If it wasn't for Ivy, the two she-wolfs would have had two male wolves following them as an entourage. Thanks to the medicine wolf beside her, they were able to get away and walk through the small area their pack has temporarily claimed as their own. 

"Tell me, what has you seeking the aid of another pack's medic? Surely your own pack's medic could have given you the information you seek." 

Moondust was silent, a somber look coming across her face. She lowered her head, ears drooped so low they could have touched her skull by this point and her tail drooped along with them. She hated to admit that their medicine wolves were having such a difficult time with whatever ailed their packmates, having lost so many already due to lack of knowledge and treatment. However, when tough times came calling, one would do anything to seek out help for their pack's survival. 

Lifting her head up slowly, Moondust turned her blue eyes to meet with Ivy's bright and curious green ones. She wondered how this older, more experienced medicine wolf would react to what she had to say. 

"Actually, it was one of our medics that had sent me out here to find some answers. Something has caused my packmates to fall ill one right after the other, our alpha having just recently collapsed from it. We've lost so many packmates due to the lack of knowledge of where it comes from, what it is, and how to treat it. I was hoping that maybe, you would have some answers I could take back to my pack with me." 

Desperation filled Moondust's gaze, the worry she felt for her pack and the panic of not being able to help all swirling within those blue pools that never left Ivy's bright green ones. 

A thoughtful look seemed to overtake Ivy, her eyes pulling away from Moondust's and raising to look at the blue sky that hung above them. She had to admit, it reminded her of the she-wolf's eyes that walked beside her. However, that wasn't why she was looking up to the sky. In fact, it was so she could focus on something other than the she-wolf beside her. Ivy needed the quiet to think about what to say next, especially since so little information was given to her. 

"Hmm, I'd say I'd help, but you've given me so little to go off of. If you'd like my assistance, I need to know more about what is ailing your clan." 

Moondust tilted her head, the confusion back within her gaze as her forehead scrunched up a little. She didn't know what more Ivy had wanted from her. She explained what was going on, what she was after, and yet, Ivy was saying she didn't have enough information to go off.

As if sensing her confusion, Ivy pulled her bright green gaze away from the overly blue sky and brought it back down to meet with Moondust's. An apologetic smile tugged at her lips and glistened within her emerald orbs. 

"I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. What kind of symptoms are your packmates experiencing, anything that could be a telltale sign of what this ailment could be?" 

Realization struck Moondust hard and she felt slightly embarrassed for not realizing what Ivy meant. Of course she would need the symptoms. One could not diagnose something without first knowing what ailments a wolf had. 

"Well, most of our packmates started out with a fever, some had dehydration and loss of appetite. For those that did try to eat, there was vomiting. These are just the ones that I know of, Sunny and Thunder have been keeping pretty tight lipped about everything and keeping everyone infected quarantined within the medicine den." 

Ivy frowned when she finally got the explanation she needed. However, it wasn't the one she had wanted to hear. There were so many things that had those very symptoms separately, however, together they brought forth a rather dangerous and deadly illness she feared could not be fully combatted. It was one she had heard taken out many packs in the past and those many packs had fought tooth and claw to save who they could. The fact that Moondust hadn't come down with the disease yet was a miracle in itself, but the help for her pack, she didn't know if there was any way to help them. 

The silence that followed Moondust's description of all the symptoms she knew had her stomach twisting in knots and her tail tucking between her legs. Had she said something wrong? Why was Ivy suddenly being so quiet? Maybe Ivy was just thinking and she herself was thinking far too much into this, worrying about the pack making her think the very worst. Moondust had to silence her own thoughts before she ended up stressing herself out and making herself sick. 

"I believe I know what it is that your pack has come down with, but I fear there may be little that I can do." 

Just when Moondust was about to rid herself of the worry she was feeling towards her pack, Ivy went and made it sound like there was no hope for her packmates. Were they doomed to suffer whatever ailment this was? Was she to be the lone survivor of a pack that was destined to vanish with this sickness? Moondust couldn't. . . no, she wouldn't let that happen. She would find any means of helping them, even if it meant she had to go to the ends of the earth to do so. 

