(This is a short chapter but an important one. Be prepared to have your mind blown!)

The angry Cripp's expression went from furious to astonished, and stayed frozen that way. Dawn opened up one of her eyes, finally focusing on the wolf.

It was a female, her iceberg-colored eyes soft and pale. Her dark, mud-brown pelt was just as tangled as the tree roots that kept the winged she-wolves trapped with her. Like the three-legged male Cripp, she also had large, noticeable bags under her eyes.

After a moment of silence, Dawn spoke to the she-Cripp. "Um... hello, ma'am."

The Cripp shook her head, as if shaking out thoughts piling up in her brain. "G-Greetings, Avium," she replied. Her voice was soft and raspy. She stepped back a few feet, giving the winged she-wolves some spaces.

Dawn, Raven, Star, Nova, and Jinx let out a soft sigh, relaxing a little. However, Summer's periwinkle fur still remained quite bristled.

"Nice to meet you," Dawn bowed her head in respect, knowing that making the wrong move could result in all of them being torn to shreds. "What is your name?"

The Cripp's eyes remained wide, constantly darting back and forth from Dawn to Summer. She didn't say a word.

"Er... Are you okay?" Dawn asked carefully.

"Al-Alberta!" the Cripp suddenly yelped.

Dawn was spooked by the she-wolf's sudden outburst. She politely responded, "Huh?"

"A-A-Alberta..." she replied. "That's my name." She explained, followed by a nervous chuckle. Her smile was becoming more and more twisted.

Dawn noticed Alberta's claws digging into the dirt below them. She almost seemed to be... in pain.

"Are you sure you're okay, ma'am?" Dawn asked, slowly becoming scared.

Alberta let out a loud, demented laugh.

Summer arched her back, as if ready to pounce and attack. Her eyes were locked on the Cripp.

Alberta's eyes began filling up with tears. The iceberg-colored eyes almost appeared to be melting and spilling over her eyelids.

Dawn quickly realized that they weren't tears of joy or sadness.

They were tears of insanity.

"I'm going to ask you one more time... Are you okay?" Dawn tried to keep her calm tone, despite how much it was shaking.

Alberta laughed again. "Fine?" Her back claws were now digging in the dirt as well, and her mud-brown fur was standing on end. "Oh... I'm completely fine!"

Star spoke to Alberta this time. "Please... we don't mean any harm."

"That's what you said when the Cripps first found us! And look where that got us!" Summer yelled, growling. "I think you've done enough talking for one--"

"Now, Summer," Alberta interrupted the Flutter wolf's rage. "That's not the right way to talk to the nice lady..."

All of the winged wolves froze, and Summer lost her anger immediately, replacing it shock.

"How..." Dawn stuttered, losing her cool. "How did you know her name?"

Alberta let out a quiet chuckle. "My memory never fails me, does it?" Alberta smiled. "However, you were so young... I'm sure how much you remember."

Suddenly, Dawn remembered what Heather had told her back in the early days of summer.

---

"Although, every time a winged wolf mates with a Cripp, Quadruplets are born. Of course, they sent them to their designated territories by wing type, and soon became the four Packs."

---

Sure enough, the image of one of Dawn's first prophetic dreams flashed before her eyes.

A brown Cripp with stunning blue eyes, and Rustle towering over her.

Dawn's purple eyes went wider than ever before.

Her muzzle was only able to produce one word among all the shock racing through every vein in her body.

"Mom?"

Alberta's insane expression finally softened, her iceberg tears becoming those of joy. She replied with a voice like silk.

"Hey, Dawn."