join them, trying to obtain total dominance of the region. Word has been going around that they are scheming to attack us next.”

“Well, we'll just have to get ready for it. We are all in fit shape. It just seems rather untimely to be launching an attack at this time of season. Most wolves are bearing litters by now. It seems strange that they would force them to fight.”

“The pack could possibly be only composed of males. That would give an explanation for an attack so late in the spring,” suggested Sage.

“No, this doesn't seem right,” Lilly disputed. “Everything seems to be happening all at once. Why would it all occur now, of all times?”

“Maybe the opponent detects a weakness pertaining to this pack,” Torrid joined in.

Lilly gave him a sharp glare, although he stood almost a full head taller than her.

“Really? How so?” she snapped.

“Usually after the transition to a new alpha male or female, the pack goes through a period of weakness as the new leader has to learn everything about guiding the pack. The pack already knows everything, but normally, young inexperienced leaders will take the pack a step backwards, especially if they are not trained.”

“Are you suggesting that I am not fit to be leader?” Lilly implied.

“No, I'm just stating that I don't think that you are aware of the dangers that could be involved with another pack trying to take over. It is obvious to me that you have had no proper training.”

Lilly raged with fury.

“Oh, ho, ho, does it now? Well, just to let you know, I have had no training whatsoever, thanks to my pitiful father who was killed. Whether it is obvious to you or not has nothing to do with me, and as far as I'm concerned it's none of your business in the first place!”

“I take it that the pressure involved with being a new leader is the excuse for your ignorant outburst. However, Lilly, I have been appalled a great many times by a great many creatures, and your futile insult hardly amounts to any of them.”

“If all you come here to do is anger me, I suggest you'd better depart.”

“Then I will. Good bye, Lilly. By the way, you're welcome!” he said with an arrogant grin as he walked away to join his own pack.

Lilly shook her head with irritation. She had never in her whole life met someone as domineering and boorish as him. Although she had to admit, at first, she had almost allowed herself to feel attracted to him. His bulging muscles that rippled from underneath his fur made poor Amak look like a shrimp. Sage, on the other hand, seemed awe-struck.

“Earth to Sage!” Lilly shouted.

“Oh, Lilly, isn't he wonderful?” Sage sighed yearningly.

Lilly's head turned sharply to glare at her friend.

“What did you say?” she growled.

“Lilly, how could you be so nasty to him? After all, he did save your life.”

“Ha! I'd rather let Holly kill me than allow him to sass me like that. What does he think he his? The leader of a pack?”

“He is, Lilly. He is the leader of Current Pack. I'm sorry, I thought I told you.”

“To think that I got all aggrieved over that,” Lilly deplored. “What's the use. I guess I'll never earn any respect from males.”

“Speaking of males, Lilly, I won't be around tonight.”

“Who is it, Sage?”

“Torrid...” she muttered.

“Torrid?! Why of all the nit-witted, brainless, pushy guys would you choose him?”

“Lilly, there's no reason to explode. He asked me, and I said yes. It's just a little date. It's not like I'm totally hooked on him or anything.”

Lilly frowned and walked away, leaving Sage to ponder. Evening came, the sky once again blushing into colors of orange, pink, and yellow. Sage wandered to the feet of the White Cliffs, where she met Torrid. Lilly sat alone in her corner of the cave, pouting herself to sleep...

.....................................................

Lilly looked to the western horizon where the sun drowsily set in the distance. Night would be coming again soon, a lonely time of suffering that lagged on until the first beams of light danced across the dark morning sky. Her muscles ached with the pain from all her traveling during the tedious day. Finding shelter under a lateral tree that slumped to the ground, she sighed to herself, pondering about the revelations of love, her lost love with Torrid. She could only dream, hope, and wish helplessly to herself that she would see him again. Whatever he and Sage had become since she was gone was scarcely a mystery. Her thoughts settled into dreams as she fell asleep...

.............................................................................

Lilly and Torrid exited through a side tunnel that branched from the cave to find a glorious flowery meadow, complete with huge trees with thick vines that hung to the ground. Lilly imaged them to stretch to the sky, touching the clouds with each lacy finger. She only dreamed she could reach so high. Torrid was breathless. The beauty left both wolves speechless, although Lilly had seen it several times before. With Torrid, it seemed so inviting and more beautiful than ever.

