Meadow’s p.o.v. After I told the Elders about Rebel, Doc ordered them to leave me alone for two days. He only allowed Elder Morton a five minute visit the next morning, because he wanted me to have something to do with my time. I have the books I need for my studies, I told Elder Morton I couldn’t chose between a Renegade Warrior and a Renegade Tech. So, he allowed me to enter both studies. He thinks I will pass my exams to become a Renegade Warrior with my hands tied behind my back. “Goodmorning, Meadow. How are you feeling today?” Doc asks and I smile up at him. “Sick of looking at that face of yours.” I answer teasingly and he acts as if I just stabbed him in the chest. The answer had slipped out the first morning I woke up in the infirmary, but thank the Goddess for Doc’s sense of humor. “Well, that is perfect. I am going to sign your release papers, I think I can’t handle any more of your brutal honesty.” He says as he winks at me. Elder Chelsea is waiting for me, as I walk out of the room I called home for the past two and a half days. Doc gave me the all clear, but I can’t take my Warrior exam until next week. He wants me to be at ease with shifting into Rebel and he wants me to shift every single day. I always thought that only someone that was initiated into a Pack was considered a Pack-member, but I had been mistaken. Being born within the borders of a territory makes you a Pack-member, there are a few exceptions but not in my case and if Alpha Lincoln figures out where I went he can order me to come back. I need to ask the Elders about that, because I don’t want to go back, at least not right now. Maybe after my training is completed, maybe if I feel confident enough that I won’t kill my family or Rufus.“Goodmorning, Meadow.” I hear Elder Morton say and I look up to find myself in his office, once again. “Have a seat, there is something you should know.” Elder Josiah says, gesturing to an armchair. “Did Alpha Lincoln order me home?” I ask as I sit down. “No, it will take a while before he has found any answers. For now, you are safe and even if he contacts us, I will ask him to listen to you first.” Elder Morton says and I know he will do just that. “Meadow, I knew who you were the moment I heard your story. It is a story we have heard from another point of view, but that story found an ending two months after we first heard it.” Elder Morton says and I can tell it saddens all three of them. “Your Mother left with a reason. She wished with all her heart she could have taken you with her, but she knew that you would have a better life with your Father. Renegade territory is no place to raise a Pup and your Mother knew that. River was tested at the age of four to determine if he would be a Wolf or a Lycan and when your Father got the news that he was a Wolf, he rejected your Mother. She knew she was dying, but due to the rejection she didn’t tell your Father. He shortened her life expectancy from eighteen months to two months. She came here to report what had happened and to see her Brother. Your Mother died in his arms and he took it hard when she died.” Elder Morton says and with tears streaming down my face, I listen to the story my Mother told them. I don’t get an answer to the question, why my Father and Brother ignored me? At least no other answer than that it had been that way since the day I was born. And Elder Chelsea tells me that I might never get that answer. What I do get is a new family member, Uncle Major. His story is a sad one, because he couldn’t handle Mom’s death and he has been living in his Lycan form ever since. A part of the territory is marked by the Elders, a warning for everyone in Renegade territory to stay away. “Meadow, I need to ask you for a favor. When you shift into Rebel, I want you to find that territory and just lie there near the border. I am hoping that you and Rebel will be able to pull Major out, that he will finally be able to get control of Arion.” Elder Morton explains. “When can I shift?” I ask, eager to help my Uncle to regain control again. Half an hour later I am standing near the tree line and Rebel is wagging her tail, excited to go for a run. I was warned that it might be painful and that it might take a little time to finish my shift. Well, guess again. My shift lasted less than a second, Rebel pushed forward and there I went to the back of her mind. It is strange to see the world through her eyes, but at the same time it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Everything seems more detailed and brighter than in my Human form, I squeal the moment Rebel start running. It is the most amazing feeling ever and now I understand what Dawson had talked about, when he tried to explain to me what is was like to run around in his Lycan form. Rebel finds the territory that Uncle Major inhabits and after walking around it completely, she lies down on the forest floor. The sun is shining through the roof of trees and we look at everything around us, just waiting for anything. “Meadow, it is almost dinner time.” Elder Chelsea says through the mind-link and Rebel slowly gets up to walk away, looking over her shoulder one more time before heading back to the Elder Residence. For the next week, I shift into Rebel every single day and she runs to Uncle Major’s territory as fast as she can. She lies down in the same spot every time and we keep looking at everything around us, but he doesn’t show himself. I know he might never be ready to face the world again, but I cling to a tiny piece of hope that our presence is what he needs. Whether it is to keep living or to return to his old self, that isn’t important. I think the only thing Rebel and I really want, is to see him every now and then and it doesn’t matter if he will be in Lycan form or Human form. Just something that tells me that I am not completely alone in the world.