Travelling in the cool night, Evie felt relaxed to be on her own again. Not that she was not sitting by herself on the train - but now she was away from the eyes of the other passengers, and this relaxed her. She no longer felt as though she had to project a front for the benefit of those around her.

She guessed from the amount of time that she had been walking, the sun would be coming up soon and the animals of the woods would start to move around.

At that thought, a loud rumbling erupted from her belly. She had not had the opportunity to have dinner the night before with the flurry of events that had occurred. Plus, she had thrown up the remaining food in her system whilst on the train. No wonder her body was signalling her to seek out breakfast.

After a few seconds of consideration, Evie spotted a tall and strong looking tree. It would be easy enough to relocate it if she left her things there. She extended her claws before jumping up as high as she could and digging them into the trunk causing little bits are bark to fly through the air. Scrambling up she managed to perch herself on one of the lower and thicker branches. Wrapping her legs around it, Evie carefully removed her backpack and shuffle from over her shoulders. Stuffing them against the trunk and sharply angled branch she was satisfied with their security and jumped a few meters back to the ground.

She quickly stripped off her clothes and wrapped them up in her waterproof jacket, conscious of the nip in the air. Ensuring her clothes where safety located underneath another tree - so as not signal anyone that her other, more precious belongings where up the opposite tree - Evie then shifted into her grey and brown speckled wolf.

It had been a long time since she had shifted. Being less dominant compared to other wolves, she did not often feel the urge to release her most primal side.

Shaking out her body and legs, Evie began to adjust to her new form. Looking up, she saw that the sky was a less dark blue than it had been moments prior. Hurrying off, she sought out the perfect position to be waiting in for when the wood animals would emerge from their slumber.

After stalking around, with her stomach low to the moist ground, Evie was finally able to pounce forward and catch a rabbit between her jaws. Quickly, she bit down hard in order to minimise the small creatures suffering. She always had found this part the worst aspect of hunting. Shaking her head she chanted to herself that she was a new Evie - an Evie who would do what was necessary to survive.

After a few moments, Evie was done her meal and her stomach ceased making noises. She hurriedly made her way back to where her belongings were stashed away.

Having shifted back into her human form and slipped back into her clothes, Evie once again headed off in the direction of the Three Mountain pack.

She admired the beauty of the landscape around her as she ascended and descended over several smaller bumps in the landscape. She could definitely see herself living in this environment. Really, she could see any wolf living in this kind of environment - it seemed to call out the most basic needs of her wolf.

It was well and truly morning when Evie spotted her destination at the bottom of the decline she stood atop. The morning sun gently illuminated the small cluster of buildings that could only hold up to eighty people if Evie had to guess.

'Time to meet Alpha Ian I suppose.' Evie spoke to herself before slowly descending. She was not exactly sure where the pack boundary begun but she assumed that it would not be much further ahead.

As she was about to step over a small stream - only about a meter wide - a voice called out to her, making her halt.

'Stop right there. You are about the enter Three Mountain pack territory without permission. You will be captured and punished for such a crime if you proceed.' A half-clothed warrior stepped out from the trees, startling Evie and causing her jump backwards.

'What is your business here?' The intimidating man commanded.

'I have a letter for Alpha Ian of the Three Mountain pack that I need to deliver.' Evie spoke after having recovered from her shock.

'The Alpha does not hold audiences with rouges. Leave now before I make you.' The warrior turned to leave having dismissed the girl.

'It is from his cousins Joanne and Marie. He must receive it.' Evie called out to his turned back.

'Fine. Give it to me and I'll make sure he gets it.' The warrior turned back holding out his hand for the letter, seemingly wanting her to leave as quickly as possible.

'No. I'm sorry but I must give it to him myself.' Evie stood firm in her conviction.

'You do not trust me.' The warrior scoffed at the petite brunette that stood before him.

'Why would I? I don't know you. I would never trust a stranger to carry out such an important task on my behalf.' Evie scoffed back in return.

She was the only person she could rely on anymore. Maybe before the events of the last few days, Evie would have given in and handed over the letter trusting that it would reach its intended destination. But not anymore.

The warrior's eyes became unfocused for a few seconds before he addressed Evie again.

'Fine. But you cannot enter our territory. You will wait here until the Alpha comes. He has meetings for the next hour. And you are not a priority of his. Don't do anything while you wait, because we are watching. You'll be ripped apart if you so much as think about stepping across that stream.' The warrior warned her before retreating back into the trees where Evie could no longer see him. But his threat was real, she could practically feel several pairs of eyes locked onto her every move.

After a silent few moments, Evie relented and put down her bags. She sat down next to them and pulled her water bottle out. Giving it a shake, she sighed realising that she was almost out of water.

'I'm just going to fill up my water bottle. Is that okay?' Evie's question was met with silence. That was as good as a yes in her book. She knelt down next to the stream - it looked clean enough to drink. Gently, she half submerged her bottle into the water watching as bubbles popped along the surface.

She sat herself back down next her bags and leaned back against a tree behind her. May as well get comfortable if she was going to be waiting for a while.

As she waited, Evie didn't think about anything in particular, she just soaked in the atmosphere - even though she still sensed an underlying tone of hostility from the invisible patrol wolves that were no doubt watching her.

'You know I got a phone call this morning.' A voice broke through the sounds of the forest. Evie's head shot up to meet the eyes of who she presumed to be Alpha Ian.

'It was from Alpha Darren of the Emerald Eye pack. He told me about a pack member who deserted and was last seen boarding a train which would bring her into the close proximity of my pack. Imagine my surprise when not even twenty minutes later I'm told that there is a rouge at my border claiming to have a letter from my cousins. Not a coincidence, I think. Evie.' Ian raised an eyebrow at her as he spoke.

'No, not a coincidence.' Evie nodded in affirmation at his train of thoughts.

'Well. Can I have that letter now please?' He asked her politely whilst stepping forward. Evie scrambled up to her feet holding the letter out in front of her.

She waited impatiently as he took his time reading the letter. Every now and again he would scratch his chin or mumble something that she could not hear.

'Right. I see.' The Alpha said as he folded the letter back up. Evie stood up straight waiting for his answer.

'Look Evie. I am so sorry. I can't let you stay here as much as I want to. But if anyone from your old pack found out that you were here... they would destroy us. We are not big enough to fight them back. You are my family, but I have to think about my pack first. And judging from the phone call I got this morning they will come here looking for you.' Alpha Ian said with a look of sympathy.

'What do I do then?' Evie asked him whilst trying to stop tears from running down her face.

'I don't know how to fight them and protect myself. I have nowhere to go, no one to help me.' She confessed softly.

'Perhaps... Do you have a map on you?' Ian asked the girl.

'Um yeah here.' Evie sniffed grabbing out her map and handing it over.

Alpha Ian spread out the map and laid it down on the ground. Pulling a pen out of his pocket he began to make marks over the map.

'Alright follow this path here until you reach a wide river. Then turn directly east and follow the course of the river until you come upon a mountain that is taller than all of the other mountains you see - it should take you about a day to walk there. On the farthest north side of the mountain, you will find a warrior. Tell him that I sent you and he might be able to offer you shelter for a little while. You'll be in an isolated area and not many people know that he lives there, so I doubt that Darren will search for you there. That is all the help I can offer you unfortunately. Now, you need to leave. It's a risk for me to even talk to you right now.' Alpha Ian turned away and retreated back onto his pack lands once he finished explaining the directions that Evie needed to follow.

'Thank you.' Evie said with sincerity before turning on her heels to follow the directions of Alpha Ian. For now, it seemed like her only option left.