Chapter 5: Comet

    Midnight hoped it wasn't raining, but luck wasn't on her side today. She got one small ally for now, and she had to stick with it.

    Before all that happened, Wisp attacked her back at the pack territory. Wisp basically ran at her direction and tackled her. "Midnight, I'll miss you, even if it's just a week," he sniffed. He had always been the more sensitive one, easily crying at partings. If Midnight didn't remember wrong, he cried for two weeks after their mother's death. No kidding. Two weeks and an extra five days of sniffing.

    "Wisp, I'm not going to die," assured Midnight.

    The word die darkened the atmosphere between the two. "You really wouldn't, right?" asked Wisp.

    Midnight cleared her throat and imitated their father's deep, harsh voice: "How dare you loose faith in your sister!"

    It felt good, changing the word "leader" into "sister". Wisp even laughed a bit, and then looked into Midnight's eyes. "You promise?"

    Midnight gulped. Wisp takes promises very seriously. "Yes, I promise," she replied, though the very moment she said it, she felt like taking it back.

    "I give you my blessing," said Wisp. The sibling touched nose-to-nose, and the brother said, "Best of wishes, my future chief."

    My future chief... The three words buzzed in Midnight's head. He means it. He knows, I can do it, and so will I, Midnight though, unconsciously smiling as Wisp turned to leave.

    Midnight started with a slow pace, walking very leisurely even if the deadline is by the seventh day of her leave. I need to find silver trees, she thought.

    As she walked, she looked at each tree. Eyes on the trees, she tripped. "Oof!"

    "H-hey!" a voice muttered.

    Midnight looked back, and thought she blushed in embarrassment. She had tripped over a wolf. "Watch it," the wolf growled, though yawning.

    "Sorry," apologised Midnight. "I was looking for silver trees."

    "Ha! Easy that!" laughed the wolf.

    Midnight looked at the wolf. It's white fur had a tint of blue to them, and the wolf's eyes were dark. "Can you tell me where?" she asked.

    "Tell you? I can lead you there," said the wolf.

    "No, just tell me."

    "Tell you? If you insist, I'll show you," said the wolf.

    "N-no!"

    The wolf just stood and ran off. "Catch me, then, if you want me to show you where the silver trees are!"

    Darn, and the first hour is not even over, and I have company, growled Midnight without racing off. Still, Midnight didn't know what the silver trees would be like, so she raced after the wolf. The wolf wasn't even trying to escape, just jogging. Midnight tackled the wolf. "Alright, I got you," she growled.

    "Relax," said the mystery white wolf. "I'm Comet."

    "Comet, huh?" asked Midnight. "So, where are these silver trees?"

    Comet grinned. "Follow me, the forest of silver trees, well, my favourite hiding spot."

    Midnight grumbled. "Okay, right behind you, and I need to be there by today."

    Comet snorted. "Today? It's about a day's walk," he said.

    "What if we run?" asked Midnight.

    "A day still."

    "What the fang logic is that?"

    "The logic of distance," replied Comet.

    Midnight growled and commanded sharply, "Just get me there."

    "Okay, capt'n," said Comet.

    Comet raced ahead, Midnight close behind. "I don't see why it's a day's walk and run," growle Midnight.

    Comet laughed. "Maybe it's because I never tried running there," he said.

    Midnight rolled her eyes. Leaves crunched underneath their paws. "Is this place deserted?" she asked.

    "If you count us both, no," said the male wolf.

    "Is the woods of silver trees deserted?" she asked again.

    "Ah, no," said Comet. "Plenty of fauna."

    "Good, I hate to be with you," said Midnight. It was barely ten minutes and she hated him.

    When evening sets, the woods of silver trees were yet miles away, so Midnight did a little hunting first before resting. Comet just went to take a "nap".

    She heard a rustle, and she grinned. A squirrel! Not much, but enough to satisfy her stomach before bed. She chased it. The squirrel's speed was no match to hers and she quickly caught it, but not without getting wet.

