"What's on the agenda for training today?" Golden Flower asked. It was a particularly sunny morning, with not a cloud in sight. Golden Flower knew she would miss these warm days once the leaves began to change, but Copper Rock had assured her that was still a little while off, and there was plenty of warm days and plentiful prey left.

"This way," Copper Rock said, leading her to a portion of the forest they did not often trespass.

Golden Flower glanced at him, confused.

"Don't freak out, just come with me," he said, leading her toward a pile of boulders buried deep within the woods. 

As they came into the clearing with rocks, Golden Flower glanced up and noticed Feather Wings sitting on one of them. His gray fur nearly blended in with the boulders, though the lightning strike on his foot gave him away.

"Hey," Copper Rock called out from below.

Feather Wings leapt down the rocks to greet the two. Though his eyes reflected that dullness that Golden Flower had grown used to seeing, he seemed in higher spirits than normal. Golden Flower wondered why.

"Is he teaching me?" Golden Flower asked.

Both of them chuckled.

"Quite the opposite," Copper Rock said. "We're here to have a talk."

"Copper Rock tells me you're interested in helping us," Feather Wings explained. 

"Helping you with?"

"Meeting with the alphas to discuss bringing the omegas into the fight," Copper Rock interjected. "It's the start of our plan to rid the omega system altogether and to one day allow dogs have to mates."

"O-Oh, right," Golden Flower said. She glanced at Copper Rock, worried he had spilled her secret, but his fervent gaze told her otherwise.

"I'm glad general wolves are starting to take notice, though I suppose since you didn't grow up here it's easier for you to see the injustices," Feather Wings explained. "I'm glad we have your support though. The more support we can gather, the better chance we have."

"The plan starts with us asking the alphas if we can train the omegas to fight given our small numbers," Copper Rock explained. "And then we hope it'll spiral if all goes well."

"When are you planning to meet with the alphas?"

"Tonight," they answered simultaneously.

"Tonight?! What-what am I even supposed to say?" Golden Flower asked. "I'm no one in the pack, not like you two. You come from a royal line, Feather Wings, and Copper Rock, you're the alphas' son."

"They'll value the opinion of an outsider," Feather Wings said. "Copper Rock and I don't stand a chance without other support. Plus, if Copper Rock is telling the truth, you're quite a talented young wolf for your age."

Golden Flower found herself growing flustered. "Well, even if that's true, how will that convince the alphas to make even bigger decisions?"

"That's why we need to ask now. The longer the omegas have time to train, the better their survival," Copper Rock said. "And if the omegas do well, it may show how silly the decision was to make them omegas all along."

Golden Flower frowned. "But is Lily Petal even sane enough to--"

"She'll be fine," Feather Wings interjected.

Golden Flower kept her mouth shut, realizing she had slightly offended Feather Wings' sister.

"Feather Wings and I will collect you tonight. We'll present our argument, and then you throw in something. You saw the rogues as a pup, didn't you? You know what they're capable of. The alphas will have no choice to listen if you voice your opinion too. And if we need more support, we'll look for it. Sound good?" Copper Rock asked.

Golden Flower nodded.

"All right. Thanks for meeting with us then, Feather Wings," Copper Rock said. "Let's actually head off to train, Golden Flower."

As soon as they got a good distance away from Feather Wings, Golden Flower was quick to speak up.

"So when did this all happen? I thought you hadn't planned to say anything," she said.

"Feather Wings and I have been talking for a while, and the other day, you seemed like you would be interested in at least speaking to the alphas. I know that doesn't mean having your parents return. I'm not suggesting it will happen. But I think this will be better for all of us if we at least try. And then, if your family ever wants to return, they have the option," Copper Rock suggested.

"I wish you had at least warned me about this," Golden Flower murmured.

"Sorry. We had to be quiet about it, and I didn't want to draw suspicion."

"Well, let's do it tonight, then. I hope we can make some change," Golden Flower thought out loud.

"That's the spirit. Now let's train."

Though Golden Flower practiced with Copper Rock for the entire afternoon, her future meeting with the alphas, her grandparents, was looming over her mind the entire day. She hoped she wouldn't stumble over her words, or reveal something she shouldn't, or make a fool of herself. Copper Rock had told her to just be herself, but as the sun began to set over the pack later that evening, she wished she had asked him for more advice. Now, the sun was setting, and when the stars came out, Copper Rock said, that was when he and Feather Wings would come get her.

