her.  One figure stepped forward.  Juniper, Holly’s father, spoke gently, yet with authority,

 

 

 

“Speak, dearest, tell Star of the prophecy.  She must know.”

 

 

 

The words tumbled unbidden to Holly’s tongue.  “On the night that the stars fall, the white wolf will come and Thunder must beware the kin of the kin of Fire.  The kin of Moon must beware the daughter of Sun.”  Juniper panted in satisfaction.

 

 

 

“Holly, come with us.  Roam the sky with me.”  He smiled winningly.

 

 

 

“But… Star… Thunder and Lightning.  I wouldn’t see them again.”

 

 

 

“I’m afraid you do not have much choice, dearest.  You are dying.”  The panic that Juniper’s remark caused in Holly’s chest faded almost as soon as it appeared.  What was wrong with dying?  Even Star’s panicked whines were growing fainter, while her father was becoming more solid.

 

 

 

“Mother, please, please don’t die. Tell me what you meant.  Who is the white wolf?  We need you, don’t go!”  Holly was undecided.  She felt something pulling at her heart, trying to tug her into the sky.  Yet her natural instinct to survive pulled her in the opposite direction.  Finally deciding that she had no choice, Holly lifted her head for a final look at the world, Holly saw something that caused her blood to run cold.  Just before her heart stopped beating, an explosion rent the air and Lightning leapt, only to fall to the ground with a bullet in his heart.

 

The entire valley was thrust into confusion.  Two Stone Pack wolves went down to bullets, and several Forest Pack wolves were grazed by flying bullets.  Lightning had already defeated Smoke, and now both Packs were leaderless and milling about, unsure of what to do.  The Stone Pack Beta took the chance to slip out of Gale’s paws and escape in the chaos.  Bone decided to take charge of the Stone Pack since his Alpha was dead.

 

“Retreat!” he yowled.  “Stone Pack, retreat!”

 

Retreat was the last thing on Thunder’s mind.  He grouped the Forest Pack into a tight knot and chased the Stone Pack from the territory.  Once the Stone Pack wolves were in their own territory, Thunder led his wolves back to Camp, skirting the valley to avoid the Strangers and their guns.

 

Once there, he had Star take roll call.  Lightning, Holly, Rain, and a wolf named Rose were missing.  Six wolves, including Gale and himself, had bullet wounds, though none were serious.  All wolves had suffered minor injuries, and two wolves had injuries that weren’t so minor.  However, Thunder was sure that the Stone Pack had it even worse.  Smoke they knew for sure was dead, along with the wolf that had thrown Rain at a tree.  Each of the forest Pack had given as good as they had got, considering that they had been out-numbered.

 

A small bluish silver wolf named River approached Thunder and licked his chin.

 

“Hail, Alpha Thunder!” she cried in a strong deep voice.  The rest of the Pack joined, one by one.  Star approach her brother and licked his chin. 

 

“Thunder,” Star said.  “Thunder, I have something to tell you.”

 

“What is it, Star?”

 

“Gale and I just returned from a little private scouting.  Rain’s body is gone!  Some Strangers, not the ones who attacked us, took it!”

 

Thunder’s eyes widened.  “Are you sure they weren’t the ones who had attacked us?”

 

          “Yes, these smelled different and they had green fur.”

 

          “But why would they take Rain’s body?” Thunder asked.

 

“No idea,” replied Star.  “We wanted to stop them, but they had fire-sticks, and it all happened very fast.”

 

Star’s white spot gleamed red in the dying sun’s light.  Thunder turned and watched the sun sink slowly behind the horizon, and dark clouds steal across the blood-red sky.  The clouds blocked the rising moon and faint stars.  A flash of lightning tore across the sky, clawing at the gloomy clouds, and seconds after the lightning blinked out, thunder roared.  Rain began spitting out of the sky, just a little at first, but slowly upgrading into an icy downpour.  The wolves stood still, allowing the icy rain to wash away the blood and numb their wounds.

 

Wind blew in gusts, angling the rain and twisting the clouds into varying patterns and shapes.  Star looked up, squinting to protect her eyes from the rain.  For a single moment, the clouds formed the shape of her mother’s face.  Then the image was gone, but the strange words her mother had uttered moments before her death still echoed in Star’s mind.  What did they mean?

 

Another lightning strike lit up the bedraggled Pack.  Thunder’s golden eyes seemed to have a charge of their own.  Thunder boomed, and a crashing sound warned Thunder that trees were falling and he had to get the Pack to safety.  He grunted to get the Pack’s attention, then flicked his tail in the direction of their camp to indicate where they needed to go.  The weary wolves fell in line behind Thunder as he led them home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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