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Chapter 5
“Look everyone, look! I caught my first rabbit!” Merra exclaimed as they entered the pack. The wolves got off their sides so they could see her. The exclaimed as they saw a freshly killed rabbit in the young wolf’s jaws.

Rose and Berano trotted towards their youngster and gaped. Mezoic and Fion stood there with surprise and pride.

“Congratulations, Merra!” Rose praised. She gave Merra a big lot of licks on her face.

“Mezoic look! Look what I caught with Ara!” Merra bounded over to her brothers and dropped the black rabbit.

“Wow, I couldn’t do that when I was a pup!” Fion said.

Merra smiled and lifted a forepaw. “What do you think, Mezoic?”

Mezoic got up and studied the rabbit, a small smile on his face. He sat back down in front of her and asked. “Did you catch it all by yourself?” Merra nodded to him. “You’re the best hunter of ever!”

Merra jumped about happily and licked her brother’s face, picking up her rabbit then showing it to everyone. The wolves cheered and congratulated her one after another. Ara smiled big and walked over to Storm, who was now awake and alert, back to his old self.

“Did you see her and the rabbit?” Ara asked him.

“Yeah, I can hear it to. Amazing how such a young wolf can hunt perfectly on its first try,” He smiled.

“I think I’m making friends with that wolf, I like her for some reason. She’s intelligent, brave and swift.” Ara said.

Dark Storm nodded and turned his head to Merra, who was surrounded by wolves of all sizes. The little wolf then broke away and headed towards Ara and Storm, the rabbit once again daggling from her jaws.

“What should I do with the rabbit?” Merra asked.

“Eat it. Or share it with your friends and family,” Ara answered.

“But I have no friends, you’re my only one. I haven’t thought of being friends with anyone else except my family,” Merra’s ears dropped and she lost her smile.

“I was just talking to Storm about how you and I are becoming friends. Right, Storm?” Ara said. He nodded.

“Thanks Ara, you are my friend. Do you want some of the rabbit?”

“No thanks, share it with your family if you want.” Ara sighed as Merra turned to her brother and ran over to him. They started chewing up the rabbit with joy. Their parents smiled and nuzzled each other.

Ara smiled at them and started to lick the scratch on Storms head. He froze and let her clean the wound so it could heal. She hoped it didn’t become a scar like hers had, as long as it wasn’t over-licked. He half closed his eyes and slightly cocked his head, enjoying her soft licks. She then stopped and licked her muzzle clean. Storm put his head against Ara and smiled, closing his eyes in love.

“You know that felt so relaxing, your tongue is nice and soft,” He said.

“I was being gentle.” She answered.

Storm rolled over with a yawn, his legs waving in the air. Ara cocked her head before laughing. He bent his paws so they overlapped his elbows, he looked like a pup.

“Why do you always do that, as a wolf?” She chuckled.

Storm frowned. “I don’t know, I’m just being boring or maybe funny,”

“You’re always boring.” Ara teased. Storm rolled back over onto his paws and rolled his eyes, his tongue sticking out.

Merra and Ara helped each other with burying the leftover rabbit bones. They had big smiles on their faces as they talked and chucked the rabbit bones into the hole they’d dug, one at the time.

“So you know how to speak certain wolf tongue?” Ara asked.

Merra nodded. “Ar-gan is yes, ter-texa is no, ekora is thank you, and say is bye,”

“Ok. What is.... hello, nubintor, and wolf-spirit?” Ara asked.

“Orara, ice-angon, elvanna,” Merra answered.

“Correct!” Ara said. She chucked in the last bone and started to cover it with dirt. “At lest you have the pelt to keep as a memory,” Ara changed the subject.

Merra grinned and picked the pelt up. She threw it into the air and it landed on her back. “Look at me, I’m a rabbit!” She started to jump like one and made Ara laugh.

“You’re so funny and amusing!” Ara exclaimed.

“Ekora, Ara.” She said with another grin.

Ara rolled over and started laughing even harder as the young wolf continued acting like a rabbit. “Oh my goodness, I can’t stop l... laughing!”

Merra stopped and shook the black pelt off her to save Ara. She jumped on her and started to play fight. She tackled Ara, her tail wagging hard like a happy dog. Ara put her paw on Merra and pushed her playfully, softly biting her ears so she wouldn’t hurt the young giant wolf. They started rolling together towards a tree and banged into it. Ara jumped to her feet followed by Merra and they started to race through the trees.

“You’re growing up each day!” Ara exclaimed.

“I know, I wonder if it’s you!” Merra answered. She suddenly tripped and rolled down a slope where many ferns grew.

“Merra, wh...!” Ara cried. She raced after her and skidded down the slope, looking for her young friend and calling her. A suddenly yelping made her stop and look around her, she saw a flash of silver then black and ran towards it. Ara leaped through the ferns and gasped in shock.

“Oh no... Merra, Merra!” Ara screamed.

A big corrupted wolf had his jaws around the silver wolf’s neck and he wasn’t letting go. His red eyes turned to her and he growled, and young Merra was gasping for air and blood trailed down her neck.

“Let her go you monster!” Ara snarled, her fur pricking up.

