A wolf's howl has been described as many things.

Some find it comforting, to know that an ally is close by. Others call it a sound of loyalty, and packs of wolves will howl together, to reinstate their strong bonds of friendship. There are even some who will howl merely for the thrill, and say it is a form of meditation for them.

But the howl that echoed across valley tonight was none of those things.

From her spot at the edge of the valley, one wolf pricked up her ears, her pale eyes widening at the sound. Flaring huge white wings, she leapt downwards, soaring towards the mournful cry.

This howl was nothing joyful. It was filled with pain, and anguish, and terror.

Angling her wings, the wolf curved in the air, her speed increasing as the howl grew louder. She had to reach the source. Otherwise... she didn't want to think about the consequences.

Then, all of a sudden, the howl cut out, and the winds carried only silence.

A deadly silence.

But the wolf's keen ears had already tracked to where the howl had echoed from. She pulled her wings in slightly as she approached an opening in the side of the valley. A cave. A gouge in the steep rock, jagged and intimidating. Her breath came out in short, hurried pants. With a deep breath, an effort to control her panic, she steeled herself and flew into the darkness.

The white feathers of her wings scraped roughly against the stone, but she kept going. Occasionally, her white-blue paws would touch against the bottom of the passage, morphing her flight into a half-run.

Eventually, light pooled into the cave, and the passage widened into open space. For a moment, the wolf landed, pausing, searching for danger.

It didn't take long to find it.

There were parts of the cave's darkness that had evaded the glow of the lamps. As the winged wolf watched, a creature - no, several creatures - folded from those shadows. Their claws clattered, raking through the stone. Their fangs glinted, catching the dim lamplight. Their eyes shone with all things evil.

One of these animals of shadow prowled before the rest, his eyes flowing with a colour as red as blood. He rested his malevolent gaze upon the paler wolf.

"Angel," he greeted her, his voice a rough snarl. Shivers ran up the wolf's spine, shaking her flight feathers. How did he know her name? "How nice to finally meet you."

Anger was forced up her throat, erupting in a low growl. "Get out of here, Shadewylf," she replied, hiding her fear under a facade of attack. Really, she knew it was hopeless to fight a wolf of his Pelt, let alone several. Even the sight of them was enough to double her heart's racing pace.

As she spoke, her eyes darted about the cave, searching for the source of the howl. She tried not to react when her eyes finally found the wolf.

On the floor.

Bloodstained.

Unmoving.

I have to get to her.

But before she had chance to move, the sting of sharp claws dug into her side. Gasping in pain, she leapt upwards, flaring her wings out. Thankfully, the Shadewylf lost his grip and tumbled away, allowing her to launch herself towards the unconcious wolf.

"Katana," Angel whispered as she landed. She lifted a paw and gently shook her friend. Streaks of blood coated her mud-brown fur. "Katana, please answer me."

All she recieved was silence.

One quick glance up confirmed that the Shadewylves hadn't given up. They were charging across the cave, the red-eyed wolf growing closer with every second she hesitated. As quickly as she could, Angel bundled the fallen wolf onto her back, in the ridge between her wings, and sped upwards again.

There was no updraft here, so she created one, using all her mental effort to swirl the air into winds to keep her aloft. She was desperate to stay out of the black wolves' reach. As she reached the entry passage, she increased in speed and shot through the narrow space. Her wings seemed to snag on every outcrop of rock. If her eyes had been able to penetrate the darkness, she would have seen many a white feather trailing behind her.

As the setting sun lit her vision once again, she waited a few moments before flinging her wings out and soaring into the evening air. The echoes of growls and snarls was snatched away with the wind. Angel's eyes flashed with glee for a moment as the natural wind ruffled her fur, cooling the uncomfortable clamminess brought on by the cave.

But the weight of the body on her back prevented her from being too joyful. Even as she vanished into the sky, far from the reach of enemy claws, her heart still thundered.

The base.

Twisting in the air, she bent towards a dense patch of trees, tumbling over the edge of the valley. The fading sunlight barely managed to trickle through the canopy, leaving the underneath a darkened mystery.

That was exactly the way they'd designed it.

