As soon as Stormy Sky saw the alphas fall in the distance, he immediately ran off without hesitation to protect them. He was not yet fully grown, nor had he even been in the pack long enough to get to know them that well, yet he still felt an urge to protect him. He had a feeling that if he didn't, the battle would be lost.

The scene was worse than Stormy Sky thought. Both alphas were collapsed on the ground, blood pooling around them. It stained his gray paws as he ran to stand over their bodies where they had fallen. He glanced quickly, relieved to see their chests rising and falling, but Stormy Sky also knew the severity of their injuries couldn't be good, and their older age probably didn't help.

"Get away from them!" Stormy Sky growled at the rogues closing in.

"What are you going to do about it, pup?" Flint, the leader, asked.

Stormy Sky lunged at the large male wolf without thinking. He knew he could not match the wolf in strength, but he was smaller and quicker. He nipped at the wolf's ankles, slid under Flint's belly and clawed at him until Flint fell over in pain. Luckily, more members of the Pack of the Falling Stars joined in, and Stormy Sky was even more relieved when in his fight with Flint, he glanced up and saw Golden Flower beside him. She lunged at the wolf, biting down hard on his ear. Flint let out a cry in pain.

Stormy Sky turned to his left and right, now seeing Crow's Laugh, Hazel Branch, Moon's Shine, and Cold Blizzard closing in on Flint. Though he was bleeding in multiple places and had a limp in his foot, he laughed nonetheless.

"You think taking me down will stop them?" he asked. 

"No," Moon's Shine replied. "But look around. Many of your followers have already fled."

Stormy Sky glanced left and right, seeing that it was true. Where bodies of wolves didn't scatter the ground, only a few remained fighting, and even then, the pack was still fighting the remaining rogues. Stormy Sky suddenly saw fear flicker in Flint's eyes for the first time, especially as the wolves closed in.

Golden Flower stopped Stormy Sky from advancing with her paw.

"Stay back. They'll handle this," she told him.

"But--"

Stormy Sky watched suddenly as the wolves simultaneously launched at Flint. Stormy Sky turned away as he listened to Flint's agonizing cries of pain as his pack members attacked. He knew it was for the best, and yet, he hated to listen to it. Instead, he rushed to the side of the alphas, both of which were still conscious, but barely.

"We'll get you help," Golden Flower promised them.

Stormy Sky watched Flint's lifeless body fall, and with that, the remaining rogues retreated. An eerie peace settled over the pack, but before anyone could rejoice, Hazel Branch was rushing to her parents' side, as was Moon's Shine and Cold Blizzard.

Stormy Sky stepped back, not wanting to get in the way. However, he still could see and hear enough to detect their conversation.

"You can't leave me," Hazel Branch was begging her parents. Golden Flower was standing next to her mother, her grief just as visible.

"I love you all. Thank you," Maple Leaf said with a shaky breath. It was apparent from Hazel Branch's cries that her mother had passed with those dying words.

Meanwhile though, Cold Blizzard and Moon's Shine were standing around Raven's Wing, who though gravely injured, still appeared to have some life left in him. All the wolves' attention were turned on him now, even those watching from afar.

"Come here, all of you," Raven's Wing said. "You too, Stormy Sky."

Stormy Sky hesitantly approached, not feeling like it was appropriate to be standing so close when the alpha was surrounded by his friends and family. Nevertheless, he found a place among the circle to look down at the defeated alpha.

"My daughter, I love you. I love the family you've made," he told Hazel Branch. "Your mother would say the same. And Moon's Shine, Cold Blizzard, my old friends," he said, "Thank you for teaching me what it is to find happiness in the pack. But I have something more serious I want to say while I am still alpha." 

With as much strength as he could, Stormy Sky listened as he rose his voice for the surrounding wolves to hear. "Today, we fought a battle to protect the unity of our pack, but the truth is, we are not unified. No longer should any rules be enforced about dogs and wolves co-mingling. I am sorry for enforcing them myself, and I'm sorry especially to you two, Hazel Branch and Crow's Laugh. You have a beautiful family. In addition, I ask that the omega system be dismantled. There's no reason that we should bar wolves born into this pack from being members. Promise me?" he asked, staring directly at Moon's Shine. She nodded her head slowly.

"Then, I am thankful," Raven's Wing said. Stormy Sky watched him take one long breath before the life slowly left his body.

Grief immediately reflected on the faces of the pack members, but at the same time, some were beginning to smile, Stormy Sky included. He glanced around, finding the faces of his mother and father in the crowd. He was glad to see them alive, and even more excited to  learn his mother would no longer be an omega. He quickly rushed to them.

"Mom! Dad!" he exclaimed. They wept with joy as they licked his wounds and nuzzled their heads against him. He had always hoped the day would come when he could live happily with his family, but he never expected it to be a reality. 

"I'm really happy," he told them both.

"Me too," Gentle Breeze said. He knew this especially had to mean something big for her. She had run away from the pack, lived on her own, all because of her omega status, and now, she could finally be a full member of the pack and live with her family without shame.

Suddenly, Stormy Sky remembered why he and his father had become separated earlier.

"Strong Boulder--where is he?" Stormy Sky asked.

Feather Wings looked down sadly. "He didn't make it. His sister is still alive. Just a little injured, that's all."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Stormy Sky murmured. "He didn't deserve that."

"No. He didn't, but I want to make sure that Tall Willow doesn't experience the same fate. Will you be kind to her, Stormy Sky? Will you treat her like a sister?" Feather Wings asked.

Stormy Sky nodded. "I'll try my best."

In the distance, he glanced ahead. Though Golden Flower was mourning with her family, there was also a smile on her face too. He figured she was happy for her own family's circumstances as well. He briefly made eye contact with her and gave her a small smile, which she returned. He figured many things would be changing in the near future in the pack.