Lightbringer
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Autumn trotted through the woods. She could smell foxes, along with a tinge of... a strange smell that she'd never smelt before. It smelt fresh and iron-like. It smelt horrible, almost like a decaying animal corpse. Autumn knelt close to the earth. The dirt comforted her by trying its hardest to get rid of the horrid smell. She shoved her nose into the earth to clear it. Her mind was buzzing with a ton of ideas on what to do, all while her brain told her paws to stay in that place, and not to move. Her heart beat fast, and her mouth became dry, as she realized the distinct odor. It was wolf blood.
.---___---.
She sprinted toward the smell on light paws. She wanted to surprise the wolf's attacker. She crouched down. She panted quietly. What to do now, she had no idea. Her Sire and Dam would get mad at her for being smothered in blood if she helped. But Autumn also knew that she couldn't leave a wolf dying. She had to help. "Hey!" She barked. There was a startled noise---one of panic and fear. "Hey," Autumn yowled again, more kindly. "It's going to be alright," Autumn called and paced out into the forest clearing. There he was. The injured wolf had three, deep wounds that gushed out spurts of blood every time he went to speak. He was brown and tan, with a black stripe down his snout. "Don't hurt me! I promise I'm no threat!" Oh, but how he was ever wrong. He is a Darkseeker—the evil. Autumn was a Lightbringer. The good. They were two different things. Autumn bared her teeth and moved into the dominant stance. She pushed her ears back and glared at him menacingly. She growled, and said, "What are you doing here, villain?".---___---.His name was Moose. He was almost a ginger color. His fur was the color of a shade of beautiful ochre, and his eyes sparkled with delight since the day I saw him. And now I can't get his handsome image out of my head. If my Dam and Sire found out about my mysterious disappearances to go and give him food, I would be caught helping a Darkseeker, probably punished, but thrown out of the Lightbringers. That would be the end of my Dynasty. The end of my life. But as long as the Alphas and my Dam and Sire didn't know, I would be alright. I would be okay. And so I didn't know that the day that I was about to confess my feelings for Moose, my Dam, and Sire had already found out about him and me, and so they caught me slipping away through the forest with a rabbit dangling from my jaws. .---___---. My Dam, Dawn, confronted me before I even knew what was happening. By her side was my Sire, Oakley. "What are you doing in the middle of the night out of our territory, Autumn? You know you could get hurt by Darkseekers at this time of night." Oakley spoke up. "Yes, your mother is right, Autumn. It is clear that it is dangerous outside of our territory, so no wolf is allowed outside at this time. So what makes you an exception?" .---___---. Autumn winced at his sharp tone and stared down at the ground. How could she lie to her parents and get by? How could she make up a believable lie? "Are you going to answer us, then?" Oakley demanded harshly. "She was helping me regain my strength. Is that so wrong?" Autumn looked towards the voice that spoke. She knew who spoke already, from the moment he paced into the forest clearing, and stood tall despite his injuries. Autumn felt tears spring into her eyes. She blinked fast and hard, trying not to cry in front of her Dam and Sire. She had to show them that she was strong. .---___---. But her Dam and Sire were sad and agonized when Moose and Autumn decided to run away and formed a pack of their own. Side by side, lovers and lovers forever. None of their parents got in the way of their marriage, and so they were a happy couple. They were a safe family. One day Autumn walked up to Moose who was contemplating what they were going to hunt for dinner next, and she sat down beside him. He looked up and gazed at her with his handsome eyes and said, "Yes, my dear?" Autumn huffed a sigh and looked down at her paws. "I think I'm ready, Moose." "Ready for what?" "Pups." .---___---. It was the middle of the night. Autumn huffed. She closed her eyes with the pain. She was having her pup. Whichever gender it is. Moose wrestled with the pack to go by her side. Once he reached it, he barked for Moose and me to have space. Light carried out Moose's orders and ran away to fetch water for me at Moose's command. By the time he came with a leaf full of water, I had already had my pups. One was a sandy yellow, with green, brilliant eyes. The other was a reddish color--close to brown. The next one...was special. She was red and beige, with tiny splotches of ochre and brown from Moose. "What will we name them, Autumn?" Autumn sighed quietly. Can't she just rest for a moment? "What are you thinking, Moose?" Moose looked away and thought. Then he finally said, "How about...Fire, Dakota, and Rusty?" Autumn shook her head violently. "Perfect. But...the name "Fire" is way too aggressive. Try...Firefly." .