The black wolf dropped Merra and lunged for Ara, hitting Merra sharply as he did. Ara stood her ground and growled. She leaped at him and nipped his ears sharply. The wolf howled in pain then screeched as he returned the attack. Ara leapt away snarling and stood in front of Merra, her ears pricked forward and her legs ready to pounce. Merra shivered then howled to the pack. Ara smiled then leaped at the corrupted wolf again. She slammed it into the ground and it cried out.

The branches started to crack and snap as Ara held the wolf to the ground. She sensed the pack was near and saw Ezoc appear with Berano. They were both snarling as they saw the corrupted wolf.

“Get out of here you nasty wolf! Tell your pack to turn away!” Storm growled. He jumped from behind Ezoc and snapped down at the corrupted wolf.

Ara took her paws off of it and it scrambled up onto its paws and galloped away yelping. Merra whimpered and nuzzled Ara, sitting down next to her.

“Merra,” Berano said. He ran over to Merra and started to lick her bleeding neck. “Can you help her?”

“I can once we get back to the pack.” Ara answered.

Berano picked Merra up gently and asked if Ezoc could carry her so she wouldn’t hurt, but Ara volunteered and shifted into a giant wolf. Berano laid Merra onto her pack and they trekked back to the camp.

When they reached the clearing, Ara and Storm went straight under their rock and put Merra on the ground. She heard Rose gasp and hushed to the wolves. She laid her paw on Merra’s neck. “Heal the wounds that the wolf gave Merra, let her strength return.”

Merra’s wounds started to glow and seal up. Ara breathed out a sigh of relief as she saw them disappear and the blood stop pouring out. “Thank you.” The young wolf said. Ara dropped her head against Merra and told her to sleep. Ezoc trotted over with the rabbit pelt and passed it to Ara, who laid it over her nest and told Merra to sleep there.

“Rest for the best results,”

Chapter 6
A month flew by and a few more corrupted wolf sightings had been reported over the weeks. Ara now had to get three pairs of two wolves to patrol the camp since each wolf sighting had lead to a fight. Storm’s scratch had thankfully healed and disappeared, just leaving a bit of missing fur on his head. Whenever Ara went with Merra on a walk, she would make sure there was another wolf with them, usually Storm, if any other corrupted wolves attacked the young wolf, they would be shooed off quicker, three was better then two.

Ara coughed as she walked around the rock and she picked up a nice stick to chew on, sharpening her teeth. The stick didn’t have a friendly taste but Ara wanted something to gnaw her stress on so she didn’t have those moments of her muscles tightening. She sighed as she dropped the stick and jumped onto her rock, starting to look upon her pack. Merra was staring at her with her brother jumping about her, wanting to play. Eric and Alexandria, two mates who did the afternoon to night watch-patrol, snoozed in the shades, their legs twitching as they chased something in their unseen dreams. Storm walked up to her side and licked her face in greeting.

“How are you?” He asked.

“Alert,” She answered, her eyes staring at nothing.

Storm cocked his head. “Alert for wha...? Oh, you mean those wolves?”

“Yes, I don’t trust them and will never forgive them!” Ara growled.

Dark Storm started to click his tongue and looked around at his surroundings. He saw Fion and Berano patrolling, they did the dawn to afternoon patrols, talking to each other quietly. They kept watch though, their sharp eyes darting around ready to spot any wolf intruders unknown to them. Ara sighed beside him and dropped her head, lying down with exhaustion.

Ara itched at her neck and nipped at a fly as it passed by. She didn’t know if she should fall asleep or not, she wanted to keep alert for any warnings from the patrols. Ara was tired for she’d been awake for almost the whole night, worrying, but there was nothing. She thought carefully then decided to rest, have a sleep for an hour or two. She told Storm to keep alert for her then rested her eyes, finally falling asleep.

“Ara,” Storm said. “Ara wake up, the pack is getting hungry. They are waiting for you.”

Ara yawned and stretched herself before getting up onto her paws. She exhaled sharply and jumped off the rock, landing on the ground hard. “Come on pack hunters, let’s go hunting. You, Merra, you’ve earned a hunting place, so come with us, you’ll be useful.”

Merra jumped up onto her paws and exclaimed. She trotted forward towards Ara and the pack followed them, surprised at the young wolf joining them. Rose watched her go with pride. “If you hunt like your sister, Mezoic, you’ll be able to join as well,”

“Ok.” He frowned. He just wanted to protect the pack like his big brother and his father, patrol and fight off the trespassers. He looked at the pack as they left and smiled.

Ara thudded slowly along the ground next to Storm and Merra. Inside of her she was grinning, the young wolf deserved her place as such a clever and good hunter. She’d already caught a young deer in the forest after a walk all by herself again and Ara was impressed but was angry she snuck out. The young wolf was all alert and seemed to have grown a bit more but looked slightly smaller than her litter brother. Ara sighed and shook away her thoughts. She needed to concentrate. She ran forward and started looking for prey while the pack trekked slowly through the forest. She looked behind her and saw Merra cocking her head, wanting to follow, but Storm shook his head at her and told her something. Merra relaxed and kept her pace.

Ara shot through the trees and bushes, weaving through the fallen pieces of trees. Ara gasped as she saw a big fallen tree up ahead and prepared for a big jump and loss of energy.

