The bitter wind sharply cut into her pelt. Misty lowered her head against the rain. Carrying the leftover meat from camp in her jaws. She tried her best to keep moving, so as not to get cold enough to catch an illness.

The rain slapped over the wolves. Little Moondancer hobbled along bravely, carrying a small bundle of herbs. Tyrant was at the lead, eyes narrowed and ears pricked in concentration. Fire was hollering orders across the group of wolves, running back every so often to see if anyone needed help.

Now that the battle was almost upon them, Misty's stomach flipped anxiously. She couldn't bear the thought of losing any of her Packmates, but she knew very well that not everyone would live.

Rascal was ahead of her about four paces. She figured that he was thinking the same things she was. An icy claw of fear slowly trickled down her back. She bit her lip nervously and tightened her grip on the meat.

The ground sloped upward and carried them over slippery rocks and moss. It flattened out but they continued on slowly to keep their balance in line.

Tyrant signaled for them to stop. He sniffed the air and flicked his tail. Misty peered around and below, was Crossed Streams. The red alpha gave the signal to head down.

The wolves flew down the side of the rocky cliff face, wind buffeting their fur and blowing rain in their pelts. They skidded over sticky mud and sharp stones pierced their pads.

Once at the bottom, Misty put her meat on a pile where some of the other wolves were sorting it out. Then she glimpsed about, spotted Rascal, and made her way over to him.

His eyes shone brightly when she approached. Misty was glad he was there. She placed a quick lick on his cheek.

"Nervous?" She asked in a whisper.

"Terrified." He replied. Misty could feel his heartbeat quicken in his chest. And she wondered if he could feel hers.

She didn't want to think about who'd live, remembering the horror of the battle, or the ones who would cruelly lose their lives.

I pray that Rascal isn't one of them...

Losing Rascal would be like losing her other half. The part of her that made her whole. The part that made her complete.

She gazed up in his eyes. Feeling many emotions that couldn't make it out of her mouth. Misty closed her eyes, and inhaled Rascal's scent; the scent she'd come to know so well these past months. It burned in the back of her mind. She remembered the first time they'd met.

He was injured and stumbling about like he was blind. She thought of him as an intruder and attacked him with all her might.

Misty laughed inwardly.

We were so different then.

A gentle tongue swept above her eyes. It came across the scar that her father had left on her when she was a pup.

She almost flinched, but realized, she didn't have to be afraid anymore. She could forget the past and focus on her future.

My mother and father didn't care about me, but there's only one wolf in the world that can give me the love and care I've needed.

Rascal's face glowed, revealing every little thing he was feeling. He buried his face in her soft fur. They sat like that for a while, basking in the other's warmth and comfort.

"Misty," A deep, shy sounding voice softly called.

She turned, and Jumper was sitting about six paw-steps away, looking at her with sorrow and......jealousy?

Rascal nodded for her to go on. He then dipped his head to Jumper and bounded off in Tyrant's direction.

"Are you okay, Jumper?" Misty sat beside him with round eyes.

He bit his lip and twitched his ears. After a moment of silence, he turned to face her.

"Misty, you know that this battle will be deadly."

She nodded.

"I...I just want you to come back alive."

Her eyes brimmed with tears. "You're my best friend, Jumper. You must come back too," She pressed her muzzle into his fur. "What would I do without you?"

She felt a drop land on her head. Gazing up, she saw the tears in her best friend's eyes. He looked very sad, yet happy at the same time.

He pulled her into an embrace. He trembled and sounded like he was on the verge of losing it. Misty could hear his heart hammering against his chest in rapid beats of fear. The brown wolf rested his cheek on her head, letting the tears roll down his cheeks without stopping it. He sniffled and put on a brave face.

Jumper pulled back and stared her straight in the eye. "Be careful out there, you and Rascal." He put a paw atop one of hers. His warm brown eyes were soft. "Fight like you've never fought before. Breathe as if it'd be your last. Love like you'll never love again." He licked her on the forehead, resting his against hers. "Be strong, Mist." He gave her a final shy smile before padding away to a makeshift den.

Misty was left with tears running down her cheeks. She bent and wiped them away, feeling her heart swell.

A howl from above caught the Flame Woods wolves' attention. They all glanced up to see Howler and his Pack, all in a line. His silver eyes glowed brightly against the dark sky, and his strong form was elegant.