---___---. "Here you go, Ma'am." Light said and let down the leaf gently. Autumn nodded gratefully, her throat hoarse with whimpering. She gulped down the cold water and felt refreshed. For the rest of the night, she cleaned her pups and slept in the nursery. 1 year later. Autumn was woken up by Night. She was an Omega at the time. She poked Autumn until she was on all four paws, bowed deeply, and began the "Higher rank speech ritual", which was about permission to speak to a "Wonderful" higher-up. While Night was halfway through the ritual, Autumn noticed Night was on edge. She was nervous about something. What was it? Night also had traces of fear buried within her eyes, which made Autumn curious. "What is it?" Night jumped at Autumn's irritated voice. "Sorry, Your Majesty," Night whimpered unsteadily. "What is it?" Autumn asked again, a little more kindly. "It-It's your husband, ma'am. He...He's gone." .---___---. Autumn strode out of her den, all signs of aggression showing. Her hackles were raised and alert. "LIGHT!" She howled. Light ran swiftly up to her, stopped, and bowed deeply. Before Autumn could begin, Light spoke first. "Listen, Your Majesty. It wasn't anyone's fault he died, we all tried to save him, but the enemy forces had a plan to manipulate us into not fighting by his side." Autumn looked away and growled a deep, menacing growl that you could almost feel in the air. Light shrunk against her vicious stare. "I know. You're the only one who is trustable, here." Light looked happy from her praise, but also a little lethargic. "Ma'am...your whole pack is here for you. We all trust them." Autumn stiffened. "And who's we?" She demanded harshly. "Well...the whole pack. You're a great leader. But...they said something else." .---___---. "MOOSE IS ALIVE!?!?" Autumn roared. She thrust Light to the ground. He yelped with pain but dared not move under his Alpha's gaze. "Your Majesty, they said they'd give him to you for two things.", "Which is? Trades are always horrible. They always backfire. What do they want now?" Light cleared his throat nervously. "They uh..." He trailed off as he saw the rest of the pack gathering around Autumn and Light curiously. "They WHAT? Speak UP!" Autumn shouted impatiently. "They want Rusty and Dakota." Autumn stopped breathing. She stared at Light, completely emotionless. "They...what?" She whispered. Light's eyes began to water, as though he could feel Autumn's pain himself. "They...uh...need your two pups, Dakota and Rusty." .---___---. "Take them away. I'm not going to give them myself. I might as well tear that Darkseeker pack to shreds." Granite looked to the ground. "But you trust me enough to bring them there..?" Autumn turned back around since she had her back turned to Granite. "Are you giving me a reason not to trust you?" She snarled. "No--Not at all!" Granite stammered and pawed the ground anxiously. "Hmph. Can I trust you?" Granite showed no fear as he looked Autumn in the eyes, and spat, "What do you think? I helped you establish this pack. Do you not think that I want this enough?" "Well, apparently you all don't." Granite turned his head sharply away. "So you think we're traitors?" He sounded genuinely curious. Autumn growled a sign for him to stop talking. .---___---. Rusty, Dakota, and Firefly were sitting by the Healer's Hut sharing rabbit and they chatted happily. Granite paced over, tail down. "Um, Yes? What do you need, Granite?" Firefly asked. Rusty and Dakota stopped talking and looked over at Granite. "Uh, yeah, about that..." Rusty cowered closer to Dakota for reassurance. He could tell something was wrong from Granite's demeanor. Granite vibrated with uneasiness and sadness. "Yeah, um, can I...talk to Dakota and Rusty, please?" Firefly stiffened at the thought of her brothers leaving her. "For what is the purpose?" She demanded kindly. But Granite already had a plan because he knew that Firefly was going to do this. "It's about your mother." Firefly stood up. "If it's about mom, then I should know. I'm also her pup. It's not just Rusty and Dakota. Why can't I know too?" She growled. Granite rolled his eyes in his head. Firefly is so defensive. But sometimes that's good in a pack because they can tell when a wolf is lying--That's not good. Granite swallowed nervously. "Because it doesn't involve you.", "If it's about my mother then it inv--", "It's not about you!" Granite barked. He was tired of her poking and pushing him because she was a Beta. He'll have more respect for her when she becomes wiser and makes sense for once. Sometimes wisdom defeats rank, and it had done so this time. .