A splash of water woke Felicity with a start. She jolted upwards, panting, the trickling red splatters of her latest nightmare still lingering.

At first, she feared that she was back in that stream again, surrounded by blood. But her paws rested on soft bedding.

Nothing bad had happened last night. The stream had been stained with only black when she'd visited it under the stars. Now, the dampness had faded from her fur. As she lifted her head higher, blinking her dream away, she could see sheets of rain pummelling the earth outside her door's miniature window.

Her snout twitched. It had been raining when she left Borealton. It had seemed all the northern skies had done since the end of the battle was weep endless raindrops, mourning every loss with equal ferocity.

Stretching out her forepaws, she rose slowly, her eyes fixed on the pattering droplets. She flicked her tail, trying to force away the tears pricking at her eyes. Even the sight of rain was enough to bring it all back.

After a few deep breaths, she crossed to the door, and nosed it open. The cool water splashed on her snout. She snorted, shaking her head violently. It looked like today was a day for curling up and sobbing inside.

But a simple voice was enough to chase that all away, at least for now.

"Felicity! Look at this!"

Her eyes glimmered as she turned sideways to face her neighbouring house. She knew exactly what she would see. Kyra stood there, tail wagging high despite the gloomy weather, clutching a familiar glittering card in her claws.

Silver, with blue lace.

"What is it?" Felicity prompted.

Her friend gazed at it in awe. "It... it's permission to set up a business. It was just outside my door." As she looked up, her eyes sparkled happier than she'd ever been. "I can get my spa with this. But how..." Suddenly, she tilted her head to the side, noticing Felicity's nod. "You're not surprised?"

Felicity's tail twirled along with Kyra's. "You just found my surprise."

For a moment, Kyra paused, appearing confused. Then her eyes widened in realisation. "Oh Luna!" She shot forwards, and Felicity braced herself. She managed to stay upright as her friend leapt on her, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed, over and over again. And all of a sudden it was all worth it. The risk of the thievery, the exhausting magic, getting spotted - all of it. Just to see Kyra's glee.

Kyra released her, but her eyes remained just as bright. "Let's go show Mak!" Without waiting for a reply, she shot off, her paws flying with the wind. Smiling, Felicity chased after her, the rain pounding on her back insignificant now.

Their excitement lent them speed, and so they reached the Earthwylves' meeting place in a matter of minutes, both panting heavily. Mak scanned them both in confusion. "Why the rush?"

There was a pause as both Glitterwylves gasped for breath. Kyra recovered first - or maybe she was just more eager to speak. "Look, Mak... the card..."

His eyes widened at the sight of it. "You asked them? And they agreed?" The second question sounded slightly too incredulous for Felicity's liking. But she knew the reason for his doubt. It was the same reason she'd chosen to steal the card rather than ask officially.

Kyra shook her head. "Felicity did. It was her... her surprise..." She bent down, inhaling deeply. Felicity decided to take over, her lungs now mostly recovered from the run.

"That's what I was doing yesterday. I'm sorry I left you all like that, but I wanted to surprise Kyra." She shot her friend a joyful look. It was returned with twice the energy.

"I see." Mak's gaze lingered on her, his eyes still tainted with suspicion. But then he moved to Kyra. "That's wonderful news! When do you want to start?"

Kyra bounced up and down. "Today?" she suggested, her ears twitching wildly.

Even Mak's dark eyes lit up at the sight of her so happy. He glanced back at the other brown wolves. "Everyone happy to help Kyra with her new spa today?"

Even Jael couldn't decline that request.

With a gang of Earthwylves at her side, it didn't take long for Kyra to decorate everything just to her taste. The sun was just beginning to drop from its highest point, and it already looked beautiful.

Felicity stepped outside, gazing at the building with an approving nod. It sat just at the border between the Fog and Leaf Districts, not fully belonging to either. The kind Watchwolf Felicity has spoken to yesterday had chosen it for them, after carefully scanning their card - with a strange tool she suspected was enchanted somehow - before deeming it valid.

It brought a glimmer to her eyes to see the fresh paint, glowing a pastel pinkish colour in the daylight, that already covered the walls. Louder shades of pink adorned the front in the form of streamers and ribbons. A space had been left above the door for a hanging sign, but it was empty. Kyra was still deciding on a name.

It was the perfect spa look, Felicity thought. Her heart filled with pride at the idea that she'd managed to make her new friend's dream a reality.

"It really is lovely," came a voice from beside her. Felicity turned to see Sana, her snout tilted towards the building in amazement. "I can't believe you managed to sort this," she added with a smile, her tail increasingly rapid in its swishing movements.

Felicity shrugged. "She's been nothing but nice to me since I got here. I figured it was time to do something nice for her."

There was no need to mention the excited tingle it gave her paws to slip through the window of a noble and swipe something from right under his nose. That had only been an added benefit to the true joy of aiding her deserving friend.

