Hello Fuzzies!
First of all I want to say it is rare I do writing and this is pretty much a fanfic ending on the amazing story Off The Beaten Path created by  Rukis

After her kind permission she allowed me to create this and agreed for me to post it up. While this little snippet is mine it would be nothing with out her work to start with so please if you have not read or seen Rukis's work before give her icon a click or go directly to the start of the story right here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11578732/

Any feedback would be appreciated, any hate will be deleted

Also needs to be said incase, but spoiler alert

All Characters, Scenes of this Story are copyright to  Rukis I hope you enjoy


It’s Autumn. The leaves and grass of this area have erupted in an array of colours: Reds, Oranges, Golds and Browns. It is a sight I rarely see. Being a UNC Marshal has its perks, but I am mostly stuck to the towns and villages. This place however…. It’s natural, untouched, and part of me thinks, this is how it should always stay, I know my mother certainly hoped so. She told me about this place, where to find it, how to get here. Apparently Aunt Alongsaa brought my mother here just over twenty years ago, but I was just a pup. Still both of them wished that one day I came here…and considering what has happened recently…seemed like the best time

I reached a grove, so peaceful and quiet, seemed fitting. Using the skills Aunt Alongsaa taught me, I looked around the earth. It didn’t take long to find what I was looking for. There next to a boulder, a small mound, and hidden in the grass, a faded silver necklace. ‘Hi…Uncle Grant… I know we haven’t really met but… I’m Roan, Anna’s son, but I guess if you have been watching over us.. you already knew that’ I stepped forward and knelt down ‘I heard so many stories about you, wish I could actually hear it from the dogs mouth, but I understand why I can’t’. It took me a moment to compose myself, it was rare for me to get shaken up by this ‘Just know… you were never forgotten, and always loved. I even took after you, I am a Marshal you know? Mother thinks I look just like you, guess from what I have heard its true’

I looked down at my hands, the soft fur, white underneath but a bright orange dominating above ‘I’m sorry I don’t have much time, got work to do but just know two things. First that… well there is peace between the UNC and what is left of the Native Tribes, seems we pushed in too much’. I reached behind me and pulled out a bow and quiver, my aunts weapon ‘She always kept this in good condition even in her last days and wished for it to be with you, so…wherever you are Uncle, I hope she finds her way to you’ With that I placed her bow by the side of him and smiled, standing back up ‘You just take it easy old man, I will be back to visit soon’

With that I turned and went to leave, a sudden sharp cold breeze stopped me in my tracks. I turned to look again. I thought I heard something, but maybe my ears were playing tricks. As I turned round once more, I saw it sitting in the trees. A Crow, with eyes like fire. He flew down to the boulder raised his wings and with a loud Caw took off into the evening sky

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Cold….that’s what I felt. So familiar yet it felt like an age since I last felt it. I heard Crow in the distance, and opened my eyes, I was in a blizzard, barely able to see but I could make out the edge of a forest nearby. I started to walk, the black crow wings on my back fluttering behind me. As I drew closer to the trees I saw figures coming closer, I knew them, after all my entire path wouldn't be what it was without them

The first I could see was my husband, Methoa’nuk and in his arms my son, Tale’nuk, Still blind but..he looked right at me. As for Methoa, I could still see anger in him…but now also respect

Leaning against a nearby tree, cleaning his rifle, was old Jack. Much like Methoa his eyes were full of respect but also regret, and greeted me with a warm smile

From the branches above, landing by Jack, was Magpie, gun on his back and cigarette in his mouth, just as I always remembered him, even all those years under Grayson didn’t change him

From behind me came two female figures. One a tall well aged Mountain Lion, Veronica. The other, a sharped eyed black furred fox, Shadow. Both these women, now I think on it, were of great help in life. Shadow, the one driving me to my goal, moulding me into a strong woman, and Veronica, who without her help we would have lost all footing years ago

The grumbled sounds of an Otherwolf caught my ears. Appearing from the tree line. Connell.. a traitor, but to his country a hero. Beside him was Rourke…or Xeli as he was known, the tormented soul trying to do right but in the end failed. It was his task I took up. Both of them just took blankly staring at me and nodded in regards to me

To my left, I saw two figures that were hard to forget. Admiral Luther Denholme, and his personal Knight, Johannes Cuthbert. Both of which I met on the Dark Continent. Johannes I have a lot of respect for, his company was pleasant as well. As for the Admiral, I never really warmed to him, but I at least respected his decisions. The two of them regarded me with a bow

A Falcon swooped down landing on someone’s hand, and that laugh was hard to forget. Admiral Grayson Reed. A pig when I met him, a pig till he died, but still a dear friend, even if his attempts to court me never worked….well…maybe once

Finally, right in front of my face, as if they had been there this whole time, my best friends, my family. Ransom and Puck, just as I knew them. Ransom, scar faced and rough travellers gear, Puck with his shamans cloak and pouch, and deep brown eyes. Ransoms arm was draped around the little fox, while Puck was cuddled into his side


All the people who led my along my life’s path were here…well except for one. I looked around the crowd but could not see him. My heart felt like it was sinking. Then Ransom raised his arm and pointed behind me, before he and everyone else faded back into the forest. I turned, at first I could not see, but the blizzard was lifting, and it was then I knew where I stood. The mountain trail, and large jagged rocks. This had been the place I finally opened my heart to him, where I accepted love once again, against those very rocks. It took a while but there, waiting for me as he said he would, with Angel wings, was Grant

I stepped forward to him, tears in my eyes and as I drew closer he embraced me, and I him. He smelt…alive… dirt, muck, earth, how I loved that smell. It had felt like years…but also just days. ‘I told you I would wait, Shivah’ He said to me, wiping away a few of my tears. My hands reached up and brushed through his soft fur ‘Sorry I took so long’ He just smiled, that Husky way that he does, and leant down to kiss my cheek ‘Maybe this time….let me walk with you’ I didn’t argue I just nodded at him. Then as if we read each other’s minds, we kissed, just as full and loving as always our arms fully wrapped round each other, and our wings unfurled doing the same, binding us together. I did not know what would come next, or what road we would walk together. But I do know this. No matter what it was, we would be together, and it would always be…

Off The Beaten Path