So, last night, I had this great idea! I was going to write an AU, and it was gonna be great! I got the first part planned out, got the ending scene written, and then..... I forgot what I was going to do. So, I have a new idea! I know I'm not the best writer in the world, so if you hate this idea (and/or my writing) just let me know, I won't be offended, and I'll stop posting them. So, I think it's the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who that says: "Whenever you make a decision, an alternate universe is created" or something like that anyway. So, over the course of the series, a lot of characters make big decisions that impact the rest of the books. So here's my idea: I'm going to write AUs for some of those decisions. Like I said, I'm not the best writer, so they'll probably be pretty bad, but here's the first one, which was also my idea from last night.

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1: A Dilemma

Helmer the black stood chained to a tree watching the terrible scene unfolding before him. His division- those young bucks he had cared for like sons- all of them were dead. Gone. His king was about to be murdered. And Helmer could do nothing. He felt so useless. He had failed his king, and his unit, and all of Natalia.

And then Garten came to him. “Well, Lord Captain Helmer, it seems you’re in quite a predicament.” Helmer growled. “If you want a fight, Longtreader, I’ll give you one.” Garten smiled evilly. “Oh? But it seems you’re a bit stuck right now, my Lord.” He bowed mockingly, then stood to look Helmer in the eye. “If you want to die fighting for your king, then use your famous blade and cut down this tree, or else take off that strong arm used to win so many battles.” And with that Garten walked away, conferring with the lead wolf. And Helmer stood, chained to a tree. His king lay on the ground under heavy guard. Too many for Helmer by himself, without his unit. But then the oath he had given his unit every day flashed through his head. My arm for the cause and crown. My all for the cause and crown He glanced down at his arm, then drew his sword. My arm for the cause and crown. And without a second thought, Helmer the black cut himself free of his arm. “My place beside you! My blood for yours! Till the Green Ember rises, or the end of the world!” Jupiter’s head snapped up, and he grabbed a sword from one of his startled wolf guards. Helmer stumbled, almost fell, but pushed himself toward the nearest guard. “Go, your Majesty!” Another rabbit swept in from the trees above, swinging his battle axe, decapitating two wolves as he did so. “Helmer’s right for once, your Majesty! We’ll deal with this one. You need to get back to First Warren!” Jupiter nodded reluctantly as Stam beheaded another wolf. The last Jupiter saw of Stam and Helmer was the two warriors standing back-to-back fending off the wolves, buying him time to escape.

Heather leaned against the cold stone wall, shivering as snowflakes began to fall, settling softly on her fur. She gazed up at the night sky, at all the brilliant stars dotting across the sky. The door behind her opened, and she heard familiar footsteps as someone crossed the porch to stand beside her. “Heather, it’s cold out here. You should be inside.” Smalls sounded concerned, and he pulled her into his thick cloak, letting her lean against him. Heather smiled at him and he smiled back, wrapping his arms around her, and then she asked the question that had been playing in her mind for the last hour. “Smalls, do you ever wonder what it would have been like if-if your father had lived?” Smalls looked at Heather and then pulled her closer. “Sometimes. I used to wish he could have been there to see the first time I disarmed Wilfred, or the first time I shot a bow, or if he would approve of the decisions I was making. And then I realize how different everything would have been, that we- you and I, that is- probably wouldn’t have had this-” Smalls gently rubbed Heather’s ring-”And I know that I wouldn't want it any other way.” Heather nodded, a smile on her face. “Me neither.” Smalls grinned, then gently pulled her toward the door. “Come on. It's cold out here, and they probably want us inside anyway.” Heather looked up at the moon once more before letting him lead her inside.

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So there you go, the first example of my awful writing! Please feedback, and tell me what you think of my idea. I'll also take suggestions for which decision to use, there's so many! Thanks! ~Mae