Stepping closer, Sana sighed wistfully. "I almost wish I had a place like this. Something I owned. A place to help people - even if it is in just a small way."

"Then why not help her?" The words escaped Felicity before she could stop to consider them. It just felt right. The two of them working together would be so wonderful.

Sana's eyes lit up. "I think I'd like that." She tilted her head to the side. "But would she let me?"

"Of course!" Chuckling, Felicity nudged her shoulder playfully. "Kyra would be thrilled to work with you."

Nodding firmly, Sana stepped back towards the door. "You're right. I'll ask her." She touched her nose to the painted surface, but then pulled away again sharply. "Oh, and Felicity... do think Kyra and Mak will ever...?" Her voice dropping to a whisper.

"They should," Felicity answered firmly, lowering her own tone. "Perhaps give your brother a nudge."

Sana's ears twitched, her gaze glittering with youthful mischief. Felicity battled to keep her expression neutral, fighting the rising sorrow at the familiarity. Even the smallest of looks from the little Earthwylf reminded her achingly of the brother she used to share that sort of mischief with.

"I will," Sana promised. Her brown tail whipped around as she pushed the door open fully, causing a tiny bell to tinkle above her head.

With a gentle laugh, Felicity swallowed her grief, letting the brief happiness wash over her. Nice touch, Kyra.

Raising her head, she gazed up into the grey skies. The rain had eased now, but persistent drizzle still dripped down her snout and settled in her fur. Usually, she would have been eager to huddle inside and stay dry, yet something about the cool droplets helped to clear her head, just a little. It reminded her that she was still alive and standing.

After a minute or so, she shook her fur clear of the largest raindrops and stepped towards the spa's door, only to be faced with Mak and Kyra as they emerged. The Earthwylf was bent over her, his flank facing the wind, sheltering Kyra from the downpour as best he could. They both shot her a joyous look.

"Just come to see how it's looking out here," Mak explained. He shuffled around so that he and Kyra faced the building. "It's good," he added, nodding slowly.

"It's perfect," Kyra whispered, ducking out from the shelter of his fur to get a proper look. She met eyes with Felicity. "Thank you! A million times!"

Felicity shifted closer to them. "It's my pleasure."

The rain was beginning to soak deeper into her fur now, dampening her skin beneath. Calling a quick, "See you inside!" to the couple, she bounded over and leaned into the door with her shoulder. One forepaw rested on the dry indoor floor.

The other never made it.

In that moment, as her gaze lingered on Mak and Kyra embracing in the light rain, her ears detected a faint voice from across the street. Searching for the source of the noise, she scanned the area, and caught a flash of black moving swiftly past the spa. Her curious glance became a stare as she peered through the rain, detecting violet glimmers in the wolf's eyes.

Every inch of her body froze.

It's him.

Her jaw fell open. Her eyes widened in stiff shock. All she wanted to do was look away, to hide from him forever, but she couldn't. Of their own accord, her eyes tracked his dark form as he crossed the path opposite, his head and tail high as he strode confidently onwards. His purple eyes swept the street.

He killed my twin.

"Felicity?" Kyra's voice sounded so distant. It came from another world. A happier world, a world where she could live with her grief. A world where this wolf was nothing but a nightmare.

He killed Felix.

The paralysis faded, replaced by a deep, furious anger. A growl erupted from her throat. Her claws dug into the neat doorstep, tearing a strip through the soft material.

"Felicity, are you ok?" Though Kyra felt closer, her tone still swam and crackled in Felicity's ears. Something touched her side. She shoved it away.

The black wolf had vanished now, yet she couldn't tear her gaze from the spot he'd disappeared into. She prowled forward, dodging away from the pale Glitterwylf, her growl growing in intensity.

Suddenly, a body slammed into her, tackling her to the ground. She squirmed. "Calm down, Felicity," came a voice. Mak's voice. "It's ok. It's just us."

Yet a deafening roar rose up to drown out his calming tone. Any part of her that might have reacted to his words was gone, swallowed by the expanding void brought on by those murderous violet eyes. With a savage snarl, she swiped her claws, scraping across his belly. The grip released. A yelp echoed, from somewhere far away. A cry. More shouts.

Jolting to her paws, Felicity prowled, her eyes flicking between the wolves. They were enemies, all of them. No wolf was her friend. None but Felix. But he was dead.

Not a single wolf had stopped him from dying.

Not even herself.

She could sense their fear, their dread, their shock. It pleased her. Her eyes glowed with delight as she tapped her claws on the earth, traces of Mak's blood flowing between them.

Blood. I need blood.

Another voice called her name. She dismissed it. Nothing mattered now. Nothing except releasing that constant, aching pain.

The pound of her paws thudded in her head, in time with the rapid beat of her heart. The entire world was silent. Only her and her run remained, the desperate need for prey driving her forwards and away from the pink-covered building she'd worked so hard to gain.

She would find him. And she would kill him.

Along with every breath of evil in the world.