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Chapter 30

Maya sighed.

"Silverstorm isn't here," he said. "At least not to my knowledge. You don't have to be afraid. Anytime something happens to you," he set a paw onto hers, "just call my name."

"Okay," she nodded.

Marlo nudged her. "You can go to the den and I will look for Raine."

Maya went into the den. She only prayed him for the best. Marlo got up and stuck his nose to the ground. A few times he stopped to get a few slaps from wolves, but only claimed to be exploring the territory he must later 'protect.' At last he caught a very faint scent of Audren.

Audren kept hidden in the den with the limp Raine laying down. "I'm sorry..." Whispered the she wolf with grief.

Marlo's ears pricked up with excitement as he followed the growing scent, trailing around the territory. A few times he found the smell of Raine as well. As the scent became fresher, the trees became thicker. Good place to hide a stolen pup, he thought.

"Ma...am" whined Rainw.

Marlo wanted to yell for her, but he knew he would be caught. He began to stay low, his nose picking up scents that smelled minutes old.

Audren sat down by Raine with a guilty look. "I hope they come to rescue you..." she pleaded to the poor pup.

Marlo looked up with a surprised look to see a den, and his heart jumped. I found her! He thought. Slowly, he approached the den.

Suddenly, Audren's eyes fixed outside of the den. "They have come? Good. Let's only hope that..." Audren looked back to see a sleeping Fire. Marlo poked his head into the den.

Raine's ears perked up. "Pa..." she whimpered, Raine looked up at Audren and then moved her head slightly towards Fire.

"Raine," Marlo whispered with a grin of joy. He looked shockingly towards Audren. "Audren...?" he said quieter as if expecting an answer of what she would do next.

"Marlo," Audren said quietly, she looked back at Fire. "Get her...hurry!"

Marlo stepped in carefully and quietly and grabbed Raine by the scruff, bolting away. Audren let a quick sigh, but looked back to see Fire yawning. Please don't wake up...they have had enough trouble as it is, Audren thought silently.

Marlo ran until he came to the den and set Raine down. "Maya!" he whispered. "Come on, get out of there, let's go!" he yelped.

Maya looked up and nodded quickly, stepping out of the homemade den and then looking at poor Raine. "Let's go!"

Marlo scooped up Raine and ran as fast as he could towards the Ring or the MacAngus territory.

Suddenly, in between of doing this, Maya stopped and looked around just to see if she could spot Silverstorm. Marlo stopped and looked back, whimpering. He set Raine down for a moment. "Maya!" he yelped. "If Silverstorm is still there she is safe: she is an Outflanker!" he grabbed Raine again.

"Yeah. She gets what she wanted," Maya muttered, chasing Marlo and Raine again.

Marlo raced until it was dusk, and there he slowed. Slowly he set Raine down, knowing her scruff must ache. "Pa... ow!" she yelped

"Are you okay?" Marlo asked worriedly. "Did they hurt you? Oh my goodness! You're belly and neck are cut!"

"Yeah...sadly, you didn't realize that," Raine's soft angry and cute voice said.

Marlo looked back at Maya. "We have a few more hours until we'd reach the Ring. Should we keep going or rest?" he sighed. "Someone could find us."

"Let's go to the MacDuncans if they are close."

"We will go through the MacAngus territory and to the MacDuncan, and there we will stay for the night," said Marlo. "In the morning we will head south-east for the Ring."

"Sounds good to me if Raine agrees," Maya said. Raine agreed.

Marlo grinned at Maya. "Your turn to carry the pup," he grinned, beginning to trot off to the north-east.

Maya looked at Raine, who had only snickered. "YAY! I don't have to walk!" she yipped, Maya smirked and picked her up, running with her in her mouth.

It was a matter of hours, but at last the three wolves reached the MacDuncan territory. "We visited my place of birth," Marlo said to Maya. "Now we visit yours."

"Yay!" Maya shouted. She looked around to make sure no wolf was looking at her after that. "That feels weird doing it here."

Marlo looked about and spoke to a few wolves before he found a den. "It's nice around here," he sighed.

Maya shrugged. "Yeah! Not for the poor gnaw wolves though..." Maya sighed.

Silverstorm raised her muzzel to sniff the air. She smelled Maya, Marlo, and another wolf. A small wolf most likely a pup.

"No," Marlo looked at the clear night sky. "You know, I don't feel as tired as I should. I'm going to walk around."

"I wonder where the gnaw wolves live now? It's been so long. I think I'll go look around with Raine also."

Marlo began to walk through the territory, looking around. "Raine should come play with these pups," he said, approaching one. A little female pup with brown fur tumbled in front of him, shaking her head as if to clear her mind. "Hello," Marlo greeted playfully.

"Hi!"

Raine drifted off from Maya's side and sprinted over to Marlo. "HI!" Raine shouted excitedly to the pup.

"Hi!" the pup responded shyly.

"Oh. Sorry for scaring you! I am just awesome like that," Raine said. "Well no I mean...ah! I messed up, Daddy!"

Silverstorm walked out from her den. She walked to the nearby field where many wolf pups played.

The pup jumped into a play-bow as if now longer afraid. "You like to tackle?" she yipped.

"Of course I would!" Raine yipped, her ears perking up and eyes with eager in them.

"Good!" the pup yipped. "First, I need to know your name."

"MY NAME IS JEFFERY THE FIRST! Nah, it's Raine!" Raine yipped, her tail wagging.

