Misty's belly growled ferociously with hunger. She turned her eyes up to Rascal's, silently asking to stop for a quick meal. That rabbit from earlier didn't get them very far.

"Okay," He answered, sounding hungry himself. "We'll hunt, but only a small one."

They sniffed around until they came upon a small herd of elk. One bull and four females.

Misty crouched low, her belly brushing the moisture of the ground. She pulled forth slowly, feeling Rascal at her side.

They were in range. An old weak cow elk was grazing contently on a patch of grass a ways from the herd. That was their target.

Misty looked at Rascal. They both had the same idea in their minds. Misty would cut off the cow from her herd, and Rascal would start the chase.

Misty wiggled her legs, then sprang. The cow's head whipped up in alarm and desperately tried to race to the safety of the herd.

Misty lunged in front of the cow, blocking her path. The elk skidded to a halt and reared on her wobbly legs. She turned and pounded the other way with Rascal close behind.

Rascal panted as he drew up with each stride. His heart pounded, his legs pumped. Misty slowly passed him and matched the elk at the same speed.

Misty grasped the elk in her teeth. It cried out in pain and kicked feebly.

Rascal kept low to the ground, gaining speed. Misty let go and looped ahead of the elk. She planted her paws, determination glowed in her eyes.

Joy pricked Rascal's paws. They almost had it! He could just taste the sweet satisfying flavor in his mouth. He licked his lips and charged on.

But the moment was washed away. Misty was about to pounce but went sideways in a blur of movement. Rascal instantly quit the chase and let the elk escape. He paused in horror and glared at Misty's attacker.

"Intruders!" Skylark howled over his shoulder. Two wolves burst from the shadows and flanked his sides.

Boulder and Stone came to a quick stop.

"Hey look, it's that she-wolf from Flame Woods Pack!" Boulder snorted and laughed.

Rascal stalked to stand four paw-steps in front of Skylark. The silver wolf looked up in surprise.

"Rascal?" He still held Misty to the ground. The shock flickered in his gaze for a heartbeat, before turning to fury. "Come to get hurt?"

Rascal held his gaze firmly, not a word escaped his lips. Just a dismissive flick of an ear.

Misty fought to escape the alpha son's strong grip. She wiggled helplessly on her back, glaring at Skylark with a curl of her lip.

"She's a strong one," Skylark remarked with a mocking tone. He placed a paw on her throat and pressed down. The she-wolf didn't even flinch, nor move her burning eyes away from his.

Stone grasped Misty's scruff when Skylark confronted Rascal.

Another wolf came from the bushes. "Easy Skylark." Rascal noticed it was Ella!

He glanced at her joyfully. Her blue eyes glimmered with tears as they stared at each other.

She's okay! He sighed inwardly with relief.

"Get lost, Rascal," Skylark ignored Ella's warning. "You're not welcome."

Rascal wasn't listening. He couldn't help but steal a glance at Misty, to where she was pinned on the muddy forest floor.

"Isn't she a fine she-wolf, Stone?" Boulder asked, eyes flashing mischievously at Misty.

Stone nodded, still keeping her in a stronghold.

Growling, Rascal dug his claws into the ground. He shoved, hard, past Skylark and faced his brothers coldly.

"Let her go." His voice softened to a deadly whisper.

Stone and Boulder exchanged a glance, then howled with laughter. Rascal didn't say a thing. He froze his eyes on them with a deep fire.

When the laughter died down, Boulder spoke first, still gasping for breath after the outburst. "What's so important about this she-wolf? She's too small, and can't fight us back. She's weak."

Misty visibly flinched, eyes distant, remembering a painful memory.

Boulder stepped forward and tried to nip Rascal, but was shocked when his brother forced him back with a step.

Rascal looked down at Misty. She kicked and thrashed, clawing furiously at Stone's legs.

"She's not weak," Rascal glared at Boulder. "I said to release her...Now."

Skylark shoved into Rascal's face. "We'll kill you if you don't leave now." He snarled.

They have Misty, and we have a mission to complete. I'm not leaving, not yet...

Rascal lifted his tail, and flattened his ears, staring at Skylark. "Then try."

The future alpha drew back in shock. He expected the old Rascal. The one who obeyed his orders without a word. The weak Rascal, that never fought back.....

"Go on," Rascal challenged. "Show them how tough you are." He flicked his tail towards his siblings and Misty.

For a second, uncertainty flicked in Skylark's brown eyes. He shook his head and stared back at Rascal with undisguised hate.

Skylark still stood rooted to the ground. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do next.

"Show them." Rascal taunted and pressed himself to the ground, ready to spring into action.

That was it. The silver wolf launched over Rascal and landed behind him. He circled around the black wolf curiously. Sure, he had grown in size and strength a lot since they had last seen each other, but so has Rascal.

Rascal whirled around and bowled over the silver wolf. Howling in rage Skylark scrambled to his paws and closed his teeth over Rascal's throat.

"No!" Misty snarled and twisted fiercely under Stone's paws. She lashed out with her claws and struggled strongly.

"Help me, Boulder! Ella, give us a few extra paws over here!" Stone ordered.

Immediately, Boulder bounded to Stone's side. But Ella stayed where she was, her blue eyes focused on Rascal and Skylark.

Her two brothers looked at her desperately. "Ella, please!" Boulder begged.

The snow-white she-wolf got to her paws and rushed right past them to where Rascal and Skylark were tussling.

Rascal howled when Skylark dug his fangs into his muzzle, gripping harder. Ella tensed her muscles and leaped to her brother's aide.

She drew her claws across the future alpha's flank. He snarled and threw Rascal aside. He spun around and looked at Ella with a mixture of surprise and shock.

Before he could react, Ella slammed her paws down on his muzzle, driving his face into slush and mud.

Rascal was back on his feet and jumped onto Skylark's shoulders, pinning him.

"Take us to your Pack," He whispered. "Now."

Rascal stepped off his enemy and let him stand. Skylark blindly staggered to his balance and gestured for Rascal and the others to follow.

Ella turned to see that the white she-wolf from Flame Woods Pack had won her match against Boulder and Stone.

The two brothers raced to Skylark's side obediently. Ella fell in step with the she-wolf on their way back. She noticed that the she-wolf's pelt was ruffled and spiky. A nervous newcomer.

"Hi," Ella's blue eyes glimmered with welcome. "Who are you?"

The she-wolf looked at her in confusion. Then her green eyes softened to realization. "I'm Misty. You must be Ella."

"Yes. How'd you know?"

"I've heard a lot of good things about you," Misty's muzzle broke into a smile. "It's nice to finally meet you."