Chapter 10

An hour and a half later, the small family was walking up to a large cave.

Everest looked around. Two wolves stood on guard outside the entrance. “I hope you know what you’re doing…”

The family continued walking toward the entrance.

“Stop!” The guard called. “Who are you, and what is your business here?”

“I’m Saba, and I need to speak to Aleu!” Saba yelled over the storm.

“Doesn’t everyone?” The wolf asked. “What makes you think she has time for you?”

“I’m her sister!” Saba called.

“Come up here.” The wolf said.

Saba and her family walked up to the wolf, who turned to the other guard. “Go tell Aleu her sister Saba is here to see her.”

The wolf nodded, and ran into the cave.

The wolf turned back to the small family. “Sorry to have to do this, but a wolf pack has been making trouble for us recently.” He paused. “I suppose you and your family can at least come inside until he gets back. It’ll get you out of the wind anyway.”

Saba nodded. She and her family stepped inside the cave. “Thank you.”

“That’s some storm out there, what are you doing out in it with such little ones as these?”

Saba sighed. “It’s a bit of a long story…”

“Oh…” The wolf said. He paused. “So whereabouts are you guys from?”

“I was from Nome.” Saba said. “…but I can’t go back there now.”

“Nome huh?” The wolf said. “That’s a pretty good ways away.”

“Yeah…” Saba said.

About that time, the wolf returned, Aleu at his side. “Saba?” She asked.

Saba smiled. “Hey Aleu, it’s been awhile.”

“I guess!” Aleu said. “Come inside; get out of that storm, what brings you here?”

Saba sighed. “I… I need some help. I’m in a little trouble.”

“Well I’ll always do what I can for family, what’s up?”

“We were… um… banished from Nome.” Saba said slowly.

“Banished!” Aleu said. “…for what?”

“Aleu, this is Everest.” Saba said.

Aleu’s vision snapped to the male behind her sister. “Everest?” She asked.

The male smiled. “Yeah…”

“I thought you were dead… at least… that’s what dad told me.”

“I know.” Everest said. “It’s a long story.”

“So the reason you got banished… these are your pups aren’t they?”

Saba nodded slowly.

Aleu sighed. “…and Drake found out, didn’t he?”

Saba nodded again.

“Well, is that your problem?”

Saba shook her head. “No, we left Nome, and were looking for a new home when we ran into this wolf named Stripe…” Aleu cut her sister off. “Stripe huh, he’s bad news.”

“You know him?” Saba asked.

Aleu nodded. “He and his little pack have tried to steal from us before. I’ve asked him to join the clan, I know they’re just hungry, but he always refuses… too proud I guess.”

Saba nodded. “Well anyway, Stripe and his gang attacked us, and they took my daughter.”

“Oh no!” Aleu said. “…and you want help getting her back?”

Saba nodded.

Aleu turned behind her. “Hey Shadow, come here for a minute.”

A red wolf joined them. “What is it Aleu.”

“I just saw you walk in.” Aleu said. “Done with the hunt already?”

Shadow nodded. “Yeah, we found some elk that had bedded down for the storm, and chased them down.”

“Well I guess that’s pretty good.” Aleu said.

“Yeah.” Shadow said. “With the meat from this hunt, added to what we already have, we have enough to last about four days.”

“Enough to outlast the storm?” Aleu asked.

“Hopefully.” Shadow responded.

“Well what’s the team doing now?” Aleu asked.

“They’re just tearing up the meat, why, what’s up?”

“Can we spare a few bodies?” Aleu asked.

“Sure.” Shadow said.

“Good.” Aleu responded. “Shadow, this is my sister, Saba, and her… mate, Everest.”

“I thought you said Everest was your brother.” Shadow said.

“He is.” Saba said.

“But you just said…” Shadow’s voice trailed off as he understood. “Oh!”

“They were banished from Nome, and were walking out in the storm, and ran into Stripe.” Aleu said. “He kidnapped one of their pups, and Saba is requesting help in rescuing her.”

Shadow nodded.

“I was thinking of sending a few members of the team with her.” Aleu said.

Shadow turned behind him. “Dash, Timbre, get over here.”

A brown wolf and a red wolf, that looked an awful lot like Everest and Saba, ran over to him. “What is it Shadow.”

Dash recognized Saba, but didn’t say anything. “This is Saba, evidently she’s your sister Dash.”