Though, she didn't think she had that much time. 

Moondust forced Ivy to stop walking as the thoughts of her pack perishing assaulted her mind with all the worst images it could possibly conjure up. Her heart felt like it was sinking into her stomach, swirling around in a whirlpool of bile. It was probably why she felt so sick all of a sudden, her thoughts causing an unprofuse amount of panic and fear to add to her worry. Sadness was seeping in and terror, all mingling together with each emotion that tried to work its way into her lithe being. 

What good was being a strong and powerful wolf if you couldn't use your abilities to save those that mattered the most to you? What use was being a hunter if you couldn't protect those you were tasked to protect? Was she even as strong a wolf as she thought she was? The doubt Moondust was feeling was becoming palpable, able to be felt radiating off of her like a pulse of pure darkness. 

"Hey, whoa, don't worry so much. I said there may be little I can do, but there are still things that I can do to help. It's what we call the Wandering Sickness in our pack, not sure if your pack has any other names for it. From what we know, it gets transferred from tainted kill and bodily fluids from one wolf to another. It can't be stopped, but we may be able to help those who are sick get comfortable and maybe fight it easily." 

Moondust's head was spinning, everything going in one ear and out the other despite trying to process it all. There was so much information being told about what it was -or could be- and that there might be a chance to make her packmates comfortable to fight the disease. Could they fight it? They've lost so many, was there even a chance for it to be fought and save those that were already ill? Each one of her thoughts were nothing but worry driven possibilities that she was coming up with. None of which were coming from a more positive mindset, only that of a saddened and heartbroken mindset. 

Stumbling back a step or two, Moondust snapped from her thoughts when Ivy nudged her back into reality. A serious look had been pinned upon her, narrowed emerald eyes were locked with surprised ice blue ones. 

"Look, instead of standing here talking about it. Why don't we just gather the guys and you take me to your pack yourself. If I see for myself what is going on I can better assess the situation, and it sounds like your medics could use an extra paw." 

"Really? Are you sure? What if you get sick as well? And what will your alpha say? I don't want you getting into trouble for helping an infected pack. I do want you to be able to return home." 

"Hey, this is what my job entitles. I may not be of your pack, but as a medic I am here to help." 

Moondust thought she could burst into tears from the generosity Ivy was presenting her with. Maybe there was some hope for her pack after all and they would be just fine. Though, they would have to get rid of their fresh kill and maybe focus on getting some new fresh kill. If that was the issue to begin with, then maybe it was an easy fix. Things were definitely going to have to change as well if they were ever going to evade having this happen again. 

"Thank you." 

The words were choked out, Moondust holding back the tears of relief and happiness that there was a chance for her packmates. There was a chance that they could return back to the life they once had, not the current one filled with so much panic and uncertainty. That peaceful normal life, that was the life Moondust was looking forward to getting back to. 

"It's what I do, no thanks needed. Now let's go find Drifter and Gambit before the two of them start hunting us down for being gone so long." 

Ivy shot Moondust a reassuring smile, gently rubbing her shoulder up against the younger wolf's as added reassurance. She was already passed Moondust when the blue eyed wolf turned around and began following her, the two off to find their two male companions to let them know what the plan was. Sure she was leaving their pack without a medic temporarily, but it sounded like Moondust's pack medics were scrambling for any form of hope to get them through this ailment alive. 

**** **** ****

It was a definite battle attempting to talk Gambit and Ivy's alpha into letting both of them leave to aid Moondust and Drifter with her pack. When he learned why they needed the aid, he had lost all sense of civility, yelling at everyone as if they had lost their minds. It was understandable why he didn't want them to go, they were risking their lives for a pack that could potentially die out regardless of the help. There was always the chance that both Gambit and Ivy could become infected and never be able to return home. Though, they were always welcomed within Moondust's pack, they just didn't want to set themselves up for worrying over nothing that hasn't happened yet. 