---___---. Firefly ran into the warrior's den, crying her heart and soul out. Granite took Rusty and Dakota on a hunting patrol, and they didn't come back with Granite. It has been two days. Where have they gone? Could they possibly have gotten separated from Granite and got lost? No, because Granite was gone for a long time before their disappearances. Could he have...murdered them? Firefly stood up, shaking, as she knew exactly what he had done, which explains Mum's vicious behavior. Her blood ran with hot fury. Granite would now see the end of his life. .---___---. Firefly threw Granite to the ground. He winced with pain and dared to get back up. Firefly thrashed at him with teeth and claws, managed to tear his ear, and made him have a bleeding nose. The pack crowded around, wanting to see what was happening. Light and Coyote ran up to Firefly, attempting to hold her back. They had succeded until Autumn arrived. Autumn glared dangerously at Light and Coyote, and spoke in a slithering voice, "Don't. Touch. My. Pup." With that tone, they backed off immediately, tails between their legs. Autumn snapped her head toward Firefly. "What is the matter here?" Firefly held Autumn's gaze defiantly. "Have you not noticed? Where's Rusty and Dakota?" The pack gasped in realization. "Granite...you took them...away..?" Night asked hoarsly, as though she were about to cry. "Where did you take them?" Dusty demanded urgently. She was once a mother, and so she had pain in her heart for hearing this. Autumn closed her eyes tightly, and reopened them before saying, "I sent them away to get Moose back." Shade, an Omega, asked curiously yet still politely, "But your Majesty...don't you realize that Moose is... deceased?" .---___---. 2 Days after the Battle against the Pack across the River Light walked out of the Warrior's Den sleepily. His stomach growled hungrily. "Aw, are you hungry, Light?" A wolf teased. Night strode up to Light casually, and dipped her head in respect. "Morning to the Zeta Male!" Night laughed and bumped him with her rear end playfully. Light pawed her head. "Morning to you, too." Night paced in front of Light to stop him from moving any further. "What are you doing?" Light asked. He sidled sideways, trying to go around her. Night tipped her head and moved to block Light's path. "You seem a little off today. What's the matter?" Light sighed. His stomach grumbled again. "Can we talk about this over breakfast?" Night nodded thoughtfully. "Sure." She answered. .---___---. "So the plan is to..." Night said. "Talk to them. I'm going to apologize." Night looked confused. "But why? Shouldn't that be Autumn's job?" Light nodded. "Yes, it should. But we both know that she isn't about to do that any time soon. And as second in charge, I feel that it's my responsibility, you know? If I don't..." "Then it's not the end of the world," Night cut in. "Well, It makes me feel better to apologize than to cower while our leader rages around the place fighting packs not meant to be fought. For instance, what did the pack across the river ever do to us? Nothing! That's because they're Neutral and won't want to harm Darkseekers and Lightbringers." Night rolled her eyes. "Softie." She murmured. .---___---. Light darted swiftly through the bushes. He trotted stealthily into a semi-covered field with the Quiet River separating the borders in the middle. He slowed his pace and stopped. He pricked his ears. He sat down with curiosity, not bothering to hide himself. A wolf that looked like rust ran for the Quiet River. Tears streamed down its snout. Light heard muffled yelling, but couldn't make out the words from where he was. Suddenly the rusty wolf dove into the water. Light tensed. Didn't the wolf know that the Quiet River isn't so quiet? It's full of riptides and fast currents that could sweep you under in a heartbeat. The rusty wolf must have realized this because it started thrashing in the water violently, and was swept under. Light began to sit up, but before he even moved an inch, a wolf raced to the River's edge. This wolf looked identical to a fox and had two beautiful blue jay feathers on its ear. It dragged the rust-colored wolf out of the Quiet River and brought it back to shore. It glanced over its shoulder and saw Light. The sun shone on Light's back and then vanished. Light bolted to a shady tree-covered area, and waited until they had gone. He leaped over the River in one bound and chased after them. Little did they know that Light was friends with Riverian. .