Through the Emerald Forest

Chapter 3 The Truth?

    Night had fully fallen by the time Max walked up into the pack-house. On his short walk from the Med center he linked the boarder patrol to inform him of this Luna's arrival. He stepped into the large entryway of the pack house, but before he had a chance to head up the stairs to his office on the 2nd floor, Loti wrapped her arms around Max in a hug. Loti had helped raise both Max and Jaq, as well as Max son Collin. She had a kind soul and to see them suffer was hard. After a few moments she stepped back and looked at Max from head to toe and clicked her tongue.

    "I know its been a stressful afternoon but that is no reason to forget about eating. Come into the kitchen and I'll warm you something up." Loti ever the caretaker tried dragging Max to the kitchen, making Max chuckle slightly.

    "Loti, thank you, but i have something i really need to take care of in my office before the Luna gets back." He looks at her meaningfully, hoping she understands. She nods completely understanding, releasing his arm from her grasp. She sighs then pushes him gently towards the stairs.

    "Then you best get going. I'll bring you up something in a few minutes." Her words were soft but still stern. She had always been a no nonsense kinda wolf. Max nodded and headed to his office, taking the stairs to the second floor two at a time. His office door was a deep Oak with Alpha embossed on a bronze plate.

    He walked into the office and sat in his chair, running his hands through his hair he quickly turned and listened carefully. He needed to make sure no-one was nearby, his Alpha hearing still on high alert after today. Satisfied that no-one was listening at the door, he hit the secret panel on the wall reveling the safe. He quickly opened the safe and noticed with a slight start that the letter was no longer shimmering with the spell that had been placed on it previously. Max takes a deep breath and with a shaking hand he pulls the letter out. He shuts the safe and the secret door. He lays the letter on the desk and just stares at it. He jumps slightly at the soft knock on the door, he sniffs and realizes its just Loti.

    "Come in, Loti." He slides the letter under a report of the battle from today and makes like hes reading the report intently. Loti enters carefully carrying a tray, laden with several sandwiches and some fruit. Max smiles at her slightly as he gets up and takes the tray from her. "Thank you, Loti. You have outdone yourself as always. Go on home, I can take care of my dishes." Loti nods and, after Max sets the tray down on the desk, hugs him again.

    "Goodnight Alpha." Loti says as she shuts the office door behind her.

    Max sighs and sits back at the desk, he grabs one of the sandwiches and takes a few bites before sliding the letter back in front of him. He just stare at it for several minutes before sighing and picking the letter up and opening it up. As he reads the letter his eyebrows nit together.

   -This was meant for us the entire time. why hide it.- Marc growled in his head. He was pacing in Max's head. Max was just as confused. He read and re-read the letter again, and then he saw the answer.

    *My Dearest Jaq, The time is coming. The Moon calls and I must answer. I will be bringing our little gem to you on the next full moon. I hope to be able to meet you in the Meadow. My dreams fly with you.*

    There is no signature on the first part of the letter, but Max knew who it was from. He continued to read.

    *Alpha Max. I am sure you have many questions at this time, and i very much wish I could answer them for you. I also wish that Jaq could answer them, but if you are reading this then something has prevented him from being able to meet me. Our daughter needs to be safe, away from the Queendom I have fought to build. The rogues will stop at nothing to get her. Until she can come into her own; she will need protection. I hope I can rely on you. There is a Meadow near a lake 5 miles from your western boarder. I know your boarder is quite large, you will want to head west when you are 7 miles south of your northern boarder. I hope you will meet with you before the moon reaches it peak. Alpha, be careful. There are powers at work that are evading even my best. Please, Alpha, Keep our Amethyst safe. She is our future. Farewell Alpha.*

       Max read this message several times before the words start blurring, then fading off the page. The sudden appearance of magic catches Max off guard, but then he realizes that its for the best. When the final letter has faded from the page, Max crumbles the page and tosses it into the fireplace. He sets his elbows on the desk and lays his head in his hands, just as the Guard from the boarder links that the Luna has crossed the boarder. He takes a deep breath to steal himself. He gets up from his desk and walks to the balcony. As Max is gazing out into the backyard and training field he hears the front door open and the sound of tiny feet dashing through the stairs. Suddenly his office door slams open and his three year old pup comes dashing in, full of life and excitement.

    "Daaddyyy" Collin came sprinting into the room. Max turns around just in time to catch the sprinting child in his arms. A heavy sigh in the doorway caused Max to look up at his Luna, Jilliana. Max smiles at her.

    "Dear, how was your.." He starts but trails off as he see her face change from a sad smile to wide eyed shock, just before he is able to ask what was wrong, Collin yells in his arms.

    "Daddy! SNOW!" Max turns back to the balcony, his face going slightly pale. He slowly walks out onto the balcony, Jilliana walking up next to him. She places her hand on his arm, and looks up at him questioningly. Suddenly through the snow a cry was heard, full of sorrow and loss,  it echoed across the land. It could only mean one thing, Max knew that snow only fell out of season when one of natures chosen had fallen to nefarious means, and the cry was that of a mate lost. He knew, as he turned to Jilliana, that Jaq was gone. He handed her Collin as he started away, he had far to go still.

    "Max..W-what does it mean?" Jilliana asked confused as she struggled to hold the squirming Collin. The rambunctious pup just wanted to play in the falling snow. Max shook his head slightly.

    "I'm sorry, I don't have time to explain right now. I need to go, I will explain the best i am able when i come back."  Max kisses her on the forehead before heading out. As he starts to cross the yard he shifts into Marc letting him take control and head in the direction the letter said the meadow would be. the distance from the pack house to the boarder, in the spot he'll cross, is some 15 miles before he'll cross and go west. He needed speed. As Marc sprints through the forest the snow falls harder, the moon peaks over the trees flooding the wood with white light. The night becomes eerily quiet, even Marc stops to gaze up at the moon in awe. the light flickering through the trees. it had been an hour since he left the house but he only just crossed the western boarder. He snapped out of his adoration of the moon and started running again. he was loosing time. After another hour, he was approaching the meadow, Marc slowed and growled loudly, Max broke out of the thoughts he was having.

    -What is it?- Max tried to sense what Marc what sensing. But he can't quite do it. Marc growled again. The snow had stopped falling.

    -There's something here- Marc's voice is full of confusion -Or there was.- Out in the meadow it was covered in snow, except for a small circular area, a small tired cry could be heard. Marc padded out into the meadow cautiously gazing around for anyone else, sniffing for rogues or other unfamiliar scents, the only one he found was the tiny pup laying in the clear area. Marc shifted letting Max take control. Max scooped up the lil pup, She calms slowly and opens her eyes to gaze into Max's. Max gasped as he looked at her violet eyes, seeing Jaq in their depths. Max clutches her to her chest and turns to head back home. Unknown to him, he was being watched from the far end of the meadow. The gold eyed dragon watching them depart before taking to the air and flying away from the meadow and to the palace.