this is a challenge of honor then I get to pick when it happens. Two hours from now. You are honor bound not to leave the caern and attack anyone else. If any of your scouts act in your name against the people you are here by breaking the honor code and will be executed by the council."

"Do not quote rules, pup. I know my stance. You have two hours. Make use of them."

The warrior's enclave was a buzz of activity. Loud voices, shouting, the likes of which I had never seen before. Avalon and I had been the last two to retreat inside, making it the center for what was going on. Chance was barking orders by the time I limped inside, holding my side where the powder was stopping me from bleeding everywhere.

"I want warriors on every corner, I want the scouts watched with all intentions of a take over!" He was angry, I could tell it in his voice but he was trying to remain calm. It was hard to work Chance up like this but when it happened it was best to give him his room and have him calm down.

"Reyna!" Chance growled, his hand on the stone arm of his chair. The Warrior's enclave was set up like an arena on one half, barracks on another, and personal rooms in the far back. We were in the arena. Stone seats rose up toward the ceiling where warriors could sit and watch others duel, spar, and train in the sand pit where most of us were standing. Chance's chair was situated closest to the sand pit, made of ancient white stone and unpolished. It was probably as old as the temple itself and only he could sit in it without causing great dishonor to the whole pack. At least, if you were uninvited. "Get your mages to draw the circles in the sands. We have to do the Rite."

"Do not bark orders at me, pup. I know my job." The old wolf said as she limped past me, lifting her arm with her staff. "All you men off the sands, get go! Renin, fetch some of the others and lets get to work." I watched as Reyna whirled on Avalon. "You better be ready for this, whelp. This could kill you."

Avalon's hand was on my shoulder, his head turned down to look at me. When she spoke to him he shifted his gaze and nodded softly. "I am ready, mage. Just have everything ready."

She grunted as Avalon helped me off the sand and onto the stone steps and seats. I heard Chance still. "Fetch the totems, bring the incense and seal the chambers once we're done mobilizing everyone."

"Chance," I said, raising my voice a bit to get over the milling voices around us. The chamber was full of warriors, mages, and scouts. "I need you to send warriors out to the Tree Posts."

"Tree posts?" He asked, obviously confused. I didn't blame him as it was a strider secret.

"Yes," I said as Avalon helped me sit down. "We use cut woods onto certain trees to mark which routes are safe and which are not. Some run dangerously close to the Scout outposts. There's a map in my tent. Hidden under one of the rain coats, sewn into the seam. Please Chance. We have a lot of messages returning today as the month changed two days ago."

I saw Chance nod and go out toward the large entry way of the temple, talking to some of his warriors. Typically Avalon would be following him and accepting those orders but he had bigger problems at present. I sat there on the step and rubbed the back of my head, lost in thought.

"Slayn?" Avalon said as he rubbed my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm just thinking about what I did. Did I send you to your death?"

I looked over and saw Avalon smirk a little and shake his head. He sat down next to me and put his arm around me. I knew a warrior's mentality was to be invincible so they never felt fear, so they never ran from combat. This enemy was not a typical warrior though. "Not likely, little strider. I'm not bad with a sword and this Rite will even the odds with whatever Jeran has up his sleeve."

"I wish I could tell you what he can do," I said, slumping forward and putting my chin in my palm. "Without Arch here the rules are very tight. Jeran's not an idiot, he planned this."

"Probably," Avalon said as his hand rubbed my back. I wouldn't deny that it made me feel a bit better and lean into it. "But whats it matter now? Everything is happening and worrying about it won't change it. I still have to fight him and win."

THat made me smile a little bit. I looked up at Avalon and just laid in the crook of his arm. I'd never had someone like this in my life. I had always gone forward with my problems and carried them alone. Here Avalon was taking that burden from me and acting as if there was not a problem in the world. It was an attractive quality.

"When you win, you get to ask a prize you know,"

"Oh?" I heard him ask. Was he seriously unaware of the tradition or was he just playing dumb?

"Yeah," I said with a grin. "You get to ask anything of me."

"Anything, huh?"

"Yes," I said a bit quietly. I was pretty sure I knew what he was going to ask for. A warrior was still a warrior, regardless. Avalon still had a greater sex drive than a strider.

"Well, if I can ask anything," Avalon said, smiling as he squeezed my shoulder. "I want you to use your position to get me a large room in the temple."

Now, that surprised me. A room in the temple?! I just blinked and looked up at him, confused. "A room..?"

"I'm not done, little strider." He said with a grin. "I want the room in the temple because the barracks are just very loud and there's hardly a place to be private. I also want you to move in with me for a month."

That surprised me even more. I looked up at Avalon with my mouth open a little bit. Was he serious? He wanted me to live with him? I flushed and looked down, and smiled a little bit. "Are you actually doing what I think you're doing?"

Instead of responding to me right away Avalon stood up and slipped onto his knees in front of me. He took my hands in his and looked me in the eye, smiling a little bit. "I think so. I know you barely know me, and I barely know you. I know I like you a lot, Slayn. I would have asked you to bond to me as my reward if I didn't feel I could trap you in something you didn't want. I want you to live with me, get to know me, and then I'll ask."

