Tainted The little hybrid walked to the place that was so familiar from her puphood. Tears still ran down her face. She closed her eyes and it all came back to her. She was taken in by Avril when Tahti couldn't keep her. But Black Plaque wanted to kill her. Tainted was born of Shadow Haunters, so Kalaber's mate automatically hated her. Little did she know, Black Plaque would later kill Tainted's real mother.

She glanced around. She looked at her feet. It was almost the exact date many years ago that she had last been here. She raised her head. There in a large pen was Sophia, the friendly mule. Tears spilling from her eyes, she walked up to the equine. "Hello, Sophia. I'm Tainted. Do you remember me?" She asked shakily. Sophia, wide-eyed, shook her head unsurely at first. But then she noted the colors of the little canine. She could never forget those eyes, even if the pup she had seen so many years ago was all grown up now. "I remember you, Tainted. It has been over two years. What brings you back here?" She was beginning to choke up.

Tainted sat down. "It's a long story. But here's what I can tell you: Many different packs are looking for me. I have word that they want me dead." She lowered her head. "Is... Is it alright if I stay here with you? I won't be a burden and I'll hunt for myself."

Sophia nodded. "Now, now, dear, you are always welcome. You are never a burden to us." She said with a smile.

Lucy left the house to see who Sophia was speaking to. Her jaw dropped. "Tainted?! Is that really you? Wow. I haven't seen you since we were both pups!" True, both Lucy and Tainted were pups last time Tainted was here.

Tainted managed to smile, but she couldn't speak. Not now. She waited for her mate.

Suenga

Suenga had followed reluctantly, the memors of his life swirled like a vortex in his mind. Suenga had betrayed his own family, but he had been the last of the Shadow Lurker family of Fanta's blood to do so. Fanta had been first, unknowingly followed by Arget, and now Suenga. Of course, they didn't know that one another had left the Shadow Lurkers. Only Patch did, and the wolf was true to his blood.

Suenga relaxed, sitting down beside Tainted and looking at Sophia with a weak light, nodding briefly to her. "I...I am Suenga, Tainted's mate." Suenga managed, looking from Sophia to Lucy nervously.