This amazing picture was drawn by the fabulous StarWolfLegacy ! Thank you again, it's great!!

It's been a few days since Blossom had inspected Misty. She was feeling a little better, but not by much. Her nausea was gone, but the pain in her side and back was still there.

Rascal tended to her like she was a sickly pup. Bringing her water, fixing her bed, treating her well. And she was deeply grateful.

The air was moist. Rain was in the air. Misty watched clouds roll in from the distance. Dark gray clouds hanging low like a vine.

She and Magnus were put on the same post. It was an uncomfortable scout. They didn't talk at all. Well, Magnus ordered Misty to stop shifting and making noise. He nagged her about every little thing: that she wasn't looking where she was supposed to, that she shouldn't move so much otherwise a predator could spot her from afar, that if she wasn't facing the right direction in the wind, it could carry her scent to enemies.

Misty snorted each time.

I'm not in the mood for his "blah blah blah."

Magnus stood straight and tall. His blue eyes were icy and expressionless.

Misty rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She muttered under her breath.

Magnus looked at her as fast as lightning. "You really don't know how to be quiet do you?"

Misty glared at him challengingly. "And I suppose you know how this Pack runs?"

"I'm older than you; wiser. Where I come from, elders are respected greatly. You young wolves—"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Misty interrupted. "I respect my elders. You're not part of this Pack. Nor do I care."

Magnus's face twisted into anger. He smacked Misty across the face. The force knocked her back. Magnus pinned her down and growled in her ear.

"Don't test me, puppy. It's about time you were taught some manners."

Misty squirmed under his strong grip. She was surprised at his steady strength. The hold on her was hard and painful. She could feel frustration rising quickly.

"Let me go!" She snapped at his muzzle. "You should rot in the deepest, coldest, loneliest trench where no one would ever find you!"

Magnus chuckled coldly and shifted his weight to hold her down by the shoulders.

"Your mother is right: you're an ungrateful, spoiled, ignorant, lousy, worthless excuse for a wolf."

Misty's ears flattened, eyes widening. She kicked Magnus in the stomach and took the advantage to run away.

Her paws thrummed against the cold earth. Tears trailed down her face, stinging.

She leaped over fallen trees and crossed small streams. She hadn't realized where she was going until she raised her eyes while stopping.

Misty slumped down beside a creek. Her paws over her eyes, she cried her whole heart out. Pain, self-doubt, shame; all fresh in her mind.

Just when I was beginning to feel like my old self.

She sniffled and wiped her tears. Once her vision was clear, she looked down in the eerie stillness of the water.

Her reflection showed her sad green eyes. With a growl, she slapped the water where her face was mirrored.

She took some deep breaths and calmed down. After a while, she felt better.

Don't let them get to you, Mist.

Huh?

She opened her eyes and looked around. "Who said that?"

An amused chuckle reached her ears.

It's me.

"Jumper?" She asked in astonishment.

"Of course." His form faded in and Misty could see him smiling brightly.

"I'm glad you're here." She whispered. "I can only take so much of their stupidity."

Jumper's face was filled with compassion. "I know. And I'm sorry for you Misty."

"Don't be." She muttered. "It's my problem. You shouldn't even be involved."

"But I am." Jumper pointed out. "It makes me sad to see you so upset."

"There's nothing we can do about it," Misty whispered. "You can't change what's already been done."

Jumper was silent for a moment. "But perhaps your actions can change the future."

Misty wasn't sure what to say. She was exhausted of constantly fighting. Her heart was thumping against her chest.

"What do I do?"

Jumper's lips pulled in to a gentle smile. "You'll know when the time comes."

Before Misty could even plead him to stay, he disappeared into nothing. His scent carried away on the wind.

Misty watched some loose leaves blow away, the air ruffling her cheek fur. The sky was growing darker with each passing second. A howl rose from far in the forest. Misty flattened her ears as she recognized the howl.

Red Fang Pack.

Then, slowly, a chorus of howls joined in, creating a melody of joy and triumph.

Misty snorted clearly unamused. The song continued to play and grew with harmony.

That's it!

She could care less. After everything she's been put through, she wanted to yell at something or someone.

At the top of her lungs, Misty screamed:

"SHUT UP!!!"

The howls died down into silence.

Misty smirked to herself. She let out a sigh.

Finally, some peace and quiet.

She trotted back toward camp, unwilling to return to her post with Magnus.

"He can fend for himself for all I care." She thought out loud.

As she was entering, another scout group was exiting. Thorn, Archie, Frost, and........

Heather.....

Misty didn't make eye contact with her mother and purposely bumped her shoulder into the older wolf.

Heather let out a soft growl and followed the rest of the group out.

Misty caught sight of Rascal sharing a meal with Blossom and Moondancer. Meanwhile, Brave and Swift were playing with Rose's three pups Ivy, Bolt, and Loki. The five quirky pups were dashing and crawling over and around the meat pile.

Misty settled beside the wolves and smiled as the pups scampered in circles.

