The swirling dark water beneath the pups made them hurry faster. Black, hungry currents of rushing water lapped and sucked at everything it touched.

River paused and flattened his ears. The sight of the deadly doom made him swallow.

"I-I don't know about this,"

Ash was behind him and gave him a good shove. "Don't stop!"

River whimpered, reluctantly moving on.

"We should split up," Storm panted when they reached the end of the rows of dens. His silver eyes raked over their flooding path, scanning for a way to get past. He turned and faced his siblings. "Ash and I will go for Papa. River and Clover, you two stay here with Mama."

"Hurry," Clover squeaked. Her eyes were round.

Storm and Ash nodded, leaping down on to a floating piece of drift wood.

River and Clover raced back over the rooftops to the den their mother was trapped in.

~~

"Which way is the battle?" Ash asked maybe too excitedly. The spark in his eyes were undeniably bright.

Storm rolled his eyes and continued looking for a way to go. Waves rolled and bounced over the hills. The brothers couldn't believe their eyes; the forest was so much bigger than they imagined!

A flash of red fur through a treeline near the top of a hill caught Storm's attention.

Tyrant!

They were close!

"C'mon Ash! Paddle!" Storm screwed his face up against the spray of water. He stuck a paw in and fought against the current.

Beside him, Ash grunted and growled something inaudible. The two brothers reached a dry place they could jump off the driftwood and pelt their fastest through the forest.

Their stubby legs didn't make running any easier. By the time they stopped at the treeline, their little hearts were pounding with adrenaline and anxiety for their mother.

Storm gasped. Ash stared in amazement. The clearing ahead of them was scarlet. Staining the ground. Wolves screeched and threw vicious blows at one another. A dark streak of blood was smeared across a large stone area. Storm followed it with his eyes, where an unrecognizable body of a wolf lay with the red substance staining his light fur. Storm couldn't tell if he was alive.

He shuddered.

"Look!" Ash pointed. The dark gray pup followed his gaze. Rascal was struggling against the grip of a strong black wolf with deadly icy eyes.

Storm swallowed. He knew they had to hurry. Time was running out.

"Over here! Papa!" Ash called out and reared to wave his front paws frantically.

Rascal's ears flicked up. His eyes landed on his sons. He heaved himself up and slashed his claws across his opponent's face. The Red Fang wolf snarled and stepped back.

Rascal raced over to his pups, eyes wide. A deep gash ran along the side of his face all the way to the inside of his left back leg. Blood dripped from his nose. It soaked his black coat.

"What in the name of Lifeless Forest are you two doing here?"

Storm winced.

Ash stepped forward confidently. "Ma is trapped! Inside camp! It's flooding and she can't get out. She'll drown!"

Rascal's expression changed in a flash. He looked behind them and saw the flooding water take over the forest.

He didn't have to ask twice. "Hop on my back,"

~~~

Rascal fought the angry currents tugging at his blood-laced pelt. Storm and Ash tightened their hold on their father.

Rascal lifted his chin. Water splashed in his face and nearly choked him. But Misty was in danger. Nothing could stop him from reaching his beloved mate.

He kicked out in strong strikes. The icy shiver running down his spine forced him onward. Frigid water chilled his bones, he was certain his skin would be blue.

A wave pushed them forward. Rascal blinked away the droplets preventing his sight. The river rushed them straight through the camp entrance.

How convenient.

Rascal boosted Storm and Ash up on the roof with River and Clover. River's face looked horrified as Clover nestled against him for comfort.

"Misty!" Rascal gasped. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes! Please hurry! The water is almost to the ceiling!"

Rascal swam to the side and pushed with all his strength. He could tell Misty was trying from the other side.

He scraped his paws in the process, sticky clumps of blood smearing on the boulder.

Storm, Ash, River, and Clover leaned down carefully and tried to do their part in helping Misty.

Rascal felt the boulder shift, just a little, but enough to give him the hope he needed. He could hear a deep intake of air. Misty needed to get out now.

Rascal put everything he had into this final push. With the help of the water, he moved it, shoving it aside to release Misty.

Her head came up for air. White fur plastered to her strong frame. Fear glimmered in her eyes. She and Rascal climbed out on the dens beside their pups.

"Where do we go?" Rascal was breathless.

Misty inhaled. "I know exactly where we should go,"

~~~

"Misty! There you are!"

Twilight ran forward to meet a very soaked Misty and pups. They climbed up the steep rocky terrain of Misty's usual scout post. It was high enough for them to easily stay safe and dry. Rascal went back to help defend the territory.

Twilight's accent was high and almost unreadable. Her eyes were shining. "I thought you had drowned back there!"

Misty wasn't in the mood for a joyous reunion. She turned and glared at Blossom.
"Why didn't you come back to help us? I can't understand why you all couldn't,"

Blossom flinched. "At the time I thought everyone made it out. I figured you had gotten lost on the way-"

Misty bristled. "You didn't think that maybe your Packmates were in serious trouble?"

Blossom flattened her ears, uncomfortable with being accused. "Like I said; I thought you were already out and had lost your way finding us, Misty,"

"You didn't even try to see if everyone got out in time or not!" Misty spat hotly. "I had to send my pups to find their father so he could help me!" She narrowed her eyes. "I can always count on him. Unlike others."

Blossom's fur spiked up. "You could've sent your pups to escape without you! You risked drowning them so you could break free! If anything, you almost cost the lives of your pups!"

"You were the one left in charge!" Misty snapped. "It sure wasn't very responsible of you to waltz off without making sure your Packmates were there beside you!"

All of the pups whimpered and clustered over to Moondancer. The gray healer whispered soothing comforts to them.

Rose and Twilight glanced at each other before nervously shifting their paws.

Misty flared her nostrils, letting her death glare gain strength. Blossom met it for a second, then angled her eyes downcast.

"You're right," she replied hoarsely. "Sorry Misty."

The white she-wolf nodded in satisfaction and gestured for her pups to come to her.

They did, settling in to try and sleep. Misty yawned and let herself be carried into the darkness of sleep.

They would have to sleep here for the night.

Hey, hey, hey! It's mah first day of summer! And to celebrate I decided to publish the next chapter! ^^ updates should be smoother from now on! Thank you everyone for your patience! I'll have more time to write and publish!

Thanks for reading!

-15thSoccerGirl