Wolves of Arreyah

Prologue

Beta padded through the dark forest, the loud chirping of crickets ringing in her ears as pale moonlight illuminated her brown pelt through the trees. She sighed softly as she reached a large rock overlooking a clear shallow stream like glass, the bubbling water broken only by the occasional large stone. The occasional minnow weaved between the pebbles.

Beta sat down with another sigh and tucked her snout under her right paw, ears laid back and eyes closed. She had come out only to clear her head and think. The pack was facing a crisis. Being the second-in-command was hard work, especially when every wolf was half-starved and snappy.

Beta opened her eyes for a moment to scan the stars, only to see a transparent figure. She shot to her paws, tail raised and ears pinned back. The wolf in front of her looked like it had been torn from the sky- a living constellation. 

"Wh-who are you?" Beta asked uncertainly, one ear rotated backward to listen for anyone behind her. Maybe this was a trick?

The stardust wolf didn't answer her question, only responded in a near whisper.
"In the darkness is a hidden meaning. When heartless cries, and heartful dies, the stars will collide. And nothing will ever be the same.."

"What?!" Beta's jaw was slack in shock. She realized with a crashing sense of reality that this was a Star Wolf- a wolf that had died and now lives among the stars. Star Wolves only usually came to medicine wolves! Why would they visit a Beta? Was it her time to join them? 

I'm not ready yet!

"Please, I can't join you yet. My pack needs me!" Beta cowered, crouching as she begged for her life. 

The constellation shook its head. "A wolf of the stars, a wolf of the trees, a wolf of the river, and a wolf of the leaves." The starry wolf whispered. "They must find harmony if they are to find the key."

"A key? For what?" Beta whimpered in disbelief as the Star Wolf began to dissipate. "Please save us! We're starving! We can't last the winter! Wait!" 

The constellation faded completely, leaving only crushing reality.

Beta felt a strong sense of unease and the brown fur on the back of her neck raised. Turning swiftly, she pelted back to her camp, tail tucked tightly between her legs.

In the darkness is a hidden meaning. When heartless cries, and heartful dies, the stars will collide, and nothing will ever be the same. A wolf of stars, a wolf of trees, a wolf of rivers, and a wolf of leaves. They must first find harmony if they are to find the key.