river flow. Feet slid over the stones, each time forcing the girl to plunge into the water. Wet clothing nasty stuck to his feet, making it difficult to move. But, she clung to the roots of the trees, sticking out of the ground, hanging over the water along the coastline. The still unhealed wound on the leg, reminded of itself, hitting a sharp stone under water. Twilight, like milk, hung over the river, and Diana could barely discern the outlines of the shore. Her weakened hands slid off the wet roots, and she again fell into the water, got up again and continued to cling to everything that helped her move on. Stubbornly continuing to walk along the coast, she finally saw the outline of the dark collapse of the earth beneath hanging roots.

“Dan, I think I found it,” the girl crawled closer to the interweaving of the roots covering the entrance to the shelter and, with a sigh of relief, called for her brother. But the sound of water, drowned out other sounds, - Dan, now I will take you away. - Diana shouted, trying to shout down the splash of water.

The tiredness and events of the day exhausted her so much that there were no thoughts left in my head. My legs refused to obey, every step was like the last, after which I wanted to fall and not get up. Only stubbornness and the desire to help his brother, to shelter him from the dangers, to ease his pain, to heat, heal, all of this curled up in one tangle deep inside. And she walked feeling only him, not feeling pain, not feeling her own body.

“One more step and one more step,” she urged herself, approaching the place where she had left her brother. Freakish indistinct shadows touched the water and, straining her eyes, the girl peered into the contour of the river, afraid to miss the gentle shore. And suddenly, bringing the splash of water, Diana clearly heard a growl. She shuddered, listening to the sounds. Somewhere very near, ever growing, there was a sound of struggle and, a heavy splash, as if something had fallen into the water, drowned out the sound of the river. A wild howl shook the air. Diana's eyes opened wide when, in a turbulent stream, she saw the white shadow of a wolf desperately beating in the water. The moon, looking out from behind a cloud, lit up everything around, and the girl saw a white wolf face in the middle of the river. Paws frantically beat on the water, looking for support, trying to fight the flow. The stream caught him like a toy, dragging him into his whirlpool and carrying him down the river.

- Deeeen !!! - Diana did not recognize her voice when a cry erupted from her chest, and an angry growl came from the shore again. The girl rushed into the river, not remembering herself, hurrying to help the sinking wolf. The stream picked it up, swirled it and, dragging over the stones, covered it with a foamy wave. Diana desperately beat her hands, not letting herself be tightened under the water, and her eyes, through the spray of waves, searched for the white silhouette of a wolf in the moonlit path on the water. But besides the madness of the river, she could not see anything. Forces left. The river was ruthless, making its way into the mouth and nose, making it difficult to breathe, covering with a wave and not allowing it to come to its senses, again dragging it under water, taking its last strength.

" - It should not be. You are to blame for everything, ”everything screamed at her when Diana's body froze, ceasing to fight, and the bright huge moon disk became uneven due to the movement of water closing over it. The girl looked indifferently at the moon, until her light faded into her blue eyes. The moonbeam slid indifferently into the water, in which white strands of hair flashed like silver cobwebs, plunging deep into the river.

***

The boy was awakened by his sister's scream, he could not believe what he saw. The girl's body, overgrown with hair on his eyes and after a moment, he felt, as with his body, something strange began to happen. The children shouted in one voice, only the cry became more and more like a howl. Minutes later, two little wolf cubs with green eyes, stood at the entrance to the cave under the gaze of the moon, and looked at each other with surprise. Returning to the beach, they saw a man floundering in the river. And, rejoicing in the unexpected discovery, they rushed into the water.

The teeth grabbed the cloth and pulled onto the shallows, pulling the girl's body out of the water. Shy impatient poyavkivaniya, it was barely audible, among the splash of the river. But the teeth were pulled with enviable persistence, not stopping until the whole body was on the shore. Wet nose touched the girl's face, lying on the sand, and green eyes with interest stared at the face of a stranger.

It seemed to Diana that she had a strange dream from which it was impossible to get out. For some reason, the beginning of a sad forehead. And the murmur of water somewhere nearby seemed so unreal.

“- Why is it so hard to breathe? And, the forehead burns. And, the whole body aches. We must breathe and wake up. ” - Something was pressing on her chest, there was not enough air and, not understanding whether it was true or continuing sleep, Diana opened her eyes. Clearing her throat with water, she gasped for breath, but her throat was sore, making it difficult to breathe. Inhale ... more ... the water again rushed out. Inhale again ... there is not enough of it. Once again, the air filled the lungs, clearing the mind. She narrowed her eyes, peering at an obscure spot nearby.

Four green eyes stared at her, and a joyous yelp sounded over her, and the tongue moved with even more zeal on her face. Diana lifted herself, pushing the impatient face away from herself. Next to her, impatiently twisting their paws, there were two wolves, two stupid teenagers, gazing at her curiously. She sat up, and her paws immediately rested against her chest, rejoicing at the awakening. Turning away from the tongue, Diana looked around and, seeing the river, remembered everything. She stared into the water.

“- Dan, well, where are you?” - a voice sounded, causing the heart to shrink in despair.