Dash nodded. “Yeah, what’s up?”

‘Well she and her family were walking through the storm, and ran into Stripe. He kidnapped one of their pups.”

“That’s awful.” The brown wolf said.

Shadow looked at Dash. “You know where he lives don’t you?”

Dash nodded. “Yeah, I staked out his cave in case the clan ever decided to move against him, remember?”

Shadow nodded. “I thought that was you. I’m going to send you two to help her.”

“Alright,” the brown wolf said. “When do we leave?”

“As soon as possible.” Shadow said. “I don’t have to tell you what Stripe’s plans are.”

The two nodded, and Shadow turned to Saba. “This is Dash, and that’s Timbre. They’re two of my best. They’ll get your daughter back.”

Saba smiled. “Thank you.”

Timbre turned to Shadow. “What about the team?”

“You can dismiss them.” Shadow said. “In fact, do so before you leave, but be quick about it.”

Dash and Timbre nodded, and ran over to the group of wolves in the center of the chamber. They positioned themselves in front of the wolves. “First and second unit you are dismissed, carry out your evening duties.” Dash said.

The wolves began to disperse.

Two female wolves, one gray, and one red one, which Saba recognized as Melody, came walking in just then from the chambers above.

“Hey Dash.” The gray one said. “You guys are back already?”

“Not for long I’m afraid.” Timbre said.

“Yeah, we’re getting ready to head back out.” Dash said.

“Well be careful.” The two wolves said.

Dash and Timbre smiled. “We will be.”

The two females turned to each other. “I guess we can head back up and talk some more.” Melody said.

The two of them started back up the shelves of rock.

Timbre and Dash walked back over to Saba.

“I know where the cave is.” Dash said. “So you guys follow me, but stick close. We’re going to be moving fast, and it’s easy to get lost in this storm.”

Saba nodded. She turned to Everest. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Be careful.” Everest said.

Saba smiled. “I will.”

Then the three of them ran out of the cave.

“What happened to you?” Shadow asked Everest.

Everest smiled. “I got into a bit of a scuffle.”

“I’ll say.” Shadow said. “You look like you got run over by a freight train. Why don’t you head up here with me, and I’ll see what we can do for you.”

“Thanks.” Everest said. “…but I really need to keep an eye on the kids.”

“We’ll drop them off with Melody and June.” Shadow said. “If you don’t let someone take care of that leg you might lose it.”

Everest sighed. “Alright.”

Shadow smiled. “Follow me.”

The two of them walked up through the cave, Aleu and the children followed close behind. 

Chapter 11

True to his word, Dash had led Saba and Timbre to the small cave that Stripe lived in. There was one rather large wolf standing guard outside. He hadn’t spotted the intruders.

“Follow me…” Dash whispered.

He walked carefully around the cave, being careful to stay within the concealment of the forest that surrounded the cave.

Soon, they’d reached the back of it.

“Timbre and I will start an attack at the front, and draw the wolves into that area. You see that entrance up there?”

Saba looked up and gulped. It was almost one hundred feet off the ground, and the climb up was almost vertical. “Yeah…” She said.

“When we start the attack, climb up there and get your daughter, what’s her name?”

“Sunny.” Saba answered.

“Well you get Sunny, and take her to safety, then… howl at us, that’ll let us know to cut off the attack. We’ll meet back right here.”

“Howl?” Saba asked. “I’ve never done that before.”

“Trust me you’ll know how.” Dash said. “You’re as much wolf as I am. Now do you think you can make that climb?”

Saba nodded. “Anything for Sunny’s safety…” She thought.

“Alright, we’re going to go back around front, remember, our howl is your cue to start climbing…”

“…and mine is yours to stop the fight, got it.” Saba said.

“Good luck.” Timbre said. Then he and Dash left Saba at the back of the cave, and headed around to the front.

Not long after that, Saba heard a howl, and growling, then, sounds of fighting.

She ran at the hill, and jumped onto it, clawing onto the cracks in the rock for purchase.

She found it, and started climbing.

Saba was nearing the entrance, when her paw slipped, and suddenly she was hanging over ninety feet above the ground with one paw keeping her from plunging to her death.

At first Saba panicked, and started flailing her legs, trying to find purchase on the slippery rock.

Her one supporting paw almost slipped, and she stopped moving. “I’ve got to do this, for