I do feel bad about getting between Tetradore and Frost, especially after he just threatened his pack member, his Beta and then his sister all within moments of each other. I've never had anything against Tetradore and he's never been anything but kind to me. I would have rather liked to see him take some more damage out of Frost's hide. Finally I get to see someone make him hurt. Raven did some damage herself but then he made it look all too easy to hurt her even worse. My chest still aches when I think of what he did to her. And I didn't do anything about it. What kind of friend am I? Maybe she has every right to hate me. At least I know she'll stay away from me and that should keep her away from Frost for a while. I want her to be safe more than anything.

Tetradore is holding his own against Frost pretty well but I hate to see the hoof connect with him. I cringe and then Frost bucks him off his back and takes off onto the dock. I had almost forgotten about Tobias going into the Ark with Raven until a bolt from a harpoon gun lands in the ground at my feet. I don't know why he chose to aim at me but the idea is forboding. I can only assume that Raven has told him of my treachery, that she thinks I truly want to go with Frost. I only wanted her to go away to save her and look what happened to her because she didn't listen to me. I fear Tobias will come for revenge and get hurt too. Maybe if they came at him as a pack...but would that thought just make me as bad as him? I know I'm risking a lot by stepping between the angry cat and the stallion. Two alphas embraced in a territorial battle is something you don't want to get in the middle of but I know neither will give up until one or both can't move anymore and I'm loathe to see anyone else get hurt.

Plus Tobias spurred me into motion with that harpoon bolt. What if he doesn't miss next time? I'm not about to get shish-ka-bobbed over this. Frost is the last person I want to run to right now but he's all I've really got and the idea if tragic. I glance up at the window one last time with a sad look, knowing Raven can't see me but somehow wishing she knew just how badly I feel about what happened to her. And then I move toward Frost and put my hand to his muzzle. I can tell Frost doesn't want to give up but I see his eyes move to the window. I'm sure he's smart enough to know Tobias with a harpoon while he's focused on Tetradore is dangerous in itself. He also doesn't seem to like me touching him. I make sure to keep this in mind for later. He gets under my skin so it's good to know some ways to get under his. He moves his head away and I almost feel the rejection like a deep bottomless pit. Am I truly alone? But then his head bumps into me, nudging me toward the exit and I take this with hope, turning to move away. I almost glance up at the window once more in a farewell of sorts but I keep myself from doing so this time. No use will come of it. They probably don't want to see me now anyway.

I hear Frost's final biting words to Tetradore from behind me and I scowl, wishing he didn't have to always get the last word in. I don't look back, somehow knowing that he's behind, though whether he's in horse or human form by now, I don't rightly know. I only look at the ground and my own two feet, my mind replaying everything I've seen today and I know something now. I need to learn how to fight. I don't want to end up broken on the ground like Raven. I want to know how to protect myself. Raven tried to teach me but I don't think it really stuck. Could someone like Frost really teach me better? Only when I feel like we've been walking for twenty minutes and I have no idea where we're going do I look up and stop, turning to face Frost. "Um...where are we going?"

alexis wilde