Elements-Book 3-Wishful Thinking

[Lovyoshi]

Approved by Miss Gnomie

Prologue
"That one, Oakpine?"
Iguness stared into the green-black pool and at the face shimmering there. Oakpine nodded.
"He will be a wonderful wolf for the prophecy, don’t you think?"
"Who will his parents be?"
The question came from Zaplon. Oakpine had to think hard.
"We will need two loyal wolves. But there is only one wolf from each future Pack down there."
"Call Henom and Rmnix!" Timeglass insisted.
Two pups bounded happily into the room, tumbling over eachother as they sat.
"You must grant five wolf pups to each Pack leader." Timeglass said. Henom and Rmnix exchanged baffled glances.
"They’re too small, Timeglass." Lakelon murmured. Timeglass glared at him. Turning to the two pups, she breathed on them.
A small cloud appeared, growing until it could have engulfed one of the rocks at Tenrocks. When it faded, two full-grown wolves were in place of the pups.
"Go and grant them, you two. Rmnix will know how." Timeglass waved her tail and the wolves vanished.
"Every hero needs a villain." Oakpine murmured, turning to Iguness. The FirePack wolf dug his claws into the starry ground.
"Not my son, Oakpine. Not Illiban." Oakpine kept looking at him. Iguness didn’t budge.
Oakpine looked at the other leaders. They were all shaking their heads. "Every wolf has a destiny." Oakpine insisted. He stared at the Earth, turning slowly on its axis and traced a claw across its surface.
"Illiban’s destiny crosses with Fa-noor’s."
Iguness shook his head. "I won’t let you do it. Illiban could never murder another wolf. He’s too gentle for that."
"Destiny!" Oakpine cried. "He will if you ask him!"
Frostshin turned to him. "I have read my daughter’s future." she whispered. "Whimalu is ready."
The other leaders nodded slowly. One by one. Eventually, even Iguness gave in with a stiff bob of his head.
"Illiban is ready. His destiny is that of a murderer." Fire glowed in Iguness’s eyes.
"Only at first." Oakpine promised.
"Bishon is ready. His destiny is leading his Pack through the trials of Amber."
"Newana is ready. She sided with ShadowPack as a pup, but she now knows of independence."
"Darnar is ready." Shahlon’s low voice swept through the quiet like a flood. "He will use his strengths and guard his weaknesses."
"Pendola is ready. She will guide her Pack to the death, if she must."
"Whimalu is ready. She is prepared to lead her Pack through any battle, in any war."
Oakpine stepped close to the pool. "Fa-noor is ready. His destiny lies with me soon after he can bring order to his Pack."
"Onamon is ready. He will use his wisdom to guide his Pack, by land or by sea."
"Dagger is ready." The startled wolves turned to face the newcomer, and two figures by his side.
"He will bring trials to all, mostly to ElectricityPack and to pamplobos."
"You can’t be series, Flak." Oakpine cried. "Dagger is not ready to lead AmberPack!"
Flak glanced at Earth, where he could plainly see Henom and Rmnix proclaiming territories. He growled.
"So your children should get all the glory while my son stays in the background? No. Dagger shall lead AmberPack until the day he joins me!"
One of the she-wolves beside Flak stepped forward. "Rust is ready, though he is not my own child. He will lead Foxtrot with all of his might. He must beware the claws of hatred."
"And Fa-fala is ready." It was a winged wolf who spoke. "Though she is not my own either. I am just a representative of a Pack."
Skynote appeared beside her. "Fa-fala has a destiny more confusing then any other, Oakpine."
Oakpine bowed his head. "Fa-fala is ready." he agreed.
"And Claw is ready." Flak growled. Oakpine stared at him. "You speak to Claw? You walk in his dreams? That was not your destiny, Flak."
"It was," Skynote said quietly. "Just as yours was to be father to Fa-noor, Fw-skil, and Fa-fala."
Oakpine scuffed the ground. "I did not know it would end like this!" he wailed. "I would give anything to have Fa-fala remain who she once was!"
"Nevertheless, it was her destiny." Skynote insisted. Turning tail, she stalked off. One by one, the others followed her. Oakpine stared at Earth. Fa-noor was home in his own territory now, watching the pups.
"I give you the nourishment you need." Oakpine said softly. Fa-noor gave each pup another lick before slipping into a small cave under Flatstone.
Oakpine walked slowly around the Earth, searching for Dagger. There he was, the delegate of AmberPack. Oakpine could see the fire glowing in his eyes.
Oakpine moved in front of the pool, still showing the same image. "Good luck, Fa-kon." Oakpine whispered. "Jalu, ahma deci aspa adra. And may you choose a mate you love."
Oakpine lapped the waters, distorting the image.
"I give you my blessing. Your destiny has only just begun."

Chapter 1

Fa-kon blinked away the sand blowing into his eyes.
"Are you sure this is the right way, Seiko?" The silky-brown winged wolf nodded. "This is the way we must go."
Fa-kon nodded and struggled on. Wathin of IcePack slipped next to him. "What do you think Anka meant when she said the foxes would need us?"
Fa-kon and Wathin were the only two wolves who knew foxes roamed this land, and a fox named Anka had shown it to them.
Fa-kon shook his head. "I don’t know."
"My mother used to speak to me as a pup, telling me I was special."
"Who was your mother?" Wathin stared into the desert sands. "Her name was Whinshu. My father was Woeka."
"Why did your mother think you were special? She couldn’t have known about this quest, could she?"
"When I was a newborn, or so Whinshu says, I caught the dreaded blackstorm." Fa-kon drew in a breath. Blackstorm was a disease Fl-mik had caught as well. He had been terribly sick for a quarter-moon-fill.
"Wamon told her that I would probably not make it through the blackstorm, but after an entire moon-fill, I began to grow stronger again. The strange thing is, I remember feeling that sick. A voice whispered to me, "We won’t let you go, Wathin. Just relax."
Fa-kon shook his head. "One of my brothers had blackstorm once. I can imagine how you must have felt."
"Why are you two whispering?" Imalla of FirePack asked loudly. Fa-kon and Wathin glanced over their shoulders.
Imalla and Seiko were trailing behind next to Potho and Duthan. Olf and Ballia brought up the rear, conversing quietly.
Fa-kon turned back to face forward without answering the question, and Wathin did the same. Imalla rolled her eyes. "Canines,"
She looked back, obviously expecting Ballia to agree with her, but Ballia was just gazing at the wolf beside her. Imalla rolled her eyes again and turned to Seiko for support. Seiko did not meet her gaze.
Duthan and Potho were obviously not going to help, so Imalla just stopped talking and squinted into the blowing sand.
"Ballia likes Olf." Wathin noted. Fa-kon nodded. "I know," he whispered. A single figure danced through his mind, and he shook his head to clear it.
They came across two snakes, both of which Wathin spoke to in snakespeak while Vipro, his own snake, hissed encouragingly.
It wasn’t until past Tallight that they finally stumbled upon the foxes.
There were two of them, sitting upon a sand hill. Both of them had black stocking legs, like Fa-kon’s brown ones. The one on the left, the larger, was watching them with a curious expression. The one on the right was swishing his tail and glaring at them.
The wolves wouldn’t have noticed them if the larger one hadn’t called out.
"Hello!"
Fa-kon’s automatic reaction was to stop and turn towards the voice. Being in the lead, his abrupt stopping made Wathin bump into him, and Imalla into Wathin. The rest were far enough behind to stop on their own.
"Hello!" Fa-kon called. He could now plainly see the two figures sitting on the sand hill.
Fa-kon turned his parade towards the hill and they began to climb up it, stopping a few paces in front of the foxes.
"I don’t trust them, Rust," snarled the smaller fox who’d been glaring at them. "Send them away or attack them, I don’t care which." Rust flicked the wolf with his tail, but spoke to the newcomers.
"Don’t mind Claw. He’s in a mood."
Imalla glanced at Wathin. "So I see."
"Well don’t just stand there!" Claw growled. "Move it!" Rust shook his head. "Claw, they’re coming with us." he glared pointedly at the fox until he bowed his head.
"Come on," Rust called over his shoulder as he turned back the way he’d come. "The camp’s this way!"
Claw glared at the wolves and fell into step behind them. Wathin glanced at him and shuddered. "Was I like that at the beginning?"
"Pretty much."
"You know who Claw reminds me of?"
"You?"
"No, a delegate. And Rust is like the alpha. He has that....authority."
Fa-kon knew what Wathin meant. Rust seemed to walk with confidence, knowing he was unmatched by any other. Claw was obviously trying to copy the authoritive pose, but failed miserably and looked like a spoiled pamplobo walking with its nose in the air.
Finally, Rust stopped on a hill. "There it is." Just behind the hill was a camp. There were large rocks, and Fa-kon saw foxes slip out from under them, like dens. One rock was where Flatstone would be in the EarthPack camp. He watched Rust step onto it.
"Foxtrot of the Sands, gather beneath Largerock."
One by one, foxes slipped out of their dens beneath rocks and looked up at their leader. Noone seemed to have noticed the newcomers, still standing on the sand hill.
"I bring great news, we have visitors." He pointed with his nose, and foxes turned and stared at them.

