do with all these packs?” he inquired, “Leave them here and let them feed off my land forever?”

“No,” Remus told him, “They won’t be here forever. Once the humans see all the wolves are gone but the amount of game isn’t getting any better, they won’t blame us for poor hunting anymore and we’ll be able to go back to our separate territories without worrying about being shot at.”

“In a perfect world, maybe,” Jaydor sneered.

Everest looked around at them all. His face showed torn mindsets.

Cyan shrugged. “It’s the only plan we have.”

“There is a passageway, isn’t there?” Silver Arrow asked.

Everest barely nodded.

Flint cleared his throat. “I would hardly believe you would be so selfish as to withhold your land from us when you could save the entire wolf species. Your name would go down in history as one of the greatest wolves who ever lived.” He turned slightly and winked at Remus.

Everest stared off into space, thinking. Then he snapped to attention. He gestured with his paw, and his beta wolf came running up to him. “Send messengers to every remaining pack in Alaska,” he said in a low voice, “Break the White Storm, Red Aurora, and Pacific packs into thirds and bring them to Windsong Valley one third at a time. All other packs can come as one.” He paused. “Go! Now!” The beta wolf backed up with an astonished look on his face, and then scrambled to get out of the Grove. The mist swallowed him as he exited.

Everest gazed around at them all with burning eyes. “This council is adjourned.” He stormed across the Grove, pushing past Remus and fading into the mist.

Remus looked at her father. “What a conceited jerk!” Flint shook his head sternly, but his eyes were laughing.

Flint and Remus padded into the rocky outlet leading from the Grove to the Eagle Pass tunnels, only to bump into an agitated Shade.

“Dad!” he exclaimed, “So you did make it! What went on in there?”

“If you had been there like you were supposed to, you would know,” Flint said, arching an eyebrow.

Shade grinned weakly. “Oh. Heh heh. Sorry, Re.”

“Where were you?” Flint demanded.

Remus felt satisfaction as Shade rubbed his paw in the dirt and flicked his gaze nervously around the tunnel. He might be able to lie to her, but he couldn’t lie to Flint.

“I was…helping to prepare for the leaders’ arrivals?” he said, turning it into a question.

Flint sighed. “You can tell me the truth later. Right now we have to find your mother and the rest of the pack. I left them in one of the caves along this passage.”

“The pack’s here, too?” Shade exclaimed, “Why, what happened?”

“Hunters came after us,” Flint explained, “Now come on!” They flew down the passageway, and Flint turned into a small cave on their left. The scene before her stopped Remus cold.

Aleu, Shaila, and Linder stood gathered around a fallen Quicksilver. Linder licked a wound on his leg that dribbled blood down his limb, staining it bright red. Quicksilver’s face was contorted with pain and pale under his gray fur.

Remus barely heard Aleu’s startled cry, and she was dimly aware of being nuzzled and scolded at the same time. She brushed past her mother and stood over Quicksilver, staring sorrowfully.

He opened one eye, and his face slowly started to relax. “Remus. You’re here. And taking charge, I hope.” His voice was softer with a bit of a rasp.

Remus sank to her stomach beside him. “Are you going to be all right?”

“My time hasn’t come yet,” he said gruffly, “Don’t worry about that. But this is the reason why your visions are so important. They can warn us of what’s to come and even save the wolf race so other wolves don’t end up worse off than me.” Suddenly his eyes squeezed shut and his jaw clenched. He groaned, and Remus felt so powerless as she watched him fight the pain.

At last he seemed to settle, and he was panting as his eye opened again.

Remus searched her mind for something to say, anything. “Where’s Ruska?” she blurted out.

Quicksilver looked grim. “She ran when she heard the gunshot. She’ll be in great danger as a lone wolf. I don’t know why she ran from us, but she won’t survive long out there the way wolf hunting is now. Whatever you’re planning to carry out, do it quickly. Ruska’s life is in danger, as are countless other wolves.” His eyes closed, and a long, heavy sigh escaped from his lips. “Your choices determine whether your visions are a gift or a curse. Use them in such a way that you save lives, Remus.”

Remus stood, speechless. She had set a plan in motion, and now she was responsible for the lives of many wolves. And her plan would have to succeed. For Ruska. For Quicksilver. For all the wolves in Alaska.

She felt the burden lift and then settle on her shoulders. This was the price of being a leader, but hopefully she could learn to bear it with pride.

The hoarse cry of ravens rang through her ears. With eyes flashing fire, she thought, ‘Let the humans come. I’m ready.’

Flint, Quicksilver, Linder, Remus, Shade, Shaila, Ruska, Everest, Iceberg, Swift, Silver Arrow, Cyan, Jaydor, and Destiny © redwolf03