If you run away, who can catch you?

[.:Aryan:.]

Butterscotch pools peered out into the crisp morning. Fog had blanketed the forest floor, covering any scents from the night before. She eventually emerged from the den within the roots of the massive oak. She was not hungry, nor was her throat burning with thirst for she had done herself well with the prowl last night.

She padded down before the stream and sighed, tear drops finally fell creating rings that grew and disappeared. When she had enough, the tears ceased and she bent to lick the healing traces of what were once wounds.

She closed her eyes but they quickly snapped open when the movie of the slaughter began to replay within her mind. She growled and trudged through the water then to the other bank and continued. Her surroundings were a blur and tears once again began to fill her pools. Words echoed within her mind. You don't belong here. You never belonged here. She ran faster. Do this task for me and all your pain will no longer exist....You mean, you want me to kill them? That devilish smile flashed in her mind and she ran faster. She jumped over a log and landed with a thud, regaining her speed. I have decided I do not want to. SILENCE! You have agreed to the unbreakable deal.

She stopped. Her barrel heaved as she inhaled and exhaled. Her head remained low as the tears fiercely fell. She looked at her reflection within the waters of a large lake as silence surrounded her.

[Night]

A dark reflection appeared next to the white wolf's. "Are you okay?" a deep voice asked. The male wolf sat down next to the female and looked at her closely. "What's wrong?" he asked, resting his tail on the she-wolf's side. "Whatever it is It's going to be okay," he added, giving her a reassuring smile.

[.:Aryan:.]

Mali jumped at the unexpected voice. She looked at him with that burning fire within her pools. Her heart pounded and she stood speechless. Unsure of what to say. She never knew she could have performed such acts, but that thing deserved it. She now held another's blood, she was a sinner, a murderer.

She looked away from him for a moment, returning her gaze to her reflection. She then sighed and closed her eyes. "I'm a murderer." She looked at him once more, tears returning. "I had to, or I would've lost my own life. What choice did I have?" She spoke harshly, angry with herself. "And I can't take it back"

[Night]

Ryu looked at her. "A murderer?" he asked. He laid down next to her. "Who did you murderer and who ordered you?" he asked, looking at the water in front of him. His eyes seemed soft and gentle, unlike most wolves when they met a murderer. He had met a murderer before and he could remember the hybrid's name. Akame. He smiled a bit and turned to look at the she-wolf.

[.:Aryan:.]

Mali looked at him and shut her mouth. What was she doing telling this stranger? She growled slightly. "Why do you want to know so bad, I'm sure we do not know each other." She sighed though, sitting upon her haunches. "It is not like she didn't deserve it." She announced with much distaste. "I was ordered to murder my father. He banished me from the pack a year before and I met up with this...witch" She snarled the last word, hair bristling along her spine. "But it is her blood that had been spilt. Not my father's. But I am still a murderer. I have still spilt one's blood."

[Night]

"That murder was a good thing. It saved many lives that she could've thrown away for nothing," Ryu stated, stretching. He may be young, but he was pretty wise. "My name is Ryu," he added, looking up at the she-wolf. "And if you want me to leave, just say so, but I'm here so neither of us are alone," he added, standing up.

[.:Aryan:.]

Mali looked up to him with a soft smile then turned away, slightly blushing. Then a look of horror met her face. "The blood still haunts me though. It wasn't like a deer's or a rabbit's, it was blood of my own kind. And I, I'm the one who spilled it." She sighed once more.

When she heard him speak of his calling she nodded. "That's a really nice name, different, but I like different." She nudged him playfully. "I'm Maliha, Mail for short"

[Night]

"It's always going to feel like that. Killing your own kind," Ryu said. "It's survival, though. She was a bad wolf and you had saved your Father's life," he said, sitting back down. He looked up at the sky. "A storm is coming, would you like to come to my temporary den for tonight? It'll be dry," he said, not knowing that it sounded sort of awkward.

[.:Aryan:.]

Mali layed her ears back slightly. She was not so trusting, but what choice di dshe have yet again? She could trust him and be dry for the night or she could stay in the rain, but that would be taking the chances of something happening. But she did always have the choice to run, like she always has. Then the thought struck her and she began to back away. It wouldn't be safe for him.

"I-I c-can't. Its not safe....for you" She backed away some more, her neck arched to touch her head to her breast. "I've been running for months, I know her...followers till search for my own blood. If they find me I...I can't take the chances of the harming you..I can't be the reason for more blood, I can't...I can't" She shook her head furiously, upset. That's when she bolted. She just took off into the wood. Tears began to fall fiercely once more.

[Night]

Ryu was shocked. He stood there for a moment and then ran after her. He easily caught up. His long legs helped out in these kind of times. He ran beside her. "You'll be safe, trust me," he said, glancing at her. "I'll be safe also, Mali," he added. He dodged a tree, moving closer to her. He felt her pelt against his and he blushed a bit. He shook his head lightly, but suddenly, his paw caught on something and he tripped.

He laid there in pain for a moment. He looked up to see Mali running still. His ears drooped and he put his head on his paws. "So much for trying to make a friend," he whsipered to himself. After a few minutes the rain began to fall, but he just laid there, thinking.

[.:Aryan:.]

When the rain poured she looked up to the raining sky. Her ears drooped and she continued crying. The rain quickly began to soak her and she looked behind her, walking back. Her butterscotch pools looking ahead of the trail, looking for him. She knew he wouldn't hear her so when she came by his side she began to lick at his ear and face.

"C'mon, lets go get dry clumsy" She smiled, pain still poured into her heart and she looked behind her. "You coming?"

[Night]

Ryu looked up as he saw the Mali. He heard those two words. He smiled a bit as he heard that she wanted him to go with her. He got up slowly, his ears perked back up. "Well where are we going?" he asked, his gray fur turned black and his white underbelly was soaked. He was happy she had came back.

[.:Aryan:.]

She sniffed him as he rose."You hurt?" And she waited for a reply. Then when he asked her where they were going she stopped walking and turned around. "I should be asking YOU that" And she pressed her nose against his. "So Ryu, where are we going?"

She did her best to keep her worries blocked. she just didn't want him to get hurt.

[Night]

Ryu smiled a bit. "Well my den is dry," he said, his eyes softening at her touch. He lifted his head away as he heard a sound. He looked in the direction it came from, but nothing came up. "Follow me, Mali," he replied sweetly, as he walked towards his den.

[.:Aryan:.]

Mali turned to see what he had heard. Her heart pounded and she kept her eyes locked but talked his directions. "yea, let's get out of here." She was quick to follow him. She kept her auds alert, butterscotch eyes looking everywhere. She was so scared at this point. They ALWAYS found her. Had she run far enough this time?

Suddenly she paused. "Did you hear that?" She sniffed the air and sighed. It was nothing familiar which to her, which was a good thing right now.

She continued following him, this time she was calm and kept her eyes on him with a smile.