Chapter 5

Star had gathered everyone on the far edge of the territory, they were sitting around discussing their plan. Whisper and Chase were sitting near the border trees, while Koda and Arrow sat on either side of Star. "Remember Star...we're only going to patrol along their borders, we're fanning out east and west, while you go north. And once we're through, we report back to the meeting grounds." Koda says logically. "I know the plan Uncle Koda, what we need to do is not waste time, we need---"

"Star, I know you're worried about Nikita, but she's strong. Hell...she used to be a member of that pack!" Chase interrupted. Star growled at the older, more experienced wolf. "Don't remind me…." He looked up, the sun was just going down and the air was starting to smell like rain. "Looks like we have a storm coming. We need to go...now."

No one spoke another word after that, they quietly made their way along the streams and banks that separated their territory from the other packs. When Star's nose hit a familiar scent, he stopped dead in his tracks. Axe's scent...he must've been scent marking, or patrolling. What the hell else would that traitor be doing? Not to get his place back I hope.

He tilted his head to the others to spread out. "And make sure you stay downwind." he whispers. When they were out of sight, he headed north, his ears peaked for any sound of danger. The scent of wolves was getting much stronger, and he caught a whiff of a familiar scent...Nikita! But when he smelled again, his heart sank like a stone. Her coat smells like blood...no she can't be dead….she can't be. I have to go check it out…

Moving more cautiously, Star made sure to make his paws hit the soft soil, and not on any leaves or sticks. When he saw wolves ahead he stopped and crouched. Two guards were sleeping at the entrance to a small cave that went in a mountain side, they were on either end of the cave's mouth, but we're sleeping so soundly that even Star himself could hear their snores and grunts. Idiots...sleeping on the job, they should be fired...

He turned to leave, but something made him stop. Soft whines were coming from in that cave, and Nikita's scent was stronger. She must be in there… Standing up, Star carefully made his way up to the cave entrance. It was dark inside, so dark he couldn't even see the end of it. One of the guards stirred, and he froze dead, his heart even stopped.

But then the guard continued to snore, and he let out a soft sigh of relief. He's just dreaming...I can relax. He peered inside one more time, then took a step forward. The cave was damp and cold, it felt so empty in here...so depressing. So...lonely. The sound of a chain made him stop, two eyes glowed at the end, he took a step forward and he paused...The eyes were an ocean blue color. The only wolf I know has those eyes is…. "Nikita?" he called in the darkness, making his voice barely a whisper.

Instantly the wolf stood and shook itself, the sound of the chain rattled. It took a step into the lighter part of the cave. "Nikita! It is you!" he bounded up to her and licked her ears in greeting. She nuzzled his neck in return. "I knew you'd come…" she whispered. Star sighed and took a step back. His happiness turned to horror when he got a good look at her. Nikita's fur was matted and dirty, and he could see that she had been bitten and scratched.

The chain around her neck was so big, she had to sink her head lower to the damp floor. But what was worse, he could see where the scent of blood was coming from. Nikita had deep gashes and cuts on her sides from the wolves who had attacked her. "Nikita.." Star said slowly. "What happened to you? What is this?" Nikita sank to the damp cave floor, not meeting his eye.

"This is the place where prisoners are taken for trial. I'll be either starved or killed if I don't give answers. I refused as usual, but I'm almost to my breaking point. If they keep this up, I might die." Star was filled with so many emotions: Anger, pain, sadness, but worst of all the need to kill something. Why would her old pack do this to her? I don't understand… "Nikita, wh-why? Why would Slash do this? You used to be in this pack...just why?" "Star...there's something I need to tell you, about Slash." Star made his way over to her, laying next to her, brushing his fur with hers and wrapping his tail around her flank. "I'm listening, I always will...for you."

Nikita sighed sadly, and finally looked up at him. Her eyes were full of pain and grief. "Slash...well...Slash is my father. He used to be a good, kind hearted wolf. But ever since he got sick, he just wasn't the same. His pack only follows him out of fear. I'm sorry I haven't told you in the beginning. I should've told you everything I----" Her words were cut off when Star broke the space between their muzzles. A warm feeling swept over Star, and for the first time in his life he had the fighting urge to protect Nikita. After all, she wasn't just some random she-wolf he was kissing.

She was his, and forever would be. He broke away from her, pressing his head to hers looking at her with a soft, affectionate expression. "You didn't have to tell me, it was your personal business." Niktia smiled up at him weakly. He peered out the cave entrance. The guards were starting to move around more, and he looked back at her. "I...I have to go. Nikita, I promise I'll come back for you. I'd never let you go...Please know that."

He got up to go, but Nikita placed her paw on his. "Star…" she said slowly. "If I-if I don't make it, I...I never got to tell you...I love you." Star bent down and nuzzled her affectionately. "You didn't have too. You will make it out of here Nikita. I promise…"

With a final kiss goodbye, he made his way out of the cave and back the way he came. He looked back one last time at the mountain. Nikita had told him she loved him, and he had to get her back. We're coming back for you love, I promise...Going back the way he came, Star met back up with

Whisper, Chase, Koda and Arrow. "What did you guys pick up on?" Star asked, looking at each of them with a hopeful look. Whisper piped up first. "They have constant guards at their eastern border, but they spread out every 5 minutes or so. I really don't understand why.."

Thunder started to rumble above them, and soon the rain came down. "That's just great...now I have to take a bath later on today," Koda muttered. A flash of lightning shot across the sky, making the sky look like the sun. The wind picked up, making the air howl.

"Is this a normal storm!?" Whisper yelled through the pouring rain. Star tried to see his surroundings, but the rain was so bad he could only make out the shapes of his packmates. "I think the Spirit-Wolves are angry!" he yelled.

"But why?! Why are they angry?!" Chase called out. He sounded terrified. "Chase calm down! I'm sure it's nothing!" Arrow called. "No this is insane! We need to talk back home to the pack!" A tree branch was struck with a loud SNAP! It landed right next to them, making Chase yelp in shock.

He ran off into the darkness, he was gone in seconds. "CHASE! COME BACK!" Star yelled bolting after him. "Star no! Get back here!!" Arrow called, but he was gone.

Star couldn't see a thing in front of him, and with the heavy rain...there was no scent of Chase anywhere. "Chase?! Chase where are you?! CHASE!!" He ran and tripped over something big.

He slipped and stumbled, causing his underbelly to get covered in mud. "What did I just….trip on?" When the lightning stuck he screamed. Chase's broken body lay not that far from him, his throat was slashed and he laid in a pool of blood. His mouth was open, like he was screaming; and his eyes were wide open and full of fear.

"Someone killed him. Which means…. there's someone else here…." He bared his teeth and put his body in a defensive posture. "Who's there?! I know you're out there! Show yourself!" There was a chuckle within the rain, another crash of lightning struck the sky. Suddenly, Star felt a sharp pain in his back leg, he yelped and turned, seeing a Dark brown wolf sinking its teeth into his flesh.

"Let go punk!" He snarled and snapped his jaws at his attacker, but another wolf grabbed him by the rear of his neck and squeezed. Star yelped and howled, trying to shake off his attackers. But soon the pain in his neck went numb and he slowly slipped into darkness….