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The Blood War

Chapter Thirty-one

Teeth dug into the back of Bone’s neck, causing him to scream. He bucked, attempting to dislodge his attacker, but to no prevail. Blood was running from the gashes in his neck and sides, which gave him quite the surprise: he still had blood flow, so that meant that he could still die.

He lashed out, kicking his attacker off of his back, only for another wolf to tackle him to the ground. His head hit the dirt with a considerably loud crack, and he lay still for a long moment, mind whirling, vision blurring. Pain engulfed his body as the wolf stood on top of him, claws pinning him by the neck. He fought back the rage that was swelling inside of him, trying to shove it away. These wolves wouldn’t be able to survive if his rage took control.

But he lost the grip on sanity a heartbeat later. His eyes sharpened, pupils dilating until they were specks of black. His jaw set, teeth clenching together, and he surged up, swinging his paws down and breaking the wolf that had been pinning him earlier’s skull. They dropped dead, and the wolves around him backed away, but his rage swelled and he lunged.

Within a few moments, five other wolves were strewn across the grass, their blood dripping from his fur and staining his paws. As he turned to lunge at yet another target, something warm pressed against his side. Pivoting, flashing his teeth, he found himself staring at Outlander.

His breath caught in his throat as he saw her. The bleeding from her neck had stopped, but she still stood with tremendous pain in her eyes. His jaw trembled, the rage melting away to the back of his mind, his pupils rounding.

“Are you just going to stand there?” she asked sarcastically, wincing. Bone ducked his head, pressing his forehead to hers, closing his eyes. “Opposites, you’re alive,” he whispered, voice trembling. As he opened his eyes again, she took a step back, smiling up at him.

“Did you think that Snowblind could kill me so easily?” she asked offendedly, eyes glittering. “Of course I’m alive. I wouldn’t let you finish this alone.” Slowly, Outlander looked around the clearing, where wolves were standing back, pacing around their dead comrades and trying to find a weak spot on Bone. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “What are you doing, Bone?” she asked finally, looking back at him. His ears folded back, and he opened and closed his mouth hesitantly.

“I- they wanted- they wanted to fight-” he sputtered, before falling silent as she shook her head. “You wanted to save them,” she said softly. “So save them.” She paused for a moment, before adding with a smile, “Bloom, Bone.”

He groaned softly, rolling his eyes, before looking towards where Ashsky stood. “I killed Snowblind because he killed Phantasm,” he told her, twitching his ears as he felt blood running from the cuts and bite marks along his back and neck. “When Phantasm arrived in the Forever Grounds, she demanded that Snowblind be killed for his actions, so I was sent.” He took a step towards the beta, but stopped, keeping his distance. “What you don’t know about your feared Bone Beast is that I’m a messenger for the ancestors. I carry messages to various packs, delivering omens and helping teach those who have the ability to do the same.” He paused, looking back at Outlander, knowing that whatever he admitted to these wolves, she would hear as well. She’s probably already figured it out herself, he thought quietly. She’s smart enough to have connected all of the pieces. And that’s why I like her, he realized.

“I also have a constant fight with myself,” he said, looking back to Ashsky. “The real me versus the rage. When the rage manages to take over, wolves get hurt. I’ve killed countless others just because I can’t control myself with all of my pain, all of my built-up exhaustion.” He closed his eyes briefly, bowing his head in guilt. “It’s like there are two of me, the good and the bad, who are constantly at war with each other. Like there’s more than one voice in my head.”

Looking up again, he met Ashsky’s eyes. “If you let me, I will leave and never come back. I’ll never talk with any of you again.” His eyes slowly wandered to Outlander, standing behind him. She could have run away the moment he turned his back, but she hadn’t.

“Including you,” he murmured, turning his head to scan the surrounding wolves. “You can live in peace, and elect a new alpha, whoever you choose. I’ll stay far away from your pack, your territory, and your lives.”

He looked at each of them in turn, before turning his head and meeting Outlander’s eyes. They exchanged a knowing glance, and Bone whispered in a sad voice: “This will be the last time I ever see you.”

Bone looked back to Ashsky. “So,” he murmured finally, forcing a confident smile despite the way his heart was breaking. “What do you say?”

- President Loki

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