    "Darn the rain," Midnight muttered as she finished her prey. She was drenched when she reached Comet. Comet actually woke up to find shelter. Midnight just sighed, annoyed at the situation. She was stuck with some wolf named Comet, and it's raining. Huddling with an oak tree, she closed her eyes, wondering how the next day will be.

    She fell into darkness. An uncomfortable sleep.

    Comet just looked at her and walked ahead.

Author's Note: Yay, I like this chapter. If you sign-up now, then you'll probably get into the story in the next two chapters or so.

Chapter 4: Farewell

    Wisp let out his whimper. It was reassuring to hear for Midnight. It was like the first whimper Wisp let out when he was born. "Midnight, I don't want to loose you," he spoke, his voice was soft. "I just can't risk it."

    "Wisp," muttered Midnight. She'd grown attached to Wisp, and she hated telling him bad news. She hated worrying him. Most of all, she hated leaving him.

    "I don't want to leave you either," Midnight started. "I don't even want to leave."

    "I don't even care about father," continued Midnight. "I despise his devilish ideas, those murderous glint of madness on his eyes. I don't want to leave you with him, Wisp, but... if it can make me chief..."

    "Y-you'll throw him off his position, won't you, Midnight?" whispered Wisp, his voice shaky. "You'll try to change things for the better."

    Midnight sighed. "I have plans, Wisp," she spoke.

    "I know you'll succeed, Midnyx, I know you will," said Wisp.

    Midnight smiled. Midnyx was what her mom used to call her, and she adored it. "I know I won't let you down," she said, almost promising.

    Midnight met Chief Darke and Shadow in private, and the sun was still out of sight. "Shadow," prompted the Chief.

    Shadow stepped forwards, handing Midnight what seemed to be a piece of breakfast. "Snack a bit while we talk about this quest," gnarled the wolf in a rough way. Midnight reluctantly ate the piece of meat, which Midnight guessed was a hare.

    "The Pack Quest, it'll be a honour if you will succeed, for you shall be the first known she-wolf to return from a lone "Pack Quest". That, you know what the deal is?" Shadow spoke.

    "I should return in a week," said Midnight, careful not to show that she had gathered information the day before.

    "Do you know where you should go?" Shadow inquired.

    "No," lied Midnight.

    "The Rygeane Ruins," said Shadow, nodding towards the Chief. "The ruins were found by our Chief, and he knows that the wolves of the past lived there and populated enough to let us still exist in this world. He wants all the she-wolves to see that great, but ruined, piece of architecture that's left of them. Why she-wolves? They like architecture."

    Lame excuse, Midnight fumed. My ignorant and self-centered father only wants all the she-wolves to admire him for such a "discovery".

    "Did I ever say she-wolves like architecture?" laughed Chief Darke.

    "N-no," Midnight heard Shadow muttered under his breath.

    "I mean, she-wolves have greater dreams and imagination," corrected Shadow.

    "Shadow, shut that junk of yours," sighed the Chief. "I told you clearly. My reasons were that I want them to go there because I want them to grow stronger. It's not that I don't trust your skill and all, Midnight, but I've seen some she-wolves have less potential, less stamina. This quest will certainly boost you, boost your everything."

    Midnight finished her meal when Shadow spoke again: "Then, in that ruins, you must grab a glowing blue flat stone, and it shall have an engraving on it, a R and Y, entwined together. Bring it back here, and you'll be fine."

    "Like, I succeed if I bring back that stone?" asked Midnight, knowing the answer.

    Shadow and the Chief nodded. "The path you must take is through the forest of Silver Trees, past the cliff where eagles flees, follow a path that's almost unseen, and finally to the runes of Rygeane," said Shadow.

    "Runes or stone?" asked Midnight.

    The two wolves sent her an I don't know look.

