Chapter 4

Days turned to months, Star had grown into a yearling, a teenager of the pack. His dire wolf genes were beginning to show more and more. His packed muscles were showing, his fur was getting thicker, and he started to get taller. He was up to Dagger's shoulders, but Dagger had a feeling he wouldn't get any taller, since he was already taller than his mother, who was only partially dire. Dagger's injuries had healed, and thankfully he was going to be okay. Nikita had grown too, her golden fur was getting long and beautiful, and her eyes stayed the same ocean blue like they did when she was a pup.

Despite that, more and more attacks from Slash kept coming. Slash refused to give up until Dagger's territory was his. And as the months passed, Slash was getting more and more frustrated. The wolves who were loyal to him were starting to doubt him on his leadership, which made some of them get beaten or killed by him.

Raina finally came over her fear and told Dagger about her pups, and what Axe had planned. Dagger wasn't angry with her, he understood what she was doing. But Axe couldn't be with his pack anymore, and so he banished him in a way of showing mercy. Raina's pups were more than welcomed into the pack, and Dagger had them with Sparrow for training.

It was midnight, and the pack was waiting for the moon to show through the clouds so they could howl to the Spirit-Wolves. Dagger and Winter were sitting on a rock a few feet away from their own hollow. Star was a few feet away from them, staring up at the passing clouds and the twinkling stars.

Which Spirit-Wolf should I howl to tonight? His thoughts were paused for now, for he had his family to look after. "It seems you need a friend." Nikita hopped up the rock and sat down next to Star. Even at their young age, Star was already twice her size. Star chuckled slightly. "I always do, especially around this difficult time. These attacks keep happening, and I don't know what to make of it."

Nikita chuckled in return. "So...which spirit will you be singing to tonight?" Star shrugged. "Honestly, for once I don't know. I favor them all, but tonight I have my mind set on other things." Nikita studied him. "Let me guess, my old pack? Star when are you going to see that Slash is no match for your father? Dagger has more members than he does, and he knows what he's doing." "I know that Nikita, it's just...I don't want anything to happen to you."

Star looked down at her, he could see she was confused at his words, so he continued on. "What I'm saying is that I care about you. Really I do; and I have since day one. If something happened to you, I don't know what I'd do. I'm letting you know that I will always be here to protect you, and if you need someone to talk to I will be right there." Nikita's eyes sparkled as the moon made its way through the clouds, and soon each member started to howl.

Star smiled down at her, then looked back up at the stars, closing his eyes and let out his own howl. Nikita looked up at the stars too, and let out her own howl. Star was beginning to see them whirl above him, into the shape of wolves, running barking laughing. But then he started to see enraged wolves, and one being taken away by a savage pack. The wolf being dragged away looked so much like....Star opened his eyes and breathed heavily. For the first time he saw something that seemed so real.

Everyone else didn't notice him, but Nikita didn't leave his side. "You okay?" She placed a paw on his. Star controlled his breathing, and answered her. "Yeah I'm fine, I just saw something." Nikita placed her muzzle under his chin, in a gentle way. "I've been there too, that just means that the Spirits favor you. They just want to show you what they see. It's nothing bad."

Star didn't know what to say, but feeling Nikita comforting him made him feel closer to her. "We should rest, we have a lot to do tomorrow." Nikita backed away, and nudged him gently. "Goodnight Star…" She jumped off and went to her hollow. Star went to his parents' hollow, and lay down. There was something about that vision that made him think. What was all that about? I hope nothing bad happens...Craark!

Star woke up with a jolt. The whole pack had settled for the night, but Nikita was nowhere to be seen. He looked around, but she was nowhere. "Nikita?" He made his way over to where she slept. She wasn't there, and her scent was faint. "Where the hell did she go?" He scanned the dark forest.

He made his way into it, and soon he could smell her scent, along with something else...blood. "No…" he bolted after it, and when it got strong he skidded to a halt. "Nikita? Where are you?" "She's not here Star...she's far away." He spun around seeing a large dire male standing a few paces away. His heart stopped. Axe!

"Uncle Axe? What are you doing here?" Axe took a step forward. "I am here to get my mate and my pups, and of course getting the alpha position away from your father." "Why do you want my father's position so badly? Huh? He's already a better alpha than you'd ever be." "Ah, see that's the thing Star...I'm in this new pack, but I'm the beta of that new pack. I'm sure you've seen them before.." "What are you talking about you filthy mutt?" "You're a slow learner aren't you Star? You always were...but the point is, I'm part of Slash's pack now and---" "WHAT?!"

