The rain fell hard upon his fur, like acid it burned at his deep bleeding wounds. The gash lay deep into his abdomen and the pain so unbearable. It had nearly made him cry out in pain but the shame of loosing had held his tears back. He knew now if he did cry, no one would notice as the rain would cover it up. But his body was too weak to move or cry, the battle had drained not just hope and life from him but also any energy he needed to move. The pebbles he lay on felt so comfortable as a last bed. He prepared to sleep for what he thought would be forever... his last nap in the moonlight, it lit up his dark grey stripe that ran from his head to tail, faint white fur lines ran inside this stripe. As he tried to stay awake his eyelids became heavier. He fought until finally it was over, he was now asleep and as he slept a song played round in his dreams ‘Sleep now my darling, you will sleep forever and dream of the green grass, the smell of fresh air and to kiss my lips again...’ the same song his girlfriend had sung to him the night he’d departed for his battle against his father, from which he would not return! As he slept, he wondered why he had fought and if he didn’t die will he see his love dancing in the sun again?

As these questioned plagued him in his dreams, what he didn’t know was in the dark cave that seemed empty when he arrived was his saviour! A wolf who knew what he wanted so badly at this moment and also exactly what he needed, his one love. She’d followed him and witnessed the battle and behind the trees cried to herself, she could see the hurt and betrayal by a father in his eyes as he screamed out one more time and with a strike took down the one who he had once looked up to. As the pool of blood thickened round his father, the young yet so mature wolf had limped off also just as darkness settled in upon the area. Had it been his pain that had caused the rain? She thought so but at this moment there was no need for ideas of rain she had to nurse him to health... and to tell him just how much of a special animal he was to her, and to show him just how much his love meant to her. Maybe this would make him see he hadn’t fought for nothing, he’d fought for love. But was love going to be enough to keep him tame and away from danger, she wondered as she slowly dragged him into the cave...