My mouth was dry. It sounded like a story, but it was coming out of Avalon's mouth. Avalon wanted to bond with me? That was what we call mating, joining of two people together and becoming stronger wolves in the process. It wasn't rare for men to do this with other men, and women sometimes too. I just smiled a little bit and nodded. I slipped forward and curled my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"You know I can't refuse, but I like this idea a lot."

"Good," Avalon said as he returned the hug, rubbing my back with his palms. "Because I want to make this work, little strider. I really, really do."

"Avalon!" Someone called from below. It made me sigh.

"She yells like a mother." Avalon said as he looked into my eyes and licked my nose.

"She thinks she's everyone's mother." I responded, grinning.

"AVALON!" Reyna didn't like to be kept waiting.

With a sigh I saw my warrior stand and turn, looking down at the old wolf standing on the now smooth sands. She was standing on a stone not much bigger than her feet so she wouldn't disturb the sands.

"What, woman?" Avalon said with a grunt as he rubbed his shoulder. "I was a little busy."

"Hmph," She snorted, shaking her head as she slammed the tip of her old, gnarled staff into the sands. "You best remember that I'm not some old woman, pup. I can still take you big muscly types down with my little toe. Now get down here, we have work to do."

Avalon just nodded and began to walk down the stone steps to the sands. I looked over as a warrior an up carrying a bundle, moving right next to Avalon.

"Here you go, Avalon. I fetched these from your chest." The warrior said, handing the bundle to the red wolf. I slipped up next to Avalon to look at what had been brought.

It was Avalon's swords. He always wore them; one was on his waist and the other slung over his shoulder. I had seen Avalon draw his sword once, and it was only the one at his hip. The blade on his back was still secure in its scabbard, the leather straps to make sure it was locked in place firmly fixed over the pommel. Did he even use it?

The other item was the black curved dagger of Avalon's father. The heirloom item that his father had used to protect Avalon when he was just a boy. I didn't think Avalon fought with such items.

"Thank you," Avalon said as he began to slip the weapons onto his body. The sword belt was tied around his waist and the sword slipped onto his back. He had nowhere to put the black dagger and held it.

"What are you going to use your father's dagger for?" I asked.

"You'll see," Avalon said as he stepped down to the last stone step before the sands. Reyna was leaning over the large sand pit, her eyes closed and her hands grasping her staff, appearing in deep concentration.

I watched as Renin and two other mages did the same thing, putting their weapons into the sands and closing their eyes. Chance stepped forward and pulled the axe off his back.

"Today we begin the rite of Thur'ah so our brother Avalon can fight to his maximum potential. With the help of the mages the ritual begins."

I watched As Chance flipped his axe around and slid his whole palm along the silvery blade of the axe. I watched with wide eyes as blood slid along the shiny metal, trickling down along his blade. He moved his palm off the axe, his whole hand dripping blood.

"I, Alpha-Warrior of the Half-Moon Tribe and acting Alpha Male begin this rite with my own blood. I sanctify this land in the name of the Warrior God." He held his hand outward over the sands and let the blood drip down onto it.

Everyone was silent until that moment. The instant Chance's blood hit the sand the heavy drums of war began to ring out. Warrior drums, used rarely every year, were being drummed along the edges of the enclave in perfect harmony, the beat rocking through the ancient chamber, everyone standing a bit taller as the ancient beat of the warrior began to fill our hearts.

"Thur'ah, use the strength of these mages, create your seal." Chance boomed, and clenched his fist, forcing more blood to stream down in one thick rivet.

The beat began to echo louder, somewhere I heard beads shaking. I had never been to a warrior's ritual, typically this was very private. I watched in awe as the sand turned blood red, the mages staves beginning to glow. I watched Renin wince as what looked like water being sucked out of him and down his staff into the sand. The intensity of the drums made the flow of whatever it was quicker. All the mages had this happen, and when the drums hit their climax the energy stopped and all four were flung off from the pit.

The sands began to glow bright hot white and then calm. When the light dimmed the sand was no longer flat and smooth. The intricate runes of the ancient warriors were there. Two circles, one small and larger, linked together was the primary symbol. The rings were full of runes, and on the larger circle lines of runes wove about in a fascinating pattern. I had seen mage runes before cut into the soil and never had I seen anything this intricate, this perfect before.

Along the ring of the sand were wooden totems, skulls of wolves at the top of them, ancient and old looking. The air had grown dustier, the heat of the world seemed to fill the chamber. This was Thur'ah's circle.

"Avalon!" Chance said, looking to him. "Step down into the sand, stand on the small circle and do your part."

"Yes, Alpha" He said and moved down the steps onto the sand. he glanced over at me and smiled at me. I was worried but for now I contained it. I just watched as Avalon moved. What was amazing was where he stepped his feet made no impression on the sand. Something erased them as he walked and stood on the small circle.

The drums stopped, and then Avalon began.

"I am Avalon, son of the fallen Warrior Lancer who gave his life to protect me and my kin. I stand here now as the Gamma-Warrior of the Half-Moon Tribe, and I seek the Rite of Thur'ah, his blessing and his strength to defend my charge, to protect my pack and maintain the safety of my home!"

"I, Avalon, do not desire, but need the blessing of Thur'ah. I offer my life force, a year of it, to you, Thur'ah, in exchange for your gifts."

I watched just as two warriors moved up beside me and grabbed my arms, holding me steady. Avalon lifted the black blade to his wrist.

