-6 years later-

  Celeste

  Celeste walked through the forest, her tail waving side to side in a pattern as her paws hit the forest ground. The sun peaking in through the cracks of the brambles. She was a grown dame now, and she was noticeably stronger. She scanned the area around her constantly, looking for prey. She hadn’t realized she had wandered too far and ended up at the mouth of the forest opening to the lake. She got a serious case of déjà vu and had flashbacks of playing in the water with her brother and two other pups.. Interesting, she thought to herself, before rolling her eyes and turning around. “Hey! Rouge!” a deep voice called from behind her, after she had turned around. “I know, god,” she groaned, her ears flattening in annoyance, not turning around but starting to walk away. “I know, I know, I’m walking off you’re territory.”. “Kay…” the deep voice said, slightly confused but accepting it. Celeste strolled back into the forest, spotting a deer. She crouched down quickly, breathing softly. She pinned her ears and calmed her once swaying tail. She drew her sword quietly, her ears on high alert. She crept closer….closer…..Pounce! She tackled the deer, holding on with her claws and stabbing the deer with her sword in her mouth. The deer fell to the floor, being killed almost immediately. She panted, licking the blood off her sword, her scar and sword catching the light as she did. “Impressive rogue.” A black-grey wolf emerged from the shadows. Glancing at the dead deer, impressed and smiled softly. “Thanks, I guess,” Celeste said, glancing at him before glancing back down at her now clean sword. She started dragging the deer away and towards the flower field, not saying anything to the sire. “Need help?” he asked, with a raised eyebrow. “No,” she panted, grunting and walking backwards, occasionally jerking the deer with her. The sire followed, amused. He picked up the deer, slinging it over his shoulder easily. Celeste rolled her eyes, “Whatever, thanks, I guess…” she muttered, walking without looking back.

  The sire rolled his eyes, smiling. “Stubborn are we?” he asked, amused. “No, I could’ve done it myself,” she huffed, flicking her tail at him. Looking away while still maintaining her pace. “Sure, princess,” He said, chuckling to himself. “Yeah,” she responded again, rolling her eyes. She stopped suddenly, causing the sire to almost run into her. “Why’d you stop?” he asked, looking at her as she turned around. “I’ll take it from here,” she grabbed the deer off his shoulder. As she did, he smelled her faint scent of flowers and nature, somehow still smelling nature on her more than around him. “Thanks,” she said, absentmindedly, walking away with the deer. “....Y-yeah, you’re welcome!” He called out after her, finally, still dazed by her scent. Celeste walked into the forest again, finally opening into the flower field. “Hey!” A sire called from across the field. A grey-black wolf sat under the tree before standing up and coming up to Celeste. As he walked, he had a scar along his side, a claw mark that had grown smaller since the incident. “Hey, Koa,” she greeted him, dropping the deer. “Oh! I got it!” Koa picked it up easily, leading Celeste to sit down under the cherry blossom tree that was still standing. It was their favorite place because of their parents. Koa dropped the deer and waited for Celeste to take a piece before helping himself. Celeste ate, thinking about the weird and strange wolf she saw earlier. “What’s on your mind?” Koa asked, politely, tilting his head. “Nothing,” she answered, clearing her mind. “Alright…” Koa said, not fully convinced. “I’m going to go explore some new territory tonight,” Celeste said, looking at the ground as she always did. “Kay,” Koa responded, going to the small stream for water. Celeste finished the smaller parts of the deer that Koa hadn’t eaten and lay down, resting her head on the grass.

  Not long after, her eyelids fell heavy and she drifted off to sleep. In the middle of the night, she woke up, gasping softly. She had another nightmare about her parents being murdered and killed. She looked to her side and saw her brother sleeping peacefully. She stood up quietly, grabbing her sword and satchel. She headed to the abandoned barn, trotting with the memories of her father getting killed in front of her flashing in her head. She cried softly, running faster. Once she arrived, she pulled out her targets that were always there and started training. Slashing at the target, throwing her sword. The barn, ironically but not really, was next to the lake. Celeste had no recollection of that; therefore, she had woken up someone. Or perhaps someone who was already awake? An hour earlier, Kane had woken up, walking out and sitting on the large rock by the lake, staring up at the stars, thinking about the dame. Not long after, he heard slashing and grunts. Hm? He thought, his curiosity getting the better of him as he followed the sound. He approached the abandoned barn, crouching as he observed the mourning and sad dame fight the targets. He saw from a distance that she was crying. He felt a pang of empathy but continued to watch from afar. I wonder what happened to her… he thought, still observing while Celeste was oblivious to her spy. After a while, Celeste stopped, panting, her face stained from the tears. She shoved the targets back into the hiding spot and walked away, tired. Kane followed her, a few meters back. Celeste’s ears perked, pretending she didn’t hear anything. All of a sudden, she turned around quickly, pouncing on Kane. “Why’re you following me!?” she growled, pinning him. “Whoa, princess, calm down,” he smirked, impressed. “Answer the question!”, She had wiped her tears away, her stains gone, and she looked as if what he saw was an illusion. “I was curious about what the beautiful dame was up to. What's so wrong with that?”. She rolled her eyes, and despite herself, a small smile peaking through. She hopped off him, turning away and heading towards the flower field’s barn. Kane pounced on her, playfully tackling her. “Hey!” She laughed softly, attacking back playfully. She had a moment of a flash of memories. She saw her mother and father dying right before her. She suddenly paused, saying, “Sorry, I have to go”. She suddenly stood up, walking to the flower field. Kane watched her walk away, a flash of pain stinging his heart as she continued strolling. He headed back to the flower field, thinking about her. I wonder if she’ll ever tell me what bothers her… maybe I can help her…. . He thought, finding himself picturing her warm, comforting body against him. Her breathing light as she rested by the lakeside, basking in the warm sun. He shook his head, clearing his face of the slight blush that was creeping onto his face. Meanwhile, after the memories passed, Celeste was sketching a random wolf in her notebook. After finishing, she realized, blushing Sh#t that's the Prince-. She quickly flipped to the next page, deciding to ignore it. Celeste set her book aside, lying down to take a nap. Kane was staring at a wall, picturing her there. “Why the heck are you staring at a wall?” Alexandra commented, amused. “No reason, mind your business,” Kane responded flatly. Alexandra rolled her eyes. “Weirdo,” She muttered, turning away. “Saw that,” Kane said, rolling his eyes back.

