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Rascal barely slept. He stayed up and watched Misty and the pups, sleeping and cuddling together. His little family. His perfect family.

He was worried sick about Clover. She seemed to be sleeping okay. But she wouldn't wake up and eat. No matter how hard Misty tried to feed her, nothing worked. And she needs to eat.

Storm, Ash, and River were snuggled beside Misty's belly. Whimpering and kicking in their sleep, having sweet little dreams. Clover was nestled between Misty's front paws. The mother wolf leaning over and unknowingly blocking her daughter from any threat that might get her.

Rascal smiled and placed himself near the entrance to shield his family from weather or other wolves. He looked outside and watched the rain fall in silver droplets touching the ground.

He yawned. Yet didn't feel like sleeping. He wanted to live in this moment of peace forever. A sigh emitted from his chest and mixed with the sound of the rain hitting the roof of their den.

~~~

"Take another step, and they will perish," Mystique growled, licking blood off her fangs.

Rascal stood frozen with fear. The Red Fang alpha had at her paws, four little lumps of bloody fur.

She cackled and punctured a hole into Ash's side. He twitched and howled.

Hawkeye cracked Storm's legs until they hung useless.

Obsidian tossed River over the edge of a cliff.

And Diablo grabbed Clover's weak, limp body and slowly began dragging her into the shadowed forest.

"Oops," Mystique put on a fake pout. "I guess they were destined to die anyway," with that she began laughing like a psychotic killer.

Rascal felt his throat constrict. He glared at them and tried to move forward, but his paws were rooted to the ground by some invisible restraint.

"Keep your eyes open," Mystique whispered. "Watch them suffer. Or you will be next."

"I'd rather die than let you harm my puppies!" Rascal yelled at the top of his lungs.

The Red Fang wolf started laughing hysterically, and slid a claw across Ash's throat.

"Papa!"
"Please!"
"Help us!"
"It hurts!"

The cries made Rascal grind his teeth and his heart pound. They all spun and whirled through his mind. He couldn't take it. It was too much. It was eating him like a flame.

"NO!"

~~~

"NO!"

Rascal gasped, bolting upright. His head was pounding and he anxiously looked at Misty and the pups.

They were sleeping peacefully. Undisturbed by his nightmare fit.

He let out a shaky breath. He laid back down and watched the rain fall, flinching when a flash of lightning took him by surprise.