Chapter 2
The two Packs stood facing eachother. Neither of them had very many wolves, but it did not seem to bother them. They were matched nearly evenly.
Without a signal given, both Packs leapt at eachother, screeching and hissing.
Fr-thu threw an IcePack apprentice to the ground. The apprentice writhed in his grip.
"The Pebblefield is on our territory!" Fr-thu hissed.
"Never!" The apprentice cried. He heaved himself from the ground and leaped into the throng.
Fr-thu looked around and saw Fa-dih squirming under a soliwolf only a little larger than her and leaped to her side. He bit the IcePack’s heel, and the IcePack whirled. Fa-dih leaped on him from behind.
The IcePack swiped at Fr-thu’s neck. He ducked, but the claws still scraped his head. A trickle of blood dripped into his eyes. When he blinked, the wolf and Fa-dih were gone.
Fr-thu saw Fy-giw lash out at an IcePack, staring in terror at the gash she’d put on his side.
Fr-thu looked around frantically for his father. He hadn’t needed to worry. Fu-shon was fighting three younger soliwolves by himself.
An IcePack scraped his side, and he whipped around. "Whiff!" he breathed when he saw who it was. He’d met her at the recent Assemblage. The IcePack was looking at him, startled. She quickly retreated, and Fr-thu was attacked by a larger wolf.
The wolf snarled at him. The EarthPack growled at him. Suddenly, he yelped. Fr-thu scrambled free. His sister, Fu-lah had bit the larger wolf’s tail.
Fr-thu’s side hurt where Whiff had torn a patch of fur and left a scar. He raced up the slope to where the mediwolves were waiting.
Fl-mik’s eyes widened when he saw his brother, but he didn’t let it distract him. He rubbed some chewed plants on Fr-thu’s side and forehead. Then he rapidly licked them with his tongue so they would stick.
Fr-thu looked at Fi-nae. Her eyes were wide with panic, but she wasn’t looking at the battle below. Instead, she locked eyes with Wamon. The IcePack mediwolf had a smaller wolf by his side, his apprentice perhaps.
"There," Fl-mik panted. Fr-thu raced down the hill and threw himself on the nearest IcePack wolf. "Whinshu!" another wolf cried, and Fr-thu saw a figure pushing through the crowd.
Fr-thu bit down on the female wolf’s back. She was larger than him, but not too much larger.
"Woeka!" she shrieked. "Look out!" Fr-thu kept his teeth in Whinshu’s scruff, but glanced up. Fo-mon had hurled himself at Woeka, pinning him down.
"Mother!" Whiff cried. Fr-thu started and immediatly lost concentration. Whinshu threw him off her back and he rolled away. Whiff was by Whinshu’s side now. Fr-thu didn’t have time to think about that very much, because suddenly,
"Bishon!"
ElectricityPack wolves were mingling with the rest, swiping at IcePack wolves.
"Hold your ground!" Whimalu demanded from somewhere in the throng.
Another color appeared from the far side, near the FirePack border.
"Onamon!" Whimalu struggled to keep her voice even, but she didn’t do a very good job of it. "Help us, we are outnumbered!"
Onamon ignored her and his wolves began batting at IcePack’s that strayed to near.
Fa-noor’s voice whispered in Fr-thu’s mind. Amidst the Earth and Ice’s fight, yellow and blue’s strength unite.
"Retreat!" Whimalu cried. She led her wolves up their hill. The three other Packs stayed where they were. The IcePacks disappeared over the hill, but Whimalu turned back, hatred gleaming in her eyes.
"Pebblefield will be sought by generations of IcePack wolves, and we will fight to keep it! You may have won this time, Fe-zan, but keep that in mind!"
Whimalu disappeared. Fe-zan turned towards the leaders who had offered their assistance.
"Thank you for helping us. Onamon, I do not mean any offence, but why did you help us instead of Whimalu?"
Onamon’s claws gripped the pebbles beneath them.
"Whimalu is my ally no more. She is uncaring of life. She only fights to prove her strength!" Behind him, the WaterPack wolves hissed their agreement.
Fe-zan blinked in surprise. "All right, then. I thank you again for your assistance. Are any of your wolves hurt?"
Onamon and Bishon shook their heads. Fe-zan nodded. The two Packs began to drift back towards their own territories, but EarthPack stayed behind in Pebblefield.
Pebbles covered the ground like grains of sand. A few large rocks dotted the area. The sun streamed down upon them, so wolves could sun themselves.
Fr-thu sniffed the air, puzzled. Following his nose, he found a deep ditch between Pebblefield and IcePack territory. A few rocks were at the bottom.
Fe-zan did a quick head count and froze. One wolf was missing. He came to stand beside Fr-thu. The rest of the wolves followed, staring down into the ditch.
Fe-zan leaped down onto the largest rock. It made a low groaning noise as it scraped the sides of the ditch. Fr-thu stayed by his alpha’s side the whole time. Fe-zan dropped lower, to the bottom of the ditch. He peeked between a gap in the rocks and drew back. He threw back his head and howled to the sky.
"Fo-mon!"

Chapter 3
Fa-kon’s pelt prickled with unease as at least thirty pairs of eyes turned to him. He heard murmured whispers from the foxes.
Rust motioned to a wolf near the front. "Tag, I want you to guide the newcomers around the camp. Teach them are ways."
Tag fidgeted. "But Rust, surely you do not trust them?"
Rust gazed cooly at Tag. "I trust them." Tag dipped his head and stood up. Calling up to the wolves, he said, "It’s ok, we don’t bite friends."
Slowly, Fa-kon made his way down the slope to stand beside Tag, followed by the others. He could tell they were attracting curious stares and kept glancing at them, Potho in particular.
"The gathering is over," Rust announced. Slowly, the foxes began to disperse. Tag dipped his head at Rust.
"You know Rust already, he is the commander. And there’s Claw. He’s the proxy."
Tag hesitated and led them to a rock where a few fox pups were running around.
"This is Nursery Rock. The pups and vixens are sheltered here."
"Doesn’t vixen mean female fox?" Potho asked suddenly. Tag glanced at him. "Perhaps, but we use it to mean female fox with pups to nurse."
Tag moved on across the clearing. "This is the seniors den." he lowered his voice. "Elderly foxes come here."
"Is there someone out there?" a voice snapped. Tag flinched. "That’s Soot. He’s the only pure-black fox I’ve ever seen. He’s Rust’s brother."
"Hush, Soot." Another voice said. This one sounded frailer, but soothing.
"And that’s Luie. He’s also a sibling of Rust." And Rozel must be sleeping. She’s my...mother."
Tag went to the right, apparently determined to circle his way around the entire clearing.
"This is Brave Rock. They train with their mentors until they have learned all they need to know."
Two braves peered from under the rock. Fa-kon was amazed at how it did not crush them. Tag pointed at each one with his tail.
"That’s Bright and that’s Heat. They’re two of our braves."
Bright and Heat withdrew under the rock. Tag moved on.
"This is Knight Rock. When a fox has completed brave training, they become a knight. I am a knight. Knights can train braves."
Like soliwolves. Fa-kon thought. "In our land, I’m a...knight."
Tag glanced at him and led them to Largerock. "This is Largerock, where the commander addresses us. Beneath Largerock, the commander sleeps."
Fa-kon followed Tag to the next rock. He quite liked the shy fox’s quiet voice.
"This is Herb Rock. It is where the herb fox gathers herbs so she can treat injured foxes."
"Back home, my brother is our...herb wolf." Fa-kon said proudly. All the talking and whispers around them stopped abruptly as foxes stared at Fa-kon with interest. Even Tag looked startled.
Rust came over. "Is something wrong, Tag?" Tag glanced at him nervously. Fa-kon stepped forward.
"I didn’t mean any offence, Rust. I just said that my brother was a med-an herb wolf."
Rust dipped his head to one side. And laughed. The barking call startled Fa-kon.
"The reason they are surprised is because herb foxes can only be she-foxes. That is why they were surprised to hear of your brother."
Fa-kon exchanged a glance with Wathin. Wathin blinked back at him. A kind of, Noooo idea what they’re talking about sort of blink.
Rust nodded to Tag. "I’ll introduce them to the rest of the foxes, Tag."
Tag looked relieved and sprinted away. Fa-kon shifted on his paws. Rust walked through the foxes and pointed each one out to their party.
"That’s Thorn," he said, motioning to a fox sitting besides Claw. Claw bared his teeth, and Thorn narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That’s Thistle, that’s Ash, and those two braves are Night and Storm."
A single fox rubbed against Rust’s flank. Fa-kon had a suspicion it was Rust’s mate.
"This is Rain." Rust said, turning to them. Rain gave the wolves a friendly hello and turned back to Rust.
"Have you seen Trouble?"
Rust shook his head. "I think Streak was planning on taking him out to the Oasis for a bath. Check when she gets back."
Olf pricked up his ears at that word. "Oasis?" Rust glanced at Rain. "I believe our guests would like to see. Could you spare the time?"
Rain nodded. "Anything for you, Rust. Come on...?"
"Fa-kon," Fa-kon said, waving his tail. He gestured at the others in turn.
"Imalla, Ballia, Seiko, Duthan, Potho, Wathin, and Olf."
Rain nodded and led the way out of the fox camp. Fa-kon could hear Rust muttering to himself as he watched them.
"Potho? So that’s his name."
Fa-kon glanced back at the TimePack wolf. Potho had obviously heard, because his fur was prickling and his ears were pricked. What does Rust mean?

