"I'm asking your permission if it's okay to launch an attack on Red Fang." Misty lifted her chin bravely. She was done tiptoeing around the problem. Absolutely ready to face it head-on.

Howler's weak silver eyes were trained on the ground. Blankly, he blinked. He didn't seem to have heard Misty.

Skylark answered. "We must gather our strength." He replied carefully. "If we rush in without a strategy, we'll end up dead at their paws."

Misty glared at the silver alpha. "Remember the Battle of the Full Moon? We united together. And during that fight, we were unstoppable, together."

Skylark exchanged a glance with Tyrant and Isaac. Boulder shuffled his paws while Stone wiggled uncomfortably.

"Well?" Misty prompted. "We can't just let them drive us from our home!"

"It's more than that." Tyrant's whisper was raspy. "You want your mate back."

Misty flattened her ears. "Obviously. You just realized that?"

Boulder growled. "It's just, Rascal anyway. Who cares?"

Misty bristled. "Bite your tongue, Boulder, or I'll cut it off."

Alarm sparkled in the dark gray wolf's eyes. He muttered something inaudible.

"I think we need to save Rascal."

All eyes turned to the one who concurred with Misty. Uncomfortable with all the attention on him, Stone stared at his paws.

Boulder's face screwed up in disbelief. "Are you being serious?"

Stone shook the crawling feeling from his gray and red pelt. He locked eyes with his brother. "Yes. He is in danger."

Boulder's jaw fell to the ground. "You want to help that runt?"

"Yes." Stone hissed sharply. "Quit staring at me like I'm a piece of rotten meat." He looked directly at Misty. "How can we help?"

~~~

The plan was set. Everyone knew the part they would play. The two Packs would set out at midnight, hopefully, undetected.

Now, Misty sat beside her pups, realizing that they had been born during bloodshed, growing up in the midst of such a dark time.
And yet, they were turning out well.

"You'll get Papa back, right?" Clover sniffled. Her brown eyes overflowing as tears filled them.

Misty wasn't sure what to say. "It'll be okay. Things will turn out good in the end."

Ash and River pressed in close beside their sister, using their warmth to comfort her. Storm was staring off into the trees, ears alert and cautious.

"I wish I could help you," Ash growled. His claws dug into the soil.

"Can't we come? We could help!" River protested.

Misty shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid not. As your mother, I want to keep you safe. You will stay here with some of the other mothers. Mind your manners, and be polite."

Storm nodded, although his eyes were cloudy with grief.

Misty's heart twisted. These four young ones were counting on her to bring their father back. She couldn't imagine how disappointed they would be if she failed.

Blinking back tears, Misty pulled her puppies close, offering her comfort to them as a mother. Wanting to take away their pain and sorrow, wanting them to always be happy and cheerful. Their little bodies curled into her, savoring every ounce of warmth that ran through her.

Misty pulled away. She forced her tears back and smiled at them. "You know, I have the best pups that a mother could ever ask for."

The air was thick, dejection invading every breath Misty breathed. She gave each one of her offspring a lick on the forehead. They stared back at her, each set of eyes holding a different emotion.

Misty nudged Storm. "Why don't you take your siblings to the den? Try and get some rest. I shouldn't be gone too long. And Rascal will be with me when I return."

Ash and River each walked at Clover's side, guiding their distraught sister to the den.

Storm hadn't moved. He sat beside his mother.

"You aren't very certain either." His voice was quiet, like a gentle breeze carrying between trees.

Misty registered how wise he sounded. The fact that he could see her hidden emotions surprised her. Storm is young, yet so sharp. He observes, he listens. He pays attention to the smallest details and the little things one does while they talk.

Misty sighed. "I know."

Storm rested his head on her shoulder. He had grown. Muscles appeared in his back and shoulders. His pelt was glossy and sleek. He wasn't much far off from becoming a teen. Misty closed her eyes, having come to the realization her son was no longer a puppy.

Storm's silver pools looked like moonlight shining on the surface of water. They held an emotion Misty didn't want to see.

Misty touched her nose to his forehead. "Take care of your siblings."

Storm nodded. Nothing could explain the love she had for her sons and daughter.

~~~

The wolves lay in wait within the shadows, preparing themselves for Tyrant and Skylark to give the signal.

Misty crouched deep in a crevice. Low shrub branches tickled her spine, and she nearly jumped whenever one poked her. Thankfully, the foliage hanging over her head didn't give away her position.

Misty focused her vision down into the Red Fang camp. She was perched on an overhang between some pines. When the time was right, she would jump in and attack the nearest victim.

A yelp caught her attention. Misty watched, as two Red Fang wolves held a battered wolf between them, dragging the half-dead creature to Mystique.

Misty's lip curled. She despised Mystique. She wanted to feel her fangs sink into the she-wolf's spine and her begging shrieks of pain plead for her to stop.

The two wolves tossed the injured one harshly at Mystique's paws. Hawkeye came to stand beside his alpha, glaring shards of broken stones to the wolf on the ground.

Misty couldn't hold back her gasp.

Rascal...?

She refused to believe it. She didn't want to believe that the wolf at Mystique's feet, was her one and only mate. Rascal, the kindest, bravest, most loyal wolf out there, was at the demise of blood-lust killers.

The Red Fang alpha scored a cut to Rascal's face. He yelped. Blood seeped down into his eyes. The anguish in them was like a bullet through Misty's heart. With every moment that passed by, Misty wanted to jump in and protect him from Mystique, to shred that she-wolf to bits and laugh in her face when she writhed in agony.

Misty quietly shifted among the foliage. She was so close to getting her revenge. So close to finally ending this time-wasted war.

A howl interrupted her thoughts. She dug her claws into the rock and inhaled. Time to get her revenge. Time to get her mate back...