    "What is this forest of Silver Trees? Which cliff? What's almost unseen?" asked Midnight.

    Shadow looked at her with those eyes, a hint of darkness in them. "We cannot tell, it is your job to ace the path," he said.

    Don't worry, Midnight, the black she-wolf told herself. Dusk said there was only one path. One path to the ruins.

    Midnight forced a weak smile, "Okay, do I leave now?"

    "Gladly," said the advisor with a devilish grin.

Author's note: Yay, extremely useless chapter! Comments are back on somehow and don't forget to start signing up or else your character might not fit in the story! Yeah, that's it. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Pack Quest, Dawn

    "So... How did it go?"

    Wisp sounded nervous. It didn't surprise Midnight. Wisp is always nervous, easily nervous.

    "Terribly," said Midnight. She looked up and met Wisp's brown eyes. Whether it was brown or black, Midnight couldn't distinguish. Her brother's dark grey fur was messy.

    Wisp gently patted Midnight for reassurance. "Sorry to hear..." he whispered.

    Midnight closed her eyes. "What do I need to know about the Pack Quest?"

    "Hmm?" asked Wisp. "I don't know. I know nothing about it."

    True that, thought Midnight. Wisp is two years younger than me. Plus, he's a male...

    Wisp was just a pup. Barely two years old, the wolf had a black muzzle and black paws- like their mom.

    "I'm sure Dusk knows," said Wisp.

    Midnight's eyelids fluttered open quickly. "Oh yeah! Dusk! Thanks, Wisp!"

    Midnight licked his brother's cheek and hurried out.

    "Hey, Midnight!" said a voice.

    Midnight looked up. It wasn't so far away from her cave. She saw her friend's cave. "Mist!" she cried.

    Mist was a grey wolf, although she can be easily mistaken as a white wolf. Her eyes were brilliant blue, and she had a few streaks of a darker grey of fur here and there. Mist stood up and walked up towards Midnight. "How are you?"

    "Terrible," said Midnight.

    Mist's cheery voice made Midnight forgot why she was there. "You don't look terrible," she said.

    "Yeah, except when you are assigned to be in a Pack Quest," grumbled the black wolf.

    "You're attending the Pack Quest already?"

    "Yes," sighed Midnight.

    Mist took a guess, "So you're here to ask sis about the Pack Quest?"

    "Yeah."

    "Good news! Sis is in the cave!"

    Midnight smiled. "Thanks, Mist."

    "No prob!"

    Mist, the informal talker, pushed Midnight to where Dusk was lying down. "Oh, hello, Midnight," said Dusk, her voice calm and soothing.

    "Hi, err, Lady Dusk," said Midnight.

    Dusk had a gentle laugh. "Just call me Dusk. Just because I completed the Pack Quest, saved the hunting pack from hunters three years ago, doesn't mean you have to call me 'lady'."

    She easily earned her title. At least she thinks fighting is easy, fumed Midnight.

    Dusk's eyes were pale grey, almost like purple underneath the shadows. Dusk's grey fur had a few small, almost invisible scratches from the Hunting War. Her muzzle, right paws and tip of the tail are white.

    "Well, I'd like to ask about the Pack Quest, Dusk," said Midnight.

    "The Pack Quest, to be completed in seven days, and is only for she-wolves," said Dusk.

    This attracted even Mist's attention. "There is a mission, to go and travel from one wolf-mark to another. Often it is from our very own sacred oak tree, to the ancient ruins of Rygeane," said Dusk.

    "Rygeane?" asked Midnight.

    "It's believed that they are ancient wolves, although I do not believe in such nonsense," said Dusk.

    "What perils are along the way?"

    "Hunters, other wolves, as we are at the top of the food chain," said Dusk, her eyes shining.

    "How can they keep tabs on us? Like, how do they know we won't cheat? Or how do they know we went to the Hygiene place-thingy?" asked Mist.