Chapter 4
Rain and the wolves stood on a sand hill, staring down at Oasis. A fox was sitting by the edge. A smaller one was splashing in the water.
"Trouble!" Rain called. Both brave and mentor jumped. Rain slid down the hill, the wolves stumbling after her.
Trouble crawled out of the water and shook himself, sending drops of water in all directions. He stared in shock at the wolves.
"Who are they, Mother?"
Before Rain could answer, Olf, unable to control himself any longer, shouted, "Water!" and took a flying leap into the Oasis. A spray of water doused all who stood, and cleared to reveal Olf splashing happily in the water. Although Fa-kon was soaked and his pelt was sagging, he was even more concerned about Imalla.
She had jumped back, but still hadn’t avoided the worst of the spray. Her once-fiery pelt was doused, hissing and crackling. Her teeth were bared and her ears were pressed flat against her head. Her claws had slid out of their sheaths, which startled Rain more than Imalla’s wet pelt and fiery eyes.
"I didn’t know wolves could sheath their claws. We’ve met a few wolves, but their pelts were grey and dull. Their claws could not be sheathed."
Imalla looked down at her claws. "Aren’t baby foxes called kits, and not pups?" she retorted, flexing her claws.
Now it was Fa-kon’s turn to be surprised. "How did you know that?" he asked Imalla. She had shaken off most of the water, but her pelt was still damp.
Trouble, who had hidden behind his mentor Streak, peered out at the wolves.
"Who are you, and where did you come from?"
Potho bent down to Trouble’s level. "We are wolves, and we came from a land behind the mountains and across a long stretch of Notail land."
Trouble’s brow wrinkled. "Notails? Oh, you mean the Twotrotters. They come around here every once in awhile, but they never stay long."
Ballia and Wathin looked up from lapping the water. Olf was still swimming, but he had begun to climb out. Imalla shook herself again, and Fa-kon was grooming sand out of his neck fur. Rain stood up.
"I guess we should be going now."
Without waiting for an answer, she trotted up the sand hill and waited at the top. "Coming?"
Fa-kon and Imalla didn’t hesitated. The two wolves were up the hill and down the other side before Rain could blink. The others followed a little more slowly. Trouble cast them wary glances as he trailed beside Streak.
Fa-kon and Imalla waited less than patiently at the bottom of the hill. Though no one else noticed, Fa-kon saw Olf fall into step beside Ballia, and their pelts brushed together without sparking.
Rain took the lead again and brought them back to the camp. Fa-kon stared at the sun. Tallight had already come and gone. He shivered despite the heat; Wathin had become exhausted with the temperature and had finally accepted to ignore it.
Inside the camp, their escort vanished underneath Largerock, followed by Trouble and a small she-fox Fa-kon didn’t recognize. The wolves were left alone in the clearing.
Almost alone.
Claw and Thorn were perched atop Knight Rock, glaring down at them. Fa-kon sighed. Wathin growled and flicked back his ears. Imalla settled in front of Largerock and began grooming the sand out of her fiery pelt.
Fa-kon felt his thoughts drift towards Rust and Rain. They must trust the wolves very much to allow them to walk straight into the heart of the camp.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Rust slipped out from under Largerock and leaped on top of it. Rain, Trouble, and the unknown she-fox settled beside the wolves.
"Foxtrot of the Sands, gather beneath Largerock."
Foxes slipped out from under rocks and joined the others in front of Largerock. Claw and Thorn followed suit, muttering.
"Our visitors can stay as long as they wish," Rust continued, drawing hisses and growls from the foxes. "While they are here they will learn our ways and be treated with respect. They may sleep under Knight Rock."
Loud enough for all to here, Claw remarked to Thorn, "I’m not sharing a den with those freaks." He bounded up on Largerock beside his commander. "Look at their bizarre colors. They are wolves who can sheathe their claws. Does anyone beside me believe they are odd? I say they should be driven out!"
"Me too!" Thorn snarled. Rust nosed Claw.
"Who is the commander, Claw? I am. I make the decisions for Foxtrot."
Claw leaped off the rock and turned to face Rust. "Don’t blame me when they kill you in your sleep! They are spies, they came to learn are weaknesses so they can attack us!"
"That’s a lie!" Wathin leaped to his paws, fur bristling along his spine. Fa-kon tugged his tail. "Wathin, hush." Rust seemed to ignore the outburst.
"Claw, you are proxy. I am commander."
Claw spat and sputtered, then turned tail and vanished into the throng. Thorn followed him. Rust turned to the wolves, and something bounced against his chest that Fa-kon hadn’t noticed before.
It was bizarre shaped and black colored.
It was the amulet.

Chapter 5
Fe-zan and Fu-shon picked Fo-mon’s body up from the ground and carried it back to camp. Fa-ling stepped out from her den and trotted over to them, stopping short when she saw who they carried.
Fe-zan and Fu-shon laid Fo-mon at the base of Flatstone. One by one, the wolves came to lick his fur one last time.
Fr-thu stood next to Fy-giw, who was trembling. He leaned down to touch his uncle’s nose. "Good-bye, Fo-mon. You are gone, but you are here inside of me."
Fy-giw pressed her muzzle into Fo-mon’s fur. "I will make you proud, Fo-mon." she whispered, so quietly Fr-thu could not hear. "I can no longer stay here. I will find the place you spoke of while you were alive. I know it is not far." Then she too moved away.
With their final respects paid to their brother, Fe-zan, Fu-shon, Fa-ling, and Fi-nae carried him across the clearing. All the wolves helped dig a hole, and the four older ones lowered Fo-mon.
The hole was covered up again. Fo-mon slept beside Fa-noor now, hunting in Starcoat with him.
Do not be afraid. Fo-mon whispered in Fr-thu’s ear. I have peace here, and can be with Fa-noor. I am watching your brother now. He will return to you in two and three quarters of a moon-fill.
Fr-thu scuffed the ground. But I want him here now!
Patient. Take care of Fa-ling. Her pups will arrive tomorrow. Care for them.
The voice disappeared. Fr-thu trudged towards the alpotche plant Fa-kon had grown a quarter moon-fill ago. It seemed season cycles ago now.
The alpotche itself had begun to droop, dropping large leaves like tears, as if the plant was mourning for Fo-mon. Or perhaps it missed Fa-kon’s voice, he used to sing to it every day.
Frustrated, Fr-thu dug his claws into the soft earth, feeling the grass tear and give way to dirt beneath. His sister Fa-dih touched his shoulder lightly with her tail. Fr-thu raised his head and looked around the camp.
The four elder wolves were still beside the spot where Fo-mon had been buried. Fy-giw was on the rock that was sunk halfway into the ground, staring off in the direction away from the other Pack’s territories. The direction Fe-zan, Fa-ling, and Fa-dih had seen the Notails. The look in her eyes caused Fr-thu’s pelt to prickle uneasily. She seemed almost....hungry.
Fu-lah, Fr-thu’s other sister, was pacing in circles. Round and round. Round and round.

—

Fe-zan raised his tail to signal the others to halt. The full moon shone brightly. It was nearly half a moon-fill since Fo-mon’s death. Fa-kon and Seiko had been gone for nearly three quarters of a moon-fill.
Fe-zan raced down the hill and stopped near the entrance to the mountains. EarthPack was alone at the entrance.
They didn’t have to wait long before FirePack, ShadowPack, and TimePack poured over the hill. The mountain creaked and split apart near the base, forming the shape of a wolf’s ear, but much larger. The Packs filed in.
Fe-zan took the Earthstone and watched Illiban, Darnar, and Pendola take theirs. Fe-zan leaned down to examine a vine near the base of the rock. Fr-thu was sure it had not been their last time.
The other Packs came in, Onamon, Whimalu, Newana, and last of all, Bishon.
"You look like you’ve brought your entire Pack, Bishon." Onamon commented, echoing Fe-zan’s thoughts. "Even little pups."
Bishon didn’t say anything, but bounced on Electricitystone and nodded at Illiban to begin the traditional welcome.
"Brothers of Wolfhood!"
"We gather this day to speak of our lives."
"To give well-wishes and to share thoughts!"
"To tell tales and share traditions!"
"Only Time will tell of our deeds, unless we share them with eachother!"
"Just like the ice that can be melted and frozen, life is unpredictable, and for the sake of our kin we must enjoy it!"
"We must praise Skyhigh and Skynote for all gathered here tonight!"
"So gather tonight with other Wolves. Join in a conversation. Be free!"
Illiban stood. "Prey is running well in the Great Volcano. There are more firesnakes and cinderbirds then we need. One of our wolves, daughter of Ilzan, is missing. Her name is Imalla. If anywolf finds her, she must return home."
All attention turned to Bishon as he slowly rose to his paws.
"ElectricityPack must leave." The clearing was silent. Bishon continued. "Some of our wolves have already gone missing. Including Bivu, Bix, Ballia, and my son Binth."
Bishon turned apologetically to Fe-zan. "The pawprints of wolves lead into your territory. We have no choice but to believe your wolves took them."
Hisses and protests of outrage came from EarthPack. EarthPack wolves sprang back from the ElectricityPack wolves and flattened their ears.
"Silence!" Bishon’s cry quieted many, but not all. Several wolves still muttered unhappily.
"That is all I have to say. We are leaving this land to find a new home, beyond EarthPack and IcePack."
Newana rose. "None of my soliwolves are gone."
The rest of the leaders stood up and chorused loudly, calling out the names of who was missing. Fe-zan’s voice was loudest.
"Duthan! Potho! Wathin! Fa-kon! Olf!"
"But why four from ElectricityPack, and only one from all the others? Minus Newana, of course. Where could they have gone?"

Chapter 6

After Fe-zan restored order, the Assemblage continued. After Olf had finished his announcement, Fy-giw stood up and turned to face Fe-zan.
"Fe-zan, if I may speak?"
Fe-zan nodded hesitantly. Fy-giw trotted in front of the Sunstone and Moonstone and faced the curious faces of the wolves, including the EarthPack wolves.
"I am leaving the Packs to become a pamplobo."
Stunned silence fell over the clearing. Fy-giw’s siblings pressed forward around her.
"You’re leaving us Fy-giw?" Fa-dih whimpered.
"But why?" Fr-thu pressed. "Don’t you care about us anymore?"
"It was my destiny," Fy-giw said. Was that sadness Fr-thu detected in her voice? "The battle at Pebblefield proved that." An IcePack wolf hissed in satisfaction, and one of his Packmates cuffed him on the ear.
"There!" Fu-lah whispered. "What’s that?"
Fr-thu knew without even looking. Sparkles began to appear on the Sunstone and Moonstone, twinkling and dancing until they stood on top of them.
Henom and Rmnix.
Again.
It seemed like they were at every Assemblage now a days.
Henom leaped lightly off his rock, followed by Rmnix. The EarthPack wolves drew back into the crowd, leaving Fy-giw alone with the Sun and Moon wolves.
"Are you sure this is what you wish to do?" Henom asked. Rmnix circled behind Fy-giw.
Fy-giw didn’t hesitate. "Yes Henom. It is."
Henom nodded gravely. Then something extraordinary happened.
He licked her. Rmnix did the same.
It was not the licks themselves that were amazing, it was the tiny golden stars that formed from the spot where the tongues had been, spreading outward like waves. Wherever they passed, Fy-giw’s green pelt flickered and turned brown. Her wood-colored legs shimmered to match the same color.
When they were done, Fy-giw opened her eyes and sat down heavily. "All the colors....are gone." She sounded disappointed. Then she saw herself.
"I’m not green anymore, at least I don’t think I am. And my tail! It looks...I don’t know....normal."
Henom licked her head again, this time without the sparks. "You are a pamplobo now, my dear. You are free to leave EarthPack when you return home.
Suddenly, Fy-giw swayed. "Return home? But what about Fa-kon...." her voice trailed off, then returned in a whisper. "I didn’t even get to say good-bye."
Rmnix brushed her flank with his tail. Find peace in your travels, and-" he paused and looked up at the moon and closed his eyes. Then he opened them again.
"May Skynote go with you."