I might need to eat after I jump this. Ara thought with a grin. She gathered up all her strength and belief of jumping and flew over the log, just missing it by a few centimetres. She gasped with relief and speed through the forest, sniffing the air. Cat, birds, wolves... wait, wolves? What... I hope they aren’t corrupted wolves, oh please don’t be. Ara gulped.

Her job was to find prey but still she followed the wolf scent. Usually there were predators around prey so there would have to be some prey in the direction she was going. She kept sniffing the air and smelt some rabbit. Ara slowed down to a walk and crouched towards the rabbit scent. She wouldn’t miss it in case there was no prey to be found besides this rabbit. She rounded a tree then quickly ducked back as she saw two rabbits. She could take them at once if she was wise enough. The wind was blowing her way and it gave her the advantage. She quickly leaped from behind the tree and flattened the two rabbits, breaking their spines in one snap. She smiled proudly and picked them up by the legs. She ran back to her pack to deliver them.

She followed her scent to find the way back and leaped over the fallen tree again. But her back legs got caught and she flipped, landing on the ground harshly and hitting herself on some stones. She yelped in pain and sent the rabbits flying. She ignored her pain and chased after them before another predator got them. She leaped through the bush, and landed into something fluffy, something that breathed and something that yelped in surprise and shock.

Ara got up onto her paws and growled with displeasure. She looked up with a growl then gasped. A dark grey giant wolf stood in front of her, his red pupils mirroring her shock as they recognized each other.

“N... No? Sinfire?” She gaped.

“Mum?” The giant wolf answered.

Ara felt her tail wagging with relief and happiness. She leaped forward at the wolf and started licking his face clean with love. “My dear son, you’re here! I thought you were a corrupted wolf at first!” She cried.

“Yes it’s me and I’m not a corrupted wolf.” He licked her back.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“I was looking for you. My pack was invaded by a pack of those evil wolves, corrupted ones, like you said!” No exclaimed. No was Sinfire’s wolf name and it sort of matched him, a bit.

“We’re being stalked by some. It’s been happening for a month. But why were you looking for me?”

“The pack is starving, the wolves are stealing all the prey, I think it’s the shadow clan,” No answered.

“Would that explain why I could only sniff out these rabbits? We usually find some deer each hunt, but I haven’t sighted any,” Ara sighed with worry.

No hunched his shoulders then pick up one of the rabbits. “Why don’t we go back to them, they might be wondering what’s going on.”

Ara nodded and picked up the other rabbit. She led him back to where she had last been with the pack, surprise still fizzing inside of her. No trailed close behind, very alert like her.

Must have got it from me, I’m alert like that. Ara thought with a chuckle. She knew he’d got the red pupils from part of his father, for his eyes weren’t completely flame red, it was just his pupils.

“I’m sure your father will be happy to see you.” Ara said.

“Dad, you mean.” He corrected. Ara rolled her eyes and him and grinned.

He clicked his tongue like Storm had done earlier today. Another thing he had gotten from him. Ara chewed her gum, holding in a laugh. It was amazing how he could do that with the rabbit in his mouth. She speed up and sensed the pack was nearer now.

Chapter 7

The pack edged back to the camp, all quiet with the news from No. Their tummies were rumbling and waiting for food. All there was to eat was two rabbits, how would it go around the whole pack? The hungriest would have to eat first, and Ara would forget about her snack. No was immortal, so he didn’t have to eat. Ara dropped her rabbit on the ground with disappointment and shook her roughly.

“Those of you, who are the hungriest, take a few bites from the rabbit. We don’t want starving wolves.”

“Ara, I must say this. Is it ok for the rest of us, who want to hunt, to go look for more prey?” Ezoc called from behind the pack.

“Go on then, might as well just in case.”Ara said. Ezoc howled and some of the hunters followed.

No gulped. “Should I help?”

Ara nodded. He galloped away after them, his tail pressed against him. Storm cocked his head. “I thought you wanted to him to tell the news to the rest of the pack?”

Ara ignored him and watched the hungry wolves eat. “Save some for the patrollers Eric and Alexandria.”

Ara then howled to the two wolves. They answered back and Ara walked onto her rock to spot them. They were leaping through the trees towards them, their tongues hanging out. They made it to the clearing and took a few bites of prey. Eric looked up and saw Ara, Storm lying beneath the rock.

“Anything happen?” He asked.

“Best to wait until the pack return,” She answered blankly.

Eric blinked then took one last bite of rabbit. The two wolves had had enough to eat now, enough to fill them with some energy. There would be a few wolves that wouldn’t get to eat and Eric wondered why there wasn’t much prey. There usually was.

Ara dropped her head and a tear dropped out. She brushed it away and licked her wolf lips. Her throat was dry and she wanted some water. She leaped down to the ground and ran towards the creek where she knew there’d be some fresh water. She pressed on faster each second, missing the taste of water slightly. She finally made it and dipped her head to drink. He tasted like it came from Ari Mountain, it’d been snowing up there lately by the looks of it. The tips were white and Ara could see the mountain through the trees.

She finished drinking and looked up. Her eyes widened and she quickly dropped to the ground to sneak up on her spotted prey. There was a moose, big powerful moose, and it would be enough to feed the pack. She would have to be careful because a moose could get aggressive to protect itself. It lowered its head to the ground and spoke.

