Chapter One

A slim female licked the heads of three little pups-- their fur in one tiny, thin layer. Her eyes fixed on a tan-white one.The tiny ball shivered towards it's mother, trying to sniff his way towards her. His nose pointed around as his eyes layed closed, his mouth sightly open. He guided himself towards the female and they touched noses, making the mother smile widely. In a sudden, the sky peered darker. The tiny pup wriggled towards his sisters and layed down his tiny head, cuddling into the pile of pups.

A shaded male padded over towards the mother, licking the top of her head.

"Shade"The female smiled, staring into his eyes.

"Youke.How are they?" The male asked after laying down beside her.

"I'm not too sure. The one pup seems stronger, but his sisters don't seem very healthy."She said as worry flooded her voice, followed by her eyes. "What if they don't make it? It is ShiverLeaf, after all."She finished.

"They'll be fine.Just.. Keep a close eye on the girls." He told her.

"I will."She replied, looking down at the pups.

"Now for the names." Shade said,trying to change the subject.

"Yes." Youke smiled yet again. She pointed to both of the girls. "I think we should name them Muawe and Sky." She then pointed her paw towards the male pup."And I think we should name him Ace." She smiled.

"Ace...I like that."Shade smiled.He nuzzled her and then walked away.

Chapter 2

 Ace pinned down Muawe and barked. Muawe whined and quickly gave in, winking towards Sky. The tiny female pushed Ace over and tumbled down the slope along with him. Muawe ran after and tripped, also. The trio tumbled down towards Elk's territory. But these were no normal elk-- they bared hard hooves and sharp antlers. These were the elk you didn't want to mess with.Ace tumbled wildly in front of a tree, followed by both his sisters.

"Mom told us to stay away from here." Muawe whimpered.

"Don't be such a droop." Sky barked and ran past the border."Their just a bunch of overgrown rats!" She spat.

Ace was the next past the border-- soon followed by the shivering body of Muawe. The trio peered through a bush at one of the elk.

"see? They can't hurt anything."Sky barked.

An elk came trampling close to them and Sky saw her chance. She leapt for the elk and dangled onto it's neck.The elk shook the tiny pup off and huffed angry hooves at her.Sky dodged them for her life, missing each one.

Ace felt his heart race and ran out of the bush, biting the elk's leg right into the bone.The elk screeched and kicked at him, the hoof hitting into his leg.He fell to the ground and whined, attracting Sky's attention. She ran over to him and quickly--and fiercely-- got a hoof to the back of her head. She also fell to the ground, the elk running wildly back to the herd. It looked as a 3-month-old,but fought like a leader.

Ace whined as he rose and he looked down at Sky.

"We should get you and Sky to mother" Muawe barked, unsure of what really to do.

Ace nodded and grabbed Sky's scruff, dragging her up the hill while--at the same time-- facing his own pain.Muawe followed up the hill, tears filling her eyes.

Chapter 3

Fright gripped Youke and her eyes widened."What happened??!"She screamed as she saw both Sky and Ace.

Ace dragged Sky towards Youke and sat down, pressing his ears to the back of his head.

"We were playing..." Muawe whined. "And we tumbled down the slope into the elk's ground."She continued."And--"

She was interrupted be an even more pain-filled voice.

"And then I said we should go hunting..I just wanted to be like dad..." Ace whined. "So I ran into a elk and..well..." He stopped-- tears filling his eyes.He could already hear his mother's tongue licking her pup's head.

"I understand..." Youke whined, and licked the back of Sky's head. She then went over towards Ace."I'm sorry for what may happen..."She whined, licking the top of his head.

Chapter 4

A dark male glared down at Ace as the moon rose into the dark-coloured sky."I'm disappointed in you,pup." The male growled.

Another male padded to the giant rock into the clearing and climbed onto the top."We're here tonight to send out a pup whom is responsible for Sky's death." He growled through the clearing.

Tears filled Youke's eyes as she heard the words-- she'd never wanted either her pup dead or her own son thrown out of the pack.But she had to do what she had to do.SHe scooted Ace towards the rock and Ace hiked up it.

When he reached the top, he sat down and held his head low, his shoulders rose above his head.

"Shade" The leader called out. "Escort your pup out!" He snarled.

Shade whined and grabbed Ace by the scuff, carrying him out of the territory.

"Father," Ace whined.

"Ace," He frowned."I have to...You just have to promise to keep yourself safe."

"I will..."Ace whined.

Shade came to a stop and pushed Ace into an abandoned den."Be careful"He warned, and then ran back to the territory.Tears flooded his eyes and ran down his cheeks as he left his own son all alone.