--- 8 Years ago ---
A few months ago, the Cathilon had made their move. They had marched their army into Kenya and attacked with no mercy. Kenya was a small territory that bordered both clans. Bellaroos had gained the territory and held it for years. It was full of beautiful hills and huge mountains passes. Tunnels and caves connected the land, but many of them had collapsed long ago. Kenya had no riches, no tools, and it was not a strong hold. There was nothing about it besides one thing. Justin had long warned the pack of Bellaroos about it. That being it was a straight march into their territory. The mountain pass would make it difficult to push an army back, which made it merciless. The first fighting force in those mountains would be the winner until they found themselves in the heart of the territory. Justin worried it was Tessa considering the destructive force that took the city. If it was Tessa, it worried him greatly. She either got tired of waiting for their army to build back up, or the army had rebuilt itself quickly... to quick. Bellaroos had destroyed them last time and demolished their forces enough to weaken them. This, however, would be a problem. Even without the odds, a loss was still a loss to the pack. Neither of side would back down that easily. Three units had been sent out for this mission. One being his brother's, the second being his and finally their alpha female's unit. Their alpha male had decided to stay back with the main forces while they gained information.
The generals had decided it would be best to split up for this mission. Their main objective, after all, was to gain information and conduct a plan to take back the territory. This would require a small force due to the narrow passageways and open plains. Thus, they had decided to send Alec's unit through the forest while Scarlett's and Justin's unit through the mountains. This would be risky if they were attacked, but it gave them less chance of being spotted. Despite that, it would be an easy mission. Considering this, they had decided to give Alec's unit a few more soldiers, while he took the healer. It made for smoother travel considering less people in a narrow passageway meant less exposure.
The husky's paws moved along the earth slowly as his ears curled forward. The canine listened closely to the world around him, however he could still smell his pack nearby. Blue eyes flickered in their direction, away, and then scanned the area again. It was summer, and the sun was high in the sky. Against his dark coat, he felt as if he was burning. His maw was parted with his tongue rolled out. Drool dripped along his salmon colored tongue as he panted. The thick fur did wonders in the cold, but the closer he drew to their destination the worse the heat became. The only relief were the large trees that gifted him with their shadows. They had not come across water in the few hours they had marched forward. He could understand why no heavy coated animals tended to live out here, but that would not stop the general. He had to push forward. He had to keep moving.
Slowing his movements, he turned and searched for his unit in blinding sun. He soon found a glimpse of them. They had spread out, per his order, to make travel easier. They were in hearing and smelling distance in case of danger. This way, however, it gave them more room to react. No one would be able to circle them into a cage. The only one that followed him was a fluff ball. She was almost as big as he was. Her golden sun kissed curls were tight and curled around big blue eyes that reflected innocence. She was nothing but legs and grace. Unlike the husky, she was playful and curious. The husky had watched her, more than once, bolt off to roll into the dirt or chase after a squirrel. Her tail had never stopped wagging and vibrating. It was hard to be gloomy when she was around. Her excitement and happiness was contagious as the flu.
Shaking his head in amusement, he did not see the bounding leap from the golden doodle. The husky yelped out in surprise as she knocked him onto his back. Yipping like a puppy, she grabbed his ear and yanked against it. He did not care, but pawed at her face playfully. Soon, he rolled, and she took off. He was hot on her tail, barking in excitement. Blue eyes focused on her and refused to let her from his sight as she zapped around trees, jumped over logs, and dived down hills. He simply ran, hard and fast until finally he was able to kick off his back paws. Leaping, he knocked her to the ground only for the two to go rolling again. The golden nipped and pawed at him while he in return tried to pin her.
"Justin!" The voice had both of them freezing at the sound. Justin, the husky, hesitatingly peeked to find Scarlett. Standing with long powerful legs, she was several inches taller with him with refine grace and beauty. Despite her slenderness, it was hidden behind the silk of fur that started off starless black to slowly blend to a smokey grey. Grey locks formed around her light brown face that was washed out by the light colors. White trailed down her chin, and disappeared into her coat before peeking out again along her feet and trail. Well groomed, she looked nothing like the soldiers on the field or a mighty general. She had not earned her respect through skills or blood.
