Chapter 7

"We need to find him! Who knows what's happening to him! Hell he could already be dead!" "Don't you dare think that! That's my son you're talking about!" Since Star had been taken, his pack have been out searching for him. They weren't having the best of luck, since he was taken in the storm, no scent remained. It also washed away all the footprints, which made the whole pack even more flustered.

Chase was buried within pack territory. He was so broken and bloodied that the adults forbid the pups to see him. They howled to the stars that night, making sure the Spirit-Wolves guided his spirit to join them in the stars. It was Dagger who worried the most.

He blamed himself for Star being captured, even though his pack didn't. It seems the only wolf who kept him at ease was Winter. But Winter too was worried. Her only pup was out there somewhere, scared and alone. She knew that Star was strong though, he had a lot of his father in him.

The entire pack were in the middle of an emergency meeting, the pups were under the protection of the Omega, who had them stored away in a soft hollow on the other side of the territory. Dagger was sitting on a rock that made it easy for him to look at eveyone from his vantage point. Winter was sitting next to him, her body leaning against him.

"There is another way," Whisper says dully. The pack glanced at the male. "Another way? What's that Whisper?" Lance asked. The big grey male took a step forward clearing his throat as he began to speak. "We can't find a trial, and we can't ask the other packs. The solution is obvious: We give up and move on."

Dagger and Winter snarled in disgust, but Whisper spoke over them. "Sure Star is out there, but what are the chances of us finding him? Chase is already dead, and we should just assume that Star is too. Everything dies, so why can't we just except that Star is dead and just move on? It's obviously better that way."

Dagger opened his mouth to snap back but Sparrow stepped in, grabbing Whisper's neck and pinned him to the ground, a look of fury in her eyes. She was easily larger than him, because she was a dire wolf.

"How dare you think like that! Star is important to us! He's not just our Alpha's son, but his heir! No wolf with a shred of honor would even suggest such a thing! I should marched you over to the cliffs and show you what we do to cowards you rotten mutt!" She snarled.

"It was just an idea!" Whispered stuttered. "Beta," Winter insisted. "It's a filthy idea, and typical of Whisper's actions. But he is part of this pack, so he has the right to express his opinion." At these words, Sparrow released her grip and stepped back. Whisper gave her a sideways look, before hiding amongst the others. Dagger shot the male a warning glare that he couldn't see.

Though Dagger never mentioned it, he saw how Whisper was acting the past few months. Whisper, even though he was a hunter, was being a bully to the others. He even saw the way he looked at his mate, right from the beginning when they first rescued them from the Phantom Pack.

I better keep and eye on him, just in case he decides to do something stupid....."Dagger?" He shook his head at the sound of his mate's voice. "Huh?" "Are you okay?" "Yes I'm fine." Winter studied him for a long moment. "I need time to think... don't follow me."

He rose to his large paws, slowly making his way down the rock and towards the end of the territory. When he reached the border, he paused and looked out across the forest that lay the territory of the Ancient Water Pack. They would've been the last pack he'd ask for help. He knew his great uncle's son was the alpha of that pack, but he had to try.

He took a deep breath, and with a final glance over his shoulder, he broke into a run....

"How much farther do we need to go? Is his territory this far away from the others?" Star muttered boringly. They had been walking for hours, not stopping for a drink or to hunt. Yes dire wolves could go days without eating, but half-dires had a similar diet to modern day grey wolves. They could only go a couple of days without eating. But Zara actually acted more dire wolf than she did grey wolf.

It astonished Star, mostly cause she was just like him. Though he was more dire wolf because he knew his mother was half-dire too. Zara scoffed, flicking the tip of her tail. "On missions we don't hunt, we focus on our main goal and get it over and done with. Hunting and drinking slows us down."

Star looked at her like she lost her mind. Her alpha doesn't have them hunt on missions? No wonder I could faintly see their rib cages. But she looks healthy and well fed...I wonder why?

"Well what about you?" He asked, knowing it wouldn't go far. Zara nodded her head, telling him to walk along side her. Surprised, Star did just that.

Now that he was next to her, he was surprised that she was almost to his shoulder. She wasn't that big a second ago. "Wait...how did you---" "I'm more different than you think Star." she cut him off. Speechless, Star just gazed at her. "I come from a very special pack of wolves. We were granted powers by the Spirit-Wolves if we earned it."

"What you saw was mine, I can make myself look smaller by hallucinations. If I were to break it, the hallucinations wouldn't be there and my real size would be showed. That's how I've stayed so long in that pack."

She paused and looked at him, her eyes were soft. Star was touched by her behavior. When he first met her, she looked like a cruel and stubborn female. Now he saw a kind, innocent and beautiful female who looked scared. "You can't tell anyone about this, if Lightblood found out... he'd kill me without hesitation. This will be our secret. Promise?"

Star stood there, frozen to the ground. He never felt this way before, why was he feeling like this? It's like I'm being pulled by some invisible rope towards her. I never felt this way about Nikita... just thinking her name made him feel angry, but he didn't show it.