"What...no!" I said, trying to wiggle free but the warriors held me steady. I was helpless to watch as Avalon made deep cuts into his wrist and then the other. He slipped the dagger then into his belt, holding his wrists forward.

I watched, growling, as the blood trickled into the deep cut pattern in the sand. We all watched then as the runes began to fill with his blood, first filling the paths cut around the small circle Avalon stayed in, and then the larger one, filling the larger one.

Avalon's legs wavered as his head rolled forward. He was dying! "Avalon!" I said and wrenched a bit, freeing my arms. The circle was still not complete with his blood.

I was about to step onto the sand when the circle must have completed itself. His blood began to glow brightly, fluttering like the bottom of a clear lake, the patterns filled the chmaber. Red right was so blinding it was hard not to look away. I saw most people did, but in the blinding light I saw...

a man.

He was black, barely there and flickering in front of Avalon. I saw his muzzle move and Avalon nod his head, but could hear nothing as the wind roared around me. It was deafening. I saw the black figure move his palms over Avalon's bleeding wrists, and then with a howl from the stranger, the blackness became blinding white and broke in two, filling Avalon's wrists.

The light show ended and Avalon was thrown from the sand pit, flying forward and slamming right into Chance's throne, his back arched as his wrists down. We could see the cuts glowing white as they healed, and then it stopped. Avalon was left sitting on the throne, panting loudly as his eyes blinked.

I ran forward and slipped my arms around his neck. "Avalon! Are you okay?!" I held him, and realized Avalon smelled different. He smelled older.

He didn't respond to me just yet, but just slipped his arms around me. He held me like that.

"He doesn't look any different," Someone said behind us.

"I do not change on the outside, like A Wolf's Gift," Avalon said, his eyes flicking to the man behind me. "I change on the inside."

I was silent, but his muzzle moved to my ear, giving it a lick. He then whispered. "It's okay, little strider. I know I can beat him now."

The remaining two hours we were given privacy. I know I had just met Avalon, and had accepted he was my choice in whom I wanted, but it was nice to be held, to feel the warmth of his palms on my back, the heat of his breath and the warmth of his kisses. I was surprised, honestly, at his strength. He was going to fight someone and all he seemed to focus on was my needs and feelings. Was that selfish of me? Maybe, but every time I tried to bring up that Avalon should have gone to stretch, to just think, he always shook his head and silenced me with another kiss and a stronger hug. If he died, he wanted to spend his last hours in my company.

I hadn't expected to have sex with Avalon then. He had carried me down to the warrior's barracks and we had sat on his bunk, talking, hugging, kissing. I had been in his lap and my arms around his neck. We were just close, feeling each other and reminding ourselves what the other was to one another. Avalon was rapidly becoming my rock, my reminder that life didn't need to be taken on alone. I suppose I sound young and juvenile for such things, but it was true. I was a strider and my path was always alone, that was the tenet of our sect. However, those of us who find love don't run alone anymore. I was always afraid what that would be like, worrying about someone. I suppose that was why I perused Arch for so long. I knew, in a pinch, Arch could get himself out of any problems and not die. Now I was with a man who could very much die and all I could think about was seeing him again, hoping he wouldn't. It wasn't the fear of potentially losing him, it was the idea of never seeing his face again that bothered me. I found what I think is love, to lose that now would tear me apart.

I don't remember when it happened, but our bodies linked. Avalon had slid into me, his hands on my hips as we bucked together. It was slow, sensual. His hands had slid under my robe and pushed it off, and every movement was filled with a gentleness I didn't think a warrior could produce. His movements, his body gliding mine across his length, was designed to have me cry out in pleasure, to have me arch my back. This was the first time in my life, I realized, I was making love. I didn't want it to stop but it was hard. Every movement drove me closer to not only my peak but my desire for Avalon, my love. I felt my heart swell as his hands held me, careful of my injury always, his touch so gentle when I knew he could easily kill me with a simple squeeze and a tug.

I looked down at him, still bouncing in his lap gently. Our voices were quiet but our breathing was deeper, fuller, obviously trying to be quiet as we shared a moment together that could be our last. I watched Avalon's eyes lid, his gaze becoming distant as he focused on the sensation. I watched his fur begin to link together as his body heat rose, perspiration beginning to form on the very tips of it. I could feel my own body the same way, the wetness of physical activity combined with the acts of making love, the body heat of your partner, it warmed you so perfectly. My hands were on Avalon's neck, his shoulders, gripping gently at the knot of muscle and the red and white fur, holding to him fast as he bucked into me.

There was no need for words, no need to talk. I knew what this was and how wonderful it was. Avalon loved me, he had made that very clear early on. His actions had put himself in harms way in a new home and he didn't care, he had followed his heart and put up with my whining, my inability to see the chances in front of me. He was really special and I knew now I was very lucky.

I listened to Avalon's heavy breathing, and watched his chest rise, and then stop. I closed my own eyes at that very instant. I sucked in the warm air through my lips as I felt Avalon's seed pour up into me. I stopped my movements, keeping myself as still as possible as it warmed me from the inside out, deep within me, his essence and his emotion, it was more than a simple orgasm. I could feel it coating me inside, so full and warm, a vibrant feeling of wonderful closeness. I held still until Avalon took his breath, and sighed with pleasure as he gently tugged me down to lay ontop of him.

