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!
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