A/N: Wow! Second story in the same day! Well, I guess I did kind of write this AGES ago but... I know it's short and rushed but it was written for a 500 word competition and I obviously could only use 500 words. Anyway, enjoy and if you have time on your way out don't hesitate to leave me a review!

Distant -

A FictionPress Story By xX-RosaScuro-Xx

~o.O.o~

I still remember it. Their soft tongues melting my freezing skin, the feel of their warm coarse fur huddling against my body. Small pups whimpering softly behind me, confused by me. That was the day they found me, they day my own Mother abandoned me. Because some things in life don't stay the same, sometimes life's tough…

Once I'd woken up I fumbled about for my mother's warm body, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair, then of course I would see where I really was.

I held onto the dream for as long as I possibly could, when I did wake up, still overdosed with sleep I walked down to the riverbank. As I walked slowly to the sound of bubbling water I passed various wolves. Jarek, the largest of the pack (and alpha male), nodded his head as I passed and Adolpha one of the five female's followed me. Adolpha is one of the most understanding of the pack. You can talk to her and know that she's listening, unlike the others whose caramel eyes show no sign of whether or not they are interested. Just as I was about to splash the cool water on my face a loud howl coming from my tent made me jump. I knew what a howl like that meant, hunters.

It was all such a rush. I couldn't feel the hunter's presence yet but obviously the wolves could. Kodi, one of the youngest pups was standing perfectly still, his golden eyes warily searching for the threat. Figuring he wouldn't move if he was left I picked up his shaking body and carried him in the direction the wolves were going. He managed a small protesting snarl but I wasn't even thinking of putting him down. Not now.

As Kodi struggled against my grip, alarm bells rang in my head. Danger, this wasn't good. Loki nudged me forward but I was frozen in the deep snow. A figure was standing at the edge of the trees watching me curiously. Realising I was probably doing the same thing I dropped my eyes to the ground. But I couldn't help but look again; the hunter had looked so much like my mother. Could it be? I shook the impossible thought out of my head and pushed forward through the deep snow and ice. Seeing me struggle, Xena took Kodi of me and gently pushed me onto her back. As we whipped through the forest I was sure I saw a dark figure looming behind us…

"To run with wolves is a gift, to enter their world is a different matter entirely."

When we finally stopped running we realized what they were doing. Driving us to the lake. As the sun set in the horizon, I made the most important discovery of my life. I would rather die knowing that I'm not alone than live and be alone. As we awaited our fate I saw my mother watching me with agonised eyes. Gone forever.