It was at that moment I realized we had tied. There had been no pain, no swelling, none of the typical feelings when I had been tied. Avalon was probably the largest male in the pack and yet there was nothing but warmth. I looked down, trying to figure it out. I heard Avalon laugh quietly as his hand slid between us, around my wick of pleasure, and began to massage it.

"There's no pain because you were not just having sex, little strider. You were making love," He said, his fingers brushing against my knot and around its base, holding it tightly with his thumb and intex finger. With a few simple tugs it was all it took.

I laid against him as he drew out my orgasm, my seed pouring from me, right onto his stomach, our stomachs, wetting the fur on his hands and his abs, trickling, as I imagined, along the lines and into the dimple of his navel. I shuddered as Avalon teased me with my knot to get me over my peak, something most people didn't do. Even in private alone sessions a wolf didn't play with a knot. You would make it swell and it took time to calm down. It was not great for quick moments and thus it was always an intense feeling when one had any experience with their knot.

We laid there, together, holding one another, my eyes closed as I nuzzled his chest, giving him a kiss. "Come back alive," I said.

"You don't even have to ask, little strider,"

The end of our private time came. We managed to bathe quickly in the warrior's bathe house. Avalon had put his father's dagger away and changed into a fresh loincloth. He had given me one of his, dark blue with heavy leather. It was large, but with the both of us working the knot was tied securely and I was wearing his cloth. I slipped my robe back on and tied it loosely around my waist, looking up at him.

Avalon helped me walk out of the barracks, my body was sore al over and not from the sex. I was supposed to be in bed, my bones were still tender and mending, walking hurt especially, but I bit through it. We would be out of the enclave soon and onto softer earth.

Outside a large ring had been set up with stone blocks. The circular fighting match. There had been pure white sand poured down to absorb the blood that was sure to come and wooden totems put between the large stone blocks, almost as tall as me. THe rules were simple, you didn't pass the totems until the match was over, if you did the fight was over and you would be punished severely. For a moment I worried Jeran would have someone try to pass the line but then shook my head in dismissal. He may have been breaking rules by keeping his Gift, but he was trying to maintain the law and order of the caern. To break something like this wasn't like him.

Jeran was standing in the sand pit, his arms crossed. He was as we had seen him before, save for two sharp fist weapons hanging from his belt. Jeran excelled at hand combat, and was probably wearing the razor claw tips that he had used earlier. These weapons were gripped at the handle with pointed metallic tips coming forward in front of the knuckles. They would let Jeran punch and be swift, not having to adjust for the heavy weight of a sword or even a dagger. He was gambling on his superior speed.

Everyone seemed to be around the ring, standing on blocks, on the temple steps, in trees. Children were absent, probably safe with the mages. I didn't see Raz, but he was probably being treated still. There was no sign of Arch yet but I was sure he would be here soon. I saw Reyna and Chance standing toward our end of the circle. Flanking them were their respective Betas, Renin in particular wearing a bandage around his head. He must have bumped it when the Rite had taken place.

We approached and Chance moved to Avalon, touching his shoulder. "Remember, pup," He began. "He likes speed. You need to keep him at arms reach. Cut his hands and those silly blades of his are gone. You need to kill him quickly. Don't show off. He'll use the Gift right away and you need to use the knowledge Thur'ah gave you."

"Yes, Alpha" Avalon said, nodding his head as he stepped past him, looking at me and smiling. We weren't going to say goodbyes, good-lucks, nothing like that. It had been said earlier, held close to one another. Avalon didn't need a word from me to win.

"Renin," I heard Reyna say as she looked over at the crouching mage. "You need to talk to Ateria and bring forth her barrier."

"Why?" Renin said with a rub to his head. "Talking to the Gods again so quickly is painful. I've healed, summoned, and you want me to summon again?"

"Think boy," She said with a growl of impatience and smacked his head smartly with the butt of her staff. "Arch is on his way."

"So?"

"So, you fool, Arch is an Elementalist. One of four only in this whole world, and his element is fire. What does fire do?"

"Burn things,"

"Yes," her voice impatient. "But how does fire act?"

"Without care," I said, listening in on their conversation.

She looked to me and nodded. "Quite right," Her gaze down at Renin then. "He'll come, see this, and be furious. His fire may rise without his conscious thought and try to strike Jeran down. We need Ateria's barrier to protect them from that."

Renin was silent and then nodded, putting his finger into the ground and drawing a pattern in it. "I don't think I'm strong enough to block an Elementalist's attack,"

"You're a bright boy. You can surely block him once or twice. More than enough for Chance and I to calm him down."

Renin nodded, standing up and reaching into one of the pouches of his robe, pulling out a handful of blew powder. He dropped it on the rune he'd been drawing, and then shook his staff over it. His staff had beads in its shaft, making the hollowed sound of rain. We all looked to the stone blocks, with runes appearing briefly on the outside of them and then fading away. He stumbled then and fell onto his knees, holding his staff.

"There!" He said, panting a little bit. "She didn't want to help. But her barrier is up. Any object that isn't living will be stopped, Reyna."

"Good lad," She said, smacking him with a staff. "Now on your feet. You are a Beta and not a whelping as you constantly act. Maintain some dignity!"

As Renin got up I watched Avalon step into the ring. The match was officially started now. Nothing could stop it save from a forfit or death. Everyone was silent then as the two men stood in front of one another.

