Jack held onto Mark's fur desperately with one hand, but his grip was becoming harder to maintain. Resting his head down on Mark's back, he tried to keep himself awake. Watching the werewolves running alongside Mark, that glanced at him with uneasy expressions. In his weary state, he noticed Mark slowing and heard him whine restlessly. Lifting his head, he saw the Pack of wolves lingering around a little meadow clearing that had untouched snow that was sparkling in the light of the bright full moon. Sitting in the center of the green meadow was a figure dressed in a grey wool robe. The light brown werewolf cautiously approached the man and growled softly, drawing the person's calm attention. The light brown wolf turned its head to look at Mark, prompting the person to follow the wolf's eyes before casually getting up. Jack gasped softly at the glowing bright blue hair that was braided down the person's shoulder. The person slowly approached, causing Mark to pace and growl. Other wolves growled at him in warning, calming him enough that the person drew near. Extending a dark colored hand out to Mark's wolf nose, the person hummed something that calmed Mark down.

Running their hand up over Mark's furry head to pat his neck, the person moved closer to Jack and peered at him with bright glowing blue eyes from under the hood. The person's voice was deep and soothing when he told him rather comfortingly. "Don't be afraid." The man touched his fingers to Jack's forehead, filling Jack with a sudden deep relaxation feeling. His body slowly went limp as he drifted to sleep. Catching only the man touching a hand to his wound before his eyes closed. Yet, he felt no pain. He just felt overwhelmingly safe. He had a dream of walking with Mark through the woods. Their fingers intertwined and smiles on their face. It was so peaceful. Just as they stopped to kiss him, a full moon rose, and he opened his eyes. Wincing to the warm light, Jack took in where he was and tensed a bit. All around him werewolves were laying on rock ledges of the cave they were in. Some were even laying on the floor at a distance from them. Next to him was a crackling campfire and kneeling beside him was the hooded man. The man finished putting something on his wound, before pressing his hand to it and informing him casually. "How do you feel?"

Jack looked at the man's hand on his wound, mumbling out timidly. "I don't know... Who are you? Where is Mark?" The man pointed with his free hand, answering curtly. "Your wolf is over there. I put him to sleep like I did for you. Poor guy wouldn't stop pacing and growling at me while I worked." Jack sat back on his elbows, getting a look at Mark's sleeping form. His padded hands and feet twitching in his sleep like he was running after something on all fours. When his eyes met with the man, the man continued with a warm smile beneath his hood. "My name is Dwight. Although, around this Pack... they call me 'Moonchild.' What's your name?" Jack's heart sped up as he excitedly asked him. "You're a Moonchild too? But you look so... different. And... sorry. I'm Jack." Dwight pushed his hood back to reveal his soft features and blazing blue eyes when he chuckled out. "We are all different in our own way. Nice to meet you." Jack blushed a little, mumbling out embarrassed. "I just mean that my hair doesn't... look like that." Dwight touched his braided hair, nodding as he told him honestly. "Yes. It didn't always look like this. However, as I grew more into my power... it just seems to show more."

Jack thought about it, then asked softly. "You can make people fall asleep?" Dwight chuckled, replying nicely. "Yes. And I can do this." Dwight carefully removed his hand and then the cloth to reveal Jack's healed side. Not even a scar was left behind. Sliding his fingers over the healed skin, Jack gasped out. "Holy shit... How did you do that?" Dwight turned his hand over, replying simply. "It's something I can just do. I used to only be able to do it on full moons. Now I can do it once or twice without a full moon. To be honest though. I didn't know if it would work on you. I've only tested it on werewolves so far." Sitting up, Jack rubbed his sliced hand and tried to see if he could do that. Noticing what he was trying to do, Dwight put a hand on his, telling him formally. "Don't think on it too hard. Just let your emotion spark it." Jack tried but still couldn't make it happen. Dwight touched his palm, causing the cut to glow and heal over, before telling him with a smile. "It's hard to do it on yourself. Easier to do it for others. Trust me." Dwight moved the robe away from his neck to show the light scars along his dark skin. Recognizing the scars as a wolf bite, Jack timidly asked him. "Where did you get that? Why are you here? I thought they wanted to... kill Moonchildren?"

Dwight nodded, collecting his medical stuff and bullets that he'd pulled from Jack as he answered grimly. "They do. I'm a prisoner. They keep me around because I can heal them. They are still debating about you..." Jack stared at the many werewolf eyes that glared at him from all around. Shrugging, he asked nervously. "So? Why haven't they killed me?" Dwight sat more comfortably before the fire, regaling openly. "Because of your wolf. He's quite found of you. Attacked an old fling of his for you. Not sure what his fling wanted... but when I put you out, he got really aggressive, and your wolf clashed with him." Jack rolled onto all fours and crawled toward Mark, prompting some growls from the other werewolves. Dwight raised his hands, innocently informing him. "They both are fine. I healed them. First time I've seen him fight the Alpha." Jack put a hand on Mark's side, looking back at Dwight as he said curiously. "Who won?" Dwight stoked the fire, answering coolly. "It was a tie. Zen was called away by the scouting party. Although, some might say that Mark would have won." Jack bit his lip, mumbling to himself. "He did that for me...?"

Jack stroked Mark's warm furry head, watching him go from panting in his sleep to closing his mouth and whining softly. Dwight's voice was almost a whisper, when he told him lightly. "I don't know what you did to him... but I've never seen him so agitated." Jack huffed, telling him with an innocent shrug. "I didn't do anything. We just..." Dwight smirked, looking around at the werewolves before informing Jack seriously. "My father used to tell me to be careful. He'd say that us, moonchildren, were born with a gift. A gift that wolves are drawn too. While some want the taste of the moon to cure themselves and be free. Others desire the company." Jack felt Mark's chest rise and fall under his hand steadily, but asked Dwight softly. "Why would they desire our company more than anyone else?" Dwight flexed his fingers, answering with a small smile. "The wolf spirit they harbor is a restless one. It reflects the soul of the person. Whether good or bad. Both types of the wolf are hungry for something. Moonchildren grant the wolf spirit peace. Whether with their death or with their affection. Just depends on the wolf... as to what they chose to take from you. Or what you chose to give them."