“Oh yummy leaves, yummy grass, how much I relish you,” It said. “Your colour is green and perfect for eating, how much I love you.”

Ara held back a snigger and crept closer to the moose, the ferns helping to hide her. The moose walked forward and ate some pine needles hanging from a tree.

“Love the taste, hate the points!” It spat.

Ara squinted as the spit landed on her and she resisted the urge to shake it off. She then revealed herself to the moose and launched herself at it.

“No! Oh please, give me mercy!” The moose cried as she stumbled.

“I’m sorry. My pack is starting to starve all because of these corrupted wolves, who must have been scaring prey like the others. We’ve only caught two rabbits today and it’s not enough to feed like thirty three wolves,” Ara answered.

The moose whimpered as she was brought to the ground completely. She kicked out, panicking like a young calf. “Keep still! You’ll only make it worse!”

The Moose froze then eyed Ara, catching her purple eye. “You’re Ara?”

Ara nodded and placed a paw on the moose’s face. She gulped as she prepared herself to say the sentence she always said to big animals with more of a mind.

“Listen to me, moose. You are giving your life to save others. If I give you mercy, my pack has a chance of dying and it’ll mean one less pack!” Ara shivered. “If you die, you start a new one as someone else.”

“Ok then. Bye world, see you again!” The moose said, closing her eyes in pain at what she said. Time for a new life, hopefully a tiger!

Ara lifted her head and howled before biting the moose hard and killing it. The moose cried then sighed, turning limp with death. Ara cried with relief and started to drag the moose towards the camp.

Ara was about to reach the camp when she heard Ezoc’s voice. She sat down and listened from behind the bushes. “We could only find these three rats, thank Merra for that. She sniffed them out and caught two of them. Collin caught the other.”

Ara shook her head and dragged the moose towards them, a grin on her face. At least they got something though, all was not lost. Ezoc saw her and gasped, Storm jumped to his paws, and No leaped out from behind the pack. The two patrollers gasped as they saw her and the prey.

“Ara, you caught something... a moose!” Ezoc exclaimed.

“You’re always here to save the day, aren’t you?” Merra giggled.

Ara smiled to them and dragged the prey into the middle so everyone could see. Collin and Merra chucked the rats on top of it. Ara pawed them and turned them over. “They’re fat like the last one caught,”

Merra nodded and pushed the fastest rat towards her. “Take this. You deserve it for catching the moose,”

“Thank you Merra.” She licked the silver wolf on the nose and picked up the rat before turning to the pack. “You can eat now!”

The youngest of the pack dodged forward and took their bites. Merra picked up her to rats and trotted over to Ara, Mezoic suddenly trailing behind. She grinned and gave him one of the rats and continued towards Ara before sitting down next to the purple eyed grey wolf. Ara looked up and cleared her throat, pointing her ears behind Merra. Merra cocked her head and turned. Mezoic was there, standing behind Merra with the rat hanging from his jaws.

“You should eat that rat quickly so you can get some more meat from the moose before it’s all gone, Mezoic. You’re bigger then Merra and will need more food.” Ara said.

Mezoic blinked then dropped his rat and quickly gobbled it down. He was a quiet wolf and hardly talked it seemed. Merra groaned then slowly ate her rat. Mezoic finally finished his and went towards the moose.

“Hello, Ara,” She said.

“Hi,” She answered.

“Nice rat?” Merra asked.

Ara nodded, aware Storm was watching with a chunk of moose in his jaws, the sneaky shadow. She finished her rat then stood up, crunching on the leftover bones. Merra looked up at her, still eating her rat, and frowned. Storm trotted forward and lay down with his heels pointing up. He ripped the meat one bite at a time. Merra sucked the tail of the rat into her mouth then swallowed it.

After everyone had eaten, Ara called No up onto the rock and made him stand next to her. She told him to tell the pack that had not heard the news, about the corrupted wolves and his starving pack.

“A pack of corrupted wolves, lead by a wolf wearing a iron mask who we call The Masked Alpha, has captured Blaze and her pack The Dawn Birds. I escaped and spied on the evil wolves, they’re being starved and the younger wolves are slowly dying. They only get a bit of flesh, usually the leftovers, but they still starve and it’s rare. Evil is coming! I sense it, and we will have to drive off this evil!” No felt tears stinging in his eyes.

“How can you be sure?” Ezoc asked.

“I know for sure! I don’t want my pack to starve!” No growled.

“No, they won’t starve. I find a dragon to help them, by bringing prey secretly. We can’t go barging in just in case. We need to learn more about these wolves, and the corrupted ones around here!” Ara exclaimed. “What do you think pack? Should I or should I not?!”

The pack nodded to each other then Rose whispered in Ezoc’s ear. He nodded as well then turned up to Ara. “The pack agrees that you should send in a dragon to help Blaze and No’s pack. We don’t want one less pack in this clan,”

“Ok. Tomorrow I will look for a great hunting dragon to help the wolves out, in the meantime. No?”

“Yes mum?” No said.

“I want you to try and spy on the corrupted wolves in the forest. Storm will lead you to where they are. I hope...”