After much more deliberating and spending most of the afternoon explaining to Gambit and Ivy's alpha more times than one needed to, he had finally agreed to letting them go. There were, however, conditions for their returning back to the pack: 

One: They had to be certain they weren't infected with the Walking Sickness. 

Two: They were going to be pack bound once they did return, not going to be pulling this haroing thing ever again.

Once the agreements had been made, Moondust, Drifter, Gambit, and Ivy had all set out with Moondust's pack as their single destination. There were going to be no stops in between if they were going to get there before the sun fully set behind the skyline. The only thing that gave the four wolves comfort being out in the open with the coming night was that they had one another to watch each other's backs. 

Four sets of paws pounded against the grass, racing against the shadows that were quickly taking over the once more thickening forest that Moondust was accustomed to. The running of small creatures trying to get out of their way and into their burrowed homes so they could escape the oncoming night. The trees that provided cover from any nearby enemies, making it easy for one to hide until it was once more safe to come out. Then there was the coolness that the shade of the lush tree leaves brought to the ground below, cooling off the heat of the day and making it far more bearable to roam around. 

Moondust hadn't been gone long, but it felt like an eternity when you traveled the distance she had to just to find the help she needed. 

Safety was only a short distance away, the fresh scent of the stream that ran by the den hitting Moondust in the nose. She could almost see the stream in her mind, the way it rolled by in tiny rushing waves. It gave them fresh cool water to drink and a place to wade around in when it got too hot and the shade of the trees wasn't enough to cool them down. The soft flowers that speckled the ground had dulled in color, the dimming light of the day muting their usual beauty and brightness they brought to the forest. 

Being in familiar territory again relaxed Moondust, but it also rose her anxiety knowing what she was returning home to. 

As the safety within familiarity began to take over the small group, a dull pop rang out from somewhere behind them. Ivy, Gambit, Drifter, and Moondust all came to a skidding halt, their paws breaking up the grass and dirt beneath them. Four sets of eyes quickly shot to their rear, searching for whatever had made the sound. However, it was Gambit's black eyed gaze that had dropped to his hind end rather than behind the group, his eyesight seeming to sway like the wind blown trees. 

There, sticking out of his left haunches was a thin tube that had a very sharp end to it, keeping it stuck within his skin. Whatever sorcery had been inside the tube was playing with his vision and making his body feel warm and limber. 

"Gambit!" 

Ivy's cry snapped Drifter and Moondust out of their shock, the two quickly flanking Gambit on either side, watching for the approaching danger. The stench that had been filling the forest air earlier had made it this far and Moondust wasn't going to lead whatever it was back to the pack's den. 

"Ivy, get Gambit out of here, Drifter and I will stall whatever it is out there." 

Moondust's ears were perked up as high as they would go and her body lowered into a hunting stance. She was ready to pounce on anything that moved within the growing shadows. Be it an animal or human, she didn't care what it was, they weren't going to attack her newfound friends like they had. 

Something moved within the shadows and Moondust's instincts kicked in. Drifter's must have done the same because both of them took off like rockets, rushing towards whatever creature was hiding within the trees. Warning growls emanated deep within Moondust's chest, rumbling out of her like thunder on a stormy night. Her paws pounded the ground, claws digging into the earth and propelling her forward as fast as she could get herself. The breeze created around her pushed her fur from her face and back against her body, making her look like a lethal weapon propelling itself towards its target. 

Which was exactly what was happening. 

Her jaws opened as the dark figure behind the trees came more into focus than they had before. Without even thinking, Moondust clamped her jaws down on the large metallic rod that was being held by the human. It tasted horrible and burned slightly from the heat coming off of it. The human himself struggled in a panic, trying to shake Moondust off of the weapon he was holding. His eyes filled with terror and panic, the ferocity she presented to him spreading fear throughout the human that hurt Gambit. 

Drifter joined in, going right for the human's legs, but something swung out and knocked the moss covered wolf back. It was only after he tumbled across the soft grass did he realize it had been Moondust that had hit him. The human having tossed her and the metal weapon just to free himself from the possibility of getting bitten or scratched by either of them. How clever that human had been, but it wasn't going to stop them from trying to stop them. 

