Chapter 2

Dagger was hot on Raina's tail. She dodged and wheeved her way through the forest over logs and stumps. He pushed himself forward, until he was next to her. He looked at her. "Still think you can beat me?" She returned the look. "I'm about to, because you know the way I race: you need to keep your eyes ahead!" Dagger looked forward and smashed his face into a tree. Raina laughed and stopped to look at him. Dagger growled and got to his paws, shaking himself. "I fall for that everytime." he muttered. Raina licked his muzzle. "You'll get me at some point you know. Don't feel bad." She turned around. "Come on, the camps just ahead."

The pack was gathered in the center of their camp. Dagger looked around it. It was by far the best one they had. There were dens for the hunters and patrols along with one for the omega of the pack. In the middle, was the softest hollow of all, the sheltered glade that was his sleeping place. Their camp was surrounded by thorn bushes, so no other predators could come in or out without making any noise. The dead bison lay in the middle of the camp. They waited for Dagger to come forward to take his share.

He knew some were hungry, so he padded forward and sniffed the softest part of the carcass, before tearing into it with his huge jaws. Only when he had filled his belly and padded away did Winter approach the carcass. Once the pack had eaten their fill, they gathered in a new area farthest from the kill. The moon was showing through the dark clouds, and the wolves were starting to howl to the Spirit-Wolves. Dagger was howling to the Spirit-Wolf he favored the most. Lite was the very first wolf to walk the earth. He warmed up the day with his powerful rays and went to sleep at night.

Lite darted across the sky, his family behind him. Though Dagger knew Lite wasn't there physically to touch, he could feel him. Soon their howlings died away and the pack went to their dens to sleep for the night. Dagger leaped up to his sleeping place, Winter joined him, pressing her flank next to his.

Star lay next to his belly. "It's nice we're finally able to live peacefully," Winter murmured. "Plus, you have been a great alpha, and the pack respects you." Dagger tucked his muzzle next to hers. "I wouldn't be able to lead it without you…" he licked her muzzle affectionly. "I love you Winter." She let out a sigh. "I love you too…"

Craaaark! Dagger jolted awake to the sound of a crow. His eyes still drowsy from sleep, he looked over at Winter. Her flanks rose and fell, heavy with sleep. He looked over to Star and gave a soft whine of shock. He wasn't there. Where's Star? Careful not to wake up his mate, Dagger got up and peered outside.

The moon was still high in the sky, shining brightly. He sniffed the warm night air, and Star's scent hit his nose. Why would he leave the den at this time of night? He jumped down, and followed his son's scent. When he found him, he was sitting on a rock, looking at the stars. "Star, why are you out so late?" Startled, the pup looked over his shoulder. "Oh, sorry Dad...I wanted to see if I could speak to the Spirit-Wolves." Dagger sat down next to his pup, wrapping his tail around him. "Well...I can't be mad at you for that, were you trying to talk to one in particular?" Star pawed the rock thoughtfully. "Well...seeing how Lite favors you, I was wondering if he favors me. So, I wanted to see if he was still awake."

Dagger's heart filled with pride. Star was a remarkable pup, he was so much like his mother. Dagger smiled. "Well I don't know for sure, normally he's asleep but if he was awake I'd be here too." He bent down and touched Star with his nose. He laid down on the rock, and Star went between his paws. "Can you tell me more about them Dad?" Dagger licked his ears. "Very well. The Spirit-Wolves help guide us, they also favor wolves who support them the most.

You see, there's Rock: Spirit of the earth and soil. Rock takes us when we die, and gives us to the Spirit-Wolves. There's Valley: Spirit of the forests and mountains. She sends us prey and offerings if we make her proud. Of course there's Lite: Spirit of the sun. He makes sure we have light and warmth throughout the day. There's Starlight: Spirit of the moon. She gives us visions of the other spirits who we all favor.

When we howl to her with our special songs, she answers us. Her light also helps the lake get higher and lower. However, those who don't favor the spirits, don't deserve to go live with them. They send them down to Hades, where they become Hellhounds, running around causing havoc and grief to themselves for what they did. You see Star, not all wolves are good, but those who are...will gain help and strength from the Spirit-Wolves. Even your great grandfather is up there, watching over you everywhere you go."

Star gazed up in amazement, a smile going across his face. Dagger smiled. "And maybe, when you're the alpha you'll tell your pups what I've told you." Star looked at his father, his marble eyes filled with wonder and curiosity. He let out a long yawn and Dagger chuckled. "You better go get some sleep, I don't want you to be tired while you go patrol with Sky, Wolfen, Silver and Aria." Dagger picked him up by the scruff and carried him back to the camp. He laid back down next to Winter, setting Star between his paws.