"Star? Do you promise?" She asked again, her ears went back little. He looked at her, his eyes soft too. "I promise...." he said softly. Her face brightened, and she gave her tail a friendly wag. "Are you hungry?" she asked. Star smiled, and gave her a nod. "I'm thinking that we head west towards the lake, there's a old bison that lives there. It never leaves that lake. " Star looked at her with confidence. Zara gazed at him, then pushed him playfully and ran off going west.

Startled, Star stood there for a second. "Hey!" he called running after her. She darted in between trees and bounded over fallen trees with ease. Star wasn't far behind, he pushed himself harder; driving his large paws into the earth.

They were running side by side, running in sync. Zara shot him a glance, surprised on how he was keeping up with her. He's the first one to ever keep up with me....There's something about him that confuses me....Why do I feel connected to him, even though we don't know each other?

She looked straight, and came to a halt. Confused, Star stopped as well. "Zara? What's going---" She growled at him to hush. He looked on, he couldn't see anything, but he could sense it.... something..... someone was watching them.

He froze, putting his body into a defensive posture. Zara did the same, but made her fur puff up. "Do you know who it is?" he whispered.

"Not a clue...you can't smell it?" Star took a big whiff, and growled. A dark musky scent hit his nose. A dire wolf was nearby...."What's a dire wolf doing here?" "How the hell should I know?" "There's only one way to find out...." Star looked around, then he barked and howled.

"We know you're out there! Show yourself!" He heard a deep chuckle, then a low cold voice.... "You're smarter than you look. You two young ones came by just in time. I just get so... excited, knowing that I will have a decent meal." Zara snarled. "You eat wolves?!" "They have a certain taste my dear...one I enjoy more than elk and deer. I haven't eaten for a couple days, and you two fit the bill quite nicely...."

Star shifted towards Zara, his tail wrapped around her flank in a defensive posture. She looked at him, touched by how protective he was. He doesn't even know me....and yet he's so protective....She snarled and flicked her ear. "Stop this nonsense and show yourself you coward!"

Star growled in agreement, not leaving her side. "Very well... after all, I like looking my prey in the eye anyway." The tree's shifted above, making leaves fall from their branches. Star and Zara looked up, then a massive white dire wolf landed in front of them, landing on his paws with ease. Now that Star could see him, he almost whined in shock.

The male was big, bigger than his father. He was covered in scars down his flanks. His right ear was torn, and his face had a rugged scar going across it. His eyes were a dark brown, almost black. His claws stuck out like a cats. "You seem a little terrified young one..... perhaps I should end your life quickly." He chuckled, baring his teeth.

Zara returned the gesture, baring her teeth and snarled. "You won't lay a paw on him! You want him, you'll have to go through me...." She padded forward, standing between Star and the male. "No Zara! He'll kill you!" He pleaded. "Not if I kill him first..." She liked her muzzle and snarled, which only pleased the male. "Perfect.... you're all mine..."

He snarled viciously, and lunged at her. Zara moved so fast Star didn't notice it. "What?!" He snarled. She flung herself at him, knocking him over on his side, snapping her jaws around his neck. He growled and kicked, knocking her off with his hind leg. Zara hit the dirt rolling over twice before getting back to her feet.

She shook herself and turned, only to find the male lunging at her again, grabbing her by her shoulders. She yelped and growled shaking, but the wolf wouldn't let go. She howled in pain, and something snapped in Star. He stomped his paw and snarled so loudly it echoed within the forest, before launching himself at the male, landing on his back and sinking his teeth into his neck.

The male growled and released Zara, who fell to the ground with a thud. Star sank his claws into his fur, getting a better grip. The dire wolf jumped and shook to get him off, but Star wouldn't let go. "Get off!" He jumped and landed backwards, landing on him. Star yelped and released, the air knocked out of him. The dire wolf shook himself, growling his hate.

He padded to Star, placing a paw on his neck. He put pressure on him, and all that came out of Stars mouth was a gasped squeal. "Nice effort mutt...but now you will die. " He raised his head, baring his teeth about to sink them into his flesh. Star closed his eyes, waiting for him to end it. But a high pitched yelp hit his ears and the male backed away, releasing his paw off Star.

He opened his eyes, seeing that Zara had one if his ears in her mouth, biting it viciously. She ripped it clean off, dropping it to the ground. The male pawed at his head, Star saw his chance and got up, locking his jaw with the males, got a good grip and tore himself away. He dropped the lump of flesh to the ground, staring at the male. He had tore the males upper jaw clean away from his face.

He lay on the ground, blood pouring from the wound and a horrid, gurgling sound came from his torn away face. His eyes rolled back, his paws twitching. "So much for killing us..." Star growled. He lowered his head to the males face. "I hope the Spirit-Wolves punish you and send you down to Hades... it's where you belong."

He padded towards Zara, who sat a few feet away, her shoulders bleeding. "Let me see." Star urged gently. Zara growled at him. "Don't bother... I'll heal." She stood up but winced and sat back down. "Yeah I can see that. Let me see it Zara..." He studied her wounds, touching her shoulder with his nose.

He gasped as he saw a vision. He saw his father, another wolf and....Zara. She was looking at Dagger, her tail wagging. "I love you Daddy..." She said. Star snapped out of the vision. She must've seen it too, because she looked at him the same way: shocked,l and confused. "You...you and I...." Star said, Zara finished it. "We're siblings....."