“Come on,” she laughed, leaping into the fields of wildflowers.

He followed her, chasing her around, upsetting butterflies that lurked upon what seemed to be every flower. They came to a grassy slope and playfully tumbled down into an expanse of tall wispy grass that stretched to every direction. Lilly stopped to gaze across the distance, the smallest insinuation of a profound smirk invading her expression. Torrid followed her gaze, but could not find what her eyes found so interesting in the distance.

“What's on your mind?” he finally asked after a long period of silence.

“Look at it,” Lilly whispered despondently.

“Look at what? Grass?”

“Freedom. Do you know how many times I have come out here and have tried to run away. I can't even begin to take the first step without feeling that I am bound to the pack. It's like a lifelong sentence as leader, commander, nothing. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to run out there and never return? I would run away with you if I could.”

“Then let's go. Now.” Torrid entered the field, stopping to look back at Lilly who remained at the foot of the slope. “What's the matter. Let's run, Lilly.”

She looked back at the trees that swayed in the wind behind her, then back at Torrid. The irrepressible feeling that tugged at her heart for Torrid diminished as she glanced one last time at the trees.

“I can't,” she growled, making her way up the shallow cliff.

Torrid yearningly wished that she could run away with him. He felt a new feeling toward Lilly other than impunity and deference. She was different. He couldn't reminisce the last time he had ever met another female like her. A patent emotion swept over him, one profound and convicted, yet ineffable. He knew, but did she? He looked back at her as she glanced back at him from the head of the knoll. He smiled and ran to the top with ease to join her.

“Then I can't either,” he replied.

She looked up into his eyes, melting away the shield and natural barrier she normally possessed around others. No one had ever looked so deeply into her heart. She felt his eyes searching her mind, her heart, digging deeper to know the real Lilly.

“What are you saying?” she questioned.

“Lilly, I think that I am falling in love with you.”

A wave of shock hit Lilly like the tide. Dizziness overcame her in one sweep of exhilaration, a revelation since the day Amak had left. She felt alive again, as if she had been dormant for a month. Whatever sadness had meant in the past had faded into the rays of love and sunshine that beat down gently upon the domain of the field, surrounding them in its arms.

“Torrid,” she begin in almost a laugh. “I don't know what to say. It seems that all the mysteries have been solved. I think I love you too. I feel a feeling I can't explain. Right now, I just feel that I can touch the clouds along with the trees.”

Torrid nuzzled her. Lilly shut her eyes, feeling the texture and muscle of his upper body rubbing her gingerly. A sensation of safety permeated her as she jumped into an invisible pool of credulity. Opening her eyes, the feeling magically ended. Everything wonderful and beautiful vanished as though it had never existed as Lilly locked onto Sage's incredulous glare. She turned and darted back into the mouth of the ominous tunnel that stretched to the main channel of the cave.

“Oh, Torrid, what do we do?” Lilly whispered, concerned.

...............................................................

The harsh rays of the early sun possessing the dull day seemed to thrash Lilly across the back like a belting whip as she heard the sharp cracking click of a gun. Quick as a flash, she was up on her feet, eyes scanning the region of the field vigilantly, ready to detect the slightest motion of movement. The gray field was still as a painting, no life echoed through the blades of long grass that stretched to the horizon.

A single loud gunshot broke the silence, and forced Lilly to become stuck in her frozen position. Her heart rate rose to to an accelerating pace, pounding so fast, she heard nothing else in the stillness of the morning. Her eyes locked onto the small stretch of trees in the far end of the field. Shadows lurked, frozen in place, but she knew the hunter was nearby.

Another shot cracked in the air, and Lilly felt the wind of a bullet brush passed her chest. The brittle branch of the tree beside her shattered into multiple fragments and splinters. Lilly broke for the trees. The hunter had shot from the direction of the sun, to her east, making it impossible for her to see him or predict his motions, but she could predict his plans. Feeling the coarseness of the grass move past, Lilly bolted to the far end of the thin thicket. Her endurance was low due to the lack of nutrients and the amount of traveling in the previous day. The world was nothing but a blinding blur of colorless objects until she came into contact with the prickly woods with a crash. Feeling like