---___---. "Your Highness," Light snuck up on Riverian, and bowed deeply. Riverian, a silver male, spun around, hackles raised. He growled, stopped halfway, and gasped. "Light! Why on earth..?" Light flicked his tail for Riverian to be quiet. "No one knows I'm here," Light whispered. "But there's a wolf I want to meet." Riverian nodded. "And who is that?" He asked with a glance over his shoulder. "That fox-looking one, and the rust-colored one." Riverian looked confused then shook his head with realization. "Oh! You mean Foxfang and Flameflash." Light got up from his bow and sat down. "Yes. I tracked them. They'll be here in about a moment. I have a question before they get here," Light continued, "Which is?" Riverian prompted. "Do you think that they'll be good together?" .---___---. "Indigo!" Riverian turned around and called. A beautiful beige wolf trotted casually yet dominantly up to Riverian. "Yes? What's up, sweetheart?" Riverian stepped forward and rested his head on her shoulder. "Before you do anything, I will have to ask you to not be shocked and yowl, okay?" Indigo confusedly nodded slowly and licked Riverian's muzzle impatiently. "C'mon, c'mon! Now you got me excited!" Riverian twirled around and whispered in a steady voice, "Okay, Light. You can come and see my mate now." A handsome white wolf that shone like snow in the bright sun stepped out from behind the cranberry bushes. Indigo shrieked but was cut off by Riverian wrestling her quietly. "Riverian! What the heck are you thinking? That's an intruder!--", "--With a careful purpose. And no purpose to attack or spy." Riverian cut in. .---___---. "Something is happening. I need to see the great ancestors." Autumn paced quickly out of her den, mumbling to herself. Light and Night were at her sides. Night was leaning against Autumn's shoulder, comforting her. Light trotted at the rear, ready for direction and alert to protect his leader. Autumn stopped. She spun around. Light stared at her, calculating her every move. Night stood beside Autumn, and glanced a worried look at Light. "Are you traitors?" Autumn asked normally. She wasn't aggressive. Light and Night looked taken aback. They were ready for a painful question. Light locked gazes with Autumn. "No." Night and Light said at the same time. "I love you guys," Autumn said and turned around. She bolted out of the camp entrance, and ran as fast as she could, for the Rolling Mountains. .---___---. Light took Coyote, Dusty, Crimson, and Spark on a patrol. Light was trotting in the lead when Spark bounded up to him, bubbling with excitement. "Where are we going? Are we hunting? Y'know that stream? Will you teach me to fish? ARE WE GOING TO FIGHT?" Light sighed. Dusty who was walking in the rear bolted up to Light. "Light, I smell Autumn!" Light spun around. "What? What do you mean? She's out of camp? In her current mindset? She could be killed! What are you hooligans waiting here for? Find her!" Light howled. Crimson stood there still. Light turned to him and opened his mouth, but was cut off by Crimson saying, "But how do we know if she's not already dead?" .---___---. Autumn cannoned into two wolves she'd never met before. They smelt of the Neutral Packs. It must be the pack from across the river. But instead of growling or yowling at them, she was shocked. "What are you doing here? In my territory?" She was more surprised than upset. There was a rusty-colored female that looked graceful and elegant and a fox-wolf hybrid-looking thing. Suddenly the wolf that looked half fox half wolf shoved himself into the ground and asked in a slow, wavering, unsteady voice, "Autumn, may we be able to join your pack?" Autumn shook her head. "I don't know! Ask Light and Night." The fox-wolf looked over at the rusty-colored wolf and gave her a worried look. The fox-wolf spoke up. "But...aren't you the Alpha?"."Yes." Autumn snarled. "Got a problem with that?" The fox-wolf disagreed with a shake of his head, but obediently stayed quiet while he got up. He licked the rust-colored one on the ear and Autumn stopped breathing. They were mates. Like Light and Night. Autumn's tone softened immediately. "Yes, you may join my pack, as you wish." The wolves looked astonished, but replied with gratitude, "Thank you so much, Autumn! I'm Foxfang and that's Flameflash." Autumn nodded. "May I ask a question? How do you know my name?" Foxfang answered quickly but knew it was the wrong thing to say at once. "Moose told us." .