The Stone Hollow Pack wolves raced over the cliff and poured into the hollow. They all looked at the Flame Woods wolves in disdain and lifted their noses into the air.

A snow-white pelt caught Misty's eye.

Ella!

The blue-eyed wolf bounded to her, eyes shining in welcome. "Misty! It's so good to see you!"

"Likewise, Ella." Misty was glad that at least one  wolf was willing to work with them.

Ella raised her head, noticed Rascal, then ducked back down.

Misty tilted her head. "What's wrong?" She knew what was wrong, but preferred to hear it from Ella herself.

She sighed and shook her head. "Rascal's mad at me."

"How come?"

She swallowed and looked at her paws. "B-because I like Skylark."

Misty twisted to look at Skylark. The silver wolf was bragging on how he'd taken down a buck all by himself.

"That's just how brothers are." She faced Ella again. "He's just worried about you." She nearly choked on her words, remembering that she once had a brother like that. She cleared those painful thoughts. "He doesn't want you to get hurt."

Ella nodded. "I know that. It's just that I want to help Skylark. He needs someone to gently guide him away from violence."

Misty admired Ella's sweet heart. She wished that she could be more like her. But every wolf is different in their own special way.

"Why don't you talk to Rascal?" She suggested. "I'm sure he wants to see you."

Ella looked hesitant. Then decided to go see her brother. She thanked Misty and padded over to say hello to Rascal.

Misty watched as his eyes lit up. They embraced each other and began to talk.

She smiled to herself and gazed across the Stone Hollow ranks.

They all looked hostile and whispered to each other as they cast suspicious glances at Misty and her Packmates. She returned the glare and trotted over to Isaac.

"They act like we're the Mortals." He muttered under his breath. His fur bristled as a Stone Hollow she-wolf raised her snout and flounced away. He calmed down when a black pelt slid in next to him. Blossom stared at him with her beautiful violet eyes. Isaac softly licked her muzzle. And the two padded off together, pelt to pelt.

Bear, a Stone Hollow wolf made his way over to Misty. He was very tall, with a strong build and yellow eyes and a gray-brown coat.

Misty could tell she was looking at him in shock. He waved his tail and rolled his eyes.

"We might as well get to know each other. After all, we'll be fighting side by side."

Misty greed, and signaled for Bear to follow. She thought that a good dose of training may help. Bear called to Aura and Tundra, members of his Pack. Misty howled for Okami and Thunder.

The Stone Hollow she-wolves glared at Misty from her ears to her tail-tip. Thunder and Okami bounded over.

"What's going on?" Thunder asked as he saw the other Pack wolves.

"We thought that a bit of training would help. Swapping ideas and battle tactics may be useful." She explained.

What if they try to use our own moves against us someday?

Misty decided that they'd show them the most common moves they use. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Aura and Misty were paired. They were ordered to use their own strategies against each other.

Misty bent her knees just a little, bracing for the attack. Aura charged and ran side to side. Misty's eyes never left and when the moment was right, she pounced. Rolling Aura to the ground she ended up on the bottom. The gray she-wolf began lashing out with her forepaws. Misty smacked them away effortlessly. Then she gathered her strength and pushed up, Aura flew off and got her paws underneath her before she could fall.

My turn.

Misty jumped once, then pushed her hind legs into the dirt. She took off and twisted in mid-air, coming around to kick Aura with her back legs. The other she-wolf didn't expect the attack, and Misty knocked her back easily.

"That's enough!" Thunder called from where he was watching.

Misty walked over to Aura. "You okay?"

Aura staggered to her paws and looked at Misty respectfully with a curt nod. "Yes. Nice work."

"You too."

Aura sat beside Bear as Tundra and Okami took their positions.

Misty settled beside Thunder, and watched as Stone Hollow and Flame Woods began to slowly approach one another, asking to train or perhaps share a meal.

The rain cleared up, but she could hear thunder in the distance. Rolling over the hills and crashing towards them.

Then she looked to the sky. Evening was starting to set in, and the moon was barely visible through the clouds.

Tomorrow, it will be full.

The Battle of the Full Moon is tomorrow night!!! Do you think the Packs are ready? Will they be able to stop the Humans?

I hope you enjoyed!!! And if so, let me know!

Sincerely,

15thSoccerGirl