She was above that. She was an alpha. Justin lowered his head and flattened his ears. His tail tucked as he approached her. Common to a greeting, he licked at her chin but Scarlett was not having any of it. Snarling, she snapped at Justin's face and came to stand over him. Instinctively, he rolled over onto his side to show his belly. Giving into her, she leaned down and parted her maw. A deep growl vibrated in her throat as she spoke. "We are on a mission, not to play around. Is that understood?"
Justin sank further into position with each word, but he forced a nod. Out of all the canines he knew, she scared him the most. She had a noose around everyone's throat, including his. One false move, and she would find a way to get rid of those she did not like. Having been put in his place, Scarlett stepped back and turned to the doodle. The husky behind then had rolled onto his stomach and stepped away in the direction of the poodle. Instinctively, he placed himself between the two even if his body was still hunched over. Blue eyes watched the female alpha nervously, unsure if a fight was about to break out. "Distract him again, and I will kill you. Now, come with me."
"Understood." Alissa's voice rang out true as she flickered her tail. With that, the female alpha turned and glanced back wait for other female to follow. Justin's ears folded back in disappointment, but Alissa's quickly nuzzled against her mate. Licking at his chin, Justin could not stop his tail from beginning to wag in delight. They would not be apart for long, however it still did not stop the pain in his chest as she bounded away.
Once alone, Justin whimpered and turned to look forward. The path ahead was starting to narrow. It would make communication a bit more difficult. Perking his tail up, he directed his unit forward but to remain close. He did not want anyone to get lost, mainly now that he was not with Alissa to protect her. He did not trust Scarlett completely. He hoped that she knew if anything happened to his mate... there would be hell to pay. Pulling his lips back to bare his fangs, he kicked off his heels to tear through the grass and into the threshold of the trails. This would be where Alec's unit will be splitting from theirs. They would have to be more careful from now on.
---
Night was beginning to fall before Justin's ears perked up. A soft howl echoed in the quiet announcing their destination was up ahead. They would be stopping to rest for the night before starting their recon mission tomorrow. He was dead tired. His whole body ached. His stomach clenched and growled with hunger. His tongue hung low like his head as he forced his body to keep moving. Why Scarlett wanted them to keep moving when all of them were dead tired was beyond him. Even he, a general, was struggling to keep up the pace. Despite that, he did not miss the sudden crack of a twig. True to the husky's nature, he stopped and tensed up. Shoving his head up, he stood still while his ears begun to swirl around slowly. The sound was close by, but he predicted it was probably a bird maybe a squirrel. Even in a world of beastmen, non-shifters existed. They had many names, but often they were placed in the same category as Ferals. Others called them Brothers, but that seemed to much of a personal name for him.
Despite his thoughts though, something did not feel quite right. If it was a non-shifter, it would have ran by now. The scent was not just right. Pulling his fangs back just slightly, his fur started to stick up as he turned towards the sound. Ice blue eyes glared into the bushes while his feet clawed into the dirt. He was prepared to charge to sink his teeth into flesh of any kind. He was prepared to defend his position.
Nothing prepared him, however, for what poked its nose from the thick bushes. A mouse burst from the thicket and sped passed Justin with lighting speed. On its heels was sandy brown fur that skid to a halt the second yellow eyes landed on the husky. A squeak of surprise pierced his ears before watching the creature flatten itself onto the ground in surprise. The dust clouded their vision for a moment, but when it settled the two creatures locked their eyes in confusion. "Nastasia." Justin's words came out almost foreign to his ears. The feline had grown into a beautiful sandy brown with black tear marks around her yellow eyes. Once so small, she still held a slender figure, yet she had grown in size. It was hard to think of her so large considering she had been the runt of her litter. They had played together all the time since both of them were rejected. He was a half-blood... unpure and vile while she was a runt with no true strength and little bravery. They had become best of friends with little care of what other thought of them.
