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- Aug 25, 2011
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Chapter 10
Cedar's thoughts were distracted as she pressed her nose to the ground and followed the scent of a rabbit. Aki was somewhere nearby, chasing a pheasant. He was both the first and last wolf she wanted to be around right now. Part of her longed to tell him her secret, but she couldn't do that. She heaved a sigh as she lost the trail of the rabbit; her thoughts were so distracted that she could barely keep a mouse's trail.
It was then that she realized just how close to the Darkpack border she was. She prayed silently that one of their wolves wouldn't show up. She marked Stonepack's territory, before investigating the bushes nearby for a mouse or something else that she could eat. But as she sniffed, she noticed something startling. The bush was completely bathed in very fresh Darkpack scent. There was also mouse blood painted on the branches, but no sign of the body.
Cedar stumbled back, her fur bristling. A piece of prey must have crossed the border when they were hunting... But as she continued sniffing around, she realized that this was no hunting accident. The nearby trees, rocks, and bushes were also completely smothered in Darkpack scent. Cedar felt her heart fall to her paws.
No..! Atra said that it would be two weeks until the attack, not two days! Cedar thought desperately. She tilted her head and howled for Aki. "AKI! DARKPACK HAS CROSSED THE BORDER!"
Every hair on Aki's pelt bristled as he came running. "Are you sure?" he asked skeptically, sniffing the air before growling. "We need to warn the others. There's several wolves. It looks like an invasion!"
Cedar looked around wildly, "Where's the rest of Stonepack?!"
Aki tilted his head and blasted a long, drawn out howl. He started racing away to the densite to warn Senkah and Hades. "Cedar, I'm going to go get Senkah and Hades. Howl if anything goes wrong!"
Cedar nodded, watching him sprint away through the forest. "Please be safe..." she murmured under her breath.
The bushes rustled, and Atra stepped out, smirking. "Excellent, Cedar." Luna lurked around in the shadows.
Cedar nodded, almost wary. "I-I thought you said that attack would be two weeks from now!" she exclaimed.
River stepped out to stand beside Atra. "I know, but River talked me out of it," Atra said. "We want to make sure Stonepack is as weak as possible. I didn't contact you, because there was no possible and timely way we could without having you discovered."
Cedar didn't reply for a second. "Alright." Darkpack thought she was still completely loyal... this was the perfect time to run back to the densite on the same trail that Aki had taken if she wanted to be with him.
"Ebony's leading a group to their densite," River said, his voice like low thunder. "Cedar, I want you to go after him."
Cedar nodded almost absently, turning and racing away after Ebony's scent trail. She could lead him to Stonepack's densite... or she could lead them into a trap.
"Search it out." Cedar heard Ebony's gruff voice nearby, and she skidded to a halt. "Try to find the dens." Ebony's voice suddenly sank to a growl. "Who's there?"
"Cedar," she said quickly.
Ebony calmed down. "Oh, good."
Cedar stepped into the bushes after them. She noted all the wolves who were there: Fox, Nighta, Tawny, Reed, and another brown he-wolf, who was fairly young; only 8 months, at most. Cedar didn't recognize him, but figured he was West, the pup that Luna had stolen from Emeraldpack.
"Now!" Cedar heard Atra howl the signal for her group of wolves to attack. She and River leaped from the bushes, tactically placed so that no one would notice Ebony and his group.
Ebony jerked his head towards the alphas when he heard the howl. "Let's go," he growled sharply.
Following with the plan, Cedar charged out of the bushes for Atra. She dug her teeth into her scruff so that she wasn't really hurting her, though Cedar was partially tempted. Atra threw her aside roughly, and Cedar stumbled to her paws. She snapped her head over as she saw Aki lunging for Atra. "Let's go, mutt!" he roared at Atra, snarling. Atra snarled and leaped as well, trying to slash his muzzle.
Cedar looked from Darkpack and to Aki wildly... Darkpack, Aki, Darkpack, Aki... Cedar felt torn. "Come on!" River snarled, giving her a hard nip on the shoulder; it was enough to leave a dark red welt.