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  “Whatever!” she shouted back. “Alexandra!” Her mother entered the cave, having gone hunting. “No yelling in the cave! That is not the proper respect I have taught you!” her mother scolded. “But that's not fair!”. “What have I said about whining?” she snapped at her. Alexandra fell silent. “Mom, stop. That’s enough.”. Kane stood up, showing how he towered over her easily, as his father did. “That is not your decision, young man! Sit back down or you’re grounded!” She shouted, pointing her rage at him. “Fine! Ground me then! For what again? I did nothing.” Kane shot back. “For talking back to me! Now go to your cave!” She growled. “FINE.”. Kane stormed by Alexandra, going into the small cave within the cave. Evelyn sighed, walking out of the cave. Kane peeked out of the small cave, smirking. “You suck at acting. I have no Idea how you pulled that off.” She rolled her eyes, but smiled. “You’re welcome now, let's go,” Kane looked out of the cave cautiously. Once he saw the coast was clear, he walked out, Alexandra following. “Where are we going again?” Alexandra asked, following close behind. “To um….pick some flowers! Yeah, pick flowers…” He trailed off, thinking of the mystery dame he saw earlier. “...flowers?” “Huh?” Kane snapped back into reality. “I said, since when do you like flowers?”. “I think they’re easy to draw.” He tries to lie. “Uhhhhh huh…” She said, unimpressed with his lying ‘skills’. Finally, the tree started to part. Revealing the flower field. “Oooo!” Alexandra squealed, jumping slightly and full of excitement. Her ears perked up and she crouched down. She walked out onto the field, looking down at the flowers. “Hey, you!” Alexandra looked up to find a female wolf larger than her standing over her with a stern face. “State your purpose of being in our territory!” Celeste barked at her. “S-sorry!” Alexandra said, backing up, her ears pinning to her head. “State your purpose,” Celeste said firmly. “Apologies, rouge,” Kane said, walking out of the forest shadows. “Oh,” Celeste said, pausing. “You,” She finished. “What? Not happy to see me?”. “Not particularly,” Celeste responded, rolling her eyes. “Sure, I bet you’re practically beaming with happiness,” he said sarcastically, grinning at her. She smiled softly, rolling her eyes again. “Sure, what do you guys need?” she asked, a bit softer in tone this time. “Oh my brother was just-” “Wanting to get flowers!” Kane cut her off, smiling. “Oh, hold on then,” Celeste further went into the field. She grabbed a moonflower and headed back over to them. She handed the flower bud to them. “It blooms at night, it's beautiful,” Celeste says, dropping the flower for her. “Oh..” thank you!” Alexandra said, quietly and carefully taking the flower. “No problem,” Celeste smiled, looking at her with soft eyes. “Well, well, I see there is favoritism now, I see how it is,” Kane said, pretending to be hurt and taken aback. “Riiiiight” Celeste said, “What jealousy?” she asked teasingly, “Me? I don’t get jealous, princess,” Kane responded, leaning down to match her. She looked up at him, glaring daggers at him but blushing. “Sureeee” Celeste said. “Imma take this back to the cave!” Alex said excitedly, running off. “Better go catch up with her huh?” Celeste said, looking at where Alexandra used to be. “Yeah, I guess.” Kane said, pausing for a moment. “Bye princess,” Kane said, touching his nose to hers. She froze, processing as he walked away with a proud smirk on his face. “Yeah, yeah whatever!” She called after him, still blushing heavily. “Well well,” Koa’s voice is heard from behind Celeste.

  End of chapter one