The memory of the fields and their wrestling was a bittersweet memory. From dawn to dusk they were together... always looking for trouble. They would often go into two and play pranks. Of course, they were often caught, then in turn he would defend her honor. He had gotten a good beating by his parents for that a few to many times. At the time, he thought for sure they would become mates.... then his parents died. His mother was executed while his father... well, he died of grief when they fled. It was not long after that he had found Alec. Justin had never forgiven himself for leaving her behind, but that did not explain why she was here.
Justin silenced his snarling, but he refused to lower his stance. He remained in defense as his ears curled back in concern. His tail, once standing strong and dominate, now wagged behind him anxiously. Even now, he could barely stand seeing her there flatten to the ground with her ears pressed against her skull. Her whole entire body trembled with utter fear. The smell of it burned his nose and left a bad taste on his tongue. For a second, he debated on backing off, yet he was a general. He was a commander of a unit.... sometimes even an army. The weight of his pack laid on his shoulders, which meant... she was now a foe. She had to die.
"J-Justin?" The sound of her voice tore through the cloud of thoughts and memories. Her voice chased away the instinct to remove the threat, but rather he was thrust back into the time he lived with the felines.... when he lived with his mother.
Whining, the male finally sheathed his teeth. His body calmed while ears curled back in distress. Of all of them, why did it have to be her? "What are you doing here?" The words finally left his mouth making her ease just a bit.
Smiling, the feline shoved up onto her feet. She knew better to step closer to greet him, although it was evident she wanted to. "You... You're okay. I heard the reports you left the clan, but..." She bowed her head and shook her skull. "I thought for sure.... that they killed you. I thought-"
"Nastasia, what are you doing here?" Justin pulled his lips back slightly. He needed to know this answer. Were they foes? Friends? He had to know.
For a second, the puma hesitated as she glanced away. Her ears pressed hard against her skull while her tail flickered. Even with her large size, she was nervous... unsure of what she should do. "I... wanted to come I knew you-"
"This is a war Nastasia. Not a childish game. You've seen-"
"I know!" The puma yelled out as she shoved herself to her paws. Her eyes glittered with tears as she stared at him. "I know this is war! I know what I was getting into, but I had to know... I HAD to know if you were okay.... I heard you.. joined them. I heard they took you in, that you betrayed us. You..." Nastasia bowed her head and hiccuped. The sound of her quiet sobbing made Justin weak.
He bowed his head slightly in shame. He had thought he was long over this, but she still gripped his heart. He could not bare to stand her being so hurt. "They killed my mother, Nastasia. I was looked down on, abused for years, and my father... He had to visit my mother in secret. Days in and days out I was reminded that I was only a slave to them. I was an outcast."
"Because you are half-feline half-canine?!" Nastasia snapped her head up and stepped towards him. "Who cares?! I needed you... I needed you, and you left. Why Justin? Why would you join the pack that tore your home land to sheds? That killed our God, Jormungand. Why? Tell me Justin!"
The husky whimpered and lowered his head further. Her words shredded him, yet he knew there was no answer that could quench her pain. "I can't tell you Nastasia. Not yet." Stepping away, he turned himself from her. Keeping her in his sights, he spoke. "Go back before they find you."
"No! Answer me!" Justin flinched as the puma stepped towards him. Pain blurred her yellow eyes. "Please. Tell me why."
Justin did not answer right away. Instead, he stood there as he looked ahead. He knew he should not be letting her go, but he wanted to do this last thing for her. He wanted to give her just one more gift to her. It was only when he felt her brush her face against his side that he was able to answer her. "I can't tell you yet, so please... wait for me. One day, I will be back for you." Glancing to her, he tilted his head to the side. "Unit then, I will let you go, but know this. If we meet on the battle field again, I will have no choice... but to kill you."