The pup rested his head on his father's chest, and was soon sound asleep. Dagger gazed out at the stars, that twinkled in the night sky. He said his prayers before setting his head down and drifted to sleep. That following morning, as dawn was peering over the trees, Dagger woke up with a yawn. He looked out, Star was already with the patrols, who were waiting for him to give them the signal to go. He got down and walked to them.

Sky approached him, her light grey pelt looked darker in the early morning light. "Good morning Alpha. We are waiting for you to give us our shift." Dagger nodded, though he'd be joining them this time. "Thank you Sky, but today I'll be joining you. I'd like to get out for a bit." Puzzled looks came across their faces, but they bowed respectfully. Star gave his tail a wag, before padding over to Dagger's side. "Let's go now, while we still can." And so they set off to the borders to do their daily route. They spread out to patrol more areas. Dagger went to patrol the south side with his son, while the rest spread to east and west. Star was bouncing along on a fallen log, sniffing it and scratching at the moss.

Dagger looked at him with a playful growl. "Star, what are you doing?" The pup wagged his tail. "Trying to get the moss for the bedding Dad. Just trying to be helpful." Dagger let his tongue loll from the side of his mouth. "That's nice of you, but you should ask Omega if she wants the help from her alpha's pup."

He winked at him, and Star pounced on him, barking and yelping playfully. Dagger laughed and rolled over on his back, Star on his chest. Star gazed at him, his milky pup scent filled his nose. "Hey Dad...when do you suppose I'll get to---" His words were cut off from a howl. Dagger was on his paws in an instant, sniffing the air and growling. "Somethings wrong, Wolfen doesn't howl unless there's trouble," he gazed down at Star, who was cowering under his belly. "I'll have to hide you that way you don't get hurt."

Dagger picked him up by the scruff, and carried him towards the howl. When his packmates came into view, he noticed they were snarling at….another pack. Dagger set Star down gently in the bushes nearby. "Stay here...and don't move." He padded over towards his packmates, and Star was able to peek through the bush. Dagger came in front.

There were only five wolves, but that didn't make him at ease. "What brings you here?" He made sure to keep his voice, neither threatening nor calmly. The wolf at the far end spoke up. "We're looking for new lands to call home. And yours look perfect." the wolf smirked. "Of course dire, we'll have to ask your alpha to give up his lands. Will you fetch him?"

Dagger peeled back his lips, exposing his teeth. "You're talking to him as we speak mutt." the wolf's smile vanished at once and took a step back. Dagger looked at each of them, his eyes cold and hard. "If you really think I'm going to give up my lands for you five, it's out of the question, I don't know who your alpha is, but he can find his own lands somewhere else." From the bush, Star quivered, who ever this pack was, they were trying to take his father's lands. Do they even realize we have thirty members? His eyes shifted to something behind the wolves. He peered closer.

A wolf pup was standing a few paw steps away. A female, she had a beautiful golden sandy coat. She saw him too, and her eyes were a pretty ocean blue. She gazed at him, her eyes filled with a soft expression. She slowly shook her head, as if she knew something. It's like she's warning me...but about what? He then saw why. Another wolf came into view. He was almost as big as his father.

He wore a necklace and was grey furred with piercing green eyes. He had foam surrounding his mouth. His pack bowed down in an instant, submissive and scared. "Slash!" Dagger looked at the strange wolf. "What brings you to my territory wolf?" The mean looking alpha just stood there, carefully looking around Dagger's territory. Then, he gave a barked laugh. Dagger's packmates looked confused, then the wolf whacked a paw across Dagger's face.

This angered his packmates and they barked in anger stepping forward to Dagger's aid, but Slash's pack were on their paws too, snarling viciously. Only the pup stayed behind. She looked at Star, mouthing two words. Star studied her trying to make out but then he saw it...get help. He thought about the pack back at camp, peacefully enjoying the day. I'll go get Mother and the others, they'll help. He carefully got out and ran towards the camp. The wolf called Slash growled menacingly. "I am Slash," he growled. "Forepaw of the Fear-Wolf. King of all Spirit-Wolves! Show me respect!"

Dagger shook his head. "What are you muttering about? There's no such thing as a Fear-Wolf." "Yes there is!" Slash's angry voice rose. "All must bow to him! Bow to him!" His pack sank to the ground, they're scared faces looking up at him. "Where did you slink from? No wolves are allowed to have his lands! Fear-Wolf controls all of it! Give him back his lands!"