—

Fi-nae nosed through the bracken, her stomach knotted with guilt. Why hadn’t she realized where this would lead her?
She pushed aside the frond of a fern and continued on. Her paw slipped in a hole and she hissed in annoyance.
"Rabbit spit."
She shook her head. Did rabbits even spit? Pushing the question out of her head, she weaved through a few more tree trunks. There.
Though the border was invisible and no wider than a leaf, she knew the difference. She had been to the border often enough, and besides, the scent changed from trees and earth to frost and ice.
Fi-nae sat down to wait. Soon she began to fidget. He promised tonight. He must be coming, he must be.
"Waiting for someone?" a voice beside her asked. She looked down in surprise to see Fl-mik. She had left him sleeping in the mediwolf den!
Fl-mik frowned across the border. "What are you doing?"
Fi-nae said the first thing that came to her mind. "I’m collecting iceweed."
Fl-mik looked skeptical. "No you’re not. You’ve been sitting here."
Fi-nae tried again. "I’m waiting to ask Wamon if I can collect it first."
Fl-mik huffed. "Dawn is coming." He turned, tail brushing Fi-nae, and stalked back to camp. Fi-nae breathed a sigh of relief and turned her attention back to the border.
A shadow wavered. She squinted. Relief flooded through her. He came!
Wamon picked his way delicately across the ice. He looked around. "Are we alone?" he mouthed. Fi-nae nodded, glancing behind him.
"You didn’t bring Winnella, did you?"
Wamon shook his head. "Sleeping soundly at camp."
Fi-nae watched Wamon come closer until he was right beside her, his scent mixing with hers and making her feel safe.
Two wolves on the border. Friends. Just friends. Mediwolves can have friends in other Packs, can’t they? It’s not like they have to fight them. One wolf pads over to the other one. Just friends. Nothing wrong with friends.
Then she remembered what she had come to tell her about, and the image fell to pieces. She took a breath. This is why, at the Assemblage, she has asked if he’d see her tonight at the border. Alone.
She took another breath. This is what you always wanted, right?
No. The sane part of her argued. It’s not.
Four little words. That’s all you need to say. Just four little words.
Fi-nae butted her head against Wamon’s shoulder and spoke those four words.
"I’m expecting our pups."

Chapter 7
Fa-kon took a tentative step, crossing the starry ground. He was dreaming. In front of him sat Fa-noor as usual. But this time, Fa-kon froze. This time, another wolf he recognized was there.
"No!"
He raced forward and skidded to a halt, knocking the wolf over and placing both his forepaws on its chest, holding him down.
"Fo-mon." He whispered, licking the tears off Fo-mon’s that fell from himself.
"Fo-mon."
He removed his paws and allowed Fo-mon to get up. Fa-kon turned angrily to Fa-noor, but the other starry figure was no longer there.
"You promised!" he shouted, his voice reverberating strangely. "You promised you’d keep them all safe!"
Fo-mon comforted Fa-kon and wiped the stray tears off his face. "Hush, Fa-kon. I have something....very disturbing to tell you."
Fa-kon turned his head away, but Fo-mon knew he was listening because his ears had pricked up.
"Remember when Fe-zan, you, I, and the others went to the Great Volcano because Illiban was attacking us?"
Fa-kon’s reply was weak and shaky. "Yes."
Remember when he said he hadn’t killed Fa-noor?"
"Yes."
"He was lying."
Fa-kon froze, turning this thought over in his head.
"But that means-"
"The fake fire wolves were nothing but illusions created by Imalla, daughter of Ilzan, the delegate. Illiban, the real Illiban, alpha of FirePack, was the one to kill Fa-noor."
"So then-"
"Imalla didn’t realize she was creating them for such evil purposes. She was just a young apprentice."
Frustrated, Fa-kon asked the question he’d been wanting to ask since he saw Fo-mon.
"How did you die?"
"EarthPack wolves were battling IcePack over Pebblefield. I fell into a ditch and got crushed by rocks."
Fa-kon stared at him. He could hardly believe it.
"You sacrificed your life for a field of rocks?"
Fo-mon swished his tail indignantly.
"It was a symbol!"
"It was a thistlebrained idea!"
"Look," Fo-mon huffed. "If you’re so concerned, get back home. You’ve been gone for nearly a moon-fill. Then maybe Potho-" Fo-mon faltered and didn’t continue.
"What?" Fa-kon asked urgently. Fo-mon turned his back on his nephew. "Nothing. It wasn’t important."
But it must be important. Fa-kon awoke under Knight Rock, the familiar bodies of his friends around him, and unfamiliar foxes as well.
As he blinked against the glare of the rising sun, he noticed Rust organizing a group of foxes. He sprinted over to listen.
"Thistle, take Ash, Night, Palm, and Storm on a hunting patrol."
Fa-kon hesitated, then said, "May I come?" Claw, who was listening, hissed in annoyance, but Rust looked thoughtful.
"You need to learn how to hunt in the desert. You may join the patrol."
He turned and watched Potho stumble sleepily toward them and sighed. "Yes, I suppose you can go on the hunting patrol too."
Potho nodded his thanks and fell into step beside Palm, the fox Fa-kon didn’t recognize. Thistle signaled with his tail and led the way across the sand. Fa-kon found himself trotting beside Night, a female brave.
Night glanced sideways at Fa-kon, watching in amusement as he struggled to understand what the foxes were doing.
They hunched low, scuttling across the sands like the hairy eight-legged spiders Fa-kon had seen weave cobwebs in the forest. Every once in awhile, Thistle, leading the patrol, would abruptly change direction, nose to the sand.
Despite Fa-kon’s troubles, Potho seemed to be quite good at tracking. Fa-kon felt like an outsider while the rest of the patrol was as synchronized as a school of fish.
Once, Thistle signaled a halt. They were just below the crest of a sand hill. Fa-kon peered over the edge and saw a lizard basking on a rock. Thistle waited.
"Why can’t we get it?" Fa-kon whispered. The lizard had hardly moved. Above, a large bird circled. Still, Thistle waited.
Just as Fa-kon was about to rush out and pounce on the lizard, the hawk above dove swiftly down. Before the lizard could move, the hawk was upon it.
"Now!" Thistle hissed, and the foxes leaped over the hill and attacked the bird, Fa-kon and Potho a second behind.
The hawk screeched and flapped, trying to shake off its attackers, but the foxes were stronger, and soon the hawk lay at their feet.
"That was amazing!" Fa-kon exclaimed.
"And we get the lizard too." Thistle said happily.
Potho nodded to the foxes. "Great catch!"
In the sky above them, two larger birds circled. Thistle glanced up. "Buzzards," he muttered, picking the lizard up in his mouth. "Always trying to steal our food." He turned to the wolves.
"Never trust a buzzard. They’ll wait until your back is turned and snatch what is left."
Fa-kon watched Potho, Ash, and Palm pick up the hawk and follow Thistle. He trailed behind.
I could understand that hawk. And the buzzard. They send out the same message as the foxes. ‘Don’t let us starve. We want to survive too.’

Chapter 8
Fl-mik stirred in the mediwolf den. He blinked open his eyes, relieved to find Fi-nae huddled in sleep. Then he paused. It was quiet. Too quiet. Not even the birds chirped their usual morning call.
A wail split through the camp. Fl-mik struggled to his feet. Fi-nae followed him, blinking like she’d only just gotten to sleep.
The Withomere den. Fa-ling!