"I'm not going to make some speech, Avalon." Jeran said. "You were picked by Slayn and I acknowledge you as a warrior, but you have to fall if that means justice is served. I apologize."

"Just fight me, Scout. I want to stop this. No one wants to see us fight."

Jeran shook his head and sighed. "I gave you a chance to forfeit."

Everyone watched as Jeran brought a hand up to his left eye. He spread the fingers so he peered through his index and middle finger. He was growling as he focused, and everyone felt it. He was activating his gift.

His was unlike mine. Mine was more offensive than his. There was no swirl of energy. He began to have the runes on his body, glowing pink from his ankles up his legs, across his stomach in intricate patterns, across his chest and to the tips of his fingers and ears. They were ringed, much like mine, but of different symbols special only to the Scouts. They moved as the seals continued to appear. Finally, a large circular rune appeared over his left eye. His eye color had changed as well, from the deep brown to the glowing pink of the runes on his body. We could feel him crackle with power as he lowered his hand. He wasn't creating the show I had when I used my gift, but there were reasons behind it. One, I was a new Alpha. The Gift in me was fresh and alive, getting used to my body as I to it. when I used it it unleashed like a torrent of pure energy. Jeran had his Gift for awhile now, long enough to temper it's activation and not ruin his clothes. He was in far more control of his than I was with mine.

"Wolf's Sight," He said, smiling at Avalon. "The eyes of the Gods are mine, Warrior. What do you have to challenge me?"

Avalon didn't say anything. He stood there for a moment and reached down to his waist, drawing his sword and then held it in front of him, taking a warrior's stance. I watched as his knees bent and his legs spread, his weight shifted to the side so he could put more power behind his blade. He just stared and everyone was quiet.

Jeran shrugged and then launched forward, reaching down to his waist and drawing those pointed knuckle blades of his. He was fast! Jeran was the Alpha-Scout, or former, and that meant his strength and speed were far superior to the typical scout. He threw his weight forward, his left arm up and punched with his weapon downward toward Avalon.

I watched Avalon heft his sword, putting his muscle into the weapon as he began to draw it up, but it was too late. Avalon hadn't the time to twist the blade, or lift it. He had managed to step back, but Jeran was attacking. His fist slammed into the weapon, but the strength behind Avalon's pull upwards gave enough pressure to throw himself upwards, throwing his legs into the air and flipping over Avalon.

I heard some gasps as a splash of blood flew from Avalon's shoulder, cut deep enough to send it splattering to the ground.

However, Avalon wasn't done. Jeran was in mid flip but the warrior twisted, quickly spinning with his blade. Jeran didn't have enough time to twist away, and Avalon's sword cut right across his back, sending a trickling spray of crimson down his back.

Jeran's feet hit the sand, slid, twisted, just in time to block Avalon's sword by crossing his bladed knuckles at the last moment, Avalon putting his strength behind it.

"How...?!" Jeran asked, growling.

"I should ask how you saw that," Avalon growled down at him, both hands on the hilt of his sword, shoving downwards with a lot of force.

"Wolf's Sight gives me perfect clarity in anything I do. I can see your movements as if you were moving slowly."

"Then you're a terrible warrior if you still got hurt. I would not be such a failure!" Avalon growled down at him.

It was at that moment Avalon twisted, sliding his blade around those knuckles, moving as fast as he possibly could. His sword cut along the knuckles and produced the typical sound of metal grinding against metal, Avalon brought the blade around to hopefully cut along his arm, still using the superior strength and both his arms to sever more than flesh from Jeran's body.

Jeran pushed upwards with one arm, forcing Avalon to cut upwards. He moved his head just in time to avoid a slice across the muzzle. His other knuckle lanced forward and cut across Avalon's side, making another trickle of blood pour down across his waist. Avalon twisted and slammed his sword down, but Jeran leaped backwards, dodging the blow.

What followed was a rapid swing of the sword, Avalon picking up the speed, cutting close but not close enough. Jeran either dodged, leaped back, or deflected with a heavy hit. Avalon was quick, but Jeran as a Scout was going to be quicker. He was also no weakling so he could still deflect. At least Avalon hadn't been cut again.

"Wow," I heard a random woman say near me. "They're pretty evenly matched."

"That's Avalon, he's going to win."

"I don't know," The first woman said. "Jeran is using the Gift. He may beat the warrior."

I watched, not taking my eyes off. I saw some flaws of Jeran's stance but it wasn't something I could fully use to any kind of advantage. Avalon was doing his best, and he was making Jeran show off all his tricks. My eyes widened with that revelation, and I spared a moment's glance to Chance, who was grinning faintly.

"Chance," I said as I moved over to him. "Avalon isn't really trying, is he?" I asked.

"He's trying, Jeran is no fool," He began. "However, he's making Jeran do a lot of the work, seeing how he can deflect. Avalon knows a man with Eyes like that is dangerous, he needs to make sure when he attacks it's not going to be empty air and where Jeran can kill him."

The continual trade off of metal went on, and we all watched. Finally, Avalon responded and attacked.

"Got you!" He shouted, throwing his sword forward from his right hand.

The crowd gasped as the blade flew, and Avalon moved. He'd been acting slow this whole time!