---___---. "That's good," Autumn replied icily. "Because you obviously don't know Moose is still alive and out there, don't you? You just want to keep him away from me, because you're secretly Drakseekers!" Autumn snarled cooly. She gripped Foxfang and threw him to the ground. He got up, hackles on end. Flameflash, the rust-colored female, lunged at Autumn angrily. Autumn jumped out of the way and was knocked over by Foxfang. Flameflash pinned her to the ground but accidentally left her stomach exposed. Autumn laughed and seized the opportunity. She kicked her underside and sent her flying. Foxfang pounced on Autumn as she tried to get back up, but Autumn reared upward, and roared at him, "You traitor! Attacking your Alpha now, aren't you?" Autumn soared over his head and wiped him out. He lay there gasping for breath, as Flameflash bolted across the clearing and struck Autumn's side. Autumn fell to the ground and looked down as she felt something warm gush from the ground. Was that...blood? "Finally, Moose. It's time that I can look over you and guide you back to my pack." .---___---. Flameflash jerked backward at the sight of blood. The wound was big. Autumn would only have a few minutes left before she...Flameflash shook her head. It was not right to think negatively about the future. Her dam had taught her to always think of the brightest paths first, then negative paths. Foxfang gasped with shock, which made Flameflash wince. "Flameflash!" Foxfang growled. He sounded sad and surprised but sounded more angry than anything. Flameflash turned and looked deep into his eyes. He had traces of fear. "What do we do..?" Flameflash whispered. Suddenly a grey wolf with brown speckles darted into the wooded clearing. It ran up to Autumn and stared at the increasing blood puddle. She glanced at Flameflash's bloodstained paws and howled with frustration. She wore a leather case with millions of pouches and pulled out a white bandage and a purple glass bottle. She wrapped the white bandage around Autumn's stomach and tilted Autumn's head enough for her to drink. Autumn groaned with pain but managed to whisper, "Those two are a part of the pack. Don't let them die on me." A white wolf burst into the clearing with a pup that was pure black with red stripes, one that almost looked like Foxfang and one that looked like a Hyena. He looked fierce and bad-tempered, one you didn't want to mess with. Light barked orders. "Secure them! I'll aid Autumn! Crimson, take Spark and hold her back." Light leaped onto Flameflash and pinned her down. The wolf that looked like a hyena pinned Foxfang down aggressively. "Hi, Light," Flameflash whispered anxiously. "Shut up." He snarled. The hyena wolf looked to Light and said, "You know these beasts?" Light sighed. "Yes, Coyote. It's a long story.". "Oh," Coyote said. He looked back to Foxfang, and added menacingly, "Ready to die, loser?" .---___---. Foxfang woke up to smells of fresh dew and delicious prey. He started to get up but fell back down and winced. He realized he had wounds all over him, but none were deep. Thank the Warrior Ancestors. "Ah, you're awake." Foxfang turned to see a majestic beautiful female wolf that looked as though she deserved great respect and gave great respect. As Foxfang looked her over and was contemplating on what to say, she said, "No need to worry about how to talk to me, Foxfang. Ranks are not used when a wolf is injured." She looked as though she were the night sky. Foxfang kept mesmerizing over her coat when it kicked in that what she said was weird. "What rank are you then?" Foxfang blurted accidentally. "I'm the Zeta Female of the pack." Foxfang tilted his head. "What's that?" He asked. She chuckled. "It means that I'm the second in charge, along with Light. We are the wisest wolves in the pack and help the Alpha with planned occasions. Then there are the Betas, the Omegas, the juveniles, and pups." Foxfang nodded sleepily. "Okay. One last question, what's your name?" She looked at Foxfang directly in the eyes, and said, "My name is Night, nice to meet you." .---___---. Months later... Autumn bounded through the bushes. She was sprinting after Blitzer in the forest. Autumn panted and felt heavy. She stopped and took in a long, deep breath. "Woah!" She gasped. "Blitzer runs fast." Blitzer, her sister, was a dark brown wolf with beige and white stripes. She looked exactly like her Sire and Dam. Blitzer spun around and ran for Autumn. Autumn leaped out of the way just in time when Blitzer laughed. "What, can't keep up?" She teased. "Not really," Autumn admitted. "Ha!" Suddenly Blitzer pricked her ears and backed up until she was in a position in which she could protect Autumn from attacks from all angles. Autumn, scared by this stance, murmured, "Um, Blitzer? What's happening?" Blitzer growled so low and threatening, it almost wanted to make Autumn shrink down to the size of an ant. "Enemy wolves. In our territory." .