—

Fr-thu slept through the wailing. He didn’t wake up until the sun was over the horizon. He yawned and stretched, the tip of his tail brushing his spine. Then Fl-mik beckoned him outside.
"Fa-ling had her pups."
Fr-thu had forgotten Fo-mon’s message of Fa-ling’s pups arriving after the Assemblage.
"Can I see them?"
Fl-mik hesitated. "They’re different."
"Different how?"
"They have no color. They seem almost like pamplobos. Fa-ling thinks Skynote is punishing her for her daughter leaving the Pack, and these pups are a constant reminder of pamplobos."
Fr-thu drew in a breath. His own mother thinking Skynote would punish her for Fy-giw’s own choices? "Please. Take me to Fa-ling."
Fl-mik nodded slowly. He flicked his tail. "Come on, then. Let’s go."
Fl-mik peered through the entrance to the Withomere den. "Fa-ling? Fr-thu wants to....see the pups."
Fr-thu could see the dark green eyes of his mother glowing strangely in the dark. "Come in then, Fr-thu. Come in, Fl-mik."
Fr-thu padded into the den. Fa-ling raised her head.
"What are their names?" Fr-thu asked, nuzzling the pups and trying to pretend they were normal EarthPacks, with green fur and branchy tails of their own.
Fa-ling’s eyes sparkled mischievously and she swatted at Fr-thu with her tail playfully. "You know that’s for Fe-zan to decide."
Fr-thu did know. He licked the pups one last time before leaving the den and sprawling on the rock sunk halfway into the ground.
Fl-mik wandered by with a mouthful of herbs, heading towards the Withomere den. Fr-thu flicked out his tail to stop his brother.
"Where’s Fi-nae?"
For a moment, Fr-thu thought he saw a flash of fear in Fl-mik’s eyes, but then the mediwolf apprentice dropped his herbs at his feet.
"She was gathering iceweed last night. She’s sleeping now. She brought home a good bit though."
"Do you know what iceweed is used for?"
"Cooling fevers. You eat it." Fl-mik wrinkled his nose. "It’s sort of salty, and it’s really cold."
"You tasted it?"
"Yeah."
He picked up his herbs and left before Fr-thu could ask anything more.
All around him, wolves were coming out to enjoy the morning. Fu-shon returned from hunting, carrying a fat rabbit in his mouth. The entire Pack was healthy, even though it was mid color-tree. Even slender Fi-nae was looking well fed.
Fr-thu shivered as a breeze blew through the camp. He watched as Fl-mik called through the leader’s den to Fe-zan. He watched as Fe-zan emerged, and Fl-mik led him to the Withomere den.
Fr-thu let his paws lead him to Fo-mon’s resting place, beside Fa-noor’s. The vines coiled lovingly around the tree nearby.
"Can I practice some battle moves with you, Fa-dih?" he begged his sister. She looked up from talking with Fu-lah and wrinkled her nose.
"No."
Feeling frustrated, hurt, and more than a little discouraged, Fr-thu stalked to the main camp entrance, the direction of Pebblefield and the FirePack border.
Brushing aside the frond of a fern, Fr-thu put his head to one side. He sniffed again to be sure. Fi-nae’s scent. It was old, but not too old, perhaps from only a few hours ago.
Putting his nose to the ground, Fr-thu tracked the scent, picking it up from where Fi-nae had brushed against roots and rocks.
Finally, he stopped at the border. A shiver ran up his spine, not just from cold. The IcePack border.
Fr-thu had noticed Fi-nae’s distracted look whenever he mentioned IcePack, and recalled how she had looked at Wamon during the battle of Pebblefield.
Fr-thu curled his lip in disgust. A growl arose in his throat. Were Fi-nae’s distractions and the trail here possibly related?
Fr-thu pricked his ears at another scent. This one too was faint, but defiantly recent. Feeling like a traitor, Fr-thu stepped across the border. The scent was stronger here. He followed the trail deeper.
The young wolf recognized the scent from Assemblages. Wamon. He tried to relax, to say, The two mediwolves are just gathering herbs and talking about which herb is best to treat what, but he knew without proof that he was wrong. What Fi-nae and Wamon was doing was more than that.
Fr-thu took a few more steps, cautious at first and fully aware of the cold, before bolting across the ice. He skidded to a halt, sending up a spray of ice and snow. Lifting his nose and parting his jaws slightly, he sensed IcePack.
Duh. It’s their territory, of course you smell them!
A scent drifted on the breeze, definitely recent.He turned back towards EarthPack territory and started to run.
A wolf landed on him, pinning him to the ice and knocking the breath out of him.
"And what do you think you’re doing?"
Chapter 9
The hunting patrol arrived at the Foxtrot camp with two hawks, three lizards, and even-Fa-kon’s pelt bristled when he thought about it-a scorpion.
Trouble approached him warily, followed by the young she-fox Fa-kon had seen.
Trouble dipped his head respectively. "Greetings, Fa-kon. You know that I am Trouble, son of Rust and Rain, and this is my sister, Sky."
Sky placed a paw in front of her and dipped her head. Fa-kon took the gesture to be a friendly greeting and repeated the action.
Sky turned to Trouble. Trouble nodded. "Do you want to hunt with us, Fa-kon?"
Trouble’s gaze lingered on Fa-kon, and then past him. Fa-kon glanced back to see Potho sitting beside Imalla, Ballia, Wathin, Olf, Seiko, and Palm?
Potho looked up. Trouble flinched. Why he was so afraid of the friendly wolf, Fa-kon didn’t know.
A pelt brushed against his, soft and comforting. Seiko. "I will hunt with you," she said. Trouble and Sky nodded. "I’ll lead," Sky suggested shyly.
With the foxes in front of him and Seiko beside, Fa-kon could almost imagine what it would be like to live here.
Trouble saw the two wolves and whispered something to Sky. Sky let out a shriek of laughter. Before they’d even left the camp, Fa-kon felt he’d done something wrong.
But the foxes didn’t see it that way. They ran circles around the wolves, chanting.
"Do you two love eachother?"
Flustered, Fa-kon shook his head quickly, feeling Seiko hesitate.
"Yes, you do!" Sky cried. "I’ve seen that look before, on Tag’s face when he looks at Streak."
"And when you look at Bright." Trouble teased. Sky’s face turned redder than Fa-kon thought possible. "That’s different."
"Why? Because it’s you?"
"Stop it," Fa-kon interrupted. "We’re supposed to be hunting." He didn’t show it, but Sky’s comment about him and Seiko had really rubbed his fur the wrong way.
Trouble hung his head, but just for a moment. "I’ve never been hunting without Streak before!" he shouted, spinning around. Fa-kon shared a glance with Seiko.
Uh-oh. Should we have asked first?
Sky padded up to Seiko. "I’ve seen your wings," she said shyly. "Can you fly for us?"
In response, Seiko opened her wings. "Wow," Sky breathed, taking a pace back. "They’re beautiful."
Seiko leaped into the air and circled like a buzzard before landing at a trot on the sand.
Fa-kon watched Trouble scuttle across the sand hill, and sprinted after him. "Will you teach me to hunt better?" he whispered. Trouble raised his tail from the ground and peered over the hill. "Shhh. There’s a lizard."
Fa-kon watched as Trouble waited, though he could see no bird in sight. After a moment though, one appeared, and he flinched.
Get away from here! He mentally said. The only reply at first in his mind was a startled screech.
But that’s a lizard. I’m hungry.
It’s a trap. The fox will get you.
The hawk cawed and dove for the lizard. Trouble’s tail wiggled. The hawk stopped a moment before the sand, but Trouble had already leaped, Sky on his heels. The bird swooped upwards, circled, dived, grabbed the lizard as it was fleeing, and flew away.
Trouble hissed angrily and stalked back to Fa-kon and Seiko. He scratched at the sand and didn’t say anything as Sky scurried across the ground, ears pricked and tail swishing.
Fa-kon managed to catch his own hawk, although guilt followed him around for the rest of the day. He had been granted the ability to communicate with these creatures, and here he was hunting them! But he couldn’t let Foxtrot starve, not after they’d graciously shared their lizards and birds with the wolves.
When the hunters returned to the camp, the sun was high in the sky, ready to begin it’s descent. Fa-kon quickly dropped his birds on the pile in the center of the camp and watched Seiko do the same. Then he turned to look for Potho. They had to talk.
He found the purple wolf sunning himself atop Knight Rock with Palm.
"Potho!"
The TimePack wolf pricked up his ears and rolled to his stomach. Palm did the same.
"Potho, I need to talk with you."
Potho yawned. "Not right now. Palm promised to show me something. A special tree."
Fa-kon swished his tail angrily. This wasn’t the shy wolf he had traveled with.
"You’re welcome to come along," Palm called to the EarthPack wolf’s back. "And bring the winged wolf with you."
"Thank you," Fa-kon said through gritted teeth. "Seiko and I will join you momentarily."
When he returned with Seiko, Potho and Palm were on the sand hill that faced the oasis. Without speaking, the two vanished over the hill with Fa-kon and Seiko following them.
They walked for awhile, turning right halfway to the oasis and walking more. Then they came upon a single tree, hiding behind a rocky outcropping.
"This," Palm said with a happy sigh, "is the loving tree. Legend has it that if a fox carves into this tree, their first letter and their lover’s, it will come true."
Fa-kon watched Palm glance at Potho, and saw a look in her eyes. I’ve seen that look before, on Tag’s face when he looks at Streak.
Fa-kon’s fur tingled at the memory of Sky’s voice. He had seen that look before.
Ballia and Olf look that way when they see eachother.

Chapter 10

Fr-thu’s tongue felt heavy. He tried to lift it to say something, but it dropped down in his mouth.
"Come on," Whiff snarled. "You’re coming to camp."
Obediently, Fr-thu got to his feet and padded after the beautiful she-wolf. He shook his head to clear it. First Fi-nae and Wamon, he wasn’t going to let that happen with him, nuh-uh.
After awhile, Whiff stopped and looked him over. Fr-thu saw uncertainty in her eyes, like she should have thought more than bringing a wolf from a rival Pack into the heart of their territory. Then she gave a snort and tossed her head. Her long fur cloaked her thin frame, and her bangs fell into her eyes. Like Seiko’s.
Whiff brought Fr-thu closer to the camp. Two white wolves padded towards them uncertainly.
"Oi! Whiff! Have you brought us some brekkers?"
Whiff rolled her eyes and spoke to the wolf through her gritted teeth, which were as sharp as splinters of ice.
"Wang, I wish you would stop with that funny accent! Ever sense that pamplobo came here, you’ve been talking strange!"
"‘Tis not a way to be talkin’ to your brother, lass."
Fr-thu had pricked up his ears. "A pamplobo?"
Whiff glanced at him, her amber eyes narrowing. "A small black one came by. He was wandering and called himself a Scottish Terriar. Watch out for the loner, he’s a tricky one."
Fr-thu nodded. "I’ll remember."
The other white wolf that had arrived with Wang was much smaller, an apprentice maybe, but quite a small one. He saw Fr-thu and bared his fangs. Fr-thu’s ears flicked back in surprise.
"I know you! You were at the battle, I pinned you down."
H.
The wolf kept the sneer on his face. Wang rolled his eyes. "Now Wio, ‘tis only a single wolf. Smile nice, there’s a good chappie!"
Wio ignored his mentor, gazing with hostility at the wolf who’d intruded on his territory.
"I’m taking him to Whimalu, so I’ll need you to move." Whiff said authoritively, tossing her head again.
Her brother politely stepped out of her way and Whiff continued heading to the camp. Fr-thu could see it now. It was a collection of boulders stacked together, shielding the camp from the wind and cold.
Whiff hesitated at the entrance, then ducked between a split boulder hidden by a smaller one. Fr-thu followed.
Whiff marched straight into the camp. Fr-thu slowed his pace and looked around.
The first den he picked out was the mediwolf den. Wamon was outside it, Winnella beside him. Wamon’s eyes flashed for a second, perhaps in fear or puzzlement, but Winnella gazed cooly and at Fr-thu.
He would have liked to have the chance to get to know the camp, but Whiff wasn’t giving him time for that. Whimalu had come out of her den, a little spot hidden behind a cluster of rocks layered with moss, and was coming towards him. She jerked her head at her den entrance, and Fr-thu obidiently followed.
I’m like Fa-kon, getting into too much trouble.
The den was cozier and more sheltered than it had looked. The only light came from the entrance and from a few cracks. The den was also larger than it looked, and it was warm. Fr-thu saw a section of moss, feathers, and leaves that must have been Whimalu’s bedding.
Whimalu watched Fr-thu hotly. Fr-thu kept his face expressionless.
"So you thought you could storm across the border and into your worst enemy’s territory, and they wouldn’t notice?"
Fr-thu scuffed the ground. He didn’t say anything. Whimalu flung some leaves at him, muttering something under her breath. Instantly, Fr-thu felt like sharing everything with Whimalu. But not yet.
"How did you do that?" he asked dizzily. Three dock leaves were scattered around him. Whimalu spat angrily and tried again. This time, Fr-thu was ready.
"You’ve been learning magic that only Skyhigh and Skynote are supposed to have! You’ve been disobeying everything. And for what?"
Whimalu laughed cruely. "This world is made up of magic, young fool! How do you think we got our pelts? How do you think you can retract our claws?"
"But," Fr-thu protested.
"How little you know, pup."
That pushed Fr-thu over the line. Instantly, he was on his feet.
"I’m not a pup," he said coldly. "I’m a soliwolf."
Whimalu yawned, bored. "Pup, soliwolf, it will make no difference once I am leader of all."
The leader of IcePack leaned in close, her muzzle almost brushing Fr-thu’s.
"Think of it. The Packs will join together and be one Pack. There will be no fighting over prey come no-leaf. But then again, you’ve never experienced a no-leaf."
"How could you do something like this? You know they’d never be peace!"
Whimalu snorted. "You young ones are all the same. You don’t like change and you can’t see a good plan when it’s in front of your face!"
Fr-thu eyed Whimalu’s muzzle, a claw-length away from him. "You were saying?"
Whimalu shook her head. "Go home." She threw a pawful of moss over his head. "And now you won’t be able to share our meeting."
Fr-thu hesitated, fighting the urge to tell Whimalu about Fi-nae and Wamon.
Whiff accompinied him as he raced across the ice, skidding wildly, until he crossed the border into his own territory. Only then did he slow his pace and she halted.
"Hello, Fr-thu!" Fu-shon, the new delegate, said cheerfully. "There’s someone we want you to meet."
Fr-thu felt his heart sink. There in the middle of the clearing, talking to Fe-zan, was a small black dog.