Dwight sighed, adding a bit grimly. "My mother was a moonchild. She fell in love with my father who was a werewolf. To save my father's life. She gave her own to a wolf that came for a cure." Dwight met Jack's eyes, finishing off in admiration. "That was the last time that I saw my mother as my dad took me away. The wolf's Pack closing in on our house... My father was never the same. His spirit was broken. Loving my mother had done something to him. Bonded him to her. Losing her... slowly killed him. But I envied the way he loved her. I see it in him. It's a small spark... but it's there. He's in love with you." Blushing, Jack rubbed his healed wound and just stared at Mark. He already knew that about him, but he just didn't know if he wanted to return those feelings. Mark's padded hand moved across the floor until it touched Jack's leg and stayed there. Petting Mark's head, he slowly leaned in to kiss his warm furry temple. After the kiss, Jack put his forehead down on Mark's, exhaling heavily as he listened to just the sounds of the crackling fire. The world just seemed to fade away, until a loud gunshot rang off in the distance.

Jack jerked his head up and Mark in turn was startled awake. The other werewolves growled, inching closer toward the entrance like they might join the fight. Jack briefly waited for more shots but didn't hear anymore. Turning his head to look at Mark, he couldn't stop himself from smiling. Mark was only looking at him with big puppy eyes. When their eyes met, Mark whimpered so softly before licking his cheek gingerly. Wrapping an arm around Mark's neck, Jack leaned against him and whispered out in a comforting voice. "I'm alright. Thanks to you." Mark's arm wrapped around him, pulling him closer against him. Jack snuggled into his warm fur, until he felt a patch of his fur that was matted and sticky. Pulling his hand back, he looked at his palm and shuddered. Mark's side was soaked in blood. His blood from when he carried him. Mark leaned in to sniff his palm, before snorting and turning his head to rest his head on Jack's shoulder. Jack closed his fingers, asking Dwight just to confirm something. "You said that Mark attacked Zen. Zen is the Alpha? Not Arlynn?" Dwight responded with a light chuckle. "Ya. Zen is Arlynn's rival."

Mark whined softly, but Jack pet him to comfort him. From the way Mark was acting, it made him think that Mark didn't intend for this. Walking over to them, Dwight set down a bowl of hot water and a cloth, telling Jack nicely. "Here. Now that he's up and calmer. Try to clean him up a bit. Blood is a nightmare to remove from fur when it's dry and he won't be changing back for a few more hours." Thanking him, Jack soaked the cloth and coaxed Mark to turn enough that he could start cleaning the blood off him. Mark watched him work, his puppy eyes meeting his timidly like he wanted desperately to say something but couldn't. Giving him a smile, Jack booped his nose and chuckled out. "Relax. We're safe for now, right?" Mark glanced at the entrance wearily but gave him a confident nod. Jack took his time cleaning Mark's fur, then when he finished, he used another cloth to dry him. Mark leaned against him more in more, his padded hands rubbing Jack's sides and arms so tenderly. He was in such a cuddly mood. Setting the towel down, Jack whispered to him sweetly. "Are you ok? You seem... grim. Are you hurt?" Mark shook his head, lifting his padded hands to cup Jack's face.

Jack winced a little at how rough the thick wolf pads on his hands were. Yet, the fur was so silky smooth and warm. Mark kept his thick dulled nails away from Jack's skin, before leaning in to press his lips to his. Jack giggled, pushing Mark back after a brief kiss. Mark moved his hands off him, staring at them with pained expression. Realizing that he might have hurt him, Jack took ahold of his wrists, telling him warmly. "No. Mark, it's ok. I just... Let me see you." Putting his hands to Mark's palms, he wanted to really get a look at the difference between them. His hand felt so small and thin compared to Mark's hand. Allowing his fingertips to bend down over the tips of Jack's fingers. Their hands were so similar and yet so very different at the same time. Turning Mark's hands down, Jack ran his hands slowly up Mark's wrists to his arms. Loving how Mark's silky fur moved between his fingers and the strength in his muscles. Mark tilted his head, enjoying how Jack's hands ran up his neck and up to his soft warm ears. Rubbing his ears a little playfully, Jack saw Mark's tail wag with excitement. Pulling on his ears very gently, Mark tilted his head back and Jack leaned in to kiss a spot under his jaw.

Jack let his kiss linger, feeling Mark gulp as his tail wagged more. When he finally pulled his lips back, Jack whispered to him a little anxiously. "Mark...? Did you really fight Zen to protect me?" Mark nodded, letting out a long whine that sounded like a light 'ya.' Jack smirked, rubbing his nose to Mark's big nose and loving how Mark's tail sprang up off the floor to wag fast and giddily. Jack thought about kissing him again, until a bunch of werewolves rushed into the cave. The largest one dropping a blooded human on the floor in front of Dwight. Jack didn't recognize the man, but Mark let out a distressed yelp. Dwight gasped, getting to his feet as he blurted out. "Oh, shit... I knew this was going to happen... Zen, you idiot..." Jack looked between Dwight and Zen, asking aloud. "Was he shot with silver? Did they use my blood?" Dwight huffed, pressing his fingers to Zen's neck as he told him a bit gruffly. "Both. Your blood was on Mark... Zen fought him... He's not only shot... He's been cured." To Be Continued...