Description
Chapter 5
“Look everyone, look! I caught my first rabbit!” Merra exclaimed as they entered the pack. The wolves got off their sides so they could see her. The exclaimed as they saw a freshly killed rabbit in the young wolf’s jaws.

Rose and Berano trotted towards their youngster and gaped. Mezoic and Fion stood there with surprise and pride.

“Congratulations, Merra!” Rose praised. She gave Merra a big lot of licks on her face.

“Mezoic look! Look what I caught with Ara!” Merra bounded over to her brothers and dropped the black rabbit.

“Wow, I couldn’t do that when I was a pup!” Fion said.

Merra smiled and lifted a forepaw. “What do you think, Mezoic?”

Mezoic got up and studied the rabbit, a small smile on his face. He sat back down in front of her and asked. “Did you catch it all by yourself?” Merra nodded to him. “You’re the best hunter of ever!”

Merra jumped about happily and licked her brother’s face, picking up her rabbit then showing it to everyone. The wolves cheered and congratulated her one after another. Ara smiled big and walked over to Storm, who was now awake and alert, back to his old self.

“Did you see her and the rabbit?” Ara asked him.

“Yeah, I can hear it to. Amazing how such a young wolf can hunt perfectly on its first try,” He smiled.

“I think I’m making friends with that wolf, I like her for some reason. She’s intelligent, brave and swift.” Ara said.

Dark Storm nodded and turned his head to Merra, who was surrounded by wolves of all sizes. The little wolf then broke away and headed towards Ara and Storm, the rabbit once again daggling from her jaws.

“What should I do with the rabbit?” Merra asked.

“Eat it. Or share it with your friends and family,” Ara answered.

“But I have no friends, you’re my only one. I haven’t thought of being friends with anyone else except my family,” Merra’s ears dropped and she lost her smile.

“I was just talking to Storm about how you and I are becoming friends. Right, Storm?” Ara said. He nodded.

“Thanks Ara, you are my friend. Do you want some of the rabbit?”

“No thanks, share it with your family if you want.” Ara sighed as Merra turned to her brother and ran over to him. They started chewing up the rabbit with joy. Their parents smiled and nuzzled each other.

Ara smiled at them and started to lick the scratch on Storms head. He froze and let her clean the wound so it could heal. She hoped it didn’t become a scar like hers had, as long as it wasn’t over-licked. He half closed his eyes and slightly cocked his head, enjoying her soft licks. She then stopped and licked her muzzle clean. Storm put his head against Ara and smiled, closing his eyes in love.

“You know that felt so relaxing, your tongue is nice and soft,” He said.

“I was being gentle.” She answered.

Storm rolled over with a yawn, his legs waving in the air. Ara cocked her head before laughing. He bent his paws so they overlapped his elbows, he looked like a pup.

“Why do you always do that, as a wolf?” She chuckled.

Storm frowned. “I don’t know, I’m just being boring or maybe funny,”

“You’re always boring.” Ara teased. Storm rolled back over onto his paws and rolled his eyes, his tongue sticking out.

Merra and Ara helped each other with burying the leftover rabbit bones. They had big smiles on their faces as they talked and chucked the rabbit bones into the hole they’d dug, one at the time.

“So you know how to speak certain wolf tongue?” Ara asked.

Merra nodded. “Ar-gan is yes, ter-texa is no, ekora is thank you, and say is bye,”

“Ok. What is.... hello, nubintor, and wolf-spirit?” Ara asked.

“Orara, ice-angon, elvanna,” Merra answered.

“Correct!” Ara said. She chucked in the last bone and started to cover it with dirt. “At lest you have the pelt to keep as a memory,” Ara changed the subject.

Merra grinned and picked the pelt up. She threw it into the air and it landed on her back. “Look at me, I’m a rabbit!” She started to jump like one and made Ara laugh.

“You’re so funny and amusing!” Ara exclaimed.

“Ekora, Ara.” She said with another grin.

Ara rolled over and started laughing even harder as the young wolf continued acting like a rabbit. “Oh my goodness, I can’t stop l... laughing!”

Merra stopped and shook the black pelt off her to save Ara. She jumped on her and started to play fight. She tackled Ara, her tail wagging hard like a happy dog. Ara put her paw on Merra and pushed her playfully, softly biting her ears so she wouldn’t hurt the young giant wolf. They started rolling together towards a tree and banged into it. Ara jumped to her feet followed by Merra and they started to race through the trees.

“You’re growing up each day!” Ara exclaimed.

“I know, I wonder if it’s you!” Merra answered. She suddenly tripped and rolled down a slope where many ferns grew.

“Merra, wh...!” Ara cried. She raced after her and skidded down the slope, looking for her young friend and calling her. A suddenly yelping made her stop and look around her, she saw a flash of silver then black and ran towards it. Ara leaped through the ferns and gasped in shock.

“Oh no... Merra, Merra!” Ara screamed.

A big corrupted wolf had his jaws around the silver wolf’s neck and he wasn’t letting go. His red eyes turned to her and he growled, and young Merra was gasping for air and blood trailed down her neck.

“Let her go you monster!” Ara snarled, her fur pricking up.