Avalon shot forward and to the side, passing his sword as Jeran dodged to the right. Avalon's left hand grasped the sword and twisted, using the momentum of the blade and the twisting of his body, and the fact that Avalon wasn't slow with his left hand, to cut.

Still, Jeran managed to dodge but not before getting a powerful slice across his chest.

He rolled backwards, stumbling in the sand as he pushed himself up, his palm resting over his chest as he felt the blood pouring out from his chest. It was a bad wound, but not fatal. Avalon stood, sword in his left hand, and turned to Jeran. He shifted the weapon to his right and quickly advanced.

"You're not a typical warrior," Jeran said as he was working himself up to his feet. "But remember, I'm not a typical Scout!" As he shouted, the pink runes on his body flared. In an instant Jeran shifted out of sight.

Invisible. The true effect of Wolf's Sight. It let Jeran be the perfect scout. Just as my Gift made me the perfect Strider. I could only hope Avalon figured out some way to win.

I watched as Avalon looked around, twisting his body and trying to see. There was no sight, so sound. Nothing.

"Avalon!" I shouted, just in time to see fire lance through the air.

Arch had returned.

A tendril of fire as thick as a stream twisted in the air and shot for the pit, slamming into the barrier Renin had set up. I saw the Beta-Mage drop to his knees as he buried his staff into the dirt, focusing as the jewel began to radiate light, cascading in brilliance. He was putting everything he had into it.

"Chance!" Reyna said, quickly moving to the side.

"What is the meaning of this!?" A roaring sound echoed as Arch pushed past people, the fire still pushing against the barrier, attempting to shatter it. "An Honor Challenge? Jeran using his Gift?" He growled loudly, the heat around him pulsing in his anger. People easily cleared the way for him. Reyna approached I saw, but what scared me was I saw Avalon stop looking around and focus on Arch.

"Arch, stop this temper tantrum and let the men fight!" The old mage growled.

"Silence, woman! This is my caern, my pack, my responsibility. Jeran dies!"

"If you kill him now, Arch, Avalon is banished and Slayn dies too." Chance said, walking behind his friend and grabbing his arm. "This has to end with one of them dead or more lives are lost."

"AH!"

I turned and saw Avalon's leg spray in blood. His palm went down to cover the wound. Jeran was sloppy it looked like. There wasn't enough blood to have cut the major artery. What bothered me more was I saw cuts fly across Avalon's body. His forearm, his chest, thigh, his muzzle, blood splattering as he was hit, kicked, by the invisible scout, and thrown onto his back.

The attacks stopped, just in time for Avalon to stand up onto his feet, sword in front of him. I watched as he crouched, and stayed motionless. Jeran's attacks seemed to stop. Apparently Jeran liked to play with his prey.

One moment Avalon was still, silent, quiet a summer's breeze. The next he did something I'd never seen him do. He unsheathed his other sword.

In a movement so quick even my eyes mostly missed it; the sword on his back was grabbed and pulled free. Avalon stood up in a fast motion, slicing downwards along the grain of the sand, sending a spray forward, billowing into the air and covering something that had been hidden.

Jeran was visible.

In a quick succession of movements Avalon was forward, slicing and cutting with his blades, slicing along the hidden knuckles. Sparks flew from the connecting weapons, Avalon's full strength behind each and every blow. The sandy outline of Jeran was vanishing, but it was clear he was struggling to maintain his stance with Avalon no longer holding back, confident in himself to deliver the proper attacks. Sometimes Avalon would slice the sand again, spraying it forward and restoring the grainy sheath that kept him visible.

Jeran leaped forward, his knuckles up, and slipped past the arc of Avalon's swords. With both his fists he slammed the pointed blades right at the warrior's collarbone, working them into the flesh. I listened as Avalon cried out.

Jeran's face, still only shown by grains, opened and laughed.

"Do you think you could beat me, warrior?" I heard him say.

Avalon was struggling to maintain himself, unable to fully keep his body up, his knees wavered, but his fists held his swords. He twisted them so the blades pointed outwards, and with a heavy growl from his throat, he slammed the butt of both his swords right into the ribs of the Scout.

Jeran howled as his ribs were shattered, his ability to remain invisible broken. Avalon's leg came up and kicked Jeran off him, sliding the weapons out of his chest. With heavy cuts and slices, he attacked. Jeran made a feeble attempt to parry, to deflect, but his ribs were shattered and blood poured from his mouth, coughing the crimson liquid up and bits of what looked like some organ.

Jeran stumbled, falling down to his knees as his knuckles fell from his grasp. Everyone, including me, could see the large concave on each side of his chest where Avalon's sword had slammed, shattering the ribs. Blood continued to pour out of the scout's mouth, his nose, dying. He managed to stand, but another cough and a bit of pink matter fell from his mouth. Still grasping his sword, Avalon took no time, stepping forward and slamming a balled-up fist right into Jeran's ribs, driving him back and causing him to cry out in a roar of pain. Jeran's chin and neck were covered in blood. Avalon continued to punch those holes, breaking more bone with sickening crunches, forcing more and more blood from his mouth, more bits of pink to fly out of his mouth.

"You are no leader, you're no wolf. You're a failure who couldn't see past his own pride. You don't deserve a warrior's death!"

