Wolves of the Falling Stars Book 4: The Return

Chapter 23

"I can't believe we get to be trained soon!" Daffodil Bloom exclaimed.

Quiet Ocean bounced up and down with excitement alongside her brother and sister. Small Fox had already made it clear to them that this was not something to be celebrated. Though they were very near training age, the only reason training had been sped up was because a battle with rogues was likely imminent. To Quiet Ocean and her siblings, however, they were simply just thrilled to leave the nursing den.

"I'm going to learn to fight all the rogues," Snow Fall said.

"I'll bring down a whole deer!" Daffodil Bloom argued.

Quiet Ocean joined in the excitement, but even she couldn't deny a sense of nervousness about the battle. She thought of what her mother had said about the past battle, how she had lost her two brothers, and how Lily Petal had gone insane. As she saw her sister and brother celebrating, she nervously wondered if they would all still be together a few moons from now.

Slowly, she stopped celebrating and made her way to the entrance of the den.

"Going somewhere?" Small Fox asked Quiet Ocean.

"Just to lay outside in the sun," Quiet Ocean said.

"Don't stray too far," Small Fox warned.

Quiet Ocean nodded and made her way to her normal spot, though she knew better than anyone that she was on her way to the omega den. She had continued speaking with Dandelion Puff and had found a close companion in the she-wolf. She tried to limit her visits, knowing her mother would be mad that she was straying near Lily Petal, but Quiet Ocean figured Dandelion Puff could always protect her if something happened.

Though Quiet Ocean was in her usual spot, Dandelion Puff was taking her time meeting her. Quiet Ocean was growing impatient and feeling disappointed. She had longed to speak to the she-wolf today, especially after the news that she would be training earlier than expected.

Though Quiet Ocean never usually entered into the den herself, she figured Dandelion Puff just might be napping and it wouldn't hurt to poke her a few times. Slowly, she approached the den and peeked inside. Dandelion Puff wasn't there, but Lily Petal was wide awake and staring at her. Quiet Ocean jumped.

"W-Where's Dandelion Puff?" Quiet Ocean asked when Lily Petal narrowed her eyes at her.

"She'll be back in a few minutes," Lily Petal said. The she-wolf seemed a little more sane today, and briefly, Quiet Ocean remembered what Dandelion Puff had said about talking to Lily Petal one day.

"Um, okay. I'll just go," Quiet Ocean murmured, not wanting Lily Petal to revert back into screaming at her.

"You've been talking to Dandelion Puff a lot," Lily Petal observed.

"Oh, um...yeah."

"Why?" Lily Petal asked.

"I don't know. She's nice to talk to," Quiet Ocean said. "I like talking to her."

Lily Petal only huffed.

"I really should just go then," Quiet Ocean murmured. 

"Funny how my sister is the best one now. I was always the star of my family, then Morning Dew died and my life went downhill from there," Lily Petal grumbled. Quiet Ocean had no idea who Morning Dew was. She was trying her best to stay near the entrance, but slowly, she became more curious.

"Dandelion Puff said I should talk to you," Quiet Ocean said. "And if she's taking her time then..."

"Why would she say that?" Lily Petal growled.