The nose touched the fingers and the teeth grabbed them with such care that the girl smiled, looking sadly at the green eyes. Seeing a smile, the puppy jumped around her, povyavkivaya from pleasure. Diana's eyes ran along the outlines of the river, and she saw that she was on a sandy spit stretching in the direction of the rocks. Something familiar was in this place. And, glancing at the opposite bank, she remembered the night on the bank of the river, when two wolves lay nearby, guarding her. And the brother was near, and his gray eyes gazed at her intently, forcing him to forget about everything.

“- Black stones. How did I get here? Probably, the river winds here, so the current is slower. ” - From fatigue, the eyelids were increasingly filled with heaviness, drawing them into the world of dreams. She stretched out on the sand, allowing herself to be forgotten. And next to them, buried in their noses, two wolves perched in her body, yawning and settling themselves comfortably. And they fell asleep, clinging to each other, warming the warmth of their bodies.

***

The pack walked, winding for a long time, tangling traces, until the leader gave a sign to stop. Everyone needed a rest, especially the young ones. Twilight covered the forest and, more and more hunger was felt. The roots of the trees sheltered the young and old members of the pack. Leaving the strongest wolves for protection, two groups of wolves left the temporary shelter. Some went hunting, others - in search of a new parking lot. Tension hung over the forest. And only the moon, lit the yellow lights of eyes, wolves prowling in the forest, in search of a victim. The pack was in neutral territory, where lone wolves lived, who would never dare to challenge them. Tags left talking about this. But, even here, it was possible to expect attacks by other packs, to whose possessions they came so close. And the leader understood what this could mean for tired and hungry wolves of the pack,

All actions have long been debugged and, driven by a deer, lost this battle, having failed to avoid the wolf's fangs. They always knew who was wounded or weakened and did not leave a chance to the animal being hunted. And, now, it was necessary to feed the flock, while others did not challenge the right to prey. The carcass of the deer was dragged to the parking lot and, after refreshingly, the wolves settled down for the night. Only the guards and the leader remained to protect the peace of their fellows and, to wait for the return, left for the search of the parking lot, the group.

The leader stood at the edge of the forest, peering at the vague outlines across the river, over which the moon hung. But his thoughts were far from here, where the white-haired little girl, defending her brother, was left alone with the warring world.Shutting his eyes, he again recalled the girl’s tender body, his every bend, unruly hair strands on the wet, from the protruding sweat, his forehead, when she thrashed about in delirium. Her sore, cracked lips, with an incoherent mutter. Vlad, and now, remembered those feelings that seized him when he touched his hot skin with his lips, unable to hold back his desires, when his hands felt the heartbeat in a pulsing vein around his neck. And my eyes could not tear myself away from the bead on the tender chest, which I wanted to press my lips to. And, again, he felt a yearning spreading through his body. Aware and helplessness, and the power of this girl. And, painful longing, covered the wolf, escaping a piercing howl, tearing the silence of the night. This was all that he wanted to convey to her: how his soul hurts, leaving her, which cannot soothe the aching heart, how everything is twisted into a bundle from separation, that she hopes and believes that she will find her.

***

Morning met Diana, impatient fuss teenagers. The girl did not even immediately realize that the boy with the girl who were pushing her on the shoulder were the same wolf cubs who jumped around her at night. And only green eyes, led to believe in what he saw.

Diana looked longingly at the river, which separated her from her brother. But, the children demanded attention, and taking care of the children who needed her support helped her to distract herself from sad thoughts. Having got acquainted closer with the unruly couple, Diana sat her brother and sister in front of her, asking to tell about what had happened. And, interrupting each other, they told her an amazing story.

After hearing their story, Diana thought.

“I don’t even know how I can help you,” the girl clutched to her, trembling little bodies, realizing how much they needed now.

Probably, fate for no reason started this game, throwing it into this place. A formidable black rock rose not far, crushing with its power. And, Diana was again tormented by thoughts about the events of the last days, not giving rest, but she had to act decisively and bravely. There were young shifters with her who understood nothing in this new life of theirs. And Diana herself, who still hasn't really figured out everything, could hardly tell them anything. Need help. And, having looked, once again on the river, she rose to leave this terrible place.

“My brother could help us.” But, I do not know what happened to him. If we can find him, he will explain everything to you, - the girl went around the black mound of stones, deciding to go downstream, hoping to find a brother. And, the children followed her. - Perhaps the search will be in vain, and we will have only one option - to look for the pack of Vlad. - Tosca, suddenly touched Diana's heart, and she closed her eyes, remembering the long-lasting farewell of the leader leading the pack.

“But the question is ... where is the pack?”

***

The pack went deep into the forests, away from the village where Diana's house was once. Far from the usual routes, wolves sent to search for parking, found an abandoned settlement. And, having made a bypass of the territory, Vlad decided to establish a new parking lot here. "Lunar week" completed its cycle. Now, the pack looked more like a small settlement of people settling in their dwelling.

There was still no news from either Diana or Dan. And, Vlad understood the complexity of the situation. He felt that something irreparable had happened, and, having instructed the pack to guard the strongest beta wolf, the leader headed in the direction of the old camp. He left without taking anyone from the pack with him, hoping to avoid bloodshed along the way, because the goal had taken possession of the leader's mind and did not give rest, depriving sleep.