Maze of Trees

2 years ago....      My feet padded quietly as I run swiftly through the forest, following Cowlitz river, and staying near it's shore. Every so often I would jump into its icy waters to fully submerge myself, digging my feet into the sand and rocks to cross to the other side. I needed to remove as much of my scent as possible and make sure that my trail was scarce and hopefully difficult to follow. I knew the pack would soon be coming once they realized I was gone, and throwing off werewolves is much harder than it would seem. I had planned this out so well, or so I had thought. But, leaving a pack and breaking your ties with them is never as easy as one may initially think.      My reasons, to many, may not be justifiable ones but every since my parent's death I knew that leaving the White Mountain Pack was the only way that I would be able to find happiness. I had just turned 16 and had been given all of may parents saved up money, as well as the money from both of their life insurances. Their will had stated that any and all money was to be held and saved until I turned 16.  I had been waiting for that day, with laid out plans and maps, knowing exactly the route that I would take as well as a few back up routes should I need to find an alternative one. The money that I had received gave me more than enough to leave and make a fresh start somewhere out there. One where I could stand on my own two feet! This would be difficult in the coming months because leaving a pack goes against every fiber of a werewolf's instincts and my wolf, Mefitis, had hidden herself away in some dark recess of my mind while she held herself back from talking my out of this decision. She knew this was what I desperately wanted and she supported me, but she didn't agree with me.      The White Mountain Pack had never been cruel to me but ever since my parents had died in a tragic car accident all my interactions had turned into "poor girl, left with out her family!" or " such a pity, so young and to loose both parents?" I had had enough of their pitying stares, some I would say were even laced with a little fear. I knew some pack members saw me as a cursed child, or a bad luck omen because there was no other explanation for what had happened that night. Their comments had made me laugh sadly. A pack is supposed to be a family, a large family unit that was always there for one another and helps members through the hard times. I had ben very, very, wrong. I had been allowed to continue my stay within pack borders and to continue living in my parent's house but I had been left alone, avoided by many, and given no support or anyone checking in on me. Thank god for YouTube and google because I had no idea how to cook, how to repair things around the house, or even do the basic skills required to keep up the exterior gardens around the house. It was then that I had made the decision that when I was granted access to my parents assets through the will that I would be leaving,     I had told no one where I was going, and I honestly didn't even know. Our pack was located south of Mount Rainer so I would start by heading north. There were large, populated areas, in that direction and I planned to get to Tacoma. From there I had many options using trains, busses, as well as an international airport. I would be safe there since it was such a populated area and the pack was not one that liked to stray too far from their borders. This was a bonus and knew that for them to follow me into such a populated area it would cause hesitation which would give me an even greater advantage and put distance between myself and them.  The river opened up and I paused, looking up to the sky, thankful that there was very light cloud cover.      "This should be Riffe Lake"  Mefitis murmured, having finally come out of her shell to make sure we were safe. I felt her come forward to test the air and scan the surrounding shoreline with eyes that could see far greater than mine.  With a satisfied huff she retreated and went back to her corner of my mind.      I walked along the shoreline, my feet still in the shallows to continue to hide my scent. I knew they had not yet discovered that a pack member was missing since there had been no howls filling the air and Mefitis had not told me that the pack had been alerted. I had never opened myself to pack communication, it was something I detested. Having an entire pack in your head, able to read your thoughts? It made me shiver. Mefitis however relished the connection and kept up communications with the pack, or at least their wolves. She never gave away any details about me, but her natural instinct to belong and be a part of a pack I could never deny her. We had agreed that as long as she stayed neutral with them, not giving away our plans or revealing private information, that she could keep up communications. A large, lightning struck, tree lay on its side near the shore. It had been hollowed out from who knows what and made a nice looking shelter.  "Den!"  Mefitis whisper-yelled in my head.      Well that sealed the deal. If it was good enough for her then it would be good enough for me. I got on my knees and shuffled forward. It wasn't so small that I had to get on my hands as well but if it started to rain I may need to push farther back and be more cramped. but for now being at the front would work just fine. Mefitis once more came forward and we opened up the map so we could see where we were at and where we would go from here.  Route 7 looked to be just west of us and I could easily follow that road to a town called Elbe which looked big enough that it would have a*****e and maybe a restaurant where I could buy a few things as well as fill my stomach.  "Why wont you just let me hunt, I could easily fill our stomach!"  Mefitis grumbled. I knew she was frustrated. She was facing another downside of our decision to leave. Within pack borders it was safe for us to s**t, run, and hunt. Our pack borders were meticulously guarded to keep our secret safe. Out side of pack border, however, it was not safe for us to s**t. If a human saw a wolf they would not rest until it had either been caught or killed. They may even send wildlife biologists out to try and study the area, see if they could find a pack, etc. That would only put the White Mountain Pack, and possibly other packs, in jeopardy.  "We talked about this Tissy," my nickname for her "We cant risk being seen, as soon as we find a place where we know it is safe you can hunt first thing!" I tried to sound cheerful and upbeat. But we both knew that that would not be something quickly found and her sad whimper made my eyes begin to tear up.  I stuffed the map back into my backpack and put it behind my head, shuffling my body to try and get into a comfy position. Tomorrow would be another day, Tomorrow would be a good day! At least, I hope so!