Golden Flower rested her head out of the den entrance. Thankfully the others who shared the den with her were all out and about, leaving her time to think over what she would say. She glanced up at the orange and pink-streaked clouds, lost in thought, when there were some growls in the distance.

"Who goes there?!" came the sharp growl of Cold Blizzard.

Golden Flower's ears perked up. Something was happening. For a moment, she feared it was the rogues, and fear settled in. She was nowhere near trained, and if the rogues were to attack now, then there went her, Copper Rock, and Feather Wings' plans of making some change in the pack.

"What do you mean? Can't you recognize me?!" came an all-too-familiar voice.

Golden Flower began to tremble more. Slowly, she moved out of the den. Other wolves were retreating inside or standing up and remaining alert, but Golden Flower knew that voice better than anyone.

Emerging from the deep woods was none other than her mother, her father, her brothers, and a she-wolf and pup she had never seen before.

"Hazel Branch?" Cold Blizzard asked in shock. "But--"

"Crow's Laugh, is that you?!" Panther's Screech exclaimed, rushing to her brother. Golden Flower stood back as a sea of black, Crow's Laugh's entire family, she presumed, rushed over to him.

Hazel Branch turned her head, seeing Feather Wings standing to the side, his mouth open in shock. Though quiet, she could hear him as he softly said, "Gentle Breeze," before rushing over to her.

In the midst of the reunion, Hazel Branch found her paws moving, even though they shouldn't have been, even though she wanted to run away and hide after the pain she had caused her parents. But she moved forward, closer and closer, and though her mother was preoccupied with chatting with Moon's Shine while Cold Blizzard went off to gather her family, suddenly, her mother's eyes turned on her.

"Golden Flower?" she asked.

"M-Mom," Golden Flower whimpered before running to her mother's side.

The crowd began to quiet as Golden Flower nuzzled her head against her mother's. She was the same size as her mother now, growing taller and taller each day, but she still longed to stick her head into her mother's fur, just as she had done when she was a pup. Her mother was crying quietly next to her ear, and when Golden Flower felt a tail lightly touch her shoulder, she glanced up at the kind eyes of her father.

"Dad," she said, no longer afraid of spilling her secret. She turned to him next and pushed her head into the black fur of his chest while her brothers, though usually tougher than her, cried beside her.

"Hazel Branch? Crow's Laugh? Is that really you?" Maple Leaf asked.

Golden Flower broke away from her parents and stood to the side as the alphas approached the two. Her mother stood next to Hazel Branch again, brushing her side against her daughter. It was clear she didn't want Hazel Branch to leave her side.

"I-I've messed up," Hazel Branch admitted. "And I know you will not be proud of me, but I do not regret this decision at all. I came back to help the pack after running into Gentle Breeze and her pup. We want to aid you in your fight against the rogues."

"Am I to understand then that Crow's Laugh is your mate and these are your pups, including this one, Golden Flower, who came to us awhile back?" Raven's Wing asked.

Hazel Branch nodded.

"And I chose to go with her," Crow's Laugh said. "So if you're going to punish her, then punish me too for abandoning the pack."

"You'll have to punish me as well," Gentle Breeze, the other she-wolf, added on. "This pup belongs to me," she said, pointing to the pup next to her. Golden Flower briefly made eye contact with him, only to turn away as Feather Wings spoke.

"This is my mate, and this is my pup," Feather Wings answered at last. "So you'll have to punish me too, but please leave Gentle Breeze and the pup out of it."

A deep sigh wracked through Maple Leaf's body. She glanced at Raven's Wing, and the two leapt up onto some rocks to get a good look over the pack. Raven's Wing let out a howl, and the pack that was lost in whispers and confusion began to silence.

"Tonight we welcome home many of our former pack members, including Hazel Branch, Crow's Laugh, and Gentle Breeze," Raven's Wing explained. "And it seems we have some new faces as well, which I'm sure we will get to know in the coming days."

"Well, where's their punishment?!" a scream came from the crowd. Golden Flower turned, noticing Shining River fuming as she stood. Her pups were next to her, and though she was far away, she could see the flames in Strong Boulder's eyes as Feather Wings stood next to his supposedly former mate and pup.

"It is true that these wolves have broken ancient traditions and new laws recently instilled," Maple Leaf explained. "Based on our current crisis, we will need to evaluate the consequences later. What matters is that there are strength in numbers, and a good number of wolves have joined us tonight to help us in our fight. For now, let this be a celebration."