Avalon lifted one sword high over his head and brought it down, cutting right through the scout's shoulder, severing his arm from his body. The howl of pain from the scout echoed loudly, and Avalon's roar of victory was heard. He cut again, severing the other arm, forcing gushes of blood to pour out from those wounds. Avalon brought both swords up then, holding them over his head as Jeran's blood dripped from them. He twisted them and brought them downwards, crossing them into the bleeding holes where Jeran's shoulders used to be. He punctured the chest, and shoved Jeran down, pinning the swords through him and into the sands. Jeran fell back, twitching, kicking.

Avalon's hands went down quickly, having let go of the swords, and grasped the scouts neck firmly. In a quick twist he broke the man's neck, finally ending the life of my tormentor and former Scout-Alpha. Jeran was finally dead. My knees wavered and I fell to them, surprised.

In an eruption of cheers and fire, Avalon was heralded as the victor. Arch, taking no chances, forced his fire forward and consumed the body of the Scout. I watched him burn to the remains of a skeleton and then even those bones turned dark black and to dust. Jeran was gone for good.

Avalon fell to his side, holding his chest as blood poured out, and a crowd of people rushed around him. I saw Reyna push a grown warrior aside with her staff, but by then I couldn't see. Avalon was down. Was he dead?

"Slayn?" A voice asked. I looked up to see Apollo standing behind me.

"Apollo," I managed to whisper. I felt dizzy. I tried to stand, but I simply fell. The leopard grabbed me, held me close, and looked forward. " I need to see Avalon!"

"he is being treated, Slayn. You need to rest too. you're wounded and healing. He's in good hands."

"Apollo!" Take me to him now!" I shouted.

"SLAYN!" Arch growled, stepping forward past the men, looking down at me. "You don't talk to a guest like that." He just stepped forward and slipped his arms around me, hefting me up against his chest. I could feel his fire, his warmth, and for the first time I didn't find complete comfort in that.

"Arch, I..." I began.

"You picked Avalon," Arch said. He looked passive, but his eyes showed he was hurt. He probably didn't understand.

I just stared for a moment and then nodded, sighing. How could I say this to someone I had been chasing?

After a moment, Arch spoke. "Why?"

"Arch," I said, my arms around his neck as he held me. I knew what he was doing, distracting me as Reyna and her mages worked. I was still close to passing out myself, but I maintained myself. "How long have I chased you?"

"I don't know," he said, looking to the side. "Years?"

"Right," I said quietly, looking at his face. "And what changed? Avalon? Do you merely want me because another male finally does? Another warrior?"

Arch didn't speak, his head tilted down, and then he looked at me. He smiled a little bit and drew me close, licking across my muzzle. "You do know me a little well, Slayn. I can't...fight something like that. I can't admit I should have acted quicker. Things...about me are complicated."

"I know, Arch," I said as my eyes began to get heavier by the moment. "I can't wait. I want Avalon. I need...your blessing, Arch. I need to know you won't resent us, resent me, for this. I need to know we're friends still."

"Slayn," Arch said, shaking his head. "I'm never going to discard you if you do something that makes you happy. You have my blessing. If you decide to be his mate I will even do the ceremony myself."

I laughed, looking at Arch. "Good, because Avalon wants a room in the temple. I told him I would use my position to get it."

"That's no small order, pup." He said with a roll of his eyes. He looked over to the crowd, and I looked just in time to see some people move away, cheering. Was Avalon alive?! "But I think I can manage. Now you need to sleep."

"Arch, I--" I didn't have a chance as his palm went over my eyes. I felt warmth and heat enter my body, and then the embrace of sleep.

I don't know how long I was asleep but when I woke up I was inside the temple. I was stretched out on a plush bed made of red, soft linen. The blanket over me was wonderfully stitched, the crescent moon of our pack on it in black. I could see the stonework, and to my left the window was full and open, trees in front of it to give the occupant privacy, but also letting in nature. The sound of birds and the mild echos of people sounded. It was beautiful, the sunlight beaming in through the cracks of the leaves. I had never seen a bedroom in the temple before besides Arch's, and this one compared pretty closely to his suite of rooms.

"You live," a voice said next to me.

I turned, seeing Avalon. He was grinning. He was also bandaged across his chest. He had been healed with the gifts of the gods, but even those wounds required bandages and herbs. He was wide awake, and naked from the guess of it. His bandanna was off, resting from the peg of the headboard behind him. he was smiling gently. He looked tired but wide awake. What mattered was he was alive.

I didn't say anything. I simply pushed close and threw my arms gently around his neck, making sure to avoid where he had been stabbed in the collarbone. I pushed forward and slid my lips against his, drawing Avalon from a simple grin to a full blown kiss. I held the sides of his muzzle as our lips worked together, letting his tongue slide between my lips. His arm slid around me, holding me close, tugging me against his side, but then moved his muzzle from mine, a smile on his face.

"Don't work me up, little strider. Reyna would kill us if she found out we were getting frisky during medical bed-rest."

"Is this your room?" I managed to say as I leaned forward and let my lips brush against his.

"Yes, and remember what you promised." I saw him grin.

"I know, I live with you for a month." I said with a smile as my ahnd brushed across his muzzle, sliding my fingers up to his ears to rub them and scritch behind them. "I was worried about you when you were fighting like that."

"Were you?" He said, surprised. "I told you I'd win."

"You did, didn't you?" I said with a smirk as I leaned closer, lips almost touching.

