"Kris!"

The werewolf looked up to the call of his name - his new name. He knew exactly who was calling him, but he could not gather the energy to get up and run to the person even though his heart wanted to. He was simply weak. Kris let himself sank below the rippling surface of the hot spring when his body began to grow numb. Why was he so weak?

He watched the bubble rose up to the surface while his body went the opposite way. The air escaping him was also trapped in those fragile looking bubbles. His fingers brushed against one of them, but it did not pop. The shaping bubble simply slid between his fingers and went to join its friends.

Kris blinked slowly when the water began to sting his eyes. He could see something white hovering frantically above the surface.

Must be the owl, he thought. It must be worried when he was falling down like this, but he don't care. His partner, Tao, had already decided to end his life once, so why should he live again? Beside, Tao was probably back to kill him again. He had already gave away his silver color, his symbol of their bond, and Kris himself was beginning to lose his own symbol of their bond with his fading golden color. Had fate already decided their parting?

No.... I don't want to leave him ever again.......

Then why are you doing this?

The werewolf looked up and saw Tao. How could this be? Was he hallucinating?

Tao?

If you don't want to leave me again, then why are you doing this?

Why? Because I deserve this. This was the fate that you had chosen for me.

Wrong. I've never wanted any of this. Be strong Kris. You have to live. For your new pack. For me...

Tao?

Tao slowly turned and disappeared against the rippling surface. Afraid that he might leave him again, Kris kicked and thrashed until he felt the strength returning to his body. As fast as he could, the werewolf swam up towards the surface.

The werewolf emerged, gasping for air. He slowly crawled out of the spring while coughing out some excess water. He was still catching his breath when he heard footsteps closing in.

"Kris!"

Without even having to look, Kris could tell that it was Tao. The footsteps drew closer until he felt a pair of hand lifting him up from the warm water on to what he assume was the blanket he had brought with him.

"Are you okay?!"

Those anxious blue eyes looked at him the way he had never seen before. Was the other afraid of something? Why did he looked so scared?

Tao took a deep breath as he tore the edge of his inner top and began wiping away the droplets of water which were clinging on to his body. As Tao leaned closer, Kris noticed the faint scar running vertically across the other's left eyes. Kris clenched his fists every time the scar became visible. 

You were not okay...

Kris took a deep breath before staring blankly at the dead branches. He could hear Tao repeating the same question again before Kris slightly nodded. Tao sighed in relief before the latter lifted him carefully into a sitting position. From the corner of his eyes, he could see the snow owl sitting on Tao's shoulder. It must have went off to find Tao.

"Come on. Let's head back together."

Tao helped him in to his feet and supported him on his shoulders. They managed to take a few steps before Kris's legs grew numb again. He stumbled and almost fell forward if Tao had not stepped in and helped. Seeing that he could not stand back up, Tao gently lowered him back to the ground and took off his coat.

Kris looked at him in a questioning manner as Tao put the warm piece of clothing over his shoulder before proceeding to strip off all the other clothing non his body.

"Can you put these on yourself?"

Tao asked while handing him the leather pants he was wearing. The Alpha looked the other way as he took the piece of clothing from the now Tao. Even though they were partners, he had never seen Tao in his human form. That moment he recalled that he was a