"Wake up, little one."

Bracken opened his eyes. He felt oddly fine, as if the smoke was cleared from the air and his lungs. Still, he could see the smoke in the air. He nudged his grandfather. Still dead.

He felt a strange presence beside him and turned to see a Ninetales. "Bracken."

Bracken stepped away from her. "Y-you know my name?"

"Of course I know your name. I've been waiting for you. You have a great destiny."

Bracken hadn't noticed it before, but the Ninetales had a transparent look to it, like some sort of ghost. "I...I do?"

She nodded. "Yes, but only if you allow me to help you achieve it. It's a difficult path, and without guidance, you will fail.

Bracken felt awed. He could be great? Him, the runtpuppy? He almost wanted to ask Malady if she had the wrong pup, but what if said yes? He wouldn't get a destiny. He'd go back to being a worthless runt.

"Please lead me!" Bracken exclaimed. "I want to have a purpose, not just to be some runtpuppy in the pack!"

The Ninetales smiled. "Good choice, little pup. I'll make you great."

The Ninetales faded away, and Bracken felt himself falling back to sleep. Suddenly, Bracken woke up. The first thing he noticed as he got up was that the smoke was back. He looked at his grandfather's carcass, devastated.

Leave him Bracken, he's dead. If you don't leave this place soon, you will be too.

Bracken was surprised to hear the voice in his head. Was he going crazy!?

Calm down pup, you're not going crazy. It's me, the Ninetales. My name's Malady, but this is no time for introductions. Get out of here!

Bracken raced away from his grandfather, trying to escape. He saw some paw prints, it looked like somebody fell. He followed the tracks, hoping they were Sun Pack tracks. He kept following the tracks, eventually finding his pack. They were resting in what looked like a new camp, though he wasn't sure. Camp or not, it was time for Bracken to return. Returning meant sharing the news about Skylight and the old Alpha. He sighed, then walked into the apparent camp.