• It had been a few weeks since the Firelight dance. It was only a few days until Rikki's birthday and the festival, its name could not be written in any language.

    Rikki was working with the fire dancer, now fondly called Strike, when she heard shouts coming from the direction of the square. She ran to the source, a nagging feeling gnawing at her mind. In the middle of the square stood five wolves gathered protectively around a wounded red and white splotched brute she automatically recognized.

    "About time. These people were beginning to scare Annie" the large graying Timber wolf's voice rumbled in Rikki's mind. Rikki crouched by the fallen wolf. "CloudWalker?"she gasped, the damage looked worse up close. "We were wondering if you could nurse him back to health. He'll die if he stays with us!" FleetPaw, CloudWalker's possible soon-to-be mate, asked, worriedly. "What happened?"Rikki asked, as the villagers stood around watching. They knew of her powers, yet had never seen it ever happen. "We are not sure...." Rosie, who could almost pass for a dog, spoke up.

    Emmit carefully picked up the wounded CloudWalker. "Come on, Rik-Rik, I'll help you."he said gazing with soft eyes at the torn Rikki. She climbed to her feet, hugging each wolf. "I'll come back and check up on him every now and then," Rosie said nuzzling Rikki, her human pup. Rosie was CloudWalker's mother and Dagger's mate.

    Rikki set up blankets in the corner of the kitchen where Emmit gently placed CloudWalker. Before she had even said it Emmit had gotten her water, rags, and bandages. His dark golden brown hair was matted down with sweat and his sea blue eyes held worry and exhaustion.

    When Auntie got home, she found Rikki in Emmit's arms asleep on the couch. Emmit blinked sleepily, gesturing for Auntie to be quiet as possible. "She fell asleep about half an hour ago. I didn't want to wake her by moving and I couldn't get her up to her room on my own,"he whispered gently picking up the sleeping girl. She murmured and nuzzled closer to his chest in her sleep. Auntie didn't fail to notice the fond smile playing across the young man's lips, or the featherlight kiss he placed on Rikki's forehead. With Auntie's help he carried Rikki up to her room.

    With Emmit's help Rikki slowly nursed CloudWalker back to health. By her birthday he was limping along after them, but was still pretty weak and could only go for a short while before having to lay down. Rosie and her son had become favorites among the villagers.

    Emmit knocked on the door. As soon as Rikki opened it CloudWalker came trotting out. "Here you go, boy. Hey Rik-Rik,"Emmit said giving CloudWalker a big slab of venison jerky. "I could get used to this," CloudWalker smirked. Rikki laughed, muttering "spoiled rotten." "So, birthday girl, I was wondering if I could be........your escort at the festival?"Emmit stammered, blushing lightly. "Of course, but you'll have to share," Rikki replied with a grin. It was a joke between Rikki and Emmit. "Well come on,"he said helping her onto Dodger.

    Emmit and Rikki walked through the stands, with CloudWalker tagging slowly along. The young brute was practically strutting. The holiday, besides Rikki's birthday, that they were celebrating was in honor of the bond with the wolves. So he was being treated like a king.

    At the end of the night a lunar song arose and the wolves stepped out of the forest, the moon full in the sky. Only one person noticed the st6range creatures standing to the side. They gestured for him to come. Nobody noticed the dark figure slip into the forest. Rikki was to involved playing with the pups, Rosie's latest litter.