---___---. Autumn shrieked. She screamed so loud it could almost break a wolf's ears. Autumn tumbled forward. An enemy wolf had leaped onto her and held her down. Autumn, shaken by the bloody heap of Blitzer, cried so hard her lungs felt as though they might explode. She writhed under the wolve's massive paws, which were twice the size of her one-year-old pup's paws. "Hey, keep still, and watch your sister die." A booming voice barked. Autumn felt numb. Her head tingled as though she were to black out. Suddenly a huge ochre-colored wolf slashed the wolf that held Autumn down. Autumn gasped a breath of fresh air and bolted to her sister who was bloodied and unmoving. Autumn cried, "Blitzer, wake up!" No answer. "Blitzer, WAKE UP!!!" Autumn screeched. No answer. Autumn felt queasy and realized that she had been wrenched backward. There were no air currents and no color. All Autumn could see was black. She spun around, and saw the ochre-colored wolf again, this time at normal wolf height. "Ha!" It laughed. "You can finally see how you lose loved ones. You lost your mother, your sister, and now me. How does that feel, seeing them die?" The ochre-colored wolf grasped Autumn by the scruff and began shredding her to pieces. .---___---. Autumn woke up with a start. She was just strangled by some random wolf while watching her sister die again, and now Moose ripped her to shreds. The nightmares came every night since Moose's death. Autumn licked herself, cleaning off all the sweat from the dream. Autumn jumped as Foxfang burst into her den. He had a frightened look on his face as he howled, "Autumn, help! The Yellowknife Pack is attacking the Rustlefernriver pack! We need to help!" Autumn sprang to her paws. "Light! Night!" Autumn barked, sprinting outside of her cave. Light and Night were there in an instant. "Gather up a battle party--Dusty, yourselves, Coyote, Crimson, Shade, Firefly, and I." Light looked at Night wearily, but bolted off in the direction of the warrior's den. Night called the attention of the pack and told them what was happening. "There's a battle, and we will assist them. Whoever I call, follows after Flameflash and Foxfang. Dusty, Light and I, Coyote, Crimson, Shade, Firefly...and Autumn." .---___---. Autumn glanced over her shoulder and made sure her pack was ready and alert. Autumn ran unsteadily. Other wolves would be able to tell that she was nervous. Autumn straightened and stayed rigid. Her guard will not fail her this time. The Battle Assist Party reached the Quiet River. The wolves took turns hopping from rock to rock, from stepping stone to stepping stone. Autumn saw Foxfang reach his old territory and watched with shock. The Yellowknife pack was destroying the Rustlefernriver Pack. Wolves were covered in so much blood they looked like zombies that didn't bleed when they died and now are. Then Autumn saw a massive wolf lunge for Indigo who was protecting the unmoving Riverian. Suddenly Foxfang snarled something Autumn couldn't hear, and body checked the massive Alpha. He sent the Alpha flying and he crashed high in a pine tree. He stumbled down and reared up with anger. Autumn turned to her pack, and shouted, "Attack the Alpha! He is at his lowest point! Once the heart is cut out, there is no more movement with the limbs! Dusty, help the wounded! AutumnStar Pack, ATTACK!" .---___---. Blood was everywhere. Most of it was Rustlefernriver's. The battle was over. They had one hostage who was scratched up a tiny bit. He was a fine wolf, with a muscular build. He was pure black with stripes of silver. Which was why his name was Silverstripe. He was guarded by Coyote and Light, and they threw angry comments at him now and then. Autumn strode over to Indigo who knelt with blurry eyes beside Riverian. Dusty tended to his throat with Aloe and bandages and leaf strings (Stitches). Shadowstorm, the medic of Rustlefernriver Pack, helped Dusty with healing the wolves that were injured in the battle. Crimson, pacing over to the injured wolves that lay in the straw, flinched as he heard rustling coming from the nearby bushes. "Autumn! More wolves are coming!" Crimson yelped fearfully. Autumn who sat down and watched Dusty with caution, attempting to learn more about the power of healing, got up on all four paws. Her fur flared with anger. "Can't you see I'm dealing with something? Moose is--" Autumn cut off. Indigo looked up at Autumn with sad, sad eyes. She blinked sorrowfully at Autumn and whispered, "Autumn, this isn't Moose. This is Riverian." .---___---. "I'm well aware," Autumn stood up and snarled. Indigo looked down at her paws and shivered. Will Autumn ever recover? What if she stays that way, and never moves on? Indigo looked up as she saw Autumn leave the dying Riverian, Dusty, Shadowstrom, and Indigo. Indigo shook her head and looked at Dusty. "Dusty," She began. Dusty kept working but gave Indigo full respect by saying politely, "Yes, ma'am?" Indigo looked away but turned her head back to look at Dusty as she spoke. "Is Autumn okay?" Dusty stopped and locked her gaze on a caterpillar inching by. Dusty looked at Indigo in the eyes. Dusty's eyes were a mix of fear, sadness, distort, and distraught. Indigo could tell Dusty deeply wanted to help Autumn, but couldn't without getting hurt. Dusty shared Indigo's thoughts. "Most times...I think she wishes herself dead." .