Rolling over, Moondust was the first one up off the ground, Drifter having taken the brunt of the hit. She shook herself off and bared her teeth at the human that seemed to multiply in numbers, each one stepping out from a tree and holding a weapon that looked identical to the one that had been discarded. She growled and snapped her teeth at them, legs spread in a defensive stance as she readied herself for another attack on any one of the humans before her. 

"Careful, those things they're holding. . . they're dangerous." 

Drifter coughed out, having Moondust land on his ribs didn't help the situation at all. However, it wasn't going to stop him from trying to chase these humans off. He too stepped up beside Moondust, lowering himself into a crouched attack position, baring his own teeth towards the humans aiming their weapons at them. His growling was slightly louder and far more menacing than what his female counterpart was as of now, but the way she was ready to pounce proved to him she wasn't playing around. 

"Don't worry about me, their nasty sticks don't scare me." 

Moondust growled out, charging forward once more. Only this time, one of the sticks the humans was holding lit up and made the loudest bang she had ever heard. It had her skidding to a halt and turning back, the dirt flying up in front of her where whatever came out of it had hit. Her bright blue eyes widened, a sudden fear she had never felt before overtaking her and forcing her back to Drifter's side. 

Something defensive snapped within Drifter, the black furred wolf jumping right in front of Moondust as if he were her personal shield. Death froze within his electric blue eyes, pinning each and every one of the humans with a glare that was even more deadly than the emotion filtering into his eyes. His claws were dug into the ground and he snapped his jaws at them with loud warning barks rumbling from deep within him. He felt the need to protect Moondust, believing if he moved away from her she would disappear forever. 

However, just when Drifter thought he was going to have to attack, the unthinkable happened. One of the humans yelled something out and the others standing guard began to back off into the shadows. One by one, each one disappeared as if they hadn't been standing there ready to take them out. 

"Where are they going?" 

Moondust inquired, confused by the sudden display from the humans. Were they showing signs of being cowards, running away from a fight that they themselves had started? Why not finish the fight? Though, it was obvious who would have won no matter how hard they tried to defend themselves against the humans. Those metal sticks went boom and they left a lasting affect wherever they hit. If the ground exploded, Moondust could only imagine what would happen if it hit flesh. 

A pained cry came from behind Drifter and Moondust, the two whipping around in order to see what was going on. 

Almost at the exact same moment, both Moondust and Drifter's eyes were on Ivy. She was lying on the ground with her paws covering her muzzle, wailing like the world was ending. There was good reason for it as well. Nowhere could Gambit be seen or found, the brown wolf that had helped talk their alpha into letting them help had been taken from them. All that remained was Ivy, crying for a friend she had lost in the heat of battle. 

Slowly, Moondust trotted over with Drifter following closely behind. His eyes were watching the surrounding area to make certain no other humans were left standing around. As they approached the auburn furred she-wolf, Moondust lowered herself beside the medic and rested her head gently upon her back shoulders in hopes of giving her some sort of comfort. 

"They took him. The moment he passed out, they took him from me." 

Ivy cried out, lifting her head and turning it enough to look back towards Drifter and Moondust. 

"We'll get him back, I promise we will. First, we need to deal with my pack like promised. The moment they show signs of being well I will go out with you and find Gambit. We won't leave him out there with those humans." 

"And I will join the two of you. He's my best friend and closest acquaintance out here, I'm not going to let him go through the torture of what those humans can do." 

There was something in Drifter's voice and bright blue eyes that spoke louder than what he was really saying. He knew what those humans could do, possibly even knew from first hand experience. However, Moondust wasn't going to press the matter at that moment. There were more important things that needed to be tended to before they went after Gambit. 

Tearful sniffles came from Ivy, her bright green eyes filled with tears that dampened the fur upon her face. Her eyes shifted between Moondust and Drifter, unsure if they really meant what they were saying, but she had to trust in some form of hope that they would get Gambit back. 

"Thank you."