"Don't even try me right now. I've got work to do."

"Don't we all?" Solar pressed.

Misty watched with interest. Moondancer and Solar have been fighting all morning. The healer was busy making bandages for the wounded from the battle the other day. She was on edge, unable to relax for a second without Solar barging in and offering a smart remark.

Moondancer won't have anything to do with him. She's told Misty he's nothing but a mere distraction. And that it shouldn't stand in the way of her serving her Pack. She was determined to carry on with her work. Nothing was about to stop her.

Moondancer turned around sharply at his snarky tone. The fur on her shoulders puffed up. Eyes squinting, daring.

Solar didn't flinch. He lifted his chin to evenly meet her glare. Moondancer marched right up to him, bringing with her an angry storm over her head. Their noses were inches apart. Moondancer's nostrils flared. Her eyes crawled slowly up and down his body, sizing him up. She didn't bother holding back a snarl. Solar's lip twitched, but no other indication gave away his anger. Except for the burning flames in his glittering amber eyes.

Before either of them could throw a blow, Thunder rushed in between them with an annoyed look.

"Haven't we had enough fighting around here as it is? You two must learn to work together without your constant bickering." Thunder jerked his head toward Tyrant. "If he catches you fighting, you'll be in for it. I suggest keeping your muzzles clamped shut and act your age."

Solar narrowed his eyes at Moondancer before grumbling to himself and trotting away.

Moondancer sniffed. She went back to making bandages.

"Tyrant!" The urgent growl belonged to Melody.

Misty turned, her lips parted to let out a snarl as an unwanted stench rolled over her nose.

Melody, Baron, and Sky were leading a Red Fang wolf across the cliff side to Tyrant. A distressed Alusia followed behind, her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

Misty gathered her pups and stood over them with a darkened glare in her eyes. Twilight grabbed Mountain, who was still weak and frantically hid her, placing Ripple at her side.

Moon spat in the wolf's direction. Thorn bristled with an unwelcome glare. Oak and Saphira hissed threats. Blossom didn't even look at the wolf.

He was a huge stormy gray wolf. His gray eyes flicked in the direction of the hostile Pack. But he didn't say a word or dip his head respectfully to Tyrant as he approached.

Tyrant didn't even bother being polite. "What do you want?"

Alusia let out a wail and collapsed to her knees.

Isaac stepped forward to comfort her with a questioning glance at Melody and her group. "Where's Archie?"

Sky opened her jaws to reply, but Thorn's vicious growl cut her off.

"You have done something to him!" The yellow wolf glared at the gray one. Barks and snarls followed his words.

"Pull off his ears!"

"Turn him into a vulture's snack!"

"Get him!" Frost commanded. The Pack surged forward toward the Red Fang wolf. But his reply made them freeze in their tracks.

"If you touch me, you'll never see your Pack mate again."

Alusia broke away from Isaac and groveled at the gray wolf's paws. "Please, oh please don't harm my Archie. Return him to me please!"

The wolf narrowed his eyes. "That depends on what your leader says," He met Tyrant's seething gaze. "My Pack calls me Fury. Mystique has sent me to offer you a deal."

Alusia turned to Tyrant, her eyes were pleading. "Y-you won't let them kill Archie, r-ight?"

The alpha's expression darkened. "I'll do what I can."

Rose and Twilight gently pulled Alusia aside to comfort her.

Tyrant stepped closer to Fury. "What kind of deal?"

"First, you must agree to let me go, unharmed, back to my Pack. Otherwise, our guest will be killed."

Alusia sobbed at those words. Her tiny body shook in fits of horror. Isaac stepped closer to his alpha with a watchful eye on Fury.

Tyrant reluctantly agreed. "Very well."

"Just tell us what we need to know then get gone." Isaac snapped.

Fury didn't acknowledge Isaac's hostility. "We'll return your Pack mate safely to you if you give us your land."

The Flame Woods Pack wolves gasped, horrified, then anxiously glanced at their alpha. Misty shuddered and pulled her pups closer. Her heart filled sympathetically toward Alusia.

"Don't do it, Tyrant," Moon warned.

"Archie's life is on the line, we can't just give his life to our enemies!" Rascal protested.

Moon glared at Rascal.

"I am in charge here," Tyrant looked at Moon and Rascal. "I will make the decisions."

He flicked his tail. An unnerved look flashed in his eyes. "What if we don't give you what you want?"

Fury shrugged. "We kill him."

Tyrant flattened his ears as the protesting of his Pack began rising. He hesitated. Apprehension creased his face.

"Mystique thought you wouldn't decide right away, so she made a plan." Fury's eyes hardened. "You and only two of your Pack mates will meet us just outside our camp tomorrow at midnight. Give us your answer then. We'll be waiting." Without another word, Fury whipped around and began heading away.

Tyrant raised his head. "What if we don't give you our territory after either outcome?"

Fury stopped. He didn't look over his shoulder as he snarled. "Then we will force our way in."

Melody, Baron, and Sky escorted him out.

The wind ruffled Tyrant's fur. Nobody said a word. They only exchanged worried glances. The tension in the air was thick. So thick, Misty could barely breathe.

Isaac glanced at his alpha nervously. "Tyrant?"

The red wolf stared at his second-in-command. "I don't know what to do, Isaac."

"But Archie—"

"I'll know what to do when the time comes. For now, we can only hope that Archie is safe and unharmed."

"Safe?!" Frost's voice made everyone flinch. "Behind enemy lines? Are you insane?"

Misty cringed at the tone she was using toward Tyrant. The alpha's face held nothing but defeat. He wasn't going to reprimand the white wolf.

Isaac bristled defensively. "Tyrant is already put in a difficult situation. Don't make this any harder for him."

"But what if Archie is in pain?" Alusia sniffled. She anxiously looked at Isaac. "He's probably so s-scared..."

Isaac's face softened as he touched her shoulder with a paw. "We will all try our hardest to get him back."

Tyrant's ears drooped. Head down, he went to his temporary sleeping place behind a tree.

Alusia's face tightened in anxiety. She curled into a ball and shivered. "I can't lose him. Not until I tell him..."

Misty approached and patted her comfortably on the back. "Tell him what?" She asked softly.

Alusia stared in Misty's eyes. Her gaze filled with tears. She let another tear drop. "He can't go. Not until I've told him he's going to be a father."

I'm sadddd.... ;-;

Poor Alusia...

Things are about to get crazy. The Pack still must restore their home, now they have to get Archie back! Will it all be okay? You'll find out next time!

Catch Ya Later,

-15thSoccerGirl