He raised his paw, but spun around and hit his own packmate. The wolf yelped and shrank back. Dagger looked on in shock. What kind of alpha does that to his own packmate? Slash looked at Dagger, his eyes filled with hate. "Give Fear-Wolf his lands now!" Dagger snarled back a warning. "There is no Fear-Wolf. The Spirit-Wolves wouldn't allow such greed. You and your made up Fear-Wolf can go down to Hades!" Slash howled in anger. He looked at the wolf he attacked. "You! Attack this stupid mutt!" The wolf hesitated, and Sky shook her head. Fool, that little wolf is no match for my leader!

The wolf did what she was told, she snarled and flung herself at Dagger. He batted her away with a forepaw, but she was on her feet, and flung herself at him again. Wolfen looked at Sky. "These wolves are insane!" he whispered. A yelped quieted their little conversation, Dagger's attacker was on his back now, biting his spine viciously. Sliver howled in anger. "Get off my alpha!" He sprang to help Dagger, but another one of Slash's wolves grabbed him and started biting savagely.

Sky and Wolfen looked at each other. "What can we do? We can't run! We'll lead them back to camp!" Wolfen said these words quickly and nervously. A piercing howl broke the sounds of fighting. Every wolf stopped what they were doing. Dagger panted heavily, shook off his attacker, and turned to see who made that sound. He saw Winter coming and...his whole pack was coming! Dagger's attacker whined in fear. "Slash! We are greatly outnumbered! We need to leave!" Slash growled his hate. "Fear-Wolf doesn't back down to take his lands back! Kill them all!" But his packmates stayed where they were, shrinking to the ground.

Raina bounded forward, her eyes filled with rage. "Who are you?! Get away from here!" Slash stood still. He collapsed on his side, his eyes rolled back in his head, he twitched and gasped on the ground. His pack stepped forward, snarling at Dagger's pack, forcing them to stay back. Dagger looked confused. Was Slash dying? Then the wolf lay still, he jumped to his paws, licking the foam that had gathered at his mouth. "The Fear-Wolf has spoken. He said, We need to go back to our camp now!"

He growled at Dagger. "Fear-Wolf will get his lands! He will have them all!" He spun around padded away, his pack behind him. Only the pup stayed behind, and when she saw Star, she gave her tail a friendly wag. Star mumbled, "Thank you." She grinned happily and bolted off to join her mad pack. "Well...that was strange." Dagger shook himself. "What kind of mad wolf was he? There's no such thing as the Fear-Wolf." He bent down to Star. "That pup...what was she doing?"

Star pawed the ground. "She knew he was coming, and she said 'get help'. So I ran back to camp and got the pack. I was trying to be protective." He looked up at Dagger. "I didn't want to lose you Daddy...I couldn't lose you." Dagger nuzzled his ear affectionately. Winter padded forward. "That wolf had something around his mouth, what do you suppose that was?"

Dagger shook his head. "I don't know, but when he collapsed and had that fit he said that the Fear-Wolf spoke to him. But I think that's all made up. The only place Fear-Wolf lives is in that mad wolf's head." "Alpha," Bella spoke up from behind slowly. "I think you're right, my brother and I saw a wolf like him once."

The pack all gazed at her, but Dagger laughed. "Another like him? Impossible!" "I did," she insisted. "The way you described him, his body jerking? His eyes rolling? Well, there was a wolf who behaved like that at the Wolf Center. "The what?" Sparrow asked. "The Wolf Center. It's a place humans take wolves to heal them and release them when they are healed." "Huh, I've heard it all now." Sparrow flicked her ear dismissively.

Bella, ignoring her went on: "Well, sometimes depending on what happened, they'd stick something sharp in your scruff for no reason at all, but I saw the wolves always felt better afterwards. One day, my brother and I ate from an old carcass and got sick from it. We were brought there and were put in a little room to see if they could help us. Another wolf was brought in, a little white one. She acted just like Slash, twitching and gasping and flailing around on the floor of her cage. She had a muzzle on, and I think the humans put it on her so she wouldn't bite them. Maybe she was talking to the Fear-Wolf, but I don't think so. She just had this terrible fit, and the humans agreed to take her in the back room."

The pack all gazed at Bella horrified by her terrible story. "She never came out again," she gave a sad whine. "So you see, I don't think she was talking to some Fear-Wolf. I think she was just very, very sick. The humans knew things like that, and the ones at the Wolf Center were wise and kind. I think Slash has that same sickness as that white wolf." Lucis let out a small whine. "My litter-sister's right. It was awful to watch her." Dagger looked at the two wolves. He knew nothing about humans, but they knew things that most wolves didn't.

Maybe that could explain Slash's madness after all. He turned to the pack. "Well there's no telling what that pack will be up to, but we have to be ready. I want the patrols to do double routes, and keep your scent marks strong. That pack's leader will see what his so-called Fear-Wolf will think of when greed doesn't help him." He padded through them, lost in his thoughts. That pack will be better off without their mad alpha. The question is, how?