The black wolf dropped Merra and lunged for Ara, hitting Merra sharply as he did. Ara stood her ground and growled. She leaped at him and nipped his ears sharply. The wolf howled in pain then screeched as he returned the attack. Ara leapt away snarling and stood in front of Merra, her ears pricked forward and her legs ready to pounce. Merra shivered then howled to the pack. Ara smiled then leaped at the corrupted wolf again. She slammed it into the ground and it cried out.

The branches started to crack and snap as Ara held the wolf to the ground. She sensed the pack was near and saw Ezoc appear with Berano. They were both snarling as they saw the corrupted wolf.

“Get out of here you nasty wolf! Tell your pack to turn away!” Storm growled. He jumped from behind Ezoc and snapped down at the corrupted wolf.

Ara took her paws off of it and it scrambled up onto its paws and galloped away yelping. Merra whimpered and nuzzled Ara, sitting down next to her.

“Merra,” Berano said. He ran over to Merra and started to lick her bleeding neck. “Can you help her?”

“I can once we get back to the pack.” Ara answered.

Berano picked Merra up gently and asked if Ezoc could carry her so she wouldn’t hurt, but Ara volunteered and shifted into a giant wolf. Berano laid Merra onto her pack and they trekked back to the camp.

When they reached the clearing, Ara and Storm went straight under their rock and put Merra on the ground. She heard Rose gasp and hushed to the wolves. She laid her paw on Merra’s neck. “Heal the wounds that the wolf gave Merra, let her strength return.”

Merra’s wounds started to glow and seal up. Ara breathed out a sigh of relief as she saw them disappear and the blood stop pouring out. “Thank you.” The young wolf said. Ara dropped her head against Merra and told her to sleep. Ezoc trotted over with the rabbit pelt and passed it to Ara, who laid it over her nest and told Merra to sleep there.

“Rest for the best results,”

Chapter 6
A month flew by and a few more corrupted wolf sightings had been reported over the weeks. Ara now had to get three pairs of two wolves to patrol the camp since each wolf sighting had lead to a fight. Storm’s scratch had thankfully healed and disappeared, just leaving a bit of missing fur on his head. Whenever Ara went with Merra on a walk, she would make sure there was another wolf with them, usually Storm, if any other corrupted wolves attacked the young wolf, they would be shooed off quicker, three was better then two.

Ara coughed as she walked around the rock and she picked up a nice stick to chew on, sharpening her teeth. The stick didn’t have a friendly taste but Ara wanted something to gnaw her stress on so she didn’t have those moments of her muscles tightening. She sighed as she dropped the stick and jumped onto her rock, starting to look upon her pack. Merra was staring at her with her brother jumping about her, wanting to play. Eric and Alexandria, two mates who did the afternoon to night watch-patrol, snoozed in the shades, their legs twitching as they chased something in their unseen dreams. Storm walked up to her side and licked her face in greeting.

“How are you?” He asked.

“Alert,” She answered, her eyes staring at nothing.

Storm cocked his head. “Alert for wha...? Oh, you mean those wolves?”

“Yes, I don’t trust them and will never forgive them!” Ara growled.

Dark Storm started to click his tongue and looked around at his surroundings. He saw Fion and Berano patrolling, they did the dawn to afternoon patrols, talking to each other quietly. They kept watch though, their sharp eyes darting around ready to spot any wolf intruders unknown to them. Ara sighed beside him and dropped her head, lying down with exhaustion.

Ara itched at her neck and nipped at a fly as it passed by. She didn’t know if she should fall asleep or not, she wanted to keep alert for any warnings from the patrols. Ara was tired for she’d been awake for almost the whole night, worrying, but there was nothing. She thought carefully then decided to rest, have a sleep for an hour or two. She told Storm to keep alert for her then rested her eyes, finally falling asleep.

“Ara,” Storm said. “Ara wake up, the pack is getting hungry. They are waiting for you.”

Ara yawned and stretched herself before getting up onto her paws. She exhaled sharply and jumped off the rock, landing on the ground hard. “Come on pack hunters, let’s go hunting. You, Merra, you’ve earned a hunting place, so come with us, you’ll be useful.”

Merra jumped up onto her paws and exclaimed. She trotted forward towards Ara and the pack followed them, surprised at the young wolf joining them. Rose watched her go with pride. “If you hunt like your sister, Mezoic, you’ll be able to join as well,”

“Ok.” He frowned. He just wanted to protect the pack like his big brother and his father, patrol and fight off the trespassers. He looked at the pack as they left and smiled.

Ara thudded slowly along the ground next to Storm and Merra. Inside of her she was grinning, the young wolf deserved her place as such a clever and good hunter. She’d already caught a young deer in the forest after a walk all by herself again and Ara was impressed but was angry she snuck out. The young wolf was all alert and seemed to have grown a bit more but looked slightly smaller than her litter brother. Ara sighed and shook away her thoughts. She needed to concentrate. She ran forward and started looking for prey while the pack trekked slowly through the forest. She looked behind her and saw Merra cocking her head, wanting to follow, but Storm shook his head at her and told her something. Merra relaxed and kept her pace.

Ara shot through the trees and bushes, weaving through the fallen pieces of trees. Ara gasped as she saw a big fallen tree up ahead and prepared for a big jump and loss of energy.