"We're lucky disease hasn't been bad this year." Blossom was saying. "Our supply stocks haven't been very well. Spring didn't bring many herbs."

Moondancer nodded agreement. "We have to use what we have wisely. Doses in medicine were dropped since we have to hold out until Spring."

Misty realized Rascal was looking at her strangely.

"Are you okay?" He asked curiously.

Misty nodded. "Yeah! I'm fine."

Rascal shook his head slowly. "You had a funny look on your face."

Blossom's ears shoved in Misty's direction. "Do you need anything?"

Misty looked away. "No. I'm fine."

Rascal stood up. "Why don't you and I just go on a walk?" He dipped his head to the healers. "I'll see you guys later." He nudged Misty to her paws and gently guided her out.

They walked step for step. Rascal supported her, seeing as she was stumbling, almost blindly.

She felt trapped within her own mind. Thoughts swirled. Why was she feeling this? Anxiety? Worry? She couldn't identify what she was feeling. The only way she could out it was...strange.

They sat down under a small grove of trees. Rascal looked at her in concern.

"What's wrong?"

Misty tried to keep her expression calm. "I'm okay, Rascal."

The black male shook his head. "No, you're not." He placed a paw atop his mate's. "Misty, please just tell me what's bothering you. I'll do my best to help you feel better."

Misty made up a lie. "I don't feel so good."

He furrowed his brow. "Then why didn't you tell Blossom when she was sitting right there? She could've given you something to help you feel better."

Misty shrugged. "I d-don't know." She muttered.

Rascal nudged her shoulder. "Well, we better get you back before—"

"Wait a minute!" Misty blurted out.

Rascal stopped and glanced at her confused.

She looked at her paws. "I'm not sick."

Rascal's eyes shone with question. "Then what's wrong?"

Misty hesitated for a moment. Rascal didn't press her to speak. He wrapped his tail around her in comfort. After a few deep breaths, she was ready to talk.

"Well, it's just that—"

"There she is! She ran off from her post!" A bark reached their ears.

Misty flinched. Four figures came up from behind a hill. Magnus at the front with Heather at his side. Violet and Velvet trailing along the rear.

Misty flattened her ears and stood up. Rascal followed her as she stomped through the forest. She didn't need Heather barging in on her private talk with Rascal.

Heather caught up fast and planted herself in front of Misty. "Just where do you think you're going?"

"Anywhere away from you." She replied sourly.

Heather held her daughter's glare without blinking. Magnus and the others trotted up to the spectacle.

"You have a duty to finish!" Heather snapped. "Off you go!"

"NO!" Misty forced her mother back with a step. "I won't!"

Rascal stood awkwardly beside her. "I-I'll go..."

"No," Misty talked to him much gentler. "You stay."

Rascal nodded.

"No?" Heather asked, astounded. "No?" She pushed her nose into Misty's face. "I am your mother! You will do as—"

"YOU WILL NEVER BE MY MOTHER!"

Violet and Velvet gasped.

Heather's ears fell back. Obviously, she didn't expect such an answer.

"W-what?!"

"You heard me!" Misty retorted. "I'm done playing this game!" She looked at Violet and Velvet. "Heather left me when my brother was killed by a cougar. Did you know that?" She rested her venom-filled eyes back on the old she-wolf. "She said I wasn't worth anything without my brother."

The twins shared an uneasy glance.

Heather's face twisted into anger. "You know that's not true!"

"Oh! But it is!" Misty snarled. "You left me! And didn't care." She tilted her head to the side. "How do you expect me to forgive you?"

"Aurora was good to you!" Heather shouted.

"But it's not the same!" Misty spat back. "It's not the same as a mother's love!" Misty narrowed her eyes. "Which is something I never got to have."

"I came back!"

"Yeah! Too late!"

Heather's jaw tightened. "You listen to me, Misty: You're coming back with us. Like I said before, I found the perfect mate for you." She glared at Rascal. "Much better than this one."

"He wouldn't love Misty the way I do." Rascal chimed in. He looked at his mate. "We've been through a lot. Grown together, loved together." He stared at Heather. "You wouldn't understand."

Magnus stepped up to Heather with a glare at Misty. "You will obey your mother. She came back for you. Learn to respect—"

"You know what?!" Misty growled. "I. Don't. Care. What. You. Say." She glared at her half-sisters, who were whispering to each other. "And I don't care what you think!" She glared at Heather. "I don't care about you!"

Heather's eyes hardened. "Listen to—"

"No!" Misty interrupted. "I won't listen!" She gave each of them a stone-hard glare. "I don't care what you say! I don't care what you think! I don't care about you! And you wanna know why?" Misty stepped forward until she had driven her mother back a few steps. With a glance at Rascal, she shouted:

"Because I'm expecting his pups!"

Sorry for the long wait! I've been really busy lately, and the spare time I could be on Wattpad, it was for only a few minutes.

MISTY SURE SHOWED HEATHER, HUH????

Another chapter should be up within the end of the week!

What do you guys think of Misty's outburst?

Thanks for reading and see ya next time!

Sincerely,
15thSoccerGirl