Tulip now had every pack member on her side. Now it was time to keep her end of the deal. She slowly swirled her aura around them, and they grew strong. They felt it. And they looked it too. As if they were always fed and healthy. But Tulip had felt bad for the old alpha. She had sentenced him and his family to an eternal punishment in the Dark Zone. It was where Nightmare lived. Tulip didn't know what Nightmare did to punish souls, but she knew, it was gruesome.
Tulip felt Nightmare in her. She knew she was there since the laboratory. It felt like her stomach was always being pulled down. Tulip was used to the heavy feeling, but it seems to bother her since the punishment.
She felt... hungry. It wasn't a good feeling. This wasn't like starved hunger either. It was something else. But it felt like hunger. The darkness inside her must have wanted more. It was the only thing. She only felt it after punishing Dr. Cresen. But he wasn't important to Tulip. Her pack was, however.
The pack didn't know what to do either. Noah was in the cave with Tulip, and they weren't sure if they went on like every day or if they should wait for him to come back out.
"What am I supposed to do Tulip?" Noah asked Tulip pacing around the cave. Tulip sat on a rock, thinking that same question.
"Well, I need to get back home. Why not go with me?"
"Sure, how far it?" Noah continued pacing.
"Across the ocean."
"The ocean!" Noah gasped, "If it was across the savanna sure, but the ocean. Come on Tulip! How did you even get here?"
"I swam to Europe and flew here."
"Flew? How on Earth did you fly here?"
Tulip stood and, with a gust of wind, changed into Air, "This is how I flew. Noah, I'm not human, remember?"
"Oh right. I just thought you only had one form. Not two."
"I don't have two, I have many. Grass, Water, Fire, Air, Ice, Electric, Ground, and Dark."
"Is that it or is there more?"
"I don't know. I feel there is another though."
"Another? What's that?" Noah had stopped pacing. He had to listen to Tulip to understand this.
"Like I said 'I don't know'." Noah sighed. This was a lot to take in, but he had to let it sink in. This was his life now after all. There were more things he'll have to get used to.
Noah walked out of the cave. He was going to confront his pack about this. And to his surprise, all of the pack was waiting there already.
"Okay, here's the deal. We're going to be traveling over the ocean to Tulip's home. 'No dog left behind' she said. This means this will be the hardest thing we've ever done," Noah notice that he had everyone's attention, "Tulip said we can take as long as we needed, but we'll learn to do things differently than what we're used to. Is everyone okay with this? From now on we'll be a pack that makes decisions together."
Everyone in the pack nodded in agreement. This was going to hard if no one speaks up and only agrees.
"Listen you don't have to be scared of Tulip. She wants to be our friend, but that will be hard if no one puts in the effort. She is nice. After all, she did save a life."
"And ended three!" one dog barked in the crowd.
"Yes that is true, but she made her point clear. We should stick together and not pick sides."
The pack quietly talked among each other. They were trying to come to an absolute agreement.
"We, as a pack, agree to the terms of Tulip requests," one dog barked.
"And we shall continue to," another dog said, "But we do fear for our lives, so how do we know if we're safe or not?"
"Easy. Tulip made her terms clear: betrayal equals death. That is all. Nothing else."
"But what would be decided as betrayal?"
"Tulip made that clear too: Fighting me equals betrayal. And I've talked to her. Leaving the pack doesn't count as betrayal. It just means you need to on your own, and you can return to the pack at any time you feel you're ready."
The pack talked amongst each other again. Now knowing the terms more clearly helps to make a better decision.
"We're in agreement. You may lead on. Even across the ocean." Noah was in awe. He thought was that this would be more challenging.
Tulip walked out of the cave. "Are we all in agreement?" she asked Noah.
"Yes. Yes, we are."
The pack started out the next day. This was going to be a long trip. The needed to rest, but they were informed that they were leaving early, dawn to be exact.
They traveled fast. No one was left behind either. Even if they had a hard time keeping up. Tulip didn't want to rush anyone.
"So do you know what this place we're heading to is called?" a dog named Miley asked.
"Yes. It is called America by the humans."
"Oh. So I guess the 1930s are going good for them."
"It's 1930?" Tulip really did have a bad sense of time. Years flew right past her as if they were seconds anymore.
"Well 1936, to be exact."
"Wow! Are you keeping track?"
"No. But the last humans I've seen said it was 1936, so I guess it's 1936. Why do you ask?"
"Last I checked it was 1376."
"Wow! You really aren't human!"
"Yeah. And since I'm immortal I just lose my sense of time when I'm alone. But when I'm with others time slows down."
"Wow. So you miss things others don't?"
"Yeah. It doesn't bother me though since I don't care much for the humans anyway."
"Why not?"
"I trusted someone I just met and he used me for my powers. It was then my dark side was born and I tore down the building creating a pit of water that he is forever trapped in. No one will ever see him, but he will see time go by without him."
"That's sad. But in a way that's your punishment too."
"How so?"
"You can see that times go by and you're not even a part of it. It's like you're meant to be alone for all eternity."
"Well, I don't want to be alone for all eternity. That's why I wanted to join your pack. And when I said that it just hit me that you all needed me too. You guys were sick and weak, and I doubted you would have made it without anyone dying."
"Huh. Not really a bright-side person huh?"
"No, I guess not."
While Tulip and Miley talked Noah was listening. He was pitying her. But at the same time, he understood how she felt. He was basically alone in his pack and wanted someone there for him. But listening to what Tulip had to say about her past showed that it had to be fate that brought them together.
Noah walked at the head of the pack. Tulip and Miley behind him. And the rest of the pack behind the girls. It was a good day too. They had a good hunt, and no one went to bed hungry.