I might need to eat after I jump this. Ara thought with a grin. She gathered up all her strength and belief of jumping and flew over the log, just missing it by a few centimetres. She gasped with relief and speed through the forest, sniffing the air. Cat, birds, wolves... wait, wolves? What... I hope they aren’t corrupted wolves, oh please don’t be. Ara gulped.

Her job was to find prey but still she followed the wolf scent. Usually there were predators around prey so there would have to be some prey in the direction she was going. She kept sniffing the air and smelt some rabbit. Ara slowed down to a walk and crouched towards the rabbit scent. She wouldn’t miss it in case there was no prey to be found besides this rabbit. She rounded a tree then quickly ducked back as she saw two rabbits. She could take them at once if she was wise enough. The wind was blowing her way and it gave her the advantage. She quickly leaped from behind the tree and flattened the two rabbits, breaking their spines in one snap. She smiled proudly and picked them up by the legs. She ran back to her pack to deliver them.

She followed her scent to find the way back and leaped over the fallen tree again. But her back legs got caught and she flipped, landing on the ground harshly and hitting herself on some stones. She yelped in pain and sent the rabbits flying. She ignored her pain and chased after them before another predator got them. She leaped through the bush, and landed into something fluffy, something that breathed and something that yelped in surprise and shock.

Ara got up onto her paws and growled with displeasure. She looked up with a growl then gasped. A dark grey giant wolf stood in front of her, his red pupils mirroring her shock as they recognized each other.

“N... No? Sinfire?” She gaped.

“Mum?” The giant wolf answered.

Ara felt her tail wagging with relief and happiness. She leaped forward at the wolf and started licking his face clean with love. “My dear son, you’re here! I thought you were a corrupted wolf at first!” She cried.

“Yes it’s me and I’m not a corrupted wolf.” He licked her back.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“I was looking for you. My pack was invaded by a pack of those evil wolves, corrupted ones, like you said!” No exclaimed. No was Sinfire’s wolf name and it sort of matched him, a bit.

“We’re being stalked by some. It’s been happening for a month. But why were you looking for me?”

“The pack is starving, the wolves are stealing all the prey, I think it’s the shadow clan,” No answered.

“Would that explain why I could only sniff out these rabbits? We usually find some deer each hunt, but I haven’t sighted any,” Ara sighed with worry.

No hunched his shoulders then pick up one of the rabbits. “Why don’t we go back to them, they might be wondering what’s going on.”

Ara nodded and picked up the other rabbit. She led him back to where she had last been with the pack, surprise still fizzing inside of her. No trailed close behind, very alert like her.

Must have got it from me, I’m alert like that. Ara thought with a chuckle. She knew he’d got the red pupils from part of his father, for his eyes weren’t completely flame red, it was just his pupils.

“I’m sure your father will be happy to see you.” Ara said.

“Dad, you mean.” He corrected. Ara rolled her eyes and him and grinned.

He clicked his tongue like Storm had done earlier today. Another thing he had gotten from him. Ara chewed her gum, holding in a laugh. It was amazing how he could do that with the rabbit in his mouth. She speed up and sensed the pack was nearer now.

Chapter 7

The pack edged back to the camp, all quiet with the news from No. Their tummies were rumbling and waiting for food. All there was to eat was two rabbits, how would it go around the whole pack? The hungriest would have to eat first, and Ara would forget about her snack. No was immortal, so he didn’t have to eat. Ara dropped her rabbit on the ground with disappointment and shook her roughly.

“Those of you, who are the hungriest, take a few bites from the rabbit. We don’t want starving wolves.”

“Ara, I must say this. Is it ok for the rest of us, who want to hunt, to go look for more prey?” Ezoc called from behind the pack.

“Go on then, might as well just in case.”Ara said. Ezoc howled and some of the hunters followed.

No gulped. “Should I help?”

Ara nodded. He galloped away after them, his tail pressed against him. Storm cocked his head. “I thought you wanted to him to tell the news to the rest of the pack?”

Ara ignored him and watched the hungry wolves eat. “Save some for the patrollers Eric and Alexandria.”

Ara then howled to the two wolves. They answered back and Ara walked onto her rock to spot them. They were leaping through the trees towards them, their tongues hanging out. They made it to the clearing and took a few bites of prey. Eric looked up and saw Ara, Storm lying beneath the rock.

“Anything happen?” He asked.

“Best to wait until the pack return,” She answered blankly.

Eric blinked then took one last bite of rabbit. The two wolves had had enough to eat now, enough to fill them with some energy. There would be a few wolves that wouldn’t get to eat and Eric wondered why there wasn’t much prey. There usually was.

Ara dropped her head and a tear dropped out. She brushed it away and licked her wolf lips. Her throat was dry and she wanted some water. She leaped down to the ground and ran towards the creek where she knew there’d be some fresh water. She pressed on faster each second, missing the taste of water slightly. She finally made it and dipped her head to drink. He tasted like it came from Ari Mountain, it’d been snowing up there lately by the looks of it. The tips were white and Ara could see the mountain through the trees.

She finished drinking and looked up. Her eyes widened and she quickly dropped to the ground to sneak up on her spotted prey. There was a moose, big powerful moose, and it would be enough to feed the pack. She would have to be careful because a moose could get aggressive to protect itself. It lowered its head to the ground and spoke.

