Dawn trudged through the tall, snow-covered grasses of the Shadow Pack territory, with tiny Raven perched safely on her back. Evan was following close behind, asking numerous questions, but Dawn was ignoring all of them.

"We can't just leave now! Remember what Blythe said? About how hard it is to find prey in the winter season? She wanted us to work more tomorrow! She's gonna hate us until our last breaths! Do you want that guilt on your shoulders? Having the knowledge that you made a promise, and you just ditch her--"

"Shut your muzzle!" Dawn interrupted Evan quietly. "First of all, be quiet! You'll wake up all four Packs with the racket you're making! Second of all, the guilt is on your shoulders, too. You had a choice to come with me. You could've said no!"

"I love you too much for you to venture out in enemy territory alone!" Evan replied in a softer but angrier tone. "In case you forgot, Dawn, we are at war with the Shadow Pack now! If we find any wolf that isn't Twilight or Star, all three of us are as good as dead!"

"Correction," Dawn rolled her eyes, annoyed at her boyfriend. "The Shadow Pack is at war with the Hawk Pack. Not us."

"So that's just it?!" Evan barked hysterically. "You just disown your Pack like that?! A true wolf remains loyal toward its Pack!"

"I am a loyal wolf of the Hawk Pack!" Dawn growled back. "Do you even get what I'm saying though? Like, if we saw... some random enemy Shadow wolf right now, you wouldn't just dash up to him and go slaughter him on his home territory. Cause you're to much of a pacifist to even put a scar on his pelt!"

"I am not a pacifist!" Evan boomed angrily. "I fought in those two previous battles! I even sent a few River wolves runni--"

"O-Oh, I'm sorry," Dawn looked back and smirked. "You were talking too long. Shadow Wolf is angry... annnnnnnd... he's clawed your face off. Congratulations! You are dead! Stop being a jabbermouth and keep a watch out for a patrol or something like that!"

"Home!" Raven chirped excitedly. She pointed with her tail toward large shadows, which Dawn could make out as dens.

"Alright, Raven," Dawn whispered to the pup. "Remember, we're only here to get Twilight, Star, and their pups--"

"Why not Mommy?" Raven whined.

"Mommy's hurt," Dawn replied. "She won't be able to keep up with us without hurting more. We're going on a long journey, but we'll be back in time for you're mother to be healed and healthy enough to care for you again."

Raven nodded as Dawn and Evan padded through the grass and into the Shadow Pack campsite. The entire Pack lay sound asleep in their dens, abnormally quiet.

Dawn led Evan and Raven to her brother's den, which he shared with his mate. Twilight's pups, Nova and Jinx, were now old enough to be out of the nursery and stay with their parents. They could be trained how to fly and hunt within a few days.

"Wait out here," Dawn whispered to Evan. "Keep watch for any wolf that might wake up and catch us."

Evan nodded as Dawn and Raven stalked into Twilight's den.

Twilight was resting comfortably, a red, dragonlike wing wrapped around his beautiful mate, Star. The Shadow she-wolf had her bushy silver-black tail around two smaller she-wolves.

Dawn quickly noticed her brother's fur was bristling in his sleep. Without warning, Twilight's head shot straight up, his red eyes blazing with fear. "Ah!" he yelped. His sudden outburst woke up one of his pups.

She had scarlet wings and a sleek black pelt. Her alert eyes were the same color as her mother's: bright orange. "Aunt Dawn!" she yipped excitedly.

"Dawn?" Twilight asked, quickly shaking off his fear. "What are you doing here? At night? When the Shadow Pack is at war with the Hawk Pack?!"

Star and Jinx woke up at the sound of the Shadow Quadruplet. "What the heck is going on here?" Star asked. "Dawn?"

"Who's this?" Jinx squeed, her red eyes lighting up with delight at the sight of Raven. She hugged the tiny pup with her red wings. "She's so cute!"

Dawn hurriedly explained her business, starting with how Ash and Andromeda had a pup together, then how she came to her den in the middle of the previous night, and finally, how she was going to going to leave with Raven and Evan until Andromeda was healthy enough to care for Raven again, and she wanted to take Twilight, his family, Summer, and Riptide with them.

Twilight took a moment or two to process what he had just heard, then he nodded in agreement. "We'll join you, Dawn. Now that we're at war with your Pack, I don't want to think about the day I have to come face to face in battle with you. Especially since we know Rustle and his gang could still be on the prowl, no wolf is safe."

Star and Nova both nodded.

"You mean that this whole war is because of this sweet little thing?!" Jinx asked, pulling Raven closer to her.

Star nodded to Jinx's question as Twilight said, "If you want, I can retrieve Riptide while you get Summer. Then we can meet at the Falls around sunrise."

"Sounds good," Dawn said. "See you then."