He couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t drink. All he could do was think about Silver, whether or not she was okay. She had gone over the mountains on a scouting mission, and he missed her more than anything else. His sleep pattern was completely messed up; sleeping almost all day and up all night. But one good thing was that he checked the borders at least two times a day; early morning and late night. The Pitch Pine Trail scent that clung to his pelt was crisscrossed all of the territory, but he kept mostly to the northwestern borders where he was more likely to run into the love of his life.

Large, creamy paws thudded rhythmically on the ground as he padded around the borders, marking every few feet to make sure that any creature would know not to cross it, or face the consequences of a half-crazy guardian. The Pitch Pine Guardian needed Silver with him, she had been gone too long, and he felt that if she was gone a day longer he’d turn into a corsair; rampaging across the territory and devouring everyone in his way.

Stopping on the edge of the border, Ace lifted his head to stare up at the sky. A new day was dawning, and most of the stars had already disappeared as the sky lightened, but a few still twinkled up above. The way they connected with each other to form shapes reminded him of how much he needed to be with Silver; breathe in her scent, feel her body as he brushed against her, but most of all: just see her with his own two eyes.

A soft whine rumbled in his throat as he looked back down and stared passed the boundary of Pitch Pine Trail. The need to go out there, past the mountain and find her was strong, but he needed to stay with the pack. It was safer that way, for both of them. If he had gone with her, the journey would have taken much longer. Climbing up and down the mountain was much easier for Silver’s agile form, than his bulky mass. He would have just been dead weight.

But the pack needed someone to continually patrol the borders and refresh the markings, and even though he thought of them as family, he didn’t trust them enough to do the job properly. Maybe if they proved themselves by joining each and every morning and night he’d trust them to do it, but so far, none had worked as hard as he did. All his life he had been trained and brought up to protect his family, and when the time came, to lead. It was in his blood to be an alpha, and he also had a willing female to lead beside him. Even is Silver didn’t have the alpha gene in her, he could easily teach her how to handle things and what to do in dire situations. All you needed was a clear head and a sharp mind.

Lifting up his creamy white muzzle into the clear, morning air, Ace let out a mourning howl, hoping that Silver would hear. “If you hear this Silver, my love….Know that I am waiting for you to come home, to come home to Pitch Pine Trail, to me. I miss you so much it hurts. Please come back soon….”

Ace’s heart caught in his chest when he heard a returning howl. It was @Silver. She was home! Excitement and nervousness coursed through his being as he waited for her to arrive. He couldn’t keep still, and paced back and forth, looking up every two seconds. Eternity seemed to come and pass, but in reality, a minute hadn’t even gone by.

Forcing himself to stop pacing, the Pitch Pine Guardian faced the direction her howl had come from, and watched with an almost pained expression on his face. He felt as if he had gone crazy during her absence, but that was nothing compared to what he felt right that moment. Just waiting for her to appear took all of his energy away.

Just like she took his breath away when she appeared.

The moment her form came into sight he heard her yell out his name, just as he did hers. ”Silver!” His voice was thick with emotion as she barreled into his muscled chest. The force of the impact caused him to move backwards slightly, but he immediately started to nuzzle her and cuddle closer to her.

Her scent was intoxicating and just looking and being close to her made him feel alive, and less crazy. Strength poured back into him and he felt as if he could fight a hundred wolves and more without attaining a scratch. At her words Ace chuckled, he felt as if he was a wreck, but upon seeing her, he felt like a new wolf.

Nuzzling her muzzle with his own, he looked into her golden eyes with his own Silver eyes. They were completely the opposite, yet the same. ”I’m fine, now that you’re here.” The Pitch Pine Guardian could see her eyes scan over his body, as if making sure he was healthy and unscathed. Doing the same, Ace froze when his gaze landed on scratches on her muzzle.

A low, hushed growl emitted from his muzzle. Whoever, or whatever, had given her those scratches, there would be hell to pay. Closing his eyes, Ace forced himself to calm down. ”Who or what gave you those scratches?” The words were spoken in a dangerous, yet protective tone. He would do anything to make sure that his Silver Angel was not harmed. But now that she was here, with him, there was no way that he’d ever let her go again.