Cedar yelped, but didn't move just yet. She'd been with Stonepack for almost year... they had become her pack, too. And Aki... Cedar's heart broke at the thought of betraying him and driving him out... or... Cedar didn't let her thoughts stray that way. Her mind said Darkpack, but her heart screamed, Aki. She was tempted to lunge at River, right then and there.
But for whatever reasons that Cedar would probably never understand, she charged after Ebony.
***
Ebony plunged down the hill, and emerged into Stonepack's den site. Mari whirled around, and bristled. "Get out of my territory, you fur brained mutts!" she snarled viciously. West was right on Ebony's heels; he tore into camp, looking for someone to fight. West's pelt bristled with excitement; this would be his first battle.
Ebony snorted. "Make us."
"How's this?" Mari screamed. She flung herself at Ebony, and he did the same. The two wolves clashed in mid air; Mari tore at his neck, while Ebony dug his teeth into her leg.
Hearing the snarls, Senkah scrambled out of her den. She stood on the alpha's rock so that the entire pack would hear. "Stonepack! ATTACK!" she howled. She leaped off, charging off into battle with Hades. Instantly, the clearing sprang to life, erupting with snarls as wolves emerged from their dens and jumped to their paws to battle.
Quartz wheeled around when she heard Senkah's battle cry, while Sierra let out a throat-ripping snarl as she flung herself at West. He crouched, his lips curling over his fangs. He launched at her, going for her throat. Zero slammed into Nighta, their jaws snapping wildly.
Thunder leaped out of his den and bowled Ebony off Mari. "Go help Aki! He's fighting Atra!" he howled. Mari nodded, and disappeared amongst the fighting wolves.
Faedon came out of her den, glancing around wildly. Cedar's head was clouded. She saw Faedon didn't have an opponent, and seized her chance. Blindsiding her, she crashed into her side. Faedon fell back with a yelp, and looked at Cedar with confusion. "Cedar?!"
Cedar curled her lips in a smirk. "Fool!" she laughed. Faedon's expression changed from confusion to anger. Inwardly, Cedar faltered.
Faedon is my friend... No, she's NOT. She's from Stonepack! But... Aki is from Stonepack... Cedar's hesitance gave Faedon plenty of time. Faedon heaved herself up, slamming into Cedar and sending them both rolling.
Faedon's lips curled up into a snarl of her own, snapping her jaws at Cedar's face. Cedar yelped as a slash was ripped open above her eye. Faedon struggled to push Cedar away, as her opponent was heavier than she was. Cedar snarled and diverted her attention to Faedon, slashing at her face. Faedon fell back with a yelp, stumbling onto her back and leaving her belly exposed. Cedar saw her chance and was about to plunge when Senkah came barreling into her.
"You!" Senkah roared. "I'll FLAY you if you even think about killing her, you disgusting traitor!" Cedar cried out in pain as Senkah's fangs slashed across the side of her neck. She saw Hades charge for River out of the corner of her eye; the alpha males clashed in a flurry of snapping jaws and snarls. Cedar yelped again as Senkah took her by her leg, swinging her into the alpha's rock, before diving away into the battle again.
Cedar struggled to her paws and wheeled back around, seeing that Faedon was about to leap at her again. She slammed Faedon back to the ground, and Faedon slashed her cheek open, making Cedar howl in pain. Snarling, Cedar took Faedon by her leg and swung her at Aki's den. Cedar tried to back Faedon inside while trying to slash her throat, but Faedon anticipated the move and leaped aside. Faedon lunged for Cedar, going in for the left. Cedar saw her shift her weight, and thought she was about to go in right, but much to her surprise Faedon stayed left. She dug her jaws into Cedar's shoulder, and Cedar howled.
Luna came through the crowd, crashing into Faedon's side. "Hello, cousin," Cedar heard Luna hiss.
As they broke into a fight, Cedar was about to jump in, when Rain leaped over to her. "Hey, fur brain," she snarled at Cedar.
"You're all idiotic ducks!" Cedar growled.