Chapter 11

Fa-kon saw letters scratched into the tender bark of the loving tree. He knew about letters, of course, all animals did. Reading and understanding them was a different matter.
Fa-kon expected Potho to carve into the tree, but the wolf looked thoughtful. After a moment, Palm’s eyes darkened.
"Let’s go now," she said briskly. She pointidly turned her back and stalked back to camp. Seiko padded beside the fox to comfort her, while Fa-kon fell into step beside Potho.
"Palm really likes you," he said casually, Potho nodded absent-mindidly. "Yes. She’s been wanting to show me everything." Then the purple wolf paused.
"Is this how Olf and Ballia feel," he murmured to nowolf in particular. "Like they are torn between what they want and what they can’t have?"
Fa-kon studied Potho closely. "Can’t have?"
Potho shook his head. "It’s not important."
Fa-kon blocked Potho from entering the camp. "Can’t have? Can’t have? You can have anything, Potho. All this and more. And you have Imalla, Ballia, Seiko, Duthan, Wathin, Olf and I. We’re your friends. You have everything a wolf could possibly want!"
Potho looked past Fa-kon to where Seiko was sitting beside Palm. "Everything," he whispered. "But love."
Fa-kon shook his head. "Look at Olf and Ballia! Did belonging to different Packs change their feelings for eachother? No. Palm loves you Potho. She loves you as a true friend."
Fa-kon watched Potho consider, nod, and trot towards Palm. "I wish I could say the same for Seiko," he whispered. A voice beside him made him jump.
"Fa-kon,"
It was Olf. He looked distracted and nervous. "Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing what you said to Potho."
The blue wolf wrapped his tail over his front paws. He shook water droplets from his permanantly wet fur, he seemed to absorb water.
"Seiko is your friend, Fa-kon. But she can be more than that. Much more."
Olf paused, eyes staring at Ballia. She had joined Seiko. Palm had trotted off to find somewhere to sulk. Then Olf shifted his gaze back to the EarthPack wolf.
"My heart aches for Ballia no matter where I am, I admit it. I can do anything around her, foolish or not, and she will forgive my mistakes."
Fa-kon strained to decipher what his friend was saying, but it didn’t all make sense.
"Ballia understands me in a way no other wolf can. She can tell what I am feeling, and knows what will make me feel better. Seiko is like that too. But with you. She knows your heart."
Olf sighed. "I don’t know if I’m putting this right or not, I don’t know if you understand."
The blue wolf got to his paws and shook his fur. He started to walk towards Ballia, but stopped and looked back.
"Seiko loves you, never forget that, and don’t take it for granted. Love is a fragile thing. Even one false move can snap it in half. Only true love will overcome the most difficult challanges."
Then Olf trotted away and to Ballia. Fa-kon however, stood on the hill, swaying gently to music only he could here. He needed to be alone. He needed to think.
He thought of going to the oasis, but decided against it. Instead, he trotted across the open desert. He found a nice spot in the crook of two sand hills, dunes Trouble called them. He began to sing.

"When will I find somewolf to love,
When will that somewolf love me back,
When will my heart not ache with hurt,
When will my pain finally ebb away!
Oh Skynote, you can’t be so cruel
As to deny me the wolf I love!
My heart would break in two,
And I’d be lost without my love!
My soul is torn between,
My love and the land it knows!
My heart weeps for Seiko,
And hers weeps for me!
My Seiko, my love.
Did you really think I’d go?
Life’s not worth living, if I can’t be with you!
Oh, Seiko, oh Seiko, oh, oh, my love. It’s true!!!!!"

Twelve plants brushed tender fronds against his legs as they shot upwards. And still Fa-kon sang. He sang until he could hear nothing else. He sang until his voice cracked. And then he sang some more.
When finally he stopped, the plants were high into the sky. Twelve trees, bark rough, with vines twisting, leaves blocking the sun, and branches sticking out grew before him. Fa-kon stared up at them.
He sat there as the sun sank lower. When the sky began to darken, he stood up. He climbed one of the trees. He clawed his way up into the leaves. There he could see the camp.
After a few moments he climbed down. He closed his eyes and breathed in the earthy scent. Dirt and grass grew too, and he almost felt at home.
Fa-kon savored the feeling, knowing soon he’d have to return to the camp. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes.
In front of him was Potho.
The wolf was sitting a few paces away, but when he saw Fa-kon’s eyes were open he leaped to his feet.
The purple wolf wound himself around Fa-kon, eyes shining like stars.
"I did it, I did it!" He cried.
"Did what?"
Potho sat down. "I scratched on the loving tree. And it came true! Palm does love me, and I love her!"
Fa-kon felt jealous.
"Remember I’m older than you by two season cycles," Potho continued. "And Palm said maybe one day we could have pups together!"
Chapter 12
When Seiko saw the loving tree, she shifted her gaze to Fa-kon. Would he scratch? She knew letters too, she knew Fa-kon was an ‘F’ and she was an ‘S’. But the green wolf didn’t move. He watched Potho.
After a moment of awkward silence, Palm turned away. "Let’s go now,"
Seiko could feel waves of hurt flowing from Palm. That was pretty much how she felt herself, discouraged. Maybe Fa-kon didn’t love her like she did him. Maybe he would never love her.
She fell into step Palm. The fox’s eyes were blazing.
"Potho just has a lot on his mind," she whispered. Palm didn’t even look at her. She scuffed the sand, kicking up dust.
"I know how you feel. Fa-kon didn’t scratch either."
Palm looked up at this. She asked one simple question, one Seiko had asked herself many times but had never said aloud.
"Do you love him?"
Seiko did not answer for several steps. Then,
"Yes. I love him more than I can put into words. Even, dare I say it? I love Fa-kon more than Olf and Ballia love eachother."
They had reached the camp. Palm sat down, and Seiko sat beside her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Fa-kon and Potho watching them. After a moment, Potho nodded and trotted towards them.
Seiko moved to let Potho have some space and looked up the hill. Fa-kon was talking to Olf now. Seiko’s heart felt heavy. Did Fa-kon love her?
Ballia padded up beside her. She watched Olf and turned to Seiko.
"I know Fa-kon loves you," she whispered. Seiko studied her friend closely. Ballia was still the youngest, but she had grown to nearly the size of Olf, and she had become wise. Her blue eyes shone and she was calm and relaxed. The white ring of fur around her neck made it look like she was wearing a white version of Rust’s amulet.
Olf stood up and began to come towards them, but turned back to say something to Fa-kon. Seiko stared at the wolf she loved.
He stared down into the camp for awhile before trotting away. Seiko stared after him before following.
Fa-kon trotted across the sand before finding a good spot between some dunes. He wasn’t looking at her, he was looking towards the direction of the land they’d come from. Then he began to sing.
As the words left his mouth, shoots grew. Seiko put her head to one side. Was he singing about her? When he finally sang her name, there was no question whether he loved her. She knew.
Before the end of the song, Potho joined her. Together they stood, tails intertwining as they watched Fa-kon’s back.
Fa-kon finished his song. After a moment he climbed up a tree. She ducked behind a sand dune. Potho went towards Fa-kon.
Seiko peered over the dune and watched as Potho wove around Fa-kon, chatting excitedly. Fa-kon’s shoulders sagged slightly.
Potho trotted up the dune towards Seiko, and Fa-kon followed slowly. He looked at Seiko with a confused expression, but Seiko could almost feel his heart racing.
Potho led the three of them back to camp, his purple coat with yellow sparks snapping quietly.
The first fox they saw when they arrived was Tag. Tag was just leaving camp with his hunting patrol, but he nodded his head.
Inside, Potho slipped away to find Palm, leaving Seiko and Fa-kon in the midst of the camp. Seiko scuffed at the ground awkwardly.
"I’m going to talk to Cindy," she said hesitantly. "You can come to. Maybe when we get home you can teach your brother something."
When we get home. Fa-kon nodded and followed Seiko curiously as she found the den of the herb fox.
Cindy was sitting inside, sorting through herbs. A smaller fox with a mouthful of leaves slipped from behind a crevice in the rock face behind her.
The smaller fox dropped her leaves and dipped her head. "Greetings, Seiko. Greetings, Fa-kon. I am Sage, the Herb Brave."
Cindy looked up and smiled. "Hello, Seiko."
Seiko opened her mouth to answer, but Wathin poked his head through the gap that led outside. Vipro was still coiled smuggly around his neck.
"Fa-kon?"
Fa-kon glanced back at Seiko, then stepped towards Wathin, ducking his head and squeezing through the gap.
Vipro flickered his tongue in Fa-kon’s direction, but didn’t move otherwise. Wathin looked around and led Fa-kon to the center of the camp.
"I overheard two foxes talking. One of them said something about dropping a big rock on Seiko. I’m sorry, I don’t know who it was."
Fa-kon dug his claws into the sand and gripped the grains tightly. "He hates me." Fa-kon whispered. "He wants to cause me pain by hurting the only one I love."
Wathin nodded and looked around. Then he trotted off. Fa-kon glanced around warily. No foxes. He wandered towards Rust’s den. Then he paused and put his head to one side to listen.
A dull thudding made him look behind. On top of the Herb Rock was Claw, rolling a boulder larger than himself. The fox paused and pushed it off the edge just as Seiko slipped out of the den.
"Seiko!"
Fa-kon slammed into her. Seiko spun and landed near the fox pups that were peering out from under Nursery Rock.
Fa-kon closed his eyes as a weight landed on top of him. There was silence.
Then the pain hit.