As she curved her flight downwards, Angel soon discovered that descending with a wolf on her back was a lot harder than flying freely. She had to keep stopping to readjust, each time muttering a prayer that Katana would be alright.

Eventually, she reached the trees, and slipped slowly through the branches. When she'd first started at the base, she'd caused herself many an injury through the entry. Now, thankfully, she was more experienced.

Her paws had barely touched the ground before voices began calling her name. One wolf was there before all the others, her fur sparkling a particularly vibrant pink.

"Quick, Thea," Angel addressed the wolf, carefully bending to set down Katana on the forest floor. "She's lost a lot of blood."

Nodding frantically, Thea reached her pink paws towards their friend, frightened concern shining in her eyes.

A few moments later, another wolf was beside them. His Pelt was a little less out there than Thea's - swathes of blue and green mixing in his fur, like an ocean current. Instantly, his eyes clocked Angel's ruffled wings, and bleeding scratches. "Dear Luna! Angel, are you alright?" His golden eyes peered at her wounds in concern. She flinched away. There was something about this wolf that always made her uncomfortable.

"I'm fine, Morgan," she snapped. "Katana's the one we should be worried about." She cast a fearful glance towards the brown wolf.

Before he could answer, a third wolf strode towards them, drawing everyone's attention. Even Thea looked up, though her paws remained rested on Katana's bloodstained flank.

"Dawn," Angel called softly to the newcomer, taking a few steps forward and bowing her head. "Your predictions were correct. They are returning." Slowly, she looked up, meeting Dawn's eyes. They seemed to reflect all the light around her, like tiny silver moons.

There was a pause as Dawn raised her snout towards the darkening sky, her eyes sliding shut for a moment. When they opened again, her gaze fell directly on Angel. "It is as I feared. Though I did not expect these events to occur so soon." The evening breeze sent wisps of her purple fur billowing around her, like a royal cloak.

"What should we do?" called yet another voice, her Pelt a dulled bronze in the dim light. "We can't beat the Shadewylves alone. Should we call the Wylfire for help?"

"No." Dawn's eyes shifted to each wolf in the shadows of the trees. "Not yet. They have forgotten their duty, and if we were to approach them now, they would not believe us. There is another task we must complete first." Her pointed ears twitched as she turned back to look at the winged wolf. "Angel, follow me." With a nod, she began briskly walking into the darkness of the trees.

Having no wish to be left behind, Angel hurried after the purple wolf, her wings tucking in at her sides. Light flooded the area behind her as the bronze wolf finally lit the lamps.

They dodged deeper into the forest. Above them, the specks of sunlight squeezing through the canopy faded, replaced with beams of moonlight. It was becoming difficult to see in the gloom. Angel fixed her eyes on Dawn's deep purple Pelt, as she feared if she removed her gaze for only a moment, she would be lost in the shadows.

Eventually, they emerged from the trees, and the two wolves halted at the edge. Under the increased light of the moon, Angel could make out the shape of the valley just in front of them, and the steep cliff not far from where her paws rested. After breathing in the cool night air, she turned to look at her companion, who was gazing out into the sky.

"What is this task?" Angel asked, stepping closer. Dawn waited for a moment before speaking.

"The Wylfire can help us in some ways." Her tone was measured, controlled, almost as if she were speaking someone else's words. "But there is only one wolf who can ensure that our efforts will be successful." Though Dawn never looked away from the moon, Angel could feel every word resonate deep within her. As her friend drew in another breath, she flicked her tail nervously.

"We must find this wolf, Angel. If we do not find him, he cannot be put on the path that will ultimately lead to peace and harmony once more. Only he can finally bring down the darkness and terror."

"How can we find him?" Angel asked, a trickle of fear running down her spine. Finding one wolf in a world full of wolves couldn't be easy.

But, like always, Dawn had the answer.

"You must stay here, in this spot, tonight. Keep your ears primed. You have heard one howl today, and soon you will hear another." Finally, Dawn's eyes snapped away from the moon and to Angel. "It is him that will howl. Find him, and bring him to me." Her eyes seemed to glow nearly as brightly as the moon itself.

"He will bring us the hope we need."