The remaining light from the sunset filtered through the thin gaps between the bristly branches of pines in the forest. A black feathered bird with a forked tail flitted overhead as Flintscar padded through the dark pines towards Scarface's camp. The familiar prick of scattered pine needles on the forest floor reminded him of all those times he spent supporting and serving Scarface as his first lieutenant. Then the bad memories came along. When Hawkclaw became the other lieutenant, things began to go downhill; battles were lost, fugitives escaped and all of Scarface's wrath was turned upon him. Beaten nearly unconscious, Flintscar remembered Scarface's last words before he exiled him.

"You coward, what are you? You're a wolf! This is all your fault, you useless dog. Hawkclaw is so much better than you, I wonder why I made you one of my lieutenants in the first place. Now get out of my sight."

The last few words stung the most. Flintscar closed his eyes, hurt. No, no Scarface, you're wrong. I'm not useless and I'm coming back whether you want me to or not, Flintscar thought determinedly. He couldn't stand the loneliness and vulnerability of living without a pack anymore. 

Suddenly, the loathsome stench of the enemy hit Flintscar's nose. The Rebellion. His heartbeat galloped and Flintscar dreaded the very moment he set paw inside the camp. The ground beneath his paws was slimy, sticky and red with blood. The air reeked of sweat and countless scents of animals. The dens were ravaged, charred and burnt down to the ground, only a few broken sticks of Scarface's den lay around on the scuffed ground. 

What in the stars ... Flintscar stared speechless at the devastated scene before him.

Suddenly, a scent drifted towards Flintscar. The scent smelled fresh and nearby. Flintscar sniffed again. It was a scent he was not likely to forget; Icefeather. Flintscar padded forwards deeper into the camp, past the remains of destroyed dens and small puddles of blood. Soon, he found what he was looking for. A barn owl with feathers as white as snow was perched on a small rock, her ice blue eyes glared at Flintscar as he approached.

"You came back for us... too late!" Icefeather spat the last two words at Flintscar as he approached. There was a pack of around thirty wolves cowering around Icefeather, their matted and muddy fur clung onto their bony frames, their ribs visibly showing.

"What happened to the camp?" Flintscar demanded. Staring in shock at the scrawny wolves, he added, "Where's Hawkclaw and the rest of our army? Why are they so gaunt and weak?"

"The evidence and answer is all around us or haven't you noticed?" Icefeather hissed, "the Rebellion ambushed our camp yesterday at sunset. We fought desperately to fend them off but the rebels had Flare Stones with them, most of our wolves were burned- including Hawkclaw. One of the rebels broke through our defenses and managed to kill Scarface; that meant the rebellion won the battle." Icefeather nodded to the scrawny wolves, "these wolves who survived were imprisoned but I managed to free them."

"None of this would have happened if Scarface hadn't exiled me, wasn't there any wolf on guard- or was Hawkclaw too lazy to assign guards?" Flintscar asked, his blood began to boil.

"According to Hawkclaw, he said he did but he only assigned a few guards to guard the main entrance." Icefeather answered.

"A FEW?!! Was he out of his mind? He should've assigned more than ten guards, also he should have sent the guards to guard around the camp- not just the main entrance!" Flintscar fumed. "If Scarface was intelligent, he shouldn't have exiled me! I could have done a billion times better than Hawkclaw." 

"Then you should have proven your worth earlier," Icefeather muttered.

Without hesitation, Flintscar lunged forwards. He sank his sharp teeth deep into Icefeather's neck. He felt her blood begin to flow and he let go of Icefeather. 

"You shouldn't have said that, Icefeather," Flintscar murmured, an edge of danger hinted in his icy quiet tone.

The scrawny wolves that were gathered around Icefeather staggered forwards to stop Flintscar but he snarled and glared at them. The wolves flinched away in fear, leaving Icefeather helpless and vulnerable in front of Flintscar.

Icefeather gasped, pain glazed in her ice blue eyes. She collapsed and lay trembling on the ground. Flintscar leaned forwards and whispered quietly so that the other wolves wouldn't hear, "Icefeather, one day I will bring vengeance upon all my enemies. I will doom them and those they love, I will make them pay the highest price possible after all they had done. Scarface deserved to die for he mistreated and exiled me after all I had done for him. Hawkclaw was a threat to my imminent reign of power but unfortunately, he died before I returned or else I could have given him worse. You're going to die too, after all, you just stood by and watched me take the beating. You are such a coward. Oh and one more thing, say hello to Scarface and Hawkclaw for me once you reach wherever it is that dead creatures go to."

With that, Flintscar slammed his paws down on Icefeather's body. Icefeather shivered once before lying motionless on the ground forever. Turning to face the scrawny wolves gathered before him, Flintscar growled, "Wolves, I am your new leader now. Whoever objects to my leadership shall suffer the same fate as Icefeather." 

Flintscar glared around at the circle of wolves gathered before him. A black feathered bird with a forked tail circled above the wolves. Glancing at the black feathered bird, Flintscar continued, "Under my reign, I will make our army great and strong again, I will rebuild our home and destroy the rebellion after all they had done to us and to our dear Scarface. If you all join me, together, we can bring a glorious dawn of vengeance."