but I made the decision for reasons that still exist, and I won’t, can’t back down from this.”

Dash shook his head.

“I don’t think he’s gonna make it long enough for you to realize what a massive mistake you’re making.”

“Dash…” Melody started.

Dash interrupted his sister.

“Just you remember this Melody, if he dies… it’s your fault, and you’ll have to live with that… can you do that?”

Dash got up and walked out of the chamber, leaving Melody to think about what he’d said.

Dash’s next stop was by Rayne’s chambers.

It felt odd not to think of it as Talkeet and Rayne’s chamber’s, but that was the reality of the situation.

He walked inside.

Rayne was standing in the chamber, staring at the wall.

“Rayne?” Dash asked, walking over to her.

She didn’t respond.

“Rayne, are you okay?”

Still no response.

Dash put his paw on her shoulder, and she spun around.

“Oh Dash… it’s only you.”

Dash nodded.

“You alright Rayne?”

“I suppose,” she said.

She shook her head.

“Actually no, I’m tired of saying I’m fine to everyone that asks, no, I’m not fine, I…”

A tear etched its way slowly down her face.

“I miss him… so much.”

Dash nodded.

“I know, I do too.”

“I… I just keep finding myself hoping that he’ll come back, and everything would be the way it was before… perfect.”

She laughed sadly and looked up at Dash.

“… but that’s not even possible is it?”

Dash shook his head.

“I’m afraid it’s not.” Dash said. “As much as I wish it was otherwise, for Talkeet to return here is for him to die. Shadow’s not playing games anymore.”

Dash sighed.

“Talkeet killed a member of the clan, a member of the team. Shadow has issued the order that he is to be killed on sight.”

Rayne started to cry again, and Dash could tell, that she’d been doing this a lot.

“What about you Dash?” She asked through her tears. “Would you help him?”

“I want to,” Dash said, “but…”

“But what?” Rayne asked.

“… but the team… well, I’m not going to go hunt for him or anything, but if he comes back… I’ll have to fight him. I’m part of the team, and my loyalty is to the clan and our Alpha first.”

Rayne’s face wrinkled up in confusion.

“But… but he’s your son, how could you fight him?”

Dash sighed.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that, ‘cause if it does… I’m not sure I can do it.”

Rayne felt a strong kick in her stomach just then. It surprised her, and she jumped.

“What?” Dash asked, looking behind him, scanning for danger.

“Oh it’s nothing.” Rayne said, “one of the pups just kicked me.”

Dash didn’t know what to say in response to this. The pups had been an extremely touchy subject since Talkeet’s disappearance.”

Rayne’s eyes clouded with tears for the third time since they’d been talking today.

“I… I don’t know what I’m going to do when they’re born, I… I just don’t know…”

Dash smiled.

“You’ll be a great mother, that’s what you’ll do.”

“I don’t know Dash,” Rayne said, “I don’t know if I can live without him, I get the feeling more and more everyday that I can’t. Right now the only thing keeping me going is their birth, after that…”

“After that you’ll be fine.” Dash said.

“I still don’t know…” Rayne said.

“I’ve had this dream…”

Her voice trailed off.

“Maybe I shouldn’t tell him about that right now,”she thought, “besides, it’s only a stupid dream, right?”

“You were saying?” Dash asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Rayne said, “it’s just a stupid dream.”

“You sure?” Dash asked.

“Yeah,” Rayne said, “it was stupid to bring it up.”

“Still….”

“Dash,” Rayne said, “tell Aleu that I need to see her later on, like… tomorrow will be fine.”

Dash nodded.

“Okay Rayne, I’ll tell her.”

Dash sighed.

“Well, I better get back, Shadow is organizing an offensive against the Uniea that’s supposed to kick off in a few days, and we’re right in the middle of planning it.”

Rayne nodded.

Dash began to walk out, then stopped and turned.

“Rayne, if there’s anything, anything at all…”

He paused.

Rayne smiled.

“Thanks Dash,” she said.

Dash resumed walking out of the chamber.

Chapter 9

Rayne was nearing the end of the dream now.

