Chapter 5
“That, was awesome.” Seth stated. “I know! Right!?” Kate said smiling. Seth and Kate passed over an arched bridge. The water lapped the bottom of the bridge. “We’re almost there aren’t we...” Seth asked. Kate turned away from him and looked out the train car. She looked at the mountain. She paused for a moment scanning the area. “We’re about two hours away...” “Okay, er...” Seth took a deep breath. “You can sleep. I’ll wake you when we get there...” “W-wait, why?” “You saved me... If you hadn’t hit Hunter before... I... Would of been killed... You deserve it Kate.” Kate sighed in annoyance. “But you saved me. I never thanked you?” “Well, it was my job... Your dad...” Kate interrupted. “Told you to help me escape. Nothing more.” Kate’s fur bristled and her tail was erected in the air. Seth cowered down. “But the only thing I would want from you... Would...” Seth lowered his head in submission and padded away and lay down. Kate’s gaze softened. She felt sorry for Seth. Not helplessly but sorry in the way he was trying to be nice. She sat next to him. “Well, you know...” Kate took a deep breath and then heaved it out. “You’ll always be my friend... Right?” Kate asked, turning to him. “Yeah... But, Kate... That’s the problem...” Kate took a moment and pondered about his words. Her eyes widened and before she could say anything, a huge crackle of wood pierced her ears. Then the train lurched to one side. One train car dangled over the edge and the rest was slowly tottering over. “AH!” Kate yelped. Seth was at the bottom, at one side of the train, where the opening of the train car was. Seth looked up at Kate, his eyes widened in fear. Kate jumped out one of the cars of the train. Her paws reached the wooden bridge’s area where it was stable, but she couldn’t jump up there with out falling. “URR...” Kate strained, trying to reach safety. She suddenly felt a sharp jab on her hind paws. She flew up and landed on safety. “Wha!?” Kate whipped around and saw Seth’s paws in the air as he fell back down. “Seth! Grab my paw!” Kate lowered her body half over the bridge and extended her paw out. Seth shook his head. “Grab! My! Paw!” Kate yelled at him. “No! There’s no time Kate... Just, go...” Seth turned away from her. “I’m not leaving with out you...” Kate gasped. Her tail lashed about violently. Another deafening crackle of wood resonated through out the air. “Hurry!” Kate yelped. “There’s no time...” Seth replied bluntly. Kate sniffled and tears began to stream down her cheek. “SETH!” She shrieked. “GRAB MY PAW! NOW!” Seth, surprised at her ferocity and in spite of himself, leapt into the air and wrapped his paws around hers. She lifted him up. It took all of her strength, but she managed to lift him up enough for Seth to be able to jump up on his own. Seth got up but Kate lost her balance. She tipped over the side. “AHHH!” She screamed as she lost her balance. Before she fell, Seth quickly wrapped his arms around her body, almost like a hug and pulled her up just before the train fell, with a huge splash upon impact and little splinters of wood flying everywhere. Kate sat with her mouth gaping as she watched the middle of the bridge collapse, and the train splash below. She was sitting like a human and it looked as if she was sitting in Seth’s lap as he had pulled her up and she landed with a thump. She turned around to Seth in a rage, and began to have tears stream down her face. “ARE YOU CRAZY!?” She shrieked. Seth didn’t reply. He shook his head. “Why did you take so long to grab my paw!? Why did you almost kill yourself...” Kate rubbed her paw over her eyes wiping her tears away. Her tail was between her legs. “We should go...” Seth said, scanning the area. “There’s another trail over there. It means crossing through the mountains, but,” Kate violently interrupted Seth. “Why. Why did you do it. WHY, did you scare me. WHY, did you sacrifice yourself, And, WHY, are you acting like this!?” Seth’s mouth was open and moving but no words were coming out. “Kate... I,” Kate leapt upon him and pinned him to the ground. “WHAT!” She snarled. Seth struggled. “It’s because I... I...” Kate didn’t release her grip. “It’s... Because I love you...” Kate completely released Seth. She got up off him and helped him up. “Seth... Really? Th-... That’s sweet but... It’s against pack law... You’re... a Delta, and I’m an Alpha...” “I know! Okay? Why do you think I was reluctant to save myself! Why do you think I tried so hard to defend you when those two retards came to try to take you to their home! I... can’t stand the thought of you with another wolf...” Kate’s expression softened. “Well, If this is any consolation, I just want you to know that there will always be a special place in my heart for you...” She smiled, sweetly. Seth sighed. “I can’t believe I just told you...” “Neither can I...” Kate said laughing. She looked up at Seth. He wasn’t smiling. “Hey... Are you okay?” Seth nodded. Kate looked down at her paws before looking back up at Seth. She padded up next to him. “Listen, if the rules at this other pack is any different, I’ll give you a chance okay?” That didn’t seem to help any bit. “But... Real relations...,” “I know, they are supposed to last. But remember. We’re both born from different litters. We’ll see okay?” Kate smiled. Then, to Seth’s surprise, Kate thanked him in a sweet natural way. She paused for a moment and then kissed his cheek briefly. He smiled at her, this time with teeth bearing as well. “Thanks... But do you really mean,” Kate nodded. “Uh huh...” She said quietly. “Now... You were saying? About that trail?” She smiled once more.