"Hey Slayn," he said gently, his warm breath crossing my lips.

"Yeah?" I said, smiling a little.

"I love you,"

I smiled. "I love you too, Avalon."

And then we kissed.

***** Things to come ******

"All right boys, Aces are Wild, as well as Suicide Kings. Don't like 'em then get off the table." I said with a smirk, my wrist workin' my deck of cards like a skilled pro. I flicked 'em left and I flicked 'em right. I was dealing to a table of travelers. One looked to be some kind of monk from some random church, I wasn't sure what. They were always coming here to this little town with all the wild wolves in the wood. The caerns. They were always trying to get them to leave their packs and come to the age of modern society.

I don't like the kingdoms, I don't like knights, and I don't like people who try to make others do what they want.

"C'mon Jacky," said some mercenary at the table. He was a tall man, some kind of dog. Floppy ears, scar across his face. He probably thought it made him look terribly dangerous. I didn't agree. "You need to go easy. Not all of us gamble like you do."

"Not man enough to deal with me?" I asked, smirking. "I'm fifteen years old and you're whining at me about my rules?"

"You're a fifteen year old wolf pup, even if you're scum, you're better scum than most of the people this side of the Eluna Kingdom." The other said. This man was a merchant. Also a dog, he traded in silks, jewels, those kinds of things. He didn't look like he touched a deck of cards in years and that always translated into easy pickin's for me. Heheh. I love a good fool.

"Oh yes, because I've had such a great life." Ya see, my family decided I wasn't worth the trouble and threw me out of our wooden home when I was six. Since then I was traveling, figuring out the world. I got into more trouble than I wanted to admit. Raped twice, but then most people who travel these borderlands near the wild caerns are bound to get into some mess. I learned then that if I don't at least carry a knife I better be able to talk my way out of a problem. You could assume I was angry at the world, but honestly I'm not! That's why I gamble. At least with a deck of cards in my hand I can manipulate a bit of fortune to come my way.

"Stop complainin' and bet, Jents." I said as I put the deck down. What the men hadn't seen was that I had stacked the deck, while shuffling in my favor. No one ever saw me cheat and I never stayed around in a town large enough to get caught. That was my thing. Cheat a few people out of their excess coin, jewels, once a lady's skirt, and then move on to the next town. There I would trade it for anything, stay at the inn, gamble a bit and keep traveling through the borderlands. When I got as far north or south as I could go I would always double back and keep going along. I was hoping one day to get one of those caern people at my card table but they rarely stopped in the towns. They were so weird.

Take for instance their clothing. Me, I wear leather pants, a long sleeve tunic and a nice, warm jacket. HOWEVER! I've heard stories that these caern wolves run around mostly naked, if not completely. A loincloth. A LOINCLOTH. Who could function like that? Especially a teenage boy. I've come to the conclusion that even though I don't like the idea of sex that much my sheath is just not equipped to handle my penis.

I was dealing these cards and playing this crooked game with an erection right now, actually. Again, remember. Fifteen. What teenage boy doesn't get a hardon randomly? I just try to make it go away or something.

I just zoned out as the men gambled. The trick of the game was to make them think they had a couple good cards, and always let them win once in awhile. I saw a few bets go up, especially a little war between the monk and merchant. I kept betting but only matching, not raising. When it got o the point where the price was nice and high I would call, or raise.

This time I called.

"This aces, boys." I said with a grin. They showed me their cards. Two Kings, another two queens. Junk, but these men didn't gamble. Personally I wouldn't have raised the pot that high with only a pair of kings or queens, but then I'm dealing with dogs. Society says they're not as good as wolves, but I say wolves are not as good as wolves. The Kingdom of Eluna, founded by some old wolf, was supposedly an old caern. They established a nobility and made it so really only wolves could function to any degree of success in society. My position wasn't so great. I guess I was unwanted, or an accident, or my Dad was just having way too much fun one evening and didn't realize that he could get my mother pregnant. So I was born, and when eh got tired of caring for some child who didn't fit with his scheme of things, he threw me out!

Oh well, life's not bad now. Now that I know what society can and will do to me, I'd much rather be here then in some classroom learning about this, or that. I'm having WA too much fun stealing. Oh thank god, my erection finally went away. Damn things.

I was pushing the coins and jewels into a pouch when the door to the inn opened up, letting in a blast of the cold, freezing air. I blinked and looked, and saw of all things...those caern wolves! A skinny timber wolf coloring walked in, wearing a black loincloth! He wore bandages on his feet and a leather vest on his chest. I wondered who he was.

He wasn't the only one, too. Another man walked in. This one was BIG. He was tall, muscular, handsome. He wore a bandanna on his head and a smirk on his face. He came armed, too. A big sword was on his back as well as on his waist. I knew now that I Should probably avoid making that one mad. He stepped in and walked up behind the smaller one.

A couple more walked in, just looking just as weird. Their bodies mostly naked and clad in a loincloth of various colors. It was hard to imagine how they were warm, but they were.

What caught my eye was the final one of those people who walked in. He was huge! Taller then the red one with the swords. His fur was completely black and his eyes amber, much like the color of the beads I just won. He wore a red loincloth and no weapon. He stepped in, closed the door behind him, and looked around.

"I am Arch," he said to the group. "And we of the Half-Moon tribe require lodging until the blizzard passes."

To be continued!!