“Oh yummy leaves, yummy grass, how much I relish you,” It said. “Your colour is green and perfect for eating, how much I love you.”

Ara held back a snigger and crept closer to the moose, the ferns helping to hide her. The moose walked forward and ate some pine needles hanging from a tree.

“Love the taste, hate the points!” It spat.

Ara squinted as the spit landed on her and she resisted the urge to shake it off. She then revealed herself to the moose and launched herself at it.

“No! Oh please, give me mercy!” The moose cried as she stumbled.

“I’m sorry. My pack is starting to starve all because of these corrupted wolves, who must have been scaring prey like the others. We’ve only caught two rabbits today and it’s not enough to feed like thirty three wolves,” Ara answered.

The moose whimpered as she was brought to the ground completely. She kicked out, panicking like a young calf. “Keep still! You’ll only make it worse!”

The Moose froze then eyed Ara, catching her purple eye. “You’re Ara?”

Ara nodded and placed a paw on the moose’s face. She gulped as she prepared herself to say the sentence she always said to big animals with more of a mind.

“Listen to me, moose. You are giving your life to save others. If I give you mercy, my pack has a chance of dying and it’ll mean one less pack!” Ara shivered. “If you die, you start a new one as someone else.”

“Ok then. Bye world, see you again!” The moose said, closing her eyes in pain at what she said. Time for a new life, hopefully a tiger!

Ara lifted her head and howled before biting the moose hard and killing it. The moose cried then sighed, turning limp with death. Ara cried with relief and started to drag the moose towards the camp.

Ara was about to reach the camp when she heard Ezoc’s voice. She sat down and listened from behind the bushes. “We could only find these three rats, thank Merra for that. She sniffed them out and caught two of them. Collin caught the other.”

Ara shook her head and dragged the moose towards them, a grin on her face. At least they got something though, all was not lost. Ezoc saw her and gasped, Storm jumped to his paws, and No leaped out from behind the pack. The two patrollers gasped as they saw her and the prey.

“Ara, you caught something... a moose!” Ezoc exclaimed.

“You’re always here to save the day, aren’t you?” Merra giggled.

Ara smiled to them and dragged the prey into the middle so everyone could see. Collin and Merra chucked the rats on top of it. Ara pawed them and turned them over. “They’re fat like the last one caught,”

Merra nodded and pushed the fastest rat towards her. “Take this. You deserve it for catching the moose,”

“Thank you Merra.” She licked the silver wolf on the nose and picked up the rat before turning to the pack. “You can eat now!”

The youngest of the pack dodged forward and took their bites. Merra picked up her to rats and trotted over to Ara, Mezoic suddenly trailing behind. She grinned and gave him one of the rats and continued towards Ara before sitting down next to the purple eyed grey wolf. Ara looked up and cleared her throat, pointing her ears behind Merra. Merra cocked her head and turned. Mezoic was there, standing behind Merra with the rat hanging from his jaws.

“You should eat that rat quickly so you can get some more meat from the moose before it’s all gone, Mezoic. You’re bigger then Merra and will need more food.” Ara said.

Mezoic blinked then dropped his rat and quickly gobbled it down. He was a quiet wolf and hardly talked it seemed. Merra groaned then slowly ate her rat. Mezoic finally finished his and went towards the moose.

“Hello, Ara,” She said.

“Hi,” She answered.

“Nice rat?” Merra asked.

Ara nodded, aware Storm was watching with a chunk of moose in his jaws, the sneaky shadow. She finished her rat then stood up, crunching on the leftover bones. Merra looked up at her, still eating her rat, and frowned. Storm trotted forward and lay down with his heels pointing up. He ripped the meat one bite at a time. Merra sucked the tail of the rat into her mouth then swallowed it.

After everyone had eaten, Ara called No up onto the rock and made him stand next to her. She told him to tell the pack that had not heard the news, about the corrupted wolves and his starving pack.

“A pack of corrupted wolves, lead by a wolf wearing a iron mask who we call The Masked Alpha, has captured Blaze and her pack The Dawn Birds. I escaped and spied on the evil wolves, they’re being starved and the younger wolves are slowly dying. They only get a bit of flesh, usually the leftovers, but they still starve and it’s rare. Evil is coming! I sense it, and we will have to drive off this evil!” No felt tears stinging in his eyes.

“How can you be sure?” Ezoc asked.

“I know for sure! I don’t want my pack to starve!” No growled.

“No, they won’t starve. I find a dragon to help them, by bringing prey secretly. We can’t go barging in just in case. We need to learn more about these wolves, and the corrupted ones around here!” Ara exclaimed. “What do you think pack? Should I or should I not?!”

The pack nodded to each other then Rose whispered in Ezoc’s ear. He nodded as well then turned up to Ara. “The pack agrees that you should send in a dragon to help Blaze and No’s pack. We don’t want one less pack in this clan,”

“Ok. Tomorrow I will look for a great hunting dragon to help the wolves out, in the meantime. No?”

“Yes mum?” No said.

“I want you to try and spy on the corrupted wolves in the forest. Storm will lead you to where they are. I hope...”