It took awhile, but he finally managed to fall back to sleep.

~~~

Morning came too soon. Rascal felt exhausted from head to toe. Thunder was still rumbling heavily over the forest. Sheets of rain dropped down on the Packs.

The pups were up and squirming about. Rascal could barely believe they were born three days ago. They seemed so strong already.

Misty was up before Rascal, trying to calm down the little ones. She hushed and soothed them. Rascal couldn't believe how quickly Misty snapped into motherhood.

Suddenly his mate gasped.

"Look Rascal! Storm is opening his eyes!"

He sprang up, sleepiness forgotten, and watched his oldest son in awe.

The dark gray pup slowly blinked his eyes open. Squinting in an attempt to see his parents.

"Hello Storm," Misty cooed.

Storm's eyes lazily opened. Rascal noticed they were a striking light color. Silver. Like shimmering drops of silver rain.

Storm wrinkled his nose and sneezed, eyes widening.

Ash attempted to growl and gain his parents' attention. All of a sudden, his eyes snapped open, and he looked like he was glaring at Storm with something like jealousy.

Emerald flames burned toward Storm. Rascal realized Ash's eyes looked like a mix between his father, Copper's, with Misty's gleam in them.

River squealed, rolling on his belly between his brothers and letting his tongue hang out with a happy smile on his face. He giggled and looked at Misty, eyes a deep blue. Misty's face softened when she saw those eyes. She poked River and he squealed in response.

Clover didn't even move.

Rascal felt his heart squeeze whenever he looked at his frail daughter. She seemed so small and helpless. It wasn't fair. Her brothers were growing just fine. Why wasn't she?

"Tyrant!" It was Isaac. He sounded urgent.

Rascal shared a concerned glance with Misty. He nodded to her then peeked outside, furrowing his forehead in confusion.

Isaac was at the lead, pelt completely soaking wet with Thunder and Moon flanking some unfamiliar wolves.

A black she-wolf with white speckles was carrying a tiny light brown she-pup in her jaws. A male pup with a dark brown pelt and lighter underbelly walked beside them. In the back was a bright yellow male with amber eyes. He looked like a young adult.

Tyrant exited his den into the storm. He met the group halfway.

"We found them on the Eastern border. They're alone, hungry, and the littlest one is sick and may not make it." Isaac reported.

Rascal looked at the little she-pup limp in it's mother's grasp. He exhaled a painful breath, thinking of Clover.

Tyrant kept a cool demeanor. "Names please?"

"I'm Twinkle," announced the mother wolf. "These are my pups. Ripple," she gestured to the healthy pup. "And Mountain." She indicated the weak one.

"I'm Solar," replied the young yellow male.

"Do you have any alliance with a Pack called Red Fang?" Tyrant questioned.

Twinkle shook her head. "No. We are new here. We traveled very far in hopes of finding a place to stay," Rascal noticed the accent in her voice.

Tyrant nodded, satisfied. "Isaac, make sure they have a den to stay in. Keep them comfortable." He dipped his head and returned to shelter.

Rascal watched Isaac disappear in a den with the new arrivals. He almost didn't see his sister padding toward them in the rain.

Her face was creased with urgency.
"Rascal, can we talk? Please?"

He nodded and let Misty know he would be back. Then he followed Ella to her den. They sat and shook the rain from their pelts.

The quiet wolf stared at her paws. "I...I had a dream,"

Rascal's ears perked up.

"It was over a year ago," she whispered. "During the Battle of the Full Moon. I didn't say anything because I didn't think it was that important at the time. But I haven't forgotten. How could I?"

Rascal tilted his head to the side. What kind of dream? Are the humans destined to come back? Another fight?

"It's not the humans," Ella seemed to read his mind. "Actually, I think it's about your pups."

Rascal's stomach knotted with worry. "W-what do you mean?"

"Three wolves will save the lives of many. Even the ones we don't know exist. You'll meet them just before dawn," Ella's eyes swam with fear. "Your pups were born just before dawn, Rascal. I think they're the ones my dream prophesized.

Rascal suddenly felt dizzy. He blinked and refocused his vision. "Who told you?"

"Maple,"

Rascal felt his shoulders droop at the mention of their mother's name.

"Your pups are destined for something greater than any of us can see," Ella explained.

"But...four pups were born..." he trailed off when he saw Ella's look of despair.

Suddenly he understood.

"You mean to say Clover isn't even a choice for the supposed "three"?" He demanded sharply.

Ella shook her head. "Rascal, everyone knows how weak she is. Storm, Ash, and River are the suspected ones for this destiny. Clover won't live long enough—"

"No! Shut up!" Rascal snapped. "You're wrong! She'll live! Why does everyone give up hope so easily!?"

He didn't wait for her to answer. He bolted out into the rain, standing in the middle of the clearing with the moisture running through his fur.

He wanted to scream.
Yell.
Curse.
Die.
He wanted to stop feeling pain. He wanted to stop feeling disappointment.

Everything is wrong. Why must everyone be so negative?

She's wrong, Rascal hissed to himself. She's just jealous because she can't have pups and she's trying to make me feel her pain.

A single tear rolled down his cheek.

I can't take this much longer...

Sorry for the long wait! Been kinda busy! :P updates will probably be slower.

Poor Rascal ;_; I wanna hug my bean.

And remember the dream Ella had in book one? Yep, this is it.

Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Sincerely,

15thSoccerGirl