Lukai's POV

I tossed my head as I paced in front of Bo, conflicted and frustrated. "I still don't understand how we managed to lose her! She was right behind me while we were running!! And what did you say you promised her again?!"

"Answers!!" Bo snarled, "the exact thing I wish I had!! Do you realize that you haven't once told me why she's so important that we have to go to this much trouble for her?! You've been leaving me in the dark with nothing to do about it but guess, and I have no clue what to think anymore! You could have feelings for her for all I know; she could be your cousin or some part of your past!!"

I inhaled sharply at his retort and hurt look, stopping in front of him with confusion and concern shining through my face. "You really think I wouldn't tell you if it was something like that? Bo, we've known each other for so long, you must realize that I wouldn't do something like that."

I looked down with a sigh, slowly returning my gaze to his. "I've been trying to leave you in the dark, yes, but it's because my reasons are dangerous. If you knew you'd wish you didn't, and we'd be in twice as much danger as we already are. But you should know by now that there's no way I could continue trying to keep her safe and with us if I didn't know her or she wasn't extremely valuable, and clearly it isn't the former if she wasn't able to recognize me when we first took her."

Stepping back and looking him in the eyes, I could see Bo's struggles with the information I'd given him through the confusion and concern lacing his gaze. "You really scared me Lukai," he confessed, breaking eye contact to gaze worriedly at the leaf mulch littering the forest floor. "I thought I'd lost you, and that I wouldn't be able to keep my promise, and not having you here to plan the rescue was more terrifying than anything I could've fathomed, even going back to the mountains. It was..." he trailed off, voice threatening to break, "I don't ever want to have to go alone without you."

Bo's dark brown eyes met mine, a few tears making their way through despite his earlier attempts at holding them back. I stepped up to him and rested my muzzle over his shoulder and allowed him to pull me into his stomach, an arm gently but securely wrapped around me. His own muzzle buried itself in my fur and I shuddered slightly at the contact, reluctantly letting him take comfort in its fluff. "It's alright now Bo," I whimpered to him. "I'm back, and I'll do my best not to leave you again."

His only reply was a sniffle, before he removed his arm from around my muscular form and stepped back again. Our eyes met again and I gave him a gentle smirk of reassurance. "I was more worried for you than me, honestly Bo. I've escaped the patrols before; I was nervous your rescue attempt would get you captured along with me instead."

We both chuckled as he shook away the tears that had slipped out, regaining his composure and giving a more serious expression. "But really, she wouldn't have left us after going along with the plan to get you out of there; it just wouldn't make sense. Either she was somehow caught by the wolves or..." he trailed off before realization dawned on him. "She was caught in one of the traps!!"

With furrowed brows and head tilted I watched as Bo began to pace in front of me, the roles now switched as I waited for an explanation. "Traps??"

"Yes," Bo confirmed. "Traps. Why do you think one of the first wolves to run off howled if they hadn't found her? We set traps for them as a diversion, in the panic of our getaway Mia must've missed one and gotten herself stuck; she could still be there if the patrol hasn't found her yet!! We can go back Lukai, we can find her again before they do!!"

Bo's earlier fear seemed to disappear in a heartbeat, replaced by his new excitement and determination at having a new goal in mind. I stared at him for a moment, wondering if I should let his false hope live out before deciding against it and shaking my head. "Bo... that's not a good idea. We barely managed to get away this time, going back could get us recaptured. Are you really willing to risk that again?"

He halted his excited pacing and faced me with an incredulous look in his eyes. "Are you serious right now Lukai?! You just told me that she's extremely important and now you're going to leave her where she can fall into the paws of the wolf empire, the same group we've been silently working against for so long?! She helped me get you out of there, and she'd be here now if things hadn't played out the way they did! Clearly Mia wouldn't leave you behind; she came up with most of the plan to get you out of the patrol's claws for Rhin's sake!! And I promised her she'd know what's going on even if I myself don't; I'm not about to break another deal!! I won't leave her behind Lukai!!" he snarled, a fierce light glaring in his irises and a glare covering his features.

The heat of his anger and absolute betrayal at my words made me step back in surprise at the change in his emotions. "Bo, you hated her! You wanted her gone for so long, why are you suddenly determined to get her back?! Wouldn't it be so much easier to forget about her and leave her to the pack?!" I growled in rage, fur beginning to spike along my scruff.

Bo shook his head, his own pelt beginning to bristle in response. "You should know by now how my loyalty works, Lukai. I'm not leaving her behind, not now. At least we have our lack of understanding in common; it seems you refuse to give either of us any more answers."

With the final growl he took off back the way we had run, crashing through the underbrush and leaving me to my silent rage. I turned to howl after him before halting myself and merely swiping my thick claws into the damp mulch, the resulting squelch leaving a feeling nearly as unpleasant as my inner turmoil between my toes. I looked up with an exasperated sigh before, reluctantly, padding silently after my friend.

Please let me know how this is; sorry there's not much action ^^;
-Cavy
(4/8/18)