She could see a bright white light, that cut through the darkness her world had become.

As she stood there, the light got closer until she could see the visage of a white wolf inside, and behind her, fields of green grass.

The wolf extended her paw.

“Come with me my child.”

The voice was warm and sweet. It calmed the bubbling fear that had engulfed Rayne.

Rayne took the offered paw, and the world was split by white light…

“Rayne.”

Rayne opened her eyes to see that it was Aleu who was speaking to her.

Aleu smiled.

“Sorry to wake you, but Dash said you wanted to see me, and we were attacked last night, so I’m going to be busy helping Shadow plan a counter attack today.”

“That’s alright.” Rayne said.

She yawned.

“Casualties?”

Aleu nodded.

“About fifty…”

“Where?” Rayne asked.

Aleu sighed.

“Timbre’s unit.”

“Oh,” Rayne said, “Timbre?”

“He’s fine.”

Aleu brightened a little.

“At least there’s that.”

Rayne nodded.

There was a long pause.

“So what did you need to talk to me about?”

“Well…” Rayne started. “It’s about the pups… actually.”

“Oh? What about them?”

“I… Aleu, I get the feeling I might not make it through this.”

“What? Why would you think that?”

“Well… there’s this dream…”

“Tell me about it.” Aleu said, laying down beside her friend.

“Well, when it starts I’m watching myself, I mean, I’m conscious, but I’m… outside my body, watching events transpire.”

Aleu nodded.

“Go on.”

“Well, I’m in terrible pain, just unimaginable, and you and Dash are there, beside me. Then I feel one really sharp pain, and Dash holds up a small pup, then my head falls back against the rocks, and everything turns black.”

“At first I thought this was the end, but then a bright white light pierces the darkness, and it gets closer and closer. Soon I can see a white wolf standing against a background of a sunny field of green grass. She holds out her paw, and I take it, then everything turns white, and that’s where I wake up.”

She looked back up at Aleu.

“I… I think I’m going to die.”

Rayne sighed.

“If… If I do… die…will you promise to take care of my pups?”

Aleu looked troubled when she spoke.

“I don’t think you need to worry about that, it’s… it’s only a dream.”

“Aleu…”

Rayne became very serious, and looked Aleu straight in the eyes.

“… promise?”

Aleu sighed.

“Yeah, Yeah, I’ll take care of them.”

“Thanks.” Rayne said.

“But I don’t think you need to concern yourself with that, you’re going to be a great mother Rayne.”

Rayne smiled.

“I hope so.”

She sighed.

“I hope so…”

At that moment Talkeet was standing behind Daie, in front of the whole pack.

Daie had just finished speaking.

He stepped back and allowed Talkeet an opportunity to speak.

Talkeet stepped forward.

Everything was planned down to the second.

Everyone in the crowd of wolves below him, and the formation behind him knew what was coming next.

“Only Daie doesn’t know what’s coming,” Talkeet thought.

The wolves cheered.

Talkeet smiled, and turned to Daie.

“Daie step up here for a moment.” Talkeet said.

The wolves continued to cheer as Daie stepped forward.

“Daie,” Talkeet said, “as you know, you and I have disagreed on a few things, regarding this clan.”

Daie nodded.

“Well Talkeet, I see them as quite minor.”

“Yes,” Talkeet said sarcastically, “rape and murder are quite minor things aren’t they?”

“Talkeet,” Daie said embarrassedly, “I... I don’t see why you’d bring that up here, this is hardly the place…”

Talkeet interrupted him.

“Daie, current Alpha of the Uniea clan, I Talkeet hereby challenge you for control of this Clan.”

“What?!” Daie asked, surprised. “Talkeet I…”

It was very quick.

Talkeet easily snapped the wolf’s neck with his jaws, and Daie fell limp, and very dead, to the floor.

The wolves cheering got louder.

Gareth stepped forward.

Talkeet motioned to him, and Gareth walked up to Talkeet’s side.

Talkeet had to shout to be heard over the bloodthirsty cheering of what was now his pack, his clan.

“Gareth here is your new second in command, you will all afford him the respect that such a