"This is coming from you, traitor?" Rain snarled. She flung herself at Cedar, aiming for her throat. Cedar jumped aside, but too far and smashed into the side of the den with a yelp. She rushed at Rain, aiming for her neck. Rain jumped away, but Cedar's teeth ripped down her shoulder. She growled and dove for Cedar's leg. Cedar tried to step back, but Rain's teeth tore down her leg, making it buckle. She snarled and tore at the base of Rain's neck; Rain was flipped over as Cedar grabbed onto her scruff. Cedar tried to leap out of the den, releasing her hold. Her only goal was to rejoin the fight outside, where she could use her greater size against other wolves.
"Oh no you don't!" Rain howled, clamping her jaws on Cedar's tail and yanking back hard. Cedar yelped painfully, trying to spin around. As she did that, Nighta barreled his huge body at Rain. She snarled, and Cedar felt herself getting shoved in front of Rain. She realized that Rain was trying to use her to block Nighta's attack. Cedar yelped as Nighta's head crashed into her bruised ribs, before Rain flung her aside. Cedar found herself outside the den, and raced away, not looking back. By the sounds of the yelps, Rain was losing to Nighta horribly.
Cedar felt a wolf crash into her. "Oh, not you again!" she growled, seeing it was Faedon. Jumping away, Cedar slashed Faedon across her lower neck. Snarling furiously, Faedon snapped at Cedar's side, drawing blood. Cedar lunged for Faedon's throat, but her teeth only sank into the thick fur around her neck and she only got a mouthful of fur instead. Faedon growled and twisted away, snapping at Cedar's muzzle.
Cedar yelped, stumbling back as Faedon cut open another slash on her muzzle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw River and Atra both sizing up Aki. Terror clutched her heart suddenly. Much as she hated to admit it... she hoped that the victor of that fight would be Aki. She was relieved to see Aki lunge for River's neck, but was thrown aside as Faedon gave her a hard kick in the neck. Roaring, Cedar heaved herself upwards, slamming into Faedon. They were sent rolling, before breaking apart, snarling.
But suddenly, a voice rang out above the snarls and yelps. It made Cedar freeze. "CEDAR! You traitorous mutt!"
Aki...!
Cedar's thoughts were distracted as she pressed her nose to the ground and followed the scent of a rabbit. Aki was somewhere nearby, chasing a pheasant. He was both the first and last wolf she wanted to be around right now. Part of her longed to tell him her secret, but she couldn't do that. She heaved a sigh as she lost the trail of the rabbit; her thoughts were so distracted that she could barely keep a mouse's trail.
It was then that she realized just how close to the Darkpack border she was. She prayed silently that one of their wolves wouldn't show up. She marked Stonepack's territory, before investigating the bushes nearby for a mouse or something else that she could eat. But as she sniffed, she noticed something startling. The bush was completely bathed in very fresh Darkpack scent. There was also mouse blood painted on the branches, but no sign of the body.
Cedar stumbled back, her fur bristling. A piece of prey must have crossed the border when they were hunting... But as she continued sniffing around, she realized that this was no hunting accident. The nearby trees, rocks, and bushes were also completely smothered in Darkpack scent. Cedar felt her heart fall to her paws.
No..! Atra said that it would be two weeks until the attack, not two days! Cedar thought desperately. She tilted her head and howled for Aki. "AKI! DARKPACK HAS CROSSED THE BORDER!"
Every hair on Aki's pelt bristled as he came running. "Are you sure?" he asked skeptically, sniffing the air before growling. "We need to warn the others. There's several wolves. It looks like an invasion!"
Cedar looked around wildly, "Where's the rest of Stonepack?!"
Aki tilted his head and blasted a long, drawn out howl. He started racing away to the densite to warn Senkah and Hades. "Cedar, I'm going to go get Senkah and Hades. Howl if anything goes wrong!"
Cedar nodded, watching him sprint away through the forest. "Please be safe..." she murmured under her breath.
The bushes rustled, and Atra stepped out, smirking. "Excellent, Cedar." Luna lurked around in the shadows.
Cedar nodded, almost wary. "I-I thought you said that attack would be two weeks from now!" she exclaimed.
River stepped out to stand beside Atra. "I know, but River talked me out of it," Atra said. "We want to make sure Stonepack is as weak as possible. I didn't contact you, because there was no possible and timely way we could without having you discovered."
