"Strong Boulder. Strong Boulder. Wake up," came a soft noise.

Strong Boulder turned his body and groaned. Though another wolf was gently nudging him, and then rasping its tongue across the space between his years like his mother used to, he kept his eyes closed, trying to block out the sound. The noise was distant, but it was becoming clearer in tone.

"Strong Boulder."

The voice took on a masculine appearance, and suddenly, Strong Boulder tensed. He opened his eyes, turned back around, and saw his father looking down at him.

"D-Dad? What do you want?" he asked. He huffed, then turned back around. "Probably asking where Stormy Sky is, that's all."

"Stormy Sky? Who's he?"

"Your favorite son," Strong Boulder growled.

"I don't know a Stormy Sky, but I know my favorite son is right here. Get on up. I'm going to show you around the forest today," he said.

Strong Boulder slowly raised himself from the floor. As he turned to head out the den's entrance with his father, he knew something felt off, but there was a smile on his face for the first time in forever. As soon as his paw left the den, all went black.

Strong Boulder woke up, his heart pounding. The other wolves were already rising for the day as they prepared to go out and train. He let out a groan and shut his eyes once more. The dream had been too good to be true. He wished he could escape back into that world, but his sister was calling his name.

"Come on. Stormy Sky's already up. You don't want to let him get the better of you, do you?" Tall Willow asked.

Strong Boulder bolted up. 

"I didn't think that would work so well," Tall Willow admitted.

Strong Boulder quickly gobbled down a breakfast, but it didn't matter much. He felt like he was going to throw it all up when he noticed Stormy Sky and Feather Wings conversing happily in the distance. Gentle Breeze came up behind them and licked her son's cheek before waving her tail as he headed off into the forest with his trainer. Strong Boulder growled some and dug his claws into the earth.

It shouldn't bother him. It shouldn't bother him. That's what he had told himself time and time again. His father had committed a great crime mating with an omega, and it was even worse the half-omega son was being trained as a normal wolf. Even worse, Feather Wings had betrayed his family, leaving Shining River and his two pups behind. Strong Boulder had every right to be upset at his father, to never long to talk to him again. Yet Strong Boulder only seemed to crave his father's presence more now that Stormy Sky had joined the pack.

All day Strong Boulder was bothered. He could barely concentrate training, though Bright Trout assumed this was just because the battle was approaching and every wolf had high nerves. Eventually, he managed to catch a squirrel that had wandered too closely in his path, but as soon as Strong Boulder's teeth closed around the squirrel's neck, his feelings of anger rushed through him. He swung the squirrel wildly, growling and biting, scratching and nipping until blood was pouring out beneath his paws. 

"Stop, Strong Boulder. It's already dead," Bright Trout said.

Strong Boulder took a step back. He could feel the blood pulsing through his veins. The blood was hot and sticky on his paws and was beginning to crust over his fur. He felt sick all of the sudden.

"We never kill simply for the joy," Bright Trout said sternly. "That was a perfectly good piece of meat you wasted. I think we're done for today."

Strong Boulder returned with his tail between his legs. He had been doing so well in training before Stormy Sky had shown up. Now, Bright Trout always seemed to scold him for being distracted, and he hoped he would never again see the disappointed face that Bright Trout had shown him today.

At the same time he was returning, so was Stormy Sky. Stormy Sky appeared in good spirits. He bounced slightly as he walked, and he held a plump squirrel in his jaws.

Strong Boulder quickly marched over to him.

"And how did you manage to catch that?!" he demanded.

Stormy Sky blinked and dropped the squirrel at his feet. "I pounced?"

"How are you skilled enough to catch that, I mean!" Strong Boulder growled.

"I did train a bit before I came here," Stormy Sky said. "I'm older than you, you know? I technically should be ahead of you." He picked up the squirrel and began to walk.

"Where are you taking that squirrel to?" Strong Boulder asked. "We usually leave the prey here so the whole pack can enjoy it."

Stormy Sky said nothing, but Strong Boulder could see he was looking toward the omega den.

"You're taking it to her, aren't you?" Strong Boulder growled. "Omegas don't deserve that," and without another thought, he leapt, knocking the squirrel out of Stormy Sky's mouth and pushing Stormy Sky onto the ground as his body slammed against his.

"What was that for? It's just a squirrel!" Stormy Sky complained, quickly standing up. "The omegas deserve food too, you know."

"Not with this battle approaching. Wolves like your mother deserve to starve."

That had set Stormy Sky off. Stormy Sky leapt at Strong Boulder, his teeth nearly missing Strong Boulder's shoulder. Strong Boulder lifted his teeth in a growl and lashed forward, managing to bite down on Stormy Sky's ear. Though Stormy Sky let out a whimper, he used his paws to knock Strong Boulder off balance and leapt again. The two leapt at each other. Their teeth were gnashing and their muzzles were scrunched in anger.

Strong Boulder grinned at the blood coming down Stormy Sky's ear. That would leave a mark, he hoped. As he went to pounce once more, a larger wolf suddenly stepped in front of the two, and Strong Boulder slammed into none other than his father. Feather Wings wasn't even knocked off balance.

"That's enough, you two!" Feather Wings growled.

"But, Dad, he was--" Stormy Sky began.

"It doesn't matter. We don't attack other packmates," Feather Wings, said, shooting a glare at Strong Boulder.

Strong Boulder's ears flattened.

"What's going on?!" Raven's Wing explained, rushing out of his den.

"Don't worry. I've stopped the fight," Feather Wings said. He moved away from the two, wincing some. Perhaps Strong Boulder had accidentally done damage running into his father like that. "Go back to the den, Strong Boulder," Feather Wings said. "Stormy Sky, come with me."

"So he gets to follow you, but I don't?" Strong Boulder asked.

"This has nothing to do with favoritism, Strong Boulder. You two need to be separated for a little while," Feather Wings said. "Now go back to your den. Look, your sister is waiting for you."

Tall Willow was peeping out of the den's entrance, looking at Strong Boulder with pleading eyes. He sighed and turned around.

"Don't get too comfortable," Raven's Wing warned. "We'll need to decide a punishment for you and Stormy Sky later." 

Strong Boulder growled but kept his mouth shut. He took one last glance at his father and Stormy Sky walking. Gentle Breeze was rushing out of the omega den toward her injured pup. Strong Boulder looked around for Shining River, but she was nowhere to be seen.

"That was real stupid of you picking a fight where everyone could see," Tall Willow complained. "Now you're going to get in trouble, and right before the fight--"

"I know!" Strong Boulder complained. He curled up in the corner of the den, far away from the sunlight. "I know," he whispered.