little while.
Holly came out of the cave and smiled at their return. "Well done! I'm glad you're all back safely."
Erak dropped the deer he had been dragging and nuzzled his mate. "We did our best. How did things hold up back here?", he asked as the others dragged the deer into the cave.
The smile fell from the Alpha female's face. "We were being watched while you were gone.", she said. "There were two of them."
Erak became alarmed. "What? Is anyone hurt?", he asked glancing nervously at the cave.
Holly hurried to try and calm him. "No, no. No one was hurt. They didn't even attack us. They ran off after awhile. It was very strange." She looked at the ground, troubled, as she led her mate back inside.
Erak nodded his agreement, the same troubled look apparent on his face. "We'll have to be extra careful for the next few days. Now that they know where we are, they may try to attack.", he said. "Where's Gareth? We need to speak with him about this." The Alphas went farther back into the cave to seek out the old one's advice.
Meanwhile, Twilight was giving Winter the same news near the back of the den. "We should leave now.", he said. "The longer we stay, the more likely it is that we'll get caught up in some sort of battle." His eyes swept the cave as he spoke.
Winter was deeply troubled by this news. "You're right... It would be best if we leave.", she said. She was about to continue, but as she looked about the cave the words died in her throat. Arlen was playing around with Orek and Pine. Veena was smiling and laughing lightly while talking with Renn. Chase, Juno, and Jared were all joking about how Twilight must have scared the dogs off with his creepy appearance. The white wolf felt a sudden pressure on her mind. "But what happens to them if we do?", she asked.
The black wolf shot her a quizzical glance, then not a moment later let out a low groan and gave her a look. "You can't be serious...", he said.
"Twilight, just hear me out, please.", she pleaded. She looked back out at the pack as she spoke. "They've been kind to us. Just look at Veena.", she said, gesturing towards their sister. "This is the happiest I've seen her since mother died.", she winced as she said this. "We'd be turning our backs on them if we leave now. They didn't ask for this, and it's not right."
Twilight stood by as she spoke with an unemotional look upon his face. "So you would have us stay and get ourselves killed because of a little sympathy?", he asked with distaste. "And here I thought you were smart. Guess not."
Winter looked at him, her eyes flashing with anger. "I admit it may not be the smart thing, but it is what I think is the right thing. Father would have helped them.", she said.
Twilight gave a dark chuckle and spoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Oh golly. I guess it is absolutely wonderful father and I saw everything with the same point of view then." He walked past, giving her a mocking bow. "As you wish, leader.", he said, disappearing once more into the shadows.
Winter sighed, suddenly feeling very tired. "I'll never understand him.", she said to herself. The sun was nearly below the horizon. It had been a long day and the pack was getting ready to rest. She walked over to her spot next to Navare and laid down.
"That was some good hunting you did today, Winter.", he said, stretching and curling up a few feet away from her.
"Thanks.", she said, yawning. "You were pretty good too. Goodnight."
"Goodnight.", he said. Soon the sound of her even breathing reached him and he knew she was asleep. He and Gareth were the only ones still awake, besides Twilight. Navare was sure that black wolf never slept at all. He laid there for a minute, but decided that he wasn't all that tired just yet, and he wanted to talk with the older wolf. They hadn't just talked in quite some time.
The red wolf got up and wandered over to Gareth, who sat quietly at the mouth of the cave, watching the stars. "You always seem to be doing that.", the younger wolf said.
The old one chuckled. "Everyone needs a hobby.", he said, looking over his shoulder and patting the snow next to him with an aged paw. Navare walked forward and sat next to Gareth. "So, I suppose that all your suspicions about these newcomers are at rest?", he asked, glancing at the red wolf.
Navare nodded and said, "Most of them. Not all, but most." He looked back at the cave with a withering stare. "That black one is still questionable."
"Oh indeed.", the old wolf said, nodding in agreement. "I would actually encourage you to keep an eye on him." Gareth frowned in thought. "There's something odd going on with that one."
Navare nodded. "Alright. I'll watch him. Although Winter seems a well enough leader to me." He looked back at the sleeping she-wolf as he spoke. "Why wouldn't he want to listen to someone like her?"
Gareth cast an amused glance at the young wolf, and followed his gaze. "Yes, she is very capable. That's why Twilight does listen to her. He's smart enough to respect authority, even if he disagrees with it. She's firm enough to keep him in check, but she's also gentle when she knows it is best to be."
Navare thought through that and nodded. He turned to the old wolf and smiled. "Thanks for the talk. I should probably sleep now. Eh, old timer?"
Gareth chuckled and looked around. "Old? Where? I see no old person around here. Must be your imagination.", he said, giving the young wolf a friendly wink.
The red wolf laughed quietly. "Alright, alright, I'm going. Goodnight Gareth.", he said, returning to his spot by Winter. The old wolf smiled at the youth, then turned back to his stargazing. It seemed as though the old Navare was back again. The smile slowly faded from his face as his memory took him back to some far off time...
****
Looking up at the same stars, a pair of intense brown eyes were glazed over with old memories as well. A sudden voice brought him back to the present time. "Kale, sir?"
The leader of the raiding dogs looked back at Leon, his second in command, and best friend. Leon was a muscular malamute with a mix of light brown and white fur, with forest green eyes. "Yes, Leon, what is it?", he asked turning about to face him.
Leon nodded in respect and gave his report, "I have a member of a scouting party and his scout leader requesting permission to see you sir. They say they have uncovered vital information about the enemy."
Kale snorted and an easy lopsided smile slipped over his face. Something that was rarely seen these days. "When did you get so serious, Lee?", he asked, chuckling.
The second in command let his posture slip and laughed. "I got serious when you became top dog of this group of ragged soldiers, Kay.", he said, laughing at his own pun.
The "top dog", as it were, returned the laugh and shook his head. "Alright, alright. Tell them I'll be along to the barn shortly." The larger dog nodded his head and left the small shed with a smile. The leader of the dogs took one last glance at the stars. "Soon this will all be over...", he said quietly.
Kale turned and exited the shed, walking across the thawing ground to the barn, where the others were gathered. They all looked up and moved out of his way as he walked by to hi spot on a raised platform in the center of the barn.
He looked out at his friends and followers. "I was told that a group among you had some information that is important to the mission.", he said. "Please come forward."
Three dogs from the crowd came forward. Another good friend of Kale's, Randy led the group, followed behind by two dogs he didn't personally know. Randy was a tan colored husky with cloud-grey eyes. "Kale. We have uncovered the location that the remain wolves are hiding.", he said. His words drew excited words from the other dogs around them.
Kale smiled down at them. "That's good work, Randy. Now the day after tomorrow will go smoothly. They'll never see it coming.", he said. The dogs barked their agreement and couldn't believe that the conflict would soon be over, and they would have won!
"It's not what you think!", a voice rose above the sounds of the other dogs. They shushed and looked to the owner of that voice. Jasper suddenly fell very small as all eyes in the room turned to him.
Kale frowned and spoke, "What do you mean by that, boy?" The lad seemed to be quite a bit shy. The leader stepped down from the platform and walked up to him. "What's your name, son?", he asked.
"Jasper", the younger dog mumbled, his eyes averted.
"Jasper.", he repeated. "What did you see Jasper? This could be important.", he said to the white dog.
Jasper spoke, stumbling over his words a little. "W-well, sir. I saw two wolves outside of the cave hideout. They... they were
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