"We have a spare den that these wolves may take for the time being as we get situated and figure out how to continue," Raven's Wing explained. "For the time being, we ask no one except family members visit them. Understood?"

Quiet surrounded them.

"Good. That is all then," Raven's Wing said.

"Come with us, then, Golden Flower," Hazel Branch said. 

Golden Flower didn't question her mother, even though she very well had a den of her own to sleep in. She was quiet in the walk toward the den. Thankfully, it was large and accommodating, though not as private as she wanted. As Gentle Breeze spoke quietly to her pup, Golden Flower suddenly burst into tears in front of her family.

"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed.

"So sorry? What do you mean? We're thrilled to see you alive!" Hazel Branch exclaimed. "We came to aid the pack, but we didn't know we'd get to see you as well! This is a happy occasion."

"I lied to you," Golden Flower admitted. "I lied to all of you. I'm the worst wolf ever. I'm so selfish. I-I faked my own death to run off to join this pack. I had no care for any of you at the time. And even though I've loved it here, I've felt so guilty, and I've missed you all so much. I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, beginning to sob again.

"You'll have to be mad at me too," Black Berry added. "I helped her."

"You knew she was alive this whole time?!" Rock Path exclaimed.

"That's enough," Crow's Laugh growled at the two.

"Golden Flower, stop crying for a second," Hazel Branch said. "It's...upsetting to hear this, but I'm afraid we have much bigger issues to deal with. What matters is you regret it, and even more importantly, you're alive, and we're together now. We're not going to be separated again."

"You're staying?" Golden Flower asked through tears.

Hazel Branch nodded. "Of course. We agreed to return again. I missed the pack, and your brothers are antsy to get to know the pack as well."

"You've grown," Crow's Laugh realized.

"Have I?" Golden Flower asked, laughing a little. "I'm still not as big as those two," she said, pointing to her brothers. Again, a little laugh emerged between the two. They were interrupted by Copper Rock entering.

"Copper Rock," Hazel Branch breathed.

"I've been watching over her. Golden Flower, I mean. I knew something was up the moment she stepped foot here," Copper Rock explained. "I've been training her. She's been doing a fine job."

"Thank you, Copper Rock," Hazel Branch said. "And thank you for keeping this secret. I know it must have hung over your head--"

"We're going to change how the pack runs. It has to change. Now that you're all pack. I promise," Copper Rock said.

"I believe you," Hazel Branch answered.

Just then, the alphas poked their heads in. "Hazel Branch, Crow's Laugh, we'd like to speak to you in our dens if you don't mind," Maple Leaf said. "And Golden Flower, we'd like you to stay with your family for a few days while things get settled out. You can resume training with Copper Rock in a few days."

Golden Flower nodded and watched as her parents exited. 

"Do you think they'll get in trouble?" Black Berry whimpered.

"I don't know," Golden Flower replied.

"They'll be better off than we are," Gentle Breeze answered. "Sorry. I didn't introduce myself earlier. I'm Gentle Breeze, and this is my son, Stormy Sky."

Golden Flower's eyes went to the lightning strike on Stormy Sky's check. It bore the same resemblance to Feather Wings'. 

"So Feather Wings..."

"We were secret mates," Gentle Breeze answered for her. "Then I ran off once I realized I was pregnant."

"Has he come to visit you?" Black Berry asked. Black Berry turned to look at Hazel Branch. "It's a long story, but Rock Path and I have been training Stormy Sky. Recently, we all reunited."

"Feather Wings will come visit eventually, but he has a new family now," Gentle Breeze explained. "It's best he stay with them."

Stormy Sky dipped his head and remained quiet.

"You'll like it here," Golden Flower said to Stormy Sky, noticing his disappointment. "You'll get the best wolf to train you, and you'll learn how to hunt and fight and be a true wolf."

"You think so?" Stormy Sky asked.

"I know so," Golden Flower replied.

Her parents were now returning into the den, not looking more somber than normal, so she hoped the talk had not gone too poorly.

"Let's head to bed, then," Crow's Laugh said. "It's been a long day for all of us."

It felt so familiar yet so long since Golden Flower had curled up against her mother. She realized how much time had passed since her mother could not curl all the way around her anymore, but her brothers flanked each of her sides, and she could hear her father's loud breath in the distance. It was the most Golden Flower had ever felt at home since coming to the pack.