“I’m sorry Ruuqo, they took the train and we lost them...” Griffin bowed his head in shame. “And Kate attacked me!” Hunter exclaimed. “After you leapt at her partner?” Griffin retorted. He smacked Hunter on the head. “Stop!” Ruuqo called. “If this is true, then maybe I should send a bigger patrol this time. I will get you both to lead it. Do not fail me.” Ruuqo paused for a moment before turning away from the two. “Liam.” Liam walked in from the outside of the den. “Yes sir.” “I need you to organise a group of 3 wolves. You and those 3 are joining Griffin, and Hunter, to bring the two wolves to our territory.” “You see!” Griffin yelled. “You see Hunter! He wants BOTH of them! Not just Kate!” “Shut up...” Hunter rolled his eyes. “Griffin. Go get your mate, Carey. Hunter, you go get my sister Miranda, and I will get Bradley.” “Yes sir.” Griffin ran out of the den. Hunter nodded and slowly padded away. Liam nodded at Ruuqo, he nodded back and then he left.

Seth and Kate reached a trail that crossed across a great chasm with water violently rushing below. Grey and brown rock with bits of green on them protruded from the waterbed. Seth began crossing the trail. “I uh... will...” Seth stopped, puffed out his chest and spoke in a deep and proud voice. “I will test to see if the crossing is safe!” Seth smiled at Kate. “Huh!” Kate laughed. She walked by him, her tail lapping gently against his nose. “Haha...” Seth said running up to her. “Hey Seth! Wanna race? I’ll race you to the top!” Kate bolted to the top if the mountain. “Hoho! You’re on!” Seth chased after her. Kate reached a clearing with shining white pines circled around. “Give it up Seth, you’ll never beat me!...” Kate turned around. “Seth?” Suddenly, Kate was hit by a white ball that exploded upon impact. “Oh!” She grunted. She turned around again to see Seth standing at the top. “Ha! Ah ha ha! Delta one! Alpha, Zero....” Seth laughed. “Really?” Kate ran up to the tree overlooking Seth. She gave it a sharp hit frm her hind legs. A huge pile of snow fell and crushed Seth. “AH! I get it!” He yelped. Kate leapt on top of him. “How’s that for a girl?” She smiled. She jumped off and ran ahead, laughing. “Very funny...” Seth shook off all the snow when a high pitched voice interrupted him. “Wow! You don’t see many wolves in these parts...” Seth turned to where the voice was coming from. On a log, sat two bears. About Seth’s age. “Oh hello!” Seth said. “Wow! I wonder what brings him to our mountains!” The smaller bear asked the bigger one. “Lets ask him! What brings you to our home?” “Well, me and my partner, we are passing through! Going to the wolf pack just past these mountains!” The two bears exchanged looks. “Well, you aren’t exactly going the right way...” “What do you mean?” Seth asked curiously. “Well, the pack is over there.” The biggest bear got up and pointed to the right of Seth. “Oh... Well, I should go get my partner then...” Seth quickly ran off.

He returned with Kate. “What? Haha... Two bears? Really... And you can fly,” Kate gaped when she saw both bears in front of her. “Ah!” She leapt back and landed on her bottom. She quickly stumbled back up. “I’m Ashley!” The eldest one stated. She pointed to the little one still sitting on the log. “And that’s my little sister Kelly!” Kelly smiled sweetly and shyly. “So what was it they had to say to us?” Kate asked, turning to Seth. “Uh... It was... Oh yeah! We’re not heading the right way.” Kate raised one eyebrow. Ashley quickly spoke up. “Your friend tells me you are looking for the Eastern wolves!” Ashley said to Kate. “Yeah! We... Are...” Kate turned to Seth. “Where ARE we supposed to go anyway?” Kate asked. “Well, Earlier, I told your partner,” “STOP CALLING HIM MY PARTNER” Kate snapped. “Okay, your Mate,” Kate scowled at Ashley. “Your friend...” Ashley sighed. “Better...” Kate growled. “I told your friend that he needed to head east. That leads to a rock flow and you can make your way down to the forest there." "That's good to know..." Seth said. "Home is close..." Kate smiled. "Do you need help getting there?" Kelly piped up. "No... it's okay, we-," "Yes. That would be helpful." Kate elbowed Seth violently. Seth shook his head at her. "Great! When do we leave?" Ashley said, sitting down. "Well THIS... conversation felt very ONE-sided?! Don't you think? SETH!" Kate lashed her tail about. "May I talk to you for a moment Seth?" Kate said to him as innocently as she could. She began to walk away, her tail erect. "Now." Kate growled. Seth began waking towards her. He craned his head around and mouthed, Help me! "What were you thinking! Inviting two bears to follow us... How do you know they won't kill us in our sleep!?" Kate whispered violently. "Well i thought we could use some extra help getting to where we are going to live for the rest of our lives!" "You know, you're lucky I'm letting you come with me anyway! I'm Alpha here and i could tell you to sit here and not leave! If you broke the command, It would be breaking pack law! And i would be able to slit your throat!" "Well I didn't mean to cause all this but I just thought we needed help getting to where we needed to..." Seth said very softly. Kate raised her voice. "You're right! The place where I'M gonna get married and mate while YOU watch it, while you drool over someone that will never love you!" Seth stepped back. A tear rolled down his cheek. "Whoa... Seth... I didn't mean that..." Kate completely lowered her voice. Seth sniffled and wiped his eye. "Are-... Are you okay?" Seth's ears dropped and his tail went between his legs. He no longer made eye contact. "Seth?" "Yes Alpha..." Kate gasped. "I am fine..." He turned and walked away. "Come on Ashley and Kelly... Do you mind helping me?" "Seth... You... You don't have to call me..." Her voice trailed off. "But I do. Remember? You are the Alpha. Your word is law." Seth walked through an arched pillar of stone. Ashley and Kelly followed behind. "Oh God... What have I done..." Kate sniffled.