---___---. Wolves stalked into the clearing. They walked with confidence and looked as though they would dominate any conversation between wolves. Every head turned, a snarl on their face. The wolves of Rustlefernriver looked dismayed because they were tired and ragged and clawed up. They could do no more harm, or else they'd be at their breaking point. "Greetings," The wolf that was the biggest said. Autumn and Indigo trotted over. Autumn looked as though she was seeing ghosts, and Indigo looked proper though she was bloodied and torn apart. Do we know y--" Indigo was cut off by Autumn barking hotly, "Go away. We don't need any more bloodshed in this clearing." The biggest wolf, probably the alpha, looked taken aback. "Um. Excuse me?" Autumn sighed and looked up at him painfully. "You're a pain," Autumn spat cooly. Indigo rushed up to Autumn's side, and said in her defense, "She's going through trauma, so excuse her rudeness." The alpha nodded. "You are?" He asked. "I'm Indigo, sir." Indigo bowed and pleaded, "Please do not hurt my pack. They are already torn apart." .---___---. Spark hit her head against a tree. She was sooooo bored! There was practically nothing to do! She cleaned up the whole encampment, reinforced the boundaries with treestuff and sticks, renewed everyone's bedding, and stocked up the fresh-kill pile! What more was there to do? Suddenly Spark thought of a good idea. She raced out of camp for the first time and jumped the stepping stones into enemy territory. The Battle Assist Party would need extra healing supplies, right? Why not help them out by getting Darkseekers to help attack? That is AutumnFire's faction, after all. .---___---. The Alpha wolf gave the weak wolves a curt nod behind his back, and the pack behind him separated like a murder of crows. From there came a wolf that resembled Blitzer, Autumn's sister. Spade knew this because he watched wolves where they went. He was always undetected--not even the best tracker could scent him. He watched the Alpha wolf, MTG Axolotl, pawing a little wolf pup playfully. Her tail was down, as though she were nervous. Perhaps she had done something wrong? Or maybe she had done something wrong, and chose the opposite faction than AutumnStar Pack was. Hmmm, Spade thought, grinning. He had finally found out more about his crush. Spark is Dusty's daughter, and she is an Omega, the same as Spade. She is so beautiful, Spade thought dreamily. If only Spark knew about his existence. .---___---. Dusty saw Autumn lash her tail in fury and stalk on hot paws away from Indigo and the Alpha. They were obviously in a quarrel. Dusty, prescribed with two jobs, Medic and Mediator, hauled herself up from laying in the sun tiredly. She had to calm Autumn again. Dusty sighed and made herself happy by thinking about the positives: Both packs are safe, fed, and watered. The big Alpha from The Midnight Howlers Pack seemed humble and kind. "Autumn--" Dusty shivered as she saw a flash of white beyond the bushes. She shook her head and carried on. It must be nothing, right? Autumn spun around, all her fur on ends. "What do you want?" She demanded. "I want to see if you're alright." Dusty came and walked over to Autumn and gazed at the sky that was becoming night. They sat together in silence for a moment, tails curled around each other. Dusty sidled closer to Autumn's side and felt Autumn relax. "I've had a dream," Dusty began. Autumn stood up more straightly. "I see. Do you think...that Moose is watching us, and my pups?" Dusty swallowed hard. She could not see the dead, but she knew their presence. "Yes, Autumn, yes they are." Autumn rolled her eyes but looked at Dusty as though she were as brilliant as the Starry Alphas before them. "And how do you know this..?" Dusty looked away. Would Autumn hurt her if she said yes? "I know because I can sense the dead. All I will say is that I've had a sign, that something is going to happen. Something that if we don't fight off the bacteria, it will infect the wound like a nasty bite. All the wolves must come together to defeat this evil force. If not... The ground will crawl with blood and bones, If you don't venture into the dark ravine, The nature will be nothing more than stones. But if the wolves of the forest are not keen, Our hearts and souls will be blown." |
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Winter 
Night Weather: 
Sleet Moon: 
