War was awful.

The fighting hadn't even started yet, but Felix already hated it. Every glance cast across the valley sent new, fearful shivers cascading through his tensed muscles.

All around him, wolves hurried about, making final checks before they began the battle. An Airewylf's wing brushed past him, tugging his neatly groomed pink fur in all directions. That normally would have been a catastrophe. But he was too nervous to care.

There was only one wolf that seemed completely calm. Their commander strolled through the crowds with reassuring confidence, her gaze brushing over every nearby soldier. A true warrior. As her eyes locked on Felix, he shuffled his paws uncomfortably, wishing there was something useful he could be doing. The only thing that Glitterwylves could do was enchantments, and that wasn't much use in claw-to-claw combat.

Besides, magic was his sister's deal. He preferred the simple Glitterwylf art of enforcing prettiness. Which, unfortunately, most wolves didn't appreciate when going to war.

A snout nudged his shoulder. "Felix, you alright?" Her ears, an identical shape to his own, twitched in concern.

Turning, he sighed. "Not really, Fliss." He gestured to the dishevelled wolves, all with matching fear shining in their eyes. "War is not pretty."

His sister laughed – a light, gentle laugh, of someone who wasn't really in the mood to laugh and yet was doing her best to remain optimistic, in the hope that the simple sound would lighten the atmosphere for those around her. Most wouldn't read that deeply, but he knew better. It was the same idea both of them shared. It earned them their label of 'always happy'.

"Hey," she said, nudging him. "None of that attitude." Her sisterly tone had emerged. Despite them being the same age, he always felt like the younger sibling. "You're still pretty."

He grinned, glee chasing away the dread. "And so are you." Flicking his tail, he gazed out across the sunny valley again. "Everything is."

Before either of them could say anymore, a voice yelled, snapping their eyes up and towards the sound. "Pelven warriors! Ready yourselves!" It was the commander, her head and tail held high as she marched through the crowds to the bottom of the slope, right at the edge of the valley. Her brown fur glistened, like dew on damp earth, in the early morning light.

At her call, wolves immediately ended their tasks and rushed to form ordered lines. The Glitterwylf twins had to crouch, ears bent, to force their way to their positions as bodies jostled and writhed all around them.

"Are you ready, Fliss?" Felix asked, planting his paws in the most war-ready pose he could muster. His sister's claws tapped nervously against each other.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she answered in a whisper. Leaning towards her, he placed his paw on hers. He couldn't tell whether she was shaking, or he was.

"Today, we cleanse the lands of darkness!" shouted the commander's voice, from far up ahead. "Today, we bring the light of peace to this land! Today, we stand together!"

"Together!" the army echoed; a mighty, booming echo, full of determination. The twins gazed into each other's eyes.

"Together," they whispered simultaneously.

"Today is a day of hope!" roared their commander's final chant. And that was it.

They charged.

Dust clouded the air as hundreds of paws pounded as one. The army became one body, all curving and twisting in one smooth motion. Felix breathed deeply, pushing himself to run, the familiar warmth beside him lending him energy and speed.

Up ahead, another set of paws moved together. Darker paws. Black as night. They grew closer, charging with impossible speed, until finally both armies collided.

Felix wasn't prepared for the rush of the battle. The next he knew, the darkness cut into the rows ahead of him, swallowing up the commander and her generals. It took all of his willpower to keep sprinting forward.

In front of him, a golden wolf fell, locked deep in combat with a black wolf. The Flamewylf to his left leapt forwards, flames swirling around his neck as he barrelled into an enemy wolf. The twins slowed to a stop, flanks pressing together as they tried to muster the courage to fight.

Then they came. A huge wolf, muscles rippling in her forelegs. As she charged towards him, Felix held his ground, and focused all his power into the magic. The effort constricted his chest, but he kept pushing.

There was a rush of air. A branch, carefully trimmed into the shape of a sharpened dagger, shot from the belt around his torso, impaling the wolf's shoulder. With a yelp of pain, she staggered away, red droplets seeping through her dark fur.

So Glitterwylves can be useful, he thought smugly. Our commander really does have the best ideas.

The delight in his eyes quickly faded as another yelp sounded. He jolted to where his sister should have stood beside him.

She wasn't there.

Panic rose in his chest. Desperately, he spun around in circles. Blue wolves. Brown wolves. Orange, green, white wolves.

One pink wolf.

Pinned down by a snarling Shadewylf.

"Felicity!" he yelled, sprinting forward. It was so long since he'd used her full name. His fear chased away the usual playful nickname.

No thought went into it. He just leapt. Time froze as he lingered in the air, his heart threatening to burst from his ribcage, staring helplessly as the wolf's jaw moved ever closer to Felicity's exposed neck.

Then he crashed into the black bulk, and they both toppled away from her.

Using all his strength, Felix dug his claws in, sinking through black fur and drawing blood. It felt strange – sticky scarlet liquid flowing down the pads of his paws. But his sister's vulnerable image drove him on. He pushed deeper, driving the wolf to the ground.

It didn't last long.

The shock had hindered the Shadewylf for a moment, but now they pushed back with full force. Helpless, Felix scrabbled uselessly as his hold on the wolf slipped away, and he was pressed painfully into the dry earth.

From somewhere above, his sister screamed his name. He squirmed, trying to catch a glimpse of her, but his vision was obscured by tangled black fur.

Claws clasped around his throat, forcing his head upwards to meet the eyes of his attacker. They were a pale purple colour. Almost pretty. But the malicious sparkle lingering within took away any beauty that might have resided there.

"Get off him!" shrieked a voice from above, and familiar pink paws briefly struck at the Shadewylf. But they were batted away easily, tossing their owner aside. As his twin fell to the ground, the small opening she had created gave Felix a chance to see her.

Her eyes were wide with fear. Her fur was dishevelled, tufts yanked in all possible directions. Even from a distance, he could see how much she was shaking.

"You look beautiful, Fliss," he called softly. "I love you."

The final word he choked out as he found his throat closing in on itself. Dark claws curled around it, cutting deep gouges into his skin. He could feel the blood coating his jaw.

The pain was immense.

He tried to gasp for air but found the action impossible. He could only stare upwards, right into the glowing light of the Shadewylf's joyful eyes.

No.

Using all his remaining effort, he turned his gaze to fix on Felicity. Though he could no longer form words, he hoped the simple look would convey everything he wanted to say, all in the space of that moment.

I promise I'll never leave you. Not properly.

Then the colour drained from his vision, and he saw her no more.