    Dusk smiled at the carefully-noted-down detailed question. "Firstly, it's Rygeane, not hygiene. They know, because there is only one way."

    "One way?"

    "They used that one particular path from the poem found in the Rygeane ruins: Through the forest of Silver Trees, past the cliff where eagles flees, follow a path that's almost unseen, and finally to the runes of Rygeane.

    "Basically, it's a coincidence that that is the path that runs from this very place to the ruins," said Dusk.

    "What. They used a poem as a map?" asked Mist.

    "Oh, sister. You have less expectations of the Pack Quest than I thought," said Dusk.

    Midnight secretly sighed in relief. "At least they gave a map," she said. "I thought she won't give a map. At all."

    "Lucky us," laughed Dusk. "On that quest, I went with nine other wolves. Andromeda, Bloom, Grace, Ice, Milky, Moona, Opal, Pearl, and  Whitney. Who are you going with?"

    Midnight hated to tell them: "No one."

    "W-what?" asked Dusk, shocked.

    The air seem to freeze.

    "Alone?" asked Dusk. "Through dangers, facing hunters?"

    "Yes," whispered Midnight.

    Dusk growled. "It's like someone is trying to play with your fate! By killing you!"

    "No... it's okay," lied Midnight.

    Mist growled also. "It's not. It's not!"

    "Please, Dusk, Mist, understand," said Midnight. "I have to. Or else, I can't be chief."

    "C-chief?" asked Dusk.

    Darn it, muttered Midnight in her heart. She let it slip.

    "If you're going to be chief, and this is your only thing to do to be one... I still don't understand," said Dusk. "Why would Shadow let you go easily?"

    "Huh?" Midnight was shocked.

    Dusk looked at Midnight. "As one of the Pack Generals, I am often called to the Chief and to report on my current status. Often these days, I heard Shadow fighting with the Chief, about you. I remembered Shadow had growled: 'You can't let Midnight leave. Not yet!'

    "Now, he let's you go. It's like something is not right," muttered Dusk.

    Midnight knew Dusk. Dusk can sense uneasiness. "Let's assume that Shadow just wanted to defend you in secret," said Dusk.

    Midnight reluctantly agreed.

    "Is there anything else you need to know about the Pack Quest, Midnight?" asked Dusk.

    Midnight replied, "What are we expected to do at Rygeane?"

    "Very good question, Midnight," said Dusk. "We are to grab one rune. Any rune, as long as it resembles Rygeane."

    "Like I know what Rygeane is."

    Dusk pawed the earth, with her claw, she drew a symbol. "It's not like it's a rune, but they call it a rune," said the wolf.

    Midnight eyed the symbol. It was like a capital R, entwined with a y. The y's tail extended into a loop, chaining itself with the loop of the R. "The 'rune' that symbolises Rygeane," said Dusk.

    Mist failed to copy the rune. "Thanks, Dusk," said Midnight.

    Dusk smiled her angelic, pure smile. "You're welcome. If you need any help before tomorrow comes, you are welcome to ask me. I'm not going anywhere today."

    "Thanks, Dusk. I appreciate that."

    "Good luck, Mid!" said Mist.

    Midnight forced a weak smile before exiting the cave. Mist caught up. "Hey, Midnight... I know... a week alone... it may not seem enough for the quest..." said Mist. "Remember, many things can happen in a week. By the end of the week, I know it. You're the chief.

    "Hopefully, said Midnight. "I'll be the chief."

    She believed it, so does Mist.

    Slowly, the two parted silently. It was raining lightly, and all Midnight care was to hate this place. If she ever fails, and is to be exiled, she won't ever miss 'home' anymore.

    Except, she can't.

    This is her haven.

Author's note: I've been changing the layout lately (layout, not template), and I might change more soon. Thanks for the small tip, GreatShot, and I wonder if this is already the new template? Thanks for visiting, Cutepups522, Claire H.! Oh, sign-ups are open... and that seems to be it. Enjoy!