Chapter 13

"That can’t be right," Henom murmured. Skynote looked up from the greenish pool of water and looked at him.
"It wasn’t supposed to happen, but what is done is done."
"He sacrificed himself for Seiko. There is no truer love than that."
"I know."
Henom slammed his paw down, frustrated. "You have the power to fix it!You can’t just leave it like that!"
"I will if I must. Even my powers have their limits."
The sound of paws scraping against black onyx caused her to glance up. The large gate slid open, showing Fa-noor and Fo-mon.
"Fa-kon has joined us here."
A smaller starry figure hesitantly stepped past the gate. Fa-kon.
Fa-kon stared at Skynote. "Am I....am I dead?"
Skynote nodded.
Fa-kon hung his head and peered into the green water. Then he lifted it again and looked into Skynote’s starry eyes.
"I have to go back."
Skynote swished her tail, a furry weapon bigger than Fa-kon was.
"You can’t. You’re here."
"I’ll find a way. You can’t stop me."
Skynote lowered her large head until it was even with Fa-kon’s.
"Don’t you think I’ve searched every bit of this place? There is no way to go back. None. You’re stuck here forever."
Fa-kon stepped back at the anger in her voice, but held his head high.
"I will find a way. Just wait."
Without waiting for an answer, he spun around and vanished through the gate. Fa-noor and Fo-mon followed on his heels.
Henom waited until the gate was securely shut.
"You lied to him, you know."
"It was for his own good."
Henom laughed harshly. "His own good? You’ve broken his heart by taking him away from the one wolf he loved. He has to fulfil his destiny, isn’t that the way a prophecy works? No matter what you do, your destiny will come. If you ignore it, the pain is worse."
"I know. He has had things come to him easily. He must face challenges or he will become unable to take care of himself."
"There is a way to go back."
"You’ve said that already."
"I will help him, if you will not."
Skynote lifted her head. "I will help him. There is something I must do first."
She placed her forepaws into the water and vanished.

—

Seiko could only stare at the boulder that she herself would have been smashed under if Fa-kon had not saved her. Fa-kon could not be seen.
She looked on top of the Herb Rock. There were no foxes and no wolves there. She shuddered. If someone had meant to harm her, they’d done it and escaped clean. What could be worse pain for her than having Fa-kon snatched away from her like a piece of prey from under the nose of a pup?
A sandy colored fox who she’d been introduced to as Couger came and stood beside her. Seiko glanced at him, her muscels tight. When he touched her shoulder gently with his long tail, she felt herself relax.
Olf, Ballia, Wathin, Imalla, Duthan, Potho, Palm, Couger, Rust, Trouble, and Sky helped her roll the boulder off Fa-kon. Seiko felt her heart tighten.
Fa-kon’s legs were spread, his body deathly still.
Seiko stared into the face of Fa-kon. His eyes were closed, and a few drops of blood clung to his forehead from a gash the rock had made.
Seiko growled quietly. "When I find the fox who did this, he’ll wish he’d never heard of me!"
"I bet he does wish he hadn’t."
Seiko turned abruptly. Standing behind her was Claw, wearing a sorrowful expression.
"Fa-kon was a brave and kind wolf. The fox who did this will regret it when you rip his fur off."
Seiko started. Claw spoke with such certainty. "Do you know who it was?"
She was sure she saw a flash of guilt and alarm in Claw’s eyes, but the fox continued smoothly.
"I don’t have the faintest idea."
Seiko peered at Fa-kon.
"Is he dead?" she whispered. Rust sniffed his body and glanced up.
"Yes Seiko. I’m sorry."
Seiko felt tears prick her eyes. Angrily she wiped them away with her paw and beat her wings. Rising into the air, she turned towards the loving tree.
She landed at the base of the tree and began tracing the marks made in it. One of them caught her eye.
F+S
Seiko frowned. How was that possible? She had watched Fa-kon ever since the loving tree. Unless....
Seiko took to the air again. She circled high above until she saw Trouble. She felt he held the answer.
Trouble was sitting beside Brave Rock, but he looked up when she landed.
"Did you tell Fa-kon about the loving tree?"
Trouble furrowed his brow. "Yeah, does it matter?"
"Did he scratch into it while you watched?"
Trouble didn’t answer, but he didn’t have to. Seiko knew the answer was yes.
Her heart broke all over again as she realized how much Fa-kon had loved her to sacrifice himself for her. She wandered over to where he still lay and stared at the limp body of the wolf she loved.
"Oh Fa-kon. What have you done?"
Chapter 14
The small black dog was a Scottish Terrier. Fr-thu felt his whole body tense in alarm.
The loner turned to him as if he could sense his fur prickling along his spine.
"Oi! Have you come to learn?"
Upon hearing the voice, Fr-thu about jumped out of his fur. It sounded uncannily like what Wio had used.
Fe-zan glanced at Fr-thu. "This is Scottie."
Suits him.
Fr-thu hesitantly stepped closer. What did Scottie mean when he said learn?
"‘Tis true that the one you call Fa-kon has gone missin’?"
Fe-zan nodded.
"‘Ow long has it been since you saw him?"
Fr-thu let out his breath. "Two and a half moon-fills."
"Aye. He is not coming back. He is dead."
The clearing was silenced. The quiet sobs of Fa-dih sounded as loud as thunder to Fr-thu. Thunder?
Puzzled, he looked up. Above him was a giant storm cloud. A cloud that seemed to shadow the entire land.
Bolts of electricity crackled and spat, and rain began to fall, pelting the camp with the drops. The large alpotche dipped even lower, as though it too had heard the words Scottie spoke and was weeping.

—

Fr-thu stood in the midst of the clearing alone. The others had long since retired to their dens. It was still raining hard.
Fr-thu felt dizzy, but he wormed his claws into the dirt and held tight.
The alpotche suddenly gave a jerk, then another. Then, to Fr-thu’s horror and amazement, Skynote herself tumbled out from the head of the plant.
Skynote was huge. However she’d managed to appear from the plant, Fr-thu didn’t know. All that mattered right now was the starry wolf in front of him. As he watched, Skynote began to change.
A pure white wolf stood before him, his size. On her forehead was a black mark shaped like a sun. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to slash through the darkness. Around her neck and on a string was a large tooth.
Skynote shook her white fur and dipped her head. "Hello, Fr-thu."
Fr-thu could only stare in reply.
Skynote stretched her neck in one direction and her tail in the other to work out some of the kinks. "It’s been ages since I was last in this body."
"Skynote?"
Skynote put her head to one side. "Perhaps you do not recognize me. This is my mortal form, long ago when I was Sable."
"Is my brother really dead?"
Sable did not meet his gaze.
"Fr-thu, I need you to come with me. To make things right again."

—

Fa-kon began searching Starcoat. First he leaped in the lake with a thousand fish. No exit there, just a soggy pelt that hung down.
Then he tried swimming in the lava. It dried his pelt, but he didn’t find an exit.
He even tried weaving through the forest, but there was no exit there.
Frustrated, Fa-kon trotted back through the gate. Henom was no longer there. The green-tinted pool of water was shimmering and rippling. Curious, Fa-kon trotted over.
In the water he saw a beautiful white she-wolf, and instantly recalled her name from the legend he’d been told as a pup. Sable!
"Looking at something?"
The voice that spoke startled him and he whipped around. "Oakpine!" he stammered.
"What are you doing?"
Fa-kon felt angry. "Just because I’m dead doesn’t mean I have to stay dead!" he shouted, and leaped into the water and vanished.
Henom and Rmnix stepped out of the shadows.
"He found it. The gateway that would open just for him."
Rmnix nodded at Henom’s words, eyes on the pool.
"I thought you and Skynote made sure the gateway wouldn’t work. Didn’t you turn off passage?"
Henom flicked his tail towards a glassy surface behind Oakpine. A plant that was faintly glowing red was rooted in it.
"It’s still turned off. Fa-kon has more power than we realized."
"So, is he still alive?"
Henom smiled. "He always was. He was just unconscious. He smelled of death, yes. He was still and didn’t seem to be breathing, but he was just dreaming while he was here, without the strength to wake up."
"Where’s Skynote now?"
"She’s Sable," Henom replied. Rmnix began to quiver. "Not again, not again!" he groaned. "Can’t Skynote keep her muzzle out of the business of the living world?"
"She’s doing what she’s supposed to do," Henom corrected. "And that’s preserving the earth."
The two wolves stared into the green pool, not even aware that Oakpine had left. Suddenly, Rmnix frowned at pointed at the water with his paw.
"What’s that?"
Henom leaned close until his muzzle was nearly touching the water. Then he suddenly drew back.
"Oh no, oh no. This is bad bad bad bad bad!"
"I told you my son would have his glory."
A single wolf materialized from the shadows. The two wolves by the pool flinched.
"Flak!" Henom murmured. "I thought they banished you to the farthest reaches of Nebulous."
Flak swished his tail. "Dagger is rising. I told you that long ago, when he was delegate. Now, he is the leader."