Star sprang at him, his teeth bared in hate. He only found himself on his side, his head pinned in the dirt. "I could kill you right here where we stand Star. But...I'm going to be nice about it. Anyways before you interrupted me, here's the deal. Nikita is with us now, and she is being kept prisoner. Slash has been trying to get her to talk, but she won't. Don't worry we haven't hurt her...not badly anyway.

But if you get your father to go there alone, along with my mate and pups, we'll let her go. It's that easy." Star growled. "You'll pay for this Axe...just wait." "Oh I already have. Now I must be going, my alpha's waiting for me. Just remember what I said." He got off, and jogged away. Star got to his feet, and breathed to calm himself down. Nikita was with her old pack, and he had to get her back. "Dad will know what to do, I'll talk to him first thing at dawn…"

Star waited the night out, waiting for his father to wake up. Come on Dad...you're normally up by now. Once the sun hit the top of the trees, Dagger began to stir. He lifted his head and yawned. "Dad! You're awake! Good, we need to talk. Now." "Why now son? I have things to do today." Star smacked him with his paw, not hard but just enough to get him up. "Now Dad...it's urgent."

Dagger saw that Star had anger and pain in his eyes. He got up and looked at him. "Okay...what is it?" "Dad Nikita has been kidnapped by Slash's pack." "Wait what how?" "Axe was here last night. I'm pretty sure he took her. On top of that, he's Slash's beta. We need to go there and get her back." "Hold on now son, you can't just barge over there. They'll kill you." "I was just thinking we could sneak in, get her and sneak out." "No, we need a proper plan…" "By the time you do that, Nikita will probably be dead! Come on Dad, let's go now while we have the chance."

Dagger looked at the pack, who were all waking up now. "Keep your voice down, we don't need the whole pack to---" "The whole pack is aloud to hear, because Nikita's a part of this pack too! She's family Dad! Don't you get that?!" "Star! I told you we need to make a plan!" "If you won't I'll go myself!" "Don't be stupid son! You'll get yourself killed! You can't just---" "Dad! Please! I love her and I don't want to lose her!"

There was silence for a long awkward moment. The whole pack was looking at Star now, who was filled with pain and guilt. Dagger sighed, "Fine, I'll start something today, and see what we can do to get her back. But, you'll need more training. Your mother will handle that. As for myself, I will make plans with Sparrow and Raina, along with our best and loyal pack members. Go now while you still have the chance." Star buried his face into his father's fur. "Thank you Dad...I love you." "I love you too, now go."

Winter nudged him with her head, and led him past the forest to their own makeshift training field. "Now the first thing a wolf needs to learn is the basics of fighting. First let work on your grip. I know we've covered most of it already, but since you're not a pup anymore we can go over it again." "That's because it was just fun and games Mom." Winter chuckled and put out her left foreleg. "I want you to try and bite my front left leg." "I don't want to hurt you…" "Well if you're too scared, then just say so."

Star hesitated, but grabbed his mother's leg between his jaws. "That's not bad at all. But if you pull your mouth back an inch or so…then your sharpest teeth will be doing the work for you. But you won't break my skin unless you put more strength behind it." At those words, Star tightened his grip, but then Winter grabbed his ear in her teeth and pulled.

He yelped and released. "I was just doing what you said, what was that for?" "Part of using your fangs is the fact that you can't let go...no matter what." Winter then paced back and forth. "Now let's work on your defense. You need to be able to catch your attacker by surprise. You need to be able to know there every move, that way you know how to defeat him. Go on, have at it. I may be smaller than you now, but you're still young. And on top of that, I know how to fight." "Heheh, don't rub it in Mom."

Star bared his fangs and planted his paws firmly in the soil. He pounced, but Winter dodged his attack, and had his neck seized in her jaws. Despite his size, she pinned him down with her weight. Then, she released her grip. "That's another thing. You shouldn't attack head on, it'll just cause major injuries that you don't need. Try again." Star got up and shook himself. She's teaching me what she taught Dad....clever Mom….

"Dagger, if we're going to get Nikita back we need a plan that will actually work." Raina was sitting with her litter-brother, along with Sparrow, Fallen and Chase. "You're litter-sister is right you know Alpha, we need a plan that will make us go undetected. But how?" Chase pipped up. "I think my son's idea is the best option. But if there's guards we'll need to take them out first. One of them will know where Nikita is being kept. Once we do that, we'll get Nikita, and then get the hell out of there."

Dagger wasn't sure that was entirely true. There was no telling that Slash was out there, probably doing something to her and he wouldn't have that. "Dagger...I think I have something in mind." Raina spoke up. All wolves turned to her. "We're all ears Raina, take it away." She smiled at her brother and cleared her throat, "What we should do is send a couple scouts to Slash's territory, that way we can see how many guards there are, and where every other wolf hangs out. Then, they can report back to us and then we'll be able to put a proper plan together."