Cedar didn't reply for a second. "Alright." Darkpack thought she was still completely loyal... this was the perfect time to run back to the densite on the same trail that Aki had taken if she wanted to be with him.
"Ebony's leading a group to their densite," River said, his voice like low thunder. "Cedar, I want you to go after him."
Cedar nodded almost absently, turning and racing away after Ebony's scent trail. She could lead him to Stonepack's densite... or she could lead them into a trap.
"Search it out." Cedar heard Ebony's gruff voice nearby, and she skidded to a halt. "Try to find the dens." Ebony's voice suddenly sank to a growl. "Who's there?"
"Cedar," she said quickly.
Ebony calmed down. "Oh, good."
Cedar stepped into the bushes after them. She noted all the wolves who were there: Fox, Nighta, Tawny, Reed, and another brown he-wolf, who was fairly young; only 8 months, at most. Cedar didn't recognize him, but figured he was West, the pup that Luna had stolen from Emeraldpack.
"Now!" Cedar heard Atra howl the signal for her group of wolves to attack. She and River leaped from the bushes, tactically placed so that no one would notice Ebony and his group.
Ebony jerked his head towards the alphas when he heard the howl. "Let's go," he growled sharply.
Following with the plan, Cedar charged out of the bushes for Atra. She dug her teeth into her scruff so that she wasn't really hurting her, though Cedar was partially tempted. Atra threw her aside roughly, and Cedar stumbled to her paws. She snapped her head over as she saw Aki lunging for Atra. "Let's go, mutt!" he roared at Atra, snarling. Atra snarled and leaped as well, trying to slash his muzzle.
Cedar looked from Darkpack and to Aki wildly... Darkpack, Aki, Darkpack, Aki... Cedar felt torn. "Come on!" River snarled, giving her a hard nip on the shoulder; it was enough to leave a dark red welt.
Cedar yelped, but didn't move just yet. She'd been with Stonepack for almost year... they had become her pack, too. And Aki... Cedar's heart broke at the thought of betraying him and driving him out... or... Cedar didn't let her thoughts stray that way. Her mind said Darkpack, but her heart screamed, Aki. She was tempted to lunge at River, right then and there.
But for whatever reasons that Cedar would probably never understand, she charged after Ebony.
***
Ebony plunged down the hill, and emerged into Stonepack's den site. Mari whirled around, and bristled. "Get out of my territory, you fur brained mutts!" she snarled viciously. West was right on Ebony's heels; he tore into camp, looking for someone to fight. West's pelt bristled with excitement; this would be his first battle.
Ebony snorted. "Make us."
"How's this?" Mari screamed. She flung herself at Ebony, and he did the same. The two wolves clashed in mid air; Mari tore at his neck, while Ebony dug his teeth into her leg.
Hearing the snarls, Senkah scrambled out of her den. She stood on the alpha's rock so that the entire pack would hear. "Stonepack! ATTACK!" she howled. She leaped off, charging off into battle with Hades. Instantly, the clearing sprang to life, erupting with snarls as wolves emerged from their dens and jumped to their paws to battle.
Quartz wheeled around when she heard Senkah's battle cry, while Sierra let out a throat-ripping snarl as she flung herself at West. He crouched, his lips curling over his fangs. He launched at her, going for her throat. Zero slammed into Nighta, their jaws snapping wildly.
Thunder leaped out of his den and bowled Ebony off Mari. "Go help Aki! He's fighting Atra!" he howled. Mari nodded, and disappeared amongst the fighting wolves.
Faedon came out of her den, glancing around wildly. Cedar's head was clouded. She saw Faedon didn't have an opponent, and seized her chance. Blindsiding her, she crashed into her side. Faedon fell back with a yelp, and looked at Cedar with confusion. "Cedar?!"
Cedar curled her lips in a smirk. "Fool!" she laughed. Faedon's expression changed from confusion to anger. Inwardly, Cedar faltered.
Faedon is my friend... No, she's NOT. She's from Stonepack! But... Aki is from Stonepack... Cedar's hesitance gave Faedon plenty of time. Faedon heaved herself up, slamming into Cedar and sending them both rolling.