Chapter 15

Fa-kon stirred and sat up, blinking. The pain he felt was enormous. The group of foxes gathered around him gasped as one. A single wolf stepped forward, trembling.
"Fa-kon! You...you’re alive?"
"Seiko?"
With a bark of joy, Seiko landed on Fa-kon, the two of them rolling backwards a few times before coming to a stop with Seiko on top.
Rust stood on the Largerock. "Who did it, Fa-kon? Who pushed the boulder?"
Fa-kon searched the crowd until his gaze fell upon the guilty fox, trying to back away.
"Claw."
Rust turned slowly to face the proxy.
"Is this true, Claw? Did you try to kill Fa-kon?"
Claw bared his teeth and snarled. Thorn stood by his side, ears flattened.
"So what if I did?" Claw taunted. "What are you going to do about it?"
With a large leap, Claw knocked Rust off the Largerock. Rust rolled back and fell off.
"Guard them," Claw called over his shoulder. Immediatly, several dozen slinking shapes encircled the camp. Fa-kon held his breath. Coyotes!
Claw leaped down and was gone, tracking Rust, who was trying to get back inside the camp.
"Potho! No!"
Fa-kon turned and saw Palm. She was standing beside Potho, who was trying to get through the coyotes. Potho turned and met Palm’s gaze.
"I have to, Palm." he whispered. "Don’t you see? The voices are here. They know what I must do. They’ve protected me all my life, but this....I must."
Palm leaned her neck on Potho’s shoulder. Potho licked her head comfortingly. "Think about the pups," he whispered. "I will always be proud of them."
With that, he swiped at the nearest coyote. Palm drew back, eyes wide, as Potho leapt through the gap and disappeared.
Seiko wrapped her forepaws around Fa-kon’s body and lifted him off the ground, beating her wings. Fa-kon was astonished. "Am I too heavy?"
Seiko didn’t answer, instead carried Fa-kon high above the camp. He could see Claw following Rust. Rust bared his teeth and raced away. He could see Potho, struggling with two coyotes. He bashed one on its muzzle and pelted towards Claw.
Seiko swept her wings back and dropped Fa-kon onto the branch of one of the oak trees he’d sung to earliar that day. Perching beside him, they watched, breathless.
Rust was looking around in confusion. The black amulet around his neck caught the sun’s rays. Claw swiped his extended claws across Rust’s side. Hissing, Rust used his claws on the proxy, but Claw danced away before they hit.
Potho was still running, free of the coyotes. Claw was facing away from the purple wolf and couldn’t see him.
Claws connected with Rust’s legs and neck. The fox went down in a crumpled heap.
"No," Seiko breathed. Claw stood gloating over Rust’s body claws high in the air, waiting to strike.
"No!" Potho slammed into Claw, but the fox righted himself and turned towards the wolf who’d distracted him. With one claw, he unhooked the amulet from Rust’s neck and placed it against his own. Without a word, Fa-kon and Seiko leaped from the tree and towards Rust, dragging him into the shelter of the trees.
The wound in his neck was bad. The gash was raw and red. Seiko quickly began licking it while Fa-kon examined the fox’s legs.
Potho and Claw were wrestling now. Potho had the fox pinned, but Claw shot his hind legs outward and Potho flew off, landing with a whoosh on the sand.
Seiko stopped licking. "The wound doesn’t look bad," she said unconvincingly. Rust didn’t seem to hear. Struggling, he lifted his head to watch Claw and Potho fight.
Claw had the upperpaw now. Potho had stood up and attacked his neck, but Claw had grasped it with one forepaw and flipped Potho over his back.
Shaking sand out of his fur, Potho leaped. His extended claws were aimed for the fox’s heart, but Claw shifted and Potho bounced off. Claw opened his mouth and laughed.
"Now do you see I can not be beaten?" He shrilled. "I wear the amulet of Loom. Loom, the Great One. Loom, the Invincible. Forged from the glass in the depths of Nebulous, the amulet protects me, and makes me strong."
Potho snarled and leaped again, but Claw bit the purple wolf’s backside with large fangs. Potho flailed, kicking his hind leg out. His paw connected with Claw’s jaw, and the fox let go, hissing.
"You can not destroy me!" He cried. His voice sounded like many voices, rasping all around. "I am too strong for you! Flak watches over me and walks in my dreams. He taught me how to fight as a young pup. He taught me patience and cunnung as I waited for Rust to make me the proxy! He is such a fool!"
"I am not a fool,"
Seiko and Fa-kon had been so intent watching Claw that they hadn’t noticed Rust was on his feet.
"Anka told me in a dream to make you the proxy." Claw’s eyes glowed like red embers. "Is that so, Rust?" he snarled.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Potho aimed his claws at the amulet and severed the string. The black amulet hit the sand. With a single bound, Potho landed square on Claw’s back, biting the area just above the scruff-the weak spot.
Claw shrieked and collapsed, rolling to his stomach. His furious eyes bore into Potho’s skull as he lifted his black claws towards Potho’s chest.
And plunged them in.

Chapter 16

The coyotes scattered when they found their leader had been destroyed. The foxes came to gather around Potho and Claw.
Claw was dead, with his eyes closed. Potho was struggling, breathing hard. Cindy and Sage were by his side, feeding him leaves.
"Potho,"
Potho opened one eye to see Palm. She had tears in her eyes. "What have you done?"
"I did what I had to do, Palm." Potho croaked, his voice raspy. "I had to save the foxes. Just like Anka and Skynote said." He closed his eyes and smiled.
Fa-kon whispered something softly. Only Wathin could hear. "The lizard, the insect, the wings, the bat, the cattle, the snake, the bird, and the fish will bring the Wolf and Fox closer together."
Wathin nodded and murmured something in Fa-kon’s ear. "Lizard is for Imalla. Insect, for Ballia. Wings are for Seiko. Bat is for Duthan. Cattle, for Potho. Snake for me. Bird is for you, and fish for Olf. These are the animals we can speak to, don’t you see?"
Palm placed her head on Potho’s flank. Potho opened hs eyes again to see the wolves standing around him.
"Continue your quest," he whispered. "And return home. Tell Pendola about me. Tell her she has one less wolf now."
Fa-kon shook his head. "You are not going to die."
"I never said I was. I’m staying with Palm."
The wolves stared at him, and Potho wheezed.
"I will stay as long as I can, but I do not know how long that will be."
Seiko licked Potho’s head. "We will miss you Potho. We will always remember you."
Potho struggled to raise his head and looked at Palm.
"Remember the pups," he whispered. He licked her paw, then placed his head back on the sand. He stared past the wolves and into the darkening sky, his eyes seemingly focused on nothing.
"Skynote, I’m coming home." He closed his eyes.
And he did not move again.

—

Rust placed his tail on Fa-kon’s shoulder. Fa-kon looked into the fox’s face. Strung on a tiny vine was the amulet.
The wolves had stayed for several more days, and Rust was already strengthend.
"Here," Rust placed the amulet around Fa-kon’s neck. "I want you to have it."
Fa-kon stared at Rust, eyes wide. "But what about the foxes?"
Rust tossed his head back. "Without Claw, I have no more need of it."
"Can I really take it back to our land? That is why we were sent here."
"Of course. It’s yours now."
Fa-kon lifted one paw and touched the amulet. "Thank you. I guess we’ll be going home now."
Rust nodded. "My heart will go with you all the way."
Fa-kon gathered the wolves around him, and they crested the dune. Turning back, they stared into the depths of the camp, watching the foxes. Fa-kon’s eyes wandered to the vines coiled in the center of camp, where Palm was now sitting. Then, turning, he raised his tail and the wolves slid down the hill and out of sight of the foxes.
They ran all day, and made it halfway through the mountains before it grew dark. Then they stopped to rest.
Fa-kon dreamed of seeing Potho walking with a female wolf he recognized. Timeglass. Then he woke.
By the end of the day, they were sleeping beside the water.
"Hello, Fa-kon."
Fa-kon opened his eyes, though he knew who was speaking. He sat up and dipped his head to the starry figures before him.
"Greetings, Potho. Greetings, Timeglass."
Potho stood up and paced around Fa-kon. Fa-kon turned to watch him.
"Remember to tell my mother I will not be coming back. Tell her I will visit in her dreams."
"Your mother? Pendola is your mother?"
"Yes."
Fa-kon knew he’d better choose his next words carefully. "What about Palm?"
Potho stopped pacing and sat down.
"She is on Earth for now. One day, she will join me here, but not until she has gray fur and has lived a long time."
"Potho, are you coming? Skyhigh wishes to speak with you."
Potho’s ears twitched at Timeglass’s voice. "I must be going. Think upon my words, and know that one day you will see me again, in the living world."
Fa-kon awoke to Seiko rubbing his back with her paw anxiously. "Fa-kon, are you alright?"
"Yes. I’m fine."
Olf looked up from where he was sitting by Ballia’s side. "Are you sure?"
"You were whining in your sleep," Ballia murmured, giving Olf’s neck a quick lick. Fa-kon felt a twinge of annoyance and envy. The only time Seiko had licked him was.....well.....never.
Setting off at a brisk trot, the wolves were able to pass the Notail place and reach their homeland by Tallight.
The seven wolves clustered close around eachother for warmth in the chilly weather, Seiko flapping her wings for warmth. They stood on a hill overlooking the Yellow Valley.
The wolves stared into it silently, and Ballia caught her breath and pushed her muzzle into Olf’s fur.
The valley was empty.
ElectricityPack was gone.

[springerspaniel]

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Lovyoshi]

New chapter up!

[springerspaniel]

oh no!!! good job!

[Lovyoshi]

Oh no? Now what? Does this have anything to do with pizza again?

I can make the font larger if you want.

[springerspaniel]

no.
it's ok. i mean, it's AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[Lovyoshi]

So oh no means?...................

[springerspaniel]

they lost a wolf!!! Fo-mon....

[Lovyoshi]

Yeah. That was sad. He fell in a ditch and got covered by rocks, but still, fighting over a field of rocks was pretty pointless.

[springerspaniel]

yes it is