"That's actually not a bad idea. Plus, we still have more wolves than he does. None of those wolves know who we are." Fallen says gently. Dagger's thoughts went straight to Axe. Star told him that he was the beta of Slash's pack, and he probably wanted revenge. "That's not true Fallen, Axe is in that pack now…" Raina's eyes sparked with pain, betrayal and anger. "Wait...you're saying the father of my pups is in that savage pack?! Where's his honor, his loyalty to you?! To me?! He told me he loved me, or was that a lie?" "Sis...calm down. We'll figure something out. He won��t have to deal with you or any of us once we get Nikita back."

Dagger used his gentle voice to reassure her. Raina growled. "And once we do get her back, I'll kill Axe myself...he doesn't deserve to live, not after what he's done." Dagger sighed, he didn't know how his litter-sister felt. He loved Winter, and she loved him in return. They had ups and downs when they were younger, but their packs figured out a way to live together. He couldn't help but feel a stab of pity for her, however he couldn't stop her. She was in pain, and on top of that she was only a few ranks lower than he was. She was third in command, and the lead hunter.

"Well we can't dwell on Axe for now, we need to find a couple wolves who are willing enough to scout his territory. The question is, who?" Sparrow said these words, but looked as if she didn't know who would. Despite being the beta, she had no ideas to help. "I'll go, it'll show how much I care for my pack…" the voice was familiar. All wolves turned to see Star approach with his mother, who walked up to Dagger and nuzzled his neck. "Star, you are not going. I'm not going to let my only pup get killed." Dagger said sternly for the first time.

Star raised himself to his full height. His eyes were filled with pain and anger. "Dad, I'm not a pup anymore. I'm almost as big as you for wolf sake. I'm strong and smart, so yeah I'm going." "He should go love, let him prove to you that he's ready. I've taught him some tricks." Dagger looked at his son, then to his mate. He could tell that she was serious, and he gave a long heavy sigh. "Fine...he can go,"

He looked to Star. "But you must take our strongest wolves with you. Take Whisper, Chase, Koda and Arrow." Winter tensed. "You're making my brother go?" Dagger reassured her. "He's strong honey, he's a good fighter." Winter mumbled something that no one could hear. Star took a step forward. "I won't let you down Dad, I promise." The alpha male chuckled and winked at him. "Just go now, while you have the chance…"

Meanwhile… "Has she said anything yet?" Cobalt said impatiently as Falcon sank his teeth into Nikita's skin. She yelped and whined, but made aggressive snarls in return. Since they captured her, Nikita had been badly beaten and tortured into telling Slash Dagger's weakness. But Nikita knew what he would do...and she refused to say anything. Falcon released her, and turned to the brown wolf. "No not a thing…" he paused and looked at her, she snarled back. "Though I don't understand...why would he want us to hurt her?" Cobalt let out a scoffed laugh. "You're kidding right? How else would we do it?" "That's not what I mean Cobalt, she's Alpha's daughter, what kind of wolf does this to their own pup?" Cobalt snarled. "Don't remind me who she is...daughter or not, we still need answers. Now come on, we need to report back to Alpha and tell him his daughter isn't saying a goddamn thing…" He flicked his tail and padded away. Falcon looked at Nikita one last time. "Get away from me…" she growled.

Falcon lowered his head, as if he felt bad about what he was doing, before padding off. Nikita breathed heavily, she wasn't here long and already she was wounded and weakened. She was chained to a boulder so she couldn't escape. Star...I don't know what you're doing now, but I need you more than ever. I'm scared, alone and hurt...she sighed and lowered her head to the grass. I...I love you Star...please, I should've told you.

A twig snapped and she raised her head in alarm snarling. "Relax sweetheart...I brought you water." Axe laid the bowl in front of her, she sniffed it and smacked it away. "I don't need anything from you...traitor." Axe slammed a paw on her muzzle, sinking her into the soil. "Watch your tongue you filthy brat...just because you're Slash's child doesn't mean I can't harm you…" He lowered his head to her ear. "And by the way...your little boyfriend and I had a little talk the night I took you." Star?! No! "What did you do to him?!"

She sank her teeth into his ankle. Axe yelped and snarled, grabbing her by her neck and shaking her violently before releasing her. "Calm down you little shit...I didn't do anything to him. At least not yet. But once you tell us what his father's up too, we'll let you go…" Nikita whined, and growled. "I'd rather die than tell you anything...you can say that to Slash yourself." Axe growled. "You're lucky this time...next time won't be so easy…"