Faedon's lips curled up into a snarl of her own, snapping her jaws at Cedar's face. Cedar yelped as a slash was ripped open above her eye. Faedon struggled to push Cedar away, as her opponent was heavier than she was. Cedar snarled and diverted her attention to Faedon, slashing at her face. Faedon fell back with a yelp, stumbling onto her back and leaving her belly exposed. Cedar saw her chance and was about to plunge when Senkah came barreling into her.
"You!" Senkah roared. "I'll FLAY you if you even think about killing her, you disgusting traitor!" Cedar cried out in pain as Senkah's fangs slashed across the side of her neck. She saw Hades charge for River out of the corner of her eye; the alpha males clashed in a flurry of snapping jaws and snarls. Cedar yelped again as Senkah took her by her leg, swinging her into the alpha's rock, before diving away into the battle again.
Cedar struggled to her paws and wheeled back around, seeing that Faedon was about to leap at her again. She slammed Faedon back to the ground, and Faedon slashed her cheek open, making Cedar howl in pain. Snarling, Cedar took Faedon by her leg and swung her at Aki's den. Cedar tried to back Faedon inside while trying to slash her throat, but Faedon anticipated the move and leaped aside. Faedon lunged for Cedar, going in for the left. Cedar saw her shift her weight, and thought she was about to go in right, but much to her surprise Faedon stayed left. She dug her jaws into Cedar's shoulder, and Cedar howled.
Luna came through the crowd, crashing into Faedon's side. "Hello, cousin," Cedar heard Luna hiss.
As they broke into a fight, Cedar was about to jump in, when Rain leaped over to her. "Hey, fur brain," she snarled at Cedar.
"You're all idiotic ducks!" Cedar growled.
"This is coming from you, traitor?" Rain snarled. She flung herself at Cedar, aiming for her throat. Cedar jumped aside, but too far and smashed into the side of the den with a yelp. She rushed at Rain, aiming for her neck. Rain jumped away, but Cedar's teeth ripped down her shoulder. She growled and dove for Cedar's leg. Cedar tried to step back, but Rain's teeth tore down her leg, making it buckle. She snarled and tore at the base of Rain's neck; Rain was flipped over as Cedar grabbed onto her scruff. Cedar tried to leap out of the den, releasing her hold. Her only goal was to rejoin the fight outside, where she could use her greater size against other wolves.
"Oh no you don't!" Rain howled, clamping her jaws on Cedar's tail and yanking back hard. Cedar yelped painfully, trying to spin around. As she did that, Nighta barreled his huge body at Rain. She snarled, and Cedar felt herself getting shoved in front of Rain. She realized that Rain was trying to use her to block Nighta's attack. Cedar yelped as Nighta's head crashed into her bruised ribs, before Rain flung her aside. Cedar found herself outside the den, and raced away, not looking back. By the sounds of the yelps, Rain was losing to Nighta horribly.
Cedar felt a wolf crash into her. "Oh, not you again!" she growled, seeing it was Faedon. Jumping away, Cedar slashed Faedon across her lower neck. Snarling furiously, Faedon snapped at Cedar's side, drawing blood. Cedar lunged for Faedon's throat, but her teeth only sank into the thick fur around her neck and she only got a mouthful of fur instead. Faedon growled and twisted away, snapping at Cedar's muzzle.
Cedar yelped, stumbling back as Faedon cut open another slash on her muzzle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw River and Atra both sizing up Aki. Terror clutched her heart suddenly. Much as she hated to admit it... she hoped that the victor of that fight would be Aki. She was relieved to see Aki lunge for River's neck, but was thrown aside as Faedon gave her a hard kick in the neck. Roaring, Cedar heaved herself upwards, slamming into Faedon. They were sent rolling, before breaking apart, snarling.
But suddenly, a voice rang out above the snarls and yelps. It made Cedar freeze. "CEDAR! You traitorous mutt!"
Aki...!
Awesome!!!!! 
chapter 11!!!!
I love seeing old characters, but I also hate knowing how this fight will end. 
