"Delta is now in perfect health, but I recommend that he does not move around very much." Sage tells us, and Alu gives out a loud sigh of relief while I simply nod.

"Ash, is everyone ready for a stake out?" Journey asks me, slinging a pack over her shoulder and shifting her weight to her other foot so that she doesn't topple over with the extra weight.

"Journey, it's just going to be us two and Tobias. Dylan, Alu, and Smash are staying with Sage and Delta to keep them safe, being that Dylan is alpha and was an assassin, Smash is our warrior and Alu is an assassin, it's our best bet if they stay here." I tell her, slipping a pair of combat boots on.

Our pack has been held up in this cave for a couple weeks now, Tobias going out with Dylan to hunt for food and Sage helping Delta heal and Smash being our guard. Me and Journey had snuck out a couple times late at night to familiarize ourselves with the surrounding area so that we can set up a plan to get everyone in a new home by the end of the season, before winter starts in a week. I then head to the entrance, where Journey is waiting with our bags full of food and supplies for our scouting trip. I take my bag from her, slinging it onto my shoulder, and give dylan a quick kiss goodbye before waving to everyone.

"Ash, I don't want to destroy the mood but is this such a good idea?  I don't think Tobias can protect us on his own, he's a hunter, not a warrior like Smash, and you don't have as much training as everyone else does..." Journey trails off, leading the way through the forest towards the highway.

"Dylan doesn't have as much training as you guys, either, and yet you let him train you guys. What's so wrong with having tobias go with us when I don't know how to fight as well as you?" I question her, climbing over a fallen log.

"It's just that I believe we should have more protection out here, not that Tobias is unhelpful, which he is amazing at what he does." She says.

"Well, Dylan had to stay behind so that everyone could look to him for help and Smash is with them incase they get attacked by something. Sage is healing Delta still and Samantha is staying behind so Ash won't tear her to shreds." Tobias explains to our lead scout, stepping on a twig and making it snap, making us all jump at the sudden sound.

"Who is 'samantha' anyways?" I asked, stopping in my tracks to look at the both of them, raising an eyebrow.

"Samantha is Alu, Luna." Tobias answers, nudging me along.

"That's her real name? Would've thought her real name would be something more...badass." I say, climbing over a log.

We walk a little farther, none of us talking, and when we make it to the highway, there is a huge semi truck on it's side and a whole bunch of medics and lots of police officers everywhere. The three of us stopped at the edge of the treeline and watched what the officers were doing, it was obvious that the medics were tending to the driver and whoever else was involved. None of the officers spot us as we sit to watch.

What seems like hours pass by, the emergency vehicles leaving and the semi truck gone at last. We then stand up and proceed, crossing the highway as fast as we could. I had the feeling someone was watching me, the whole time we were in the open and in the forest, but I wasn't going to tell Tobias or Journey that, in case they get paranoid and make us turn around for an early walk home. Once we make it into the forest on the other side of the highway, we stop and look at where we came from. The sun was setting and I could hear the peaceful calls of birds heading to their nests, the cold of night was closing in.

"Guys, lets head back! Something's off about this area!" Tobias called out from the left, his voice wavering.

I could tell there were eyes watching us, the feeling was way too strong. "I agree with Tobias, I can feel someone, or something, watching us. lets head back in our wolf forms, its a lot faster that way." I said, removing my pack and going behind a tree. Moments later, my clothes are in the pack and I'm in my wolf form. I stretch out my limbs and shook my fur out, the smells of soil, plants, and animals filled my sensitive nose. I came out from behind the tree, pack hanging from my mouth, and saw Journey and Tobias in their wolf forms. Tobias with black fur, almost as dark as Dylan's, and bright red eyes. Journey with reddish brown fur and her normal eye color.

"Now lets sprint back to the cave, I'm getting worried that there might be something out here!" I mindlink the two wolves. We then break out in a sprint going in the direction we came from, me leading and them on either side of me.

Within minutes, we're back at the cave. Sage, Alu, and Smash welcome Journey and Tobias, but something doesn't feel right. I walk further into the cave to see Dylan bent over Delta, only that I couldn't hear the old man's breathing or heartbeat...

I walked closer to the two and nudged Delta's shoulder with my muzzle, he was as cold as ice...

[hey guys! I am so sorry for not updating this chapter sooner, I sorta got writer's block and a whole lot has been going on. At least i got it this far, and too all those who liked Delta: there may be a character like Delta in the future if I don't end this story soon! cya, guys!]