"Ouch!" Rascal exclaimed as he stepped on a sharp stone. He shook his pad to relieve the pain.

Misty turned around and bent to sniff his paw. A small trickle of blood dripped from the wound. "It's not too bad," Misty commented as she observed the scratch. "Hang on, there's a little piece of rock still lodged in your paw."

Before Rascal could protest his mate yanked out the small stone. He grimaced and hissed through clenched teeth.

Misty tossed the rock fragment off to the side. "Feel better?"

Rascal cleaned away the blood that was building on his paw. "Yeah. Thanks."

Misty picked up her trot and Rascal followed close behind.

Four days ago, Tyrant and his patrol returned to camp all bloody and injured. They explained that Red Fang had driven them and Stone Hollow Pack off their territory. No one could believe their strength unless they had seen it for themselves.

Tyrant was beginning to lose his cool. He tried to seem calm and patient, but Mystique only made him get angrier. Howler and Destiny were on edge as well. Giving tense remarks and terse questions. The Packs were losing their trust in one another as wolves.

Rascal and Misty had decided to go on a walk and take a break from the worry back at camp. They wanted to talk about their pups to come, and how they would raise them. Rascal couldn't stop going on and on about how perfect they would be. Misty listened with a cheerful smile. She's finally having a family— a real family.

"As soon as they're old enough to go out in the forest, I'll take them out whenever I can to teach them about the history of the Packs and how to hunt and fight." Rascal rambled on. He didn't realize how much he was talking.

Misty didn't seem to mind his joyful manner. She let him go on about it. She hasn't seen him more excited than he was at that moment.

Suddenly, she remembered...

A gift...

From Jumper and River...

Misty mumbled something that Rascal couldn't catch. He quit talking and glanced at her. "What is it?"

The she-wolf looked at him with a wide grin. "These pups, are a gift from my brother and Jumper."

Rascal's expression changed to curiosity. "Really?"

Misty nodded. "They visited me and told me I was getting a special gift from them. One they said they knew I'd love."

Rascal was amazed. Two wolves that played important roles in his mate's life gifted them with the greatest blessing of all.

"That's wonderful." He rubbed noses with his beautiful mate. In a whisper, he added. "I can't wait."

Misty chuckled. "It will be amazing."

They walked on through the forest, pelt to pelt, Misty's head on his shoulder. Gray clouds signaled rain to come. The wind died down. A drop landed on Rascal's nose, which in turn, made him sneeze.

Misty glanced at the sky. "We should be heading back."

"Indeed you should."

Rascal and Misty jumped, frantically scanning the forest around them. Out of the shadows crawled a black male wolf.

"Diablo?" Rascal questioned as he recognized the wolf.

Diablo's sharp blue eyes clawed over them. "On our territory? When will you learn?"

Rascal moved in front of Misty. "This land belongs to Flame Woods Pack." In a low voice, he added to Misty. "I've got this. It's him against me."

Diablo cackled. "Look again."

Three more wolves slid into the light. Mona, Chase, and Phantom.

Rascal gulped and flattened his ears.

"Now who's in trouble?" Asked Chase sassily.

Rascal shielded Misty. "Get out of here. I can handle this."

Misty moved to his side. "I can still whip butt. Don't underestimate me." She winked before getting in her defensive stance.

"Red Fang Pack claims this land!" Diablo howled as he and Chase launched at Rascal.

Rascal backed up a few steps and struck out a paw, catching Diablo on the cheek, which sent him tumbling away.

Misty glared side to side as Mona and Phantom closed in on her. When they jumped to get her, she sprang straight up in the air, causing the two she-wolves to hit their heads. Misty landed back down on them before leaping away.

Rascal struggled beneath Chase and Diablo. He attempted to shield his face as the blows rained on him. A claw raked over his muzzle and he could feel blood gushing out and splattering on his tormentors. He grunted and kicked out his legs, hitting Chase in the stomach and striking Diablo's face as he rolled away from them.

Misty put her weight on her forelegs and struck Mona in the side. Phantom slammed into Misty and sent her sprawling against a tree. The white wolf groaned and shook her head. The two Red Fang wolves surrounded Misty with hate-filled snarls on their faces.

Misty stood up and shielded her stomach. She couldn't risk losing their pups to a couple of flea-bag wolves. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure they could hear it. Thinking quickly, she glanced at the tree behind her and launched at the nearest branch. She pulled herself up and looked down at Phantom and Mona. The two were stiff with confusion.

Misty smirked and leaped up to a higher branch. Phantom and Mona pushed aside their astonishment and gave chase.

Rascal shoved Diablo's head into a tree. A disturbing thwack sounded from the force of the blow. Diablo dropped to the ground. Rascal turned back and faced Chase. The Red Fang wolf jumped on Rascal and forced him to the ground. Diablo returned to the fight and struck Rascal with alarming strength. He could just feel the bruises forming as they were given.

Rascal felt his vision blur and fade. But he pulled himself together and forced up at the two wolves. He shoved them away and hit them before stepping back and taking a moment to breathe.

He blinked rapidly and refocused his eyes. His legs felt like water. He wasn't sure how much more he could take before he would collapse.

Chase grabbed him by the scruff and slammed him to the ground multiple times. Rascal was too numb to feel the pain. But he knew the pain would come later— if he lived.

Suddenly, a surge of strength swept him up. He heaved Chase off and swiftly kicked him in the jaw. Chase grunted as blood pooled from his mouth. Diablo jumped in but Rascal dug his fangs in the dark fur. The two Red Fang wolves darted back toward their Pack. Rascal watched them go with a satisfied smile on his blood-trickled lips.

"That's right!" He yelled after them in a raspy voice. "Go away and never come back!"

His paws were shaking, trembling with exhaustion. A crack noise made him turn around. He gasped.

Mona and Phantom were breaking a branch. The one Misty was sitting on. It was the highest branch that could bear her weight. She couldn't move.

"Hey!" Rascal growled.

Mona and Phantom glanced at him before swiftly turning around and heading back to their Pack.

Rascal didn't even have time to get another word out. The branch under Misty gave out.

She screamed.

A terrified scream.

Rascal stood frozen as she plummeted to the ground.

An eerie silence followed.

MUHAHA!!! Cliff hanger!!!!!

I hope to have the next chapter out within a couple of days. I've been inactive lately. Been pretty busy.

So anyway thanks for reading, and I'll see ya next time!!

Sincerely,
15thSoccerGirl

Fun Fact: When Misty's father died, Heather tried to heal her broken heart by taking another mate, Magnus.

I don't feel sorry for her -_-