Perhaps she had never realized it. So long had she spent surrounded by a realm of solitude, content in her own world of loneliness. Perhaps she never really knew, that her kind was meant to be together. Maybe it had just never occurred to her, that indeed wolves were meant to form packs, alliances, friendships and enemies. Had it really been that long, that she no longer knew the ways of pack life? Maybe it was being in solitude for so long that had changed her, reformed her into the female she was now. Years in isolation from the world had broken her down, made it impossible for her opinion on the world and others to be heard; especially here, in a place all too new to her: a place where she had only dreamt of in her mind, on those lonely nights under the sky- alone. However, maybe she had known all that once. Once, in a time where she had everything to lose.

Her huge gray hued voids would tell her whole story, but those voids where like locked up and impossible to open. They couldn’t tell you all the laughs she had had, all the tears she had shed, all those lessons done and learned. As hard as anything she couldn’t show you the pain she had felt during her lifetime in those orbs. Go ahead. Stare. Stare into those gray hued eyes that where set onto her blackened face. Look into them and try to figure her out: her past, her memories and her soul. All locked up in those fearful eyes, not her heart or her mind, but her eyes. So little to be seen and yet so much could be said. But the thing is she would not speak of them. She was a closed book not waiting to be opened.

Outstretched talons connected to small black paws clicked every step as the hit the jagged rocks under them. Muscles tensed and quivered under a black pelt with each short, yet quick stride. Gray orbs started straight ahead, ears perked up and erect listening for sounds of danger, moist noise twitching for the smell of others. She had, she thought, waited too long for this. Her strides quickened as she ran off of the waters edge.

For one fleeting moment as she walked, she felt all the weight lift off of her shoulders, but it was gone as quick as it had come, knowing all too well that wouldn't last a lifetime. The black moist nose twitched once more at the scent of the area. Shadow began to pace side to side, wondering what brought her to these rapids, why she was still alone? Sitting down on her haunches, she twisted her cranium into the air, eyelids covered her eyes, her jaws opened and a melody poured out. Her notes started at a low range and started to climb higher and higher until it was cut off. She was trying to get out all her emotions, all her loneliness, her sorrow, her pain, her anger and anguish; everything.

The sky was a dark blue with a yellow Waning Gibbous Moon whose light shone brightly down on her. The air was a little on this Spring night with only a hint of a slight breeze that ruffled her dark pelt slightly, brining the scent of more foliage with it. Pale eyes that were set symmetrically on her face shone with the color of the moon since they didn’t really have a color of their own. Her small small bodice rose and fell as she took deep breaths and listened to the sound of owls in the nearby trees as well as the running of water next to her and the other sounds of nature with her just waiting. Waiting for something to happen, not wanting to disturb the peace.

With the moon shinning down on her like it was, her full body was viewable, but not vulnerable. Frame and body was small, too small. One could mistake her for a fox if she wasn't slightly bigger then them with wolf features. Long and sleek, that's what she was with an oynx stained pelt that held not a blemish. This female wolf could be beautiful, but she could never see herself like that, nor could she think she could be tolerable. But somewhere inside her said she was looking for acceptance which, was something her mind hadn't been able to comprehend since she left her past life with the one who cared most to her, Deadly Nightshade. Bodice rose and fell still, hot air emitting into the air from her nostrils as she was overwhelmed with old memories, her soul wanting to go back, her mind telling her to start anew. Delicate-looking paws swatted a few random pieces of grass as she struggled to stay in the present.

She could hear the waves crashing near her from the Rin Gulf, she could hear the difference between its waves and the waves that had engulfed her so many years ago. She knew now though, to not go into an ocean like that, especially when it could kill you. That was it, sh wanted to scream. Shadow was remembering being pulled under the water filling up her lungs with something other than air. No longer did her eyes look faraway, she was going to stay in the present now, she wasn't going to relive those memories ever again...

Her mind wouldn't stop spinning. There was just too much to think about, too much to take in, too much that she was lost in herself, unaware of what was approaching. It was so strange how the feeling of being free came back, like she could fly up and touch the moon or even walk on water. Feeling so carefree was something she wasn't used to, something she hadn't really known or succumbed; it was like she was on some kind of high. A sensitive nose was able to pick out every single scent: the flowers, the way the wet rocks smelled, the trees etcetera. OK, maybe there was something she missed but the scent was masked by everything else, or maybe it was going unnoticed because she was no longer used to that smell.

Paws flexed causing long sharp talons to dip into the hard earth below, pale voids looked around the night scene falling on another wolfs figure lightly before closing them once more. 'No one would come here, come near me. That figure- that figure was not real. Just a figment of mind is all.' However, she was second-guessing herself, telling herself that the shadow she had seen was real, so very real. Well than, if it was she would guard herself, possibly even walk away. If she was treated wrongly than she would put them in their place, but she would have to wait and see.

See, yes. Eyes once more opened to scrutinize the dark scene before her. What she saw made her gasp out loud in spite of hersel f. There walking toward s her was a shadow of a larger stature than her with ice blue eyes that she could plainly see. Pounding against her bodice was her heart as its pace quickened to an unnatural rate causing her breaths to hasten as well. Closer. Closer. Now she knew what was in store for her and she wasn't quite so sure of what she would do. Particularly as the wolf that she now knew to be male poised himself in a playful position, his tail wagging trying to get her to play.

“How would ya like to play a game of chase, m’lady?” His voice called to her, How 'bout it?

It was obvious she was a little shocked by his words, so many emotions bubbling up at once. "Oh of course Sir, I would love to." When she spoke, her voice was soft and smooth and probably completely impossible to hear the sarcasm in her tone. "I mean I always play with random males, Sir. It is what I live for." In a quick movement Shadow was on her paws, her lips scarcely drawn back, her talons out like always and a low rumble coming from her throat that was suppose to be a snarl but sounded more like a purr.

All she could do was shake her head, now understanding his intentions as he spoke his words, changed his stance and growled. This was absolutely pathetic and she couldn't understand, did wolves truly act this way now. No, she was sure they did not, he was trying to get some reaction from her, something that she thought he tried to do often. None the less, Shadow would give him no satisfaction, nothing to boast about. By now her mind was turning, analyzing the situation she was not incorporated into. What was nagging at her mind though was why he had asked to play, unless it was some male thing. She had grown up the daughter of two alphas who had high expectations of her so she did not play, she learned, asked questions; everything was serious. Never had she played but that was mainly due to her being the only one in the litter to live.

If she was not in control of herself she would have already lashed out at him for her mockery. It was not her fault that she had had no need to growl in a very long time. Suddenly as if there had never been a disturbance she relaxed back to her sitting position, her face softening back to how it looked before, her pale eyes giving no emotion. "Such a pity. Is how you get your amusement, provoking females?" Shadow tilted her head to the side, her face looking up into his, her soft voice ringing in the air. Now she knew what she was in for, but no one ever said she couldn't have any fun on the way. Mentally she slapped herself, knowing what she was about to do wasn't something she could calculate.

Black jaws opened slightly just enough for her front canines to be seen as a rumble formed in her chest, soft and slow at first but gaining in loudness until she was emitting a deafening and ferocious growl that echoed all around. 'There,' She thought, figuring that was all she needed to do, 'I figure that was better than my little purr from before.' With the growl out of the way she couldn't fathom what this younger male would come up with next and she was through with such foolishness. Once more she was standing but instead of taking an aggressive stance she began to walk down river, stopping a few yards away before sitting once more. If he followed so be it, if he left her alone, that was Ok too.