She watched as too pups started to play together. "Reminds me of when I was a pup." She said as she looked at the sky. "Like I said, mom. I won't let you down."

"Raine? That's an awesome name!" the pup yipped. "I'm Morag!"

Maya sighed as she dug around. Suddenly, she saw a sight that made her frown. "Silverstorm..." but as she said that, she was reminded of Silverside..

"Cool!" Raine said as she nudged Morag with her head.

Marlo looked back at his mate. "Maya?" he asked, approaching her.

"Silverstorm," she growled.

Marlo came to her side. "It's okay," he said. "I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you, if that is what you are worried about."

Silverstorm lowered her head and looked across the plain. "I knew I smelled Maya." She said to herself as she saw Maya sitting with Marlo.

Marlo saw Silverstorm as well. "Oh, you don't really need to worry about me against her. I already threatened to use Snake!" Maya snarled.

Marlo looked surprised. "But—" he stammered. "Snake is trying to kill you. Why would he fight for you?"

"Remember, hadn't I told you he was my brother? A brother has to have a defensive side."

"I remember..." Marlo nodded.

She snorted and looked away from Silverstorm. Marlo stood and trotted towards Silverstorm, stopping a few feet from her.

"Don't do it Marlo," muttered Maya under her breath. Maya looked away from Silverstorm. She sighed knowing that there may never be any rebounding with her friends after what happen with the fight.

"Silverstorm," Marlo whispered. "You can come out to me."

Come out to him by trying to gnaw his face off... or take a chunck out of his back! Maya's mind shouted as she remembered the wound on her back.

Marlo closed his eyes and sighed, but finally spoke to Silverstorm again. "I just want to talk."

It seems not to work with her. She'll only make a fight out of it. I don't get why I hadn't finished her off when I had her at her weak sta...what am I thinking? Maya shook her head.

Marlo waited for her reply.

Silverstorm sighed, "I attacked Maya. I want to say I'm sorry. Someone close to me set me right again, and if you never want to see me again I'm okay with that. I just want to say I'm sorry." Silverstorm looked at Marlo but then looked away and lowered her head. This was something she had know to do since a pup but in this moment it was the most she could do to try to show how sorry she was.

Marlo nodded. "I know," he said. "I also know what it is like to be angry at Maya. But I also know what it is like to really, really like her, as I do now. I will not say that I don't blame you for challenging her because it was, no offence, your fault. All I am going to say is that if it happens again, she won't be fighting back alone."

"Yeah, because I'll have Snake," mumbled Maya, rolling her eyes.

"Ignore her," Marlo murmured. "Hopefully Snake won't be there. I'll be there to make sure she won't get hurt again. But that doesn't mean I am not no longer considered one of your allies."

She nodded her head. "I guessed that. I even tried to get her to call to you. Just let her know that I will be here if she ever wants to kill me." She points to her den not to far from where they stood. "I wish you the best in life Marlo."

Maya opened her mouth offensively. "YEAH RIGHT! You made me call just because you wanted me to show my weakness!"

Marlo smiled to Silverstorm. "Excuse me," he said, turning and stomping back to Maya. "What grade would I give you on the Trying Your Best to Embarrass Marlo Test? A one hundred!"

Silverstorm looked at Maya and smiled a small smile. She would miss her friend who was also her enemy.

Marlo, as he waited for Maya's reply, wished that Silverstorm would befriend his mate.

Maya closed her eyes and started hitting her head against a truee. "You two drive me nuts!"

"Maya," Marlo stopped her. "Please, listen. Sometimes you are always being happy and bright... and other times all you can think about is the rebellious path. Would you not agree that Audren should have joined us and befriended us? Its no different with you befriending Silverstorm."

Silverstorm tried to hide her laugh.

"Actually I like Audren now," Maya chimed in.

"It doesn't matter! Silverstorm will like you too if you will just befriend her!" Marlo sighed. "Please, Maya. Think of the logic. I want to help you... let me help you. That's what paw-fast mates are for... loving and helping."

"May I ask something?" Silverstorm spoke up. "Didn't this Audren help get your pup? Did he not help with that?"

"Audren took Raine," Marlo said. "And she let me take her back."

"I am gonna go run off right now into a pond of water because you just shouted that outloud, Marlo. Where we were in a territory filled with wolves. Yay!" Maya said embarrassed.

"Oh. Sorry." Silverstorm said out of embarrassment for calling Audren a male.

"Okay, because I am so confused right now, I'll just go back to the Ring and sit at the Watch like a good girl." Maya turned.

"Okay. Bye I guess." Silverstorm said so confused.

"Wait," Marlo said. "Sorry; what did I embarrass you about?"

"Nothing. Just go on with our merry lives, right?"

"What did I say?" he asked again.

"Well on that note I think I will be heading home." Silverstorm said as she turned and left Marlo and the pup.

Marlo sighed.

"Yay," Maya hesitatedly sighed.

"Let's get some rest," Marlo suggested, heading to the den.

"YEP!" she headed towards the den and quickly snuggled down. She really just wanted to get some rest, and she slept.

Marlo snuggled close to her with Raine. The she wolf had a strange dream of Snake coming. And the MacNaans. And then...Silverstorm. She thought it was weird and woke up.

Silverstorm laid down after a few moments of being in her cave and she looked up into the sky. "It's going to take some time but we will all get stronger from this. I'll see you one day, mom." Then Silverstorm fell asleep as she thought of her Milk Giver who had been her only mother that really mattered.