At his Silver Angel’s soft hushing sound, the rumbling in his chest stopped, but the anger and concern he felt was still there. The Pitch Pine Guardian stiffened when Silver closed her jaws around his. Blinking, he understood her actions immediately and clamped down on his jaws. He would keep silent until she was done, or she told him that he could speak.

When Silver told him that it was a bobcat that had attacked her, the beginnings of a snarl started in his throat, but he forced himself to keep quiet, even though he felt otherwise. His eyes were drawn to the scratches on her muzzle. Even though they would and fade away, he wouldn’t forget. The image was stuck in his mind.

A small sigh escaped from him as his Silver Angel nudged him, he guessed that it was alright to talk now. Oh, he had so many things to say; should he be angry, comforting or concerned? But when she curled up under him by his chest, he scent and touch soothed him, clearing his mind. Gently nuzzling the top of her head with his muzzle, Ace spoke softly. “Provoking a bobcat by yourself was very dangerous, but I admit, I probably would have done the same.” A small grin formed on his face, he was unsure whether he should be smiling or not, she may think that he was paying her out, but that wasn’t the case. It was true, he would have, when he was younger. That danger of attacking a bobcat and surviving was a mighty tale to tell your friends, and the ladies.

Now that everything important was out of the way, the Pitch Pine Guardian relaxed. He lowered his head so that his muzzle was resting against Silver’s shoulder, and sighed softly, closing his eyes. It was peaceful when it was just him and her, with nothing else to distract them. “So….” He ran his cheek along her neck until they sat face to face, and he stared into her golden orbs. “How was your trip?”

The sound of a soft chuckle escaped from the Pitch Pine Guardian at his Silver Angel’s words. If she said it was beautiful over the mountains, then it surely was. But it wouldn’t be more beautiful than herself. She was the most gorgeous entity in his life, nothing could beat her looks or personality.

The corners of his lips twitched up in a smile as she licked his chin, and a soft rumbling purr in his chest expressed his contentment. He could happily spend all day with Silver, watching her, talking to her, just being around her. She was like a drug that he was addicted to.

A curious expression formed in his silvery gaze as Silver brushed herself along his left side, before walking around his body to his other side. Her scent mixed with his, and he could see a wild look in her golden eyes. The look was of charm and danger, and he felt a shiver go down his spine.

When she placed her forehead against his, the Pitch Pine Guardian rubbed his nose gently against hers’, while breathing in her sweet scent. Closing his eyes briefly, Ace listened as she spoke, and only opened them when silence returned once again. “I will never stop loving you, my Silver Angel. No matter what happens, I will be there for you.”

He would be with Silver forever. Always at her side, comforting her in the time of need, assisting her, but most importantly; loving her. The love the Pitch Pine Guardian felt for his Silver Angel went deep down to his very core. Through thick and thin, they would never separate from one another. Not if he could help it.

Ace could think of no other wolf to spend his time with, to care for and to love, she was like no other, a special wolf that had somehow found him, where they could be together forever. He could think of so many things to say to his Silver Angel, but the words just couldn’t out. It seemed that he was tongue-tied. A feeling that he had never felt before in the presence of another, or just in general. New feelings were being experienced, ones that he wasn’t used to, and that he thought he’d never feel in his life. But apparently, he had been wrong.

He gave a quick lick on her chin with his salmon pink tongue, before brushing his neck gently along hers’. Being around her made him feel young and carefree, without a worry in the world. But it didn’t last long. His ears pinned back almost completely against his skull at her words. What did she mean get to know each other a bit more?

The Pitch Pine Guardian was frozen in place until a flick of the tip of her tail from Silver beckoned him to follow her. Unsure of what to say and how to act, Ace followed her, and walked at a slow pace beside her; ears laid back ever so slightly against his skull. He was curious about what she wanted to know about him, and what she would tell him about her. But at the same time, he didn’t want to know.

Looking around at their surroundings, Ace took in a deep breath before looking almost hesitantly at Silver. “What is it exactly that you want to know about me, or tell me?”